The Creality K1C is the latest printer from Creality's fully enclosed K 3D printer line. Once again, the style of the machine reflects the rest of the line with a high-quality, rigid frame and a tinted transparent part-glass enclosure that keeps the inner chamber heated for specialist materials.

The K1C boosts the abilities of both the K1 and K1 Max with a few additional features over both machines. While the size and mechanical specifications of the K1 and K1C are essentially the same, some of the more advanced features, such as the AI camera, have filtered down from the larger machine.

Interestingly, Creality has completely overhauled the tool head with a 300° hotend that features a hardened steel nozzle tip designed to cope with specialist materials such as carbon fibre. This enhancement makes the machine far more appealing to those using 3D printers in the industry, reminiscent of the old Cel-Robox Dual and its specialist carbon heads a few years back.

While the K1C isn't a replacement for the K1, the price difference between the two is marginal, making it hard to see why anyone would now prefer the older K1 over this all-new and seemingly much more versatile new machine. The K1 and K1 Max impressed us two of the best 3D printers we've reviewed, so with the main mechanics of this new machine much the same, it all comes down to the integration of the new tool head and the AI camera to see if there's also a step-up in quality.

Creality K1C: Design

An initial look at the K1C, it's instantly apparent that this is closely related to the K1. The big difference here is that the K1C has been enhanced to handle carbon fibre filaments like PLA-CF, PA-CF, and PET-CF and features a hardened steel nozzle. Part of this new tool head design is Creality's development of what they call a "clog-free extruder kit" with a "Unicorn" tri-metal nozzle, which is a combination of copper, titanium, and steel that is more resistant to abrasive materials such as carbon fibre.

Part of the potential boost in reliability is due to the AI camera, which is now an integrated part of the K1C's design rather than an optional add-on, as with the K1. Further boosting performance is an upgraded cooling system with print head fans and an additional 18W fan in the build chamber to aid with cooling when needed.

As with the other K series printers, the machine utilizes a CoreXY design, which can be notoriously noisy due to the speed. A design change with the pulley gears means that these are now smaller, helping to increase the printer's precision. Staying with precision, a flexible PEI build plate is incorporated, and again, the machine uses a hands-free auto-leveling system. So far, in this series of printers, the quality of the auto bed levelling has been exceptional.

One of the most notable features of the design is the fully enclosed nature of the case. This has also seen a slight development over the K1 with a better handle, improved door hinge with magnetic closure, and an anti-shatter film added to the glass to improve safety.

Along with the other enhancements to the design, the touchscreen, while on the surface looking the same, has seen a few changes to accommodate the additional features of the AI camera and improved hot end.

Creality K1C: Features

A quick look at the features of the K1C reveals that the basics are much the same as the K1, with high-speed printing of up to 600mm/s, full use of the CoreXY motion system, and input shaping. However, the machine has had a few stability improvements, although it is a touch lighter at 12.4kg.

The big feature that is highlighted is the extended material compatibility. Although the nozzle and hotend temperature ranges remain the same as the older machine, the new nozzle and extruder mean that it can now cope with a range of specialist materials such as PLA-CF, PA-CF, and PET-CF, essentially any material with abrasive properties.

To cope with the new materials and more specialist options, such as nylon and ABS, the machine features a reworked cooling system. This now enables dynamically balanced fans to cool where and when needed, resulting in less stringing and warping.

The new direct drive, clog-free extruder kit, and a unicorn tri-metal nozzle promise higher durability and performance. These have been enhanced to cope with high-temperature and abrasive filaments.

One of the features that appealed to me about the K1 Max or the upgrade kit for the K1 is the AI camera for real-time print monitoring, timelapse recording, and failure detection. This camera has been designed to fully integrate with the Creality Print software and, with the wireless connection, enables you to send and monitor prints to the machine remotely.

One of the standout features of the new series is the enhanced touchscreen interface, which is well thought out across the range of printers and enables you to make real-time adjustments and monitor print times if needed. As interfaces go, it's both intuitive and easy to navigate.

When it comes to the print area, the volume of the K1C remains the same as the K1 at 220x220x250mm with a PEI flexible build plate that supports input shaping.

A nice touch with the K1C is the option for a side-mounted spool holder, which gives you a few more options regarding the machine's positioning.

As a fully enclosed printer, the machine comes almost ready to go out of the box, only taking a few minutes before you can power it on and start printing. The build quality of the full metal frame, glass door, and acrylic sides all add to the feeling of quality that ups the level even when compared to the K1 and K1 Max machines.

Creality K1C: Performance

The print quality from both the K1 and K1 Max was on par, with the two machines scoring decently at 26.5. You can see the full performance in our Creality K1 review and Creality K1 Max review. 

In the tests, the K1C looks to follow suit with a slight improvement in some areas. Starting with the real-world tests, the quality of the prints is exceptional, considering the speed at which the machine can produce a print. All models were produced flawlessly through three different material choices: PLA, PETG, and finally, Carbon Fill.

Looking closely at the PLA prints, the overall finish was good, with the new cooling system seeming to minimize stringing effectively. When using PLA, the top of the machine and doors are left open to aid with cooling. Switching to PETG, the filament enabled finer detail and a superb surface finish, although with both filaments, while the dimensional accuracy is good, the benchmark test showed some variation. 

While the machine's performance is solid and would have stood out if launched alongside the other two, there are now machines like the Qidi Tech Q1 Pro 3D, which have slightly better overall print quality but lag in machine build quality and features.

However, this machine's main focus has to be carbon filaments, which are notoriously difficult to work with and can easily damage a standard machine. Here, the K1C handles the specialist materials with ease, producing excellent prints that are incredibly durable and well-finished. Carbon filament is not for generic modelling and is more suited for workable prototypes, for which this machine excels.

Creality K1C: Print quality

Dimensional accuracy - score of 5 

Target 25 = X: 24.94mm / 0.06mm Error | Y: 24.97mm / 0.03mm Error 
Target 20 = X: 19.96mm / 0.04mm Error | Y: 19.98mm / 0.02mm Error 
Target 15 = X: 14.99mm / 0.01mm Error | Y: 15mm / 0mm Error 
Target 10 = X: 9.93mm / 0.07mm Error | Y: 10mm / 0mm Error 
Target 5 = X: 4.92mm / 0.08mm Error | Y: 5.04mm / 0.04mm Error 

X Error Average = 0.052

Y Error Average = 0.018

X&Y Error Average = 0.035

Fine Flow Control - score of 2.5 

Fine Negative Features - score of 5

Overhangs - score of 4 

Bridging - score of 5 

XY resonance - score of 2.5

Z-axis alignment - score of 2.5

Adding up the totals gives a final score of 26.5 out of 30.

Creality K1C: Final verdict

Currently, the K Series of Creality 3D printers sets a comfortable benchmark for build quality. The machines look great, and the company has worked hard to elevate its offerings from run-of-the-mill 3D printers used by enthusiasts to machines that have a far wider appeal.

Compared to the Ender-3 series, which really brought the company to the forefront, the K series is far more refined and professional, breaking away completely from the DIY form that many of these printers originated from. The CoreXY design, combined with their speed and Klipper firmware, has boosted speed and quality, and the K1C is currently one of the most refined printers out there.

Looking at the benchmark scores, the printer performs well, putting in one of the highest scores of any FFF printer we've looked at. However, when it comes to print quality, there are now some very serious competitors. While the likes of QIDI and AnkerMake M5C might just edge ahead with print quality, neither comes close when it comes to the complete package.

The software for the QIDI is good but not as integrated as that of Creality, and the build quality needs to catch up. Meanwhile, the AnkerMake M5C produces outstanding prints but is still an open system and slower overall. The Creality K1C has it all—for education enthusiasts and professionals, this is one interesting printer. The only downside at present is that it still lacks any multi-material support from Creality, although that's likely to come.

Should You Buy the Creality K1C?

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The Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro is one of the highest-resolution resin printers available, with a 14k screen enabling a resolution of 13,312 x 5,120px over the 10.1-inch screen. This resolution should translate to incredible quality prints that will leave the competition in its wake. 

The overall design is very AnyCubic, as the company often opts for pure functionality over design aesthetics. Indeed, the machine itself reflects the Mono machines that have come before, but inside, the technology has taken a huge step forward. The high-resolution screen is the big hitter when it comes to features, but there are also the heater and air purification system and 105mm/h print speed. While the machine itself might not reflect the best 3D printer technology it contains, it is a machine of real interest and potential for several reasons.

The first is the cover, an essential part of the resin printer. While it's nothing outwardly wrong, most other manufacturers adopt a flip-up design that is much more user-friendly.

The heat and cleaner are also great additions that significantly improve the quality of the prints. However, their integration into the design isn't as refined, especially compared to direct competition like the Uniformation GKTwo and Creality HALOT-MAGE PRO. Still, when it comes to print quality, it's hard to argue with the capabilities of the 14k screen and the prints it enables you to create.

Anycubic Photon Mono M5s: Design

AnyCubic is known for making outstanding-quality machines that are functional, reliable, and capable of producing high-quality prints. This reputation holds for both its resin and FFF printers. However, while most other printer manufacturers have innovated with their designs, AnyCubic has remained reserved, sticking to what's familiar and maintaining its loyal user base.

The Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro is disappointingly similar to previous mono machines, with some small design tweaks, but ultimately, it's an ultra-functional machine that's slightly uninspired in design. The bright yellow UV protective cover remains a lift-off rather than a flip-up like most modern machines. While some people will appreciate the ability to remove the lid completely, these days, that shouldn't be necessary, and for accessibility and ease, a flip lid is much easier.

The resin tray is once again bolted down rather than a quick release. While this is still the most common approach, it could be more convenient when it comes to cleaning. This resin tank is also manually filled; there's no issue there, but with plenty of autofill options available, it seems a shame that something has yet to be innovated in this area, especially considering the cost of resin.

That said, the machine has plenty to get excited about. Underneath that resin tank is the ultra-high-resolution 14k screen, making it the highest-resolution printer we have examined. While the machine's aesthetics might not excite, the technology does.

A significant advancement for this machine is the integration of the heater and cleaner, which ensures the resin is kept in ideal conditions and helps reduce blemishes and other issues. Then, there's a series of advanced print monitoring with smart detection features. This style of monitoring is relatively new to resin printers, so its inclusion here is great.

Like most resin machines, we also have the touchscreen interface, which is very AnyCubic, simple, yet perfectly functional.

Anycubic Photon Mono M5s: Features

The AnyCubic Photon Mono M5s Pro promises exceptional detail and precision with its industry-leading 10.1-inch monochrome LCD. It delivers a 14K resolution and an XY resolution of 16.8*24.8μm, which is comparable to the thickness of a hair. AnyCubic has combined this high resolution with 85% light uniformity to ensure fine detail and sharp edges.

Innovatively designed, it incorporates an air heater and purifier module, maintaining a consistent air temperature of up to 40℃ to keep the resin above 20℃ for optimal printing in colder conditions. It also includes a high-quality activated carbon component to absorb resin odours, thus creating a more pleasant printing environment.

The printer's high-speed capabilities, with an average print speed of 105mm/h, are supported by its third-generation high-speed ACF film. This film reduces peeling force, lowers the peeling height, and increases lifting speed, thereby enhancing the printer's performance and reliability.

A standout feature of the Photon Mono M5s Pro is its leveling-free design, which, through floating platform technology and internal sensors, adjusts to ensure consistent printing quality. Furthermore, the printer is equipped with smart detection systems that prevent screen breakage by identifying resin residue and adjusting the peeling height according to the model's shape, thus improving the success rate and speed of printing.

Completing the feature set is the printer's compatibility with the Anycubic App. This app facilitates one-touch printing from a wide selection of pre-sliced models and enables efficient print management and troubleshooting. This app integration represents a significant advancement in making 3D printing more accessible and user-friendly.

With these advanced features, the AnyCubic Photon Mono M5s Pro is well-suited for both professional and hobbyist users who demand high-quality, detailed prints, and a reliable, user-friendly printing experience.

Anycubic Photon Mono M5s: Performance

As with all resin printers, the print quality depends on the conditions and the resin used. For this test, the tank was filled with high-speed resin to put the printer to the test in terms of print quality and speed. I have used this resin in the past and am not a fan.

While the resin prints fast and is high quality, it is extremely tough and brittle from the outset. This means that you need to be extremely careful with how the supports are applied to the models using the Anycubic Photon Software. Even with the models that Anycubic supplies as an example of the quality, the printer suffers from the overapplication of supports and the impossibility of support removal.

However, swapping the resin for one of the company's other resins, such as their well-priced standard resin, results in slower but still fast prints, and the results are far easier to extract from the support system.

Overall, the quality of the prints is fantastic, challenging far more expensive printers in terms of the overall finish.

After washing and removing the support trees and curing in the superb Anycubic Wash & Cure Max Machine, the final prints are of extremely high quality.

Regarding machine maintenance, the main point is to be careful with the High-Speed Resin. Updates to the Anycubic software have improved the application of the support tree. Still, it's crucial to experiment fully with the tree application before using and adjusting every model. This material is good but very brittle; with all these issues, the flip side is that the material does what it is designed to do and enables you to print very high-quality prints extremely quickly and with great detail.

Ultimately, this resin printer's print quality, with its high 14k resolution, is outstanding. Still, as always, to achieve the best results, you will need to do some legwork when finishing the models, especially being careful with the high-speed resin.

Anycubic Photon Mono M5s: Final verdict

This is an outstanding-quality resin 3D printer, only held back by its machine design rather than the quality of the prints it produces. The design is tried and tested, and while some aesthetic tweaks have been made compared to past models, the actual usability could be better.

For example, the protective lid rests on top of the base and can be lifted completely clear. Some might prefer this design in a workshop or studio, while the more common flip-up design is much neater and more suitable for a busy creative environment.

There's the resin tank, again using the same foundational design that Anycubic has always employed. Bolts hold it securely to the base. This works but feels a bit dated, as other machines offer slick quick-release mechanisms.

The addition of the heater and filter system is superb, and it's great to see. Still, with its power supply and slightly makeshift integration and attachment design, it feels like a must-have afterthought rather than a smoothly integrated part of the system.

Putting these points aside, they are minor and shouldn't overshadow the fact that this is one of the best resin 3D printers out there. The Pro model has built on the quality of the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s with enhanced resolution and features. Used carefully, with the support trees correctly set within the Anycubic Photon Workshop software at that 14k resolution, this machine can print models of a quality that you would expect from some of the top-tier printers.

Should you buy the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro?

Buy the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro if you prioritize exceptional print quality and high-resolution capabilities. Its 14k screen delivers intricate details, perfect for professionals or enthusiasts who demand precision. Tmachine'se's advanced features, like the heater and air purifier, enhance printing consistency and environmental quality.

However, don't buy it if you're looking for a modern design or if your budget is a primary concern. The traditional design might appeal to some, and its high-end features come with a price tag that may exceed the budget of casual users or those new to 3D printing.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

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The Qidi Tech Q1 Pro 3D Printer is the first from the company that we've reviewed, so we're evaluating it with fresh eyes. We can only compare it against the best 3D printers we tested, not any previous releases from the company. Initial online impressions of the design, featuring a full enclosure and touch screen, are positive, and the specifications suggest a very promising machine.

When the box arrives and the machine is unwrapped, it looks quite nice and true to the marketing images. Unfortunately, the quality of the casing materials is not as high as the design initially suggests. A closer inspection reveals that the quality of the components and the construction of the actual mechanics are sound, and it's important to remember that this is a sub-$500 printer.

Considering the price and what you see, this is a COREXY machine with a heated inner chamber, Klipper firmware, and enough internal support to hold things together during high-speed printing. Initial impressions are, therefore, mixed: it's a great-looking machine with a not-so-great exterior material choice and amazing specifications, but can it pull all this together to produce a decent print?

Qidi Tech Q1 Pro 3D Printer: Design

From the outset, the design is appealing, even if the outer casing's materials feel a bit on the cheap side. The case allows for printing with more technical materials, or if you prefer to stick to standard PLA, you can simply remove the top and open the door.

On the front of the machine is a large LCD screen where you can select prints, adjust settings, calibrate, and connect to a local area network. The interface is straightforward, and the large screen is exceptionally well-designed and easy to use. Loading the first reel of filament is straightforward, and uploading prints is done through the QIDISlicer, which is based on the excellent PRUSASlicer and offers plenty of options.

The machine features some interesting design choices, such as the independent dual Z motors, which create a solid build platform necessary to handle the machine’s speed when running at full capacity. The chamber can be heated to 60ºC, accommodating various materials, and the design is fully enclosed when needed.

Inside, there’s a small box at the back of the machine that, when the machine starts working, reveals itself as the filament bin. This is where the excess filament is deposited to keep prints clean—a small feature that can make a significant difference.

The design is attractive but let down by the material choice, which feels somewhat flexible. However, as a functional product, the touch screen, large plexi door, removable lid, filament bin, and dual independent Z motors all feel extremely solid and built to last.

Qidi Tech Q1 Pro 3D Printer: Features

The Qidi Tech Q1 Pro is equipped with several features that, until the release of the Bambu printers, were typically found in mid to high-end models. QIDI states that it only takes ten minutes from the box to the first print, and with features such as full-auto calibration, this proved to be absolutely accurate, making it one of the most straightforward printers to get started with.

Through the plexi front door is the impressive inner chamber with a build volume of 245 x 245 x 240mm. Notably, the hotend above features a nozzle with a maximum temperature of 350°C, ideal for high-temperature filaments like PAHT-CF and PET-CF.

When printing these materials, a heated inner chamber creates an ideal printing environment, capable of reaching up to 60°C depending on the material settings. This feature reduces warping and improves layer bonding, which is particularly beneficial for warp-prone filaments such as ABS, PA, and PC.

The Q1 Pro’s design includes independent dual Z motors, providing higher precision and stability. Combined with its CoreXY structure, this should ensure high-speed, accurate, and stable printing, especially when paired with the Klipper firmware.

The printer also features a tri-metal hot end, enabling it to handle a variety of filaments, including those with better mechanical properties. The printer is designed with speed and accuracy in mind. Like the initial setup, calibration is an ongoing feature with dual sensor auto bed levelling and an essential filament detection system, including filament runout and tangle detection, crucial for 1.75mm filament nearing the end of its usable life.

Inside the outer casing, the Qidi Tech Q1 Pro is built with a full metal frame structure, which is necessary due to the high speeds this machine can reach. Powering the processing is a powerful 64-bit processor and 32G-EMMC large memory, supporting high-speed Wi-Fi 6, allowing you to send your print files directly from QIDISlicer.

Additional handy features include a 1080P camera, which enables remote monitoring of prints and timelapses. Considering the price, this is a feature-packed printer that rivals many more expensive machines.

Qidi Tech Q1 Pro 3D Printer: Performance

Few machines can compete with the QIDI Q1 Pro in terms of absolute print quality. During testing, a variety of filaments were run through the system to evaluate the heated inner chamber, along with many standard prints using PLA. The results demonstrated the machine’s exceptional accuracy and speed.

Throughout weeks of testing, there were no failed prints, which is nearly unheard of, and upon inspecting the prints, the extrusion quality could have been better. As a CORE XY machine, it excels in speed, but it is unusual for a machine at this price point to be both accurate and capable of producing such clean results. The only other machine that compares in cleanliness is the AnkerMake M5C 3D printer, which uses refined yet older technology and has an open design, making it unsuitable for many uses.

Examining the models reveals that the quality shines through: detail is well-defined, support structures, with some tweaking, are easy to remove, and surface quality is excellent. The test prints all looked great, as evidenced in the images. Similarly, running the usual benchmarking tests produced outstanding results, confirming that the QIDI Q1 Pro is a top contender in its class, delivering both speed and precision in its prints.

Qidi Tech Q1 Pro 3D Printer: Print quality

Dimensional accuracy - score of 5 

Target 25 = X: 24.98mm / 0.02mm Error | Y: 24.96mm / 0.04mm Error 
Target 20 = X: 19.98mm / 0.02mm Error | Y: 19.94mm / 0.06mm Error 
Target 15 = X: 14.87mm / 0.13mm Error | Y: 14.94mm / 0.06mm Error 
Target 10 = X: 9.95mm / 0.05mm Error | Y: 9.94mm / 0.06mm Error 
Target 5 = X: 4.88mm / 0.12mm Error | Y: 4.90mm / 0.10mm Error 
X Error Average = 0.068
Y Error Average = 0.064
X&Y Error Average = 0.066

Fine Flow Control - score of 5 

Fine Negative Features - score of 5 

Overhangs - score of 4 

Bridging - score of 4

XY resonance - score of 2.5

Z-axis alignment - score of 2.5

Adding up the totals gives a final score of 28 out of 30.

Qidi Tech Q1 Pro 3D Printer: Final verdict

The Qidi Tech Q1 Pro is a 3D printer that stands out, especially considering its price. It offers features typically found in higher-end models, such as high-speed printing, precision, and robust features like active chamber heating and dual Z motors, making it a superb choice for small businesses and educational purposes.

While the external casing materials may feel less premium, the printer's overall build quality and functionality are impressive. The print quality is exceptional, with accurate and detailed outputs that are consistently great for small product runs and prototyping. For those seeking a reliable, feature-rich 3D printer without breaking the bank, the Q1 Pro is an excellent choice, effectively balancing performance and value.

Should You Buy the Qidi Tech Q1 Pro?

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SIMOptions is an eSIM marketplace that offers data plans for over 200 countries worldwide. The platform sells its own regional eSIM plans and eSIMs from local network providers in various countries. While our overall impression with this eSIM provider is positive, users should be aware of a few caveats.

SIMOptions is competitively priced, with multiple carrier options per location to choose from. However, there’s no way to customize an existing plan or top up your data if you run out while on a trip abroad. It’s a great option for multi-country trips, but single-destination users can find better options out there.

Our biggest gripe with SIMOptions is the unresponsive customer support, which, when combined with the number of technical issues users face during activation, can become quite a drawback for most users. Still, it may be a good fit for some users depending on the location they’re visiting.

SIMOptions: Plans and pricing

SIMOptions is an eSIM reseller, so its plans can differ in value depending on the network and region you purchase into. Here’s an overview of popular options: 

Make sure to compare prices with other providers before buying an eSIM. SIMOptions typically resell plans from other providers and networks at a more competitive price, but you should still do your diligence. 

SIMOptions: Features

SIMOptions offers a few distinct features to improve the user experience, here are the ones we liked the best during our time with it:

Carrier Options

One of SimOptions' most notable features is its extensive partnerships with local mobile operators worldwide. This allows them to provide a diverse array of eSIM plans from different carriers in each country, giving customers more options to choose from based on their specific needs and preferences.

Competitive Prices

SIMOptions is known for its budget-friendly eSIM plans, often undercutting the prices of other providers. For example, it offers 15-day data packages for all of Europe for as low as $14.90 USD, which is significantly cheaper than other providers and networks.

Affiliate Program

Another unique feature of SIMOptions is its affiliate program, which allows customers to earn commissions by referring others to purchase eSIMs. Whenever someone purchases a data plan from SIMOptions through your affiliate link, you get 10%. 

SIMOptions: Installation

To get started, simply visit SIMOptions’ website and select the eSIM package that suits your travel needs. The checkout process is quick and easy, requiring only your contact information, billing address, and payment details — no sign-up necessary. 

Once your payment is processed, you'll receive an email containing a QR code and instructions for installing the eSIM on your device. Activation is immediate upon installation, with the data plan switching on as soon as you reach your target destination.

However, SIMOptions requires you to go through the first-time activation process before you begin your trip, in the same country where you purchased your eSIM. Apart from that, the onboarding is user-friendly and there are plenty of resources to help you along.

SIMOptions: Coverage and speed

SIMOptions is a reseller marketplace that repackages eSIM plans from local telecom providers across 200+ countries. However, features, allowances, and network performance are not consistent across all locations and can differ based on your telecom network.

Because it offers no eSIM plans of its own, SIMOptions users regularly complain of issues like throttling, price hikes, and unresponsive support from individual network operators. Compared to other eSIM providers like Airalo or Holafly, SIMOptions falls short in almost every aspect. 

However, if you’re looking for a provider with complete carrier transparency, with the option to choose the exact telecom provider you want, this may be a good choice for you.

SIMOptions: Support

SIMOptions offers several customer support channels, including live chat, email (contact@simoptions.com), and phone (+1 6465862166). However, the quality and responsiveness of their support seem to be inconsistent.

SIMOptions claims to provide 24/7 customer service, but some reviewers have reported issues with getting timely responses or resolutions to their problems. In one case, a SIMOptions customer waited in the live chat queue for 20 minutes without receiving a response. Email support also appears to be hit-or-miss, with some customers receiving prompt replies and others being left without a resolution.

While it has a 4.3-star rating on TrustPilot, a closer inspection shows that SIMOptions has only replied to 6 out of 51 negative reviews, taking up to a week to respond. This suggests that the company is not quick to address customer complaints.

SIMOptions: Final verdict

SIMOptions is a good choice for budget-conscious travelers who prioritize wide country coverage and competitive pricing. With eSIM plans available for over 200 countries at affordable rates, it can provide significant savings compared to traditional roaming fees.

However, the inconsistent network performance and limited data allowances could be problematic for travelers who heavily rely on mobile data. Customer support is another concern, since getting a solution for your problem while on a foreign trip can be a real hit-or-miss experience.

SIMOptions: FAQs

Avast One Gold is a powerful security suite with a top-rated antivirus, web protection and a host of privacy extras. Top of the list is an unlimited VPN, but other welcome features include a firewall, device cleanup, tracker blocking, and a lengthy list of speed, privacy and protection tools.

Signing up gets you coverage for up to five devices, and there’s support for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.

Avast One Gold is a very capable suite, broadly comparable to the likes of Bitdefender Premium Security or Norton 360 Deluxe. In this review we’ll look at everything it has to offer, and whether this could be the ideal security suite for you.

Avast One Gold: Pricing

Avast One comes in four editions.

Avast One Basic is a Windows-only app with antivirus, web protection, a limited VPN and not much else.

Avast One Silver protects up to three Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices, and adds an unlimited VPN along with a scattering of other features. It’s yours for $2.99 a month ($35.88 billed annually) in year one, $6.67 a month ($79.99 billed annually) on renewal.

Avast One Gold covers up to five devices and adds many more performance, privacy and security tools . It costs $6.99 a month ($83.88 billed annually) in year one, $14.99 a month ($179.99 billed annually) on renewal.

Avast One Premium is essentially Avast One Gold with full identity theft protection thrown in, including credit report monitoring and $2 million insurance. It’s more expensive at $9.99 a month in year one (a total of $119.88), $24.99 a month ($299.99 a year) on renewal, but then it does also cover 30 devices. Could be good value if you’ve a lot of hardware to protect.

Avast One Gold is within the price range we expect for a premium security suite, but some of the top competition are a little cheaper. Bitdefender Premium Security has a full VPN and covers up to ten devices, but it’s fractionally cheaper at $79.99 in year one, $159.99 on renewal. And Norton 360 Deluxe is the clear value leader, with a full VPN and five device support for only $49.99 in year one, $119.99 on renewal.

Avast One Gold: Getting started

Avast One installed easily on our test Windows laptop. The setup program ran a couple of scans to identify and remove any existing malware, and one reboot later, we were ready to go.

The Avast One interface has a colorful, friendly look, replacing dull Windows app icons and widgets with a light and airy design and a sprinkling of cartoon-like graphics (a running dog rather than a progress bar, for instance.)

The opening Avast One screen has a handy button to launch a Smart Scan, while other tiles include buttons to enable or disable the VPN, delete your browser history, clear your hard drive, optimize your running processes, and more.

An Explore button displays icons for many other features: the web shield to protect your browsing, email guardian to monitor local and webmail messages for dangerous links, a firewall, webcam protection, dark web monitoring, the software updater to find missing security patches, and more. 

Choose an option for the first time and Avast One usually displays a simple tutorial page; a screenshot of the image with notes explaining what to do. It’s a smart way to help explain the very basics for security newbies.

Mostly, the Avast One interface works very well. It’s simple enough for beginners to use right away, yet also makes it reasonably straightforward for experts to find the options they need.

Avast One Gold: Antivirus Lab Test Results

Although we put every antivirus app we review through our own series of tests, we also pay close attention to results from the big antivirus testing labs.

We follow nine tests from labs including AV-Comparatives (Real-World Protection, Malware Protection, Android, Anti-Phishing, Performance), AV-Test (Windows, Android), MRG Effitas (360° Protection Testing) and SE Labs (Endpoint Security Home).

Each test has its own scoring system, making it tricky to compare performance. To address this, we use a special algorithm which (as long as an app is in at least five tests) converts the various results into a single summary score from zero to 10 representing the vendor’s overall rating.

Avast’s combined score was an excellent 9.98, putting it in first place, just ahead of Bitdefender (9.97), Avira (9.96) and F-Secure (9.96.)

Avast did this by appearing in all nine of the tests we monitor, too, the only provider to manage that, and giving us even more confidence that this is a reliable measure of Avast’s abilities.

No antivirus provider excels at everything, and Avast does have one or two weaker points. Bitdefender beat it into second place for anti-phishing, for instance, and ESET and Bitdefender outperformed Avast in the last Advanced Threat Protection report (a measure of how well an antivirus can block more complex and sophisticated attacks.)

Reaching ‘only’ second place for anti-phishing isn’t exactly a problem, though, and Avast more than makes up for that with first (or equal first) places in the Real-World Protection, Malware Protection, Android (AV-Test), MRG Effitas and SE Labs reports.

Put it all together and the message is clear: whatever threat your device encounters, Avast has some of the best tools around to keep you safe.

Avast One Gold: Tough on brand new files

Avast One automatically scans files as you open or launch them, allowing it to detect most threats before they can cause any harm. That’s good, but Avast does have one feature which could be annoying.

If you launch an app Avast hasn’t seen before, Avast One typically pauses the app and leaves you waiting for 15-60 seconds while it analyses the file for threats. During the review, we had a couple of occasions where Avast couldn’t decide whether an app was dangerous or not, so sent the file to its Threat Labs and blocked it from running until it got a verdict back (which could take a few hours.)

This can be a real hassle if, say, you’ve just downloaded a new installer which you’re 100% sure is safe. It’s also far more intrusive than many competitors. For example, if Avira doesn’t recognize a file, it generally just tells you that and asks if you’d like to run it anyway.

But, there’s no doubt Avast’s approach is more secure. If you’re the type of user who will run into this situation all the time - you’re a developer building your own projects, say - this might be so annoying that you decide to turn the feature off. But for everyone else, Avast just about earns a thumbs up for its tough security-first design.

Avast One Gold: Antivirus scanning

Avast One offers various types of on-demand scan to check everything from a single file to an entire hard drive for potential danger.

The default Smart Scan quickly checks the most commonly-infected areas for malware, identifies security vulnerabilities and even helps free up drive space by highlighting junk files that can safely be deleted.

On our test device, Smart Scan completed in around a minute, but still managed to find two relevant security settings issues (Data Execution Prevention not turned on and notifications visible on our lock screen), and noticed a couple of desktop text files stuffed with phishing links.

Avast can also scan selected files, folders or drives from Explorer (right-click and choose ‘Scan selected items for viruses’.) There’s a Deep Scan option to check your entire system, a Boot-Time Scan to look for threats before Windows boots (valuable for catching stealthy threats), and even a Custom Scan feature to define your own checks. 

Scanning speeds aren’t the best. Avast scanned 50GB+ of test executables in around 35 minutes, while Norton took 32 minutes and Avira required 26:30. Bitdefender was fractionally slower at 37 minutes on its first run, but because it only scans new or changed files by default, this dropped to 30 seconds on the second scan. Avast stayed at around 35 minutes for subsequent scans.

This shouldn’t be an issue for most users, though, because it generally isn’t necessary to run regular on-demand scans. Overall, Avast scores well on scanning for delivering several scan types, and giving you plenty of options to create scans of your own and automatically run them whenever you like.

Avast One Gold: Password-protected files

Scanning archives presents all kinds of issues for antivirus, so we pay close attention to how each app handles these situations. Avast One scored for recognizing common archive formats and not being tricked by zip bombs (archives within archives within archives), but it’s not so great at handling password-protected files: it just ignores them. And that’s a concern.

Suppose a work colleague gives you a bunch of files to share with others, and one of those is a password-protected zip which (unknown to you) is infected with malware. You scan the folder with Avast One, it checks the files it can open, ignores the password-protected file that it can’t, and says ‘we didn’t find any viruses.’ You’ll assume that means all the files are clean, when that simply isn’t true.

Bitdefender handles this much better. If it finds a file is password-protected, Bitdefender prompts you for the password. If you don’t know what it is, you’re warned about any skipped files in the scan report. Instead of Avast’s ‘we didn’t find anything’, Bitdefender tells you ‘we didn’t find anything (but we couldn’t look here)’, a potentially very important extra detail.

This may not have much, perhaps any real-world impact on your security. Once you unzip your archive with the password, Avast One should automatically detect any threats as they’re written to your drive. But there is still scope for problems, especially if you send the archive to someone else without unpacking it yourself.

Avast One Gold: Anti-ransomware

Ransomware is one of the most dangerous threats around, with Sophos’ latest ‘State of Ransomware’ report finding that 59% of organizations had experienced an attack in the last year.

We test an antivirus’ ransomware-fighting abilities by pitting the app against our own simple ransomware simulator. Avast scored well initially, detecting our simulator before it was able to run. But the bad news is once we made a small change to the simulator code, Avast didn’t recognise the file as a threat, and it was able to encrypt 3GB+ of user documents without any issues.

Although that’s not good news, Avast scores very highly when measured against genuine ransomware. MRG Effitas’ latest Ransomware tests pitted Avast against 37 ransomware samples, and it blocked every one.

It’s not just about detection. Avast One also has an extra layer of protection which prevents untrusted apps from modifying files in specific folders. This protects your desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos and Music folders by default, and you can easily apply it to others. 

We turned this extra protective layer on for the test folder, and Avast wouldn’t allow the simulator to modify any files unless we gave permission.  That doesn’t completely solve the problem, because Avast still didn’t recognize our simulator as dangerous; it was able to keep running, and could try to carry out other compromising tasks. But this is still a useful extra feature which may protect your system from brand new ransomware threats.

Avast One Gold: Anti-phishing

The best security apps don’t just block threats as they arrive: they prevent you ever accessing them in the first place. That’s why we’re always very interested in an app’s ability to keep you safe from phishing and other malicious websites.

The independent labs don’t pay much attention to phishing, but AV-Comparatives does have a small annual test with a handful of providers. The last report gave Avast a decent detection rate of 94%, just behind Bitdefender (96%), but outperforming ESET (92%) and Avira (88%.)

We ran a test of our own, and attempted to access 100 brand new phishing URLs on an Avast-protected system. Avast’s protection rate was very similar at 93%, but others did better; Norton reached 95%, Bitdefender 96%, and Avira led the way with a perfect 100%.

We also compared Avast’s results with Chrome, giving us a better idea of how much additional protection it offered. The results were very positive: Chrome only detected 65% of our test threats, so Avast identified an additional 28%. And in some extra good news, Chrome detected all seven of the phishing sites Avast missed, which means using Avast and Chrome together would block 100% of our sample threats.

Avast One Gold Performance impact

Detection rates and threat blocking stats are important, but there’s another factor to consider. The best antivirus apps keep you safe without slowing your device down, raising false alarms or otherwise interfering with your day.

AV-Comparatives’ Performance Test measures the performance impact of 16 antivirus apps on tasks including browsing websites, downloading files, and installing and launching applications. Avast had no significant impact on any area, earning the company an excellent equal third with Avira, just behind ESET and McAfee. 

We used the excellent PCMark benchmark to measure every aspect of our review laptop performance, and it delivered even better results. Although there’s only a tiny difference between the top providers, Avast One still beat Bitdefender, Norton and Avira for its minimal speed impact.

Antivirus can also slow you down by raising false alarms, making it more difficult to download or install legitimate apps. Avast isn’t quite the best around, but it has fewer than most, reaching equal third in AV-Comparatives’ False Alarm test behind Trend Micro and Bitdefender. 

Avast One Gold: Email Guardian

Email Guardian scans your incoming and outgoing emails for dangerous attachments. Most antivirus apps do something similar, but what’s different here is Email Guardian doesn’t just protect local email service like Outlook: it can also optionally monitor webmail accounts, filtering messages in the cloud to protect you from incoming threats.

We tried adding a Gmail account, and it worked much like adding an extension to most web services: Google explained Avast was asking to access our emails, we gave permission, and that was that. Easy.

While that’s a definite protection plus, it does also require giving your email address, account details and full email access to Avast. If you want to preserve the maximum possible privacy, that might be a step too far. But if it’s not a problem for you, Email Guardian is simple to set up and works with Gmail, Outlook, AOL, Comcast, GMX, Mail.ru, Seznam, Web.de, Yahoo and Yandex accounts.

Avast One Gold: Firewall

Avast’s Firewall monitors incoming and outgoing traffic to prevent hackers accessing your device, or malware sending your personal information to the outside world.

This isn’t the traditional expert-level firewall software provided by Bitdefender or Norton, where you can fine-tune network traffic by setting up complex rules (block or allow traffic by protocol, port and more.)

Instead, Avast One generally makes its own decisions about which traffic to block. We were able to view a history of recently blocked traffic in the firewall window, but there’s no option to tweak this behavior in future, no way to say ‘please allow the connection next time.’

The firewall does allow you to choose processes which then won’t be able to access the internet. That could be useful if an app uses too much data, say, but isn’t as helpful for security. (If you don’t trust an app then you should uninstall it, not just block its web access.)

Put it all together and the firewall follows the same pattern as many Avast One features. It could be useful in a few situations, but it’s not as powerful as similar tools from the top competition. And as long as Avast still detected and blocked malicious apps in the background, you wouldn’t miss the firewall window if it wasn’t there.

Avast One Gold: Avast SecureLine VPN

Avast SecureLine VPN protects your identity and traffic just like any specialist VPN service, but it aims to be much easier to use. There’s no display of IP addresses or other cryptic networking details, no real complexities at all: just a switch on the main Avast One dashboard to connect to the VPN when you need it, and disconnect when you don’t.

There’s a version of the VPN available in the free Avast One Basic. This looks better than most, thanks to a generous 5GB data allowance a week, but beware. You can’t choose your location (the app automatically chooses the nearest server), and there’s no access to settings, so you can’t enable the kill switch.

Fortunately, Avast One Silver and Gold include the full and unlimited VPN. There are no data limits or settings restrictions, and you get access to Avast’s network of 59 cities across 37 countries. That might be enough for your needs (and it beats Norton VPN’s 29 countries), but Bitdefender offers 53 countries, and many specialist VPN providers have 80 countries and more.

Avast One Gold: VPN Features

Avast’s VPN settings are a little limited. There’s no ability to choose a protocol  (the app supports WireGuard and OpenVPN, but decides the best option itself), and no split tunneling or other more advanced features.

The app does have a kill switch, and it worked reasonably well in testing. When we closed the Avast process responsible for the WireGuard connection, for instance, our internet was blocked immediately, the app notified us that it was reconnecting, and we were back online, VPN restored, in a couple of seconds.

An unusual auto-connect feature can automatically turn on the VPN when you access banking sites, when you’re shopping, streaming, torrenting and more. Bitdefender has something similar, and it’s potentially very useful, as it reduces the chance that you’ll forget to turn on the VPN at a sensitive site.

Unfortunately, Avast’s version just didn’t work as expected. It mis-labelled some sites, for example warning us to enable the VPN for banking when we visited the genealogy site Ancestry.com or the UK property site Rightmove. It didn’t work at all with many popular UK streaming sites, and then it simply stopped working, for no apparent reason, and wouldn’t auto-connect for any site we tried. We don’t know how common this might be, but if you can’t rely on auto-connect working whenever you need it, then the feature really isn’t much use at all.

Avast One VPN speeds varied quite a bit, but were generally very acceptable. The free version managed 70-220Mbps, for instance, more than enough for any task, and the unlimited VPN peaked at around 800Mbps.

Unblocking results were poor. Avast couldn’t get us into Netflix in the US, UK, Australia, Canada or Japan, for instance. It also failed with BBC iPlayer, ITV and Channel 4. 

Avast did score one success in Australia, where we were able to access 9Now. But most VPNs do the same, and Avast couldn’t unblock the far better defended 10Play.

Although Avast clearly isn’t a great VPN, it delivers just-about-acceptable results on privacy at least, especially for the price you’re paying. NordVPN is our top-rated VPN, for instance, but its one-year Basic plan costs $68.85; Avast Silver only costs $35.88 in year one, and that’s the VPN, antivirus and a full security suite, too.

Avast One Gold: Webcam Protection

Webcam Protection prevents webcam hijacking by preventing untrusted apps from using your camera unless you give permission. Or if you rarely use your webcam, there’s a more extreme option to turn it off for everyone.

This mostly worked as expected. We ran several custom apps to grab webcam images and audio; Avast One recognised which were trusted and which weren’t, asked if the app was safe, and didn’t allow access if we clicked the ‘Block’ button.

We noticed that if we simply closed the ‘Block or Allow?’ box, though, without clicking either option, Avast allowed the app to access our device. That’s potentially unsafe if, say, the user is in a hurry and closes the box without properly reading it. We prefer this kind of tool to block apps by default, and only permit access if the user specifically clicks the Allow button.

Avast One Gold: Sensitive Data Shield

The Sensitive Data Shield can limit access to confidential documents to specific apps or other user accounts on your PC. It works, but protection is limited to PDFs and documents in Office format, and if someone can access the device using your account then they can also access your files as usual. If you need to protect key files, save them using an encrypted storage service such as NordLocker or Microsoft OneDrive’s Personal Vault, and they’ll provide far better protection.

Avast One Gold: Bonus Protection Tools

Avast One’s Device Protection menu looks impressive, initially, with no less than 15 tools. This isn’t as good as you might think, because Avast has padded the list out by giving related features their own menu entry (virus and email scanning and quarantine take up four menu options, for instance.) But we’re looked at valuable tools like anti-phishing, firewall and ransomware protection already, and there are other interesting features here.

The Sandbox allows you to run untrusted apps in an isolated environment where they can’t change files, modify system settings or generally damage your system.

A sandbox can be handy for expert users who understand how they work, but they have their limits. This one allows apps to access the internet by default, for instance, so if an app steals some passwords and sends them home, the sandbox won’t help (you can turn off internet access in settings, but then some apps may not work at all.) In general, if you don’t trust an app then the answer isn’t to run it in the sandbox: it’s not to run it at all.

Network Inspector is a feature which automatically scans new networks for vulnerabilities every time you connect to them. That’s good to know, but it’s difficult to usefully test this kind of feature, and we can’t be sure how effective Network Inspector might be.

Avast One’s Web Hijack Guard blocks DNS hijacking attacks, where a hacker redirects you from the banking or shopping site you need, to a malicious clone which then steals your details.

Web Hijack Guard works by routing DNS requests through an encrypted connection to Avast’s own secure DNS server. That does offer some protection, but it might conflict with VPNs, which also try to redirect your DNS. If your VPN offers DNS-based web content blocking, for instance, this won’t work if Avast grabs your DNS instead.

Finally, Avast’s Password Protection prevents apps accessing passwords stored in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, unless you give permission. We ran an app to read our Chrome passwords, and, sure enough, Avast One raised an alert. It’s a small feature, but an unusual one we rarely see elsewhere, and we’re happy it’s included here.

Avast One Gold: Bank Mode

Avast’s Bank Mode is a custom Chrome-based browser which runs in its own virtual desktop, isolated from the rest of your system. Access banking or other sensitive sites using Bank Mode, and even if malware is running on your system, it shouldn’t be able to grab screenshots, log keypresses or otherwise see what you’re doing.

Avast didn’t automatically prompt us to use Bank Mode when we visited a few banking sites, unlike Bitdefender and its similar Safepay feature. We launched it manually, and were surprised to see Bank Mode automatically install (though not activate) a host of Chrome extensions, including some from other vendors: Avira Browser Safety, Password Manager and Safe Shopping; Kaspersky Protection; Malwarebytes Browser Guard; McAfee Web Boost; even NordVPN and PureVPN Chrome extensions.

There may have been others, too; Chrome displayed an ‘Error’ message after installing these addons, though it wasn’t clear why. This isn’t as bad as it sounds, because although these extensions were installed, they weren’t activated, they wouldn’t run any code unless you manually turned them on. Still, it seems odd to create an environment which you want to be isolated from other processes, but then fill that environment with all kinds of apps from assorted vendors. 

The core of Bank Mode works reasonably well. We launched it with a click, and browsed as usual. A commercial keylogger (and our own custom logger) weren’t able to record our keypresses, and a screenshot tool wasn’t able to take images of Bank Mode activity. 

Overall, we suspect most users won’t see enough benefit from the likes of Bank Mode or Safepay to justify the hassle of using a separate secure browser. If you feel you need that extra protection, we think Bitdefender’s Safepay is a little, well, safer. But Avast One’s Bank Mode is more convenient to use, and adds some useful extra layers of protection. 

Avast One Gold: More Privacy Tools

Avast One includes a number of smaller features which aim to protect your privacy online.

Tracking Prevention randomises your device fingerprint, preventing sites tracking you with browser fingerprinting. It doesn’t need any configuration: just install Avast One Gold and it goes to work right away. Avast warns that the technology might cause issues with some websites, though, and there’s no way to add those as exceptions. If there are problems, all you can do is turn Tracking Prevention off entirely.

Clear Browsing Data is a one-stop tool which allows you to delete all your browser histories with one click. It displayed the total space taken by the least important Chrome, Firefox and Edge data on our review PC, and deleted all of it when we clicked ‘Remove.’

Sensible default settings mean Clear Browsing Data deletes tracking cookies and your browser cache, but not regular cookies or your browser history. That’s good to see, and means you’ll stay logged into most websites when the wiping is complete. But there are plenty of free cleanup tools around which do a lot more, and even Avast’s CCleaner includes many extra cleaning tools and configuration options.

Private Mode improves your browsing privacy by connecting to the VPN, enabling tracking protection and opening your browser in Incognito mode. This might make you a little safer, but it took us four clicks to open from Avast’s dashboard: in real world use, we would probably just enable the VPN and private browsing when we needed it, in the normal way.

Dark Web Monitoring checks your email address to see if it’s been included in a data breach, or - if you provide your email to create an Avast account - regularly monitors the address and raises an alert if it appears in a new breach.

While this can be interesting, most of the breaches for our email address were ancient history, with some ten or more years old. You can get much the same information for free at Have I Been Pwned. 

The Privacy Advisor sounds more promising, with details on how to optimize privacy settings for Google, Facebook, Twitter/ X, Amazon, Instagram, Linkedin and YouTube, as well as a handful of Android and iOS apps (WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram, Tiktok, Messenger.)

Privacy Advisor can’t automate these changes, unfortunately. Instead it displays step-by-step tutorials on how to find whatever settings you might want to tweak. 

The guides are well presented, with screenshots and occasional buttons to open the right settings page. But some of the advice didn’t match what we saw on our accounts - settings text had changed, maybe a setting was in a different place - and we had to do a little more work to hunt down the right option.

Avast One Gold: Performance Tools

Early Windows antivirus apps often hit PC performance, reducing device speeds to a crawl. It’s very different these days - developers are smarter, hardware is much faster - but Avast and others still include speedup features to try and compensate for any slowdown.

Driver Updater finds and installs missing device driver updates. In theory this could be a good idea, optimizing performance and highlighting missing security patches, but there are dangers. If Avast One makes a single error in the update process, it could break your PC to the point that it won’t even boot. Avast One has no built-in way to undo driver changes, either, so you’re left to rely on System Restore or other Windows recovery options.

Driver Updater does still have some value. If nothing else, just seeing that, say, your webcam has a really outdated driver could be helpful if it’s misbehaving. But it’s best to use it, well, cautiously.

Avast One Gold: PC Speedup

Avast’s PC Speedup is a clever tool which optimizes PC performance by reducing the number of processes running in the background. The less resources these processes use, the more your main apps will get.

We ran PC Speedup, and it listed 35 processes that were running in the background of our review laptop, along with an estimate of their impact on performance. Clicking a ‘Details’ link displayed brief details on what the process does, and an Optimise button prevented the process using resources until we opened it.

Using PC Speedup properly requires a lot of work. In our case, we would have to work through all 35 processes, read the Details page, maybe Google for the process, try to decide if it was suitable for optimisation, or not. Many of our 35 processes were important - software updaters, our backup service - and optimising the wrong process could cause all kinds of unexpected problems. (Including security issues, if we stopped getting updates.)

PC Speedup is an interesting feature which could make a real performance difference to some systems. But, it’s not for non-technical types, and you’ll need plenty of time and PC knowledge to use the tool safely.

Avast One Gold: Disk Cleaner

As the name suggests, Disk Cleaner helps free up storage space by identifying junk files that can safely be deleted.

The tool told us it could recover a huge 34.1GB, but that’s largely because it included 12GB+ of old Restore Points, there was 14GB of data in the Recycle Bin, and it suggested clearing out the Downloads folder.

In theory you can view Disk Cleaner’s chosen files and decide whether to delete them or not, but poor design makes this tricky. Most similar tools clearly identify the applications they’re cleaning, so you can easily choose to wipe Chrome’s history, Google Earth’s cache, and so on. But Avast displays generic titles like ‘Program Backup Files’, ‘Program Cache Files’ and ‘Program Log Files’, for instance. If you don’t want to delete Google Earth files, you must choose each section in turn and scroll through potentially thousands of files to find what you need.

We think Avira Prime’s Power Cleaner is a much better tool. It did a much better job of cleaning up leftover Windows and application junk, finding 31.7GB it could delete (and that didn’t include System Restore points), and it’s much easier to decide what to keep and what to dump.

Avast One Gold: Avast One for Mac

We were impressed by Avast One’s antivirus performance on Windows, but Mac users get even better protection: both AV-Comparatives and AV-Test gave Avast 100% for protection in their last Mac tests.

The app looks great, with the same clean and friendly interface as the Windows edition. Tap the Explore icon on the left and everything you need is just a click or two away.

We found the Avast app easy to use, and it generally performed well in our tests. One exception was the VPN’s auto-connect feature, which proved just as flaky as on Windows. When we turned it on for streaming, for instance, it worked initially for Netflix, but did nothing when we tried the site later, and entirely ignored BBC iPlayer and Disney Plus. Not an option we can recommend.

Avast One for Mac is a little short on features. It has the core antivirus, ransomware, email and web protection, along with the unlimited VPN and dark web monitoring. But the firewall, sandbox, Bank Mode, webcam protection and other Windows features haven’t made it to the Mac. And some tools are less powerful than their Windows cousins (there’s no kill switch with the Mac VPN.)

Overall, Avast One for Mac scores for its excellent malware protection and unlimited VPN. If you don’t need the VPN, though, Avast One Free might be enough for you. And if it’s power you’re after, Norton 360 for Mac has a firewall, webcam protection, cloud backup and even parental controls. (Oh, and it’s cheaper, too.)

Avast One Gold: Avast One for Android

Avast One for Android may not have all the features we found on Windows, but it includes the protection essentials, and throws in one or two mobile-friendly extras for good measure.

Avast’s Android malware protection is accurate and reliable, scoring 100% for both well-known and zero day threats in AV-Test’s last report, for instance. That puts it equal first in the protection charts along with Norton, Bitdefender and Trend Micro, and fractionally ahead of Avira, F-Secure and McAfee.

As with Avast One on the desktop, there’s a VPN, too. Free users can’t choose their location and are limited to 5GB data a week (though that’s still generous for a free VPN), but signing up for Avast One Gold drops the restrictions and sees you able to use the service as much as you like.

The app includes Avast One’s capable web, anti-phishing and email protection, and has a handful of the features we’ve discussed above: data breaching monitoring alerts you if your email appears on the dark web, for instance, while Privacy Insights explains how to secure various apps and web accounts, and Performance Center helps you find and delete junk files.

There are one or two features you won’t find on Windows. App Lock allows you to lock individual apps with a PIN, password or fingerprint; App Insights shows you which apps use what permissions, and Photo Vault can prevent others viewing certain photos unless they have the PIN.

You won’t be overwhelmed with Avast One’s Android abilities, but it does a solid job of protecting your device

Avast One Gold: Avast One for iOS

Avast One’s iOS edition is the most basic in the range, as we see with most security suites. But there’s still worthwhile protection from malicious links in your browser and emails, while the unlimited VPN keeps your internet traffic safe from snoopers.

A handful of extras include dark web monitoring to warn you if your details appear in a data breach, and an option to keep photos hidden in an encrypted folder that only you can access. These work as advertised, but they’re not outstanding in any way, and there are better apps and services you can use for free.

The app looks good and has the same visual style as the rest of the range, though with some odd design differences. VPN locations on iOS are grouped by continent, for instance; on Windows, they’re in one big alphabetically-sorted list; and on Android, they’re a jumbled mess. That might be confusing if you’re using Avast One on several platforms, and it’s surely not that difficult to fix. If you generally just hit ‘On’ to access your nearest server then you may never notice, though, and in general the app is easy to use.

Overall, Avast One for iOS is a decent security app, but it’s exactly overflowing with features. If you don’t need the unlimited VPN, the free Avast One Basic may be enough. There’s no Email Guardian to highlight malicious links in your emails, but you get the same browsing protection, and although the free VPN doesn’t allow changing location, its 5GB a week data allowance is far more generous than most.

Avast One Gold: Final verdict

Avast One Gold has some of the best malware protection around and a stack of protection, privacy and performance features, but it also has a couple of problems. If your needs are simple, Avast One Basic gives you very similar protection for free; and if you’re after power, Bitdefender and Norton have suites with excellent antivirus, full VPNs and even more security features to explore. Avast One is still worth a look, but test the free version before you buy. 

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I can’t tell you my exact words when Lenovo’s 3D software first kicked in because this is a family magazine, but suffice to say that they were accompanied by a cackle of delighted laughter. This was all the more surprising as I’ve seen glasses-free 3D in action many times, most recently on Acer’s Predator Helios 3D 15 laptop. Yet still I was taken aback: there, in front of me, on a 27in monitor, sat a 3D object. 

How does it work? An ingenious combination of lenticular lenses and eye-tracking technology allow the ThinkVision 27 3D to beam one set of images to your left eye and another to your right. There’s also the small matter of a 3D engine inside the monitor that removes much (but not all) of the load from the host PC.

Other than running Lenovo’s software, that’s it. Sit in front of the monitor at a normal viewing distance and it will work. It feels natural, and even when using it for 15 minutes at a time I didn’t experience eye strain. 

The bundled software

I don’t want to undersell the importance of Lenovo’s 3D Explorer software. Developing this has been a lengthy process – the hardware has been ready for almost a year – and it’s clear that Lenovo has worked hard to make it both attractive and intuitive. 

You’ll quickly find plugins for viewing 3D models in 3ds max, Creo and even Microsoft 365 (for example, viewing a 3D object in PowerPoint). Or you can open Lenovo’s 3D Master app and open a supported file type directly. I found the Design Engine app particularly effective, as this creates a floating icon that you can press when in a modelling app (I used it with Sketchup) and it will then render the active model into 3D. 

Results with other people’s models are hit and miss. For example, when I rendered an Intel processor I could twist it any which way I wished, but when I tried to view a set of Budapest churches the software didn’t allow me to zoom in. Then again, you have to be realistic: even though 27in is a good-sized area for 3D effects, it’s not like working in virtual reality when you can look in any direction.

Real-time 3D

I achieved all this on a Surface Book 3 with a Core i7-1065G7, 16GB of RAM and elderly GeForce GTX 1650 graphics. That’s possible because the main on-PC graphical work required is to render the model, so you merely have to wait for this to happen. When I tried to run the real-time 2D to 3D plugin, however, I was told my GPU wasn’t supported. According to the manual, you need GTX 1050 graphics or above.

The app did work on the Asus Vivobook Pro 15 OLED, but I wasn’t taken by the effects. Likewise when gaming. Lenovo provides a Gaming Assistant applet, but I had zero success making it work on the Vivobook or my Surface. Acer’s Helios 3D laptop uses a service called TrueGame that runs compatible games with exactly the right settings, and that mostly works well. Lenovo needs to provide something similar.

The 3D features work best - or at least simplest - over a USB-C connection. Few desktop graphics cards offer this as an option, and it’s highly unlikely that your existing desktop workstation does. Instead, you must additionally connect your PC to the monitor via the main USB-C video input using a USB-A to USB-C cable.

I have worse news for Mac users: it’s currently only compatible with Windows 10 and 11. Time to buy a mobile workstation, perhaps. 

Back to reality

Even if you work in 3D, most of the time you’ll be using the ThinkVision 27 3D as a normal monitor – and it’s excellent in this mode. With one tiny caveat: move close to the monitor and you can see what look like tiny dots on the display, and this lends whites a faint grey tinge from normal viewing distances. But I say “tiny” because it’s only noticeable on white backgrounds, and once I started working on documents I forgot about it.

Similarly to Eizo’s ColorEdge CG2700X, the ThinkVision ships with pre-calibrated profiles for all the major color spaces: sRGB, DCI-P3, Adobe RGB, BT.709 and BT.2020. Switching to each will lock the panel down to those gamuts; for example, in DCI-P3 it covered 96% of the space out of a 98% volume, and in Adobe RGB it was 95% and 97%. 

Color accuracy is yet another strength. Its worst performance came in the sRGB colour space, where it had an average Delta E of 0.45 and a peak of 1.49. Aside from this, the visible colors were almost all under 1 and effectively perfect to the visible eye.

I wouldn’t recommend this monitor to people wanting to edit HDR video, though, as its peak brightness is 322cd/m2. Nor would it be my first port of call for watching films or playing games, with an unexceptional contrast ratio of 1,050:1 and a peak refresh rate of 60Hz. At least its response times are good, with 4ms grey-to-grey if you use the Extreme overdrive setting.

OSD extras

You can access this and other settings either via Lenovo’s Accessories and Display Manager software (assuming you’re connected over USB-C) or the OSD. The latter uses a joystick at the rear right of the monitor, and while it’s intuitive it’s surprisingly sluggish for such an expensive monitor.

But there’s good news. First is the dedicated button for switching between the four video inputs. Second is that you can allocate shortcuts to the joystick. For example, if you regularly jump between color modes you can press right (for example) on the joystick to bring up the gamut options rather than going through the full menu. 

The software offers far richer options than that menu, including automatically switching color modes based on the app. So if you know you always want InDesign to run in Adobe RGB but you want 3D Explorer to stick to sRGB, you can control it. Not all your software will be detected, though; for instance, there was no sign of Sketchup. And although there’s one user preset, your color options are minimal. Again, the Eizo wins here.

Bezel extras

The ThinkVision’s front bezel is more noteworthy than most. Next to the power button you’ll find two buttons to control the speaker volume, and you’ll use them: the ThinkVision 27 3D’s sound is equivalent to a standalone speaker, and I never felt the need to switch to my Amazon Echo when playing music. The sound emanates from the grille at the bottom of the screen, with the eye-tracking cameras tucked into a lozenge-shaped area slap bang in the middle.

In terms of design, the ThinkVision 27 3D exudes industrial chic from the back as well as the front. At the rear, vertical lines help to disguise the central bulge that contains the sophisticated electronics inside. 

Two USB-A ports and a 3.5mm jack sit on the left for easy access, along with a fold-out headphone stand. Things are more crowded at the rear, with two HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort and the main USB-C connector, which can deliver up to 100W of power to a connected laptop. There’s no USB-B port, so no way to share a keyboard and mouse, but you do get a third USB-A port and a second USB-C port that can deliver 15W.

There’s one more surprise. Lenovo hides a fourth USB-A port at the top rear of the unit; unpeel the cover and it sits there, ready for a webcam perhaps. 

Time to buy?

The quality extends to the superb stand, which keeps the weighty panel rock steady, offers 155mm of height adjustment and swivels smoothly (and rotates into pivot mode). The stand even includes a place to hold your phone upright, but sadly it doesn’t offer wireless charging.

So, should you buy the ThinkVision 27 3D? You’ll have at least a couple of months to decide, with Lenovo saying it will confirm on-sale dates in June. By that point I hope to have also reviewed Acer’s rival offering, the SpatialLabs View Pro 27.

Clearly, the ThinkVision 27 3D isn’t a mainstream monitor. And the fact the 3D effects only work on Windows diminish its appeal. Despite this, if your work involves 3D modelling then you may also find yourself saying a couple of choice words when you see the effect for the first time. 

Specifications

This review first appeared in Issue 357 of PC Pro.

Cyber Acoustics AC-304C: 30-second review

 The Cyber Acoustics AC-304C promises to be the ideal headset for call center workers or anyone who works from a busy home environment, all while keeping reasonably priced for what it offers. 

We’ve tested out loads of the best headphones with mics and best headsets for conference calls, with the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C fitting squarely into the work-focused category. These won’t be headphones for listening to music and enjoying anything other than a neutral experience. However, for taking calls and being heard clearly even if chaos is reigning around you, the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C are exceptional. In particular, the headset is a good option for anyone who works from home and has the challenges that come with that.

Inline controls make it simple to adjust the volume or mute your mic without having to fumble for it. There’s also a long cable for ensuring there’s a bit of flexibility with how you move although it won’t compete with wireless options, of course.

The Cyber Acoustics AC-304C is also very lightweight so you hardly notice it on your head during the working day. However, we did find the earcups a tad uncomfy after extended periods of use and a little adjustment was needed. It’s no deal-breaker but if you’re used to memory foam cushioning your ears, you may want to spend more. In this price range though, it’s hard to fault the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C as we’ll soon see.

Cyber Acoustics AC-304C: Price & availability

• $99.99/£99.99 
• Available now

The Cyber Acoustics AC-304C is available directly from the Cyber Acoustics website or you can buy it on third-party retailers like Amazon US. It’s available both in the US and UK with seemingly no stock issues right now. 

• Score: 5/5

Cyber Acoustics AC-304C: Design & fit

• Lightweight build
• Inline controls
• Leatherette material

The Cyber Acoustics AC-304C headset looks fairly unassuming. We’re talking super lightweight headset with a drop-down mic on one side and soft leatherette earcups to keep your head snug. The headset is sufficiently slender, one would think it would be fragile but it seems fairly robust when tossed around a little or simply plonked on a desk frequently. 

Inline controls reside about three feet down. There are two volume adjust buttons with a large mic mute button in the middle. It changes between red and green depending on if the mic has been muted or not. It’s also suitably large enough that you can easily tap it even while midway through a call or video chat. The only extra it’s missing is that while the buttons are divided up, there’s no tactile feeling to help remind you of what you’re about to tap without looking. In particular, that can be problematic when trying to find the volume up or down button while not looking down.

Five feet further down the line is the USB-C connection with the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C coming with a USB-C to USB-A adapter if you prefer or need to use an USB-A port. 

The mic can be swung up or down depending on if you need to be heard, while the headset overall can be adjusted to accommodate larger heads.

The fit is simple but mostly effective. Easy to slip on with adjustable parts on the headset, the only issue arises with the earcups. These start out comfortable but over time, can start to press on your ears a tad. I found moving the earcups around did help so some of it comes down to the size of your ears and arrangement, rather than deliberate clamping force. 

• Score: 4/5

Cyber Acoustics AC-304C: Sound quality

• Environmental noise cancellation
• Neutral sound profile
• No sidetone

Designed with video conferencing and work in mind, the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C focus on providing a neutral sound profile rather than elevating bass or similar like your regular headphones may do so. That means that you get a crisp and clear experience each step of the way but not one that lends itself to listening to music during your breaks. 

Crucially, the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C uses AI-based microphone noise cancellation to eliminate background noise around you. Appropriately, it sounds too good to be true but in our time using it among construction noises nearby and a yelling cat, anyone we spoke to didn’t hear what was going on in the background. It works far better than your average microphone and perhaps more importantly, provides good peace of mind as you don’t have to worry about disruptions. It’s professional and due to it being tied into the headset, it works with all the audio and video conferencing tools you could plan on using it with.

With home working remaining popular for at least some of the week, the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C instantly proves more useful than in the past. For regular calls such as call center support, there’s no sidetone. Sidetone allows you to hear some of your own voice to check that you’re connected but also potentially proving irritating too. So, the lack of the feature is going to be good and bad news depending on how you feel about it. It’s also a feature we’d typically see on pricier headsets so it’s hardly surprising that the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C lacks it.

• Score: 4/5

Cyber Acoustics AC-304C: Final verdict

The Cyber Acoustics AC-304C gets straight to the point and is a useful USB-C headset. With its environmental noise cancellation, it easily blocks out irritants around you while you’re trying to speak. More importantly, you don’t need to install separate software to do so which is timesaving as well as practical for anyone using a heavily locked down work machine. 

The inline controls cover all your needs while being clearly laid out. If only, they were a little more tactile and the headset itself was a touch more comfortable. Minor quibbles aside however, and the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C is a well-priced option for anyone taking many calls.

Should I buy the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C?

How I tested the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C

I reviewed the Cyber Acoustics AC-304C over a period of 10 days. In that time, I predominantly used the headset on Microsoft Teams and Zoom calls. I also used it to record audio for personal projects. For testing the audio in other contexts, I watched Twitch streams and YouTube videos, as well as listened to music through Spotify. During my time with the headset, I had to handle a noisy cat and near constant construction noises going on nearby.

I have extensive experience in making video and voice calls through my PC and I’ve used many headphones and headsets over the years.

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