I've said it before, and I will say it again: there is a reason Dell is the gold standard when it comes to the best business monitors. Dell has been at the top of the business monitor game for years and continues producing phenomenal monitors for reliability and usability.

Over the last several years, it's no secret that many industries have moved to having virtual meetings throughout their work week. These increases in virtual meetings can be felt by those working in an office, especially those working remotely. If you've been to a few virtual meetings, you have probably experienced those who do not have a webcam, those who have a poor webcam, and those who have an excellent webcam. 

In our experience, the best business webcams, especially when paired with quality audio, help set your best foot forward in presentation, much like if you are dressed well and present yourself well in an in-person meeting. It's not everything, but having a quality way to present yourself is essential when your primary or perhaps only interaction with people is through a virtual meeting.

Dell saw this value and paired it with their skill in creating professional displays for businesses to develop their line of Video Conferencing Monitors. This line-up comes in six sizes: 14-inch, 22-inch, 24-inch, 27-inch, 32-inch, and 34-inch. These sizes offer high-resolution, highly functional monitors with great built-in webcams, speakers, microphones, an onboard dock for your laptop, and Dell's classic adjustable monitor stand.

Dell P3424WEB: Unboxing and First Impressions

As expected, the P3424WEB monitor came well packaged, just like all the Dell monitors I have tested over the years. I can always trust that any packages from the company will arrive securely and safely. All the cables, a stand, and the base were in the box. I set it up quickly and had it running in no time.

This monitor is a standard 34-inch ultrawide monitor with a soundbar, mic, and camera factory-mounted to the top of the monitor. While that may not be surprising, how clean and seamless Dell has made this combination look astonishing. The soundbar spans the entire top of the monitor, though it does not have to, especially for the 34-inch model. Dell has made this look intentional and uniform across their vast monitor sizes. The camera has a physical shutter that I can open and close with a simple twist of a ring, and I can even angle the camera down a bit to get the perfect angle.

Thanks to the built-in USB-C hub, I could quickly and easily plug in my M2 MacBook Pro and get to work without even needing to plug in another dock or adapter, making it one of the best monitors for MacBook Pro in this regard. In fact, thanks to the actual speakers built in, I can use these speakers to play background music, listen in on meetings, and so on without having to deal with terrible standard monitor speakers or only my laptop speakers. Granted, the built-in speakers are nothing incredible, but they are better than standard monitor speakers, 

Dell P3424WEB: Design and Build Quality

As I mentioned earlier, the overall design of document number one can be described as a 34-inch Ultrawide monitor from Dell with a soundbar and camera placed on top. Although it's done well, that is what it is. It took me a moment to get used to the design once I turned everything on and connected it to what I humbly suggest is one of the best MacBook Pro laptops. That's because the large bezel on the top looked strange. However, I quickly got used to it.

The build quality is as high as expected; the stand works well but is still reasonably dull and works consistently. The camera is good enough for even those crucial virtual meetings, and it has built-in AI features that can track your movements to keep you center-frame. Through the free DDPM (Dell Display Peripheral Manager) app, I have complete control of the camera, the monitor, and even the built-in KVM settings. The mic is also clear enough for virtual meetings, and I can pick up my voice well while sitting back in my chair and talking usually. I do not need to raise my voice or speak a sure way to be heard clearly. Lastly, the speakers sound better than dedicated music speakers, Apple Homepods, or a legitimate soundbar.

Dell P3424WEB: In use

In daily use, the monitor excels at productivity tasks and video conferencing. The ultrawide screen allows me to have multiple windows up and spread out or have a smaller number of windows all opened up super large. This helps me multitask efficiently, as I only sometimes have to rely on switching from window to window. 

The high-quality camera and audio features greatly enhance video conferencing, making remote communication more effective and engaging. Yes, all the best business laptops have a decent webcam, but if you're using a business PC, don't have a decent webcam, or want to elevate your virtual meetings, this camera will do the trick and enhance those virtual meetings.

Dell P3424WEB: Final verdict

Dell's P3424WEB Curved Video Conferencing Monitor is an excellent upgrade for anyone with many virtual meetings and needs a lot of screen real estate - it's easily one of the best curved monitors for professional use. The 34-inch ultrawide is a personal favorite of mine for my desks, where I get much work done all at once. 

There is so much room to spread tasks in Windows, chat threads, and apps. On top of the monitor's abilities (see what I did there), the virtual meeting capabilities of this monitor allow it to do so much more than just a standard display. Instead of adding a camera or missing out on a quality virtual meeting experience, you can have significant, clear, and crisp video and audio on your next virtual meeting.

For those prioritizing virtual communication and productivity simultaneously, this monitor should absolutely be considered in your research and would be a worthwhile investment.

We tested the best monitors for the Mac mini - and these are our top-rated picks

Vari, formerly VariDesk, is an impressive standing desk and accessory company. Their quality has improved steadily over the last several years, and the Electric Standing Desk with Comfort Edge is no exception. 

We've tested, reviewed, and rated many of the best standing desks and were very impressed with the company's last offering, the Electric Standing Desk which we awarded 4.5 out of 5. This latest model has many similarities to the beloved original Electric Standing Desk, with some notable changes that make it unique in and of itself.

Vari Electric Standing Desk with Comfort Edge: Unboxing and First Impressions

Vari's packaging is simple and understated. The desk arrived well-packaged with clear instructions on how to build it. The instructions were so clear that my five-year-old son could look at the pictures and understand how to assemble most of the steps. Vari ensured that all the tools needed to assemble the desk were included in the package. The instructions were so simple that I didn't have to use a drill or electric screwdriver as usual. 

Unlike other standing desks I've built in the past, this one already had the desktop and frame assembled, so I only needed to add the legs. Even adding the legs was incredibly simple. The mounting points slid into a groove and clicked down into place; all I did was add a few screws to ensure they stayed locked in place. In addition to this easy way to add the legs, the pre-assembled frame and desktop made the build process much easier and faster. It only took me 14 minutes to complete, even with two kids running around as "helpers."

I noticed the high-quality desktop and leg materials right out of the box. That's a big deal, especially since I have tested many desks. Going into testing this desk, one concern was that I wanted to avoid the ComfortEdge looking gimmicky in real life. It looks good in photos, but in person, I hoped Vari did this rounded edge perfectly, smoothly, and, most importantly, intentionally. Thankfully, that is exactly how it looks. The rounded bevel front looks like a featured element, not an add-on to a previous model.

Vari Electric Standing Desk with Comfort Edge: Design and Build Quality

For a standing desk to be high-quality, the pieces must be made well and from the right materials. For my Vari Desk with Comfort Edge, I chose a walnut top, black legs, and a 48 x 30 desktop size. As I previously stated, the rounded front top edge of the desk stood out immediately, but not in a bad way at all. There was a clear front and back of the desk, and Vari had precisely created this desk version.

The desk, as a whole, has a very clean, minimalist, and modern look. There's nothing flashy, and while I am a big fan of the walnut finishes (no shame for jumping on that bandwagon), this looks good in any of the spaces in my house that I have tried. While moving this desk around to different areas in my house to get a feel for how it looks against various backgrounds, with other lights, and so on, I became very appreciative of the robust construction, the easy-to-remove legs, and height adjustability. I could get this set, plug in the legs, and hit my preset, and no matter what was going on, I could have the desk at the perfect height every time. 

Vari Electric Standing Desk with Comfort Edge: In use

Coming from someone who has used many of the best office desks, both traditional and standing models, I expected to like the ComfortEdge less than I do. I did not think Vari would design this desk so well, nor did I come to appreciate it as much as I do. During long working hours, this ComfortEdge noticeably reduces wrist and arm fatigue as they are no longer resting on a 90-degree angle made of wood.

The rest of the desk is stable, has minimal wobble, and works excellently with the ComfortEdge at various heights. Both while sitting and standing, I appreciate the ComfortEdge design and the relief it brings to my forearms. The desk legs have an impressive height range that I can utilize to set the perfect four memory presets and then continue to choose any height I want manually. Having four presets is something that I took for granted early on in my standing desk journey. It's something that I did not realize how beneficial it was until I didn't have it for a few desks I have had. 

With four presets, I usually set a seated height, a standing height, an ergonomic stool height, and an auxiliary height. The auxiliary height I set is perfect for me to tinker on my desk. Whether that is photo shoots of gear, building something, or opening a package. If I had a stationary desk or a standing desk without presets, I would never take the time to put the desk in this position, but since I can press a button, the desk will automatically go to that perfect height and then back to where I had it before the auxiliary height, it's a no brainer for me.

Vari Electric Standing Desk with Comfort Edge: Final verdict

The Vari Electric Standing Desk with ComfortEdge is a fantastic desk overall. Its smooth taper on the front top edge alleviates pressure from your forearms while you use it, and it looks clean and intentional. While it is expensive, quality standing desks come at a price. If you are looking for an excellent standing desk that will last you years and elevate your work from home or office space, make sure to check out the Vari Electric Standing Desk with ComfortEdge. 

Kitting out the office? We tested the best office chairs and these are our favorite models for all-day comfort and productivity.

Clearscope is an AI-powered content optimization platform for marketing teams, offering real-time grading, keyword insights, and Google Docs integration.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) tools like Clearscope analyze search engine result pages (SERPs) to offer clear guidance on what kind of content is currently ranking well for a particular keyword and why. They give you actionable tips to overtake your competitors in search results by optimizing content length, adding relevant terms, answering common queries from searchers, etc.

In 2025, Clearscope has evolved well beyond a simple keyword-grading tool — now positioning itself as a full "discoverability platform" with AI drafting, topic exploration, and LLM visibility tracking. That said, the platform still isn't suited for budget-conscious individuals or teams needing technical search engine marketing features beyond content optimization.

• Interested in Clearscope? Check out the Clearscope website.

Features

Clearscope is a powerful tool that caters to writers, marketers, and SEO strategists optimizing content for Google and AI search. With some of the biggest names in the industry like Intuit, Adobe, Shopify, and YouTube, among its clients, Clearscope seems to be steadily maintaining its popularity in 2026.

Clearscope's features should sound familiar for anyone already familiar with SEO optimization techniques. It employs latent semantic indexing (LSI) keywords, which are terms and phrases closely related to your target keyword, to grade the relevance and comprehensiveness of your online content. Additionally, it provides Search Engine Results Page (SERP) analysis, giving you invaluable insights into user queries and the strategies you can use to optimize your content for better search rankings.

But that's not all. Clearscope is also an excellent planning tool. It suggests headings and terms that can be used to structure your content outlines, making your articles or blog posts more readable and SEO-friendly.

Clearscope recommends conducting a content inventory before getting started. This tool enables you to keep track of existing online content’s performance. The Content Inventory section also empowers you to take preventative measures to maintain or improve crucial metrics such as Content Grade, clicks, average position, and SEO value for your current content.

How does Clearscope use AI?

Clearscope's AI capabilities have expanded considerably since the platform's earlier iterations. At its core, the tool uses natural language processing (NLP) to analyze the top-ranking pages for any given search query, then surfaces a prioritized list of terms, topics, and structural recommendations.

As you write in the built-in content editor, an AI-driven content grade updates in real time, reflecting how well your draft covers the topic based on entity usage, competitive benchmarks, and readability — giving writers an objective target to work toward rather than relying on guesswork.

The most significant AI addition in recent years is Draft with AI, available on all plans. Rather than generating boilerplate text, Clearscope's draft builder lets you define the search intent, select a content type, and upload a writing sample so the output can match your brand's tone and voice. It still requires human editing before it's publish-ready, but offers a solid starting point for content teams.

Clearscope also introduced Topic Exploration, which maps a seed keyword out into a network of related queries, questions, and sub-topics. This helps content strategists identify the full "query fan-out" around a subject, covering not just a single keyword but any relevant associated subtopics.

As generative AI increasingly intercepts the traditional search funnel, knowing whether your content is being cited or surfaced in these environments is becoming just as important as tracking search rankings. For this, Clearscope offers AI Tracked Topics (also called "Expand"), which monitors how and where your brand or content appears across AI-driven answer engines like ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and Perplexity.

Installation, setup, and compatibility

Using Clearscope is a breeze and straightforward. All you need is a web browser; no fancy software is required. To kick things off, head over to the Clearscope website. Sign up by clicking either the "Get Started" or "Request a demo" button on the homepage. Fill in your company details, email, and team size on the form. Once you've entered your info, hit “Submit” or “Schedule a Demo,” depending on your preference.

Once you've selected a plan and made the payment, it's time for the real fun to begin. Log into your Clearscope account. Navigate to the dashboard. Take some time to explore the interface where you can create reports, connect with Google Docs, and more.

Linking Clearscope with your content creation platform is a crucial step. This integration is key to optimizing your content within these platforms, making your work more efficient. The process is seamless if you're using Google Docs or WordPress.

To access Clearscope, go to the “Integrations” section on the Clearscope website in Google Docs. Choose Google Docs. Follow the steps to install the Clearscope add-on. Once it’s installed, Google Docs. Locate the Clearscope add-on under "Add ons" in the top menu. You're now set to optimize your documents from Google Docs using the add-on.

Download the Clearscope plugin from your dashboard or the WordPress repository if you use WordPress. Install and activate the plugin, then connect it to Clearscope using your API key from the dashboard. With Clearscope integrated, you can start crafting content.

When creating content, generate a report on your dashboard by entering your target keyword. The report will provide insights into keyword usage, content grade, and readability score. Utilize these insights to shape your content creation process and ensure it aligns with SEO practices.

As you write and enhance your content, Clearscope provides invaluable real-time feedback. Keep an eye on your content grade to ensure it meets SEO requirements. Implement suggested changes, such as adding keywords and enhancing readability, to optimize your content.

Plans and pricing

Clearscope is a powerful tool suitable for anyone who wants to take their content to the next level regarding SEO optimization. Yet, its target audience isn’t necessarily freelancers or small companies. Instead, its pricing clearly shows it’s targeting corporations, or at least larger companies, for better or worse.

Three plans are available for would-be Clearscope users: Essentials, Business, and Enterprise. The Essentials plan starts at $129/month and includes 20 AI Tracked Topics, 20 monthly Topic Explorations, 20 monthly AI Drafts, and 50 Content Inventory Pages. You can add 100 additional inventory pages for $25/month under this tier.

The Business plan at $399/month bumps the limits to 50 AI Tracked Topics, 50 monthly Topic Explorations, 20 monthly AI Drafts, and 300 Content Inventory Pages. It also includes a dedicated account manager and reduces the cost of additional pages to $15 per 100. Enterprise pricing is custom and adds crawler whitelisting, single sign-on (SSO), custom credit bundles, and tailored agreements.

While it's higher than average for tools in this category, Clearscope's pricing model reflects its positioning as a business SEO tool rather than something that individuals or freelancers would use. However, Clearscope also has no free trial available. Instead, you must first request a demo, which is somewhat time-taking and inconvenient.

Final verdict

Like other tools used for SEO optimization, Clearscope has pros and cons. However, the pros outweigh the cons.

The algorithm of Clearscope is finely tuned to provide suggestions for using keywords, which can significantly enhance the likelihood of a piece of content ranking well on search engines. Additionally, the platform offers a user interface that suits experienced SEO professionals perfectly. It's also commendable that Clearscope integrates seamlessly with two used software products: Google Docs and WordPress. Notably, Clearscope is appreciated for its reports and how real-time feedback can assist in crafting search engine-friendly and relevant content.

One major deterrent for some individuals might be the cost of using Clearscope. Providing a trial could attract a more extensive user base regardless of Clearscope's pricing structure. Moreover, beginners in SEO optimization might find it challenging to navigate Clearscope despite its user design. There is still a learning curve involved in using Clearscope.

Another downside is that AI content outline generation is exclusively available to customers on the business plan with Clearscope. This limitation may seem unreasonable, especially considering the pricing tiers, particularly for the essentials package.

Clearscope, it would benefit all your customers to access your AI tools.

Although Clearscope provides a variety of content optimization tools, it lacks some features that other comprehensive tools offer, such as backlink analysis and technical SEO audits.

Overall, Clearscope is a tool for individuals and organizations looking to enhance their content SEO potential with data-driven insights and optimization suggestions. While the pricing and learning curve may deter some users, the platform's accurate recommendations, user-friendly interface, and immediate feedback make it a valuable resource for content creators and marketers striving to create content that performs well in search engine results.

More from TechRadar Pro

• See our best on-page SEO tool of the year
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This professional desktop color printer is part of Brother’s lineup aimed at small to medium-sized business (SMB) so it comes with an impressive specification and all the trimmings. As with any of the best small business printers, that means a touchscreen display, NFC and a print speed over 30ppm (pages per minute). It’s also expandable with an optional paper tray available. 

The Brother HL-L8245CDW (called the HL-L8240CDW in Europe) is a color LED device, which is to say that it uses a static LED array rather than a moving laser to guide toner particles onto the drums, but Brother still classifies it as a laser printer, as do we. At around US$350 (or about £280) it’s at the upper end of the market for single-function printer, but it comes with enough features and inbox toner to make this look like a good deal. What’s more, the high monthly duty cycle of 40,000 pages, triple-layer security and its availability under Brother’s MPS (managed print service) should attract the interest of any SMB with a busy print load. 

Brother HL-L8245CDW/HL-L8240CDW: Design & build

Single-function laser printers vary little from the square box form-factor and the Brother HL-L8245CDW/HL-L8240CD is no exception. At 16.8kg, it feels very heavy and robust with rounded corners and flaps that feel like they will stay attached with heavy use. It’s quite squat and compact, given that it can hold 250 sheets of A4/Letter paper in the main tray and another 30 in its front-loading multi-purpose tray. If you’re a heavy user of paper, you can buy Brother’s lower paper tray accessory for US$250 (or £155) to add another 250 sheets. 

The out-tray on top holds 150 sheets of paper face down and beside that is a 2.7-in (6.8cm) touchscreen angled slightly up towards the user. There’s a USB Host port on the front panel and inputs for a USB data cable and gigabit Ethernet cable at the rear.  

Brother HL-L8245CDW/HL-L8240CDW: Features & specifications

The Brother HL-L8245CDW/HL-L8240CD is equipped for use in a shared office with heavy print demands so the spec-sheet is quite impressive. The print rate for Letter paper is given as 31ppm, or 30ppm for fractionally larger A4 paper. That’s slower than rivals like the Xerox VersaLink B600DN, but still fast. Perhaps more importantly, this machine can automatically turn the page quickly so two-sided printing is 12ppm, which puts it among the fastest printers for duplexing. 

The paper capacity is average at 250 sheets in the main tray, but the option to expand that to a whole ream of 500 sheets makes it attractive to growing businesses. Many print-only devices lack a multi-purpose tray, but here we have one that can take 30 sheets of paper or envelopes of any size up to A4. 5GHz Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi Direct and AirPrint compatibility is built in, as you might expect, but the NFC module and USB Host ports are welcome extra features. 

Even some of the best laser printers often come with setup cartridges which contain measly amounts of toner, but Brother has been generous here by bundling fully-filled carts yielding up to 2,600 black and white pages and 1,400 color. Even higher capacity cartridges are available for this model which can deliver up to 4,500 monochrome pages and 4,000 color and these super high yield carts bring the cost per page down to a very competitive rate.  

Brother HL-L8245CDW/HL-L8240CDW: Setup & operation

To set up the Brother HL-L8245CDW/HL-L8240CDW you need to remove all the transport plastic, which involves opening it up then removing and reinstalling the four toner cartridges. That takes a few minutes, then the printer takes a few more minutes to warm up. Getting it onto your Wi-Fi network and ready to print is a case of following the instructions that appear on the touchscreen. There is also a companion app called Brother Mobile Connect to help you. This app is also good for checking the toner levels, or printing files from your smartphone or the cloud. Between the touchscreen interface and this intuitive app, operating the Brother HL-L8245CDW/HL-L8240CDW is a breeze.  

Brother HL-L8245CDW/HL-L8240CDW: Performance

The Brother HL-L8245CDW/HL-L8240CDW prints quickly and quietly, especially in quiet mode, which is just 43dB. The quoted print rates are accurate enough, which means duplex printing is especially impressive at 12ppm. Monochrome text pages were churned out with no paper jams or smudging and our test fonts were all clearly readable down to point size 4. It looks like a professional dark black too, unlike the dark grey you sometimes get with black toner.

The C/M/Y toners are not especially vivid, so our mixed color documents looked fine rather than wow. The color balance looks right and there’s no sign of posterization which makes this a good printer for full color handouts with blocks of color. When it comes to photos, the muted colors make for a somewhat flat finish despite the accurate printing. Like most laser/LED printers, the resolution is 600 x 600dpi so the dots that make up the image are easily visible.

Printing on envelopes was perfectly fine, but heavy paper stock was a problem. Anything over 163g/m2, which is the surprisingly low recommended weight limit, got jammed inside while auto duplexing. I persuaded it to simplex print on some high quality 300g/m2 sheets, but it left quite a curl in the paper. In short, the print quality is perfect for text and mixed color documents, but not great for photos or heavy paper.

Brother HL-L8245CDW/HL-L8240CDW: Final verdict

For a small print-only LED/laser device, the Brother HL-L8245CDW/HL-L8240CDW looks a little expensive, but despite the size, it could easily support a busy workgroup in a shared office thanks to its quick print speed, high-capacity cartridges and its expandability. 

With a 250-sheet paper tray plus the optional 250-sheet tray, this high-spec machine would punch well above its weight. It is well equipped too, offering a 30-page multi-purpose tray, NFC connectivity and a USB Host port. Auto-duplex printing is among the quickest at 12ppm while the strong print quality gives you very professional-looking handouts. 

Photo printing may not be such a strong suit and it’s not great at printing on thick paper (up to 163g/m2 is all it can handle) but overall, I was impressed by its output. Considering the generous amount of toner in the box, this premium printer has a low TCO (total cost of ownership).  

We tested the best printers - and these are our favorite models

Epson is always expanding its hugely popular EcoTank family and this feature-laden four-in-one is aimed at SMB (small to medium sized business) and the home office. The Epson EcoTank ET-4850 is small enough to fit on your desk at home, while offering sufficient capacity and print speed to serve a pretty busy workgroup. 

Like many of the best inkjet printers, it can print on coated photo paper, and while it cannot keep up with any of the best laser printers, the 15.5ppm (pages per minute) print rate is not bad for an inkjet. Business users might be interested in the fax facility and certainly the ADF (automatic document feed). 

Best of all though, this is a refillable supertank inkjet, so the running cost will be around 90 percent lower than cartridge-based rivals and as usual, there’s loads of bottled ink in the box. Sounds like the all-in-one we’ve been waiting for, so let’s run an in-depth test.  

Epson EcoTank ET-4850: Design & build

In the US, the Epson EcoTank ET-4850 comes in white, while the otherwise identical European model pictured here is black. It’s a pretty compact A4/Letter printer with a paper tray that projects forward a few inches. The high-capacity ink tanks also bulge forward on the right hand side with clear plastic windows at the front. Another advantage over cartridge printing is that you can see for yourself how much ink is left in the tanks and that’s important because if one runs dry, you could damage the print head.

The large 6.1cm touchscreen is mounted in the center of a tilting control panel for easy access, while connections for Ethernet and USB data cables are located at the rear. The flaps of the ADF on top fold flush flat so you might not guess that it has one at first glance. Lift open this upper panel and you’ll see the A4-size scanner platen. It’s a very standard design for a desktop MFP (multifunction peripheral).

Epson EcoTank ET-4850: Features & specifications

As the model numbers suggest, our Epson EcoTank ET-4850 fits in between the basic Epson ET-2850 and the flagship ET-5850. As a middle-money proposition, it comes with all of the features essential to an office printer and few extras. Thankfully it possesses the frontal paper tray, touchscreen and ADF missing from the ET-2850, though it lacks the additional paper drawer, rear input tray and additional inkjet nozzles offered by the big ET-5850. 

An all-in-one printer, Epson EcoTank ET-4850 can auto duplex print, scan and copy a 30-page document using its ADF and send or receive a fax. There’s no USB Host port, or NFC on this model, but it does have a decent touchscreen, Wi-Fi with AirPrint compatibility and the ability to print on any paper up to A4 in size and 300 g/m² in weight. 

The ISO/IEC 24734 print speed is given by Epson as 15.5ppm for monochrome pages, but the same tech-spec sheet also claims a maximum print speed of 33ppm. That’s quite a discrepancy, but suffice it to say, that the Epson EcoTank ET-4850 prints relatively quickly and the FPOT (first page out time) of just 9 seconds is pretty good. The print quality is a step up from the cheaper ET-2850 because the PrecisionCore print head deploys more nozzles per color to achieve a resolution of 4,800 x 1,200 DPI (dots per inch). The stand-out feature is perhaps the amount of ink Epson has included. The five bundled bottles should give you up to 14,000 black and white pages and 5,200 color. 

Epson EcoTank ET-4850: Setup & operation

Getting started is a simple case of connecting the power cable, loading your paper in the main tray and turning on. Then follow the instructions that appear on the color display. After choosing the language, the next prompt suggests downloading the companion app called Epson Smart Panel onto your smart device. Using this app for the rest of the setup is slightly easier than using the printer’s own touchscreen. The app also makes it easy to print and scan remotely.     

Epson EcoTank ET-4850: Performance

We’ve tested a number of the best ink tank printers, and for us the Epson EcoTank ET-4850 printed quite quickly for an inkjet and without a hitch or a jam during our tests. With plain black and white text pages and the print quality set to normal, I was impressed by the sharp clarity of the characters at the smallest point sizes. Reprinting the same pages at so-called best quality causes the printer to slow down and deploy more black ink, which actually reduces the sharpness, so I’d recommend sticking in the default normal mode.

Mixed color documents looked similarly well defined, while photographs on coated paper showed great fine detail. This must be due to Epson’s superior Micro Piezo nozzle configuration which uses 400 black nozzles and 128 for each color compared with the measly 180 and 59 nozzles of the ET-2850. Despite the strong print quality, I still wouldn’t recommend the Epson EcoTank ET-4850 as a photo printer for photographers because the color accuracy seems to be slightly off so that the dye-based CMY inks just don’t achieve the same realism you come to expect from a dedicated photo printer.

If printing is overall very good, scanning is rather slow and with the ADF being unable to duplex scan, the Epson EcoTank ET-4850 does not make a particularly good photocopier. What it proved best at is churning out pages of monochrome text and mixed color documents. 

Epson EcoTank ET-4850: Final verdict

As an all-in-one inkjet, aimed at small business or a home office, the Epson EcoTank ET-4850 has everything it needs to fill the role well. It’s compact enough to fit on a desk at home, while having the paper and ink capacity to serve a small workgroup. The lack of a front USB Host port, dual scanning and NFC are minor disappointments compared to the fact that this is an EcoTank meaning a very low running cost and a huge amount of bottled ink in the box. And aside from photographs on photo paper looking a little disappointing, as a contender for best small business printer, the print quality with monochrome and color documents is excellent. 

We tested the best printers - and these are our favorite models

Integral Crypto Dual: 30-second review

The Integral Crypto Dual FIPS 140-2 Encrypted USB 3.0 is designed with an ultra-tough rubberized exterior as a simple way to keep your valuable digital data safe and offline. The USB key itself is rugged by design, with a tough rubberized exterior helping to protect the delicate inner electronics from knocks and bashes. As long as the protective cap is in place, it's also IPX8 waterproof, which goes beyond the physical protective abilities of many other secure storage keys.

Beneath the hood of this USB key, things get interesting. The secure read-only DVD section of the drive contains the core system and acts as a gateway to the storage section of the drive.

When the key arrives, a short setup process is required. Like all the best secure drives we've tested, this interface looks like a throwback to the late '90s and early 2000s. Despite the outdated interface design, the setup is easy, and once done, you can be confident that any data stored on the key will be safe and secure behind that password protection.

What makes this key stand out is the dual-layer protection, meaning that the key has two passwords, one for an administrator and the other for the user. If you're an individual, the master password option may not be needed, but for organizations, this is a great feature.

As a simple, secure USB key solution, this is one of the best flash drives for individuals and businesses who want additional protection for their files. 

Integral Crypto Dual: Pricing and availability

• How much does it cost? $109
• When is it available? Now
• Where can you get it? It is available for sale in the US, UK and Australia

The Integral Crypto Dual FIPS 140-2 Encrypted USB 3.0 is widely available from many electronics retailers, including Amazon. Expect to pay around £110 for the 64GB version and as little as £45 for the 8GB version. Some capacities, such as the smaller 4GB version, are difficult to find.

• Value: 4/5

Integral Crypto Dual: Benchmark

In benchmark tests, the Integral Crypto Dual FIPS 140-2 Encrypted USB 3.0 put in a great performance, reaching read speeds up to 165.58MB/s and write speeds up to 130.92MB/s, these far exceeded those stated by Integral, albeit over a short period of time. 

Integral Crypto Dual: Specs

Integral Crypto Dual: Build and Handling

The Integral Crypto Dual FIPS 140-2 Encrypted USB 3.0 is ultra-compact, styled along the lines of usual USB keys, featuring the main body with the USB connector, in this case, a Type-A, and the protective cap.

While the design appears standard with its rubberized exterior, indicating it is more than just a standard USB key, a deeper examination of its construction reveals that the exterior is more than just a rubberized casing.

To ensure the greatest security for your data, the key has been triple-layer waterproofed. This not only protects the crypto drive against knocks and drops but also against attempts to physically break into the drive or damage it when submerged in water. Inside, the actual electronics are firstly sealed in epoxy resin, then enclosed in a hardened inner case, and finally encased in a rubberized silicone outer casing.

In terms of compatibility, the drive works with both Mac and PC systems and features the common USB Type-A 3.0 connector, ensuring maximum backward compatibility. Unlike some other drives, this is a one-off purchase; you buy the drive, and there's no need for additional software or any type of subscription.

• Design: 3.5/5

Integral Crypto Dual: Features

The big selling point for the Integral Crypto Dual FIPS 140-2 Encrypted USB 3.0 is its dual-level protection. This essentially means there are two passwords: one for the admin and one for the user. This feature allows businesses to distribute the drive to employees who need to transport sensitive data. The user or employee can have a unique password, and the business can set an administrative password. If the user forgets their password, an administrator can easily log in and reset it, which is very useful.

Several security features enhance the safety of the data contained within. First, the password must be entered each time the drive is inserted into a computer. If the drive is left idle for 10 minutes, the computer's screen saver starts, the drive is unplugged, or there's a power failure, a password is required when the drive is reinserted.

Unlike software-protected drives, the Integral Crypto Dual FIPS 140-2 Encrypted USB 3.0 employs FIPS 140-2 Level 3 protection, a high-level information security standard approved by the U.S. Government and trusted by legal, finance, government, and healthcare industries. This involves mandatory AES 256-bit hardware encryption, which is significantly more secure than software encryption.

This level of protection also safeguards against brute-force password attacks. If such an attack is detected, all data is automatically erased after six failed access attempts. When this occurs, all data on the drive and the encryption key are securely destroyed, and the Crypto Drive is reset.

• Features: 4/5

Integral Crypto Dual: Performance

Accessing the drive when initially inserted into the USB port is more complex than with some other keys, with the pop-up interface being less user-friendly than most. The small screen that appears uses small icons to illustrate functions, although not clearly. After a few clicks around, you realize that it's the unlocked icon next to the words "Password, Yes" that actually takes you through to the password screen. Once your password is entered, the storage section of the drive becomes accessible. What's also annoying is that once you have signed in, you need to keep the pop-up window open; closing it will shut down the drive, meaning you'll need to log in again to re-enter.

Once in, the storage space functions like any other USB storage device: drag your items onto it, and they copy across safely. This makes it ideal for presentations, passwords, and financial documents you want to avoid falling into the wrong hands. It's also very handy for sending private documents through the post, knowing that if the key gets lost, no one else will be able to break in and access your financial documents or anything else.

When it comes to speed, the USB 3.2 Gen 1 technology ensures a decent transfer rate, with the following results in our benchmark tests.

• Performance: 4/5

Should I buy the Integral Crypto Dual?

The Integral Crypto Dual FIPS 140-2 Encrypted USB 3.0 is a USB Key designed for high-level data security. It's an excellent choice if you require a way to carry sensitive information that can only be accessed by means of a password. Features such as dual-password access and hardware encryption will both appeal to businesses that require that extra level of security, but equally to individuals who may want to keep private documents or passwords secure. 

However, the Integral Crypto Dual is more expensive than standard USB drives, and the dated user interface, while it doesn't affect the drive's use, is a sticking point. If your priority is top-level security with physical and electronic safeguards, then this USB drive is a great choice. For general use or less critical data storage, more cost-effective solutions are out there.

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