The Silicon Power MS70 2TB SSD is a blend of speed, capacity, and durability. It's a compact device, measuring just 71 x 21 x 10mm and weighing in at just 14g, making it an ideal travel companion for those needing substantial storage on the go. The exterior is full aluminium with touches of rubber throughout the construction, which gives it a sturdy, premium feel as well as the practicality of some shock resistance.
We've tested hundreds of the best portable SSDs, and performance-wise, the MS70 stands out with its impressive read and write speeds, quoted as 1050MB/s and 850MB/s, respectively. These speeds are achievable due to the USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface, ensuring quick file transfers, which will appeal to creative professionals. Moreover, it supports a broad range of operating systems, from Windows and Mac to Linux, Android, and iOS, although the Type-C adapter is needed.
However, the MS70 isn't without its drawbacks. The major one is the use of an adapter for USB-C connections, which, while maintaining speed, adds an extra component to keep track of.
Despite this minor issue, the Silicon Power MS70 2TB remains an excellent choice for anyone seeking high-speed, large-capacity external storage. Its performance is reliable, and the build quality is excellent, making it a worthwhile investment for anyone needing compact, fast and large storage.
Silicon Power MS70: Pricing and availability
How much does it cost? $114
When is it available? Now
Where can you get it? It is available for sale in the US, UK and Australia
The Silicon Power MS70 2TB and lesser capacity versions are widely available.
(Image credit: Ali Jennings)
Silicon Power MS70: Benchmark
Using AJA System Test Light, the MS70 achieved remarkable speeds with a read speed of 1042.17MB/s and a write speed of 1017.53MB/s; this actually exceeds the stated write speed from the manufacturer. These speeds show the drive's capability to handle large files and demanding applications.
(Image credit: Ali Jennings)
Silicon Power MS70: Specs
Silicon Power MS70: Build and Handling
The MS70 impresses with its robust and sleek design. At first look, the drive could easily be mistaken for a standard Type-A USB key, with the stick-like body and USB connector covered by a rubber cap on the end. It's only the markings on the body of the drive that highlight that this may actually be something more.
Measuring just 71x21x10mm and weighing a mere 14g, the drive is all about portability and as USB sticks have proven over the years, the design for this drive makes it incredibly easy to use, with no cables, no fuss; just plug it in and go. Or at least almost; the one downside here is that the drive utilises an integral USB Type-A connector, which means that an adapter is needed if you wish to plug it into a Type-C port. Otherwise, the drive's construction features a premium combination of aluminium and rubber, giving it both durability if chucked in a kit bag and a stylish look.
One of the design aspects that really stands out is the compact size. This size and shape means that it can easily pop into a backpack or laptop pocket, and the shape and weight won't add too much bulk. One issue you may have with the size is that it could easily get lost amongst everything else you're carrying, which is why there's a small leash loop at the end so you can tether it to your bag or attach something that makes it easy to spot amongst everything else.
The build and handling in almost all situations are faultless, with one of the only issues that did occur through the testing being the positioning of the protective cap. This cap is secured to the body of the drive and helps to protect the USB type-A connector. However, the issue is that it folds back and can obscure other ports, and if those ports are in use, especially on Mini PCs, then things can get fiddly. However, if you're on the move, you're more likely to be using a laptop, in which case this isn't an issue.
(Image credit: Ali Jennings)
Silicon Power MS70: Performance
In our tests, we found the SSD delivers solid performance across various benchmarks, though it is not without its design quirks impacting its usability. One such issue is the cap design, which can obstruct easy plugging into vertically aligned USB ports found on devices like any of the best mini PCs. This necessitates some manoeuvring or repositioning of the SSD for a proper connection.
Additionally, the drive's USB Type-A interface, while offering excellent backward compatibility, presents a slight inconvenience for users with modern laptops or devices equipped primarily with USB-C ports. The need for an adapter, though, is a minor issue.
Performance-wise, the MS70 shows impressive results in speed tests. In CrystalDiskMark, it achieved read and write speeds of 1041.48MB/s and 1010.78MB/s, respectively. These figures nearly match the manufacturer's claimed speeds.
AJA test results showed a read speed of 86.9MB/s and a write speed of 911MB/s. The read speed here is notably lower, which might be attributed to the specific testing parameters or file types used in AJA tests. Despite this, the high write speed maintains the theme that this is a high-performing SSD.
ATTO Disk Benchmark presented more consistent results, with the MS70 clocking in at 930.91MB/s for reading and 937.30MB/s for writing. Lastly, the AS SSD Benchmark recorded read and write speeds of 897.64MB/s and 883.57MB/s. While slightly lower than other tests, these speeds are still decent and highlight the reliability of the SSD's performance.
(Image credit: Ali Jennings)
Should I buy the Silicon Power MS70?
How I tested the Silicon Power MS70
Before starting this test, the card was reformated to give the greatest compatibility for real-world tests using the exFAT format and also for testing through the benchmarking software.
The software used included the latest versions of CrystalDiskMark, Atto, AS SSD and AJA benchmarks, noting the best scores achieved in each. They are all free and can be downloaded by anyone. After the standard benchmarks, I then use the SSD as both a storage drive on the go and as a working drive to edit 1080P and 4K video with DaVinci Resolve and Premiere Pro. I then transfer a folder of files, roughly 10GB in size, to get a rough idea of real-life performance.
In the world of the best business laptops, Lenovo's ThinkPad series stands as an iconic brand, and with such a diverse lineup, Lenovo caters to a wide range of needs, from premium ultralights to mainstream corporate models and the best mobile workstations. Into this mix, the Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4 is positioned somewhere between entry-level and enterprise, aiming to be a capable workhorse for professionals.
Starting at $723 for the base configuration, you can definitely get in on the lower end of the price spectrum with this device, though whether it will offer enough performance out the gate is debatable, and getting a truly functional machine will require greater investment.
Typing on the L15's keyboard is a first-class experience, offering a quiet yet snappy and responsive feel. Lenovo's unique placement of the Fn key to the left of Ctrl in the lower left corner may take some getting used to, but Lenovo Vantage software allows users to swap these keys if desired.
Performance-wise, the ThinkPad L15 Gen 4 delivers mixed results. While it easily handles routine tasks like word processing and spreadsheet work, it falls short in more demanding scenarios such as content creation or multimedia editing due to the lack of dedicated graphics.
Fortunately, the battery life is decent enough for a cheap business laptop, as professionals need a reliable machine for on-the-go work. While it's not the longest-lasting laptop in its class, it should provide enough juice for a typical workday.
Software wise, the Lenovo Vantage control panel centralizes system settings, including Dolby Audio settings, software updates, Wi-Fi security, and various utility features such as freezing the keyboard, touchpad, and touch screen temporarily for cleaning. This software suite enhances the user experience and simplifies system management, and it's a great way to manage your device if you're tech savvy enough to use a computer for work but rarely find yourself digging into Windows Control Panel.
While the Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4 offers the reliability and build quality that Lenovo is known for, it faces stiff competition in its price range, especially from the likes of the Dell XPS 15 or HP Spectre. For those seeking better value, Lenovo's own budget-friendly ThinkPad E series and the small-office-oriented ThinkBook series are worth exploring, as these alternatives may offer similar performance and features at a lower cost.
That said, the Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4 is a competent workhorse with the signature ThinkPad build quality and comfortable keyboard, and for more casual business users looking for a decent enough work machine without breaking the bank, then this is definitely worth considering, though only if the price is right.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4: Price & availability
Starting at $723 for the base configuration with a 13th-gen Intel Core i3-1315U processor with Intel UHD graphics, 8GB DDR4 RAM and 256GB NVMe SSD, this is definitely one of the most affordable business laptops around, but with those specs, you're not going to get a lot of performance. The unit I got to review, loaded with an Intel Core i7-1365U vPro, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and 512GB NVMe SSD and selling on Lenovo's website for $1,333.20
This puts it in the same rough price category as the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 and HP Dragonfly Pro, at least for the configurations worth considering (honestly, anything less than a Core i5 should be passed on as a business laptop, no matter the price). In this vein, the ThinkPad L15 Gen 4 runs about even with these competitors, but if you end up straying too high in terms of specs, it might be worth your while to look instead to the Dell XPS 15, as these start around $1,500 and offer discrete graphics.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4: Specs
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Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4: Design
As for the design, you're getting a fairly straightforward, classic look that's familiar to anyone who's used a Lenovo laptop before. While it may not win any awards for its aesthetics, the L15, like other ThinkPads, has been put through MIL-STD 810H torture tests for travel hazards such as shock, vibration, and temperature extremes. That means it'll withstand the rigors of daily use and travel, ensuring durability and longevity - it might not be the best rugged laptop out there, but for the crunch of the commute or a busy office, it's absolutely more than robust enough.
As with just about every Lenovo laptop at this point, the webcam (up to 1080p) comes with a privacy shutter, which is essential for any business user. The inclusion of IR face recognition and a fingerprint reader built into the power button provides two convenient ways to skip typing passwords, thanks to Windows Hello integration.
The laptop comes with a number of ports, including an ethernet connection, a microSD card slot, and a security lock slot. There is also an option for a SIM card for mobile broadband, which is great for getting work done on the go, even where WiFi connections might be spotty. If you do get WiFi, you can get up to WiFi 6E for even faster wireless speeds.
The display is a 15.6-inch full HD non-touch display with up to 300 nits of brightness, though it does stick with the 16:9 aspect ratio whereas a lot of laptops are spreading the screen out a bit further. The display can extend a full 180-degrees, so it's not quite one of the best 2-in-1 laptops, but if you're collaborating with colleagues, you'll be able to share your work more easily without everyone hanging over your shoulders.
Speaking of looking over your shoulder, while the display offers broad viewing angles and decent contrast, the colors and brightness leave something to be desired. Many mid-price laptops now boast punchier colors and sharper resolutions, making the L15's screen seem lackluster by comparison. It's not particularly bright, and while you can get a 60Hz panel with up to 300 nits and white backgrounds appear clean, they generally lack vibrancy.
For office tasks and mainstream productivity like spreadsheets, this might be ideal since no one wants to stare into the sun while staring at rows and columns of data, but if you're planning on doing more than staring at documents and reports, the display likely won't be sufficient for any real multimedia work, making it struggle to stand out in a competitive market.
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On the plus side, Lenovo is renown for its laptop keyboards, and the ThinkPad L15 Gen 4 continues this tradition. The backlit keyboard is smooth and comfortable, providing an exemplary layout with dedicated Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down keys. Additionally, you'll find top-row shortcuts, including keys for Microsoft Teams calls, and a full-size tenkey pad on the right.
Like just about all Lenovo keyboards, it is a dream to type on for an extended period of time, so it will make long hours in the throes of work a good bit less taxing on your hands at least.
For cursor control, users have the option of a touchpad, which offers a slightly hollow but comfortable click, or Lenovo's signature TrackPoint mini joystick embedded in the keyboard, accompanied by three large mouse buttons below the space bar. This combination provides flexibility in navigation, although it slightly reduces the size of the touchpad.
Sound from the speaker grille located above the keyboard is clear but not particularly loud, although it can fill a room at maximum volume. The audio quality lacks bass but is listenable with crisp instrumentals, allowing you to distinguish overlapping tracks. Dolby Access software provides various presets for different scenarios, including dynamic, game, music, movie, and voice, along with an equalizer and microphone noise cancellation. The music setting adds a bit of fullness to the sound, although it may still come across as slightly hollow.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4: Performance
As far as performance goes, this laptop is generally let down by the lack of a discrete GPU, so really the only thing you'll be able to do with this device (assuming you have the Core i5 or better and 16GB RAM) is productivity software, cloud computing work, video streaming, and conference calls. For that, this laptop is sufficient, but you really don't want to step much further beyond that.
The Core i7-1365U CPU in my review unit didn't score especially well in CPU benchmarks. Its scores are about 7% higher in Geekbench 5's single core benchmar than the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 from 2022 did, and that device was running a Core i5-1235U, so it's a generation and a tier behind this chip. Even worse, the Core i7-1365U in the L15 Gen 4 scored about 11% slower than the Inspiron 15's older chip did.
For storage speed, the L15's SSD is pretty middle of the road with a 25GB file folder transfer rate of about 1,102MB a second, taking about 24 seconds to complete the operation.
The productivity benchmarks are likewise fairly middling, with Crossmark's productivity score landing strictly in only-keep-one-office-app-open-at-a-time territory.
As for this processor's integrated graphics, it again falls well short of the Core i5-1235U in the 2022 Dell Inspiron 16 -2-in-1, which was also able to run 3DMark's Fire Strike test, which the L15 Gen 4 wasn't able to complete without the benchmark crashing.
Given the specs and the performance so far, I definitely wouldn't recommend you game on this device with anything above Solitaire or similar, though you might be able to make Civilization VI playable on a plane ride if you turn all the settings to low and maybe consider playing at 720p rather than full 1080p.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4: Battery life
Given the weaker performance vis-a-vis the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1, you might expect that it would have better battery life at least, and to an extent, there is something to celebrate here.
While not getting a full eight hours of battery life, the L15 Gen 4 does at least get close, lasting about seven hours and 23 minutes in our Web Surfing battery test. Ever since the 12th-gen Intel Alder Lake chips, laptop battery lives have taken a nose dive, so while this laptop only gests seven and a half hours, it could honestly have been worse.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Should you buy the Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4?
Buy the Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4 if...
Don't buy it if...
Also consider
If my Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4 review has you considering other options, here are two more laptops to consider.
The Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4 is the latest entrant in Lenovo's renowned ThinkPad series, known for its durability, robust security, and impressive performance, and often touted as the best business laptops on the market. So this device has a lot of pedigree behind it — and a lot to live up to.
Positioned as a midrange convertible laptop for professionals on the move, it's priced between $1,200 and $1,600 and offers the classic ThinkPad experience with modern twists like a built-in pen for notetaking or sketching, optional 4G LTE connectivity, along with a revamped 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1355U processor. However, with stiff competition in the premium business laptop segment, the L13 Yoga Gen 4 does too little to stand out from the pack.
Design-wise, the L13 Yoga Gen 4 sticks to the traditional ThinkPad aesthetic—soft gray-black casing with Lenovo and ThinkPad branding. Its ability to flip from a laptop to a tablet emphasizes versatility, something that professionals looking for a hybrid 2-in-1 solution will find little to fault with this device. Despite its sleek look and competitive weight of 2.9 pounds, it's not without its flaws, however. Its thick bezels around the display are rather outdated, and the plastic base of the device has noticeable give to it, which isn't ideal.
The L13 Yoga Gen 4 does boasts a range of ports and connectivity options, though, including Thunderbolt 4, USB Type-A, HDMI, and the option for 4G LTE connectivity if you need an always-connected device. This alone is going to put it on a number of must have lists for on-the-go professionals. Furthermore, the device features a discrete TPM 2.0 security chip, fingerprint reader, and a privacy shutter for the webcam, underscoring Lenovo's commitment to security and privacy.
However, the device's display leaves something to be desired. The 13.3-inch, 1920 x 1200p screen is not as bright as one might expect from a device in its price range, a shortfall that becomes evident when viewing multimedia content. Moreover, the audio quality from the bottom-firing speakers is underwhelming, lacking depth and richness.
Performance is another area where I wish this Yoga had done better. Equipped with an Intel Core i7-1355U processor and 16GB of RAM, it handles multitasking and productivity tasks fairly well, but while its integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics offers enough power for everyday professional use, it's not cut out for the kind of visual design work that professionals who need the best 2-in-1 laptop are going to be looking for.
In terms of battery life, the ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4 offers respectable longevity but it's not where you want to be with a premium laptop costing this much, and users who frequently work away from power sources might find this a significant limitation, impacting the device's overall utility.
The Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4 is ultimately a device that borrows some very good things from the rest of the Yoga lineup and for most professional users, this will be a perfectly adequate 2-in-1 device, but it could be a lot better, and for the price, it really should be.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4: Price & availability
The Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4 is positioned in the market as a midrange convertible laptop, with prices ranging between $1,200 and $1,600. This pricing puts it in competition with other premium business laptops, including Lenovo's own higher-end offerings like the ThinkPad X1 Yoga and ThinkPad X1 Nano.
The most affordable configuration, available at major retailers like Amazon and Best Buy, features a Core i5-1335U CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD for approximately $1,439.99. On the higher end, a Lenovo L13 Yoga Gen 4 model equipped with a Core i7-1355U CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD is priced around $1,579.99 at Best Buy right now.
It's also important to note that Lenovo often offers more customizable options through its official website, allowing users to tailor their device to their specific needs, though right now the ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4's page lists it as coming soon, so potential buyers are limited to pre-configured options available through third-party retailers for now.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4: Specs
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Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4: Design
The design of the ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4 adheres to the classic ThinkPad aesthetic, offering a sleek and professional look, even if it's a bit austere at this point. The ThinkPad branding on the lid and keydeck definitely let you know what kind of device you're working with, and the iconic glowing red dot above the 'i' on the lid keeps the L13 Yoga Gen 4 connected aesthetically to the rest of the ThinkPad ecosystem.
However, the design is not without its drawbacks. The display is surrounded by thick bezels, which feel outdated when compared to more modern designs. Additionally, the base of the laptop is made from plastic, which reduces weight but sacrifices rigidity. This lack of firmness is particularly concerning for a convertible laptop that may be handled more frequently than a standard clamshell model.
The L13 Yoga Gen 4 does offer a good range of ports and connectivity options, including Thunderbolt 4, USB Type-A, HDMI, and optional 4G LTE connectivity, the latter of which will be absolutely essential for any professionals looking for an always-connected device.
These features make the device highly practical for professionals who require a wide array of connections for their workflow, and the inclusion of a built-in pen for notetaking and sketching, and the charging garage on the side is a welcome addition, enhancing the device's usability in tablet mode.
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The keyboard, as with just about all Lenovo laptop keyboards, is wonderful to type on and makes longer stretches of work pretty bearable on your hands. The trackpad is also pretty responsive, with a good bit of satisfying give and clickiness that makes for an easy enough go of it while working.
You also have the option of the trackbutton and mouse buttons above the trackpad that do reduce the useable space available, but make using the button much more intuitive for those who can't get enough track button action.
As with just about every Lenovo laptop I've come across in the last few years, there is a physical privacy shutter for the webcam, an absolute must have for any professionals on the road, and pretty much for anyone with a laptop at this point.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4: Performance
The performance of the Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4 is where things really do take a bit of a sour turn. While the device's benchmark scores aren't terrible, they are really only good enough for general productivity and computing, and not for anything more robust that you might want to do with a 2-in-1 device. Like it or not, you really won't be sketching anything more than quick doodles to explain a concept to a colleague or client, so anyone hoping to indulge their creative chops with Adobe or similar creative apps will almost certainly be disappointed here.
In terms of CPU performance, the L13 Yoga Gen 4 isn't the worst performer, and does manage to beat out the Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 5 by a healthy margin (no small feat for a 2-in-1), but going up against the likes of the Acer Swift Go 14 and the HP Envy x360, much less the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M3), the L13 Yoga Gen 4 doesn't have a whole lot of CPU chops to keep up with similarly priced devices.
Another disappointing result from our tests comes from the SSD storage, which is way below what it should be for a device at this price. The Acer Swift Go 14, for example, copies a 25GB file folder almost twice as the L13 Yoga Gen 4.
In terms of productivity, the L13 Yoga Gen 4's performance is fairly middle of the road, nothing terrible, but nothing spectacular either.
The Intel Iris Xe graphics on the Core i7-1355U processor do manage to outperform the Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 5, but these scores aren't really much to write home about, and if you're looking to get into more creative work with this laptop, you're bound to be disappointed.
Given the poor showing from the integrated Iris Xe graphics, this really isn't close to what the best gaming laptops can get you, even in a 2-in-1. I'd definitely recommend keeping things to strictly casual gaming at low resolution and settings if you must.
Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4: Battery life
The battery life is another area where the L13 Yoga Gen 4 disappoints, but it could have been worse, really.
At eight hours and 39 minutes of web surfing time, the Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 4 does much better than some competitors, but is also nowhere near where it should be for a device costing this much money, much less MacBook Air levels of battery life.
This is a major drawback for professionals who need a device that can last through long hours away from a power source while traveling or out-and-about. Real-world usage suggests an average battery life of about six to seven hours, especially if you're using some more intenseive office or multimedia apps.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Should you buy the Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4?
Buy the Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4 if...
Don't buy it if...
Also consider
If my Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4 review has you considering other options, here are two more laptops to consider.
A power outage throws us back to the stone age in a world where we are more connected to devices and technology than ever. Yes, it's dramatic, but losing it out of nowhere can be shocking when you rely on lights, temperature control, sound machines, fridges, freezers, internet connectivity, cameras, and other electronics to keep things moving throughout the average day.
Most of the best portable power stations I have reviewed in our guide to the best power stations are designed to be portable. These are meant to power small devices on the go, such as camping trips or a set amount of electronics.
Backup power stations, or backup power solutions, are designed to power an entire home, or at least the essentials, in an emergency. This emergency power outage could be for a few moments, several hours, or several days. The difference is that there is less time to prepare, far more electricity is being drawn (in most cases), and the duration of not having a reliable power source is usually entirely unknown.
That's where backup generators come into play most often. The issue with these is that they are loud, run on gas, must be set up in a ventilated area, and must be regularly checked to ensure they are in working order in case they are needed.
Anker's Solix F3800 Power Station is a battery backup power solution with 3,840Wh and 6,000W / 240V output. With expansion batteries, this power station can be expanded to house up to 26,880Wh, and with another F3800 and batteries, this can be doubled to 53,760Wh. Could this be the best home battery backup system available on the market right now? I think it might be.
(Image credit: Future // Collin Probst)
Anker Solix F3800: Unboxing and First Impressions
The first thing I should note about the Solix F3800 is its massive size. I'm used to power stations being heavy (my beloved EcoFlow Delta 2 Max is 50.7lb, and my Anker 767 PowerHouse is 67.2lb), but I can usually still carry them and throw them in the back of my Jeep and tote them around when needed or wanted. The F3800, in stark contrast, is 132lb and 27.6 x 15.3 x 15.6in. Thankfully, in authentic Anker Solix Style, it has wheels to help maneuver this beast, but it is still a bit of work if I want to change what floor of my house the F3800 is on or if I need to load it into a vehicle.
Specs
Capacity: 3840Wh
Charge Cycles: 3,000
Weight and Dimensions: 132.3lb; 27.6 x 15.3 x 15.6in
Ports: UPS AC Port x3, AC Port x3, NEMA 14-50 AC Port, L14-30R AC Port, USB-C x3, USB-A x2, DC x 1, Home panel port, Expansion battery port, Dual solar panel input port, car input port
AC Output: 120 and 240 Volts
Unboxing the Solix F3800 was difficult simply due to its size, but once I pulled everything out, the setup was straightforward. Everything is all in one unit, with plenty of ports to run just about anything I need. I could get SOLIX's Transfer switch or the Smart Home Power Kit and run everything through my house. More on that later.
The last thing I did to set this unit up was pairing it to my Anker app. This first-party app allowed me to run a firmware update, connect to my Wi-Fi so I could check its status from anywhere in the world, name the device, and set preferences like running Fahrenheit for my temperature readout, what power I would use to charge the device, and even screen brightness. Once setting all these parameters, I plugged the device into my standard AC outlet using a provided IEC power cable and charged the Solix F3800 up to 100%.
Anker Solix F3800: Design and Build Quality
Anker has designed this power station to be efficient and easy to use. There are different ways to charge the Solix, and they are all located on the left side of the unit if you are facing it from the front. On the right side, you can find all six 120v AC ports and both 120/240v max ports. Meanwhile, on the front of the unit, you can see the USB-A, USB-C, and DC ports and the display screen.
Among the 120V AC ports, three are clearly labeled as UPS. This indicates that these ports are connected to an uninterruptible power supply, which provides backup power in case of a power outage or other electrical issues. The other ports can only be used when the power supply is disconnected and is running on its internal battery.
The 120V/240V split-phase output is designed to give those demanding 240V units capable power, though only one at a time. However, the fact that I can power a dryer, an entire industrial fridge, an RV, my house, or even charge an electric vehicle with this thing is just incomprehensible.
While I haven't had the opportunity to patch into my main circuit breaker and run my entire house, my math from actual use and capacity and my usage according to my electric company, I could run my whole house without any power-saving modifications for nearly four hours on just the main battery.
If I expanded to adding more power extenders, not even another main F3800, I could extend those 4 hours to an entire day. With another F3800, I could open it for nearly two and a half days, running everything in my house as usual. Of course, if we were in a power outage, I wouldn't care to run my robot vacuums or my treadmill or have all my TVs or lights on. I wouldn't manage to have Christmas decorations or yard lights lit up, nor would I run my dryer, space heaters, or any of the best 3D printers. I could pare down quite a bit. I have a very power-hungry house. All this slimming down to essentials would allow me to extend the power to what needs to run even further.
(Image credit: Future // Collin Probst)
Anker Solix F3800: In use
As I mentioned, this power station is quite large. However, while it is significant, there is a massive amount of power that this unit can produce. I'm still shocked at how something of this size could power as much as it does. My wife and I have three kids under five at the time of writing this (it turns out kids continue to get older every day).
It's 2024, and admittedly, my two older kids have iPads. They use it for shows, coloring, and learning; my son is even into mancala, mahjong, and battleship. On top of this, all of my kids have sound machines that play a quiet white noise to help them sleep, and it changes colors for when they can get up in the morning. We always have 73 smart devices connected to our house, plus all the non-smart technology.
All that to say, my house runs on technology. Our home is not a happy one when the power has gone out during a snowstorm or other inclement weather. With the Anker Solix F3800, I now have confidence that I can power just about anything in my house for an extended period.
(Image credit: Future // Collin Probst)
Later this year, Anker will release a Transfer Switch and a Smart Home Panel. The Transfer switch will allow manual switching of any breaker in my house from shore power (power from the grid) to my Anker Solix. So, in the event of an outage, I can run whatever devices I want on any given breaker through the standard outlets in my house as though there was no power outage. The Smart Home Panel will add even more functionality, integrating the grid power, rooftop solar, and the Solix power station, all for the best and most seamless backup solution.
Until then, I am happy to use this as a large battery that I plug devices into. I can run extension cords to my internet, space heaters, lights, and anything else I want or need. However, one bummer that I noticed is that I cannot charge another (at least not large) power station with this power station. I tried charging my EcoFlow Delta 2 Max (my second largest power station) with the F3800, and it gave a warning stating that there was a risk of damage. While unsurprised, I am thankful that Anker programmed this feature into the F3800 to avoid damage.
Anker Solix F3800: Final verdict
Anker outdid themselves with the Solix F3800. I was already impressed with their previous flagship power station, the Anker 767 PowerHouse, but the Solix F3800 blew my expectations out of the water. The power capacity, the expandable power capacity with battery expansions, the ability to tether two F3800s together to gain even more output power, and the intelligent features all make this power station an incredibly impressive contender in the world of battery backup solutions and power stations. If you're looking for a solid power station, consider the pricy yet remarkably impressive Anker Solix F3800.
If you're in search of the best website builder to create an eye-catching website for your startup or side hustle, HubSpot website builder is certainly worth a look. In our hands-on review, we’ll dive deep into HubSpot’s offering and decide whether it’s a game-changer for solo entrepreneurs and small business owners looking to make their mark online.
After all, HubSpot is more than just one of the best free website builders - it's the heart of HubSpot's comprehensive content management system (CMS) suite. Whether you're launching a side hustle or rebuilding your current site, this tool streamlines website creation. Despite a slight learning curve associated with advanced tools, HubSpot provides a powerful tool to support your online efforts.
To help you make the right choice, we've rolled up our sleeves and delved into the nitty-gritty of the HubSpot website builder. Our team of experts has rigorously tested this builder, creating multiple websites to assess its user interface, design flexibility, and integration with HubSpot's ecosystem.
So, whether you're a first-time website creator or want to level up your game, our Hubspot website builder review can serve as your roadmap to navigating this tricky tool.
Is HubSpot the right website builder for me?
Choosing the right site builder is crucial for the success of your online presence. Let's break down who HubSpot is best for and who might find it less suitable.
Who is HubSpot best for?
HubSpot drag-and-drop website builder is an excellent choice for solo entrepreneurs entering the online realm, especially those prioritizing inbound marketing. It provides tools to create and promote content that resonates with the target audience.
Additionally, HubSpot is one of the best small business website builders on the market, allowing entrepreneurs and marketers to benefit from its all-in-one solution with strong integration capabilities. If you're seeking a platform where your website, CRM, live chat, email marketing, and automation are interconnected, HubSpot is a solid choice. It also supports up to three languages with automatic connections between language variations.
Who might find HubSpot less suitable?
HubSpot's pricing structure can be confusing and costs significantly increase with advanced features. If you're on a tight budget, the leap from the entry-level plan to more advanced tiers might be limiting.
The user interface of HubSpot's builder can also be overwhelming, which might not be suitable for those who prefer a simpler, more straightforward dashboard. In such cases, a site builder like Wix, with a more intuitive design, could be a better fit.
HubSpot's website builder integrates with their CRM and other marketing tools. With a generous free plan, it makes HubSpot a great option for small, start up, and growing businesses. View Deal
HubSpot features and tools
From templates to setting up an online store, below we explore everything you need to know about all the tools and features the HubSpot website builder has to offer.
Templates
HubSpot's themes are clean and bold, a great way to make a statement about your business. (Image credit: HubSpot)
HubSpot boasts a collection of over 170 themes, covering a diverse range of categories and you're invited to preview themes before installation. And if that's not enough, you can even spice things up by adding themes purchased from ThemeForest, expanding your design options.
When it comes to customization and adding a personal touch, the theme editor is your creative playground. You can easily tweak colors, fonts, and spacing to match your brand's vibe. What's best, these changes ripple across all your pages, saving you time and effort.
One advantage that sets HubSpot and Wix apart is HubSpot's ability to switch themes without bidding farewell to your content - it's really a rare gem in the website-building realm.
AI tools and features
If you don’t want to pick from one of the templates offered by HubSpot you can use HubSpot’s AI website builder instead. This tool allows you to create a full website by answering a few simple questions asked by the AI bot. The AI will then generate a website based on your answers, all without you needing to do any coding.
Although the HubSpot AI website builder will generate a full website for you, like most of the best AI website builders, a level of editing will almost certainly be required to bring it up to standard.
HubSpot also offers a range of other AI-powered tools to help you build and grow your website. This includes a full AI blog writing tool to help launch regular blog posts with little time investment. The Breeze content agent can also help you use CRM data to create bespoke content for everything from landing pages and podcasts to case studies and blog posts.
Content Remix is another AI-powered tool that can be used to create variations of existing content such as blog posts and landing pages in just a few clicks, making it easier than ever to have content targeted at different segments of your audience.
HubSpot website editor
HubSpot's website editor is easy to use, but lacks flexibility (Image credit: HubSpot)
Now, the heart of the matter - HubSpot's drag-and-drop editor takes center stage, offering an array of content elements and modules to elegantly populate your pages.
From dynamic galleries and testimonials to structured columns and vibrant videos, the editor is there to empower your creative choices. Tweak the finer details of your website's appearance effortlessly, from global fonts and spacing to typography, buttons, forms, and tables, ensuring a polished and cohesive design throughout.
However, despite the decent creative potential, HubSpot's website editor is far from being a champion of flexibility. Precise placement can sometimes feel like orchestrating a dance routine without mastering all the moves. Text editing takes a brief detour into a separate pane, introducing a slight interruption to the flow. For those meticulous about the alignment of elements like text and images, you might find yourself desiring a bit more control.
Domain
HubSpot offers a free subdomain, providing a starting point for your online presence. If you're seeking a personalized touch, HubSpot simplifies the domain registration process right within its platform. However, you don't need to upgrade to a paid plan right away.
Unlike many other of the best free website builders, with HubSpot, you have the benefit of connecting your own domain name for free - and it offers a simple step-by-step guide to help you do it.
If you don't own a domain, registering one usually falls in the range of $10-20, though it can vary based on factors such as popularity and the registrar you choose.
HubSpot ecommerce
HubSpot's app marketplace is the go-to for those looking for advanced ecommerce tools. (Image credit: HubSpot)
When it comes to ecommerce functionality, HubSpot CMS doesn't provide native features for selling products. Still, the platform allows you to receive payments through your site, primarily suitable for processes like donations or simple payments, but this functionality is limited to users based in the US.
Despite this limitation, HubSpot extends its ecommerce potential through its app marketplace. Here, you'll find plenty of free ecommerce Apps compatible with HubSpot, such as WooCommerce, BigCommerce, PrestaShop, Magento, and more.
As for transaction fees, HubSpot adopts a transparent approach with no setup fees, monthly fees, minimums, or hidden charges. The cost structure is based on a percentage of each transaction, ensuring you only pay for the service when it's actively utilized.
The specific fees, however, depend on the payment processing option you choose within HubSpot. If you opt for HubSpot Payments, expect to incur a 2.9% charge on all credit card transactions and a 0.5% fee (capped at $10) on ACH payments. Alternatively, if you integrate your Stripe account as the payment processor, HubSpot applies a platform fee of 0.5% per transaction, alongside the processing fee agreed upon with Stripe.
HubSpot marketing integrations
HubSpot's marketing integrations are plentiful and high powered. (Image credit: HubSpot)
HubSpot shines in the realm of marketing integrations, providing powerful SEO tools to boost your online presence. With features like personalized content, email marketing, and seamless integration with CRM and automation tools, HubSpot provides an all-in-one suite for managing various marketing aspects.
The platform's Marketing Hub is aimed at experienced marketers, offering capabilities like email campaigns, SEO strategy development, ad management, automated campaigns, content uploading, and detailed reporting. This makes it an attractive choice for businesses seeking streamlined lead generation and nurturing processes.
HubSpot doesn't stop there – it also integrates seamlessly with various social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, further enhancing your ability to reach and engage with your audience.
Website security
HubSpot offers top-notch security for your website. (Image credit: HubSpot)
As soon as you connect your domain, HubSpot will automatically set you up with a standard SSL certificate through Google Trust Services, giving your site a secure foundation.
Behind the scenes, HubSpot entrusts your website's security to top-tier cloud providers like Google Cloud Platform and Amazon Web Services. These providers adhere to strict security standards like ISO 27001 and SOC 2 compliance, ensuring your website is in good hands.
HubSpot employs a web application firewall (WAF) to safeguard against attacks, including DDoS threats. Real-time monitoring keeps an eye on traffic, promptly identifying and thwarting any malicious activity.
And when it comes to data protection, HubSpot has it covered. Your information is securely replicated and backed up across multiple storage locations ensuring your data's safety and quick recovery if needed.
To keep a pulse on your website's security, HubSpot's Security Health is your go-to tool. It provides a comprehensive overview of your security measures, pointing out areas for improvement. You just need to follow the links to address any concerns and strengthen your account’s security.
HubSpot pricing: Is HubSpot good value for money?
HubSpot offers a great free plan and an affordable starter plan, but for advance features the jumps in price are significant. (Image credit: HubSpot)
To start your journey with HubSpot, you'll have to choose from their CMS Hub plans, each tailored to cater to specific business needs.
There's a forever-free plan and it comes packed with essential tools for marketing, sales, service, content management, operations, and commerce. They're perfect for small businesses looking for budget-friendly yet impactful solutions that can be simply upgraded as their business grows. However, keep in mind that this fee plan comes with certain limitations, such as up to 25 website pages, no dynamic content, and includes HubSpot branding with a non-customizable favicon.
The next in line, the Starter plan ($20/month paid yearly) is likely enough for most small-to-medium businesses, but if you crave advanced features, the Professional plan ($360/month paid yearly) offers personalization, A/B testing, custom reporting, and more.
The Enterprise plan ($1,200 /month paid yearly) goes further with advanced development-focused features such as additional root domains, memberships, adaptive testing, web apps, and custom objects - everything needed to build a robust foundation for wide-ranging business growth.
HubSpot lets you create custom bundles for your business. The four key products - HubSpot CRM (free), Marketing Hub, Sales Hub, and Service Hub - come in Free, Starter, Professional, and Enterprise plans. For an all-inclusive approach, the Growth Suite bundles them together at a discounted price.
You have the option to optimize your HubSpot experience with expert assistance, ensuring you make the most of the platform's capabilities. To dive deeper into specifics about HubSpot's plans and pricing, check out their pricing page.
HubSpot help and support
HubSpot offers several good ways to get support and learn more about the platform. (Image credit: HubSpot)
Even on the Starter plan, you've got the backup of both email and live chat support, and the team is quick to respond and genuinely helpful when you're facing challenges. Also, if you're ever curious or need quick updates, hit up HubSpot support on X (Twitter) – they even encourage their users to do so.
The knowledge base is like a gold mine, covering a ton of topics. It might seem a bit overpacked at first glance, but think of it as your go-to resource, helping you through common issues and diving into advanced features.
There's also a community forum where you can chat with fellow users, tap into their collective wisdom, and pick up strategies to grow better with HubSpot. Plus, HubSpot keeps you in the loop with real-time updates on system status and security – just visit their status page.
However, to get round-the-clock phone support, you'll have to go with the Professional or Enterprise plans. For a pretty penny, this will add that extra layer of assistance for a smooth website-building journey.
HubSpot: What’s not included? What could be better?
While HubSpot CMS Hub offers an extensive array of business-focused, particularly marketing features, the platform could benefit from increased flexibility within its editor. Design flexibility is limited, requiring potential reliance on developers for precise customization, making it more akin to a comprehensive content management system like WordPress than other DIY website builders such as Wix and Squarespace.
One notable downside is the platform's learning curve, attributed to the multitude of features available. Less tech-savvy users may find it challenging to familiarize themselves with the different interfaces and editors for various tasks. The editor's rigidity, despite offering drag-and-drop functionality, might make it a bit challenging to customize the design exactly as you want.
Still, if you're willing to invest time in navigating the learning curve, HubSpot website builder can be a powerful choice, particularly if you're already using HubSpot's CRM or marketing tools.
HubSpot Review: Final thoughts
In summary, HubSpot’s website builder comes as a compelling all-in-one solution, especially when integrated with HubSpot's CRM or email marketing tools. It might not be the most beginner-friendly choice out there and isn't as flexible as some of its competitors, even free website builders. Nevertheless, HubSpot is a marketing powerhouse that excels with robust tools for SEO, blogging, and lead generation.
If you've decided on HubSpot but are looking for superior customization or lack the time to navigate the learning curve, consider collaborating with a developer. When understood and utilized effectively, this comprehensive solution can empower your online presence and marketing endeavors.
The bottom line is, if you are a small or growing business that wants an all-in solution for CRM, marketing tools, and website building, there is little out there that can beat HubSpot’s offering. However, if you want more flexibility in your website design, assessing other options will be worthwhile.
HubSpot website builder FAQs
Is HubSpot really free?
Yes, HubSpot offers a forever-free version but with basic features, including CRM tools. For more advanced features and capabilities, you'll want to check out their paid plans.
Is it hard to learn HubSpot?
HubSpot can have a steep learning curve due to its extensive feature set. While it provides user-friendly interfaces, the diverse range of tools may require some time to master. Fortunately, HubSpot offers training resources and solid customer support to help you navigate the platform effectively.
Does HubSpot's website builder offer integration with third-party apps and services?
Yes, HubSpot's website builder offers integration with various third-party apps and services through its extensive marketplace of plugins and integrations. You can also connect your website with HubSpot’s extensive range of built in tools ranging from a complete CRM to AI powered marketing tools.
Can I connect a custom domain to the HubSpot website builder?
Yes, HubSpot is one of the very few free website builders that allow you to connect a custom domain to your website.
You can search for relevant domain names with any of the best domain registrars. Once you have purchased your domain, you can connect it to your website by going to settings > Content > Domains and URLs > Connect a domain.
If you don’t have a domain, don’t worry. HubSpot gives you a free subdomain to help you get started.
Can I sell on a HubSpot website?
Unlike Wix, Squarespace, and Hostinger, HubSpot doesn’t offer any dedicated ecommerce tools on its website builder. However, that doesn’t stop you from selling via your website.
This is because you can connect to a host of payment processors and ecommerce platforms through HubSpot’s app marketplace.
What AI website building tools does HubSpot offer?
HubSpot offers a range of helpful AI tools that can help speed up the website building process, but they should be used with some oversight.
Firstly, you can tap into the platform's full AI website builder that will create you a website from just a few prompts. Then you can use the AI blog writing tool to create and publish blog posts and the Breeze AI content agent to create bespoke content based on CRM data.
Can I migrate my website from another website builder to HubSpot?
No.
You cannot migrate a full website from another website builder to HubSpot. This is because website builders typically hide the code you would need to fully replicate your website on another platform.
HubSpot does offer a ‘Website Migration Service’. This service rebuilds your website content into HubSpot’s Content Hub. However, it also uses a new theme to do that, so your website will not look the same.
With a $500 set up fee and $20 per page to migrate, costs can add up, but it can be a good option for businesses that are time poor or want to avoid the headache.
Is HubSpot good for SEO?
Yes, HubSpot is in high demand for its SEO capabilities. The CMS Hub, in particular, provides robust tools for optimizing content, managing keywords, and enhancing website visibility on search engines. It is considered a powerful option for businesses focused on inbound marketing and SEO strategies.
San Francisco based Yodeck is a powerful digital signage software that allows you to create, manage, and display content on screens, making it an excellent solution for various industries. The company's mission is to help people build better relationships with their customers, students, employees, and community members. It started in 2015 with three people, and has grown to over 6,000 employees, serving the needs of over 5,000 clients worldwide, with their tens of thousands of screens. Yodeck serves many businesses and organizations, including IcelandAir, Domino’s, McDonald’s, and Ford.
Features
Yodeck can literally turn any screen or TV into a digital sign via its powerful digital signage software, which makes this cloud-based solution an enhancement to your organization’s communication and engagement capability.
Like other players in the digital signage space, Yodeck’s has a suite of features. These include:
Remote View: Yodeck allows you to monitor what’s currently playing on your screens in real time directly from your web browser.
Apps and Customization: Choose from over 100 free apps to create engaging and dynamic content for your screens. Additionally, you can create your own custom apps using the free SDK and seamlessly integrate them with Yodeck.
Redundancy: Set up backup players and content to ensure your screens never go blank, providing uninterrupted display.
User Management: Easily create and manage multiple users and organizations with different permissions and access levels.
Touch Support: Enable interactive content and gestures on your touch screens, enhancing user engagement.
GPS-Based Triggers: Trigger content based on the location of your screens, such as weather, traffic, or nearby events.
IoT Integration: Connect your screens with sensors, cameras, and other devices to create smart and responsive signage.
Server Integration: Integrate Yodeck with your own servers and databases to display custom data and information.
API Automation: Use the Yodeck API to automate tasks and integrate with other platforms.
Offline HTML File Support: Even when not connected to the internet, you can upload and display HTML files on your screens.
Pricing
Yodeck offers a range of pricing plans to suit different needs. They range from a free starter tier, to the top tier Enterprise plan.
At the bottom is the Free Plan, which makes Yodeck completely free to use for a single screen. You can enjoy all the features such as the included apps and templates without any cost for your first screen. Also keep in mind that this free tier also serves as the trial as we did not see any mention of a free trial on the higher tiers, but that it is not time limited and can be used long term for a single screen.
Next up is the Standard Plan, which is targeted at multi-screen installations. The Standard Plan costs $7.99 per screen per month. It provides essential features for managing digital signage across multiple screens such as overlays, an interactive kiosk, free stock images and videos and live streams.
(Image credit: Yodeck)
Moving up further takes us to the Pro Plan, recommended for managing large volumes of content, at a price of $9.99 per screen per month. It includes everything in the Standard Plan with additional features and capabilities beyond that include sub-playlists, volume schedules, media tag filtering by the screen, and advanced media scheduling.
At the top is the Enterprise Plan, which features pro-grade security and is available for $12.99 per screen per month. It includes the functions of the lower plans, and then offers advanced features and robust security measures that include login IP and password restrictions, custom user roles, security session policies and audit logs.
Additionally, Yodeck provides free hardware with all annual plans, making it an affordable choice for implementing digital signage projects. Also keep in mind that for 60 screens and over to call for a custom quote at that higher volume.
Support
Yodeck has but a single option to get in touch for assistance, a contact portal. There is no direct phone number, an option for chat, a fax number, or a to be found on the website; technically we did find a direct snail mail address, but we doubt anyone is sending a letter for technical support, and also an email, but it starts with “info@” which is usually more for sales than support. The contact portal also does not include an option to include an attachment, which can be useful to markup a screenshot of an image and explain the issue that you need help with. However, it does have a space to include both your email and your phone number, so we can take the leap that they call you back if a phone call makes more sense for the problem. We should also keep in mind that the support is included for no additional cost with each of the plans.
On the self help side of the support equation, we are pleased to report more options. There is a mature help Center, with articles written on a variety of topics, including General Questions, Pricing and Features. There is also a separate documentation area that includes more user manual style content. Users are also encouraged to input on new feature ideas. A shortcoming is that we did not find a user forum, or any ebooks or webinars on the Yodeck site. However, investigating further, Yodeck does have a YouTube channel with over 130 videos, and there are some random links to this content, but in this day and age an embedded video player would probably be an expectation for most users.
Final Verdict
Yodeck is a digital signage software with four pricing plans: Free, Standard, and Pro. The Free plan is for single screen installations and the Standard and Pro plans are for multiple screens. The Enterprise plan is available for businesses with specific security requirements. Yodeck offers a variety of features, including content management, scheduling, and analytics. The help center has articles on a variety of topics and the documentation area includes user manuals. Yodeck also has a YouTube channel with over 130 videos. Overall, Yodeck is a good option for digital signage software. It offers a variety of features at a reasonable price. The free tier is a great way to try out the software before committing to a paid plan.
Privately held NoviSign is an Israeli digital signage software firm with field sales offices in Japan, Portugal, France, Germany, and the United States, and headquartered outside of Tel-Aviv, Israel. Digital signage software from NoviSign is offered as Software as a Service (SaaS) hosted by Amazon’s S3 server, making it simple to manage dynamic campaigns for IP-based and cloud-based digital signs that are located anywhere in the world. You can broadcast tailored messages in real-time to an infinite number of signs at an infinite number of places from any PC. NoviSign has successfully aided in the deployment of dynamic digital signage solutions on over 20,000 displays throughout five continents. Disney, Ikea, Home Depot, NASA, and Ferrari are just a few of NoviSign's clientele.
Features
NoviSign is a software for digital signage intended for small and medium-sized enterprises. It has some standout features such as content management which allows users to exchange web screens and manage content, the integrated monitoring and reporting to have users create historical reports and monitor devices (with the option to expert reports as CSV files), along with templates which gives users the ability for building out screen layouts with ease. Sound good? We think so also with over twenty widgets available for users to drag and drop, for example custom text tickers, live weather from a choice of over 1,200 cities, Google Slides, interactive polls, with even more available.
Other features to note are the support to display ads so that the screen can be monetized. Existing calendars can also be included and shown. We also like the option for a dashboard, which can show stats in visual form, and also to show off unlimited third party HTML integrations which are available online. Social media can also be included to engage the audience further, such as a Yammer feed to increase internal communication, an X/Twitter feed which can choose a specific hashtag, or the posts from an Instagram account. It also does the basics well, such as displaying a clock, with granular control to display the date and/or time in a choice of formats.
Pricing
NoviSign is sold as a subscription model, and is based on four tiers. We appreciate the free 30 day trial, with no credit card required, for users to decide if this meets their expectations. We also like the annual discounts, or the option to pay monthly. We are less impressed that each screen gets priced the same in the subscription, with no discount for additional screens on the subscription. There is also no free tier.
The bottom tier is appropriately called Business, and has a cost of $20/screen/month for each screen monthly, with a discount to $18/screen/month when paid annually. This basic plan supports a single user, offers 500 MB of storage, and 100 MB max for each file upload.
(Image credit: Novisign)
Moving up takes us to the Business Plus plan, which has a cost of $29/screen/month when paid monthly or $26/screen/month when paid annually. For the relatively small price difference, users step up to support for up to 5 users, 1 GB of storage, and a 500 MB max per file upload. It also brings in multiple features, such as an ad service, custom fonts, allows for remote events, reports API, and upgrades to premium support.
Then there is the Premium plan, which raises the cost to $49/screen/month when paid monthly, or $44/screen/month when paid annually. This plan supports an unlimited number of users, and up to 3 GB of file storage, along with the max file upload size increasing to 1 GB. We also note that it supports audit logs, a private cloud option, an admin module, and also a dedicated account manager.
On the top of the tier is the Enterprise plan, which supports unlimited users, 10 GB of storage, and 1 GB of max file upload file size. It also has professional features for larger organizations, such as custom branding for the domain, and support is via mail and phone with a service level agreement. As this plan can be custom tailored to the needs of an organization, there is no price given, but rather company contact is needed to build the plan and provide a quote, which is reasonable for this type of plan.
Support
There are plenty of support options for NoviSign. We appreciate on the direct support side of things that there is a direct email address, along with a support portal, but it is indicated that emails are answered within two business days, a considerable wait when you need some help. We also like that there is a direct phone number for the US to call, although the hours and days of operation are not indicated. Missing support options do include the lack of chat support, no fax number, and no snail mail address, although admittedly the last two options only a few folks will ever miss.
There are also some ways to get self-serve support. These includes tutorial videos, user guides such as the Quick Start Guide to walk a novice user through the process, and a comprehensive Q&A.
Final Verdict
NoviSign is a digital signage software that offers a variety of features, including, customizable templates, interactive media configurations, active web spaces, and dependability. NoviSign offers a variety of support options, including direct email, a support portal, a phone number, and self-serve support. Overall, NoviSign is a powerful and user-friendly digital signage software that offers a variety of features at a competitive price.
The market for virtual private networks (VPNs) is huge, and it can be difficult to figure out which services are reliable and which are better off avoided. Some VPNs are mediocre, most do the job without having any stand-out features, and a handful really knock it out of the park.
With this in mind, I'll be digging into OysterVPN (and whether it's worth your money.) I've been researching and reviewing VPNs for years, now, so you can rest assured you'll be getting first-hand info from a hands-on testing process (and not just the usual marketing blurb you can find on OysterVPN's website yourself.)
For a VPN that's only been on the block for a few months, OysterVPN is massively impressive—and definitely one to keep an eye on. With some adjustments to its toolset, the inclusion of WireGuard, and better performance, OysterVPN could be well on its way to giving the best VPNs a run for their money. For now, however, there are still plenty of snags to iron out.
OysterVPN features
OysterVPN is situated in Ireland and owned by Oyster Digital Solutions Ltd. It's a new-ish provider that kicked off its VPN services in early 2023 and, hopefully, this means that it's on the cutting edge of cybersecurity technology.
Ireland isn't part of any Western intelligence pacts, like the notorious 14 Eyes Alliance, so I'm also pretty confident in the provider's privacy policy. However, Ireland does impose mandatory data retention laws—so OysterVPN's no-logs policy has to do a lot of heavy lifting.
OysterVPN currently hosts 150+ servers in 17 countries, most notably:
Australia
Canada
France
Germany
Hong Kong
India
Singapore
Netherlands
USA
UK
This is a decent spread of locations, especially across Europe and Asia, but it’s nowhere near the extensive list of locations you would get from a top-tier VPN. Functional, but not amazing.
It's great to see OysterVPN offering split tunneling, which gives you full control over which apps are covered by the VPN connection. The downside is that it's only available on the Windows and Android apps, which is disappointing, considering that top-tier providers now offering split tunneling for MacOS.
Keep in mind
Split tunneling is handy if you want to stream content from one location and browse in another, but it's better to switch it off if you put your privacy first.
Fortunately, OysterVPN's split tunneling works well. It's easy to specify which apps and sites use the VPN connection and whether you'd rather have the VPN cover your entire connection.
Torrenting with OysterVPN is seamless, too. I didn't encounter any issues while hopping from server to server, which suggests there’s a full P2P service enabled across all of them. The same goes for P2P gaming across Hamachi—it was a breeze.
OysterVPN pricing plans
OysterVPN has a single payment tier that allows you to choose how long you want to subscribe for. The monthly plan costs $9.99 and includes 3 free months upfront, which is pretty awesome.
The monthly plan is on the pricey side, given the lack of server locations, but OysterVPN's yearly plan is more modest at $2.50 per month. Alternatively, if you feel like making a bigger commitment, OysterVPN lets users make a one-off payment of $49.99 for lifetime access to the service. This works out at $0.42 a month—that's not bad at all, but it is a limited time offer.
No matter which subscription you pick, you'll be covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can put the provider to the test without risking a penny.
Unfortunately, there’s no free trial or free VPN tier, so you’ll have to purchase OysterVPN if you want to give it a shot. The provider only accepts major credit cards and PayPal, too, meaning there's no option to pay via Bitcoin. This is going to disappoint folks who want to really shore up their privacy.
All OysterVPN plans offer five simultaneous connections—which isn't massively generous. However, it will allow you to protect all of your favorite devices. A family household can easily have upwards of ten gadgets (including mobiles, PCs, consoles, and more), so if you're looking for unlimited connections, you're better off with Surfshark.
(Image credit: OysterVPN)
Privacy and security
OysterVPN comes with most of the features you need to maintain your digital privacy. There are four VPN protocols to choose from: IKEv2/IPSec, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP, and OpenVPN. I recommend steering clear of L2TP and PPTP, seeing as they're not secure, and sticking with IKEv2 or OpenVPN. Both of these picks offer industry-standard security and reliable speeds.
I was disappointed to see that OysterVPN doesn't offer WireGuard, though. It's a relatively new VPN that combines the tight security of OpenVPN with the speed of IKEv2, all while maintaining a much smaller resource footprint. Given that OysterVPN touts itself as a modern VPN, there's no excuse not to offer WireGuard. Ideally, I'd like to see the service ditch its outdated protocols and welcome WireGuard to the fold.
OysterVPN passed all of the IPv4, DNS, and WebRTC leak tests I put it through. It’s reassuring to see that OysterVPN really will preserve your privacy while you’re browsing online, given that there are so many leaky VPNs out there. The only real issue I found was that IPv6 wasn’t supported, but as long as you disable this service, you'll be alright.
Furthermore, thanks to AES-265 encryption, you can be sure your traffic is encrypted in a way that won’t expose your data. It’s the same technology baked into SSL, which is trusted by every major institution on the internet.
Similarly, OysterVPN’s kill switch worked well. A kill switch makes sure that if your connection to the VPN drops, you won’t immediately default back to your ISP’s internet connection and accidentally leak your original IP. While it might be a little inconvenient, it’s an essential part of preserving your privacy with any VPN. I put OysterVPN's kill switch through a series of disconnection scenarios and it didn't disappoint.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that OysterVPN also offers DNS-level ad-blocking. Most of us use an ad-blocker these days, to banish those annoying pop-ups and invasive ads, but OysterVPN augments this functionality by putting a stop to malware and preventing it from being downloaded to your computer by blocking the connection on the network. In practice, this worked pretty well, but I still noticed a few ads here and there. This isn’t a dealbreaker by any means, as the feature is still extremely useful.
Logging policy
OysterVPN claims that it's a no-logs service—most VPNs do. It's difficult to verify this without a third-party audit, however.
In theory, OysterVPN could have a server architecture set up using disk-less servers that operate entirely in RAM. Actual details about its implementation, and how it achieves zero-logging, are scant at best, and Ireland has mandatory logging requirements.
So, if you can't take any chances with your privacy, I'd recommend sticking to audited services like ExpressVPN and NordVPN.
Netflix and global stream unblocking
Streaming with OysterVPN was painless. It takes a whole lot of dedicated manpower (and server capacity) to keep up with Netflix’s policy of banning VPNs, but I was able to check out US and UK content without a hitch.
Accessing Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and DAZN was just as straightforward—and that's an impressive spread of services. I was even able to access the WWE network, and OysterVPN claims it’s also able to unblock a wide range of additional sports platforms including UEFA, the Premier League, and the NBA. I haven’t tested this for myself, but given how well OysterVPN unblocked everything I did try out, I have no reason to doubt this is the case.
I didn't experience any major issues with lag or buffering, which is awesome news if you're in need of a tip-top streaming VPN, but streaming in 4K during busy periods did push OysterVPN to its limit. I'll dig into the details when we delve into the provider's performance, but overall, streaming with OysterVPN was adequate.
(Image credit: OysterVPN)
OysterVPN performance
OysterVPN has held its own so far but, unfortunately, it slips up where speed is concerned. Don't get me wrong, it's more than capable of handling day-to-day browsing—it's HD streaming that causes strain.
Using a 100 Mbps connection at 10 am, I connected to a UK server and captured 43.98 Mbps download speeds and 12.11 Mbps upload. That's respectable, but these numbers dropped dramatically when I ran my tests again at 6 pm.
The biggest dip in performance came when I switched to a US server. Download speeds clocked in at 11.59 Mbps and upload speeds at 3.79 Mbps. This wasn't enough to stream 4K content from Netflix US without significant buffering. I found similar speeds connecting to Hong Kong, at 8.91 Mbps down and 3.65 Mbps up.
So, while OysterVPN offers decent speeds if you’re connecting to a nearby server, long-distance connections tank its performance. That means that OysterVPN might not be your perfect pick if you're in the market for a reliable Netflix VPN that'll unblock geo-restricted content.
OysterVPN apps
Things improved when I switched my attention to OysterVPN's apps, however. There’s an install app for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android, and the Windows and MacOS versions also have their very own installation wizards that make set up a breeze. If you're a mobile user, just head on over to your app store to find OysterVPN.
The service can also be set up on a range of routers, and there's browser support for Chrome and Firefox via add-ons.
Sadly, you won't find any native Linux support. Relying on OpenVPN configuration files and a third-party client makes OysterVPN look a little outdated, but there are, at least, a handful of articles that'll guide you through the process.
(Image credit: OysterVPN)
OysterVPN customer support
OysterVPN's customer support is pretty solid. I got in touch to clarify some of their marketing information and got a response almost instantly, which is surprising. I couldn’t find a phone number for their support staff and couldn’t get their live chat to work, but if they respond to emails this quickly, it's not going to be a huge issue.
The FAQ follows suit. It's not particularly expansive, but the available guidance is straightforward, easy to follow, and covers a range of topics. Its installation guides are clear, too, but there's not a lot of information about what to do if something goes wrong.
Alternatives
With so many VPNs to choose from, you're not tethered to OysterVPN—especially if you don't want to compromise on speed and security. Below, I've outlined some of my top picks.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is my #1 VPN overall, and boasts a stacked roster of features. Plus, you'll be able to take your pick of more than 3,000 servers in 94 countries. ExpressVPN unblocks just about every streaming service you can imagine and can keep up with other resource-intensive tasks, like gaming, torrenting, and video calls. Its reputation for ironclad security is well-deserved, too, thanks to robust encryption protocols, a strict no-logs policy, and advanced features like a kill switch and DNS leak protection.
NordVPN
NordVPN is another favorite of mine, and a powerhouse in the VPN sphere, that's committed to safeguarding your security. It packs military-grade encryption and a strict no-logs policy, as well as a handy Double VPN feature for folks who really want to fly under the radar. NordVPN is also the fastest VPN I've ever tested, ensuring smooth browsing, streaming, and downloading experiences that won't be interrupted by any buffering hiccups.
Surfshark
Surfshark is an awesome pick for folks on a budget—it's the best cheap VPN available. That doesn't mean it's lacking in features, however. With Surfshark, you'll get awesome speeds ideal for HD streaming, a CleanWeb tool that'll banish ads, malware, and trackers, and an audited no-logs policy. Surfshark is also one of a handful of providers to offer unlimited simultaneous connections, so you can secure a whole household of gadgets with one subscription.
Proton VPN
Wrapping up my recommendations is Proton VPN. Developed by the team behind Proton Mail, a renowned encrypted email service, ProtonVPN follows a similar philosophy of protecting user data. The service utilizes robust encryption protocols and offers a range of advanced security features, like Secure Core, which routes user traffic through multiple secure servers to prevent interception. ProtonVPN has a standout free VPN, too, although it's more limited than its paid alternative. Still, it's a great way to try the service before committing to a long-term plan.
OysterVPN review: Final verdict
OysterVPN isn't a bad VPN by any stretch of the imagination. It does what it needs to do, and fairly cheaply at that. Its biggest problem is that there's nothing that makes it stand out in a highly competitive market, and it’s somewhat lacking in server location and speeds.
These are totally fixable issues, however, and I have a feeling that OysterVPN is going to get better and better over time. In fact, for a VPN that's only been operating for a few months, it's already impressive.
Still, there are better-established VPNs with more servers, better speeds, and a wider feature set than OysterVPN. ExpressVPN and NordVPN are the cream of the crop (that tick all of the right boxes), and I'd recommend checking them out if you want a premium and polished service.
TechRadar rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Subscribe if:
✔️ You want to unblock a ton of content: OysterVPN had no trouble bypassing geo-blocks to access the likes of Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu. ✔️ You're a mobile user: whether you're an Android or iPhone loyalist, OysterVPN has easy-to-use apps for your device. ✔️ You want a broad spread of servers: OysterVPN might not have a ton of servers, but the ones it does have are scattered across key locations.
Don't subscribe if:
❌ Speed is your priority: unfortunately, OysterVPN can't compete with the industry's top names when it comes to performance, especially when connecting to distant servers. ❌ You're on Linux: with no native Linux support, you'll need to jump through some complex hoops to get OysterVPN up and running. ❌ You need live chat support: I couldn't find OysterVPN's live chat, which might be a problem if you need quick answers to pressing problems.
How we test VPNs
Beside using the top recommended VPNs for our daily activities, we also conduct a thorough analysis of the top 30 VPN services every 6 months to keep track on how the software compares with other providers as new developments come in.
We start by reviewing each provider's website to double check if its claims and offering changed. We also look for any tracking cookies on the site and if/when they activate to see if the service tracks people using the site.
We then install and use each VPN service across a wide range of location servers and devices to see how they perform across the board. We go through all the settings to make sure all the features work as promised, while playing around with encryption protocols.
Our reviewers actively challenge the software, too, in the lookout for any flaws. For example, we purposely make the VPN connection drop so that we can test if the kill switch does its job of preventing data leaks correctly.
From speed connections and streaming unlocking results, to customer support and app usability, we regularly make sure to test every aspect of the software that could affect the experience of our readers.
As issues arise during our testing, we make sure to investigate these even by digging into the source code or the contents of its RAM if necessary. Head to our dedicated VPN testing methodology page if you want to know more.
Geekom has now released an updated 2025 Edition Mini IT12. The only change compared to the model reviewed below is a switch to the Intel Core i7-1280P CPU, rather than the original Core i7-12650H. The 1280P is still a 12th Gen CPU, but has a slightly higher clock speed and more efficiency cores. It also has a lower base and maximum turbo power, so performance is very similar.
Where it does improve things is the inclusion of Intel Iris Xe Graphics, which is slightly more powerful than the Intel UHD Graphics in the i7-12650H. While both these CPUs were launched back in 2022, they were flagship mobile processors, and still offer punchy performance today.
Included below is a quick spec and benchmark comparison of the CPUs. The Core i7-1280P gives very similar results in typical CPU focused benchmarks, but thanks to the more powerful iGPU, is around 20% faster in graphics related workloads.
While not a huge change, this means the 2025 IT12 is now slightly better value.
Geekom Mini IT12 2025 Edition
Geekom Mini IT12 (as originally reviewed)
CPU
Core i7-1280P
Core i7-12650H
Generation
12th gen Alder Lake
12th gen Alder Lake
Launch
Q1’22
Q1’22
Cores / threads
14 cores (6P + 8E) / 20 threads
10 cores (6P + 4E) / 16 threads
Max turbo frequency
4.80 GHz
4.70 GHz
P-core max turbo
4.80 GHz
4.70 GHz
E-core max turbo
3.60 GHz
3.50 GHz
Processor base power
28 W
45 W
Maximum turbo power
64 W
115 W
Integrated graphics
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics
iGPU execution units
96 EUs
64 EUs
iGPU max dynamic freq
1.45 GHz
1.40 GHz
Benchmarks
PCMark 10 - Overall
5862
5253
Geekbench 6 - Multi-core
9551
9386
Geekbench 6 - Single-core
2500
2323
Geekbench 6 - GPU
14731
11065
Fire Strike
4653
3730
Time Spy
1577
1331
Wild Life
12009
9511
CrystalDiskMark Read/Write (MB/s)
5196 / 4747
5096 / 4474
Geekom Mini IT12: 30-second review
Specs
CPU: 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-12650H (10 Cores, 16 Threads, 24MB Cache, up to 4.70 GHz) Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics for 12th Gen Intel Processors RAM: Dual-channel DDR4-3200 SODIMM, 32GB, expandable up to 64GB Storage: 1 x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x4 SSD 1TB onboard, expandable up to 2TB, 1 x M.2 2242 SATA SSD slot, expandable up to 1TB, 1 x 2.5" SATA HDD (7mm) slot, expandable up to 2TB Rear Ports: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 2 x USB4 Type-C ports, 2 x HDMI 2.0 ports, 1 x 2.5GbE LAN port, 1 x DC jack Front Ports: 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, 1 x SD card reader (side), 1 x 3.5 mm headphone jack, 1 x Power button Connectivity: Ethernet: Intel 10/100/1000/2500 Mbps RJ45, Wireless LAN: Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211, Bluetooth Wireless Technology: Bluetooth 5.2 Audio: Not specified Camera: N/A Size: 117 x 112 x 49.2 mm OS Installed: Windows 11 Pro Accessories: 1 x VESA Mount, 1 x Power Adapter, 1 x HDMI Cable, 1 x User Guide
Considering the size and price, the Geekom Mini IT12 is a high-performing, compact mini PC designed for a range of applications, from office tasks to moderate gaming, with a real focus on creatives using processor-intensive applications such as Adobe Photoshop and DaVinci Resolve. There are several variants of the machine, such as with an i5 or i9 CPU, but in this test, we're looking at the 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12650H.
The processor ensures that this mini PC packs power. At the same time, the RAM allocation is impressive, with 32GB of dual-channel DDR4-3200 SODIMM, which is expandable up to 64GB, catering well to heavy workloads. Storage is also versatile and generous, featuring a mix of M.2 and SATA SSD slots and a 2.5" HDD slot, expandable up to 2TB.
We've tested many of the best mini PCs, and in our experience, the Mini IT12 also offers a decent volume of connectivity and expansion options. It has a range of ports, including USB 3.2, USB4, HDMI 2.0, and a 2.5GbE LAN port, making it adaptable for various peripherals and network setups. Intel's Wi-Fi 6E AX211 and Bluetooth 5.2 ensure a fast wireless connection.
While the IT12 lacks a dedicated GPU, the integrated Intel UHD Graphics are good enough for everyday tasks and some gaming; it will also handle light image and video editing up to 4K as long as the edits aren't to complex.
When it comes to physical size, it measures in at 117 x 112 x 49.2 mm, which makes it easy to position when desk space is tight or if you need it to be portable in say a studio environment. The system arrives pre-installed with Windows 11 Pro, which provides excellent reliability and speed and is ideally suited to professional users.
The Geekom Mini IT12 is a decent all-round mini PC that balances performance, size, and connectivity, which will make it suitable for a wide range of users, from professional office workers to casual gamers and creatives. What makes this small machine stand out, especially for creatives, is the good selection of ports that enable the connection of external control desks and hard drives. There's the fact that it has a built-in SD card reader so you can directly download images and video to the internal or connected external drives.
Considering the size and price, this is an incredibly powerful machine that will suit creatives looking for a compact computing solution that also offers portability.
Geekom Mini IT12: Price & availability
(Image credit: Ali Jennings)
How much does it cost? From $699 / £599 / AU$899
When is it out? Available now
Where can you get it? Directly from Geekom US, UK and Australia, as well as other online retailers such as Amazon.
The Geekom Mini IT12 12th Gen Intel Core i7 model is currently priced at $699 MSRP (£599 / AU$899) but often has further discounts. However, there's a promotion available in the US and UK where an extra $30 discount can be applied using the coupon code techradar30 during checkout, saving a bit of extra money. Availability is widespread, including through the official Geekom website and Amazon. Right now, you can save with these exclusive TechRadar offers.
The Geekom Mini IT12 Mini PC is housed in a stunning metallic green casing made of high-quality plastic that looks and feels as though it should be metal. This gives the machine a feel that is solid and well made, although not quite premium. Measuring in at 117 x 112 x 45.6 mm means that the IT12 will fit almost any work surface, and if there's no space, then there's always the VESA mount. The small size and quality build also mean that it's highly portability, making it a great choice for a variety of settings, from studio work to mobile offices.
The build quality, while not premium, is well made, and the layout of ports and power button is easily accessible, all adding to a generally user-friendly design. One of the nice features about the machine is that the internal components, including RAM slots, M.2 slot, and a 2.5" HDD drive slot, are easily accessible after removing the base, which is secured with cross-head screws.
As the base is removed, the cooling and ventilation system can be seen, and this has been well integrated into the design. Vents and fans are compactly arranged, helping to ensure that heat is drawn away from the components while keeping noise levels low. Side grills offer additional airflow, further helping to keep the inner workings cool even when the machine is running under load.
Port placement is pretty standard, with two USB Type-A ports on the front and a variety of connections on the back, including two HDMI ports and two USB Type-C ports, which combined will support up to four displays. The inclusion of an SD card slot on the side is a superb additional touch, especially for creative professionals and photographers.
The Mini IT12 is designed with the needs of creatives in mind. It features a powerful 12th Gen processor, 32GB of RAM (expandable to 64GB), and extensive storage options, including an ultra-fast M.2 slot and a 2.5" HDD slot, allowing for the expansion of up to 5TB of internal storage. These features make it well-suited for demanding applications like Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve.
Design: 4.5/5
Geekom Mini IT12: Features
(Image credit: Ali Jennings)
The Geekom Mini IT12 Mini PC offers a set of features that will appeal to content creators or anyone looking for a compact machine that offers more power than a simple office machine. At its core is the 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12650H processor, which, with its multitasking ability, makes it a great choice for more demanding applications such as Premiere Pro or Photoshop. Complementing the processor is Intel UHD Graphics, which, although not a dedicated card, is still decently powerful and capable of handling complex graphics and multiple 4K or one 8K video stream.
Another feature that will really appeal to creatives or any user who needs plenty of expansion options is the huge selection of ports. These include two ultra fast USB4 ports that enable high-speed data transfer as well as the ability to run multiple high-resolution displays. When it comes to networking and connections, the machine features the latest Intel Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6E.
For any machine of this type, especially when it comes to high performance Mini PC's storage and memory are important, and with dual-channel DDR4-3200 SODIMM expandable up to 64GB and a range of SSD options, including an M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x4 SSD, there are plenty of options for internal upgrades and expansion as and when you need. Of course with high powered machines comes heat, and to help ensure that everything stays cool, the machine has an integral cooling system that features a built-in fan that maintains a balance between performance and thankfully low noise levels.
The Mini IT12 also has the ability to support multiple displays, including one at 8K resolution, making it ideal if you like to split your tool pallets from your workspace or have a separate monitor for admin, web browsing, and email.
Pre-installed comes Windows 11 Pro, which you would expect from a machine pitched at this level, and this also means that you can get up and running in around 10 minutes from the time you unpack and connect the machine to the moment you write your first email.
Features: 3.5/5
Geekom Mini IT12: Performance
(Image credit: Ali Jennings)
Benchmarks
Crystal Disk Read: 5096 MB/s Crystal Disk Write: 4474 MB/s GeekBench CPU Single: 2323 GeekBench CPU Multi: 9386 GeekBench Compute: 11065 PC Mark: 5253 CineBench CPU Multi: 11560 CineBench CPU Single: 1660 Fire Strike Overall: 3730 Fire Strike Graphics: 4093 Fire Strike Physics: 18843 Fire Strike Combined: 1301 Time Spy Overall: 1331 Time Spy Graphics: 1167 Time Spy CPU: 6670 Wild Life: 9511 Windows Experience: 8.1
The Geekom Mini IT12 Mini PC puts in a decent all-round performance across a variety of applications, from Photoshop to Microsoft Word, making it a great machine for both professional and home use. When it comes to handling creative applications such as Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve, the Mini IT12 absolutely excels. Its high GeekBench Compute and CineBench scores reflect its capability to manage intensive processing tasks, while the impressive Crystal Disk Read and Write speeds show just how fast the SSD is and how that speed ensures fast data handling, which is crucial for video editing and image processing.
During the test, the machine's ability to handle creative software smoothly and without crashes or glitching is impressive considering the small size. The Intel UHD Graphics, though not a dedicated GPU still puts in an impressive performance for 3D rendering as well as high-resolution cuts in the top video editing software, is more than sufficient for running any of the best graphic design software and video editing tasks in Premiere Pro. This makes the Mini IT12 a great choice for creative professionals who require a balance of performance and price.
When it comes to using the machine for general office work, the Mini IT12 runs all Microsoft Office applications and Google Docs without issue. The real world use of these applications are reflected in the PC Mark score that indicated that typical office applications such as the Microsoft Office Suite will run smoothly, as the bench marks highlight in use you can quickly switch from one application to another without any issue. Working in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are handled with ease by the machine, and there are no worries about this machine's abilities with any office tasks.
Gaming on the Mini IT12, while not its primary focus, is possible. The test scores from Fire Strike and Time Spy suggest that while it can run graphically demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption II although we did find that the quality settings needed to be reduced in order to have smooth game play. The machine is more suited to less graphics-intensive games or older titles, which is highlight by the Wild Life score.
The Geekom Mini IT12 is a well-rounded mini PC with an ability to handle a range of tasks, from creative software to everyday office applications, and for the most part you can also get a pretty decent gaming experience. This makes it a great choice for anyone looking for a compact yet powerful computing solution.
Performance: 3/5
Should you buy the Geekom Mini IT12?
For creative professionals or anyone who needs a PC with a bit of power, the Geekom Mini IT12 is an excellent choice. Its powerful processor, coupled with upgradable and expandable memory and storage options, makes it ideal for applications like Photoshop and Premiere Pro, and any of the best Adobe Premiere Pro alternatives. However, if you're a hardcore gamer looking for a compact machine to handle the latest high-end games at maximum settings, you might want to look elsewhere and at something with a dedicated graphics card. For general office work, multimedia, and casual gaming, the Mini IT12 offers great value, making it a great purchase for anyone looking for a compact yet capable PC.
Value: Solid performance at a reasonable price. 4/5 Design: Compact, efficient, unobtrusive design. 4/5 Features: Versatile, with comprehensive connectivity and expansion options. 4/5 Performance: Strong in multitasking, moderate in gaming. 4/5 Total: Well-rounded, efficient for professionals and casual users. 4/5
(Image credit: Ali Jennings)
Buy it if...
You're a creative professional
If your work involves graphic design, video editing, or other creative tasks, the Mini IT12's powerful processor and high-speed storage make it a suitable choice for demanding applications.
You value compactness and versatility
Ideal for users who need a space-saving PC that doesn't compromise on performance, offering a range of ports and upgradeable memory for various uses.
Don't buy it if...
High-end gaming is a priority
If you're seeking a PC primarily for the latest AAA gaming titles at high settings, the Mini IT12 might not meet your expectations due to its integrated graphics.
You need ultra-high-resolution video editing
For professionals in 3D rendering or working with ultra-high-resolution video, the machine's graphical capabilities might fall short.
The Puget System workstation PC is a tough product to review in a traditional sense, since there's very little on the market to really compare it to outside of enterprise channels other than the Mac Pro, but there is no doubt that when it comes to professional workstations running anything other than macOS, Puget Systems can build you exactly what you need. You'll just have to pay for the privilege.
The unit I received in for review featured an AMD Threadripper Pro 5975WX 32-core CPU, which isn't even the latest workstation chip available, and still cost close to $11,500 in the US. Playing around with the part configurator, you can build a system that can cost you close to $40,000, but which will likely have more computing power than just about anyone in or out of industry would ever really need. But hey, if investors are lining up to sign the check, there are worse systems to splurge on, believe me.
We've tested many of the best workstations out there, and in terms of performance, you'll get a PC that's only as good as its parts. Fortunately, the Puget Systems workstation has a huge assortment of parts to choose from, both mainstream and pro-channel components like Nvidia Ada workstation GPUs. This also means that a Puget Systems workstation can range in price from eye-watering to bank-account-shattering.
The lowest configurable system I was able to put together using Puget Systems' online builder costs $3,132.26, while the most devil-may-care configuration I was able to build ran to just under $61,000, and quite frankly it could beat the Mac Pro into the ground through the sheer weight of its specs, including multiple 48GB Nvidia RTX 6000 Ada cards and 1TB DDR5-5600 REG ECC.
Understandably, that was not the system Puget Systems sent me for review. That system, which featured an AMD Threadripper Pro WRX80 ATX board with a Threadripper Pro 5975WX 32-core processor, 256GB DDR4-3200 REG ECC memory, an Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU, a 4TB Sabrent 4TB Rocket 4 Plus SSD, Noctua CPU cooling fans and a Fractal Design Define 7 case came out to $10,569.12, not including shipping.
For the same price, I could get a Mac Pro with M2 Ultra with 24-core CPU, 76-core GPU, and 32-core neural engine, 192GB unified memory, and 4TB SSD storage in a stainless steel frame (without $400 wheels), no peripherals, and no preinstalled software for $10,599.
While that Mac Pro configuration is undoubtably solid, that really is as good as it gets right now as far as Mac Pro units go, and we haven't even touched the tip of the iceberg for what Puget Systems is capable of producing. Yes, without question, you will end up paying a serious premium to beat the Mac Pro. But if you're playing with these kinds of table stakes, the kind of workstation you can build with Puget Systems will simply outclass anything that the Mac Pro can provide at this point, especially if you're looking at a workload that isn't easily portable to macOS like machine learning workloads that rely almost exclusively on Nvidia's CUDA.
Ultimately, whatever Apple's Mac Pro can do, so can a Puget Systems workstation, and if you've got a workload that doesn't easily square with the almighty cheese grater, Puget Systems will be able to build you exactly what you need.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Puget Systems Workstation: Price & availability
As a custom workstation builder, Puget Systems PCs can range in price from the more modest AMD Ryzen 7000-series or Intel 13th-gen PCs starting at about $3,000 and going all the way up to an AMD Threadripper Pro 7995WX 96-core monster with 1TB DDR5-5600 REG ECC (8x128GB) memory, three 48GB Nvidia RTX 6000 Ada GPUs, a 25 gigabit PCIe network card, a pair of Micron 15.36TB 7450 Pro NVMe U.3 SSDs (6,800 MB/s read), an additional pair of 8TB NVMe M.2 SSDs rated for 7,000 MB/s read), an Asus 24x DVD-RW SATA drive for the hell of it, a 1600W 80 Plus Platinum PSU, a 360mm AIO CPU cooler, and a Noctua case fans upgrade kit to help cool this beast; all for $60,832.03, built to order, and you can get it in about a month.
In our Mac Pro review, meanwhile, we noted it maxes out at an Apple M2 Ultra with 24-core CPU, 76-core GPU, 32-core neural engine, 192GB unified memory, 8TB SSD storage, additional wheels for the workstation, a magic mouse and magic trackpad, and preinstalled Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro, at a total cost of $12,847.98.
For a lot of folks, especially video editors or musicians, the choice of a Mac Pro will be a foregone conclusion, especially if you're very used to the ecosystem and the workflow from specific Mac-only apps. Many users won't be able to easily connect or port over their workloads to a windows based system, so this might be something of a wistful bit of Windows shopping (or Linux, if you prefer, Ubuntu 22.04 LTS can be preinstalled on a Puget Systems workstation), and if that's you, then you know best what you need.
However, if you're not tied into the macOSphere and you're wondering what you can get beyond the Mac Pro, well, you can get an awful lot, especially if you've got the budget to go big.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Puget Systems Workstation: Specs
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Puget Systems Workstation: Design
Where Puget Systems really shows off its work is in the design of its workstations. While all of the parts are sourced from major parts manufacturers like Sabrent, PNY, Noctua, and others, Puget Systems goes further than simply installing your components and calling it a day.
From the transparent plastic braces Puget Systems uses to mount CPU coolers and hold up heavyweight graphics cards to the pristine installation of case fans and cable management, the interior of a Puget Systems workstation is some truly high-quality building.
Even more impressive is the binder Puget Systems sends along with your well-packaged workstation. Not only does it catalog the steps your workstation's technician, who is named in the documentation, takes to assemble your build with individual timestamps for progress, the binder is also full of individual benchmark scores using the latest tools to measure PC performance.
Not only does this help ensure that your workstation arrives in working condition, it also shows that the unit didn't leave the shop without undergoing sufficient testing to make sure it was in good working order.
Moving out from the internals, the exterior of the Define 7 case is more than adequate for a workstation that is meant to get work done rather than it is to look pretty for investors, but you won't need to hide this away when the VCs come by to take a look at your operations.
In terms of assembly and setup, it really is as simple as pulling the Define 7 case package out of the larger Puget Systems box, sliding out the workstation, plugging it in, and pressing power. You might need to provide your own peripherals, but if you've spent this kind of money at this point, you'll already be on the prowl for the best business monitors, best office keyboards, and other office essentials.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Puget Systems Workstation: Performance
Performance is something of a moving target on a Puget Systems workstation since so much is going to depend on the build you select. In my case, the workstation I built was more geared toward matching the Mac Pro in terms of price, rather than trying to go as high up the stack on specs as I could.
Still, I did benchmark the hell out of this system, putting CPU, GPU, and other components through the ringer as well as using this as my main workstation PC for close to two months (thanks to the infinite patience of the Puget Systems team), so I certainly didn't skimp on data, even if your mileage is going to vary quite a bit with different builds.
In terms of CPU performance, the 32-core AMD Threadripper Pro 5975WX certainly chewed through multicore processes, but it lagged behind the best processors on the market currently in single core performance, so I would definitely recommend upping the processor to the newer workstation chips if you're going Threadripper or Xeon.
On the graphics side of things, the Nvidia RTX 4090 made short work of the various GPU benchmarks I ran on it, and in terms of compute, the RTX 4090 is the best graphics card on the consumer market, but you can go much higher into the Ada workstation cards that will absolutely run circles around whatever you're going to get out of a GeForce card.
The Sabrent Rocket 4 PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD in the workstation I reviewed was about as fast as you're going to get with PCIe 4.0, and it made content creation much smoother when loading saving data to disk. I was running the best video editing software and photo editor tools, and the 256GB DDR4 RAM, while not the fastest on the market, made sure I had more than enough memory to open as many Photoshop files and Adobe Premiere Pro projects as I wanted without breaking a sweat.
The productivity scores on the Puget Systems workstation were impressive, but this isn't really the kind of workstation you spend a down payment for a house on just to run Office apps. It's good to know you can though.
Finally, putting the Puget Systems workstation through a number of creative workloads, this machine's purpose really shone through. Easily one of the best video editing computers out there, this is the kind of computer build for processing large amounts of media and making something beautiful with it without having to worry too much about slow process times or hanging load screens.
In that regard, the Puget Systems workstation outperformed every other workstation I've ever tested in everything from V-Ray to HandBrake and Photoshop and even down to Lumion 12.5, where it rendered a 30 second 4K@30fps video clip at production quality in about 0.11 fps, finishing the render process in just under two and a half hours, whereas most workstations I test take nearly twice as long.
Given better specs, things would have zipped by even faster, no doubt.
And that, ultimately, is Puget Systems in a nutshell: you can get the level of performance you want, though you'll have to pay for it. Given the current state of enterprise-level investments in technology, this might be a heavier lift than it was back in the heady days of zero interest rates and free money, but if you've got the mind to make a real investment, the Puget Systems workstation is easily one of the best investments you can make.
