As a press delegate at London Film Festival, your watchlist usually passes double figures – but after two weeks, the movie I'm still thinking about is Train Dreams. In all honesty, there's not a higher compliment you can give a film, especially one that most people haven't seen yet.
In an age where we want everything in an instant (including answers to the questions movies ask of us), it's a brave move to opt for a slow-burn story. It's even braver when said story isn't one familiar to most people, demanding that we go in with no prior knowledge to watch a deeply personal journey.
This is how to best experience the new Netflix movie, based on the Denis Johnson novella of the same name. Combined, the streamer and the story are demanding that we leave our brains and baggage at the door to live out the life and death of Robert Grainier, a lumberjack working on the railroads in the early 1900s.
Sure, there's plenty of steel being fashioned into tracks that ferry bemused passengers from A to B, but Grainier's occupation is the least interesting thing about his life. Joel Edgerton plays him with such an unguarded sense of masculinity that you cannot help being invested in his love of life, love, and the world around him (and that's just in a nutshell).
Train Dreams is the most beautifully understated Netflix movie of the year
On the whole, I cannot tell you how impressed I am with Netflix for gifting us Train Dreams. I was initially skeptical about whether a streaming platform would be the right fit, but being able to watch in the privacy of your own home echoes the personal intimacy we see reverberate through Grainier and the film itself.
Edgerton runs away with this, and it's all thanks to his commitment to vulnerability. On the surface, Grainier is the archetypal man's man – he routinely leaves his wife and kid at home to work seasonal lumberjack jobs, embodying the traditional masculine values of physical labor and strength, responsibility and self-reliance.
Yet Edgerton strips that all away to reveal a man who would do anything for his wife and daughter, revering them with just as much authority and respect as he would give to any man working alongside him. He's open about his emotions, letting himself break down in front of Gladys (Felicity Jones) and Claire (Kerry Condon) respectively as life becomes something he doesn't recognize and cannot grasp. He has wronged, and his conscience is restless because of it.
It's an astonishing portrait of a man enveloped in a lifetime of turmoil, and I cannot think of a better point in time for us to quietly unpack what it means to be a man than now. Life is tough, and Grainier has it a lot harder than most, and it all feeds into a beautiful invitation for introspection... something that's still actively shaping my worldview a few weeks on.
It's all about the meaning, but don't discount what you're seeing on screen
Felicity Jones and Joel Edgerton in Train Dreams. (Image credit: Netflix)
While the meditating on the not-so-brilliant fruits of Grainier's life of labor, what we're seeing on screen aptly reflects that. Train Dreams' aesthetic is one shrouded in mist, keeping secrets of the past and future at bay while we get lost in the present. The natural landscape of rural America is nothing short of astonishing, essentially becoming a secondary character or member of the Grainier family.
Train Dreams is a story tinged by longing, and I felt my heart and mind open up to something bigger while I was watching. I yearned for my love, my family, my sense of place, and of course to visit the film's gorgeous location, absorbing it with nothing else around me but my thoughts. While the subject matter is often provoking and difficult to process, these hope-filled moments – the kind we spend our whole lives looking for – act as a mental palette cleanser.
There are issues here too. For those who aren't a fan of the slow-burn, Train Dreams takes a noticeable length of time to properly stoke its fires, and that could be to its detriment once its release into the big wide world. I'd have like to have seen Condon's character Claire utlilized more evenly throughout the film (or at least give her more screen time after she's introduced), and I predict people may be left unsatisfied by the way Grainier's life ends. For me, it's the perfect salute to life's natural cruel streak.
Netflix is really hitting a stride of offering us everything in moderation this year, and Train Dreams is another successful string to its bow. In such a saturated release window (we're heading into Awards season, after all), I can see it being lost in the fanfare, but I cannot urge you enough to board this train for a ride that will leave you changed.
Train Dreams releases on Netflix on November 21, 2025.
As it usually happens, the unveiling of new flagship chipsets opens a floodgate of new flagship phone launches. Oppo is kicking off the Find X9 generation with two models – one mid-sized model and one large model. This happened last year too, later on we got the top of the line Ultra phone and the small “s” model.
Oppo Find X9 and Find X9 Pro
The Oppo Find X9 and X9 Pro are both powered by the new Dimensity 9500. The new chipset has a 32% faster CPU, 33% faster GPU and a massively faster NPU, up 111%. It’s not just about speed, the 9500 is more efficient too, by 55% for the CPU,...
Oppo has announced the Pad 5 Android tablet and a budget smartwatch called the Watch S. The devices were unveiled today in China alongside the Find X9 and Find X9 Pro.
Oppo Pad 5
The Pad 5 tablet comes with a 12.1-inch LCD display that has 3000 × 2120 pixels resolution and a refresh rate of 144Hz. The screen offers a peak brightness of 900nits, Dolby Vision support, and a 7:5 aspect ratio.
It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ SoC, paired with the Immortalis G925 MC12 GPU. As for memory and storage, the Oppo Pad 5 offers up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.1...
Redmi has confirmed that its upcoming K90 series will be unveiled in China this month. It was originally expected to launch in November, but the company has moved up the launch window.
The Redmi K90 series will also include a new Pro Max variant this year, Xiaomi President Lu Weibing revealed in a Weibo post. The model is claimed to be a ‘true flagship’.
According to Redmi, the K90 Pro Max will be priced above CNY 4,000 ($560). It appears that the K90 series will skip the Pro model this time, with the K90 serving as the base variant and the Pro Max positioned as the top-end...
Samsung may have beaten Apple to the thin and light phone trend with the Galaxy S25 Edge, but it seems that it won’t follow up with a successor anytime soon. According to multiple reports, the Galaxy S26 Edge has been canceled due to the S25 Edge’s low sales volumes. South Korea’s NewsPim reports that Samsung is apparently set to discontinue the Edge series altogether once it clears all stock of the S25 Edge.
An unnamed Samsung official was quoted:
I’m not sure if the slim line (i.e. Edge line) will ever return, but as of now, it seems unlikely. It’s practically gone. - anonymous...
The Realme GT 8 series is set to launch in China next week and it will be the first phone from the brand to feature custom Ricoh Imaging tuning. Apart from the fancy camera hardware, Realme will also offer some modular customization options with interchangeable modules for the camera housing.
The camera housing or deco features two Torx screws on the side, which hold the module in place. The system appears to use magnets, allowing you to instantly snap the housing into place and then attach the two screws to secure it. Realme revealed it will offer square, round, and robot...
iQOO will unveil the iQOO 15 in China on October 20. The brand hasn't revealed its global launch date yet, but iQOO's Indian branch today announced that the iQOO 15 will launch in India in November. Last year, the iQOO 13 was introduced for the Indian and global markets on the same day; hence, we believe the iQOO 15 will also be launched for India and other international markets on the same day in November.
iQOO hasn't detailed the iQOO 15's specs sheet yet, but the brand has revealed the key specs. The smartphone will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, come with a Q3...
Aside from the Magic8 and Magic8 Pro smartphones, Honor today also unveiled the MagicPad3 Pro 13.3 tablet and Watch 5 Pro.
Honor MagicPad3 Pro 13.3
The tablet comes with a 13.3-inch LCD screen with 3200x2136 resolution and 165Hz refresh rate, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset at the helm, 12/16GB of RAM, 256/512GB of storage, and a 12,450 mAh battery with support for 66W wired charging.
Honor MagicPad3 Pro 13.3
It boasts a 13 MP rear camera, a 2 MP macro camera, and a 9 MP front camera. It measures 293.88 x 201.38 x 5.79 mm and weighs 595g. It comes with MagicOS 10.0...
Aside from the Magic8 and Magic8 Pro smartphones, Honor today also unveiled the MagicPad3 Pro 13.3 tablet and Watch 5 Pro.
Honor MagicPad3 Pro 13.3
The tablet comes with a 13.3-inch LCD screen with 3200x2136 resolution and 165Hz refresh rate, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset at the helm, 12/16GB of RAM, 256/512GB of storage, and a 12,450 mAh battery with support for 66W wired charging.
Honor MagicPad3 Pro 13.3
It boasts a 13 MP rear camera, a 2 MP macro camera, and a 9 MP front camera. It measures 293.88 x 201.38 x 5.79 mm and weighs 595g. It comes with MagicOS 10.0...
Expectations are undoubtedly weighing heavily on the Marshall Bromley 750, which is the very first party speaker that the audio specialist has released.
Why? Well first of all, Marshall has had a pretty impressive run in 2025, nailing its typical Bluetooth speaker launches, like the Kilburn III, but also new product categories, like home theater. But also, Marshall’s first party speaker comes with a hefty price tag to match its hefty form factor. Specifically, it will set you back $1,299 / £899 / AU$1,799.
So, can the Bromley 750 maintain Marshall’s momentum in 2025 while also competing with the best party speakers around in spite of its considerable cost? Well yes, actually, it succeeds on both counts. Here’s why.
First of all, let’s talk sound – probably the most important aspect of any speaker! The Bromley 750 sounds as you’d expect. With its 500W of Class D amplification, you’ll get almighty bass output, but especially in Dynamic listening mode, you’ll still be treated to clear, defined mids and expressive, controlled treble.
One of the most interesting additions the Bromley makes is its sound character control. This lets you adjust audio on a scale of Dynamic to Loud. When you lean more towards a dynamic configuration, you’ll get a pleasingly nuanced, detailed listen, even in the absence of LDAC or aptX.
However, if you swing things the other way, there’s more of an emphasis on raw power. Bass is ramped up and you’ll get a less analytical listen, but this is very useful if you need maximum loudness for a giant outdoor area, for instance.
Whether you’re using Bluetooth, 3.5mm, or USB-C audio, you’ll be able to adapt EQ to suit your personal needs and taste – something I expect from all the best Bluetooth speakers. However, this doesn’t work with the XLR/6.35mm combo ports, which otherwise function without a hitch and offer delay/reverb effects via the speaker’s physical controls.
Perhaps my main criticism of the Bromley 750, though, is that its app is sort of disappointing. You can’t remotely adapt EQ for the speaker or alter sound characteristics, and there’s simply not that much to experience in there. That’s a shame given that the Marshall Heston 120 made great use of its revamped, feature-rich companion app.
Elsewhere, though, there’s still a lot to love about the Bromley 750. I was a big fan of its adjustable lighting, its impeccable 40-hour battery life and its high quality finish to name a few things.
Ultimately, the Marshall Bromley 750 makes for a fantastic debut in the party speaker world. It is expensive, even compared to some similarly-sized rivals, and app controls could be better. Still, this thing offers addictive audio, beautiful lighting, and plenty of playtime. As a result, I’d recommend it to those who have the cash.
(Image credit: Future)
Marshall Bromley 750 review: price and release date
$1,299 / £899 / AU$1,799
Launched in September 2025
The Marshall Bromley 750 released in September 2025 and is the audio specialist’s first ever party speaker. It has a list price of $1,299 / £899 / AU$1,799, meaning it's pretty pricey, but it is constructed of premium materials and delivers extensive battery life alongside powerful audio.
Marshall Bromley 750 review: specs
Weight
52.7lbs / 23.9kg
Dimensions
25.7 x 16.3 x 14 inches / 652 x 413 x 355mm
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.3, 3.5mm, USB-C, RCA, 2x XLR/6.35mm combo jacks
Multiple ports, including XLR/6.35mm slots for karaoke / instruments
Entertaining range of lighting options
Impressive 40 hour battery life
The Marshall Bromley 750 is a versatile party speaker, and offers a range of connectivity options to help you keep things fresh. Of course, there’s Bluetooth 5.3, but there’s also USB-C and 3.5mm ports for wired listening.
Interestingly, though, if you look at the reverse side of the Bromley, you can also discover RCA ports for keyboards and turntables, as well as XLR/6.35mm combo ports for microphones and electro-acoustic guitars.
One of my colleagues performed Mama’s Broken Heart by Miranda Lambert using a mic, and it sounded great. The speaker has delay and reverb effects on-board too, and these worked very nicely indeed. The only other thing worth noting about this is that you can’t alter EQ while using the XLR/6.35mm combo ports, which some may hope for.
My favorite feature of the Marshall Bromley 750 is certainly its integrated stage lights. There are three different modes – an ambient setting, and two dynamic alternatives that react differently depending on audio output. The lights look absolutely fantastic, and really help to further immerse listeners in the music. You can also trigger a burst of strobe lighting by pressing the ‘M’ button.
Speaking of the ‘M’ button, its function can be altered in the Marshall app. But this isn’t the shiny new version of the app used by the Marshall Heston 120 soundbar: its the older variant. Unfortunately, the app feels a little underbaked. You can alter volume, listen to an Auracast broadcast, or adjust the standby timeout, but that’s about it.
I wish the app enabled EQ adjustment – something that you can access with physical controls. The app also omits control over the reverb and delay effects for karaoke and instrument use. It would also be good to have control over the new sound character feature – which enables you to tailor audio more towards a ‘dynamic’ or ‘loud’ style.
Back to the positives, though, and I have to say that the Bromley 750’s battery life is excellent. 40 hours of playtime for a speaker of this size? That’s phenomenal. A similar-sized rival like the JBL PartyBox 720 is capable of up to 15 hours, which is fairly standard – that really puts the Bromley’s massive playtime into perspective.
On top of that, the Bromley 750 has a replaceable battery, which means that even if your 40 hours of play run out, you can substitute another one in to extend the party. There’s no multi-speaker pairing, which some may miss, but otherwise there are a lot of features to enjoy on Marshall’s debut party speaker.
Features score: 4.5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Marshall Bromley 750 review: sound quality
Mighty 500W power output
Meaty yet regimented bass performance
Sound character control works great
The Marshall Bromley 750 isn’t necessarily the most powerful party speaker on the market, but believe me, it can get plenty loud enough for just about any setting.
I brought the speaker to the parking lot outside Future Labs and listened to some house tunes with my friends, and it was almost as if I threw my own mini-rave. In fact, one colleague inside the office noted that they could hear the Bromley while using ANC headphones – pretty impressive, right?
But it's one thing being powerful, and another sounding great. Luckily, the Bromley 750 does both.
When bumping Can’t Resist by Jamback, the high-pitched percussion cut through with intent, never sounding harsh, even at high volumes. Vocals in the mid range weren't obscured in the mix, either, even with the track’s deep bass pumping throughout. The rapid kick drum never sounded lethargic and low-frequency output was both textured and impactful. The speaker’s ability to reach down to 20Hz means that it can also handle sub bass with finesse.
Similarly, with Unknown Territory by Kolter, high-pitched percussive elements were expressive yet controlled, while the bass sounded seriously meaty – but also well-regimented. Spacey synths were also well separated, enabling a decently nuanced listen, even in the absence of higher-resolution audio codecs like LDAC or aptX.
The sound character control function works very well on the Bromley, and makes it a versatile speaker for more lowkey indoor occasions or busy outdoor gatherings. At the music testing room at Future Labs, I tuned into Are You Gonna Go My Way by Lenny Kravitz – it's only right to listen to some Rock on a Marshall speaker, after all.
Here, I set the dial almost entirely towards ‘Dynamic’. With this setting, bass was balanced, not overbearing, giving vocals the space to sound clear and defined. Now, when I tried cranking up loudness to the three-quarter mark and beyond, bass was too smothering for the setting, resulting in a more compressed, one-dimensional quality.
But again, this isn’t the sort of situation where you’ll need to depart too far from dynamic listening. And even outdoors or in large indoor spaces, you'll likely be able to keep the dial somewhere between Loud and Dynamic, where audio still sounds fantastic. Even if you do set loudness to the max, you’ll still be treated to almighty bass, and get all the power you need for use in a huge, busy outdoor environment.
One more thing – the Bromley 750 has an impressive soundstage thanks to the use of Marshall’s 360-degree true stereophonic sound. This works well, and creates a wide, well-adjusted sound from almost any listening angle.
Sound quality score: 4.5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Marshall Bromley 750 review: design
Classic Marshall look is a hit once again
Beautiful lights and physical controls
Very hefty, but handle makes it easy enough to transport
If you’ve read my Marshall Kilburn III review – or basically any piece about Marshall products – you’ll know that I typically love the way the audio specialist designs its products. And the story remains the same for the Bromley 750, which looks brilliant as well.
I adore the premium speaker grille and the way its shimmering lights beam behind it. I’m also partial to the faux-leather exterior, luxurious physical controls, and easily accessible connectivity ports.
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room – the Bromley is one hefty lad. Yep, at 52.7lbs / 23.9kg, you may not think this thing is the easiest to lug around. But luckily, the Bromley is equipped with a suitcase-style handle and wheels, meaning you can roll it around to wherever you want to place it. Wheeling it rarely felt clunky, making it easy enough to transport.
On top of that, the Bromley has handles on either side if you need to lift it up some stairs, as I did.
Another aspect of design worth discussing is the Bromley 750’s IP54 rating. This means that it has some limited dust protection, as well as shielding against water splashes from any direction.
Now, is an IP54 rating anything special? Well, perhaps not. But still, for a speaker of this kind, it's certainly in-line with the competition. And it still goes a step further than many thanks to a drainage function, which dislodges any excess moisture in the case of a particularly rainy day, for instance.
Design score: 5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Marshall Bromley 750 review: value
Comes at quite the cost
But does offer plenty of quality in return for investment
Repairability can likely boost longevity too
The Marshall Bromley 750 is by no means cheap. It has a list price of $1,299 / £899 / AU$1,799, meaning that it will be a real investment – even compared to some rivals in this weight and size class.
For instance, the JBL PartyBox 720, which was released at around the same time, is not only more powerful than the Bromley 750, but cheaper too – $200 / £100 / AU$300 cheaper, to be exact.
In fairness, though, Marshall offers slightly better protection against the elements, much better battery life, and a more luxurious look than its rival from JBL. Is that worth the extra cash? Well, that will just depend on your needs and preferences.
Even if the Bromley is expensive, a couple of things make it well worth the investment. First of all, it's an absolute beauty. This thing is a statement piece – you won’t necessarily have to wheel it away to your garage for future use. It could conceivably fit into a living room set up for personal listening and for aesthetic purposes.
Secondly, the Bromley 750 is repairable, with Marshall offering authorized repair services as well as spare parts for its first party speaker. Pair that with the replaceable battery, and this model feels well protected against future wear and tear.
Of course, this is also an excellent-sounding, fairly feature-rich party speaker, so even if the price tag is high, you’ll get oodles of quality for the spend.
Value score: 4/5
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Marshall Bromley 750?
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
I wish the app had more controls, but the lighting, connectivity options, and 40 hour battery life are excellent.
4.5/5
Sound quality
Powerful, regimented bass, effective sound character control, solid instrument separation.
4.5/5
Design
Mesmerizing lighting, luxurious exterior, splashproof with drainage system in place.
5/5
Value
Some more powerful rivals can cost less, but you get premium build and playtime in return.
4/5
Buy it if...
You’re a regular party host If you’re someone that loves to throw a good party every now and then, the Bromley 750 could be a great investment. Awesome audio, buckets of power, and karaoke capabilities… what more could you ask for?
You love the Marshall look If you’re a fan of the Marshall aesthetic, then you’ll almost certainly be rocking with the Bromley 750 as well. With an attractive faux leather exterior, high-quality grille, and gorgeous lighting, you’re in for a treat with this one.
Don't buy it if...
You’re looking for the ultimate value pick The Bromley 750 is an expensive beast, and a few similar-sized rivals are available for a little less too. Of course, you’re getting almost unbeatable battery life and fantastic build quality here, but you’ll have to assess whether that’s worth the additional spend over competitors.
You’re a little low on space If you don’t have a healthy portion of space, the Bromley 750 may be overkill for you. At 25.7 inches / 652mm tall and 16.3 inches / 413mm wide, this thing will require some serious room – and with a weight of 52.7lbs / 23.9kg, it's pretty heavy too.
Marshall Bromley 750 review: also consider
Marshall Bromley 750
JBL PartyBox 720
LG xboom Stage 301
Price
$1,299 / £899 / AU$1,799
$1,099.95 / £799.99 / AU$1,495
$299.99 / £299.99 / AU$449
Weight
52.7lbs / 23.9kg
68.3lbs / 31kg
14.7lbs / 6.7kg
Dimensions
25.7 x 16.3 x 14 inches / 652 x 413 x 355mm
16.4 x 37.1 x 16 inches / 416 x 942 x 406mm
12.3 x 12.2 x 11.1 inches / 312 x 311 x 282mm
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.3, 3.5mm, USB-C, RCA, 2x XLR/6.35mm combo jacks
Bluetooth 5.4, 3.5mm, 2x XLR jacks
Bluetooth 5.4, 3.5mm, 6.3mm (mic/guitar) USB (MP3 playback)
JBL PartyBox 720 OK, we’ve not reviewed this one just yet (watch this space though), but it's one of the obvious rivals to the Bromley 750, so it's worth a comparison. The PartyBox 720 has much more in-your-face multicolored lighting, as opposed to the more ambient style of the Bromley 750 – some will like that, others may find it overbearing. As I mentioned earlier, this model is more powerful, yet still cheaper than the Bromley, though that comes at the cost of no dustproof rating and a significantly smaller (yet still solid) battery life.
LG xboom Stage 301 Here's something a little different (and significantly cheaper). The LG xboom Stage 301 is a wedge-style Bluetooth speaker that offers deep yet clean bass output, effective AI-assisted audio output, and immersive dual-bar lighting. It also supports karaoke and DJ modes. If you don't quite need all the power of the Bromley 750, this could be a strong smaller option for you. Read our full LG xboom Stage 301 review.
How I tested the Marshall Bromley 750
(Image credit: Future)
Tested across the course of one week
Used indoors at Future Lab and outdoors in a parking lot
Predominantly tested using Tidal
I tested the Marshall Bromley 750 across the course of one week, spending most of my time with it at the music testing space at Future Labs, but I also spent a while with it in the parking lot as well.
During the testing period, I spent hours on end blasting tunes from a variety of genres, with bass-heavy bangers and legendary rock ballads as starring players. I ran through the TechRadar testing playlist, which is standard practice for me when trialing audio gear, but I also tuned into some songs from my personal library.
When listening to music, I typically used Tidal, but I also tried bumping some tunes from my library on Spotify in light of the recent lossless update. I listened at a variety of angles and volumes, exhausted all of the lighting options, and messed around with the Bromley’s karaoke and instrument capabilities.
