Nearly two decades after Gears of War helped popularize cover-based shooting on the Xbox 360, the game is now on its second remaster, this time developed by The Coalition and sporting the fancy new title: Gears of War: Reloaded.
This outing's many improvements retroactively make the previous remaster, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, seem like anything but an ultimate version of the first chapter in this decades-spanning series.
Review info
Platform reviewed: PS5 Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC Release date: August 26, 2025
Gears of War: Reloaded dramatically upgrades the beloved shooter's visuals and performance for a present-day audience. It comes packing 4K assets and remastered textures, HDR support, new lighting and shadows, 60 fps in campaign and up to 120 fps in multiplayer, and more. While it's impossible to fully obscure the game's age, these improvements do a great job at bringing it reasonably close to current-gen expectations.
Additionally, for the very first time, PlayStation fans can download and play a Gears of War game on PS5. We live in wild times, and I'm happy to be along for the ride.
But underneath the fresh coat of paint and the hype of the series joining a new ecosystem, this is still the Gears of War that players fell in love with years ago and whether that makes it worth your time and money is likely to depend entirely on your previous experiences (or lack thereof) with the game.
Gorgeous familiarity
(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)
The original Gears of War landed before I was even old enough to drink or rent a car, and I've beaten its campaign at least five times between getting married, buying a house, raising a kid, and becoming old enough to grunt when I get off the couch. It should be old news to me by now, but there's a timelessness to its campaign that made it easy for me to dive back in with Gears of War: Reloaded without feeling like it’s a chore.
It's exactly the same game as it's always been, too. As a grizzled COG soldier named Marcus Fenix, you spend six to eight hours shooting and chainsawing through mutated humanoids called Locusts as you work to find and plant a bomb capable of destroying their subterranean lair. It's loud, gory, and incredibly satisfying third-person chaos that has aged shockingly well.
It may look and sound like little more than a hyper-violent ‘bro’ game at a glance, but the series as a whole is known for its surprising character work, exploring Marcus and his team's struggles with family, sacrifice, and the never-ending toll of war. And while subsequent games admittedly capitalized a bit more on the overarching lore and individual characters' backstories, this introductory entry remains a meaningful foundation for them to build upon.
Best bit
(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)
An early showdown against a nearly invulnerable enemy forces you to carefully bait its charging attack to break doors down as you lure it through a building. Once you get it outside, you can finally blast it with an all-powerful laser from the sky. It's a tense game of cat and mouse that switches things up to great effect.
Despite being the same old Gears of War, though, one particularly noticeable update is the all-new lack of loading screens. Sure, it's not exactly surprising that a nearly 20-year-old game can pull that off in the same era as God of War Ragnarok's seamless no-cut camera work, but it's a quality-of-life feature that makes the campaign all the more efficient and enjoyable for both newcomers and veterans alike.
But speaking of the game being almost two decades old, it's important to remember that even with significant visual and performance updates, there's no hiding the Xbox 360's footprint in Gears of War: Reloaded.
The gray and brown aesthetic that defined many seventh-generation action titles can't be erased with snazzy 4K assets and lighting improvements, and some stiff animations give away the game's age pretty clearly.
There's only so much that can be done without completely remaking a game from the ground up, so I'd argue The Coalition has done a commendable job of getting things close to modern standards while maintaining the integrity of the original experience.
Here come the shotguns
(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)
While the servers weren't turned on during the review period, I spent enough time with the beta back in June to know that Gears of War: Reloaded's multiplayer, though much prettier and smoother, largely plays the same as it did in 2006. As always, it's a polarizing mode best summed up with the question, "Do you like shotguns?"
Most matches in any Gears of War game, including this one, come down to players repeatedly cancelling slide-to-cover animations to rapidly bounce from wall to wall (which is unsurprisingly called "wall-bouncing") while wielding the Gnasher shotgun. They move in on one another and engage in frenetic hip-fire shootouts to see who explodes into a million pieces first.
While not technically an exploit, wall-bouncing can seem like an abuse of game mechanics to newbies who expect the multiplayer to flow the same way as the campaign. You can find an occasional long-range showdown if you hang back and play defensively, but veteran players who bounce around like the ball in a pinball machine will usually still close the gap and pop you with a single Gnasher shot. This focus on point-blank gunplay isn't inherently bad, of course, but it can make matches feel one-dimensional.
Still, existing Gears of War enthusiasts and new players willing to adapt to the unique playstyle the community espouses will be happy to know that Gears of War: Reloaded is certainly the most complete version of the first game's multiplayer.
It includes all of the post-launch DLC, 60Hz dedicated servers, up to 120 fps (if your TV or monitor supports it), and cross-play support for every platform. And that last point is especially important, as this game reaches an audience it never has before: PlayStation owners.
A new platform for carnage
(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)
In a way, all of the visual and performance updates Gears of War: Reloaded brings to the table feel second to the real story here, which is that its release marks the first time the franchise has been available on a PlayStation console.
Seeing the title screen of one of Microsoft's biggest exclusive IPs boot up on my PS5 felt bizarre at first, but as with Forza Horizon 5 earlier this year, it didn't take long for the dust to settle.
Before I knew it, all the running, gunning, and sliding into cover with a DualSense controller felt just as natural as it always has with an Xbox controller. It was a great reminder that, while exclusives can be an important part of a console's identity, the most important thing is that a fun game is a fun game anywhere.
(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)
As you might expect, the DualSense adds some extra flair for those who enjoy its unique features. All of the immersion is in full force here, like how the vibrations differ between firing a weapon or using your chainsaw to grind through a Locust, or the way the adaptive triggers have a specific feel for each gun. Still, if you normally prefer a different platform, I wouldn't consider these DualSense features worth prioritizing the PS5 version.
The important part is that, wherever you decide to play Gears of War: Reloaded, it's the best version of the game available. Whether you're fresh meat or a franchise devotee, this remaster's facelift makes for a great opportunity to join Marcus Fenix and his loyal band of brothers on their first perilous adventure, or see if you've got what it takes to duke it out in some anarchistic multiplayer matches.
Should I play Gears of War: Reloaded?
Play it if…
You're new to the Gears of War franchise Gears of War: Reloaded is the first game in the series and a great place to onboard, especially if you've been in the PlayStation ecosystem for the past few generations. However, there's no confirmation of the sequels making their way over to PlayStation yet, if ever. So, if you want to see the rest of the games through, you'll need to check them out on Xbox.
You value strategy over guns-blazing Gears of War: Reloaded's campaign is about cover as much as it is about shooting. You'll spend a lot of time behind walls waiting for the right time to strike and explode your foes into bloody little bits. Strategic positioning and wielding the right gun at the right time can make all the difference to your chances of survival.
You like chainsaws in your video games Look, chainsaws have shown up as a melee weapon in a lot of video games over the years for a reason — they're cool as hell. And Gears of War: Reloaded's chainsaws are attached to a frickin' assault rifle so you can saw nearby enemies in half and then get back to shooting. It'll never not be awesome. View Deal
Don’t play it if…
You've beaten the campaign recently and aren't into multiplayer Gears of War: Reloaded is the second remaster of the 2006 Xbox 360 title, so if you're a franchise fan, there's a good chance you've played this before — maybe even multiple times by now. The flashier visuals and higher framerates are nice, but if you've already seen the campaign through in the past few years, or don't dig the game's shotgun-focused multiplayer meta, it may not be worth the investment.View Deal
Accessibility features
(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)
Gears of War: Reloaded won't be winning any awards for its accessibility options, but it has the basic suite of features like subtitles and text-to-speech.
You can make it so that button tap challenges allow you to simply hold down the button rather than rapidly press it, while photosensitive players will appreciate the flash reduction setting that limits sudden brightness changes.
How I reviewed Gears of War: Reloaded
I played Gears of War: Reloaded on a PS5 Pro using a Sony X90K LED TV. I swapped between my Sony Pulse Elite Wireless Headset and Alienware Pro Wireless Headset for audio.
I played Gears of War: Reloaded for around 6 hours, during which time I worked my way through the full campaign on Normal difficulty while finding all 33 of the COG tag collectibles.
I wasn't able to play any multiplayer since the servers weren't on during the review period, but I got a good feel for it when I spent a few afternoons playing online during the beta back in June.
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It features an eight-core CPU with 2x prime cores clocked at 4.19GHz and 6x performance cores running at 3.63GHz. The prime cores appear to be underclocked from the 4.74 GHz values seen in a previous test run, which is standard procedure for yet-to-be-released hardware.
RedMagic 11 Pro (NX809J) Geekbench...
The vivo X300 series is expected in a few months. Ahead of any official details from vivo, there are some new details available regarding the camera sensors that will be used in the upcoming flagship X300 series phones.
According to tipsters, vivo has confirmed that it will be using improved camera sensors in the next generation phones. It’s likely that the company is talking about the vivo X300 series.
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The H2S comes hot on the heels of the H2D full laser combo and standard H2D 3D printer (see my review here), but with a few major differences that make it a superb option for any enterprise business requiring a machine that offers scale, reliability and speed.
It might not have the headline-catching dual nozzle that so interested the 3D printing market, but with much the same form factor, just with a single nozzle rather than dual nozzle tool head, it offers something a little different.
Essentially, Bambu Lab is touting this as a bigger X1C, which has become a staple for many design studios due to its print quality, flexibility, multiple filament printing, and of course, speed. Now, with the H2S taking yet another leap in scale and performance, and what's more, it's also coming in at a relatively affordable price point.
In use, the H2S is impressive, and the single-nozzle hotend is highly tuned for precision and quality. The speed, while quoted as faster than the X1C, in real-world tests using standard settings is on par; however, tweak the options and the full speed of the machine is unleashed, seeing a standard 20-30% boost in print times across the board. The H2S also has a far larger print bed, enabling more potential with the style and type of prints you're able to produce. There's absolutely no doubt that, when it came to side-by-side print quality, the X1C is one of the market leaders, but the H2S just took the edge during my test.
One feature that appeals to me about the H2S is that, compared with the H2D, it is far more affordable and there is a laser option as well, in fact, the new H2S line exactly reflects the H2D, just at a more affordable price.
What this essentially means is that, for any product design studio or anyone looking for the best 3D printer for quality, the Bambu Lab H2S is a balanced option, especially if you mainly print with a single filament with the occasional use of multifilament.
Bambu Lab H2S: Price and availability
There are three versions of the H2S available: the Base, the AMS Combo, and the Laser Full Combo. The two more advanced versions, the AMS Combo and the Laser Full Combo, are available now for $1,499 and $2,099, respectively. Bambu Lab will also be releasing the Base unit, which is just a single-nozzle machine, for $1,249.
Each model offers an upgrade route, so if you are working on a budget and just want an exceptionally good single FFM printer, you can start with the Base, then upgrade with the AMS Pro 2 to the AMS Combo. If you want to go all the way, you can upgrade to the Laser Full Combo, but only pick out the additions that you need.
Bambu Lab H2S: Design
(Image credit: Bambu Lab // Future)
Like the H2D, the H2S has almost an identical form factor, so once again it's a large-scale machine that will take up a sizable amount of your desktop, and now that I have three of these machines side by side, that doesn't leave a lot of space for much else.
The fact is, however, that with the H2S, it cuts away a lot of the frills of the H2D and the excitement those machines create. Instead, the H2S goes back to the core of 3D printing, offering a single nozzle toolhead and a few additional features that help elevate what's possible. It positions itself as a successor to the phenomenal X1C, or if not a successor, then a larger-scale version that takes on the new form factor of the H2 series.
At the base level, the first thing you notice alongside that nozzle is the larger print volume, which measures in at 340 × 320 × 340 mm, making it one of the largest on the market. It also once again utilises the CoreXY system, offering high-speed printing, both single and multifilament, when coupled with the AMS Pro 2.
Once again, the 3D printer is fully enclosed, so if you want to print with more advanced materials, that is perfectly possible, with a heated bed that reaches up to 120°C and a 65°C actively heated chamber. This is great for materials like ABS, nylon, and ASA.
One of the features that I've really liked across all of the H2 series is that large touchscreen. It's just really intuitive, beautifully designed, and very quick to respond, which is not always the case.
Inside, they've also boosted the number of sensors, with five flame sensors covering monitoring, emergency stop, and airflow optimisation, once again almost mirroring the H2D series, but building on the feedback and experience of those first H2 machines.
When it comes to the major differences between the H2S and the H2D, aside from that single nozzle toolhead, most of the other differences come in the technology and steps forward in development. For instance, there's second-generation extrusion motion technology with a PMSM servo motor that exerts a 67% increase in extrusion force. There's also a 20 kg feedback load for precise filament control.
Once again, we see the Vision Encoder, which is optional, but will boost the motion accuracy for prints under 50 microns. This is essentially industrial-grade precision, so it will really only be of interest if you're using this for high-precision product design. However, if you're into gaming and want to make desktop game figures, then this is going to be a great feature. I have noted that there are several 3D artists now producing FFF-ready miniatures. With the Vision Encoder having industrial-grade precision, it could mean that printing miniatures on an FFM machine should now, in some cases, be possible, meaning that you don't have to deal with messy resin.
Bambu Lab has also taken a look at monitoring and intelligence, and the H2S includes 23 sensors inside the machine that are monitoring the print process and conditions. This is coupled with three onboard cameras, one for live view, one for the nozzle, and one for monitoring. This compares to just one on the H2D. There's also smarter fault detection if a print does go wrong, and I have to say, during the three-week test, I didn't have any print failures, even when I tried with an impossible print, the machine just detected it and paused.
Now, while the form factor of the machine is identical to the H2D, when it comes to the build volume, because it only has a single nozzle rather than two, the full print bed can be used, so you have a larger print volume of 340 × 320 × 340 mm compared with 325 × 320 × 325 mm for single-filament printing on the H2D.
Bambu Lab also says that the H2S is a high-speed machine, capable of printing up to 1000 mm/s and with acceleration over 20,000 mm/s². However, during my tests, I'd say they are both pretty much on a par until you delve manually into the settings.
Once again, there's a heated chamber, and in the H2S, this is capable of reaching around 65°C, exactly the same as the H2D. Likewise, the hardened steel nozzle seems to be the same, as does the 5-inch touchscreen.
One of the big questions I had when the machine arrived was: because it is a single-nozzle machine, does it still have the capability of using a laser and cutter? There are, of course, three versions of the H2S, including the Laser Full Combo version that offers laser engraving, cutting, digital cutting, and precision drawing capabilities.
Bambu Lab H2S: Features
(Image credit: Bambu Lab // Future)
Take a look through the machine's features, and aside from the single nozzle, which is obvious, the main feature aside from technology enhancement is the larger print area, which means that this is essentially a large successor to the X1C. Through the test, the speed of the H2S impressed. Put alongside the X1C on standard prints, print speeds were essentially similar until you delve into the settings. However, there are more options, and if you really want to push the speed of the printer, it is possible to get up to a 30% faster printout of the H2S than the X1C, although there is a small drop in quality.
The maximum speed of the printhead goes up to 1000 mm/s with 20,000 mm/s² acceleration. So, while the acceleration matches the X1C, the print speed essentially doubles, with a real-world speed increase of around 30%.
Like the H2D, the single nozzle of the H2S is capable of reaching 350°C, which makes it a perfect option for printing engineering-grade materials such as ASA and nylon. The H2S is a fully enclosed environment, which helps ensure optimal printing conditions for those materials, and with the filtration also helps to remove any toxins from the materials as they print.
Once again, Bambu has included a whole series of sensors that will detect if any print goes wrong and stop proceedings before issues are caused. Through the test, aside from running out of filament, I only had one occasion where the error-checking needed to kick in, due to some filament falling onto the print bed from a previous print. The new machine now includes 23 sensors and three onboard cameras. During the test, I didn't have any tricky situations with printing. The one issue that could've caused a problem was instantly recognised, and the printing was paused until I removed the filament, then the print completed successfully.
What I also liked was that when it came to filament changes due to running out, the process of restarting the print was absolutely spot-on. There wasn't the usual worry about layer misalignment that can often happen.
One of the big new features of the extruder is that it now includes a PMSM servo motor that can apply 67% more force. While I couldn't visually see the difference, the extrusion of the filament did seem exceptionally smooth for all materials tried, including Carbon fill and TPU. When I compared prints between the H2D and the H2S, there was very little difference; it was only when testing a specific model that I could see a very slight uplift in the print quality coming from the H2S.
Like the ability to add a laser cutter and digital cutter to the machine, there's also the option to add the Vision Encoder, which you'll need if you're going to be using this for professional product design or any dimensionally critical work. The Vision Encoder can be used for any print that needs 50-micron precision.
Through the software, there's also hole and contour compensation to assist with more intricate models. Again, the intelligent monitoring will stop if there is an issue. During the test, I tried to push the printer with a few excessive overhangs just to see what would happen, and the machine essentially paused as the print failure was detected.
As with the H2D machines, there's AMS Pro 2, and again, the new model is fully compatible with the original AMS and the AMS HT. You can also link several AMS modules together so you can extend printing to more than just four filaments, up to 16, and some people have even claimed it can be pushed further.
Bambu Lab H2S: Performance
(Image credit: Bambu Lab // Future)
Getting started with the H2S is as simple as any other Bambu Lab 3D printer, as it essentially comes pretty much ready to go. In this review, I'm looking at the Bambu Lab AMS Combo, so you get the 3D printer and the AMS Pro 2 to enable multifilament printing.
Getting it all set up is extremely straightforward. First, the packaging is stripped away, the AMS is popped on top, one tube connects the AMS to the machine, and then there's a data cable that also connects between the machine and the AMS. Once that's done, the activation key is popped into the back along with the power cable, and the machine is switched on.
After running through the initialisation and calibration process, which is all handled by the machine, you can then install the four filaments and get started with connecting to Bambu Studio and producing your first print.
As ever with this machine, there are a few prints just to get you started, and it shot through these in no time at all, with the 3D Benchy model looking exceptionally good, fine detail and a high-quality finish to all of the outer walls and using the default settings this took 33 minutes with all checks.
As I went through the test, there were some larger models to print to create a Shadow Force suit of armour, and this is where the machine really started to come into its own. The ability to print at a scale that is normally only possible with large-scale printers, combined with the high nozzle quality, meant that the end result had a surface cleanliness and consistency that you don't usually get with large-scale consumer 3D printers.
What I really liked was that, for quite a few of these large-scale prints, I did run out of filament partway through. However, the filament detection worked exceptionally well. As with many machines, it detected the issue, but what impressed me was that feeding in the new filament aligned perfectly, continuing the print from exactly where it left off. Adhesion to the print bed was sufficient that there was no movement or issue, even when the print had been left for a few hours in between filament changes.
For single filament printing, the print speed was exceptionally good, although at present, there isn't a huge array of presets for materials. So, if you are new to 3D printing and want high-speed prints, it is a little tricky to adjust the settings to get exactly what you want. However, if you are experienced with Bambu Studio, then delving into the quality, strength, speed, and support settings will enable you to fine-tune for those higher print speeds.
At those high speeds, the quality actually remains exceptionally good. While you can see a slight reduction in outer surface quality, for prototyping or quickly printing ideas, the quality is beyond what I've seen with most 3D printers of this type, size and price.
Going on to multifilament printing, again, the speed of the print was good. But, as with all other Bambu Lab AMS system printers, the volume of waste that gets kicked out of the back is quite extraordinary. So, while multifilament 3D printing is obviously a major pull for this machine, the fact that it still produces so much waste is a bit of an issue.
The quality of the 3D prints, however, is once again exceptionally good, with a high-quality finish and one of the best surface finishes for a multifilament print that I've seen. Multifilament print times are obviously slower on the H2S than compared with the H2D. That second nozzle makes a huge difference to both the amount of waste produced and overall duration. Still, because of the high-speed printing that is possible with the H2S, the speed was still good.
As an example, the Robo Tortoise four-colour print took just over 24 hours. On the H2D with its two nozzles, this print took only 20 hours. So, while there is a reduction in speed between the H2S and the H2D for multifilament prints, it isn't huge. The biggest difference really is the amount of waste produced.
As I ran through the test prints, I became more taken with this machine. While the single nozzle isn't as headline-grabbing as the dual nozzle of the other H2D machines, it's still exceptionally high quality and essentially makes this machine a top option for any designer looking to prototype or even run small production batches.
The quality of the casing and the size give you plenty of flexibility in how you use it, and the fact that it has that heated chamber enables you to use engineering materials such as nylon, ABS, and ASA. What really impressed me was that, across multiple prints, there were no real failures.
At the end of the test, there's no doubt that I'm impressed once again with this Bambu Lab machine. The H2S takes the scale of single-nozzle 3D printing up a notch, and unlike many other large-scale 3D printers, it offers a brilliant enclosed environment. This enables you to print with engineering materials, not just mainstream PLA that can be used with open frame machines.
Due to the CoreXY mechanics, you also have ultra-fast print speed, reliability, and the dimensional accuracy that comes with it. The test prints that came out of this machine were some of the cleanest I've seen, and at this scale and consistency, it's really difficult to match with any other model.
While the machine compares very closely to the other H2D models, just with a single nozzle, when it comes to print quality and speed, it takes a small leap forward for single-filament printing. Where it really comes into its own is in being able to print larger than any other Bambu Lab printer, and the scale of those prints is genuinely exceptional.
Although the prints Bambu sent me for testing were clearly optimised to show the printer at its best, I also tried it with other complex single-filament prints. It coped with contours, overhangs, and overall print quality exceptionally well. As ever, the AMS Pro 2 is a standout feature, and since I was reviewing the combo version, I was able to give that a proper test with the machine and once again it works exceptionally well, with the only downside being the amount of waste that is produced.
The quality of the multifilament print was again exceptional, and the fact that it's going through a single nozzle just gives you a little more real estate to print large. The full-scale helmet from the Cosplay armour I printed came out with exceptional quality and a support structure that was easy to remove.
One of the big points I would highlight while using this printer was not only the speed and scale, but also the quality of the surface finish.
Surfaces were exceptionally smooth, and when I printed the Autodesk Kickstarter test model I've been using for many years, it was almost a full 30 out of 30. The print surface was exceptional, and the only thing that let it down slightly was dimensional accuracy, although my thought is that, if I used the Vision Encoder, I'd likely hit that full 30 out of 30 for the first time.
Regarding the fine flow test, while I've had many 3D printers that can produce a very clean result, there are often slight signs of angel hair filament, with only the AnkerMake M5C previously producing a model with this level of cleanliness.
The other point I really like about the H2S is its simplicity. The base unit isn't expensive considering. If you're looking at this as an enthusiast or business user, the fact that you can buy the base unit for just over $1,000 and then upgrade all the way to the Laser Combo means it's relatively affordable and offers a solid upgrade path for the future.
At the end of the test, once again, Bambu Lab has demonstrated why it leads the market with its 3D printers, and the H2S single nozzle combo version reviewed here once again shows the level that all other 3D printer manufacturers need to aim for. However, with the likes of the Original Prusa XL and SnapMaker U1, while it's great to see a larger print area single nozzle machine it feels like there is a move now into multitool head options which could leave Bambu Lab behind in the technology stakes.
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(Image credit: Bambu Lab // Future)
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(Image credit: Bambu Lab // Future)
Should I buy the Bambu Lab H2S?
Buy it if...
You need a large build volume and speed.
Once again, this printer comes in the superb H2 form factor that offers a fully enclosed environment. This time, the single nozzle enables an even larger print area that should suit most home and small business projects.
You need precision for engineering projects
While a fully enclosed environment is nice for some users, if you're working in education or in the professional sector and need to print in engineering materials, this enclosed environment with its heated chamber is absolutely essential.
Don't buy it if...
You need native dual-nozzle multi-material
While single-filament printing is exceptionally good, if you need to use support materials as standard, then upgrading to an H2D will probably be a better idea.
You're a casual or first-time hobbyist
Starting with one of the best 3D printers on the market might seem like a great idea, but with so many superb printers at a fraction of the Price, it might be worth starting with a cheaper printer before investing in the H2S.
The H2S comes hot on the heels of the H2D full laser combo and standard H2D 3D printer (see my review here), but with a few major differences that make it a superb option for any enterprise business requiring a machine that offers scale, reliability and speed.
It might not have the headline-catching dual nozzle that so interested the 3D printing market, but with much the same form factor, just with a single nozzle rather than dual nozzle tool head, it offers something a little different.
Essentially, Bambu Lab is touting this as a bigger X1C, which has become a staple for many design studios due to its print quality, flexibility, multiple filament printing, and of course, speed. Now, with the H2S taking yet another leap in scale and performance, and what's more, it's also coming in at a relatively affordable price point.
In use, the H2S is impressive, and the single-nozzle hotend is highly tuned for precision and quality. The speed, while quoted as faster than the X1C, in real-world tests using standard settings is on par; however, tweak the options and the full speed of the machine is unleashed, seeing a standard 20-30% boost in print times across the board. The H2S also has a far larger print bed, enabling more potential with the style and type of prints you're able to produce. There's absolutely no doubt that, when it came to side-by-side print quality, the X1C is one of the market leaders, but the H2S just took the edge during my test.
One feature that appeals to me about the H2S is that, compared with the H2D, it is far more affordable and there is a laser option as well, in fact, the new H2S line exactly reflects the H2D, just at a more affordable price.
What this essentially means is that, for any product design studio or anyone looking for the best 3D printer for quality, the Bambu Lab H2S is a balanced option, especially if you mainly print with a single filament with the occasional use of multifilament.
Bambu Lab H2S: Price and availability
There are three versions of the H2S available: the Base, the AMS Combo, and the Laser Full Combo. The two more advanced versions, the AMS Combo and the Laser Full Combo, are available now for $1,499 and $2,099, respectively. Bambu Lab will also be releasing the Base unit, which is just a single-nozzle machine, for $1,249.
Each model offers an upgrade route, so if you are working on a budget and just want an exceptionally good single FFM printer, you can start with the Base, then upgrade with the AMS Pro 2 to the AMS Combo. If you want to go all the way, you can upgrade to the Laser Full Combo, but only pick out the additions that you need.
Bambu Lab H2S: Design
(Image credit: Bambu Lab // Future)
Like the H2D, the H2S has almost an identical form factor, so once again it's a large-scale machine that will take up a sizable amount of your desktop, and now that I have three of these machines side by side, that doesn't leave a lot of space for much else.
The fact is, however, that with the H2S, it cuts away a lot of the frills of the H2D and the excitement those machines create. Instead, the H2S goes back to the core of 3D printing, offering a single nozzle toolhead and a few additional features that help elevate what's possible. It positions itself as a successor to the phenomenal X1C, or if not a successor, then a larger-scale version that takes on the new form factor of the H2 series.
At the base level, the first thing you notice alongside that nozzle is the larger print volume, which measures in at 340 × 320 × 340 mm, making it one of the largest on the market. It also once again utilises the CoreXY system, offering high-speed printing, both single and multifilament, when coupled with the AMS Pro 2.
Once again, the 3D printer is fully enclosed, so if you want to print with more advanced materials, that is perfectly possible, with a heated bed that reaches up to 120°C and a 65°C actively heated chamber. This is great for materials like ABS, nylon, and ASA.
One of the features that I've really liked across all of the H2 series is that large touchscreen. It's just really intuitive, beautifully designed, and very quick to respond, which is not always the case.
Inside, they've also boosted the number of sensors, with five flame sensors covering monitoring, emergency stop, and airflow optimisation, once again almost mirroring the H2D series, but building on the feedback and experience of those first H2 machines.
When it comes to the major differences between the H2S and the H2D, aside from that single nozzle toolhead, most of the other differences come in the technology and steps forward in development. For instance, there's second-generation extrusion motion technology with a PMSM servo motor that exerts a 67% increase in extrusion force. There's also a 20 kg feedback load for precise filament control.
Once again, we see the Vision Encoder, which is optional, but will boost the motion accuracy for prints under 50 microns. This is essentially industrial-grade precision, so it will really only be of interest if you're using this for high-precision product design. However, if you're into gaming and want to make desktop game figures, then this is going to be a great feature. I have noted that there are several 3D artists now producing FFF-ready miniatures. With the Vision Encoder having industrial-grade precision, it could mean that printing miniatures on an FFM machine should now, in some cases, be possible, meaning that you don't have to deal with messy resin.
Bambu Lab has also taken a look at monitoring and intelligence, and the H2S includes 23 sensors inside the machine that are monitoring the print process and conditions. This is coupled with three onboard cameras, one for live view, one for the nozzle, and one for monitoring. This compares to just one on the H2D. There's also smarter fault detection if a print does go wrong, and I have to say, during the three-week test, I didn't have any print failures, even when I tried with an impossible print, the machine just detected it and paused.
Now, while the form factor of the machine is identical to the H2D, when it comes to the build volume, because it only has a single nozzle rather than two, the full print bed can be used, so you have a larger print volume of 340 × 320 × 340 mm compared with 325 × 320 × 325 mm for single-filament printing on the H2D.
Bambu Lab also says that the H2S is a high-speed machine, capable of printing up to 1000 mm/s and with acceleration over 20,000 mm/s². However, during my tests, I'd say they are both pretty much on a par until you delve manually into the settings.
Once again, there's a heated chamber, and in the H2S, this is capable of reaching around 65°C, exactly the same as the H2D. Likewise, the hardened steel nozzle seems to be the same, as does the 5-inch touchscreen.
One of the big questions I had when the machine arrived was: because it is a single-nozzle machine, does it still have the capability of using a laser and cutter? There are, of course, three versions of the H2S, including the Laser Full Combo version that offers laser engraving, cutting, digital cutting, and precision drawing capabilities.
Bambu Lab H2S: Features
(Image credit: Bambu Lab // Future)
Take a look through the machine's features, and aside from the single nozzle, which is obvious, the main feature aside from technology enhancement is the larger print area, which means that this is essentially a large successor to the X1C. Through the test, the speed of the H2S impressed. Put alongside the X1C on standard prints, print speeds were essentially similar until you delve into the settings. However, there are more options, and if you really want to push the speed of the printer, it is possible to get up to a 30% faster printout of the H2S than the X1C, although there is a small drop in quality.
The maximum speed of the printhead goes up to 1000 mm/s with 20,000 mm/s² acceleration. So, while the acceleration matches the X1C, the print speed essentially doubles, with a real-world speed increase of around 30%.
Like the H2D, the single nozzle of the H2S is capable of reaching 350°C, which makes it a perfect option for printing engineering-grade materials such as ASA and nylon. The H2S is a fully enclosed environment, which helps ensure optimal printing conditions for those materials, and with the filtration also helps to remove any toxins from the materials as they print.
Once again, Bambu has included a whole series of sensors that will detect if any print goes wrong and stop proceedings before issues are caused. Through the test, aside from running out of filament, I only had one occasion where the error-checking needed to kick in, due to some filament falling onto the print bed from a previous print. The new machine now includes 23 sensors and three onboard cameras. During the test, I didn't have any tricky situations with printing. The one issue that could've caused a problem was instantly recognised, and the printing was paused until I removed the filament, then the print completed successfully.
What I also liked was that when it came to filament changes due to running out, the process of restarting the print was absolutely spot-on. There wasn't the usual worry about layer misalignment that can often happen.
One of the big new features of the extruder is that it now includes a PMSM servo motor that can apply 67% more force. While I couldn't visually see the difference, the extrusion of the filament did seem exceptionally smooth for all materials tried, including Carbon fill and TPU. When I compared prints between the H2D and the H2S, there was very little difference; it was only when testing a specific model that I could see a very slight uplift in the print quality coming from the H2S.
Like the ability to add a laser cutter and digital cutter to the machine, there's also the option to add the Vision Encoder, which you'll need if you're going to be using this for professional product design or any dimensionally critical work. The Vision Encoder can be used for any print that needs 50-micron precision.
Through the software, there's also hole and contour compensation to assist with more intricate models. Again, the intelligent monitoring will stop if there is an issue. During the test, I tried to push the printer with a few excessive overhangs just to see what would happen, and the machine essentially paused as the print failure was detected.
As with the H2D machines, there's AMS Pro 2, and again, the new model is fully compatible with the original AMS and the AMS HT. You can also link several AMS modules together so you can extend printing to more than just four filaments, up to 16, and some people have even claimed it can be pushed further.
Bambu Lab H2S: Performance
(Image credit: Bambu Lab // Future)
Getting started with the H2S is as simple as any other Bambu Lab 3D printer, as it essentially comes pretty much ready to go. In this review, I'm looking at the Bambu Lab AMS Combo, so you get the 3D printer and the AMS Pro 2 to enable multifilament printing.
Getting it all set up is extremely straightforward. First, the packaging is stripped away, the AMS is popped on top, one tube connects the AMS to the machine, and then there's a data cable that also connects between the machine and the AMS. Once that's done, the activation key is popped into the back along with the power cable, and the machine is switched on.
After running through the initialisation and calibration process, which is all handled by the machine, you can then install the four filaments and get started with connecting to Bambu Studio and producing your first print.
As ever with this machine, there are a few prints just to get you started, and it shot through these in no time at all, with the 3D Benchy model looking exceptionally good, fine detail and a high-quality finish to all of the outer walls and using the default settings this took 33 minutes with all checks.
As I went through the test, there were some larger models to print to create a Shadow Force suit of armour, and this is where the machine really started to come into its own. The ability to print at a scale that is normally only possible with large-scale printers, combined with the high nozzle quality, meant that the end result had a surface cleanliness and consistency that you don't usually get with large-scale consumer 3D printers.
What I really liked was that, for quite a few of these large-scale prints, I did run out of filament partway through. However, the filament detection worked exceptionally well. As with many machines, it detected the issue, but what impressed me was that feeding in the new filament aligned perfectly, continuing the print from exactly where it left off. Adhesion to the print bed was sufficient that there was no movement or issue, even when the print had been left for a few hours in between filament changes.
For single filament printing, the print speed was exceptionally good, although at present, there isn't a huge array of presets for materials. So, if you are new to 3D printing and want high-speed prints, it is a little tricky to adjust the settings to get exactly what you want. However, if you are experienced with Bambu Studio, then delving into the quality, strength, speed, and support settings will enable you to fine-tune for those higher print speeds.
At those high speeds, the quality actually remains exceptionally good. While you can see a slight reduction in outer surface quality, for prototyping or quickly printing ideas, the quality is beyond what I've seen with most 3D printers of this type, size and price.
Going on to multifilament printing, again, the speed of the print was good. But, as with all other Bambu Lab AMS system printers, the volume of waste that gets kicked out of the back is quite extraordinary. So, while multifilament 3D printing is obviously a major pull for this machine, the fact that it still produces so much waste is a bit of an issue.
The quality of the 3D prints, however, is once again exceptionally good, with a high-quality finish and one of the best surface finishes for a multifilament print that I've seen. Multifilament print times are obviously slower on the H2S than compared with the H2D. That second nozzle makes a huge difference to both the amount of waste produced and overall duration. Still, because of the high-speed printing that is possible with the H2S, the speed was still good.
As an example, the Robo Tortoise four-colour print took just over 24 hours. On the H2D with its two nozzles, this print took only 20 hours. So, while there is a reduction in speed between the H2S and the H2D for multifilament prints, it isn't huge. The biggest difference really is the amount of waste produced.
As I ran through the test prints, I became more taken with this machine. While the single nozzle isn't as headline-grabbing as the dual nozzle of the other H2D machines, it's still exceptionally high quality and essentially makes this machine a top option for any designer looking to prototype or even run small production batches.
The quality of the casing and the size give you plenty of flexibility in how you use it, and the fact that it has that heated chamber enables you to use engineering materials such as nylon, ABS, and ASA. What really impressed me was that, across multiple prints, there were no real failures.
At the end of the test, there's no doubt that I'm impressed once again with this Bambu Lab machine. The H2S takes the scale of single-nozzle 3D printing up a notch, and unlike many other large-scale 3D printers, it offers a brilliant enclosed environment. This enables you to print with engineering materials, not just mainstream PLA that can be used with open frame machines.
Due to the CoreXY mechanics, you also have ultra-fast print speed, reliability, and the dimensional accuracy that comes with it. The test prints that came out of this machine were some of the cleanest I've seen, and at this scale and consistency, it's really difficult to match with any other model.
While the machine compares very closely to the other H2D models, just with a single nozzle, when it comes to print quality and speed, it takes a small leap forward for single-filament printing. Where it really comes into its own is in being able to print larger than any other Bambu Lab printer, and the scale of those prints is genuinely exceptional.
Although the prints Bambu sent me for testing were clearly optimised to show the printer at its best, I also tried it with other complex single-filament prints. It coped with contours, overhangs, and overall print quality exceptionally well. As ever, the AMS Pro 2 is a standout feature, and since I was reviewing the combo version, I was able to give that a proper test with the machine and once again it works exceptionally well, with the only downside being the amount of waste that is produced.
The quality of the multifilament print was again exceptional, and the fact that it's going through a single nozzle just gives you a little more real estate to print large. The full-scale helmet from the Cosplay armour I printed came out with exceptional quality and a support structure that was easy to remove.
One of the big points I would highlight while using this printer was not only the speed and scale, but also the quality of the surface finish.
Surfaces were exceptionally smooth, and when I printed the Autodesk Kickstarter test model I've been using for many years, it was almost a full 30 out of 30. The print surface was exceptional, and the only thing that let it down slightly was dimensional accuracy, although my thought is that, if I used the Vision Encoder, I'd likely hit that full 30 out of 30 for the first time.
Regarding the fine flow test, while I've had many 3D printers that can produce a very clean result, there are often slight signs of angel hair filament, with only the AnkerMake M5C previously producing a model with this level of cleanliness.
The other point I really like about the H2S is its simplicity. The base unit isn't expensive considering. If you're looking at this as an enthusiast or business user, the fact that you can buy the base unit for just over $1,000 and then upgrade all the way to the Laser Combo means it's relatively affordable and offers a solid upgrade path for the future.
At the end of the test, once again, Bambu Lab has demonstrated why it leads the market with its 3D printers, and the H2S single nozzle combo version reviewed here once again shows the level that all other 3D printer manufacturers need to aim for. However, with the likes of the Original Prusa XL and SnapMaker U1, while it's great to see a larger print area single nozzle machine it feels like there is a move now into multitool head options which could leave Bambu Lab behind in the technology stakes.
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(Image credit: Bambu Lab // Future)
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(Image credit: Bambu Lab // Future)
Should I buy the Bambu Lab H2S?
Buy it if...
You need a large build volume and speed.
Once again, this printer comes in the superb H2 form factor that offers a fully enclosed environment. This time, the single nozzle enables an even larger print area that should suit most home and small business projects.
You need precision for engineering projects
While a fully enclosed environment is nice for some users, if you're working in education or in the professional sector and need to print in engineering materials, this enclosed environment with its heated chamber is absolutely essential.
Don't buy it if...
You need native dual-nozzle multi-material
While single-filament printing is exceptionally good, if you need to use support materials as standard, then upgrading to an H2D will probably be a better idea.
You're a casual or first-time hobbyist
Starting with one of the best 3D printers on the market might seem like a great idea, but with so many superb printers at a fraction of the Price, it might be worth starting with a cheaper printer before investing in the H2S.
If you've read any of my articles about Hasselblad's 'medium-format' mirrorless cameras, you'll know I have a soft spot for the premium Swedish camera maker's X-series.
They're stunning minimalist cameras with quality craftsmanship that are simple to operate and a joy to use. Naturally, it also helps that the recent models can shoot the best-looking photos this side of $10,000.
The latest addition to the series is the X2D II 100C, which is an update of my dream camera; it's refined in all the right ways, and it costs much less than its three-year-old predecessor, pushing it closer to reality for photographers on the edge of splashing out.
If I were to pick one camera for landscape photography, this would be it. You can expect highly-detailed 100MP resolution, gorgeous natural colors that need little to no editing, and 16-bit files with rich HDR, along with probably the best image stabilization performance for this full-frame-dwarfing format.
Usually cameras in this 44 x 33mm sensor format are largely confined to the studio for still life and static subjects, but the X2D II is way more versatile than that, especially since it gets an all-new autofocus system, equipped with subject-tracking continuous autofocus and LiDAR.
For the first time with a Hasselblad I felt confident using its autofocus for shooting portraits, given its largely reliable people-detection skills. There's no obvious gap in autofocus performance between Hasselblad and a Fujifilm GFX model now.
I also felt comfortable shooting without a tripod, getting sharp shots handheld with shutter speeds in excess of one second.
Don't get me wrong – I still needed to be more involved in the process to get the results I wanted than when shooting with my full-frame Nikon, but the X2D II has strong automatic chops too.
Otherwise, for the most part the shooting experience felt largely the same as with the original X2D 100C, which is fine by me.
The X-E5 can be purchased in a bundle with this nifty, space-saving 23mm pancake lens. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
The X2D II 100C has what for me is probably the best camera design bar none: a gloriously minimalist body with exotic curves, a high-quality build with a slight reduction in weight compared to its predecessor, a larger-than-average tilting touchscreen with gorgeous color and clarity, plus various refinements that include a new joystick for adjusting the autofocus point and more.
A built-in SSD provides 1TB of storage for those mammoth 200MB raw files, and a CFExpress Type B card slot offers another storage option.
Some downsides remain: it has middling battery life, there's still no video recording capabilities (which for some could be a plus, but for me would be a nice to have), while the quality of the 5.76m-dot viewfinder display feels only okay.
And while this is the best-performing Hasselblad yet, Fujifilm GFX rivals can shoot faster, while full-frame alternatives are faster still. The X2D II is a steady shooter, just not one for action.
But again, that's fine – a camera that can deliver such rich detail can't be expected to sustain high-speed burst sequences.
Improved autofocus performance was probably my top wish for a X2D 100C successor, and that wish has come true, alongside other design refinements which improve the overall user experience.
A pleasant additional surprise is the X2D II 100C's list price: $7,399 / £6,400 (AU$ pricing TBC). That's a good deal less than the X2D 100C, even if it's still a pricey premium snapper.
Hasselblad X2D II 100C: price and availability
Available now for $7,399 / £6,400 (Australia pricing TBC)
Costs less than the original X2D 100C
Launched alongside a new XCD 35-100mm f/2.8-4 zoom lens
Hasselblad products are pricey, and with good reason – the build quality is top-drawer, as is the medium-format sensor tech, plus there's a 1TB SSD built-in. Yet despite several refinements in this latest model, it actually costs much less than the original X2D 100C, which was launched in September 2022.
The price difference depends on the region, but in the UK the X2D II 100C costs £1,000 less than its predecessor. It's still pricey, as is the new 35-100mm zoom lens (28-80mm effective), which costs $4,599 / £4,100 (Australia pricing TBC), but this Hasselblad is edging closer to Fujifilm in terms of pricing.
Price score 4/5
Hasselblad X2D II 100C: specs
Sensor:
100MP 'medium-format' sized 43.8 × 32.9mm
Video:
None
Cont. shooting:
3.3fps (approx)
Viewfinder:
5.76m-dot OLED
LCD:
3.6-inch, 2.36m-dot tilting touchscreen
Battery (CIPA rating):
Up to 327 shots, extended to 466 shots with HDR off
Weight:
29.6oz / 840g (with battery)
Dimensions:
5.85 x 4.17 x 2.95 inches / 148.5 x 106 x 75mm
Hasselblad X2D II 100C: design and handling
Very similar design to its stunning, minimalist predecessor
Slightly lighter than before, new joystick added
Large tilting touchscreen with stunning display
1TB built-in SSD and CFExpress Type B card slot
Having tested the Hasselblad X2D 100C at length, the X2D II feels very familiar. At 840g with battery, the latest model is slightly lighter, but it retains the same form factor, with a wonderfully minimalist layout and an exaggerated grip. Given the sensor format, the X2D II is impressively compact.
The finish on the high-quality body is different, and I prefer the new version both in appearance and feel.
We have the same touchscreen as before, and it's delightful. At 3.6 inches it's larger than most, plus it's wonderfully bright, rich in color and contrast, and its touch response is spot on, which is something that can't be said for all cameras – touch response feels more smartphone-like than camera-like.
Initially, pulling out the tilt screen stills feels a little fiddler than it could be, and the tilt motion is stiff; but it feels durable, and the up and downward tilt range is handy, especially for shooting at low angles.
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That tilt range also means the screen clears the viewfinder, which sticks out from the body, for unimpeded viewing from low angles. The large 5.76m-dot viewfinder display is lovely too, although it's far from the absolute best viewfinder I've used.
Once again we get a 1TB built-in SSD for storing images – and you'll need it, with each raw file coming in at a whopping 200MB. There's also the option to use removable media in the form of CFXepress Type B, which is one of the fastest card types today – I made use of both options during my review period.
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One of the headline new features is an autofocus system that's totally new to Hasselblad, which I'll get onto in the next section, and in terms of the design this has prompted the addition of a joystick. This can be used to manually select the autofocus point – I find it a more intuitive method than the touchscreen. Despite the addition of the joystick, which is very welcome, the design still feels wonderfully minimal.
The same goes for the UI – menus are still super stripped-back and easily navigable, even with a new range of autofocus modes. The omission of video recording helps here, while there are no color profile options at all, and I really appreciate how quick and easy it is to make adjustments to settings.
I have only one niggle with design – the protective door for the USB-C port (the port which can be used to charge the camera), pops open all too easily, especially when using a camera strap.
Design and handling score 5/5
Hasselblad X2D II 100C: features and performance
5-axis sensor-shift IBIS with up to 10EV stabilization
New subject-detection autofocus recognizing humans, animals and vehicles
Continuous shooting up to 3.3fps
The original X2D's autofocus is poor by today's standards – I used it to shoot a wedding, and I quickly reverted to my old DSLR for moments when I needed autofocus with a quick response.
Hasselblad has sensibly focused its attention on various performance improvements for the X2D II, and chief among them is a completely new autofocus system. The X2D II's focusing is a different proposition altogether, almost matching Fujifilm GFX standards.
This is the first Hasselblad camera with continuous autofocus, plus the first with subject-detection autofocus, being able to recognize and track humans, animals and vehicles. It also utilizes LiDAR focusing, an improvement that comes courtesy of drone maker DJI (which bought Hasselblad some years ago, and which introduced the built-in SSD in previous models).
I tested the camera on all of the subject types it's able to recognize, and it performed well, but don't expect the same degree of autofocus sophistication you'll get from, say, recent Sony / Canon / Nikon models.
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I shot this self portrait remotely using Hasselblad's Phocus software, triggering the camera with my Apple iPad (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Animal subject detection picked up this bird for sharp focusing, no problem (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Still, given it was my first time shooting portraits on location with a Hasselblad, I felt confident that the focus was going to be pin-sharp on my subject's eyes, and that's a big deal. The AF was also able to track my children's pet guinea pigs and recognize birds and horses.
Hasselblad says image stabilization performance has also been improved, and it's now rated up to 10EV, which would be a world-first for any camera in any format.
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
I was using the X2D II with the new 35-100mm lens, and put stabilization to the test. Based on 10EV of stabilization, at the wide-angle end of the lens zoom range I would expect the camera to be able to shoot sharp handheld shots with shutter speeds of 15 seconds.
Not a chance – that simply isn't the case. I was getting sharp shots like I was before with the X2D, down to around three seconds, which is more like 7.5EV. Nonetheless, it's still an incredible performance for such a high-resolution camera.
Despite its improved autofocus performance, the X2D II, like its predecessor, is not a camera for action photography. Its burst shooting performance is limited to around 3fps, which by today's standards is very slow. No, this is a camera for single shots really, like landscapes and portraits.
Features and performance score: 4.5/5
Hasselblad X2D II 100C: image quality
Stabilized 100MP 'medium-format' 44 x 33mm sensor
16-bit raw files and 'end to end' HDR capture
No video recording whatsoever
Image quality for the most part is much the same as from the X2D, but Hasselblad didn't need to make any improvements here – the original model was already capable of taking the best-looking pictures I've ever made with a camera.
The X2D II utilizes the same 44 x 33mm sensor with 5-axis stabilization as before, shooting 100MP stills with 14-bit or 16-bit color-depth options. What is new, however, is what Hasselblad calls 'end to end' high dynamic range (HDR) capture – you simply check the box in image quality section of the menu to activate it.
HDR, as the name suggests, increases the range of tones in an image. Without it, the X2D II already has a wide dynamic range given the large sensor format and pixel density, but with it we get over 15EV of dynamic range. Check out some HDR landscape photos in the gallery, below.
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I took photos with and without HDR active (in raw and JPEG simultaneously), and really I could take or leave HDR – the raw files are stunning either way. Yes, you get more visible detail in shadow and highlight areas, but you also lose some of the punch of the raw files as a result.
And there's plenty of latitude to brighten shadows and darken highlights of raw files for HDR-like results using editing software. Perhaps the main benefit to in-camera HDR is that you can skip the editing process for the times when you want more detail in the tonal extremes. It could also mean that shooting in JPEG-only format is a more realistic option. I still think HDR capture is an excellent feature.
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If you're a camera owner who's used to a choice of in-camera color profiles, like you get with virtually all other cameras, such as Fujifilm's film simulations, then you'll quickly notice the absence of those here. There's not even a black-and-white mode.
It's another example of Hasselblad's minimalist approach which I appreciate, especially when the natural colors look this good – they're somehow vivid and natural at the same time – so unless you like to dial the saturation slider up to unnatural levels, stylize your images, or go monochrome, you really don't need to spend time tweaking colors in post. All the images in the gallery above are completely unedited.
The impressive image stabilization on board and improved autofocus performance really help too, meaning you can get sharp handheld shots more easily.
Hasselblad has left out video recording once again – the X2D II is purely for photographers. That will no doubt delight photography purists, but I can't see any harm in adding video recording, besides perhaps clogging up the menus.
One thing to note about all of the images included in my galleries – they are original unedited files. With 100MP to play with, there's plenty of cropping potential to focus in on certain details, like the distant person sat on a hillside, framed by the setting sun.
There's also various aspect ratios available in camera, such as Hasselblad's legendary X-Pan panoramic format.
Image and video quality score: 5/5
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Hasselblad X2D II 100C: Test scorecard
Hasselblad X2D II 100C
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Price
A premium camera for a premium price, but it's surprisingly and significantly cheaper than it's predecessor
4 / 5
Design
Simply one of the best camera designs of all time
5 / 5
Feature and performance
Much improved autofocus, built-in SSD storage, but slow burst shooting speeds
4.5 / 5
Image quality
The best looking photos you can get, for the price. No video recording though.
5 / 5
Should I buy the Hasselblad X2D II 100C?
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Buy it if...
You want natural-looking images from the off Hasselblad's 100MP, 16-bit Raw files are packed with detail and the stunning colors look right from the off
You appreciate camera design I dig Hasselblad's minimalist design philosophy – the X2D II not only looks the part, but it feels great in the hand and comes with a refreshingly simply UI.
You're a pro portrait and landscape photographer If you want the absolute best image quality for portrait and landscape photography and don't often shoot action, then the X2D II sets the bar.
Don't buy it if...
You shoot video An obvious one, but the X2D II has no video capabilities – it's purely for photographers.
You shoot any kind of action photography Yes, the X2D II has subject tracking autofocus which makes it more reliable, but it's no match for industry-leading systems, while continuous burst shooting is a slow 3fps approx.
You want supreme battery life Up to 330 shots is a pretty poor battery life for such a camera. That said, it's a photography-only camera with slow continuous shooting performance, so you're unlikely to rinse the battery quickly.
Hasselblad X2D II 100C: Also consider
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Like the sound of the Hasselblad X2D II 100C but keen to know what else is out there? Here are a couple of solid alternatives…
Fujifilm GFX100 II Fujifilm's flagship camera with the same 44x33mm sensor format is the GFX100 II. It also has a 100MP sensor, but it has superb video recording capabilities too. It's a little pricier than the X2D II.
Sony A7R V The best full-frame alternative to the X2D II is the high-resolution Sony A7R V. It has the same pixel density – 61MP on a stabilized full-frame sensor, together with a wide dynamic range and impressive autofocus skills. It costs around 40% less than the X2D II too.
Hasselblad loaned me the X2D II 100C for three weeks ahead of its launch
I had the new XCD 35-100mm f/2.8-4 lens to test it with
I've taken camera and lens pairing on several outdoor photography shoots
I've had plenty of chances to use the X2D II with the new XCD 35-100mm f/2.8-4 lens ahead of their launches, taking the pairing on a few landscape photography trips, plus for candid portraits of humans and animals.
I've shot during daylight and nighttime, outdoors and in, and paired the camera with the latest (beta test) version of Hasselblad's Phocus app for remote control of the camera and image uploading.
My testing took place over the course of about one month.
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