Organizer - Gadget news

vivo X300 Ultra’s video capabilities showcased at MWC 2026

4:08 pm | March 3, 2026

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: MWC | Comments: Off

Up until now, we were only speculating about vivo's intentions to launch its X300 Ultra globally. There were clues in the past few months in the form of international certification documents, but now we have the official confirmation from vivo itself - the X300 Ultra is indeed coming to the international market, making it the first X Ultra to step outside of China. To hype up fans abroad, vivo showcased the phone's video recording capabilities at MWC 2026 in Barcelona. After mastering the still photos, vivo is now tackling videography and video production with its X300 Ultra flagship,...

I tested the Beelink ME Pro – a neat mini PC and NAS combination, making an ideal mass storage solution for any small business or home office

3:33 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Tags: CPU, NAS, PC, RAM | Comments: Off

Beelink ME Pro: 30-second review

The Beelink ME Pro is a hybrid Mini PC and NAS in one, powered by the lightweight Intel 95 CPU with integrated Intel UHD graphics. Like any mini PC, it features a full version of Windows 11, in this case, the Home edition, so if you want to access it directly and you're familiar with Windows, it's extremely easy to use. If you just want it as a NAS, you can install TrueNAS or similar.

However, once connected to your network, you can then simply connect other Windows, macOS, or Linux devices to access the internal storage in the same way as any normal NAS.

You can also utilise it as your media server, and while it comes pre-installed with Windows 11 Home, the machine is also fully compatible with a range of NAS OS options, such as FNOS, UNRAID, and TrueNAS. You can also run Linux or a virtual machine such as Proxmox (PVE) or ESXi.

During this review, I utilised the pre-installed Windows 11 Home OS and configured network access for my Apple computers, enabling me to use my wired network as a central resource for storing files.

From the outset, it struck me just how versatile the small machine is. With those 3.5-inch bays, you can install large-capacity HDDs, for example, two 4 TB Western Digital Red drives. Then there’s space for three M.2 SSDs, with the machine pre-installed with a 120GB option that includes Windows 11 Home.

During the test, I also installed a couple of blank SSDs, which allowed me to install TrueNAS and test how the machine performed when used as a true streaming server throughout the Home.

One aspect that struck me from the outset was the build quality, just how well thought out this small machine is. Out of the box, it’s quick to get started, but over time, you can expand the storage to a massive 72 TB, which is really impressive for a device of this size.

Used to serve my storage needs in the office, mainly images and video, I was impressed by the speed over the wired network, and after setting up the two WD Reds as shared access for all machines on the network, I was also able to utilise the Plex media server.

However, while the ME Pro works well as a storage device, when used as a day-to-day PC, the power of the N95 CPU is rather limited, as reflected in the benchmarking scores. Even Microsoft Office applications, if pushed, struggled with anything too complex. Then there’s the integrated UHD graphics, which is perfect for video playback but not much more.

As a compliment to one of Beelink’s mini PCs this is a great option, but if you're thinking about buying this because it's a mini PC and NAS in one, then I would suggest you invest in one of the best mini PCs in our guide. Then pair it with the ME Pro as part of the ecosystem on your network rather than a day-to-day mini PC and NAS in one.

Beelink ME Pro: Price and availability

How much does it cost? $369
When is it out? Now
Where can you get it? Widely available

Depending on the configuration and the storage you intend to place inside, the price of the ME Pro can vary greatly. Our review sample is the N95 option with 12 GB of RAM and a 120 GB SSD, which will cost around $369 or £320.

For the more expensive option featuring the Intel N150, 16 GB of LP DDR4 RAM, and a 1 TB SSD, you would likely spend US$529.

At present, the Beelink ME Pro hybrid NAS and mini PC is available directly from the Beelink website, as well as Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

Value: 4 / 5

Beelink ME Pro: Specs

CPU: Intel N95 / Intel N150
Graphics: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 
RAM: 12GB LPDDR5 / 16GB LPDDR5 
Storage: Up to 1TB SSD
Ports: USB-A, USB-C (10Gbps), USB 2.0 ports, HDMI 
Connectivity: 5GbE, 2.5GbE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 
Size: 166 x 121 x 112 mm
OS Installed: Windows 11 Home
Accessories: Power adapter, mounting hardware, documentation

Beelink ME Pro: Design

The Beelink ME Pro hybrid NAS mini PC is an innovative design for what is essentially a two-in-one machine. Alongside access to a very capable NAS with both 2.5 and 5 GbE connections, two 3.5-inch bays and three PCIe 3.0 SSD slots, it’s also a Windows Mini PC.

Considering it’s a NAS and Mini PC, it’s extremely small at 166 x 121 x 112 mm and weighs 2.1kg, though that is without the power adapter, any HDDs, or the SSDs installed. This still makes it one of the smallest NAS devices on the market, even for a two-bay model, and the fact that it’s also a fully functional Windows machine makes it even more impressive.

But there’s something more about the Beelink ME Pro that I really like, and that’s the fact that they have made it modular, so whilst at present the only options available are the Intel N95 or the Intel N150 motherboard, the motherboard can actually be withdrawn from the system and replaced with an AMD or ARM option, although at present these aren’t available, but are highlighted as future options on the website.

Installing the drives is simple, with the two bays pulling out, your 3.5-inch HDD sitting inside, and then screwing tightly into the bay, holding it steady. Beelink is keen to highlight that this holder design helps reduce vibration, avoiding any damage that might occur compared with NAS drive bays that hold drives loosely in by small plastic grommets.

The three SSDs are bolted and slotted into the underside, and the machine actually ships with one small 128GB drive pre-installed. I used the other two slots to hold additional storage and an alternate operating system.

Another feature of the device is the amount of cooling that has been incorporated, so through the front and base of the machine, air is drawn in, helping to ensure that the drives , motherboard, CPU and RAM stay as cool as possible, optimising performance.

Another nice design feature is that on the back, there’s a magnetic dust cover that is easily removed so that you can remove dust and ensure the airflow remains consistent. Again, it’s just an extra level of thought in the design.

When it comes to ports, these are well laid out, with two LAN ports on the back, one of which is 2.5GbE, the other 5GbE, and HDMI so you can plug it directly into a monitor, two USB-A ports, and then around the front, there is another USB Type-A.

Through the test, I found this extremely useful, as I had a keyboard and mouse plugged into the two Type-A ports on the back when I was installing the TrueNAS operating system onto a secondary SSD, and I was able to do that using the USB key through the front USB Type-A port without having to reconfigure the rear ports. Obviously, after this, the port, along with the USB-C on the back, can be used to directly transfer files to the ME Pro.

Once everything was installed into the system and plugged in, there was just the usual process of finishing the installation for Windows 11 Home, then configuring the two HDDs into a RAID configuration or Windows equivalent and the SSDs. Since the machine is so small, I was able to position it happily on the shelf behind my monitor and plugged it directly into the router so it could be accessed by other machines on the network as well.

Design: 4.5 / 5

Beelink ME Pro: Features

The ME Pro is an interesting hybrid device, being both a NAS and a mini PC in one, and it balances that job pretty well with two HDD bays for mass storage and three SSDs for faster storage options. In the case of my review unit, I have two HDDs configured in Windows Simple (RAID 0) equivalent and the three SSDs, one installed with Windows 11 Home that ships with the machine, one with TrueNAS, and the other just as a mass storage device, all of which could be accessed easily from other machines on the network.

The machine is also available in other configurations, with the option that I’ve looked at in this review coming with the Intel N95, 12GB of LPDDR5 4800MHz and a 128GB SSD; this chipset is also available in a 512GB SSD option, then you can take the upgrade to the Intel N150 which has 16GB of LPDDR5 4800MHz and a 512GB SSD, and that again is available in a 1TB option.

Whichever option you choose, the HDD bays are up to you in terms of capacity, and each bay can hold up to 30TB. Alongside the SATA 3.5-inch HDDs there are also three M.2 NVMe drive slots, and these take M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0, and each is capable of taking 4TB, so you can get up to 60TB through HDD and a further 12TB through the SSDs, bringing you to a grand total of 72TB, which is one of the highest capacities that I have seen in this size of machine.

Beelink’s small NAS and mini PC in one is impressive, and the engineers have obviously looked very carefully at the cooling. Through the literature, the company is keen to point out just how much innovation has gone into the cooling system. Air is drawn through the front and base of the machine, pushed through the system and out of the back above the motherboard.

One of the things I didn’t realise during the test was just how cool the system ran. It wasn’t too hard to push the system hard because of that N95 processor, copying terabytes of data to the two HDDs and utilising Plex to watch back video. The machine was more than capable of keeping up with the demands, as long as you didn’t expect too much from it on the processing side.

Due to the design of the machine and its hybrid use, you have the option to install many common OSs; as I’ve previously mentioned, it comes with Windows 11 Home installed, but you can also install Linux if you so wish. Alongside either of those operating systems, you could also use it to run a dedicated NAS OS such as FNOS or TrueNAS, and in this review, I ran TrueNAS because it is an open-source option and free. You can also run a virtual machine, such as Proxmox (PVE) or ESXi, so potentially you could have your OS installed on one of the SSDs and another virtual machine on the final SSD, tailoring it to whichever use case you want.

Whilst the N95 is a relatively low-powered CPU, the integrated UHD graphics are great for running Windows. What that does mean is that it runs on extremely low power, so having this NAS sit in the background working will cost you a lot less than many of the larger, more powerful options on the market.

Features: 4 / 5

Beelink ME Pro: Performance

Benchmarks

CrystalDiskMark Read: 212.58
CrystalDiskMark Write: 204.26
Geekbench CPU Multi: 2034
Geekbench CPU Single: 1056
Geekbench GPU: 3190
PCMark Overall: 2786
Cinebench CPU Multi (Threads): 2601
Cinebench CPU Single (Threads): 900
Fire Strike Overall: 1064
Fire Strike Graphics: 1136
Fire Strike Physics: 5822
Fire Strike Combined: 394
Time Spy Overall: 362
Time Spy Graphics: 316
Time Spy CPU: 2261
Wild Life Overall: 2258
Steel Nomad Overall: 0
Windows Experience Overall: 8

Starting out with the Beelink ME Pro is straightforward. Just think of it in the same way that you would any standard mini PC; essentially, you run through the Windows 11 Home set-up process, finish off the last few steps connecting to your network, and essentially you’re set and ready to go. It’s a mini PC, albeit not an especially powerful one, as was proven with the performance tests.

However, if you do want to use it for basic word processing, office work, browsing the internet, and watching videos on YouTube, then it’s more than adequate for that. You can always connect a webcam and use it as an office meeting machine. Whilst the N95 isn’t especially powerful compared to the latest mini PCs on the market, it’s still a well-balanced option, especially for work-focused machines where high-end graphics and processing power aren’t usually required.

However, this is also a NAS, offering network-connected storage, and it comes with Windows 11 Home pre-installed. It just makes the whole process easier, so if you work in a small home office and don’t have much IT experience, this could be an ideal solution for you.

To get started, I simply plugged the Beelink ME Pro into the back of my network hub, then attached the monitor, keyboard, and mouse so I could complete the Windows set-up and install two 4TB HDDs. I used Western Digital Red drives and configured these as the Windows equivalent of RAID 0, essentially a simple storage space. And, of course, you have the option to go for mirror or parity, the RAID 1 or RAID 5 equivalents.

The process is relatively easy: install the drives, then go to System > Storage in the Advanced Storage Settings. Select your storage space, create a new pool, select both HDDs, choose Simple, and you’re essentially done. You then have those 4TB drives as one usable 8TB drive. There’s no redundancy with the Simple configuration, but it does give you the speed. If you do want backup, set the drives as a mirror, which is the RAID 1 equivalent; again, it’s the same process, you just select Mirror rather than Simple.

Used in this way, those 8TB were fast to access, so I used them to back up my image and video files directly to the shared space I created on those drives.

When it came to the rest of the storage options using the SSDs, one of them was obviously taken by Windows 11 Home, and the other two slots I installed two Lexar 512GB SSDs; I installed TrueNAS on one and left the other as straight storage for TrueNas, and again, it was all very easy to do.

The SSD storage was prepared through TrueNas and once formatted it could be accessed directly or through the network. It’s worth pointing out that TrueNAS, needed to be installed from a separate USB key, and here I was really pleased to see that there was a USB Type-A slot on the front of the machine; the two on the rear were already taken up with the keyboard and mouse, and I didn’t want to unplug these or use an adapter.

The TrueNAS set-up was relatively straightforward, taking slightly longer than anticipated to run through the settings and connect the machine to the wired network, but once it was up and running, I was able to stream from Plex and use it again as a mass storage device. One of the issues here is that Simple (RAID 0) storage capacity that I had setup in the Windows install wasn’t accessible from the TrueNAS install. What really stood out here was just how well suited the N95 CPU was, and whilst it’s limited for general day-to-day use as an office machine, it makes perfect sense when used within a NAS.

The other point is that whilst the integrated UHD graphics might not be that impressive for the latest games, when it comes to streaming 4K footage it does surprisingly well and means that here we have an inexpensive solution that’s easy to understand compared with many standard NAS options.

Another point is that it can be left on 24/7; after the test, once it was installed, I literally just left it running in the background. After giving the TrueNAS installation a test, I switched back to Windows 11 Home and left it running as a large-capacity storage solution in the office. Whilst there were limited additional options compared with TrueNAS, it was just easy to connect to and use.

One of the main reasons I installed the Plex Media Server for Windows was to point it to the 8TB internal storage set-up and have Plex running as a background service all the time, directly accessible from all the machines in the house and then office.

By the end of the test, the ME Pro proved to be one of the easiest NAS solutions I’ve come across, offering easy integration, especially for Windows-based set-ups, and it will suit many home offices without IT backup or support.

Performance: 4 / 5

Beelink ME Pro: Final verdict

The concept of the Beelink ME Pro is a great one. It offers a straightforward, easy-to-understand network-attached storage solution, and the fact that it comes pre-installed with Windows 11 Home means that almost anyone can set it up and use it just like another PC in your house or office, it just has more storage potential and the ability to be used as an effective shared network drive.

What I like about it is that you can easily install two large-capacity HDDs, and again, they’re set up using the Windows 11 storage solution which is familiar. The Windows 11 storage solution is just straightforward, and whether you choose to create a single large drive or mirror the drive, the process in the Windows interface is straightforward.

Then, once it has been created, right-click and select the share options so that anyone else on your network can access it. It really couldn’t be simpler.

The fact is, that for most home office workers this system is simple, essentially it’s another small machine with fast network connectivity with the ability to share its contents. Whilst it is a Mini PC, it should really be seen as a NAS or Media Server, the fact that it runs Windows 11 Home just makes it familiar and easy to use.

If you do want to take things a little bit further and turn it into a home media server, then with the installation of Plex you can instantly stream video from that master storage to any machine or smart device that you want, and whilst this does take a little bit more know-how and set-up, it is still relatively straightforward and there are plenty of user guides out there on how to do it.

But what really makes this interesting is the fact that you have those three SSDs on the base, so if you do want to install another operating system or NAS OS, such as I did with TrueNAS, then this again is possible, and you can use it in the home or office as a small home lab for experimentation, or if you turn it completely over to TrueNAS you have a very compact, large-capacity NAS that will offer you all of the usual features.

Whilst my review sample waseasy to use, straightforward, and worked exceptionally well for everything I wanted, many will feel that Windows 11 Home offers fewer features than some of the more involved NAS set-ups, but you can still install those over the Windows 11 installation. And what I really like is the part modular design.

The fact that you can insert so much storage, but also in future updates install an AMD or ARM motherboard all further add to its flexibility. If you are running a home lab and need to experiment with different CPUs and set-ups; this one small machine and the ability to slide the motherboard in and out again makes it extremely interesting.

At the end of this test I will definitely say the Beelink ME Pro is a perfect partner to Beelink’s other mini PCs, but more so to anyone with a mini PC looking for an easy way to boost its network storage without delving into something as complex as standard NAS box, and if you do run a home lab, again this is a great option with plenty of flexibility.

If, however, you’re just looking for a straight NAS with all the features and apps, then maybe something a little more advanced with a bit more processing power would be a better option.

Should I buy a Beelink ME Pro?

Value	Affordable hybrid mass-storage mini PC option that you can expand as your budget allows	4
Design	Extremely premium, compact all-metal build that will fit almost any space	4.5
Features	A great set of features and flexibility, meaning it can be as simple or complex as you need 4/5	4
Performance	Low-power CPU makes it okay for standard office work and being used as a NAS, but nothing too advanced	4
Overalls	Easy-to-use and extremely versatile home office NAS system	4

Buy it if...

You're crafting an office media hub
The ME Pro is ideal if you want a quiet, compact device for backups, Plex streaming, and centralised storage with fast networking.

You're running a small home lab
Got a set-up that needs flexible storage expansion and light virtualisation? This is a top pick without investing in a larger rack-mounted NAS system.

Don't buy it if...

You demand intensive processing
If you're planning to run multiple demanding virtual machines or CPU-intensive workloads, it's likely going to be just too much for the N95 model.

You want a machine for high-end gaming
Integrated graphics are not suitable for modern gaming or GPU-heavy creative applications.

For more essential computing, we've reviewed the best NAS devices.

The Oscal Marine 3 breaks the rugged smartphone mold – it’s slim, lightweight and stylish, but I can’t ignore that slow processing power

3:05 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Tags: CPU, RAM | Comments: Off

Oscal Marine 3: 30-second review

The Oscal Marine 3 is a surprisingly stylish, slimline, rugged smartphone that breaks the usual design conventions. Gone are the cyberpunk-style, bulky rubberised outer casings; in their place is something a little bit slimmer and more refined in looks at least.

It is much simpler in design than its larger and heavier rugged smartphone counterparts. However, it does feature a technological illustration on the back plate, and the rubberised edges and corners, whilst not as dominant, are retained, highlighting that this isn't just a standard consumer phone but something altogether more rugged.

The phone is slim, and put side-by-side next to an iPhone 15 Pro, the actual thickness is pretty much identical, although it does feature a slightly longer screen, giving a bit more screen real estate for browsing the internet, answering emails and enhancing images.

Despite the slimline design being closer to consumer-level phones than rugged models, it is still fully waterproof. In testing, it was submerged for 10 minutes in a fast-flowing stream, then dropped and put through its paces to test its strength and ruggedness. Although it’s worth highlighting that the USB-C port at the base for data transfer and charging is open to the elements and this does caused me some concern.

The camera, both for daytime shooting and the infrared option, is on the whole pretty decent, not groundbreaking, and there's no cutting-edge imaging technology for the camera itself, although there are AI imaging Apps. They're just good standard cameras. Alongside the standard camera app, Oscal have included several AI applications, including ImageX. This offers impressive capabilities, but like all apps added to the standard DokeOS 5.0, after a few quick uses of the AI features, you're prompted to subscribe to the app's different AI models, and these all cost a lot.

Alongside the camera and imaging is a decent speaker which, considering its size, is surprisingly loud. Whilst it is a little bit tinny and requires a good shake after being submerged in water, it’s fine for listening to the radio whilst you work or for multimedia playback.

Through the test I found that the battery, whilst substantial, would last a good three days between charging depending on use, as long as I didn't use it too heavily for gaming or watching video. While it’s advertised as fast charging, the 18W charger takes around 2 hours to reach 50% from flat, which, by any standard, is not fast. However, a good overnight charge, and you're all set for another 2 to 3 days of solid use.

The main issue with this rugged smartphone, however, is the processor, which is behind what you'd expect for a modern smartphone despite it’s AI credentials. Switching between applications is often laggy, and the screen can become unresponsive when running more intensive applications such as Lightroom. The analysis time in Lightroom is significantly slower than I have seen with many other modern rugged smartphones, and whilst the device's design makes it desirable, the processor's speed does let it down.

In reality, whilst the slimline design makes for a quite appealing rugged smartphone, the processor speed does limit its use, apps just take that much longer to load, but once loaded they generally run fine. Whilst it has a relatively decent camera and runs most apps at a moderate speed, if you need it for anything more intensive, especially switching between apps, you will find its processing speed is limiting.

Because of that, it's unlikely to trouble the devices in our best rugged phone guide. Ideally, this phone is suited to someone who wants a relatively lightweight, slim, rugged smartphone that they just need for occasional calls and checking email.

Oscal Marine 3: Price & availability

How much does it cost? $399
When is it out? Now
Where can you get it? Widely available

The Oscal Marine 3 can be purchased from Oscal's Amazon storefront via the website clicking here. It's currently priced at $400 / £400.

The rugged phone is also available from a limited number of alternative online stores, most notably in the US.

Value: 2.5 / 5

Oscal Marine 3: Design

Specifications

CPU: MediaTek Helio G81
Graphics: Mali-G52 MC2
RAM: 8GB (+ virtual expansion)
Storage: 128GB + microSD/TF (Up to 2TB)
Left Ports: Dual SIM / microSD tray
Right Ports: Power button, volume controls
Connectivity: 4G LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS
Audio: Single loudspeaker
Camera: 16MP rear + IR night vision, 13MP front
Size: 174.6 x 83 x 10.7mm
OS Installed: Android with DokeOS 5.0
Accessories: Charger, cable, SIM tool

When I first opened the box and looked at the Oscal Marine 3, I was instantly struck by its slimline design and smartphone aesthetics. It was far nicer and easier to handle than most rugged smartphones. It also had a good premium feel and, whilst it is slimmer than most, it still has a good solid weight, and the overall design quality and build is exceptionally good.

Checking the phone itself, there’s a nice graphical detailing on the back that sets off the infrared, multi-AI cam, Infrared and main camera, whilst on the front, the surface is dominated by the large 6.56-inch 90Hz display with Selfi camera.

It retains the feel of many other rugged smartphones, with dimensions of 174.6 x 83 x 10.7 mm and a weight of 245 g. That's only just heavier than a standard consumer smartphone.

One of the other features that I liked about the phone from the outset was the number of physical buttons around the body. You have a customisable orange button alongside the microSD and dual SIM card slots on the left-hand side of the body. Then, on the right-hand side, you have the power button with fingerprint recognition, above which are the usual volume up and down buttons.

Otherwise, the rest of the phone is pretty simple, with just the main charging USB-C port on the base. Surprisingly, for a rugged smartphone, this isn't sealed, so it is open to the elements. During the test, I found this was something I had to watch out for, as mud and water can get into the port, and it can be a little tricky to clear it out.

One of the other features that I did like when using the camera was that you could assign that custom button as the shutter button, and this was especially relevant when using the underwater camera, as it essentially enables you to disable the touchscreen so that the physical button is used to operate the camera, which works extremely well.

Ultimately, this is a rugged smartphone designed to withstand the elements, and a key feature is its usual rugged certifications, including IP68, IP69K, and MIL-STD-810H, meaning it can be submerged in water and dropped from a height without too much issue.

Design: 3 / 5

Oscal Marine 3: Features

The Marine 3 is one of a number of new rugged smartphones that feature AI abilities, and this is a big part of this particular model. Behind that 6.56-inch 90Hz HD display the phone runs Doke OS 5.0 based on Android 16 and there’s the AI Software suite known as Doke AI 2.0.

The ruggedness is obviously the top feature of this smartphone and with MIL-STD-810H certification it just means it can stand up to more than most consumer phones, so it can be dropped from height and, with IP68 and IP69K ratings, it will withstand being dropped into water and covered in dust and dirt without issue, making it ideal for anyone who works outside or is looking for a decent smartphone that will withstand the elements.

Whilst rugged smartphones aren't really known for the quality of their cameras, it's interesting to see that this model features a 13MP infrared night vision camera, accessible through the standard app by tapping the night vision icon, which swaps the main 16MP camera for the infrared camera.

The camera app also features an underwater camera mode that essentially disables the touchscreen and enables you to configure the physical button to operate the camera.

The main camera is 16MP, which is very conservative for a modern camera. However, given the resolution, the picture quality actually seems very well balanced, and on the front, there is, of course, a 13MP selfie camera for video conferencing and selfies.

The 6.56-inch IPS touchscreen has a maximum brightness of 450 nits, which is pretty decent for general use, though in bright summer conditions it might get a bit tricky to see. However, on the flip side, during winter, with modes such as Glove Mode 2.0, the screen is surprisingly responsive even with touch-sensitive gloves.

Through the test, one common rugged smartphone feature that I was pleased to see is the ability to configure the custom side key, setting is a quick access to an app or feature.

As a rugged smartphone, navigation technology is essentially although it is a bit surprising that it's only 4G and not the latest 5 G. However, it does feature four-in-one navigation with GPS, GLONASS, BDS and Galileo.

The company has also included a toolbox of handy apps, including the usual compass, protractor, plumb line, and many others, which are useful if you're working in a trade or just need a few extra tools out and about.

One of the phone's more quirky features is the Smart-K speaker, which is surprisingly loud and louder than my iPhone 15 Pro. It is a bit tinny, but at least you can hear it in almost any situation.

The battery is another big part of any rugged smartphone, and here, with a 5000mAh battery, it supplies plenty of power for general phone use. It also offers fast charging. That battery will enable up to 6 hours of gameplay, 6.5 hours of video, 11 hours of web browsing, 22 hours of making calls, 25 hours of listening to music, and 288 hours on standby. There's a deep power-saving mode that works automatically in the background.

The phone does support reverse 5W charging, which means that if you have other mobile devices or electronics that need a charging boost, then this phone can act as a power bank.

The phone runs Doke OS 5.0, based on Android 16, and offers a good number of built-in apps, including all the usual Google options. There's also plenty of AI-powered features, including several bundled apps and a very decent system manager that enables you to free up space and keep the smartphone optimised. I also like that it features Notebook 3.0, which lets you easily keep notes and other content on your smartphone neatly organised.

Alongside the main OS, there’s Doke AI 2.0. This essentially offers DeepSeek-R1, ChatGPT-4o Mini, Gemini, Hi Doki, ImageX, Vidgen and Soundle. Whilst some of the features are free, given the processor speed, they all run surprisingly quickly, the only thing to watch out for is that some of these apps require a subscription after a certain amount of use. Many of those subscription values are expensive.

Whilst the AI apps do make your AI tasks that much easier they can come at quite a cost which is something to be aware of if they are of interest to you.

At the heart of this phone is the MediaTek Helio G81 processor, backed by 24GB of RAM (8GB + 16GB expandable), giving it plenty of memory to handle data. When it comes to storage, there's 256GB of ROM built in, and you can expand it to 2TB via a TF or microSD card.

No rugged smartphone would be without dual SIM support, and in the carrier tray, you can pop in two 4G SIM cards alongside a TF card to boost the storage. Other connectivity options include NFC support, so if you want to use contactless payment, then that's perfectly possible with this phone, along with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0.

Features: 3.5 / 5

Oscal Marine 3: Performance

Benchmarks

CrystalDiskMark Read: 570.4 MB/s
CrystalDiskMark Write: 160.39 MB/s
Geekbench CPU Multi: 1332
Geekbench CPU Single: 397
Geekbench GPU: 979
SlingShot: 1718
SlingsShot Extreme: 1196
Wild Life Extreme Overall: 171
Wlidlife Overall: 634
Steel Nomad Overall: 61

The Doke OS, which is based on Android 16, is really well thought out, and there's plenty pre-installed to get you started, including the Doki and its selection of AI applications alongside what you usually expect from Google.

One of the first things I noticed about the phone, while running through some tests and opening some apps, was that app load times were relatively slow. They weren't instantaneous on opening and, when switching between applications, there was often a slight pause as the phone seemed to need time to catch up.

However, once the applications were open and I started to delve into their use, things started to smooth out. Looking at Google's suite of applications, including Docs and Sheets, both opened relatively quickly, and making adjustments to existing documents or adding to them was all relatively straightforward.

Likewise, opening Gmail and answering a few messages proved that this phone was more than fast enough for general day-to-day calls, email browsing, and using lighter apps.

As I progressed through the test, the fact that I was reverting to a standard 4G connection rather than 5G became an issue. Around my office, where generally we just get 4G, the speeds were okay, a little bit slower compared with my iPhone 15 Pro, but as soon as I went up to Salisbury, where 5G coverage is relatively good, the slower data speeds were very apparent.

The other point here was that whilst I'd expect those data speeds at 4G to be pretty solid in 4G-only areas, they were still slightly slower than on my iPhone 15 Pro, reaching a maximum of 20 to 30MB per second compared with the iPhone 15 Pro at 30 to 40MB per second.

As I started pushing the phone a little more, first using Lightroom, I was surprised by how long it took the app to load. Once it had loaded, I was able to access the image files on the phone and load them in, and again, it took a while for Lightroom to run through its standard analysis before I could start making any adjustments. Each image would take at least 20 to 30 seconds to properly load and be analysed before those adjustments could be made. However, once the phone had run through its assessment, all additional adjustment work were instantaneous.

I then decided to use CapCut. Using video footage taken from the phone, edits were relatively quick, and the phone responded well to putting together a short production. However, again, when loading CapCut and sometimes loading those video clips, there was a slowdown in processing, and whilst when everything had loaded things were quick and responsive, you just have to be patient while the phone catches up.

I then switched over to the Doke AI suite of applications, and here the phone seemed to handle them much better, applying AI enhancements to existing images and generating AI content. However, as I've witnessed with these Doke AI apps before, you only get a few uses before you're charged a monthly or yearly fee to continue using them. Whilst there are offers, it does feel like a bit much to pay such an amount per app rather than having a longer trial period for each.

One of the final tests was just to check how the phone would perform for gaming, and I was actually quite surprised by how well it handled games like Asphalt Legends, with relatively smooth gameplay and decent audio from the internal speaker.

In many more advanced games, the loading times are excessive. Once it's all loaded into the system however, the gameplay is relatively decent, and what really stands out here is that the speaker is far higher quality than I've come to expect from most smartphones, although again it's still a little tinny.

Checking out all the benchmarking tests again just re-emphasised that this is a good, solid smartphone for day-to-day use, as long as you don't want to run too many apps or play some of the more advanced games. Also, for almost any app you open, load times can be relatively slow, so in reality, this phone is best used if you want a slimline phone for making calls, using a few apps, and surviving out in the elements.

The final test was to check out how rugged this smartphone is, leaving it in a stream for 10 minutes to see if it would survive being submerged. Here, it had absolutely no issues whatsoever, with my only concern being that the USB-C port is exposed. During the test, as I started dropping it into muddy water and dirt, debris got into that port. At one point, it made it difficult for me to actually plug it in to recharge.

Performance: 3 / 5

Oscal Marine 3: Final verdict

At the end of the test, whilst I like the phone's design, there are quite a few quirks. At the same time, the fact that applications take quite a long time to load is a bit of an issue, especially as it seems to take a long time to analyse images, video, and other data.

Even when switching from one Android app to another, there can sometimes be a glitch or delay, and what really bugs me beyond anything else is that many of the apps are tied to advertising, so you can tap a functional feature and find yourself on the Temu website without warning. Some of the other apps will open up other subscription offers and models when all you want to do is get on and use the phone.

If you're after a straightforward phone with some AI enhancement, then this is an okay option. If I were going to buy this, I would probably suggest removing most of the AI-enhanced apps, since the subscriptions are expensive and they tend to redirect you to shopping websites.

There's also the issue that it's only 4G, not 5G, and everything is just a little bit sluggish. Another major issue is the price. At nearly £399 / $399, this isn't a cheap phone, and in reality, there are many other options out there that provide far greater processing power for a lot less money. Really, you're paying that much for rugged credentials rather than performance.

Should I buy an Oscal Marine 3?

Value	Expensive for the processing power, slightly balanced by the robust design	2.5
Design	Great looking design, slim with a very premium feel, but the USB port is exposed	3
Features	Night vision, durability and large screen are key features for this rugged phone	3.5
Performance	Entry-level but usable daily if you don't want anything too processor-intensive	3
Overall	Tough tool for outdoor workers, limited appeal due to the power of the processor	3

Buy it if...

Outdoor survivability is essential
With these rugged specs, the Oscal Marine 3 is a durable phone for wet, dirty conditions where reliability matters more than gaming performance or speed.

You need a waterproof phone
You regularly work near water or in conditions where your kit and equipment can get wet, this ticks the right boxes.

Don't buy it if...

You run a lot of apps
Because of that slow processor, the phone is not good if you frequently multitask, edit images, or expect your apps to open instantly.

You need fast charging
Avoid this device is you expect fast charging speeds and processing performance from your smartphone.

For more durable devices, we've tested and reviewed the best rugged laptops and best rugged tablets.

I tested the super affordable Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM — it’s a ‘beautiful mess of a lens’ that I can’t help but love

2:35 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Camera Lenses Cameras Computers Gadgets | Tags: STM | Comments: Off

One minute review

The Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM is a beautiful mess of a lens. It's impossibly light, cheap, and wide, but nonetheless comes with a few optical niggles that will likely make the more discerning pixel peepers baulk.

At $599 / £479 / AU$699.95, the RF 45mm f/1.2 has the potential to be an essential component of any Canon shooter's kit bag. And, it has to be said, it's a lens that doesn't really have any rivals or alternatives at this price point. No other brand, third-party or otherwise, offers an autofocus full-frame lens with f/1.2 for $600. Canon is definitely worthy of praise for this - it's an innovative, forward-thinking lens from a brand that's often criticized for its closed mount.

As mentioned, however, optically, the RF 45mm f/1.2 leans more towards 'character' than perfection. The bokeh is busy and swirly, while the chromatic aberration is off the charts at the widest aperture. Even with in-camera corrections, this lens imparts its character on every image if you're shooting wide.

You also don't get weather sealing or a lens hood. While this lens is well built and a great pairing with any of the brand's high-end mirrorless bodies, it's very much a lens that's been shoehorned into a specific price point. I can forgive the lack of weather sealing, but paying extra for the hood feels slightly miserly to me.

A picture of the Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM mounted on a Canon EOS R6 Mark II from the side. — (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)

If you can look past its flaws, however, the 45mm f/1.2 does offer a lot for the price. No other Canon lens right now offers as many creative options as this 45mm in the standard focal length. Emphasis on the 'creative' here, mind you, because the wide aperture opens possibilities for shots simply not possible on the usual kit lens.

Aside from serious low-light chops, this lens is also fantastic for environmental portraits, where you can blow out the background on a relatively wide scene.

In summary, the 45mm is an often frustrating lens, but one I can't help but like. I don't think it's a 'killer' lens that will cause Nikon and Sony users to switch, but it certainly is unique and praiseworthy. Is it one of the best Canon lenses? Technically, absolutely not. But is it worth it? Absolutely... if you're looking for 'character' rather than 'perfection', that is!

Price and availability

It costs $599 / £479 / AU$699.95
Lens hood is a separate purchase

At $599 / £479 / AU$699.95, the RF 45mm f/1.2 is cheap for a Canon full-frame RF lens, let alone one with such a wide aperture. It's much closer in price to the entry-level Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM (£239 / $219 / AU$299) than premium L-series glass - and offers a similar level of optical quality for the budget-conscious.

It's a good thing Canon has made this lens, too, as the brand currently doesn't support third-party glass on its full-frame mount. Unlike rival mounts from Nikon and Sony, Canon users have fewer low-cost alternatives outside of the usual starter primes and kit lenses.

Luckily, this lens is a great example of Canon doing something a little different. It's not quite a budget lens, but it's certainly unique, and definitely a sign that the brand is willing to try new things for its RF mount.

Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM: specs

Canon RF 45mm STM f/1.2 specs
Type:	Standard prime
Mount:	Canon RF
Sensor:	Full-frame
Focal length:	45mm
Max aperture:	f/1.2
Minimum focus:	0.45m, 0.13x max magnification
Filter size:	67mm
Dimensions:	78 x 75mm
Weight:	12.2oz / 346g (lens only)

Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM: design

Extremely lightweight for such a prime
AF/MF switch, but otherwise very basic
Customizable control ring

A picture of the Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 lens — The RF 45mm f/1.2 features a customizable control ring and MF/AF switch, but is otherwise very minimalist (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)

As you'd imagine from a relatively affordable lens, the RF 45mm f/1.2 has quite a minimalist design. You do get a few handy controls, however, such as the MF/AF switch and a fully customizable control ring right next to the lip of the lens' barrel.

The action on the focus ring is smooth and well-damped, but the control ring has a nice solid click to it that pairs nicely with its burled metal finish. Otherwise, the lens features a wholly plastic build apart from the mount — you can expect a metal mount in all modern Canon lenses, including the higher-end L series models.

Speaking of which, build quality for the RF 45mm f/1.2 doesn't feel that far off from the premium lenses. There's nothing here to suggest that this is a cheaper lens in the RF line-up, aside from the lack of the distinctive red barrel ring. In the hand, the RF 45mm f/1.2 feels solid and sturdy enough for a lens of this type.

With that said, Canon has cut a few corners to build this lens at a price. For one, you don't get a lens hood included - nor does the lens feature any weather sealing. Perhaps the lens will hold up to some light rain, but I certainly didn't want to risk it with my review unit.

A picture of the Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 lens mounted on the Canon EOS R6 Mark II from the front. — (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)

These points aside, the most impressive thing about the RF 45mm's design is that it weighs just 12.2oz / 346 grams - something that feels almost impossible for a lens with this kind of aperture. It really is the main selling point for this lens, in my opinion. The 45mm is so compact that you'd be mistaken into thinking this lens is an f/1.8 prime, given its size.

As you can see from the product pictures on this page, the 45mm pairs nicely with the EOS R6 Mark II, which is a full-frame body with a substantial hand grip. The lens is actually twice the weight of Canon's RF 50mm F1.8 STM prime (160g), but it's still light enough to hit that sweet spot where you don't feel like you're lugging around a huge piece of glass everywhere.

As stated, I tested this lens on the R6 Mark II. I think you'll also be fine if you pair this 45mm up with the Canon EOS R8, but the R8's comparatively small grip may result in a slight amount of front-heaviness. This is a light prime considering the aperture, but it's certainly no pancake lens.

Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM: Performance

Significant chromatic aberration at f/1.2
STM autofocus is reliable
Good center sharpness at all apertures

A picture of the Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 lens mounted on the Canon EOS R6 Mark II from the top. — (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)

You may be wondering - if the RF 45mm is cheap, small, and extremely wide, what's the catch? Well, unfortunately, there are a few quirks when it comes to outright image quality for the 45mm F1.2 STM. This is definitely a 'character lens', for better or worse.

Firstly, the good stuff. If you're looking for those dreamy, blown-out backgrounds, then this lens definitely delivers. The aperture is so massive that you can get a good level of background separation here, even with relatively wide scenes. I could see this being a good option for environmental or full-body portraits on a budget.

The 45mm also offers a good level of sharpness. This is particularly the case in the centre of the frame, but stopping down the lens offers a great level of edge-to-edge sharpness. But of course, who's buying this lens to stop it down?

Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 — Canon R6 Mark II, JPEG, taken at f/1.2Future / Alex Whitelock

No, people are going to buy this lens because they want to make full use of that f/1.2 aperture at this exceptional price. Annoyingly, there are a few caveats when shooting wide open with this lens, however.

The first is the busy bokeh - something which I think will likely be the most contentious attribute for prospective buyers. There's no escaping that, at f/1.2, you get a significant cat's-eye effect on the bokeh with the 45mm. Once you see it, you can't really un-see it, and the swirling effect gets more extreme towards the edge of the frame. I think some people will love the distracting swirly effect of this lens, whereas others will find it too busy.

After using the lens in a range of scenarios, I'm somewhere in the middle of the two camps. As you can see from the samples, the bokeh balls not only have quite strong cat's-eye shapes, but also hard to remove fringing. They're technically very imperfect, but there's obviously something to be said for a lens with this much character if you're going for a certain 'vintage' look. It's definitely subjective.

One thing I'm less on the fence about, however, is the extreme level of chromatic aberration this lens exhibits at its widest aperture. I don't think I've used a modern lens with this much CA in recent years.

The image above is a good example. You can see a significant amount of purple fringing around the backlit pattern on the wall. Towards the center of the frame, CA is relatively well controlled, but the fringing gets progressively worse toward the edges. It's notable because this particular shot is a JPEG straight from the Canon EOS R6 Mark II, with all in-camera lens correction applied.

If you do buy this lens, you're going to have to get well acquainted with the de-fringing tool in your photo editing app of choice. Luckily, this is one of the quickest and easiest fixes that anyone can make these days, so it's not a complete deal breaker for a relatively affordable lens like this.

In terms of focusing, the RF 45mm F1.2's proprietary STM stepping motor isn't as quick or silent as the ones featured in Canon's higher-end models, but it is more than sufficient, and able enough to provide quick and reliable autofocus at f/1.2 when paired with the brand's latest full-frame bodies.

One thing I did notice is a very small amount of focus breathing when close focusing at f/1.2. There is also a very slight whining noise when acquiring focus, which again, could be something worth considering if you're thinking about using this lens for video. With the example I've included above, you can see the lens slightly hunting for focus when it attempts to re-lock on the closer object.

Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM sample images

Should you buy the Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM?

Buy it if...

You want to shoot environmental portaits
I think this lens is perfect for slightly wider scenes where you still want to separate the subject from the background.

You shoot a lot of low-light work
What's an f/1.2 aperture good for? Low light, of course! It shouldn't even need to be said that this lens's extremely wide aperture is fantastic for making sure as much light as possible hits your camera's sensor.

Don't buy it if...

You need something weather sealed
As a cheaper lens in the Canon line-up, the RF 45mm doesn't feature any environmental sealing. This one isn't for use in extreme inclement weather.

You need perfect image quality
While the RF 45mm offers an extremely wide aperture, this comes with some optical trade-offs. This lens has a lot of character, unlike the more 'perfect' L-Series models.

How I tested the Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM

An image of the Canon RF 45mm f/1.2, showing the front of the lens — (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)

Canon provided me a sample unit for one week
I paired the lens with the Canon EOS R6 Mark II
I compared optical performance at various apertures

Canon provided TechRadar with the Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM for one week only, which is a relatively short window for a lens review. With that said, I was able to fully test the lens in both studio and real-world scenarios.

During my week with the Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM, I tested the lens across a wide range of apertures for both video and photography. In that time, I made sure to try to get examples at f/1.2 to show prospective buyers what to expect with such a wide aperture - including the various flaws that this lens sometimes showcases.

First reviewed March 2026

Honor 600 Lite online listing reveals design, specifications and price

12:15 pm |