While Samsung's latest flagships receive seven years of security updates (and seven major Android OS updates), that hasn't always been the case. And so, five years after their release, the Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra are no longer going to receive any updates from this point forward.
The trio launched in January of 2021, and they were each promised to receive four major Android updates and five years of security patches. Those five years are up now. So, if you own one of these three phones, perhaps now is the best time to start looking for a replacement, seeing as how you won't be...
vivo may soon expand its X300 series with a new addition, and no, it’s not the much rumored vivo X300 Ultra. According to a new report, an X300e variant has now been spotted online.
The report claims that a vivo X300e has been spotted in the GSMA IMEI database. While the listing doesn’t disclose any specs, it does confirm the device’s moniker.
If the listing is accurate, this would mark the first time the X series has introduced an ‘e’ variant. Previously, vivo has launched ‘FE’ models and, more recently, the ‘T’ variant with the vivo X200T.
The vivo X Fold6 was also spotted in...
To many, Highguard promised to be the anticipated spiritual successor to hit battle royale Apex Legends. After all the developer, Wildcard Entertainment, is made up of Respawn Entertainment veterans, and links to Apex and Titanfall were mentioned in the new title's marketing.
Platform reviewed: PC Available on: PS5, PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Release date: January 26, 2026
At first glance, the comparison holds: it’s a squad-based 3v3 shooter with fantastic-feeling gunplay, a similar weapon progression system, a comparable art style, and, perhaps most importantly, the same shadow-drop release strategy (well – until an early The Game Awards reveal gave away the secret). But I’ve spent 15 hours in Highguard in its first week, and I’m not convinced that it can hold people’s attention as long as Apex has. It still feels a few major and minor tweaks away from being a Legendary hit – but a few months’ wait could see it transform into a gem.
Highguard is set in a fantasy-meets-guns world, and sees you loot and shoot in matches lasting between six and 30 minutes. Rounds take place in medium-sized maps, and they see each squad scavenging for supplies and gear, before trying to carry a spawning Shieldbreaker artifact to the opponents’ base and, if successful, embark on a raid wherein they must plant and defend explosives to lower a base’s health.
That’s a thoroughly truncated version of how the rounds work. Highguard can be a little complicated at times, and the game does little to clear up what various limited-respawn rounds or overtime timers actually mean. I’d played at least 10 matches before it all became clear: this is just Capture the Flag and Search and Destroy, with extra frills.
(Image credit: Wildcard Entertainment)
As of launch, these Raid battles are all that's available: no single-player, no other round styles.
The heart of the action
At its core, Highguard is a fantastic shooter. It feels crisp, frenetic, responsive; firing guns, traversing the environment and juggling hero powers all feels amazing. The tense and tactical squad combat ported over from Apex feels even more heart-pounding when you’ve got an objective to destroy or enemy carrying a Shieldbearer to fell. But that nourishing main course is surrounded by a few lukewarm entrees.
Take Wardens: the game launched with eight, but they’re not all equal. You’ll scarcely play a match without someone picking Kai, whose instant ice walls dictate the movement of battles, or Una and their summonable grenade-lobbing wisps. But other heroes barely get used, with powers that are too situational to be worth picking.
(Image credit: Wildcard Entertainment)
Similarly, the guns aren’t balanced at launch. Assault rifles, the revolver, and sniper rifles are all solid, but close-quarters guns like shotguns and SMGs don't justify inventory space, either for their slow time-to-kill, lack of function over distance, or simply being outclassed by a similar weapon. You can only carry two guns, after all (plus a raid weapon, like a sledgehammer or rocket launcher), so it pays to choose wisely.
Possibly the most damning part of the game, and the thing that stops it from matching Apex, is that it can grow repetitive. Matches feel similar: you’re always spawning in the same spots, picking the same wardens, using the same guns, playing on the same small maps, and opening chests to find the same restricted pool of loot.
This latter is the problem that needs fixing the most. There are no health pick-ups, since it refills on its own. There are no ammo pick-ups, since you spawn with all you’ll need. Attachments don’t exist. There's little need to hunt for the perfect weapon, since you spawn with whichever guns you'd like. And since gear rarity is tied to progression, with better weapons and shields spawning in each subsequent round, there’s no need to keep opening chests in the hopes of a rare game-changer until you're on the last round, when every chest has them.
(Image credit: Wildcard Entertainment)
I found myself longing for the battle royale title, where the rhythm of the match would be dictated by randomness: where the drop ship began, and what gear and power-ups I found.
Repetitive gameplay can suit some shooters like Call of Duty, where you’re always seconds from a gunfight. But in Highguard, you’ve got minutes of downtime spent mining for resources or waiting for the Shieldbreaker to spawn, in which to ponder “could I be doing something better with my time?”.
At launch, there are five maps, chosen at random. They all consist of some main areas: your enemy’s base and your team’s base, which you choose from a limited pool before the match begins. The number of loot chests feels inconsistent between them, but generally predictable in each: the red gun chests and blue support chests are largely in those three central points.
(Image credit: Wildcard Entertainment)
Despite what some online commenters say, I never found the maps were too big; you’re always told where the Shieldbreaker will spawn next, and where air support crates will drop, so it’s easy to make an informed decision as to where the enemy will be – and they're quick to traverse, with ziplines and a mount-summoning system that feels ripped straight out of Elden Ring.
Taking the High(guard) road
It’s a little hard to review Highguard, given that the game will change in the short and long term. Wildcard has promised at least a year of season - sorry, Episodes, coming every other month.
These promise new wardens, weapons, matches, bases, and cosmetics, and I see the game only getting better as the year goes on. They come alongside numerous patches and tweaks, with two coming in the first week of release.
A 5v5 mode was released due to negative first-impression response from gamers, but it plays far worse than 3v3, given how the game is clearly optimized for six players. And a few changes to raid rounds, including reduced attacker lives and a longer respawn timer, mean you spend more time twiddling your thumbs and less time fighting.
(Image credit: Wildcard Entertainment)
Both, in my eyes, make the game worse, but they show the developers’ eagerness to experiment and make changes. I’m hopeful that many of the issues other players and I have had with Highguard can be fixed in the near future.
The in-game store updates every few days, with daily and weekly challenges too, so there are still reasons to come back in the short term. And, thankfully, there are plenty of cosmetics to buy via earned-in-game currencies (though you can spend money on premium ones, if you like).
One other thing I hope to see more of in the future? Some story, other than a few brief lines heroes exchange at the beginning of matches, and what can be inferred from the maps, the fantasy-meets-guns world is a total mystery. Something about a new continent? About some kind of academy? Factories? Your guess is as good as mine, but I'm eager to learn more. Apex basically told its entire story through character introduction trailers, and I suppose Highguard will be the same.
Should you play Highguard?
Play it if...
You love tense, tactical, crisp gunplay Apex's tight and crisp gunplay is back here in force, and it'll particularly appeal to gamers who love objective-based styles of online shooter.
You're playing long after release Wildcard’s long road map for Highguard ensures it’s only going to get better, so the older the publish date of this review is, the more it’s worth recommending… hopefully.
You're curious Highguard is free to play, and even its microtransactions feel unobtrusive. If you're even the least bit curious, there's no harm in trying it out.
Don't play it if...
You want long-range or close-quarters firefights The long-distance Battlefield-style large-map play, and close-quarters Call of Duty-style firefights, exist together in Highguard. Don't play if you only like one or the other.
You're expecting a battle royale Due to the Apex link, many people were likely hoping Highguard would be more of the same. It plays similarly, but scratches a very different kind of itch.
Accessibility
Highguard has a small handful of accessibility features: subtitles and support for ten languages (including English, Spanish, and French).
That's not the biggest list I've ever seen, but just like the in-game content, it's possible that Wildcard will improve this over time.
Visually, many of its features can be turned off to improve performance or cater to visual accessibility. You can remove chromatic aberration and motion blur, toggle the FOV slider, and tweak the quality of effects, shading, foliage, and more.
How I reviewed Highguard
At the time of writing this review, my play time for Highguard on Steam stands at 15 hours. A small handful of those will be from opening day issues: failing to get into the tutorial, games crashing, and loading issues. But I’d estimate at least 12 of those are playing various raid matches. I made sure to play multiple rounds with each character, although there are some I found myself favoring more.
I also briefly tested 5v5 mode when it came out, and checked back in for each patch during the first week.
Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Buds4 and Galaxy Buds4 Pro alongside the Galaxy S26 family later this month, and today some official-looking renders of the earbuds have been outed.
As you can see, the case design for both is similar, with a rounded square shape and a transparent lid. Just like with the Buds3 and Buds3 Pro, the Buds4 seem to lack a silicone tip, while the Buds4 Pro do have it.
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 leaked renders
Thus you can pick your preferred style - in-ear (Buds4 Pro), or semi-in-ear (Buds4). The Buds4 are thus similar to Apple's non-Pro AirPods,...
Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Buds4 and Galaxy Buds4 Pro alongside the Galaxy S26 family later this month, and today some official-looking renders of the earbuds have been outed.
As you can see, the case design for both is similar, with a rounded square shape and a transparent lid. Just like with the Buds3 and Buds3 Pro, the Buds4 seem to lack a silicone tip, while the Buds4 Pro do have it.
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 leaked renders
Thus you can pick your preferred style - in-ear (Buds4 Pro), or semi-in-ear (Buds4). The Buds4 are thus similar to Apple's non-Pro AirPods,...
The JBL Boombox 4 is the latest high-end option in JBL’s popular consumer Bluetooth speaker lineup, and so has some pretty big shoes to fill. Its predecessor, the JBL Boombox 3 Wi-Fi has become a mainstay recommendation for anyone searching for one of the best Bluetooth speakers on audio forums or social media thanks to its durable design, impressive sound, and decent level of portability.
All of these qualities remain true in this slightly more expensive follow-up, so the biggest question is whether the JBL Boombox 4 is actually an upgrade. For my money, the answer is yes.
Where the Boombox 3 offered a three-way system with a dedicated subwoofer, the Boombox 4 relies on a two-way system that replaces the subwoofer with a passive radiator. On paper this might seem like a bit of a downgrade, but in the real world the Boombox 4 sounds just as clear as the 3 Wi-Fi, though actually enhanced by noticeably richer bass.
It’s also significantly louder, capable of reaching up to an eardrum decimating 105dB – that’s about as loud as your average car horn and more than enough to ensure it can be heard across even large outdoor venues. Just be warned that the sound starts to hollow out the closer you get to these absurd volumes, though that’s to be expected in a speaker of this relatively modest 20 x 10 x 8inch / 51 x 26 x 21cm size.
(Image credit: Future)
I’m sure some audiophiles will argue the Boombox 4 reproduces sound less faithfully than the Boombox 3 Wi-Fi overall and that some of the mid-range is sacrificed for this loud and booming tuning. To that I would say go buy a Bose Soundlink Max, and steer clear of a product line that’s explicitly designed for party settings where loudness and bass are king.
Unlike the Boombox 3 Wi-Fi, there’s also no audible difference in performance when the Boombox 4 is unplugged (on paper you do lose about 5W of power in each of the two woofers, though I would challenge anyone to notice without a spectrogram) which makes it a more practical pick for events.
Adding to that practically is the fact that the JBL Boombox 4 is also more futureproof than any older model to date. It features a user replaceable battery (make sure you buy the JBL Battery 600, as there are a few similar looking models on the official website) so you don’t need to worry about your expensive speaker becoming e-waste after a few years thanks to battery degradation.
JBL even now sells battery charging cradles that allow you to keep a topped up cell on hand as a useful spare. You’re also getting Auracast support, letting you pair it up easily with any compatible models, such as the recently released JBL Grip or JBL Flip 7.
Are all these changes enough for existing Boombox 3 Wi-Fi owners to justify running out to drop $549.95 / £449.99 /AU$699.95 on a new speaker? I don’t think so given the lofty price tag, but if you’re buying for the first time, then this new version is a clear, and forward-thinking, choice.
JBL Boombox 4 review: price and release date
Costs $549.95 / £449.99 /AU$699.95
Launched in September 2025
Has already dropped by almost $100 / £100
The JBL Boombox 4 launched in September 2025 and retails for $549.95 / £449.99 /AU$699.95 officially. That’s about $100 / £100 more than you can find the older JBL Boombox 3 Wi-Fi right now, though you should note that the Boombox 4 has already received some significant discounts at times.
Indeed, at the time of writing it can be yours for $449.95 / £355.99 via the official JBL website, with the potential for even better deals at retailers like Amazon – this goes great way towards close the gap between the two models.
At similar prices, the JBL Boombox 4 is the best bet as it boasts newer features like the Auracast support, plus louder sound, richer bass, and that user replaceable battery for longevity.
The JBL Boombox 4 is available in three colorways: the green camo inspired Squad, a cheerful Blue, and rather basic Black
JBL Boombox 4 review: specs
Weight
13lbs / 5.89kg
Dimensions
20 x 10 x 8inch / 51 x 26 x 21cm
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C (lossless)
Battery life
Up to 28 hours
Speaker drivers
2 x 65W RMS Woofer, 2 x 40W RMS Tweeter (on battery power) / 2 x 60W RMS Woofer, 2 x 40W RMS Tweeter (on AC power)
Waterproofing
IP68
(Image credit: Future)
JBL Boombox 4 review: features
Two bass boost modes with basic lighting
Playtime boost for extended battery life
Auracast support and robust companion app
The JBL Boombox 4 is loaded with all the bells and whistles that you would expect from a modern JBL speaker. There’s Bluetooth 5.4 support, plus the option to use a USB-C cable for lossless audio playback (or even charge your phone in a pinch).
It’s got Auracast with a pairing button to activate the feature, which allows you to easily pair (nearly) countless compatible speakers together. There are also two optional bass boost modes, Deep and Punchy, toggled via a dedicated button or in the JBL Portable app.
Although Punchy is definitely my preference of the two, I tended to stay away from either, because while they do increase bass noticeably, they tend to overpower the sound leading to a much less pleasant listening experience.
With Deep bass activated, the JBL logos on the two massive passive radiators on each end of the speaker illuminate in a bright pulsing orange which then turns white when Punchy is enabled. It’s a lovely effect, but I do wish there was a way to turn it on independently of these bass modes, or even just the option to customize the colors of either. You can at least disable it entirely if you wish.
Aside from your usual power, Bluetooth pairing, play, pause, and volume controls, the rest of the major features are accessible via the excellent JBL Portable app. This includes a range of equalizer settings plus a screen to create your own using a seven-band EQ.
If battery life is a concern, you can turn on Playtime Boost – a feature also found in other JBL speakers, and that my colleague Harry Padoan strongly recommends. It enables you to squeeze out an extra few hours of playtime, but in this case it leaves the Boombox 4 sounding incredibly hollow, with little bass and a totally obliterated mid and high range. It's good to have just in case, but you’re probably not going to want to use this unless you’re really desperate.
This is especially true given the already superb battery performance of the speaker. JBL quotes a battery life of up to 28 hours, though I was able to push it above the 35 hour mark on lower (but still very listenable) volume,s which is impressive.
If you slap the volume up on max and turn on a bass boost mode, you can expect a figure around the five to 10-hour range depending on your choice of music – enough to last for the bulk of a party and trigger a few noise complaints.
Features score: 5/5
(Image credit: Future)
JBL Boombox 4 review: sound quality
Clear sound with booming bass
Sweet spot below 70% volume
Prone to distortion in certain instances
For the most part, the JBL Boombox 4 delivers sublime sound – especially if you keep it below around 70% volume (that’s still plenty loud enough for a party unless you particularly loathe your neighbors, mind you).
The energetic percussion of Readymade by Ado packs a serious punch without diminishing the quality of the dramatic vocals, which come clearly with an impressive amount of detail, or the treble. The hectic Mirror Tune by Zutomayo demonstrates strong instrument separation in spite of the bold bass, with a rich and full sound that is a delight to listen to on repeat. Japanese hip-hop anthem Harenchi by Chanmina produced a delightfully rich sub-bass while simultaneously maintaining plenty of low-end detail.
I initially feared that more gentle tracks like Cö Shu Nie’s undress me and Artificial Vampire would be spoiled by overemphasized bass, but thankfully found them to be delightfully bouncy and detailed throughout.
As you start taking it louder, the sound does begin to strain, as the drivers reach their limits. It’s most noticeable above the 70% mark, where the mid-range becomes thin in the mix, and the treble relatively tinny, but this is a reasonable compromise when you’re pushing a speaker of this size this loud.
Importantly, the bass remains strong regardless of your chosen volume level, meaning that this is going to be a crowd-pleaser if you need to crank it up to fill a large space.
Unfortunately, the experience is not completely perfect. One track I tested, the recently released Butterfly by Wednesday Campanella, seems noticeably distorted in the lower treble, leading to an unpleasant sibilant sound that grated on the ears.
There is some sibilance present in the original track, but the JBL Boombox 4 definitely brings it to the fore more than any other audio device that I’ve tested – even other Bluetooth speaker models by JBL.
The cause of this is unclear and, hopping online, I soon was able to find a few users complaining of a similar effect in a handful of other songs by a range of artists. To be clear, this is not a widespread issue across my music, and I only noticed it occurring in one song out of the hundreds that I tested, so I’m not docking too many points for it, but it is unfortunate that the listening experience falls just short of flawless across the board.
Hopefully it’s the result of some kind of software issue, and will be remedied in a future update.
Sound quality score: 4.5/5
(Image credit: Future)
JBL Boombox 4 review: design
Hefty look and feel
Classic rugged JBL design
Easy to use controls
It’s impossible to fault the JBL Boombox 4 on an aesthetic front if, like me, you’re already a big fan of the brand’s now iconic rugged designs.
This speaker is a behemoth, with an overall shape reminiscent of a handheld battering ram. It’s clad in a thick fabric that’s remarkably resistant to cuts and grazes, with a massive handle on top. Despite being constructed primarily from plastic, with just a small strip of metal on top, the handle feels very solid with some pleasant textures that make the speaker a little easier to haul around.
Although lighter than the Boombox 3 Wi-Fi, which weighed a hefty 14.7lbs / 6.7kg, the Boombox 4 is still quite heavy at 13lbs / 5.89kg, so it’s not one that you’re going to want to carry around too frequently even resting on your shoulder in classic boombox fashion. Still, it’s portable enough to bring to a party or out to the park.
Each end of the Boombox 4 features a massive passive radiator surrounded by inches of thick rubber. I haven’t consciously dropped my review model from a great height, but this seems like it would be enough to provide some decent protection if the worst was to happen. Each radiator features a JBL exclamation mark logo, which illuminates with LED lighting when the speaker’s bass boost modes are enabled.
On the bottom there’s a flat rubber base flanked by two grippy strips. Look closely and you’ll see the screws necessary for removing the battery – a slightly fiddly affair, though this shouldn’t be too surprising given the speaker’s IP68 waterproof and dustproof rating, meaning it can take a full dunking in a pool.
On the rear of the speaker is a small rubber flap that hides the charging port to use with the included power adapter and a USB-C port for lossless audio. You can’t charge the speaker via USB-C, though you can use it as a power bank for your other devices if you need to.
In terms of controls, you get the usual JBL affair of play/pause, volume up and down, plus power, Bluetooth pairing, and Auracast. This is in addition to a button with a ‘B’ icon that toggles the bass boost modes. It’s all very intuitive and easy to use, and the most important buttons are illuminated to help you see them at night.
Design score: 5/5
(Image credit: Future)
JBL Boombox 4 review: value
A high-end party speaker
You’re paying for the design
Still, good value if you have the budget
There’s no getting around the fact that the JBL Boombox 4 is expensive. At $549.95 / £449.99 / AU$699.95, it’s significantly pricier than more budget-oriented competitors such as the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 and even JBL’s own previous generation model, the JBL Boombox 3 Wi-Fi.
Of course, you are paying a premium for the quality of the design and construction, not to mention the excellent software, so those on a strict budget are better saving their cash and settling for something else.
If you are willing to splash out that much, or manage to find the speaker at one of its many attractive discounts, you’re going to be very happy with what you’re getting for your cash.
Value score: 4/5
Should you buy the JBL Boombox 4?
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
Everything you could want in a modern party speaker, with smart additions like a removable battery and Auracast.
5/5
Sound quality
Almost perfect party sound with booming bass and excellent clarity. It’s a shame a small number of songs suffer from distortion, though.
4.5/5
Design
Rugged, durable, and good looking. It’s impossible to fault the JBL Boombox 4 here.
5/5
Value
This is a premium speaker for those with a big budget. There are cheaper alternatives out there, but the build quality is worth it.
4/5
Buy it if...
You crave a high-end party speaker The JBL Boombox 4 is a brilliant party speaker, with booming bass and loud sound that’s going to be more than enough to fill even large outdoor venues.
You want a future proof buy While the JBL Boombox 3 Wi-Fi is often cheaper, the Boombox 4 benefits from forward thinking features like the addition of Auracast and a user replaceable battery.
Don't buy it if...
You’re on a tight budget This is a premium product aimed at those with a hefty budget. You can still find great sounding party speakers for much less, so if you want to save some cash you could be better served with alternatives like those below.
JBL Boombox 4 review: also consider
JBL Boombox 4
Tribit Stormbox Blast
JBL Xtreme 4
Price
$549.95 / £449.99 / AU$699.95
$199.99 / £162 (about AU$300)
$379.95 / £329.99 / AU$499.95
Weight
13lbs / 5.89kg
11.6lbs / 5.3kg
4.63 lbs / 2.1kg
Dimensions
20 x 10 x 8inch / 51 x 26 x 21cm
14.4 x 4.1 x 3.1 inches (366 x 104 x 79 mm)
11.69 x 5.87 x 5.55 inches / 297 x 149 x 141mm
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C (lossless)
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C
Battery life
Up to 28 hours
30 hours
24 hours
Speaker drivers
2 x 65W RMS Woofer, 2 x 40W RMS Tweeter (on battery power) / 2 x 60W RMS Woofer, 2 x 40W RMS Tweeter (on AC power)
2x 30W woofer, 2 x 15W tweeters
2 x 30W woofers, 2 x 20W tweeters
Waterproofing
IP68
IPX7
IP67
Tribit Stormbox Blast The Tribit Stormbox Blast doesn’t look anywhere near as nice as the Boombox 4, but it still delivers meaty, room-filling sound at a fraction of the price. It’s the party speaker to go for if you want the most possible bang for your buck.
JBL Xtreme 4 The Boombox 4’s little sibling could also be a good pick if you want something a bit more portable. It offers talented sound, strong battery life, and a useful shoulder strap for hauling it around.
I spent more than three months with the JBL Boombox 4, much to my neighbors' chagrin. During that time I endeavoured to put it through its paces by testing its audio capabilities with a wide range of music. I mostly relied on my personal Apple Music library, but also tried tracks from YouTube Music and Tidal.
I used the speaker at home, outside, and brought it with me to a variety of social events over the Christmas period. I tested its battery life by setting the volume level to roughly a fifth and playing a looping playlist over multiple days, recording the hours taken for it to gradually trickle down to zero.
I compared it against my hands-on use of not only the Boombox 3 Wi-Fi, but also other JBL speakers that I own including the JBL Flip 7, JBL Grip, JBL Go 4, and more.
Motorola launched the Razr 60 in April of last year, so it probably won't surprise you to find out that the company is already developing its successor, aptly named Razr 70.
This foldable device has now been certified for sale in the UAE by TDRA, with the model number XT2657-8. TDRA previously also certified the Razr 70 Ultra, with the model number XT2655-1.
Motorola Razr 2025
Unfortunately, no specs have been leaked yet for either device. But if they are coming around April like their predecessors, then we'll surely start hearing a lot more about them very soon.
If history...
Huawei is pretty secretive about its Kirin chipsets, especially ones that are yet to be officially announced. However, one Weibo leakster has details on an upcoming Kirin 8030.
This is a mid-range chip that might be used in future Huawei nova and Enjoy phones. For example, the recent nova 15 featured the Kirin 8020, which was also featured on the nova 14 Pro and nova 14 Ultra.
The Huawei nova 15 uses the Kirin 8020
The Kirin 8030 is said to be built on SMIC’s N+2 node, which is a 7nm FinFET node. Yes, that’s years behind the cutting edge, but keep in mind that SMIC and Huawei are...
Huawei is pretty secretive about its Kirin chipsets, especially ones that are yet to be officially announced. However, one Weibo leakster has details on an upcoming Kirin 8030.
This is a mid-range chip that might be used in future Huawei nova and Enjoy phones. For example, the recent nova 15 featured the Kirin 8020, which was also featured on the nova 14 Pro and nova 14 Ultra.
The Huawei nova 15 uses the Kirin 8020
The Kirin 8030 is said to be built on SMIC’s N+2 node, which is a 7nm FinFET node. Yes, that’s years behind the cutting edge, but keep in mind that SMIC and Huawei are...
Several camera brands are riding the wave of sudden popularity in compact digital models that we’ve seen over the past couple of years. I suppose we should have seen an uptick in interest coming, once photographers started using smartphone cameras for ‘serious’ work, and while the format has never truly vanished completely, the humble compact seems to be returning to the mainstream.
The Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A (known as the Ixus 285 HS A outside the US) is indistinguishable from its predecessor, the ‘A’ in the name being the only external feature that can be used to tell them apart. The biggest internal differences are the replacement of a full SD card slot with a microSD type, which is either an advantage or a nuisance, depending on how you look at it. Apart from some minor changes to Wifi security, that’s about it when looking for ‘new’ features. So, in short, if you didn’t like the 2016 version, which went viral because of TikTok and that fact Kendall Jenner has one, the 2025 edition is unlikely to be for you.
Image quality is perfectly acceptable for point-and-shoot uses which, let’s face it, is the main reason you’d buy a compact camera in the first place. It isn’t going to win awards for critical sharpness or low light performance like it’s big brother the Canon EOS R6 Mark III, nor is it going to become a Netflix filmmakers tool, like the Nikon ZR, but it provides maximum portability and a practical solution for casual travel photography.
The Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A/ Ixus 285 HS A compact camera is incredibly small and fits into a pocket (Image credit: Peter Fenech)
Its 20.2MP 1/2.3-inch sensor is back-illuminated, which goes some way to improving signal-noise ratio in reasonable lighting, but it falls short once the ambient lighting levels drop. Images are fairly mushy under interior lights, where the ISO must be raised above 400.
I’m glad Canon didn’t feel tempted to squeeze on more pixels, which is something many smartphone manufacturers do to grab the headlines, as any more would have been a step too far in my opinion. The flash doesn’t help much as it’s small and not very powerful, plus it tends to bleach detail, creating an ugly exposure fall-off inherent to direct flash photography in darker environments.
However, you’ll probably find this flash effect is one of the reasons for people to buy the camera. It’s an incomprehensible reversal of consumer aspirations for image quality, but the ‘disposable camera look’ of the 80s, 90s and 2000s is to Gen-Z what honey is to ants. Images from cameras such as this are edgy and original to this age group, while to mine (millennials and others with more grey hairs than they’d like generally known) they bring a wash of nostalgia.
The zoom is very handy, supported by a surprisingly effective image stabilization (IS) system that keeps shots steady as low as 1/25sec at the long end of the focal range in my tests. The screen, meanwhile, isn’t super-detailed but matches the baseline quality of the files the sensor is capable of turning out.
All-in-all, the Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A / Ixus 285 HS A is a fun, trendy, and highly usable compact camera that, as long as you buy it with realistic expectations, is sure to bring you joy and great memories.
Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A specs
Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A specs:
Type:
Digital compact
Sensor:
1/2.3 type back-illuminated CMOS
Sensitivity:
ISO 80-3200
Shutter speeds:
5 – 1/2000sec
LCD:
7.5 cm (3.0”) LCD (TFT), Approx. 461,000 dots
Memory:
MicroSD
Lens:
4.5 – 54.0 mm (25 – 300 mm Efl) f/3.6 – f/7.0
Video:
Full HD (1080p)
Photo:
20.2MP
Burst rate
2.5fps / 7.2fps (5MP)
Dimensions:
99.6 x 58.0 x 22.8 mm
Weight:
5.15oz / 146g
(Image credit: Peter Fenech)
Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A: Price and availability
The camera is currently sold out in most markets due to high demand
The Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A is available for $379.99 in the USA. The camera is sold as the Canon Ixus 285 HS A in the UK and Australian markets and can be found for £369.99 / AU$549 depending on the retailer.
Due to the incredible demand for the camera, many resellers are currently out of stock in most markets, with back-ordering often available.
Price score: 4/5
Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A: Design
Small and compact body which is easy to carry in a coat pocket
There is no touchscreen LCD, which seems and odd omission
Telescopic 12x zoom lens closes to a flat profile when the camera is off
On picking up the Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A you realise you’d forgotten how impressively small compact cameras could be, despite their sometimes exceptional zoom ranges. Compared to an interchangeable lens camera, or even the average smartphone, this Powershot camera is positively tiny. It comfortably fits in a coat or trouser pocket and, unlike a smartphone, the lens is conveniently folded away behind a protective shutter, reducing the possibility of scratches.
Despite its diminutive proportions, the camera is easy to handle. All of the buttons are within easy reach of the thumb and can be pressed comfortably. Most of these are recessed into the camera body, making it less likely to press them by accident - always a potential issue on a device that lives in your pocket, but without the protection of a locked touchscreen.
For someone with larger hands such as myself, it can be a challenge to hit the right button on the first attempt without knocking its neighbours, since they are all so close together. I didn’t encounter too many occasions where I was required to work quickly with the PowerShot though, so it didn’t prove too inconvenient.
(Image credit: Peter Fenech)
The mode switch on the top right of the body, next to the shutter button, makes it simple to flick between Automatic and custom shooting modes, although there aren’t too many of those. The Auto mode is the basic point-and-shoot mode for stills and video, but by navigating through the menu system, it’s possible to switch the camera into Program mode for more manual control.
Just as on higher-end cameras, Program mode looks after the shutter speed and f-stop, but enables the user to select the ISO along with color profiles and other more custom settings. There is no Tv or Av modes like you might find on the main dial of a Canon EOS R8, or even the entry level mirrorless Canon EOS R100, however, so you are reliant on the internal light meter to do its job well.
The middle position is the Creative Shot mode, which curiously shoots five additional frames each time you fire the shutter, each one having a different effect applied. I guess this is a quick way to capture unique shots for social media, but the effects themselves are questionable.
Finally, Hybrid Auto captures a short video ahead of the final still photo, creating a sort of behind-the-scenes style clip that could be used to accompany an image in an Instagram Reel or on TikTok. You can tell it’s this user demographic the Elph 360 HS A is aimed squarely towards.
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The main LCD isn’t especially mind-blowing, not least because it isn’t touch-sensitive. I understand this keeps the cost down, but in the smartphone age it seems a strange omission. I guess it really leans into the ‘blast from the past’ theme and while I was unhappy at first, I quickly grew accustomed to going without. In fact, I ended up enjoying the neo-vintage effect this created and suddenly, I was back in High School again. Technology-wise, the 2000s were literally simpler times.
The resolution can’t keep up with many of the most recent smartphones and tablets, at approximately 461,000 dots, and images do look a little washed out. Even magnifying the preview image doesn’t reveal much about the sharpness and contrast of the saved file. However, shots from this camera aren’t meant to be seen up close or in-print, so the screen is good enough for checking the basics of composition and exposure, in anticipation of sending your images to the web.
The new microSD memory card format might bug some users, especially if you have a collection of full-size SD cards in your collection. However, since many potential buyers will be coming from a smartphone anyway, it shouldn’t be too unfamiliar. If you buy a microSD card with an SD adaptor, you can enjoy the best of both worlds should you need to re-use it in a larger format camera.
Design score:4.5/5
Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A: Performance
Relatively limited 180-shot battery life
Integrated optical IS system is very effective in low light
Rapid autofocus with subject tracking
No RAW file shooting capability
Despite having a smaller sensor and often lower resolution than interchangeable lens cameras, compacts also regularly suffer from reduced processing power, caused by the use of a derated version of a processing engine found in higher-end models. This keeps costs and size down, but negatively impacts performance, including startup times. Thankfully, the Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A doesn’t lag too much, and takes only a couple of seconds to be shot-ready from pressing the power button. There weren’t any instances where I felt I had missed a shot because the camera wasn’t ready. It’s impressive for a model in this price bracket.
Similarly, there isn’t excessive buffering after each shot, perhaps helped by the fact you can only shoot JPEGs, with no RAW mode available. This limits maximum file size, but the result is still a sporty camera with respectable reflexes. There’s more of a delay after a burst of images, namely in the Creative Shot mode where a sequence of six shots is created in one go, putting the DIGIC 4+ processor under more strain.
The iSAPS (Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space) technology is said to improve the performance of the white balance, autofocus, and auto exposure systems – the camera put in a reasonable performance on all fronts.
The AF system isn’t up to the standards of the Dual Pixel CMOS AF system seen in cameras like the Canon EOS R5 Mark II or EOS R10 or even the PowerShot V1. These models not only provide full phase-detection AF capability, but also have far more latitude for customization of subject sensitivity and tracking behavior. That said, the PowerShot Elph 360 HS A isn’t slow to focus, especially in good light.
It was able to pick out details in the landscape, at both wide and long focal lengths with minimal hunting, and rarely did I find it had back or front-focused. It struggled more at close focusing distances, using the Macro shooting mode. I couldn’t get the camera to find the area of the subject I wanted it focus on, and so it took several attempts to guide it in the right direction. I didn’t expect much else since even dedicated macro lenses can show their AF weaknesses at minimum focus distance. Moreover, the 1cm working distance is praiseworthy.
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(Image credit: Peter Fenech)
The Creative Shot mode captures a sequence of five additional images, each with creative effects applied. Some are more attractive than others
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The zoom range is a reason alone to buy the camera over using a phone. It offers a full-frame equivalent of a 25-300mm lens – a 12x optical zoom. This covers both standard-wide and telephoto lengths. The zoom travel is rapid and smooth, making in-clip zooming possible during video shooting, although the internal mic does pick up the noise of moving components. Within about five seconds from hitting the power button, I was racked out at the longest focal length and focused on my subject.
AF tracking isn’t the camera’s strong point, especially at these telephoto settings. But once again, it’s good enough for the types of scenarios you’d be using such a camera. The AF points aren’t as thoughtfully spaced and positioned as on an enthusiast-level camera, and they rely on a contrast detection-based system, which is always going to be slower and more prone to hunting. This is particularly noticeable in low light, and on a couple of occasions the camera failed to focus entirely.
Performance score: 4/5
Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A: image quality
The sensor is smaller than on smartphones such as the iPhone 17 Pro
Low-light images feature quite heavy detail loss through noise reduction
The lens is sharp and can reveal good detail at lower ISO settings
That 1/2.3-inch sensor is significantly smaller than the unit found on the latest iPhone, which is of the 1/1.28-inch format. It’s hard to imagine that phones have overtaken compact cameras in this way, but it’s also important to remember that the iPhone starts at around $1,100 while the Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A retails for about $379. That’s a pretty big price gap. Yes, the iPhone isn’t a dedicated photographic tool, but it’s a technology powerhouse and one of Apple’s flagship products. The PowerShot is a proverbial drop in the ocean in the percentage it contributes to Canon’s yearly turnover.
Even with a 20-megapixel resolution, the pixels are fairly small, with an approximate pixel pitch of 1.19 micrometers. This limits their light-gathering capacity, which you can see in the signal-noise ratio from ISO400 and above. At the lowest sensitivities the situation is much better, and outdoors the resolution is rather good. It’s under these conditions that you get to see what the lens is capable of, and it impresses in its sharpness. I was especially enamored by its micro contrast, which lends a great deal of texture to stone walls, tree bark and other granular materials.
In flatter tones like the sky, or smooth areas of berries and other glossy surfaces like car paintwork, noise is far more noticeable – it isn’t as effectively hidden amongst subject texture. By ISO800 the mushiness starts being hard to ignore, and at around ISO1600 colors take on a washed-out, insipid character.
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Auto White Balance is fairly accurate, although it is readily confused by saturated color in the frame. Under mixed lighting it will tend to favor one end of the kelvin scale or the other. However, it will then cope unexpectedly well under interior lighting. Exploring the corridors of a 14th-Century castle-turned-hotel, there wasn’t a lot of external light penetrating the small windows in the three foot thick stone walls, so the low illumination and warm artificial light posed a great challenge – true for any camera.
The PowerShot Elph 360 HS A managed to figure out the fluorescent lamps and warm-toned walls, preventing over saturation without unpleasantly neutralizing everything by adding too much blue. A fantastic result for a point-and-shoot camera with limited color control.
Dynamic range, meanwhile, suffers quite a lot from the pixel size, and it doesn’t take much before the photosites are saturated and clipping of the highlights starts to occur. This is even more of a problem in the absence of RAW capture although, while you can actually retrieve a decent amount of shadow detail, once the highlights are blown there’s nothing to bring back.
Video is limited to FHD, although I was surprised once again by the quality in difficult lighting. Grain is definitely visible, but footage can look fantastic. For the TikTok generation, whose buying habits are responsible for bringing the camera back in the first place, it could be genuinely useful.
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The wide end of the zoom (Image credit: Peter Fenech)
The 12x optical zoom is far more powerful than what is available on most smartphones
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And the telephoto end (Image credit: Peter Fenech)
I must also give a special shoutout to the IS system, which demonstrated it could be remarkably effective at reducing camera shake. There were multiple cases where I tapped the shutter release, audibly heard the length of the exposure duration and instinctively went to delete the resulting shot, confident it would be unusably blurry. But to my surprise, there was very little.
In summary, the Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A is a fun little camera to use, that keeps the compact camera flame burning. It’s limited in its capabilities, but it does what it is designed to do very well: taking the joy of an ultra-portable camera and de-coupling it from your phone’s myriad other functions.
Image quality score: 3.5/5
Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A: testing scorecard
Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A:
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Price
If you want a separate camera that isn't buried amongst the other features of your phone, getting it for up to $700 less than the latest top-line handsets is good value
4/5
Design
The button layout is logical and makes good use of the body real estate. It's not that robust, but is fine for everyday usage
4.5/5
Performance
The fast start up and processing times are impressive, while the autofocus puts in a respectable performance for the camera type
4/5
Image quality
It wouldn't be fair to give the camera top marks for image quality. It struggles in all but the best light. However, auto WB is great and the sensor turn in images with a nostalgic feel
3.5/5
Should I buy the Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A?
Buy it if...
You want a simple point and shoot
If you don't want too many bells and whistles, which even smartphones can overdo these days, this compact will make shooting images easy and fuss-free.View Deal
You're travelling light
Where absolute portability is your priority, the Elph 360 HS A won't take up much space in your bag or pocket. It is also discreet, so won't draw too much attention on the street or in the bar.View Deal
Don't buy it if...
You want the best images
The quality of the files from the camera are fine, but the small sensor and lack of RAW mode are always going to limit what can be achieved in terms of detail and color capture.View Deal
You want to take creative control
This isn't a camera for professional use. There is no manual, aperture or shutter priority modes, so high-end or experienced shooters may feel cut off from taking control over their images. Once again, there is no RAW mode so this lack of input extends to the digital darkroom.View Deal
Also consider
Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII
It's a bit long in the tooth in digital terms, plus it is far more expensive, but if you want a camera with professional features that still minimizes size and weight, this is a great choice. The sensor is a little bigger, too, so expect better image quality, while you can also enjoy 4K video recording and a burst rate of 20fps.
Offering a 30x zoom, this compact is genuinely useful for telephoto imagery, such as wildlife and sports. It certainly makes it a great travel companion. You also benefit from a touchscreen and full PASM modes, accessed from a dial on the top plate. The low light performance isn't the best, considering the price, but it will be an upgrade from the Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A
I tested a full production model over the course of a week
I tried the camera in a range of lighting conditions, including low light
Images were viewed at 100% on-screen and processing applied to assess detail extraction possibilities.
I ensured the camera was tested in some of the harshest lighting conditions it could be presented with, to see how it coped at the extremes of its design. I took it into the dark interior of a castle, which relied heavily on fluorescent lights, creating pools of contrast. I used the camera at every ISO setting and, although I could not alter the aperture, I used every focus length to test the sharpness continuity.
I shot in Auto Mode, Creative Shot Mode, and Program Mode to explore how these impacted the user experience. I used the Low light Mode and compared the images to those where I had applied more manual control over the exposure settings.
I then processed some sample images to see how much detail could be recovered from the shadows, although the shots that appear here are unedited out-of-camera Jpeg.
