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JBL Authentics 200 review: a punchy smart speaker with vintage style

1:46 pm | November 4, 2024

JBL Authentics 200: Two-minute review

We pride ourselves on having tested all of the most notable and best wireless speakers on the market at TechRadar, so it’s always a welcome moment when one comes along that does things a bit differently. That’s very much the case with the Authentics 200: one look at this vintage-inspired beauty is all you need to see that JBL has gone its own way here.

From the curved foam grille to the aluminium frame, the Authentics 200 is a stunning homage to amps of old. That retro aesthetic is matched by a solid build which, apart from the plastic dials on top, feels wonderfully premium. It’s distinctive enough to get people talking, without ever feeling like a fad.

Its beauty is more than skin deep. JBL has been generous with the feature set: you get Wi-Fi streaming from a range of services, multi-room audio, as well as connectivity with the slick JBL One app. That’s where you can integrate it with different streaming platforms and customize the EQ – although it’s more fun to do that physically by rotating the treble and bass knobs on the unit itself.

The app is also where you can connect the Authentics 200 to both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant (yes, JBL has aimed to make it of the best smart speakers too). Crossover between the two isn’t seamless, mind, but support for both at the same time means you can have full access to their respective services from a single speaker.

Then there’s the listening experience, which is superlative. In our tests, the Authentics 200 impressed us at every turn – from the powerful bass to the clear treble, balanced with rich mids that give wonderful definition. Separation is impressive, and there’s a depth to its soundstage that delivers remarkable immersion for a single speaker.

It’s not the cheapest smart speaker you can buy, nor does it have the Atmos compatibility of the less expensive Amazon Echo Studio, for example. But if you value its heritage design – as well as its premium feature set and sound quality – there’s really nothing else like the Authentics 200.

JBL Authentics 200 review: Price and release date

Released August 2023
Officially priced at $349.99 / £299.99 / AU$299

The JBL Authentics 200 was released in August 2023, priced at $349.99 / £299.99 / AU$299. It was launched alongside the larger, Atmos-compatible JBL Authentics 500, which is significantly more costly, at $699.99 / £579.99 / AU$999.

Pitched as a high-quality smart speaker with a retro look, its price tag is at the upper end for the category. Arguably its closest competitor is the Amazon Echo Studio, which costs $199.99 / £219.99 / $349. Also in that price bracket is the Sonos Era 100, priced at $249 / £229.99 / $399.

That gives the JBL Authentics 200 some stiff competition, setting the bar high for it to justify the extra outlay. As you’ll read below, though, we think its design, features and sound quality do a very good job of that.

JBL Authentics 200 top controls — (Image credit: Future)

JBL Authentics 200 review: Specs

JBL Authentics 200 front grille logo detail

(Image credit: Future)

JBL Authentics 200 review: Features

Wi-Fi streaming from a wide range of services
Simultaneous support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa
Support for multi-room playback

Despite its heritage looks, the JBL Authentics 200 is every bit the modern smart speaker. Wi-Fi streaming includes support for AirPlay, Chromecast and Spotify Connect, with multi-room playback available through AirPlay, Google Home and Alexa Multi-Room Music. Strangely for a speaker that doesn’t pick sides, you won’t find Spotify or Apple Music in the app’s list of supported music streaming services though – which means neither works with the shortcut button.

Still, this is a speaker that’s happy to receive audio from pretty much any source. That includes a USB-C input on the back, as well as the option to keep things old-school with Ethernet and 3.5mm inputs. While we’re all for wireless streaming, these wired options are always welcome, especially if you’re not blessed with consistent signal throughout your home. For our part, we didn’t experience any dropouts during our time with the Authentics 200.

Initial setup was simple using the JBL One app. It’s a pretty foolproof piece of software that makes it easy to control the Authentics 200 and adjust settings. We were online in less than a minute, with an update over Wi-Fi quickly out of the way. Connecting Alexa and Google Assistant proved similarly seamless, with no hiccups hooking up to either. Network and voice assistant status is signalled by a single LED in the grille, with a handy table in the guide to help you decipher its various colors and states of solid, pulsing and flashing.

With both voice assistants activated, we had no trouble getting each to respond. In theory, where there’s overlap between supported services, either assistant should be able to start or stop a command. In our experience, this crossover wasn’t always seamless. We found it simpler to stick with one assistant for a specific task. So when we asked Alexa to play a song on Spotify, we asked her to stop it as well.

In reality, there’s rarely a need to jump between the two assistants, and you’ll soon learn which you prefer for different commands. The real benefit here is that you get access to both systems in a single speaker, including their full range of supported smart home devices. So if you find it easier to use Google Assistant with your Nest Thermostat, but Alexa for two-way talk on your Ring doorbell, you can do exactly that. You get the best of both worlds.

Features score: 4.5/5

JBL Authentics 200 rear plate — (Image credit: Future)

JBL Authentics 200 review: Design

Heritage design featuring a Quadrex grill and aluminium frame
Physical controls include volume, treble and bass dials
Made from mostly recycled materials

In a market of muted designs, the JBL Authentics 200 stands out for all the right reasons. It’s rare to see smart home tech designed with flair these days (although the Edifier D32 wireless speaker is one other example), so the JBL's mid-century style is certainly refreshing. Taking more than a few cues from vintage amps, the Authentics 200 is a gorgeous bit of kit. Its curved foam frontage, aluminium frame and leather-like skin all leans into the heritage aesthetic, without looking out of place in a contemporary kitchen.

Measuring 266.3 x 171.7 x 167.4mm, it strikes an ideal balance between physical presence and ease of placement. Its bigger sibling, the Atmos-compatible Authentics 500, is an altogether more substantial thing. With its mid-size footprint, the Authentics 200 will easily find a home in most rooms.

Build quality feels deserving of the price tag too: this is a robust unit and a relatively weighty one at 3.12kg. It’s all suitably solid and well put-together, standing firm on rubber feet which reduce vibrations from the downward-firing radiator. In a perfect world, we wish JBL had used metal instead of plastic for the control panel and dials which live on top of the unit. But that’s the only part which feels anything less than premium.

Among those controls you’ll find illuminating treble and bass knobs, as well as a volume dial with a play/pause button at its centre. These give you the kind of hands-on audio control that isn’t offered by many smart speakers. While you can make the same adjustments in the app, we found something refreshingly tactile about being able to physically tweak the EQ.

Beneath the Bluetooth button is another with a heart on it. This works as a shortcut to a playlist on a supported music streaming service, configured in the JBL One app. There’s also a microphone mute switch hidden on the back of the unit, for privacy when you need it.

Design score: 4.5/5

JBL Authentics 200 top plate — (Image credit: Future)

JBL Authentics 200 review: Sound quality

2x 25mm tweeters, 5-inch woofer, 6-inch passive radiator
Automatic audio calibration on power-up
Customizable EQ settings in the JBL One app

Little about the stature of the Authentics 200 hints at how well it fills a room. With two tweeters, a full-range woofer and downward-firing passive radiator at its disposal, this is a speaker with real punch. Bass is particularly noteworthy, with a huge amount of energy available at the low end. Even with the bass knob at halfway, the Authentics 200 has rumble to spare.

But it’s not just the power that surprises, so much as the depth and separation that the Authentics 200 is capable of. We were blown away by the breadth of the soundstage, with instrumentation given real space to breathe. Throughout our time with the Authentics 200, we found ourselves noticing details in songs that would be lost on lesser speakers. You’d need to pair up a second unit for a real sense of stereo, but in every other respect, the depth here is impressive.

Top-end clarity is underpinned by a lovely weight to the mids. There’s a real richness in the midrange, which feels deftly balanced for definition. Altogether, the impression is one of fullness. From The XX and alt-J to Norah Jones to the Arctic Monkeys, there wasn’t a genre that stumped the Authentics 200. Whether gritty electronic beats, twangy lead guitar or stripped-back vocals, there’s a real richness to the sound, without sacrificing any detail.

All of the comments above are based on the default EQ setting. According to JBL, the Authentics 200 self-calibrates every time it powers up, and it certainly suited every room we used it in. Besides the physical treble and bass controls on the unit itself, you can customise EQ settings via the JBL One app. This is a nice option to have, although in our experience, the Authentics 200 did best when left to its own devices.

You don’t get the vertical component of an Atmos speaker such as the Amazon Echo Studio, while the cheaper Sonos Era 100 is equally engaging, albeit with less oomph. But for its size and price, we think the Authentics 200 is bang on the money.

Sound quality: 5/5

JBL Authentics 200 aluminium frame detail — (Image credit: Future)

JBL Authentics 200 review: Value

Seen as a smart speaker, there’s no escaping that the JBL Authentics 200 is pricier than most. If you’re mainly in the market for a voice assistant in your home, there are much cheaper ways to get that. The Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen), for example, costs just $49.99 / £54.99 / AU$79. Similarly, the Google Nest Mini will set you back only $49.99 / £49 / AU$79.

There are also wireless speakers with high-quality audio available for less. The $199.99 / £179.99 (so about AU$300) Edifier D32 is a fine example that also has a retro aesthetic – although the build-quality isn't quite as premium-feel as the JBL model.

What those value comparisons don’t account for is the individuality of the Authentics 200. With its solid build and vintage design, it stands apart among home speakers, smart or otherwise. The quality of its sound output blew us away in testing, while the flexibility to connect with both Alexa and Google Assistant is a real boon. Plus you get a generous set of streaming features and useful app connectivity. So while it might not be a bargain, if you buy into its vintage aesthetic, we think you’re getting a good deal.

Value score: 4/5

JBL Authentics 200 at an angle — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the JBL Authentics 200?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

JBL Authentics 200 review: also consider

How I tested the JBL Authentics 200

Tested for a month in a number of rooms
Played a variety of genres at different volumes
Listened via Spotify app on iPhone and Mac

I used the JBL Authentics 200 as my primary home speaker for more than a month. It split its time between the kitchen and living room, giving me a good impression of how well it adapts to different spaces.

I challenged the Authentics 200 with a whole spectrum of musical genres, from electronic to acoustic, soul to rock and roll. I also tested it with different treble and bass settings, and at different volume levels – from Sunday-morning mellow to loud enough to get a text from the upstairs neighbours.

The Authentics 200 also served as my default smart speaker during testing, connected to both Google Assistant and Alexa. That meant asking it to cue up playlists, hit me with my morning routine and generally field any queries which came to mind (usually recipe related).

Brane Audio Brane X: Two-minute review

Brane Audio’s Brane X has managed to achieve the unthinkable in the mostly mundane realm of the best wireless speakers, which – to be clear – is full of models that don’t leave much of an impression. Some are good, some are okay, and many are bad. But the Brane X makes an impression.

The main way the Brane X impresses is by delivering bass output extending into the sub-bass range. That’s unheard of for a portable speaker. Still, the Brane X isn’t an ordinary portable speaker, but one with proprietary Repel-Attract-Driver (R.A.D.) technology that uses a magnet array to cancel out air pressure within the speaker’s enclosure. This allows big bass to be generated from a small woofer in a highly compact box, and it needs to be heard to be believed.

Aside from its sub-bass output capability, the Brane X comes off as a normal-looking portable wireless speaker. It has a lunchbox-like form, complete with a carrying handle, and an unassuming design. Its built-in battery carries a charge for up to 12 hours of playback time and requires three hours to fully recharge. The IP57-rated speaker is dust and waterproof, making it ideal for both indoor and outdoor use.

Wireless streaming support includes Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Bluetooth 5.1. An app lets you configure bass and custom EQ settings, and it can also be used to group multiple Brane X speakers for multi-room playback. Controls to adjust volume and bass level are located on the speaker’s top surface, and there are built-in mics for Alexa voice control.

Sound quality is where the Brane X makes its mark by delivering a notably dynamic and detailed sound for a portable speaker. Hip-hop, techno, rock, and even classical music are equally well served, with the speaker’s deep bass providing a strong foundation for other layers in music mixes. Voices, in particular, sound natural – something that benefits both music and podcasts – and the Brane X also manages to convey a sense of stereo separation and depth.

The catch with the Brane X, and you probably saw this coming, is that its performance comes at a price. At $599 (around £475 / AU$915), it’s more expensive than other premium portable speakers such as the Sonos Move 2 ($449 / £449 / AU$799). That factor makes the Brane X a tough sell if you simply want a portable speaker for casual outdoor and indoor listening, but if you’re looking for one with best-in-class sound quality, the Brane X is it.

Brane X review: Price and release date

Brane X smart speaker on table — The Brane X has a lunchbox-like design with a carrying strap for toting it around (Image credit: Future)

Released December 2023
Currently available only in US
Priced at $599 (around £475 / AU$915)

The Brane X is currently sold exclusively through Brane Audio and is only available for shipment in the US. International shipments will start in late 2024 according to the company’s website.

At $599 (around £475 / AU$915) the Brane X is very much on the pricey side for a portable wireless speaker, though it has sonic tricks up its sleeve that the competition lacks. To put it in context, you can buy a Sonos Move 2 for $449 / £449 / AU$799, which gets you a portable wireless speaker with a similar feature set plus twice the battery life. You can also spend quite a bit more on the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5 ($1,099 / £899 / AU$1,950), a portable wireless speaker that generally looks similar to the Brane X, but has a more attractive design that’s typical for that brand.

Brane X review: Specs

Brane X smart speaker on table showing top controls — Capacitive touch controls are located on the speaker's top surface (Image credit: Future)

Brane X review: Features

Brane X smart speaker on table next to Sonos Move — The Sonos Move 2 (at left) was used for a comparison in our Brane X (at right) listening tests (Image credit: Future)

Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Bluetooth support
Voice control using Amazon Alexa
Built-in battery provides 12 hours playback time

Brane Audio’s Brane X streams music wirelessly via Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and also supports Bluetooth 5.1. A Brane app is available and can be used to select low, medium, and high Bass presets for best sound (most likely dependent on where the speaker is located), create a custom 5-band EQ setting, and store speaker groups for multi-room playback on multiple Brane X speakers. There are four built-in microphones for voice control, which is carried out using the Alexa voice assistant.

The driver array of the Brane X consists of two 0.75-inch tweeters, two 2-inch mid-range drivers, and a 6.5 by 9-inch (165 x 229mm) woofer. Four class-D amplifiers are packed into the compact speaker, for a total of 200 watts of power. A built-in battery allows 12 hours of playback at a reasonable volume level, and it can be fully recharged in 3 hours.

I would be amiss to describe the bass driver in the Brane X simply as a “woofer,” since the company applies unique technology to it to achieve extended bass. Woofers in conventional speakers generate bass by moving forward and back in an enclosure. That movement is driven by the passage of magnets on the woofer’s voice coil through a magnetic field, and it affects the air pressure within the speaker.

Brane Audio’s Repel-Attract-Driver operates similarly to a regular woofer, but in this instance, additional magnets are used to cancel out air pressure within the speaker. The cancellation effect allows for the use of a smaller woofer, along with a smaller enclosure, enabling Brane Audio to generate powerful sub-bass from a lunchbox-size speaker.

Features score: 4.5/5

Brane X review: Sound quality

Brane X smart speaker on table showing back panel — The speaker's rear panel features a power on/off button and 3.5mm audio input (Image credit: Future)

Excellent bass extension and substantial output
Well-balanced sound with natural voice reproduction
Can play cleanly at party-like volume levels

The Brane X may be compact, but there’s nothing small about its sound. After reading about this portable speaker that’s capable of not just substantial bass extension, but also substantial sub-bass output, I was ready for something different and upon first listen I got that.

Getting straight down to business, I streamed Boom by Tiësto, Sevenn, and Gucci Mane to the speaker from Tidal HiFi via AirPlay. This is a track with bass to spare, and if the Brane X could handle that, it would pass the test. I’m not exaggerating when I say that my mouth flapped open when I heard the deep, pounding bass put out by the Brane X, which wasn’t far off from what I expect to hear from a hi-fi system with a capable subwoofer. The speaker’s extended dynamic range also allowed other elements in the mix to come through clearly, especially vocals, which had a natural, unstrained quality. Pushing up the volume to, naturally, satisfy my curiosity about how loud the Brane X could play, it went up to party-like levels without distorting or sounding congested.

Radiohead’s Desert Island Disks features a spare acoustic guitar that’s played over a low, pulsing beat. On my regular portable speaker, the Sonos Move 2, that beat comes across as more of a tap. When I played the song on the Brane X, however, it had a surprising low and full quality that dynamically anchored the sound and allowed for details in vocals along with the song’s more subtle ambient elements to come across clearly.

Even classical symphonic music fared well on the Brane X. When I streamed Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition – The Great Gate of Kiev, as played by the Cleveland Orchestra, on Tidal HiFi, the tympani rolls were conveyed in an appropriately thunderous manner and the volume sweeps of strings sounded smooth and convincing. Comparing the Brane X’s performance here again to my reference Sonos speaker, the Sonos came across as comparatively flat-sounding, with no sense of low-end muscle in the percussion and double basses.

Given the Brane X’s hi-fi prowess, it seemed almost weird to set it up in my kitchen in the spot normally occupied by my Sonos Move, where it is used mainly for listening to news and podcasts. When I did, I found I needed to dial down the bass in the app for best sound in the new spot. That done, the Brane X made voices sound completely natural, with none of the strained quality that can typically be heard when listening with low-cost Bluetooth speakers. Brane Audio’s portable may have been overkill in this setting, but I certainly wasn’t eager to swap it out.

The only sonic quirk I encountered when using the Brane X was a faint level of noise when the speaker was turned on but not being used for playback. This didn’t exactly bother me, and in most cases when I had the speaker turned on it was streaming audio, which fully masked the noise, but it was there nonetheless.

Sound quality score: 5/5

Brane X review: Design

Brane X smart speaker on table showing bottom moiunted woofer — The Brane X's bottom-mounted woofer (Image credit: Future)

Basic, unassuming design
Carrying strap for portable use
1P57-rated dust and waterproof

There’s nothing particularly fancy about the Brane X’s design. As noted in the Features section of this review, it’s about the size and shape of a lunchbox. A rubber carrying strap is attached for toting the speaker around, and the black plastic top surface contains capacitive touch controls to adjust volume and bass level, as well as toggle the microphones on and off and set up Bluetooth and Wi-Fi pairing mode. A black mesh grille covers the speaker’s full front surface and sturdy rubber feet are provided to secure the speaker and allow clearance for the bottom-mounted Repel-Attract-Driver.

The Brane X’s back panel features a power on/off button and a 3.5mm aux input for connecting sources like a disc player or turntable. You’ll also find an input here for the speaker’s large, bulky external power supply and a QR code to access the Brane Audio website. With an IP57 rating, the Brane X is both dust and waterproof, making it a solid option for a workshop and a pool party.

Design score: 4/5

Brane X review: Value

Brane X smart speaker on table with sonos move in background — (Image credit: Future)

Expensive compared to the competition
Unique among portable wireless speakers
Has sound quality to back up the high price

With a $599 (around £475 / AU$915) price tag, the Brane X is undoubtedly expensive, making other premium portable wireless speakers such as the Sonos Move 2 look like a bargain in comparison. But the Brane X sounds better and certainly delivers better bass than the Sonos Move 2, which is its top competition. There is nothing quite like it on the market, a factor that enhances its value.

Suppose you’re looking for a compact portable wireless speaker that doesn’t sound like a compact portable wireless speaker, but a regular stereo system with a subwoofer instead. In that case, the Brane X is your only option. Yes, it’s expensive, but it has the sound quality to back up the high price.

Value score: 3.5/5

Should you buy the Brane X?

Buy it if…

Don't buy it if…

Brane X review: Also consider

Brane X smart speaker review: How I tested

Brane X smart speaker on deck railing outdoors — (Image credit: Future)

Tested with music streamed from Tidal HiFi and Apple Music via AirPlay
Used Sonos Move 2 for comparison during listening tests
Tested over several weeks of both casual and critical listening

I tested the Brane X using a range of different music genres from hip-hop to classical and also used it for everyday listening to news internet radio stations and podcasts. During my testing, which lasted for several weeks, I moved it around to different rooms in my home and also gave it a listen outdoors.

I used a Bluetooth wireless connection from my iPhone for casual listening but switched to AirPlay 2 for critical listening during my review. Most music tracks played during my test were sourced from Tidal HiFi, with some played from Apple Music. For a direct comparison with a competitive speaker, I used a Sonos Move 2, switching between both speakers using the same music tracks to make a subjective listening comparison.

My audio reviewing experience extends back over two decades, and during that time I have tested everything from full surround sound speaker systems to subwoofers and soundbars.

You can read TechRadar's review guarantee here.

First reviewed: March 2024

Philips Hue Lustre White smart bulb review: ambiance-creating smart bulbs with Bluetooth bonus

8:30 pm | October 21, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home Smart Lights | Tags: Amazon Alexa, Australia, Google Home, UK | Comments: Off

Philips Hue Lustre White: one-minute review

The Philips Hue White Ambiance Lustre colour-changing smart bulbs are ideal for use in bedrooms and living rooms where they can add an intimate feel or provide suffused light for reading or gentle wake-up calls.

Philips’ expertise with producing some of the best smart lights on the market really comes into its own, with these simple-to-set-up bulbs that use Bluetooth or ZigBee to connect to a Wi-Fi network. Setup and subsequent light control is managed seamlessly through the Philips Hue app. Here you can adjust scenes, routines and light levels individually or as a cluster of up to 10 lights, plus connect to other smart devices.

Philips Hue smart bulbs are compatible with Amazon’s Alexa and smart speakers, adding voice control functionality to the mix. Although this is ‘only’ a white smart light bulb, Philips expertly demonstrates just how many subtleties and shades and how many lighting effects can be created using a single base colour. I’ve already promised myself additional Hue lights for around the house. In most instances, I see myself choosing the calming light options offered by the Hue Lustre White in any case.

The Hue Lustre is compatible with Philips’ Hue Bridge so you can control multiple smart devices in the range centrally, but if you’re only after a couple of fancy coloured smart lights, these Bluetooth-enabled, app-controlled ones will fit the bill handsomely. Though considered as among the best smart home devices to invest in, they are more of an impulse buy than a considered purchase, making the addition of Bluetooth something of a power move on Philips’ part in this competitive market.

Philips Hue Lustre White: price & availability

From £19.99 / AU$54.95
Available in the UK and Australia at the time of writing
Warm-to-cool-white and colour versions available

The Philips Hue Lustre smart bulbs have the advantage of cost. This entry-level smart bulb is affordable for most people.

A single bulb costs £19.99 / AU$54.95, but the twin-pack is even better value. I’m sure I won’t be the only one mentally working out where else I could justify an extra Hue bulb or two, or snapping up another twin-pack for its great value. A twin pack costs £29.99, whereas the warm-to-cool-white version costs the same amount for a single bulb and the warm-to-cool-white-and-colour version is £54.99 / $99.95.

TechRadar’s main gripe about the original Philips Hue range was that individual bulbs were expensive, making it unlikely customers would replace all their lights to be part of such a system. Here, however, we’re looking at bulbs costing £15 apiece when bought as a pair, rated for 25,000 hours of use and ready to use minutes after unpacking.

Unfortunately, while the Hue Lustre smart bulbs are available in the UK and Australia, it’s not being sold in the US at the time of writing.

Value: 4.5 / 5

Philips Hue Lustre White: specifications

Philips Hue Lustre White during testing — (Image credit: Future / Rosie Hattersley)

Philips Hue Lustre White: design

Range of light fitting versions
Bluetooth connectivity for straightforward setup
Provides powerful 470 lumens illumination

In just 10 years, smart bulbs have become mainstream enough that early versions can often be acquired for a song in electronics stores, no longer feature-laden enough to satisfy the discerning customer. Statista predicts the smart lighting market to increase tremendously and quadruple to around US $44 billion by 2030 from its 2020 value of $11 billion.

Philips was early to the smart lighting game and quickly carved out a name and handsome share of the market for its Hue range. Now, it is upping the ante with bulbs that contain more of the smart elements, cutting out the need for additional hardware to connect and control their pretty lighting while also reducing entry-level bulb prices.

Whereas the original Hue White smart bulb was sold mainly on the ability to control it as part of a home network, here those controls are via Bluetooth, not only simplifying the installation but also adding a rich app experience. The Philips Hue Lustre White is a stunning showcase for this additional functionality without compromising on the ease of use you’d expect from a premium consumer electronics brand.

Philips Hue smart bulbs come in several versions to accommodate different light fittings, as well as offering a choice of Candle and Lustre shape bulbs and colour options. This version, soft warm white, is the sort you’re likely to need for table lamps, wall lights and small pendant lamps, marking it out as a smart bulb for intimate spaces and cosy nooks. The top half of the lamp is translucent white glass while the lower half is encased in plastic.

Although this may look like a generic light bulb, the Hue Lustre is capable of running the gamut from a strong 470-lumen intense light for when you need to fully focus to becoming a subtly glowing orb with a warm colour temperature of 2600K. Philips also sells Hue filament bulbs for use in situations where an exposed bulb is desirable, but since the Hue Lustre is likely to be placed within the housing of a fixed down- or uplighter or hidden within a lampshade, its plain appearance doesn’t much matter.

The need for fiddly switches has also been overcome by embracing Bluetooth, further simplifying setup and control. Voice control functionality can be added using Amazon Alexa or the Google Home app. However, Apple HomeKit users will need to invest in a Hue Bridge in order to use the Hue smart bulbs with the Apple Home system. Microsoft Cortana is also only supported via the Hue Bridge, but other smart home connection options include both ZigBee and the increasingly widely-supported Matter.

Design: 4 /5

Philips Hue Lustre White: setup & app

Attractive design and easy to navigate
Rich user experience with plenty of preset light options
Google Home, Amazon Alexa and ZigBee supported

Setting up the Philips Hue Lustre light was barely more complex than changing a regular light bulb. The E14 bulb screw fitting meant it could be used with my pretty Moroccan fretwork lamp and the second E14 lamp I bought to better enjoy my Hue smart bulbs. After screwing the Hue Lustre bulb into position I just needed to switch on the lamp at the mains and flick its on switch to make it visible on my Wi-Fi network. Standby mode uses a modest 0.5Wh.

The Philips Hue app is great! It requires only minimal personal information to set up, and I found its précis of terms stating that privacy is respected by default refreshing and reassuring. It took care of finding both Hue Lustre bulbs on the system and labels them by name and order in which they were added to the smart home setup. A few seconds later I was able to toggle the lights on and off individually or, as is the default, as a group.

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Scene selection and previewing was another one-touch task: the Hue lamp immediately responded by switching to the selected option, and the inclusion of seasonal settings – currently spooky Hallowe’en ones – made me feel I’d go back and check for new scenes having been added to the Gallery once in a while. Mood-based and time of day, focus or relax defaults made it easy to choose something appropriate without dithering. It might have been handy to have options not available to the particular Hue smart bulb blanked out, but seeing the array offered may also be a spur to splurging on a pricier edition.

Bluetooth connectivity built into the Hue smart bulbs is a game-changer, but it’s worth noting that the Philips Hue app only supports 10 lights at once. This is likely to be plenty for most homes, but centrally controlling additional Hue-enabled devices including outdoor lights, plus working with Apple HomeKit are beyond the app’s scope. This is a neat teaser to tempt upgraders to add a Hue Bridge to their smart home setup, and would also fix the other issue with the Bluetooth and app-based controls for the Hue Lustre range: you can only tweak settings and directly control the lights while you’re connected to the same network.

Setup and app: 4.5 / 5

Philips Hue Lustre White: performance

Ample brightness, very responsive
Lovely range of light effects
Needs Bridge to work with Apple HomeKit

The brightness of the Philips Hue Lustre smart bulb turned out to be ample to illuminate a dark spot in the lounge where I’d usually have a floor-standing lamp, making that corner of the lounge feel immediately cosier. And adjusting the settings for an individual bulb just meant tapping on it in the app and then either using the slider to manually adjust the light levels by percentage, or choosing a scene.

Since this bulb works only in the white colour space, there are far fewer permutations than for the more expensive colour and warm-to-cool-white variants. However, scenes such as Nightlight, Dimmed, Energize and Relax are offered in the Default section, and I was still able to select and apply intriguing gallery options such as Spellbound even though the effects are less pronounced.

Having selected Nightlight mode, I was immediately drawn to the soft white light inviting me to curl up with a book or nestle alongside the radio. I also admired the way the Hue Lustre bulb created intriguing shadows and pools of light, adding depth and interest to a fairly plain front room.

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Adding voice controls to the Hue Lustre lights was straightforward too. I was quickly and easily able to set up and start using my Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker by connecting it with the Philips Hue app and then issuing voice instructions to switch the Hue Lustre smart bulbs on and off.

I was able to use the Hue app to make both the Hue Lustre smart bulbs turn on and off by calling out ”Alexa, turn off first light; turn on second light” and also turn off all lights at once. Although Philips suggests that the speaker can only be used to voice control the Hue smart bulbs if the device is in the same room, once set up I was able to use voice commands to activate the lights from neighbouring rooms separated by a brick wall, and to do so from different Alexa speakers.

I also really liked the routines that can be set up to gently wake you with light that increases in brightness over the course of 20 minutes. A discreet but audible notification on my iPhone confirmed that the Hue app had clicked into action. There’s an equivalent routine for Night Time whereby the Hue lightbulb automatically turns off at a preset time having dimmed over the duration of several minutes, helping you nod off.

Since I’d set up my Hue Lustre smart light bulbs in different rooms, I made use of the option to tailor the app settings so only the bulb in my bedroom applied these Wake Up and Night Time routines. By toggling which smart bulb I wanted to customise, I was also able to apply settings for the downstairs light to come on at set times, effectively using it to suggest someone is at home. The countdown timer is a neat idea, but I wandered out of the room at the critical moment that it visually reminded me to check on dinner by flashing the nearest Hue bulb on and off for 30 seconds. I’ll stick to my Alexa kitchen clock for that task.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Philips Hue Lustre White?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider

Philips Hue Lustre White: one-minute review

Philips Hue Lustre White: price & availability

From £19.99 / AU$54.95
Available in the UK and Australia at the time of writing
Warm-to-cool-white and colour versions available

The Philips Hue Lustre smart bulbs have the advantage of cost. This entry-level smart bulb is affordable for most people.

Unfortunately, while the Hue Lustre smart bulbs are available in the UK and Australia, it’s not being sold in the US at the time of writing.

Value: 4.5 / 5

Philips Hue Lustre White: specifications

Philips Hue Lustre White: design

Range of light fitting versions
Bluetooth connectivity for straightforward setup
Provides powerful 470 lumens illumination

Design: 4 /5

Philips Hue Lustre White: setup & app

Attractive design and easy to navigate
Rich user experience with plenty of preset light options
Google Home, Amazon Alexa and ZigBee supported

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Setup and app: 4.5 / 5

Philips Hue Lustre White: performance

Ample brightness, very responsive
Lovely range of light effects
Needs Bridge to work with Apple HomeKit

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Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Philips Hue Lustre White?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider

One-minute review

If you're searching online for a vacuum cleaner that will do the hard work for you, then the Roborock Q5+ robot vacuum comes from a brand that regularly sees its models top the lists of vacuum robot cleaners. In fact, Roborock sells a wide range of robot vacuum cleaners to suit all setups, be it compact apartments or spacious detached homes with a large footfall.

While the Q5+ isn't the brand's latest design, it's a popular model as a result of its effective cleaning capabilities and stylish and unobtrusive design. We have a wide range of best robot vacuums that you can read about in our guide, but here we've focussed on the Roborock Q5+.

Established in 2014, Roborock is a Chinese brand with headquarters in Beijing. The company launched its first robotic vacuum cleaner in 2016 and now sells numerous designs for simple vacuuming and mopping floors.

The Q5+ is a popular design in the range and a Red Dot Winner 2022, coming with numerous enticing features on board. Offering 2700Pa of suction power, it uses PreciSense Precision LiDAR technology to create 3D maps of your space that you can view on the accompanying Roborock app. The app is packed with useful features that allow you to create custom cleaning routines, map out obstacles, change the level of power, and send the vacuum to spot-clean certain areas – all of which could save you a lot of effort in the long run.

We found the cleaner itself powerful and effective. While it did appear to look a little lost at times, frantically trying to make its way around obstacles, the overall clean was impressive. Alexa voice control makes for a nice added extra, too, although we didn't enjoy controlling it with voice quite as much as we did via the Roborock app directly.

The brush bar was easy to maintain, too, and didn't get as clogged up with hair and dirt as some robot cleaners we've tried. On the downside, there's no auto-sensor, so the robot won't go back to the dock when it's full; however, it will automatically empty its bin on returning to the dock. The large 2.5-liter dust bag in the docking station will last up to seven weeks at a time, which means you won't have to empty it regularly.

The Roborock Q5+ is currently available to buy in the US, with prices starting from $429.99 for the robot with the charger, and from $699.99 with the Auto Empty Dock, which we think is a reasonable price for a premium robot cleaner.

Roborock Q5+ review: Price & Availability

List price: $699.99
Available in US

At the time of writing, the Roborock Q5+ is available to buy in the US only. The robot cleaner with charger costs from $429.99 over on Amazon. Buy the Q5+ with the Auto Empty Dock and it will set you back $699.99 from Amazon and $479.99 from Roborock direct, down from the original RRP of $699.99.

Price: 4/5

THE SPECS OF OUR ROBOROCK Q5+ ROBOT VACUUM REVIEW UNIT

Price: $699.99
Power: 5200mAh Li-ion battery
Bin capacity (onboard): 470ml
Bin capacity (Clean Station): 2.5 liters
Noise level: 68.3dB
Run time: 180m
Max vacuuming range: 3230sq ft
Dimensions: 13.78 x 13.78 x 3.78 inches
Weight: 7.05lbs/3.2kg

Roborock Q5+ review: Design

Compact and slim robot cleaner design
Stylish and discreet black finish
Auto empty dock with 2.5-liter capacity

I chose to review the model of Roborock Q5+ with 2.5-litre bin capacity that comes with the Auto Empty Dock Pure included in the price. Design=wise, the Roborock Q5+ vacuum and dock are discreet and stylish. On board, you’ll find a washable E11-rated air filter that will filter 99.7% of pollen as small as 0.3 microns.

The robot is built to work across hard flooring such as tiles, wood and carpet, and it's "ScratchSafe" wheels and brushes offer peace of mind when you’re using it across hard flooring. Designed with a floating main brush that stays close to the ground on hard floors, it will rise up when it needs to agitate carpets more thoroughly. This makes it effective when picking up hair and pet dander.

At 7.05lbs/3.2kg, the robot vacuum is easy to pick up and move around should you wish to intervene while it’s in use or just get it to change direction. Its Auto Empty Dock Pure is slim and fuss-free, and could simply be positioned up against the dining room wall without grabbing too much attention.

The cleaner's finish feels premium and the parts well designed. The top of the dock neatly lifts to reveal the 2.5-liter dustbin; while the robot itself comes with a 470ml dustbin on board, which can be emptied into the 2.5-liter capsule in the docking station.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed to find that there's no auto-bin sensor on the robot, which means the vacuum won’t automatically head back to the dock to empty when it’s full. However, it will automatically empty when it return to the dock.

Roborock recommends that the dust bag in the dock be changed before it becomes completely full. A saving grace is that it can hold up to seven weeks of dust (depending on what you've been vacuuming up), which means that you won't have to worry too much about emptying it regularly.

Following two months of use, I was impressed at how clean the main brush bar remained. Nevertheless, removing any trapped hair or dirt from the brushes is easy; I used a screwdriver to free hair that had become caught in the side brushes. I then pulled out the main brush and used the tool that comes with the device to cut away the bit of hair that was present. Roborock also suggests regularly cleaning the omnidirectional wheel on the base by popping it out with tweezers and adding a drop of olive oil inside to keep it running smoothly. Wiping the sensors clean with a lint-free cloth will also keep the robot running effectively.

Design: 4 / 5

Roborock Q5+: Performance

Impressive performance on hard floors
Better pick-up of larger debris
Quiet when in use

The Q5+ comes with 2700Pa of suction power, which I found effective at tackling all the cleaner came across on the floor – from dried mud and grass from the garden, to sand from the beach and general dust and household mess. While Roborock does sell vacuums with a built-in mop feature included – the S8 Pro Ultra, for example – the Q5+ focusses on vacuuming.

Setup was straightforward enough: once out of the box, the vacuum sat neatly on the dock. I downloaded the Roborock app and created an account in order to pair my smartphone with the vacuum; this allows use of the remote control features. Once I had downloaded the app, I scanned a QR code on the vacuum and followed the instructions to connect to my home Wi-Fi network. It paired quickly and I was good to go.

I tested the vacuum in my home where the floors comprise tiles in the kitchen, wooden flooring and Persian carpets in the living area, and fitted carpet upstairs. I was super pleased with how well it glided across the various surfaces. It only came stuck once or twice, on its attempt to get past the tassels on the Persian carpet; but it wasn't anything that a slight nudge couldn't fix to move it on.

Roborock Q5+ — The Roborock got a little tangled on the edge of the Persian carpet, but was easy to move (Image credit: Future | Emily Peck)

To find out how well the vacuum performed at cleaning up dust and debris, I conducted a series of tests. To mimic fine dust, I ground together digestives and flour, sprinkling the mix onto the hard floor and across the Persian carpet. I then used the app to send the vacuum to that area to clean up the mess. On the "Quiet" suction, the vacuum didn't really pick up as much as I'd have liked – and its brush seemed to flick the mess out to the sides. I switched to the Max setting and it did a much better job at picking up the mess.

To see how well the vacuum performed when picking up larger debris, I also sprinkled a handful of oats onto both the carpet and hard floor. Again, on the Quiet setting the vacuum picked up some, but not all, of the oats – although this isn't surprising since it was quite a dense area of mess to clean. I switched to the Max setting and the pick up was far more effective. However, the Q5+ didn't clear everything; a second attempt of spot cleaning in the area was required to rid all the mess.

Nevertheless, a pleasant surprise was how quiet the Q5+ is in operation. Having tested robot vacuums in the past, one of my main gripes has been how loud they can get, particularly when on full power – and at night, when you're trying to relax. Using the Decibel Meter App, I measured the Roborock Q5+ at 49dB on the lowest setting and 68dB on the highest, which is quieter than your average cordless stick vacuum.

When it was gliding around my house, I was pleased with how little the Q5+ bumped into objects or became stuck around furniture – a common occurrence with some robot vacuums I've tested. This may be because it comes with cliff sensors, an accelerometer and bumpers to ensure it doesn't roll off steps, become trapped between objects, or slam into walls.

Speaking of cliff sensors, to find out how well the robot vacuum performed when navigating stairs, I tested it on my staircase landing. Usefully, the robot is designed to recognize and map up to four different levels in your home. I placed it on the top step and turned it on to see if it would fall down or wisely make its way back. After moving around the top stair for a while, the vacuum wisely asked to be picked up and placed back in its dock. It's there that it sat recharging its battery until its next cleaning adventure.

Performance: 4/5

Roborock Q5+ review: App

Easy to set up
Takes some time to master
Can also pair with Amazon Alexa

It took me a while to master control of the app, which proved a tad overwhelming on first use. Once I had paired the Q5+ to the app, I let it get to work mapping out the ground floor of my home. It took a few cleans for it to create a clear picture, but I was impressed at how accurately it mapped out the area.

Within the app I could view my ground floor space mapped out in flat 2D form and in 3D. What I have found particularly useful about the map is being able to see where the vacuum is in real time – be it trying to manoeuvre around some toys left on the floor or finding its way back to the dock. There were times when the robot looked a little lost – especially if a chair had been pulled out of place or a new toy was in the way, and it seemed to try to make its way back to the dock to get its bearings. When I'd had enough of hearing the vacuum buzz around me, I could simply press "Dock" in the app to set in on its way back to base.

looking at the map created by roborock q5 — The Roborock app lets you choose between 2D and 3D mapping (Image credit: Future / Emily Peck)

The app provides options to do a full clean, clean by room, or spot clean in zones. I tried the spot-cleaning feature and was pleased with how intently the vacuum made its way to the area in question, systematically cleaning before making its way back to the dock. As well as using the app to control which rooms you clean, you can also use it to customise the settings and make daily schedules for the vacuum to clean at certain times of the day. I managed to cordon off no-go zones and add invisible walls so the vacuum knew to avoid certain areas. I could also adjust the room settings to show the floor type and add furniture to the map.

setting cleaning zones with the roborock q5 — Zonal cleaning works well as the cleaner makes it way up to tackle the mess systematically (Image credit: Future / Emily Peck)

In the app, you can also customise your room cleaning settings to suit the floor type and adjust the suction power to suit. This worked well in the living room, where I have both Persian carpet and hardwood flooring. There's a quieter suction power mode that's useful after hours – and it really is super quiet compared to other robot vacuums I've tried. Also included are "Balanced", a "Turbo" setting, and a "Max" setting; the latter really does pack a punch when needed. I was also able to set the vacuum to use certain levels of suction in certain rooms, which was useful when testing the effectiveness of the vacuum. Note that the robot is also designed to switch to Automatic Carpet Boost when it detects carpet for a more thorough vacuum.

Support for Alexa allows control of the Roborock Q5+ with your voice, too. This was very easy to do via the app, allowing me to start the robot simply by saying "Alexa, start the vacuum cleaner", and also to return it to the dock. However, more complex commands didn't work for me. With this in mind, if you're serious about using the vacuum for voice control, you'll need to take time to set up a routine.

App: 4/5

Roborock Q5+ review: Battery

5200mAh Li-ion battery
Can cover up to 3230sq ft
Max run time of 180 minutes

Powered by a high-capacity 5200mAh Li-ion battery, and with a 470ml dustbin on board its circular frame, this Roborock robot vacuum has an impressive maximum runtime of 180 minutes across 3230 sq ft.

You can view the level of charge remaining in the app, with the battery level, cleaning area and cleaning time neatly displayed.

Remember that the Q5+ is a US-only device and so has been set up for US power supplies (110V). For the dock to work properly in the UK, it will need a converter in order to convert to 230V.

Battery: 4/5

Roborock Q5+ and docking station — The Roborock Q5 and the Auto-Empty Dock Pure sit neatly up against the wall (Image credit: Future | Emily Peck )

Should you buy the Roborock Q5+?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Roborock Q5+: Also consider

Other robot vacuum alternatives include:

How I tested the Roborock Q5+ robot vacuum

I used the robot vacuum across hard wooden flooring, tiles and carpet
I used the Roborock Q5+ vacuum downstairs in my home for three months

I set up the Roborock Q5+ robot vacuum and docking station up against the wall in my dining room and left it on night and day. Once I had downloaded the app, I set the cleaner to work mapping out the downstairs area in my home. I used it across various flooring surfaces including Persian carpets, fitted carpets, tiling and hard wood flooring.

There was lots to explore in the app. While I had a play with the scheduling feature within the app, I mainly used the vacuum as and when I thought the floors needed it. I simply pressed clean when the ground floor could do with a once-over, or specified an area to spot-clean – mainly when the kids had made a mess under the table at dinner time.

I've been a journalist for 20+ years and have experience reviewing a range of smart home gadgets for a number of publications. I've tried a handful of robot vacuum cleaners and stick cleaners in my time, but have yet to be prized away from my trusty Henry Hoover.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed June 2023

Swan Alexa 1.5 Litre Smart Kettle review: it’s a world-first

4:00 pm | March 8, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: Amazon Alexa | Comments: Off

One-minute review

The Swan Alexa 1.5 Litre Smart Kettle is a first, not only for Swan, but also for the world. Designed specifically to work with Amazon Alexa, you can set the kettle to heat up water using your voice, the digital display or through Routines set in the Alexa app.

Swan is a British brand that makes some of the best air fryers, in my opinion. Starting out in the 1920s making kettles, irons, heater and steamers, the brand's product catalogue has grown to include a wider range of goods, including kitchenware and, more recently, smart home gadgets.

The Swan Alexa 1.5 Litre Smart Kettle launched a few weeks ago in the UK, with plans to expand across the pond within the next couple of months. While it isn't the first ever smart kettle, it's the first to work specifically with Alexa and be recognized as a device in the Alexa app.

On looks alone, the Alexa kettle follows a familiar path. Sporting a jug design, the 57oz / 1.5-liter capacity vessel sits on a 360-degree swivel base. The lid has a responsive push top, and the kettle is super-comfortable to hold. Water pours smoothly out of the spout, with no drips landing on the counter-top or skimming down the sides of the unit.

The Alexa kettle can be controlled via the digital touchscreen display on the kettle's side and – you've guessed it – using Alexa. This is truly groundbreaking, enabling you to turn on your kettle using your voice.

Overall, setup proved super-easy, although note that a strong Wi-Fi signal and, of course, an Alexa Hub will make the job quicker. As I found, you'll need to ensure your commands to the kettle are clear, saying: "Alexa – turn on the Swan kettle". The command wasn't successful if I dropped "Swan" from the phrase, so you'll need to get into the habit of mentioning the brand name somewhere in the command.

From the Alexa app I set schedules for the kettle to turn on, which worked just fine; but you will, of course, need to ensure the kettle is topped up with water before it switches on.

Priced at £99.99 (approx. $118 / AU$180) from Swan and as an Amazon Exclusive in the UK, the kettle commands a high ticket price, bringing it closer in line to big-name brands such as Smeg and KitchenAid. However, what those brands don't offer is seamless integration with Alexa. Nevertheless, it remains possible to control those kettles remotely by investing in the best smart plug, which would be the cheaper option.

Read on to discover how I got on with theSwan Alexa 1.5 Litre Smart Kettle, and whether I believe it's worth the extra dollars.

Swan Alexa 1.5 Litre Smart Kettle in box — (Image credit: Future / Jennifer Oksien)

Swan Alexa 1.5 Litre Smart Kettle: Price and availability

List price: £99.99
Coming soon to the US

The Swan Alexa 1.5 Litre Smart Kettle is available to buy for a list price of £99.99 direct from Swan, or as an Amazon Exclusive from Amazon UK. Currently, it's only available to buy in the UK, although a US launch is imminent (there are no plans to launch in Australia just yet).

Since no other kettle has been specifically designed to work with Alexa, it's tricky to offer direct comparison; but its design quality and price positions the Alexa Smart Kettle up against the likes of the Smeg 50's Retro KLF04BL Kettle with Temperature Selector ($249.95 / £165) and KitchenAid Variable Temperature Kettle ($199.999 / £179), both of which are more expensive. Like the Swan, these models offer attractive design and a selector to adjust the water temperature. As mentioned, though, they lack the ability to connect to Alexa as a standalone appliance.

Of course, use a smart plug and you can achieve remote on/off in a regular kettle. This is a far more affordable way to connect your kettle to Alexa and enjoy voice and app control, with a compatible plug costing around $39.95 / £39.95 / AU$85. However, you'll miss out on all the other features of the Swan Alexa kettle.

Value: 4/5

Swan Alexa 1.5 Litre Smart Kettle: Specs

Price: £99.99
Type: Jug
Capacity: 57oz / 1.5 liters
No. of cups: 8 - 10
Wattage: 1800W
Control: Touchscreen or Alexa app
Finish: Stainless Steel inner, cool-touch body
Dimensions: 27.3 x 20.4 x 15.7cm (h x w x l)

Swan Alexa 1.5 Litre Smart Kettle review: Design

Touchscreen digital display
57oz / 1.5-liter capacity
Cool-touch body with Stainless Steel inner

The first thing to say about the design and build quality of the Swan Alexa 1.5 Litre Smart Kettle is that it's a good-looking appliance. It's minimalist with all the mod-cons, and looks gorgeous in its glossy black finish.

When the Swan Alexa kettle is switched on at the mains, you'll see the white LED display illuminate and the on / off button beneath it. The "SET" function below the on / off button enables you to toggle through temperatures from 40ºC, 60ºC, 80ºC, 85ºC, 90ºC and 100ºC. I tend to drink only breakfast tea, whose recommended optimum water temperature is 85ºC, but speciality brews such as earl grey and green tea are better made using water at 80ºC, so as not to burn the tea. The Swan's temperature options mean you'll be able to make the perfect cuppa, no matter the type of tea you're drinking, without having to sit and wait for the water to cool before using.

You can also use this digital display to connect to Wi-Fi and Amazon Alexa (more on this shortly).

digital display on the swan alexa kettle — (Image credit: Future / Jennifer Oksien)

The Swan's kettle offers a capacity of 57oz / 1.5 liter, which is enough to make 8-10 cups of tea. The unit sits on a round base, under which you can tidily wrap any extra length of the 1-metre cord. The jug kettle weighs 1.6kg, which makes it easy and comfortable to lift.

power cord on swan alexa kettle — (Image credit: Future / Jennifer Oksien)

Conveniently, the lid has a responsive push top. Note that this kettle is more geared up for right-handed users, with the handle on the right-hand-side of the unit and the digital display visible only on one side of the kettle. As such, I feel that a viewing window might have helped here – if nothing else, to better see the volume of water when filling and what it's doing when being heated up.

Inside the kettle, the stainless steel display markings for MIN and MAX water levels. The MIN level is about two cups-worth which Swan advise to not go below. This means that if you just want to heat up enough water for two, to save money, then it's just not going to be possible.

swan alexa kettle to show max line — (Image credit: Future / Jennifer Oksien)

Note that the Swan Alexa kettle is a 1800W kettle, the majority are 3000W, which makes it more energy efficient over other models. However, it loses marks for its standby mode. The kettle has an auto "keep warm" function that reheats the water intermittently over a two-hour window, which doesn't feel very energy-efficient. I recommend switching off the kettle at the mains, if you know you won't be using it again anytime soon.

On a positive note, while the stainless steel inner and double-walled exterior keep the water relatively warm for a while after heat, that exterior also ensure the kettle remains cool to touch on the outside. In addition, the lack of a heating element inside the kettle means there's no worry of it becoming covered in limescale, making descaling the kettle much easier.

Design: 4.5/5

Swan Alexa 1.5 Litre Smart Kettle review: performance

Boils water accurately
Boils water relatively quickly
Don't over fill or under fill

The Swan Alexa 1.5 Litre Smart Kettle is super-easy to use, once you're familiar. Before first use, clean the inside and outside with a damp cloth, and then fill the kettle to the MAX water level and set it to boil twice to ensure it's thoroughly clean before using.

Initially, use is likely to be via the digital display. When the kettle is in standby mode, touch the SET button to select the temperature, and touch again if you wish to change the setting. The kettle will then kick into operation.

Of course, you can continue to use the kettle in this way thereafter, but to get the most from the Swan Alexa kettle, you'll want to pair it with Amazon Alexa (more on this shortly).

Note that the instruction manual makes clear the importance of neither overfilling nor underfilling the kettle. Go over the MAX water level line and you risk hot water bubbling out of the spout and potentially scolding anyone standing close, and you fill less than the MIN line and you could damage the kettle.

Boiling a full kettle of water at 100ºC took 6 minutes and 2 seconds, while to heat that same amount to 40ºC took 2 minutes, 45 seconds. When the kettle is around 10 degrees away from the desired temperature, it will sound like the kettle has switched off, but it has merely slowed down to accurately achieve the desired temperature.

Water pours out of the Swan Alexa kettle's spout smoothly, with no drips landing on the countertop or skimming down the sides of the kettle – which is a massive bonus if you're in a hurry and can be a bit sloppy when pouring.

the swan alexa kettle looks like a typical jug kettle — (Image credit: Future / Jennifer Oksien)

In terms of noise, the kettle measured between 67dB – 71dB, which is similar to that of a normal conversation or the noise level inside a car when traveling. While this isn't loud, you will know that the kettle is switched on – especially when it finishes with a "beep!"

Performance: 4.5/5

Swan Alexa 1.5 Litre Smart Kettle review: App

To get the most out of your Swan Alexa 1.5 Litre Smart Kettle, you'll need to connect it to you Amazon Alexa hub and, therefore, the Alexa app.

There are two ways to pair the appliance: via QR code or the manual. Regardless of how you choose to pair your appliance, you'll need to refer to the QR code at some point during the process, so peel this off the front of the kettle and stick it onto the last page of the instruction manual for safe-keeping.

The instruction manual outlines the necessary steps to initially connect your kettle to the Alexa app; after which you can continue setup using the steps in the app itself.

setting up the swan alexa kettle in the alexa app — (Image credit: Future / Jennifer Oksien)

Connecting to Alexa in my old house with poor signal strength took a few attempts, but I got there eventually by taking the kettle into the front room where the Wi-Fi hub and my Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) sit, ensuring all three devices had the best chance of talking to each other.

The main thing setting the Swan Alexa 1.5 Litre Smart Kettle apart from the other kettles is that it's the only "kettle" that you can select in the list of devices that feature in the Alexa app. With it connected, I added a "Kitchen" group and set Routines.

The trick with Routines is to access it from the group you've just set up, which is in this case "Kitchen". You'll then need to "Add action" as "Swan kettle", which is found by selecting Smart Home > All Devices. I made a rookie error of not selecting an action, so when it came to the time I was expecting the kettle to autonomously start boiling, it didn't kick in to action.

swan alexa kettle in alexa app with kitchen group — (Image credit: Future / Jennifer Oksien)

I set up routines for "morning brew", "mid-morning break" and "afternoon tea" – but you can create as many routines as you wish.

Aside of Routines, I could also control the Swan Alexa kettle via the Alexa app, and using voice commands. The most success I had was via issuing the command: "Alexa – turn on the Swan". There was a delay of a split second before the kettle activated. You'll need to be mindful that if using voice to control the kettle, then it will heat the water to the last temperature set. The preset temperatures can be easily switched from within the app, or manually adjusted using the digital touchscreen display.

App: 5/5

Swan Alexa 1.5 Litre Smart Kettle review: should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Swan Alexa 1.5 Litre Smart Kettle review: also consider

If you want to make your home more connected, here are a couple of other options to consider...

Swan Alexa 1.5 Litre Smart Kettle review: how I tested

I used the Alexa kettle every day for a couple of weeks
I controlled it using the digital touchscreen and Amazon Alexa
It's changed how I make a hot drink

Having seen a lot of media coverage about the Swan Alexa 1.5 Litre Smart Kettle, I just had to see what all the fuss was about. On receipt, I used the kettle multiple times throughout the day to make hot drinks, controlling it using the digital touchscreen, voice command and Routines via the Alexa app.

It took some trial and error to get the Swan Alexa working in a way that was convenient for my needs, but having got there, the only thing I wish for now is that it could fill itself.

Nevertheless, it will be a complete mind-set change to go back to flipping a switch on a kettle now. Admittedly, I haven't reviewed many kettles during my time as a journalist; but I have used a lot of kettles, and love a hot hot drink as much as the next person, so to use an appliance that ultimately saves me time and effort is a win for me.

Dreametech L10s Ultra review: a robot vacuum powerhouse

6:18 pm | March 4, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: Amazon Alexa, Europe, UK, US | Comments: Off

Two-minute review

Launched in the latter half of 2022, on paper the Dreametech L10s Ultra appears to offer everything one could hope for in a robot vacuum. Automatic emptying, smooth navigation, tailored cleans with AI, powerful suction, remote supervision, voice commands and more; it sounds very impressive indeed.

Established in 2015, Dreame Technology's vision has been to "enhance the living quality of global users". With a focus on high-end cleaning appliances such as the best robot vacuums, cordless stick vacuums and wet and dry vacuums, the company joined the Xiaomi Ecological chain in 2017 to become the leading enterprise of smart household cleaning appliances.

With "innovation" the key focus over the next five years, the Dreametech launched the Dreametech L10s Ultra at the tail end of 2022 to set "a new standard for hands-free, smart home vacuuming and mopping".

I've been using this robot vacuum and mop in my three-bed home for a couple of months now. It's been busy roaming across the ground floor, where the surfaces comprise a combination of wooden and tiled flooring, plus short and deep-pile rugs, with plenty of obstacles around which to navigate. It's proved fantastic at removing daily dust and crumbs from the deep-pile rugs, and lightly mopping the tiled kitchen floor. However, spillages on the tiled floor, or larger debris such as cereal, has been more of a problem, with the latter often deposited elsewhere in the room during a clean. As such, I wouldn't say it's up there with the very best vacuum cleaners.

In my opinion, the Dreametech L10s Ultra's ability to self-empty and self-clean is by far its best feature. Aside from topping up the water tank and emptying the dust bin, this vac requires very little maintenance. Besides, Dreametech makes life easy for you by delivering notifications to your phone via the Dreamhome app, when such maintenance tasks need to be done.

Controlling the robot vacuum via the app is fairly seamless. On its first outing it accurately maps your home. I like that you can schedule and customize cleans, as well as set cleaning zones so, for example, you're sweeping and / or mopping only the areas that need it. The onboard camera and mic is also useful for pet owners to check in or soothe their furry friends, or to discover the Dreametech L10s Ultra's progress during a clean.

The vacuum arrives in a big, heavy box – and the dock itself is fairly large, too. As such, I positioned the dock in one location throughout the duration of the review. It looks crisp in white but this premium look, along with the premium features, come at a cost. With a list price of $1,299.99 / £1,099.99, the Dreametech L10s Ultras isn't cheap – but this is the price you pay for a totally automated cleaning.

Keep reading to learn more about how this robot vacuum cleaner performed through our time with it, to help you decide if it's the one for you.

Dreametech L10s Ultra review: Price and availability

List price: $1,299.99 / £1,099.99
Available in the US, UK and Europe

The Dreametech L10s Ultra is available to buy in the US, UK and most of Europe.

Available to buy direct from the Dreametech website, it can also be picked up from resellers such as Amazon US and Amazon UK for the eye-watering sum of $1,299.99 / £1,099.99, making it the most expensive robot vacuum we've reviewed so far on TechRadar. The closest rival robot vacuum at this price point is the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus at $1,099.99 / £999 / AU$2,199. The biggest difference between these two models is that the Combo J7 Plus doesn't come with self-clean functionality.

So, the Dreametech L10s Ultra offers complete automation – and, yes, it's an investment, but I feel those with the budget will appreciate that this robot vacuum takes care of daily floor cleaning without them having to be involved in the process at all.

Value: 3.5/5

Dreametech DreameBot L10s Ultra review: Specs

The Dreametech L10s Ultra comes with a robot vacuum and base station.

Dreametech L10s Ultra review: Design

Large upright base station
Slim robot vacuum
Good attention to detail

The Dreametech L10s Ultra arrived in a very large and heavy box. Rather than the result of the size of the robot vacuum itself, the sizable packaging was more down to the large upright base station also contained within.

At least set up was minimal. As far as the base station was concerned, it was simply a matter of filling the water tank to the Max line, inserting said water tank and waste water tank plus cleaning fluid into the unit, then I was good to go. The process was similar for the robot vacuum.

Like many robot vacuums I've tested, the side brushes here clipped on to the unit and the two mop pads (since the Dreametech L10s Ultra is a hybrid robot vac) secured to the underside of the unit.

It's also on the underside that you'll find the robot vac's brushbar – except the one here doesn't have any bristles. The rubber "brush" is capable of removing dust, hair and other debris from the floors throughout your home. According to Dreame, it should last for 6 - 12 months; with replacements available for $22.99 from the Dreametech website. In fact, you can even pick up a complete accessories kit for the L10s Ultra from Dreamtech's site, which includes a roller brush, two side brushes, two filters, six mop pads and two dust bags.

On the top of the robot vacuum sit three buttons, which will send the robot vacuum back to base and power it on / off. There are also three buttons around the top of the base tanks that through which you can initiate emptying, mop pad washing and mop pad drying.

buttons on top of the L10s ultra — Buttons on top of the robot vacuum (Image credit: Future)

Both the robot vacuum and upright base sport a gloss white finish with silver highlights. While it looks pretty swish when it's first set up, it's a magnet for attracting dust. It's nothing that a good microfiber cloth can't tackle, however.

Design: 5/5

Dreametech L10s Ultra review: Performance

AI-powered navigation
Auto-empties and self-cleans
Great at dust and small debris pick-up; not so great on anything larger
Connects with Amazon Alexa, Siri and Google Home

Take in the Dreametech L10s Ultra's specs, and on first site I was quite overwhelmed by its capabilities – in a good way. Dreametech has set out to deliver complete automation, something that I've yet to come across.

Offering the ability to schedule cleans through the app (more on this later), or to send the robot vacuum out on demand, I found that I could genuinely just set and forget about the L10s Ultra – which I named Kevin – as it embarked on its round of daily vacuum cleaning duties.

Many a robot vacuum cleaner will require you to initiate a mapping of your home before the unit sets out on its first clean. This wasn't the case with Kevin. Having charged the unit, and engaged a quick warm up by spinning the mop pads and brushes, Kevin went straight out on its maiden voyage to map and clean the ground floor of my home. I could hear the 5,300Pa of suction power kick in as the robot vacuum roamed from room to room, and the change in suction as it transitioned from a rug to hard flooring. I could also see the mop pads burst into action across hard floors, and lift up as the Dreametech L10s Ultra detected the edge of the rugs.

As a little test, I scattered flour and red sauce across the tiled flooring in my kitchen. I set the kitchen as a cleaning zone, so that only that area would be cleaned, and changed the dampness of the mop pad to "wet" – thinking it would be the best setting to clean away the sauce.

Kevin had no issue finding the kitchen. I could see the AI working once there to detect the particular spots that were splattered with sauce or covered by flour.

dreambot l10 ultra on hard floor mopping flour and sauce — The robot vacuum didn't especially like mopping flour or sauce on a tiled floor (Image credit: Future)

However, once cleaning was apparently complete, there remained sauce smeared across the tiles, and clumps of flour in areas which had originally been free of any flour in the first place. On top of that, the robot vacuum itself was super dirty. It's safe to say that water and flour do not mix well, and that this robot vac doesn't perform as well to clear up such spillages on hard floors.

During the time I've been reviewing The L10s Ultra, I've also noticed that suction is too strong for rag rugs – they end up bunching up and becoming trapped. Uneven floors are also a problem, since neither the mop pads nor brush adjust to make sufficient contact with the ground from different heights. Large debris, too, was often picked up but then later deposited elsewhere on the floor.

The most success I've had while using this robot vacuum is for cleaning deep-pile rugs, mopping light dust from hard floors, and for cleaning under furniture – with dust, hair and light debris lifted with ease.

dreamboth l10 utra under furniture — It was great cleaning under furniture (Image credit: Future)

It is possible to control the Dreametech L10s Ultra using your voice, by connecting to Amazon Alexa, Siri and Google Home. Personally, I found this the ultimate in luxury. Uttering the words "Alexa, start vacuuming" would see Kevin trundle off to clean. However, more often than not, I'd use the app on my phone. Since the robot vacuum would often chew on a rag rug or become stuck on a transition strip between the kitchen and hallway, it was useful to get a view of what was going on through the camera in the app from wherever I was at the time.

The Dreametech L10s Ultra self-empties and self-cleans at a frequency that suits you – more on this shortly. Delivering up to 60 days' cleaning, you'll just need to replace the bag in the dock after this time. Other maintenance includes keeping the water tank topped up for mopping, ensuring there's sufficient cleaning fluid, and that the dirty water tank is emptied when you're notified. The docking station will also benefit from a wipe-down every now and then, to avoid any unpleasant odors – and, although the bristleless brush bar didn't get in a tangle with hair, the side brush did have a few strands wrapped around it, which will need freeing every so often.

dirty water tank of the dreamtech l10s ultra — Dirty water tank and clean water tank in the base unit (Image credit: Future)

The one thing that did take me somewhat by surprise is the level of noise the Dreametech L10s Ultra makes. Measuring in at 52 - 65dB during self-cleaning, 63dB when mopping, 70dB when vacuuming, and 87dB when it self-emptied, the noise of the latter is equivalent to that of a food blender in operation, or a noisy restaurant. In addition, the unit must draw out a lot of power to self-empty because it tripped the fuse each time it did this after a clean in my house, until I moved it to another plug. Note if the robot vac doesn't self empty it's become a little clogged so do ensure that it does empty itself, or be prepared to empty it yourself by hand.

Dreametech L10s Ultra review: App

Easy to install
Set up scheduled cleaning and cleaning zones
Access real-time camera, microphone and speaker

On the inside of the docking station's lid, you'll find the installation instructions with a QR code to scan in order for the Dreamehome app to be downloaded. And just like the physical unit, there are minimal things to set up in the app, too.

Nevertheless, I found the app pretty essential. Compatible with iOS and Android, with no difference between the versions, as far as I know, it's through the app that you can tailor cleaning to suit your home and schedule. From the first time the Dreametech L10s Ultra mapped out the ground floor level of my home, I was able to adjust the water and suction level plus tweak settings so it was more customized to the cleaning routines.

dreamehome app settings — In Settings of the Dreamehome app you can adjust the water and suction level of the robot vacuum (Image credit: Future)

Navigating around the app will take some getting used to. In fact, look at the first page and you might feel there isn't much functionality available beyond activating the real-time camera, starting a clean or begin recharging. Click on the three black dots in the top-right corner, however, and from there you can share the device, rename it or delete it.

Sweep back over to the image of the Dreametech L10s Ultra, and click on it to view the map of your floor plan. Running across the top of the map you'll see the cleaning area in meter-squared, runtime and battery life. To the right is access to the cleaning modes, self-cleaning settings and the real-time camera. In Cleaning mode, you can choose between sweeping, mopping or vacuuming, while also being able to adjust the suction settings and dampness of the mop pad. You can even adjust the cleaning sequence – the order of cleaning – by selecting the various rooms and sliding them to reorder them to your preference. This did prove a little tricky, because my room 5 was half way off the screen, but a little patience will get you there in the end.

adjusting the cleaning sequence in the dreamehome app — Tweaking the cleaning sequence is a useful thing to do in the app (Image credit: Future)

Toggle to Self-Cleaning and here you can select the frequency at which the Dreametech L10s Ultra returns to the dock for a self-clean. The default is set by area of 20m2, plus the mop-pad drying times and auto-empty frequency. I didn't play around with this too much because the ground floor of my home wasn't so big that the robot vac would become so mucky that it required more frequent cleaning.

The feature that offers the most engagement with the Dreametech L10s Ultra is the real-time camera. Enter your passcode – which you set during the setup phase – and you can check-in on your robot vacuum during a clean (although you'll have to pause cleaning) and while it is in situ on the dock. This feature proved super-useful when I was away from home and I wanted to check on the progress of a clean. It was equally helpful when I wanted to speak with (or spook) whoever was in the room at the same time as the robot. This could be ideal for pet owners, too, who want to check in on their furry friends.

Note that you can also remote control the robot vac when it's in standby, and take a 20-second video clip or photograph, which is stored in the app's gallery.

camera view on the l10s ultra — Real-time camera view (Image credit: Future)

From the app you can also view cleaning history, set scheduled cleanups, tweak the carpet cleaning settings, see the accessory use, and so much more.

Of the settings noted, I found the scheduled clean up and accessory usage most useful. I set a daily scheduled clean of my kitchen floor, but you can choose which ever time or frequency or room/s you want to clean.

Unfortunately, the app doesn't deliver prompts for when a mop pad needs replacing, for example, or the filter needs a clean.

Aside from the device settings, the app's "Me" section covers essential areas of language, region, messages, help and about. From here you can also learn how to hook up the Dreametech L10s Ultra to Amazon Alexa, Google Home or Siri. For each of these options it's best to go into the voice control apps and follow the in-app instructions.

I connected the robot vacuum to Amazon Alexa, which shows as "linked" in the Dreamehome app.

App: 5/5

Dreametech L10s Ultra review: Battery life

Run-time of up to 210 minutes
Automatically returns to base when needs to charge

Before first use, the Dreametech L10s Ultra will need to be charged. In my experience, this initial charge took approximately five hours.

The robot vacuum is stated to offer a run-time of up to 210 minutes – this is when vacuuming in Quiet mode only; you can expect 160 minutes when vacuuming and mopping in Quiet mode. I was unable to test the accuracy in both instances because the Dreametech L10s Ultra was returning to base following each clean, which lasted for no longer than 30 minutes across the 375sq ft ground floor of my home.

When the robot vacuum returned to base it emptied the bin, self-cleaned and recharged. You can check the battery status in the app, and opt to start a recharge from there too.

Battery: 5/5

dreametech dreambot l10s ultra charging — Robot vacuum is docked and charging (Image credit: Future)

Should you buy the Dreametech L10s Ultra?

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Don't buy it if...

Dreametech L10s Ultra review: Also consider

If a robot vacuum isn't for you, why not consider a cordless vacuum? There's no automation, but you retain freedom from cables.

How I tested the Dreametech L10s Ultra

I've been using it in my home for a couple of months
It's been tested on low-pile and deep-pile rugs, and hard flooring
I controlled it using the app or Amazon Alexa

I've had the Dreametech L10s Ultra set up in my home for a couple of months. Positioned in my second reception room, I tucked it beside a storage unit, out of the way. My second reception room is on the ground floor, with easy access to the kitchen and main reception room.

The ground floor of my home is covered in a combination of surfaces, including tiles, hard flooring and rugs. I found that during testing the Dreametech L10s Ultra performed best on deep-pile rugs and flooring that didn't require scrubbing. These cleans were controlled predominately via the app, but I also connected the robot vac to Amazon Alexa to issue voice commands.

I've reviewed a number of robot vacuum cleaners, and this model certainly arrives with the most features and intelligence I've seen to date. I'd have preferred for it not to be so loud when emptying, and do a better job of cleaning more stubborn messes.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed February 2023

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