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After 3 weeks with Samsung’s Galaxy A56, I’m closer than ever to ditching my iPhone for Android
6:55 am | April 3, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phones Samsung Galaxy Phones | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: Two-minute review

Mid-range and budget smartphones are growing in popularity as flagship devices increasingly come with heftier price tags. That doesn’t mean the best cheap phones are slower, less durable versions of their high-end counterparts – in fact, they offer unique value to budget-conscious buyers. In this category, the Samsung Galaxy A series is perhaps the best example, and the A56 carries on the tradition.

Having launched alongside the A36 and A26, the Galaxy A56 is the most premium of the trio, boasting more RAM and better cameras. That doesn’t mean it’s expensive – far from it as it’s priced at just $499 / £499 / AU$699. The three siblings, however, share key features, like a 120Hz refresh rate, a 5,000mAh battery and an IP67 water- and dust-resistance rating.

The Samsung Galaxy A56 is the ideal smartphone for the average user, offering seriously fantastic showings across its cameras, display, design and battery.

The Galaxy A56 exudes class with its metal and glass design, feeling just as premium in hand and on the eyes, with a finish reminiscent of high-end devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 or the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but at a fraction of the cost.

I received the Awesome Olive model for this review – though I must admit, I had my eyes on the pink variant. Regardless of color choice, the A56’s build quality is undeniable. Improving upon the already impressive Galaxy A55 in every way, Samsung's mid-range marvel is bigger, thinner and lighter.

Featuring a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED panel, its display delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and smooth visuals thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate. As someone who values high-quality screens for watching content, I was genuinely impressed.

Samsung Galaxy A56 side buttons, metal frame, and cameras

Every inch of the Galaxy A56 looks and feels premium (Image credit: Future)

This quality continues in its battery life. It sports the same 5,000mAh battery as its predecessor, but that's still an impressive capacity in a budget phone – and my experience backs up Samsung's claim of up to 29 hours of video playback. The Samsung Galaxy A56 has also seen an upgrade from 25W to 45W charging, making top-ups faster and more convenient for most users, with a charging speed now equal to that of the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Both serious and casual photographers will be happy too, as the Galaxy A56 rivals the Motorola Edge 50 Pro for the title of best budget camera phone, though it's still far away from competing with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The setup includes a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, a 5MP macro camera and a 12MP front-facing shooter. Whether you're capturing night shots, macro details or everyday moments, the A56 delivers sharp, well-balanced images with a variety of useful features.

Speaking of useful features, Samsung's famous Galaxy AI isn't present in its budget line of phones. However, the sprinkling of AI features Samsung does provide – like AI photo editing, note-taking, Google Gemini functionality and more – add a tasteful amount of flair without overwhelming users who may not want AI integration.

Fortnite on the Galaxy A56

I played Fortnite on the Galaxy A56 and it struggled (Image credit: Future)

Ironically, the one area in which the A56 isn't up to scratch – even compared to similarly priced phones – is its power. Don't get me wrong: it's still perfectly suited to the average user who wants to call, text, video chat, scroll socials, watch the best streaming services and play games like Clash Royale, but I think it could do with a touch more grunt under the hood. It's simply not the phone to buy if you need power from your handset. When playing Fortnite, for example, gameplay was seriously choppy even at low graphics settings and the minimum 20FPS.

That’s not a deal breaker, though. At its price point, the Samsung Galaxy A56 is a fantastic choice for the cost-conscious user who wants a well-balanced phone that looks and feels premium.

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: price and availability

  • Launch price: $499 / £499 / AU$699
  • Released March 19 in the UK and March 27 in Australia
  • Landing in the US later in 2025

The Samsung Galaxy A56 is one of the best budget phones on the market in terms of value, offering a seriously good experience for a truly wallet-friendly $499 /£499 / AU$699 price, with other phones either performing better at higher price points, or offering lesser experiences at a similar price.

Unlike the Samsung Galaxy A55, which never made it to the US market, Samsung officially confirmed on March 1 that the A56 would debut in the US "later this year", while the A36 and A26 became available on March 28 and 26 respectively.

Australians enjoy the same price on the Samsung Galaxy A56 as they did with its predecessor. However, potential owners in the UK will have to fork out an extra £60 compared to last year, with the A55 releasing for only £439.

The Samsung Galaxy A56 is only available in the 8GB RAM, 256GB storage configuration in the UK, and comes in Awesome Olive, Awesome Graphite, Awesome Lightgrey and Awesome Pink.

Importantly, while Australians only get two color options – olive and graphite – they also get two storage options, with a 128GB model priced at AU$699, and the 256GB model costing AU$799. There is also a 12GB RAM model available in select regions.

The only other comparable phone in terms of price versus performance is the near-flagship Google Pixel 9a, releasing soon at $499 / £499 / AU$849. We haven't reviewed the Pixel 9a yet, but if it continues the success of its predecessor, it makes the A56 harder to recommend in the US and UK given they are the same price.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: specs

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: display

  • 120Hz refresh rate
  • 1,900-nit peak outdoors
  • 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display

Watching a nature documentary on the Galaxy A56

Watching a nature documentary on the Galaxy A56 is a lovely experience (Image credit: Future)

I already loved the 6.6-inch display on the A55 – it struck a perfect balance between being comfortable to hold and offering an upgraded viewing experience over my 6.1-inch iPhone 15.

Samsung has taken that a step further with the A56, making it even more comfortable in hand while increasing the screen size to 6.7 inches for an even better entertainment experience. Whether I was watching videos, reading, gaming or video calling, the 1080 x 2340 Super AMOLED display provided one of the best viewing experiences I’ve had on a budget smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy A56 home screen outdoors

Peak brightness is fine on the Galaxy A56 home screen, but it could be better (Image credit: Future)

The only noticeable cost-cutting comes in the display’s peak brightness. While I never struggled to see the screen, its 1,200-nit brightness is lower than I’d like to see in 2025 – though it does bump up to 1,900 in direct sunlight. While this improves on the Galaxy A55’s 1,000-nit peak, it falls short of competitors like the Google Pixel 9a (2,700 nits) and the Poco F6 Pro (4,000 nits).

In every other aspect, though, the A56’s display feels truly premium. It’s even protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, adding durability against scratches and drops. While I didn’t test a full 2m drop onto concrete, a few accidental drops left it completely unscathed.

  • Display score: 4.5/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: design

  • Thinner and lighter than the Galaxy A55
  • Gorilla Glass Victus
  • IP67 water and dustproof rating

Samsung Galaxy A56 back design

The Samsung Galaxy A56 in the Olive looks quite good even though it's my least favorite color (Image credit: Future)

I loved the Samsung Galaxy A55, particularly its design – a blend of metal and glass that gave it a supremely premium feel at a truly budget price. The A56 improves on that in every way – refining an already impressive formula. I received the Awesome Olive colorway, which was probably my least favorite of the four options, yet I was still thoroughly impressed by how good it looks.

The A56 features a slightly larger 6.7-inch display (up from 6.6 inches) and is about a millimeter taller and wider to accommodate the bigger screen. Bigger may not always be better, but Samsung has offset the increased size with a 0.8mm reduction in thickness and a significant 15g drop in weight – making an exceptional design near perfect.

Or perhaps just perfect. Not only does the metal frame enhance the phone’s premium feel and sturdy build, but Samsung has also added subtle ridges to the frame – something I don’t recall seeing or feeling on the A55 when I reviewed it. The ridges didn’t necessarily improve the grip for me, but they served as a satisfying fidget point when I ran my fingers across them.

Samsung Galaxy A56 back cover and side design ridges

The slightly ridged chassis edges don't necessarily improve grip, but I don't mind it at all (Image credit: Future)

That’s about all the superlatives I can give the A56’s design. It’s everything you want a phone to look and feel like, regardless of its price. It’s also protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, offering excellent resistance against scratches and drops.

As with avoiding the 2m drop test, I didn’t throw the IP67-rated Galaxy A56 in the bath; however, my colleagues and I have spent plenty of time with Gorilla Glass to know how good the durability can be – and I had absolutely no issue the few times I did get the phone wet while doing the dishes and walking in the rain.

Big, beautiful, lightweight, and impressively durable, the A56 is an exceptionally designed piece of technology. The fact that it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg makes it all the more impressive.

  • Design score: 5/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: software

  • No full Galaxy AI suite, but some “Awesome Intelligence” features are available
  • Six years of software and security support
  • Plenty of UI customizations with new Now Bar feature

Galaxy A56 software

The software package on Samsung's cheaper phones are as good as that on the flagships (Image credit: Future)

From a software perspective, the Samsung Galaxy A56 might be the most impressive budget-focused phone I’ve personally used. And that’s despite my colleagues praising the Google Pixel 8a for bringing Google’s AI tools to a wider audience. That’s not to say the A56 misses out entirely on AI features – it has a smattering of useful ones that won’t overwhelm the average user – but if AI is your top priority, you’ll need to shell out for the Samsung Galaxy S25 or wait for the Pixel 9a.

The AI-powered tools in the A56 aren’t being called Galaxy AI, instead appearing under the branding “Awesome Intelligence”, although similarities abound.

Samsung lays these features out neatly within the Settings menu and includes tools that let you remove objects from photos, capture the perfect group photo and receive AI-powered suggestions for improving images during editing.

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AI image remastering on the Galaxy A56

A screenshot of the Galaxy A56's AI remastering tool (Image credit: Future)
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AI object removal Galaxy A56

Removing objects with the object eraser – see the next image for results (Image credit: Future)
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AI Object removal Galaxy A56

Same image with several objects in the background removed with AI (Image credit: Future)

That's far from it, though. Within the camera app, you can create Custom Filters based on mood and style, quickly edit videos with Auto Trim or even translate real-world text when in foreign lands with Bixby Vision. AI Select provides suggested actions when you highlight something on-screen, Read Aloud will read articles or passages aloud for you, and you even get Google's Circle to Search tool.

That’s about it for AI, but there's plenty more to love about the Galaxy A56's software. For starters, you get an exceptionally clean user experience with minimal pre-installed bloatware.

Customization options are also extensive. On the wallpaper front, there are featured selections, interesting graphic designs and a variety of colors with different personalization options within. You can also set a dynamic lock screen that changes wallpapers every time you unlock the device, with five categories to choose from.

And that’s just the beginning. Once you settle on a wallpaper color, you can customize the system-wide color palette to match – or opt for basic colors instead. If that’s not enough, you can buy a full theme from the Galaxy Themes store to overhaul your device's entire aesthetic.

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Personalisation software within the Galaxy A56

Wallpaper customization options galore! (Image credit: Future)
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Personalisation software within the Galaxy A56

If you don't like the themes on offer, you can spend a little extra cash on purchasing a new one direct from the phone (Image credit: Future)

You can choose between a traditional home screen or one with a separate app drawer, adjust icon sizes, and independently tweak the grid layout for the home screen, app drawer and folders.

One of my favorite additions, though, is the Now Bar. Originally a flagship feature in One UI 7, I was surprised (and delighted) to see it make its way to Samsung’s budget line.

It may seem like a small addition, but it can be an incredibly useful tool. Acting much like Apple’s Dynamic Island, the Now Bar sits at the bottom of the lock screen, working as a media manager that displays your current song or countdown timer, or displaying live notifications for specific apps like Maps, Samsung Health, Clock, Voice Recorder, Samsung Notes and Emergency Sharing.

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Samsung Galaxy A56 Now bar

The new Now Bar feature is nice to have on a budget phone (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 Now bar

Just tap it from the lock screen to open further actions (Image credit: Future)

With flagship-level features and a remarkably clean UI, the Samsung Galaxy A56 delivers an outstanding user experience for a budget phone. It also strikes a perfect balance with AI – offering just enough functionality to be useful for those who want it, while remaining unobtrusive for those who don’t.

And, more than just the cherry on top, especially for penny-pinching buyers, is the fact that the Galaxy A56 will see six years of security support and software updates – letting you enjoy its value for years to come.

  • Software score: 4.5/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: cameras

  • Rear camera trio with 50MP main
  • 12MP front camera
  • Helpful AI tools like Best Face

Unless you have a specific need – like top-tier gaming performance or a battery that can handle marathon sessions – a smartphone’s camera is arguably one of its most important features. From a parent wanting to capture family moments, a hobbyist hiker aiming for the perfect summit selfie, to a serious photographer looking for a reliable backup, any phone worth considering needs to nail its camera. And the Samsung Galaxy A56 does just that.

Simply put, the Galaxy A56 takes some seriously good photos – at any distance.

Its rear camera array includes a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 5MP macro lens. While a higher megapixel count is great, it’s the phone’s image processing that determines the results.

The Galaxy A55 struggled with this: while it produced crisp, well-defined shots, many mid-range and budget phones tend to over-process images, making colors look too saturated and unnatural. The A56 avoids both extremes. While photos come out slightly cooler than I’d prefer, they’re impressively natural, detailed and well balanced.

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Camera samples

Skyscraper with the 50MP main camera (Image credit: Future)
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Camera samples

Capturing the beautiful blue sky (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

A kookaburra sitting with the 12MP ultra-wide (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

The same kookaburra, captured with 10x zoom (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

(Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

(Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

(Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

Sunny mornings with 1x zoom (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 camera samples

Same trees in 2x zoom (Image credit: Future)

The camera app includes several modes: Fun (which applies Snapchat-like filters), Portrait, Photo, and Video. It also allows easy toggling between the 12MP and 50MP lenses, quick filter application, aspect-ratio adjustments, and motion-photo settings.

For video, you can enable Super Steady mode to counteract shaky hands or turn it off to adjust frame rates: Space-saving HD at 30fps, Full HD at up to 60p, and Ultra HD at 30fps. Auto Framing keeps subjects centered automatically.

That’s not all – Samsung delivers a feature-rich camera experience on a budget here. Tapping ‘More’ unlocks additional modes, including Pro, Pro Video, Night, Food, Panorama, Macro, Slow Motion, Hyperlapse, Dual Rec, and Single Take.

When it comes to macro and night photography, the A56 is one of the more impressive budget phones I’ve used. Macro shots are often incredibly difficult to get right, especially if your subject isn't still, but I had no issue with the A56. And while taking photos in the middle of the night might not be common practice, the A56 performed impressively in low-light environments – taking clear snaps even with almost zero light present.

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Photos taken using the Galaxy A56's macro lens

The Galaxy A56's macro lens gets good results even when the subject is swaying in the wind or slowly crawling (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 low-light photography

Bluey and Bingo captured in night mode (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 low-light photography

The same photo with night mode turned off (Image credit: Future)
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Samsung Galaxy A56 low-light photography

The same photo with the (weak) light turned on (Image credit: Future)

The Samsung Galaxy A56 isn’t the best camera phone I’ve ever used, nor is it necessarily the best camera phone I've used in this price range – that battle is fought between the Pixel 8a and Motorola Edge 50 Pro – but it continues the A56’s overarching theme: consistent, excellent performance across the board.

  • Camera score: 4/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: performance

  • Performs well under long periods of stress
  • Not built for gaming

Fortnite home page on the Galaxy A56

While Fortnite looks good on the Galaxy A56, the phone struggles with high-intensity tasks (Image credit: Future)

The Samsung Galaxy A56's weakest feature is without a doubt its performance. That’s not to say it’s bad – as I’ve previously mentioned, it’s more than enough for the average user. But to keep prices down, concessions have to be made. For some cheap phones, it's a lower-quality display or increased fragility. In the case of the Galaxy A56 and its Exynos 1580 chipset, it was how it performed under heavier loads – like mobile gaming.

In our Geekbench benchmark tests – which measure the phone's CPU performance in everyday tasks and GPU performance in real-world applications, the A56 performed well – beating the gaming-powered Poco F6 Pro, and only falling a few hundred points short of the Pixel 9.

However, in our two 3DMark benchmarks – Wild Life and Wild Life Extreme – that test the overall graphics performance and how the phone deals with both high performance in short bursts, it didn't look so good.

Its numbers aren't necessarily bad. In fact, it showed a massive improvement over the A55 in both. However, its single and multi-core scores of 1,330 and 3,759 weren't too far ahead of the Motorola Edge 50 Pro (1,132 / 3,076) – which isn't known for its gaming power. The A56 was also thoroughly beaten by the Poco F6 Pro (1,375 / 4,733), and both phones can easily be found for around the same price or less.

In terms of sustained performance though, the A56 was impressive. In the Wild Life Extreme Stress Test – a 20-minute benchmark that assesses stability under heavy loads – it scored a top loop of 4,907, a low of 4,649, an impressive 94.9% stability and remained cool temperature-wise. For reference, I've seen the S25 Ultra score higher peaks, but also show less stability in this test, dropping to a loop score of less than 3,000.

As good as some of those numbers look on paper, it was a different experience during real-world use, with the A56 struggling when I played games like Fortnite Mobile – it failed to maintain even 20FPS, frequently stuttering on the lowest graphics settings. For comparison, the similarly priced Poco F6 Pro easily sustains 60fps at high settings for hours.

Fortnite frames per second on the Galaxy A56

11FPS while playing Fortnite on the Galaxy A56 was the best I could do (Image credit: Future)

That said, these results still mark a significant improvement over the A55, a phone I loved when I tested it last year. The benchmark numbers may not impress, but they don’t take away from the A56’s status as an excellent budget phone for the average user, and I can attest that it holds up really well for the daily duties you’d want from a smartphone.

  • Performance score: 3.5/5

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: battery

  • 5,000 mAh battery that easily sees you through the day
  • 45W wired charging

Samsung Galaxy A56 charging

It's not groundbreaking, but the battery life is quite impressive (Image credit: Future)

Keeping in line with its display, design, performance and cameras, the battery of the Samsung Galaxy A56 is perfectly suited to the average user.

My daily testing routine started at 5:30am, with an hour-long podcast while I walked the dog, followed by a quick music-fueled workout accompanied by music before getting ready for work. Then there was about an hour of scrolling and listening during my commute, before I arrived at the office, where I’d use it for background music via a set of Bluetooth headphones.

Naturally, I needed a phone that could keep up, and the A56’s 5,000mAh battery delivered. Samsung claims the device offers up to 29 hours of video playback, so I put it to the test. Watching a YouTube video at 50% brightness, I picked up the phone 18 hours later to find it still had 39% battery remaining.

As another test, I played The Dark Knight Rises twice back-to-back (totaling 5 hours, 30 minutes) at 50% brightness, and the phone lost just 27% battery. Though these tests were conducted in different environments and with varying starting percentages, the results reinforced one thing: the A56 can go the distance.

For everyday use – texting, calling, video chatting, scrolling social media, checking emails and some light gaming – the A56 is more than up to the task, easily lasting a full day.

As for charging, you won’t get ultra-fast speeds like 120W or even 67W, but the A56 does offer 45W fast charging – an upgrade from the middling 25W speed of the Galaxy A55. That puts the new budget phone on par with its Galaxy S25 Ultra cousin.

Using a 67W wall charger, the A56 gained:

8% in 5 minutes
Just under 30% in 15 minutes
A little over 55% in 30 minutes
A full charge in around 85 minutes

A 5,000mAh battery is far from an astounding inclusion in a specs list in 2025, but it’s still a notable positive. Paired with moderately fast charging, the A56’s battery – like the rest of the phone – is great.

And while 120W or even 67W charging is a helpful addition when you have it, it's far from necessary – and 55% battery in a quick 30-minute charge is plenty if you forget to plug it in overnight on the rare occasion.

  • Battery score: 4/5

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy A56?

Buy it if...

You want a large display without spending top dollar

The Samsung Galaxy A56's 6.7-inch display is an expansive screen that improves upon its predecessor, rivals the S25 series, and produces a vibrant and immersive experience.

You want a jack-of-all-trades handset
The A56 excels as an all-around performer, balancing design, display, camera and battery life in a way that caters to a wide range of needs. It handles daily tasks like texting, social media and video calls seamlessly, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable, versatile phone.

You're shopping for value on a budget
If you’re after a phone that offers impressive features without breaking the bank, the A56 is a standout option. With a solid camera, long-lasting battery and smooth performance, it provides excellent value for those seeking a capable device without spending a fortune.

Don't buy it if...

You're a serious mobile gamer
While the A56 can handle light gaming, it’s not built for heavy gaming sessions or more intense games. If you're looking for a phone that can deliver high frame rates and smooth performance in graphically intense games, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

You want the best AI tools
The A56 offers basic AI features, but if you’re after the cutting-edge AI tools, you’ll need to shell out more for the likes of the Galaxy S25 or the Pixel 9 flagships.

Samsung Galaxy A56 review: also consider

Google Pixel 9a
We loved the Google Pixel 8a, and we're expecting five big upgrades from the Pixel 9a – namely a wealth of AI features alongside possibly the best camera on the market at its price and a 5,100mAh battery. Easily the biggest competitor to the Galaxy A56, if you want AI and cameras, it might be the better choice.

Xiaomi Poco F6 Pro
If you have more of a mobile gaming focus, but still want a phone that offers solid all-round performance and 120W charging, consider the Poco F6 Pro. Its bloatware will be confronting for first-time users, but once you get past that, it's a very good smartphone at this price range.
Read our full Poco F6 Pro review

Apple iPhone 16e
Android devices offer a greater amount of value compared to iPhones, with even older Apple devices still asking for a considerable price. However, the iPhone 16e offers Apple Intelligence, smooth performance and seamless Apple integration at a much more affordable price than the mainline iPhone 16 family.
Read our full Apple iPhone 16e review

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy A56

  • Review test period: 3 weeks
  • Testing included: Everyday usage, including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
  • Tools used: Geekbench 6, 3DMark, native Android stats

The Samsung Galaxy A56 was my sole mobile device for the three weeks I spent with it, and I frankly wish I didn't have to return it after my testing period. As my regular daily device, I used it to listen to podcasts, check social media, watch YouTube and text, with some light reading thrown in. Oh, and a whole heap of dog photos.

Of course, I also put the Galaxy A56 through its paces with Geekbench 6 and 3DMark benchmark tests to see how the phone would handle activities that I may not use in my regular daily use, but someone else might. I did these tests several times, in different environments and different battery stages to ensure accurate results.

Why you can trust TechRadar

☑️ 100s of smartphones reviewed
☑️ 15 years of product testing
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☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech

This leads me to my gaming tests. It's always nice when you can make playing games part of your job, but I'm far from a mobile gamer. I love Marvel Snap, enjoy a few rounds of Clash Royale and dabble in some Wordle and Connections every now and then, but that's it. As part of my testing, I did play – or attempt to play – more serious mobile games like Fortnite on my Galaxy A56 to see how it would handle the life of a mobile gamer.

Given my experience testing other budget phones, including the Samsung Galaxy A55, I was equipped with the knowledge to make good comparisons with the A56.

Read more about how we test

[First reviewed April 2025]

I usually hate cleaning, but the Roborock F25 Ace wet-dry vacuum made it kind of satisfying
7:35 am | March 31, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances Vacuums | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Roborock F25 Ace: Two-minute review

If you’re someone like me whose home features predominantly hard floors, then investing in a wet-dry vacuum cleaner can be a godsend as it drastically reduces the amount of time it takes to clean, while also delivering excellent results.

The Roborock F25 Ace is the second wet-dry vacuum cleaner I’ve personally tested and after using it twice a week for four weeks straight, I’ve retired the previous one I had into storage.

Not only is the F25 Ace ludicrously simple to set up for first-time use, it’s left my floors looking cleaner, and I can’t feel any dust or grit underfoot after a session, something I’ve previously experienced with other such floor washers. It feels especially well built too, and I have every confidence in its reliability for years to come.

The F25 Ace is the range-topping model in Roborock’s latest F25 series of wet-dry vacuums. How many models it sits above depends on where you live. In the US, for example, there are four other models below it and a separate F25 Ace Combo that adds a vacuum cleaner attachment for soft flooring – much like the Tineco Floor One Switch S6 that I’d been using before this. Australia gets just two F25 models, with the Ace sitting just above the standard F25. At the time of writing, this series isn’t available in the UK but I’ve had confirmation it’s “coming soon”.

Roborock F25 Ace vacuum cleaner

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

What does this range-topping model offer over its lower-specced siblings? A more informative display (in comparison to other models, anyway), app connectivity and a few other notable cleaning features, including power-assisted wheels and an automatic detergent dispenser, both of which ultimately provide a more convenient and thorough cleaning experience.

What made my time using the F25 Ace particularly joyful was the fact it can maneuver around corners and furniture with ease thanks to a pivoting cleaning head, and the ability to lie completely flat to help get to hard-to-reach places, like under furniture. This maneuvrability, combined with its excellent cleaning results, make it a strong contender to be one of the best wet-dry vacuum cleaners.

The self-clean cycle is especially effective and, with the right settings activated, quiet too. It was a good job the hot self-clean cycle was effective, as the F25 Ace returned plenty of dirty water following each cleaning run around my home. The amount of dust and debris on my wooden floors was invisible to my eyes, but the Roborock machine was able to pick it all up and then some! Both the clean and dirty water tanks are simple to remove, clean out and refill, and depending on how large your home is you may not need to refill the clean tank after every use. In my case, it held enough water to complete two full cleans and two self-clean cycles.

There is plenty of customization on tap via the app, and you’re able to make just as many adjustments – the amount of water used during cleaning, the amount of detergent released, how thorough of a self-clean you want the machine to perform and more. There’s quite a lot to get your head around and certainly more than I’ve been used to from a vacuum cleaner, but they’re features I certainly appreciated.

At $549.99 / AU$999.99 it’s competitively priced compared to its closest rivals. It is still a decent chunk of cash, however, so I would say only people whose homes are virtually all hard floors should consider buying it. If you have a mixture of hard and soft flooring, then the aforementioned Tineco machine may be better suited to your needs, or two separate, more affordable vacuum cleaners.

Roborock F25 Ace review: Price & availability

  • Available since mid-February in US and late March in Australia; currently not sold in the UK
  • List price $549.99 / AU$999
  • Available directly from Roborock and authorized retailers, including Amazon

The Roborock F25 Ace made its official debut at CES 2025 in January and was available to buy in the US by mid-February. It’s currently enjoying a staggered launch around the world, with Australians able to purchase the appliance since late March 2025. At the time of writing, it’s been confirmed for launch in the UK, but pricing is still to be announced.

The F25 Ace is listed on Roborock’s US store with a list price of $549.99, while in Australia it’s available for AU$999.99. This puts it in the upper mid-range price bracket based on our experience and in direct competition with other wet-dry vacuum cleaners such as the Dyson G1, which costs $699.99 / £599.99 / AU$999, and the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro, which tops our list of the best wet-dry vacuum cleaners and costs $799 / £599 / AU$1,299.99. The latter can regularly be picked up at a discount however, especially during major sales events.

There are several other models within the F25 series depending on where you live. The US store also lists the F25 Alt, which misses out on smart dirt detection, the extra-informative LED display and app connectivity. There is also an F25 Ace Combo for $749.99, which adds a separate stick vacuum cleaner for cleaning carpets and other areas in handheld mode.

Roborock says the filter and roller head should be replaced every 12 months at the latest. A spare filter is supplied, but not a roller. The company has listed pricing for official replacement parts, but third-party options are available, the cost of which depends on where you live. You’ll also need to factor in the cost of replacement bottles of the floor cleaning solution, which you can get from the official Roborock store. The company says you should only use its own solution with the F25 Ace.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Roborock F25 Ace review: specs

Roborock F25 Ace review: Design

Roborock F25 Ace roller head

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
  • Lightweight and easy to maneuvre
  • Lie-flat design for hard-to-reach areas
  • LED display is good, but not great

There’s minimal effort required to get the F25 Ace up and running. Once you remove the pieces from the box, all you need to do is clip the handle into the main unit, then snap on the roller head. There are various pieces of protective packaging to remove but, otherwise, that’s all there is to it.

You’ll want to plug the charging dock in and place the machine onto it immediately for two reasons: to make sure there’s power before you use it for the first time, and connect it to the app via your home Wi-Fi network. There aren’t any other attachments included with the F25 Ace, aside from a small brush to help clean the filter and dirty-water tank, a small bottle of cleaning detergent and a spare filter.

Roborock F25 Ace clean-water tank removed

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

The Roborock F25 Ace follows a similar design language to floor washers from other brands, such as our current favorite wet-dry vacuum cleaner, the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro. Both are sleek grey-and-white units with the dirty-water tank on the front and a long, non-adjustable handle with a few control buttons for power, cleaning mode selection and self-cleaning. The S7 Pro does, however, come with a spare roller head, something not included with the F25 Ace.

Where the design of these two machines differs, and what is one of the F25 Ace’s key selling points, is that its clean-water tank is at the base of the machine, placed over the roller head beneath. On the Tineco Switch S7 Pro, the clean water tank is at the rear, which prevents it from tilting too far back.

Having the clean-water tank positioned towards the base of the machine, says Roborock, allows it to have a lower center of gravity, making it easier to move around your home and lay it flat to push under furniture. It also provides added weight to ensure the roller head remains in constant contact with hard floors to help improve its cleaning efficiency.

The dirty-water tank is on the front of the machine, as is the case with similar models from other brands. The capacity remains the same across all models within the F25 series at 720ml (the same as with the Tineco S7 Pro). The clean-water tank maxes out at 740ml, which is less than the S7 Pro’s 850ml capacity. It’s also smaller than other models in the F25 series, which get a larger 870ml water tank. Despite that, I was able to regularly get two full mopping runs from a single fill across a cleaning area of approximately 120 sqm / 1,300 sqft in my apartment.

Where Roborock says the F25 Ace differs from other floor washers is the design of the roller head. It features what the company calls JawScapers – 141 3mm-long comb teeth – positioned behind the roller. Not only is this said to prevent hairs getting tangled, but it also claims to squeeze dirty water out of the roller and into the tank, to prevent water marks appearing on the floor during cleaning sessions.

Roborock F25 Ace LED display

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

The F25 Ace has an LED display that shows you its battery life, the current cleaning mode and a small colored bar to indicate its dynamic performance facilitated by a proprietary DirTect Smart Sensor on the rear of the machine. This sensor detects the amount of dirt in the water it’s mopping to automatically adjust water-flow rate and suction power, while the roller head remains spinning at the same speed. For the majority of my testing, the bar (thankfully) remained blue, indicating my floor was a ‘normal’ level of dirty, although there were the occasional bits that pushed it into the red and nothing was needed on my part – the F25 Ace did what was needed by itself.

The LED display is clear to see, but compared to models from other brands, I found it to be a little uninspiring. It conveys information via icons only, which took me a few uses to wrap my head around. If voice prompts are on, it will tell you what mode you’re in, but there’s no extra information to tell you what each mode means and the user manual isn’t much help. This doesn’t affect the machine’s cleaning prowess, but it does mean the user experience isn’t as good as I’d expected.

The display on the Tineco S7 Pro on the other hand is a lot better at imparting information, using images, words and more colors to tell the user what’s going on. You’re also able to adjust settings better on the S7 Pro thanks to buttons on the handle – something the Roborock doesn’t have and requires you to use the app, which isn’t ideal if you need to tweak a setting on the fly and your phone is in another room.

The Roborock F25 Ace (along with the F25 Alt in the US) benefits from a few proprietary technologies that sets it apart from other models in the F25 series. These include SlideTech 2.0 Automated Wheels to add motorized assistance to reduce the effort it takes to push the F25 Ace around your home.

Roborock F25 Ace detergent dispenser lid

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

You can adjust the level of motorization in the app between Mild, Moderate and Intense. I left this setting on the default Moderate mode and appreciated how the vacuum didn’t want to take me for a walk around my home, as was the case with the Tineco Floor One Switch S6 that I’ve previously reviewed. The Intense setting, however, will pull you along for a ride.

The added motorization makes the machine feel lighter than its 4.7kg weight would suggest. Robrock does say the wheels “intelligently detect the user’s push and pull strength and adjust the power assistance in real time,” but I couldn’t tell if that was actually happening during my testing.

Another feature found on the F25 Ace is an automatic detergent dispenser. The 100ml compartment is next to the clean-water tank, both of which sit within a removable clear plastic unit on the roller head. You’re able to set the ratio of detergent to water to one of three settings within the app, and the appropriate amount of detergent gets automatically sprayed directly onto the roller during a cleaning run. I stuck to the default setting of Daily for the majority of my testing and that was enough to occasionally leave some soap suds on the floor. Another swipe over these areas took care of the remaining suds.

And, a small niggle, but the previous Tineco machine had an auto-stop feature when the handle is returned to its starting position. The Roborock machine doesn’t have this feature, and I found I missed it as it made pausing, cleaning and moving the machine to another room a bit easier.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Roborock F25 Ace review: Performance

  • Powerful performance leaves floors clean
  • Exclusive features work well
  • Some setting tweaks may be required for best results

The F25 Ace is my first Roborock review, but I have tested similar wet-dry vacuums before. I was already quite impressed by the Tineco Floor One Switch S6’s mopping, cleaning and drying capabilities, and our reviewers have always rated other Roborock machines, like the Roborock Dyad Pro, very well. So my expectations from the F25 Ace were high going into testing and it didn’t disappoint.

Thanks to the aforementioned SlideTech wheels, I found it incredibly easy to move the machine around my home. The cleaning head has a 70º angle of pivot (35º left and right), making tight turns possible.

Roborock F25 Ace lying flat

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

I also found that thanks to its ability to tilt backwards by 180º, cleaning the floor under my dining table, for example, was easier than with other vacuum cleaners and I barely had to move the chairs. Instead I was able to weave the F25 Ace around the chair and table legs with ease with a light push with one hand. Do note that when the machine is totally flat, the cleaning head loses the ability to pivot, but any angle smaller than 180º allows it to remain agile.

Where I found the lay-flat ability most useful was getting underneath my bathroom vanity unit, an area that’s been ignored because no other vacuum or floor washer I’ve tried could get under it.

Similar to when I tested the Tineco Switch S6, I was surprised by just how much dirty water was collected after one run throughout my home. I was also impressed with how much debris was collected, especially as much of it wasn’t clearly visible to my eyes before the cleaning run. The F25 Ace has 20,000Pa suction power, so was evidently able to vacuum even the smallest of particles. Combined with a roller that rotates at up to 450rpm, and gets cleaned by scrapers within its housing unit on each turn, my floors felt much cleaner underfoot once I’d finished a session.

The design of the roller head on the F25 Ace ensures it can get closer to edges. To test this, I poured some milk along the edges of my kitchen cabinets to see how much would be cleaned up. It performed exceptionally well, mopping up the entire spillage in just one run. It wasn’t quite the same story with dry debris, as it did miss a few grains of rice I poured on the floor.

But, for dry spills in the center of the floor, I have zero complaints. I poured generous helpings of rice and coffee beans onto my floor and with one push over either spill with the F25 Ace cleared it up entirely.

Compared to the Tineco machine I’ve previously tested, the Roborock F25 Ace’s default water-rate flow is higher, meaning it uses more water for mopping. This really isn’t an issue as the roller is very effective at mopping, leaving no puddles behind. If the floors remain too wet for your liking, you can reduce the water-flow rate via the app.

That said, if you are going to use the detergent – and Roborock strongly suggests you use only the one it provides or recommends – you might see soap suds not fully disappearing with each swipe. This happened to me on occasion and I had to run the roller head over those areas a couple of times more to ensure no soap scum accumulated on my floors.

Roborock promises that the F25 Ace will leave floors streak-free, but I don’t completely agree with that claim. While my floors were certainly clean after going over them, when I viewed them in the right light, I could see some noticeable streaks where the roller head and wheels had passed over. They’re not so noticeable that it bothered me too much, but it’s not exactly fulfilling the promise.

  • Performance score: 4.5/5

Roborock F25 Ace review: Maintenance

  • Self-clean cycle is effective
  • Time and temperature settings can be adjusted
  • Dirty-water tank will need extra cleaning

Once placed back in the dock after a cleaning session, a voice prompt will instruct you to perform the self-clean cycle, which you activate by pressing a button on the handle or within the app.

Roborock says the whole cycle – cleaning and drying – should take approximately five minutes using a combination of hot water and 90ºC / 194ºF hot air. While that’s more or less true, I found it can be closer to 10 minutes in the Quiet Drying mode.

During self-cleaning, the roller head spins in both directions while it’s blasted with hot water to help remove as much dirt and bacteria as possible, with all dirty water being collected in the tank. You’re able to choose between ‘High’ and ‘Room Temperature’ water settings in the app – naturally, hotter water will be more effective for cleaning. Roborock doesn’t say how hot this water is, but does claim it uses 90ºC / 194ºF hot air as it hits the roller head, which is quite good as many robot vacuums with self-cleaning cycles use 75ºC air for drying.

Roborock F25 Ace JawScrapers

The JawScrapers help remove debris from the roller head during cleaning. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

Considering how much dirty water was collected after each run around my home – indicating how dirty the floor was – the roller head looked surprisingly clean. The quality of the roller itself also seems to be very good because, even after several uses. It does have a limited lifespan, though, and you will need to replace it at some point – Roborock recommends changing it once every six to 12 months, depending on your use case.

The washing part of the self-clean cycle is quite noisy. I used a decibel meter app on my phone and recorded a maximum reading of around 75dB. The drying, however, registered a pleasant 55dB that Roborock calls “Quiet Drying”.

Using this drying mode will lengthen the time it takes to complete the self-clean cycle, so you can choose a quicker option. You can track the progress of the self-clean cycle in the app – it was how I realized the drying process took longer when quiet.

Roborock F25 Ace dirty-water tank

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

A voice prompt will inform you once the self-cleaning cycle has finished and instruct you to empty the water tank. Of course, this is only if you can hear the prompt. I had the F25 Ace stored in my laundry room towards the back of my apartment, and with the door closed, I could barely hear them. I would have liked a phone notification too, giving me a greater chance to ensure the dirty-water tank is cleaned out promptly. You can empty the dirty-water tank while the roller head is drying to save on time.

Once the tank had been emptied and debris collected in the filters washed away, I left all the pieces to air dry before returning them to the machine. The majority of debris came off under a tap, but Roborock supplies a long brush to help agitate any particularly stubborn pieces.

I did notice when cleaning the day after mopping up the milk spillage that milky water was being collected in the dirty-water tank, suggesting that the roller head wasn’t completely cleaned during the previous self-clean cycle. It didn’t have any effect on the cleanliness of the floor.

  • Maintenance score: 4.5/5

Roborock F25 Ace review: Software

  • Plenty of customization
  • Remote access when away from home
  • Pop-up notifications would be a nice feature

As I’ve already alluded to, the F25 Ace can connect to an app to open up a good selection of customization options. App connectivity is only possible on the F25 Ace and F25 Alt models, which I think is a shame as I think the other models in this range would also benefit from that extra control.

I was pleasantly surprised that the app gives me remote control over the F25 Ace’s settings when away from home. Not only can you make adjustments, you can also start a self-clean or drying cycle. While I don’t think it will see much use, I think this feature is handy if you’ve had to do an emergency quick clean before running out the door in the morning, letting you start a self-clean cycle while you’re on the road or in the office.

Screenshots of the Roborock app showing cleaning mode and self-clean cycle of the F25 Ace.

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

One feature I found utterly superfluous was the remote control mode. It asks you to lay the F25 Ace flat on the floor (there’s a small wheel in the handle to ensure it remains level), after which you can move it around your home using the remote control buttons on your phone. It doesn’t work well at all during my testing, where the machine either had a significant lag between command and action or didn’t register the button presses at all. While the roller turns when being remote controlled, I didn’t see it doing any cleaning at all.

Then there are the voice prompts that let you know what the machine is doing – when you switch cleaning modes, instructing you to perform a cleaning cycle or to tell you it’s finished. You can change the language of the voice prompts within the app or adjust the volume level. If you want to switch them off, as I did after testing them for this review, you just mute them by moving the volume slider all the way down.

I didn’t find the voice prompts too useful as they were unclear most of the time and, as I mentioned earlier, I would have appreciated additional pop-up notifications on my phone, particularly when the dirty-water tank needed emptying.

  • Software score: 4.5/5

Roborock F25 Ace review: Battery life

  • Good battery life, but may not suffice for larger homes
  • Up to 60 minutes in Eco mode; 40 minutes in Auto
  • Recharge time can take a while

The Roborock F25 Ace has a 4,000mAh battery that the company says is good for up to 60 minutes of use in Eco mode or 40 minutes in Auto mode. However, this is only really relevant for anyone with a particularly large surface area to clean as the machine recharges whenever it’s on the charging dock.

I never had any battery issues when cleaning my apartment with the F25 Ace, which has an approximate total cleaning area of 120 sqm / 1,300 sqft, as I was able to complete a full clean in roughly 10 minutes wherein I used just 15% of battery. For context, Roborock says the 60-minute runtime in Eco mode should be enough to cover a 410 sqm / 4,413 sqft space.

However, when I returned the F25 Ace to the charging dock to self-clean, I noticed the battery level continued to drop by as much as another 10%. I assume the power required to complete the clean uses up more battery than it receives from the dock.

  • Battery life score: 5/5

Should you buy the Roborock F25 Ace review?

Buy it if...

You want an easy, thorough clean

The F25 Ace can be moved around with little effort and its cleaning performance is stellar, leaving you with clean floors in no time at all.

Your home has hard-to-reach areas

Thanks to its ability to lie flat, the Roborock F25 Ace can get into more places than a large number of similar machines, meaning more of your floors will be cleaned.

You like to take control of your appliances

There are numerous customization options with the F25 Ace via the app, covering cleaning and maintenance. You may find the default settings don’t work for you, so you can easily change them.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

Your floors are carpeted

It may seem obvious, but the Roborock F25 Ace only works on hard floors. If your home is predominantly carpet, you’ll want to look at other vacuum cleaner models. View Deal

You have a limited budget

I think the F25 Ace is worth the money, but the fact remains there are cheaper alternatives available, like the Shark HydroVac Cordless, which can also work on low-pile soft floors.View Deal

Roborock F25 Ace review: Also consider

Tineco Floor One Switch Pro 7

Our favorite wet-dry vacuum for a reason, this powerful machine cleans incredibly well, can get up close to edges and has a gorgeous, interactive LED display. It costs more at full price, but can now regularly be picked up at a discount.

Read our full Tineco Floor One Switch Pro 7 reviewView Deal

Shark HyrdoVac Cordless

If your budget is tight, this Shark machine is a great option, especially as it can also be used on low-pile carpets, making it a more versatile proposition.

Read our full Shark HydroVac Cordless reviewView Deal

How I tested the Roborock F25 Ace

I tested this wet-dry vacuum over a period of about a month in my apartment, using it to clean at least twice a week. I experimented with the various settings adjustments within the app to see what effect they had on the overall cleanliness of my floors.

To really test its mopping and vacuuming credentials, I spilled milk and scattered grains such as rice on the floor to see how much was vacuumed up.

I made a note of how well the brush roller head was washed and dried after each cleaning run around my home and assessed how much clean water was left in the tank (and how much dirty water was collected).

This is the first Roborock vacuum cleaner I’ve tested, but I have previously tested the Tineco Floor One Switch S6, which is a similar wet-dry vacuum cleaner, but which also has extra attachments for cleaning carpets and other soft floorings.

I tested the Canon PowerShot V1, and the beginner vlogging camera feels like the complete package but for this one thing
8:01 pm | March 26, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Cameras Compact Cameras Computers Gadgets | Tags: | Comments: Off

Canon PowerShot V1: two-minute review

There's been a buzz surrounding the PowerShot V1, principally because the compact V-series vlogging camera is like a bigger sibling to the trending (and dated) PowerShot G7X Mark III, with an all-new 1.4-inch sensor and 16-50mm lens.

Put the two cameras side by side and the design / control layout similarities are clear (see below) – these are pocketable compact cameras, with the PowerShot V1 being the bigger of the two, and both offer impressive suites of video features.

The PowerShot V1's most obvious rival is the Sony ZV1-II, while the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is a gimbal-stabilized alternative, and in many regards the well-rounded PowerShot V1 is a clear winner, even if there's a strong case to be made for DJI's take on the format.

Headline features include that 22.3MP, 1.4-inch sensor. That's a rare sensor size – it's essentially the same as Micro Four Thirds, but in 3:2 aspect ratio rather than 4:3. It measures 18.4 x 12.3 mm – much bigger than the 1-inch type used in the aforementioned rivals, which measures 13.2mm x 8.8mm.

A bigger sensor size in general means better image quality, but there are caveats. The notable PowerShot V1 drawback for me is the f/2.8-4.5 maximum aperture of its 3.1x optical zoom lens. Compare that to the ZV-1 II's f/1.8-4, and the PowerShot G7X Mark III's 4.2x zoom with a f/1.8-2.8 maximum aperture, and the V1 comes up short for light-gathering capabilities, which in some respects counters the image-quality advantage of its larger sensor.

Still, it's the widest lens of the bunch, with a 16-50mm range that's ideal for vlogging. Even with digital image stabilization active and the consequent image-area crop applied, the framing is plenty wide enough for vlogging with the camera at arm's reach – that extra 2mm at the wide end goes a long way.

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Canon PowerShot V1 compact vlogging camera on a wooden desk alongside the PowerShot G7X Mark III

Here's the Canon PowerShot V1 compact (left), alongside the PowerShot G7X Mark III (right) (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Canon PowerShot V1 compact vlogging camera on a wooden desk alongside the PowerShot G7X Mark III and PowerShot V10

From left to right: Canon PowerShot V10, Canon PowerShot V1 and Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

The comprehensive suite of video features includes cooling vents and unlimited 4K 30fps video recording times, a built-in ND filter, Canon's best-ever autofocus for a PowerShot compact, plus mic and headphone ports.

Photographers are well catered for too, with a hotshoe accepting an external flash (but not 5-pin ones), and a rapid 15fps burst shooting speed that's doubled when using the electronic shutter, ably supported by that reliable subject-tracking autofocus.

Image stabilization is unavailable when shooting 4K video at 60fps, plus there's a 1.4x crop using this setting – I'm sure I'll discover a few more drawbacks when I have the camera back in for in-depth testing.

However, the PowerShot V1 makes a strong first impression. As a complete package with Sony-beating features and a relatively decent price, it looks set to be a vlogging star.

Canon PowerShot V1 specs

Canon PowerShot V1 compact vlogging camera on a white desk

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Canon PowerShot V1: Price and availability

  • £959.99 (US and Australia pricing TBC)
  • Available from early April, exact date TBC

The Canon PowerShot V1 costs £959.99, with US and Australia pricing to be confirmed, and is due to hit the shelves in early April, with an exact release date also yet to be confirmed by Canon.

That starting price is less than what the older G7X Mark III currently goes for, with scalpers are capitalizing on the smaller model's popularity. However, the Sony ZV-1 II costs around 20% less than the V1, while the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is about half the price.

Canon PowerShot V1: Design

  • 16-50mm f/2.8-4.5 lens with customizable ring and 5EV optical stabilization
  • Similar design and control layout to the PowerShot G7X Mark III
  • Includes hotshoe, tally lamp, headphone and mic ports

Canon has created a well-rounded and solid compact camera with a focus on video, but which also packs a solid suite of photography features.

Its design and control layout are strikingly similar to the PowerShot G7X Mark III's (see below), but on a larger scale that has enabled extra features such as a hotshoe, vari-angle screen, plus of course that larger sensor.

The camera sits nicely in the hand thanks to a generous handgrip, and is adorned with a number of customizable buttons and controls, with special mention going to the lens ring, which is ideal for making quick changes to aperture or your desired setting.

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Canon PowerShot V1 compact vlogging camera on a wooden desk alongside the PowerShot G7X Mark III

From left to right: Canon PowerShot V1, Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Canon PowerShot V1 compact vlogging camera on a wooden desk alongside the PowerShot G7X Mark III

From left to right: Canon PowerShot V1, Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Canon PowerShot V1 compact vlogging camera on a wooden desk alongside the PowerShot G7X Mark III and PowerShot V10

From left to right: Canon PowerShot V10, Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III, Canon PowerShot V1 (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Canon PowerShot V1 compact vlogging camera on a wooden desk alongside the PowerShot G7X Mark III, PowerShot V10 and EOS R50 V

From left to right: Canon PowerShot V10, Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III, Canon PowerShot V1, Canon EOS R50 V (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

With the camera off and the lens retracted, I'd call the PowerShot V1 pocketable, which is impressive given the decent-size 1.4-inch sensor within.

A vari-angle touchscreen is pretty much the norm in 2025 for video-focused cameras – it can be flipped out and tilted upwards for easy viewing from awkward angles when shooting horizontally, and flipped around for vlogging.

Another handy feature for vlogging is a tally lamp, which lights up red to confirm when you're recording. You can also opt for manual focus peaking and zebra display, plus timecode – again, all handy video features.

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Canon PowerShot V1 compact vlogging camera on a white desk, lens folded away

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Canon PowerShot V1 compact vlogging camera on a white desk, lens extended

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Top plate of the Canon PowerShot V1 compact vlogging camera on a white desk, lens retracted

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Top plate of the Canon PowerShot V1 compact vlogging camera on a white desk, lens extended

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Rear of the Canon PowerShot V1 compact vlogging camera on a white desk

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Rear of the Canon PowerShot V1 compact vlogging camera on a white desk

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Screen of Canon PowerShot V1 compact vlogging camera open out,  on a white desk

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Cooling vents are found on the top and left-hand side of the camera, and these effectively enable unlimited 4K video record times. This isn't the sort of feature I'd expect in a camera at this level and price point, so kudos to Canon for that.

There's a decent internal mic, and Canon provides a wind muff with the camera that slots into the hotshoe to be positioned over the mic for clearer audio on breezy days.

When using the internal mic, the wind muff feels like a must, even if it somewhat obstructs some of the camera controls, such as the on/ off switch.

Still, if you're a serious creator you'll be using an external mic instead, and these can be connected using the 3.5mm mic input, with sound monitoring possible through headphones and on-screen.

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Closeup of Canon PowerShot V1 compact vlogging camera's cooling vents, on a white desk

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Closeup of Canon PowerShot V1 compact vlogging camera's mic and headphone ports, on a white desk

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Underside of the Canon PowerShot V1 compact vlogging camera on a white desk

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Top plate of the Canon PowerShot V1 compact vlogging camera on a white desk, lens extended, windmuff attached

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

The lens is equipped with optical image stabilization (OIS) that's rated up to 5EV. That's a decent performance for photography, though it's of little use for video. For that, there's digital (or electronic) image stabilization (DIS). There's a small crop of the image area with DIS active, and even more with the enhanced DIS option, and that's where the V1's wider-than-most 16mm wide focal length is particularly handy – you'll still be able to frame yourself nicely in the shot with stabilization active.

Canon PowerShot V1: Performance

  • Canon's best-ever autofocus for a PowerShot
  • Digital image stabilzation only for video
  • 4K video 30fps, 4K 60fps with a 1.4x crop, Full HD 120fps

I haven't had enough time with the PowerShot V1 to run full tests, but during my two-day hands-on time I have been able to use the various video record modes, snap a few photos, check image stabilization performance and shoot a few short vlogs using the internal mic.

In the sample footage below, I cover 4K 30fps, 4K 60fps, image stabilization, and the 3.1x optical zoom among other things.

Overall, 4K video footage is crisp, and subject-tracking autofocus is reliable – and that's something that's not to be taken for granted. Canon says it has put its best-ever autofocus for a PowerShot compact in the V1, and it really does perform well.

Usually, the camera's exposure metering and color are linked to the focus area. When focus was locked onto me, exposure looked fine with the help of an auto ND filter, although I have seen shifts in the color of my skin in vlogs – some look spot on, others a little green, others too magenta. It's a good practice to set white balance manually, rather than rely on auto white balance.

4K 60fps video looks great too, although you'll lose out on the option for Digital Image Stabilization at this setting, while there is also a 1.4x crop of the image area.

I don't mind the crop so much, as it effectively extends the lens for close-up B-roll. There's also a crop when you employ enhanced DIS (not available with 4K 60fps), but the V1's widest 16mm focal length gives a lot of scope for cropping into the image area for vlogging. Lens focal length might sound like a small thing, but Canon has been smart with its choice of 16mm focal length for the wide setting.

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A selfie of a man in a black hoodie with foliage background

General detail in this selfie is really sharp, plus subject-tracking autofocus has delivered pin-sharp focusing on the eyes (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Red flowers, close up

Close focusing capabilities are impressive (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Red flowers, close up

There's a trippy feeling to this image when the focal length is at the widest setting and the focusing is close-up. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Dafodills on a cloudy day, from a low angle

Taken at the 50mm focal length and maximum f/4.5 aperture, there's still a reasonable focus fall off here (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 5 of 6

Dafodills on a cloudy day, from a low angle

This close up at 50mm f/4.5 shows what the 1.4-inch sensor is capable of (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 6 of 6

Dafodills on a cloudy day, from a low angle

Here's the same subject but with the aperture set to f/11 – this depth of field is what you could expect from a standard smartphone. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Canon's 22.3MP 1.4-inch sensor is new, but we get Canon's familiar color science, and that's a good thing. Full-size photos look natural and are packed with detail – my skin and facial hair are super-crisp in the selfie above.

The PowerShot V1 also has decent close-focusing skills, so you can create photos and dynamic video cutaways for vlog footage – check out the flower closeups, again in the sample gallery above.

Would I have preferred a faster maximum aperture, say f/1.8-2.8? Yes, but that wouldn't be possible within the same compact lens dimensions. In any case, with the lens set to its maximum aperture (f/2.8-4.5) and when the focus distance is close, it's possible to get a lovely shallow depth of field.

I'll share more findings in my upcoming in-depth review.

How I tested the Canon PowerShot V1

  • Tested for two days, full production model
  • I shot various handheld video clips using a range of resolutions and frame rates, and with stabilization active and off.
  • I recorded vlogs using the in-camera mics only

I've not had long enough with the PowerShot V1 to give a definitive verdict. However, the two days over which I tested the compact vlogging camera gave me enough time to have a play with the various video modes on offer, including 4K and Full HD videos, and 60fps and 30fps frame rates, make short vlogs using the in-camera microphone, and shoot comparison videos with the stabilization active and turned off, to see how effective digital stabilization is for video. I've also made several photos in full quality.

  • First reviewed March 2025
The Huawei FreeArc are the best-sounding open-ear headphones I’ve ever tested – and they’re surprisingly cheap
6:00 pm | March 24, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Huawei FreeArc: One minute review

With audio brands and tech companies announcing open-ear earbuds left, right and center, it was only a matter of time before Chinese giant Huawei got in on the action too.

It was only minutes into the testing for this Huawei FreeArc review, though, that I understood these to be some of the best open-ear buds on the market right now. Huawei’s onto something here!

The reason for this is simple: as of their release, the Huawei FreeArc are the best-sounding examples of this form factor, and that’s a really impressive selling point given how earbuds like this work.

For those who aren’t familiar, open-ear headphones like these dangle the earbud over your eardrum, instead of plonking it straight in there; this means you can still hear sounds beyond your music. Useful for people in busy areas or who need to hear announcements, but less useful for audiophiles as having a bud centimeters from your ear can spell doom for well-tuned music.

Not with the FreeArc, though. Music has an impressive soundstage, sounds delicately tuned and maintains bristling energy. The best compliment I can give to Huawei is that I often forgot I was listening to open-ears.

Two enthusiastic thumbs up in the audio department, then, although the FreeArc do struggle just a little in a few other departments. The battery life is one, with the 23-hour lasting power of the case in particular an area that might dissuade certain buyers.

If you’ve got an Android phone, you’ll also find the app install process an absolute pain, as you have to side-load multiple apps through APKs. The process is only suitable for technophiles, or someone who can rope in a tech-savvy relative or friend to help.

OK so great-sounding, just slightly annoying to set up? Yes, but we're missing the big draw. Huawei has priced these buds to sell, making them some of the most affordable open-ears on the market right now.

You can overlook a few of issues in tech with competitive pricing, and the Huawei FreeArc do benefit from that when you consider their feature set. But purely from a sonic perspective, these are an absolute steal at the price.

Huawei FreeArc review: Specifications

Huawei FreeArc review: Price and availability

The Huawei FreeArc on a white shelf.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Announced in February 2025
  • Priced at £99.99 (roughly $130, AU$200)
  • Not on sale in Australia or US

The Huawei FreeArc were announced in February 2025, at the same time as a slew of rivals, and went on sale shortly afterwards.

You can pick up the buds for £99.99 (roughly $130, AU$200) so they’re priced competitively against many of these competitors. There’s no US or AU pricing at the time of writing and I don’t expect the buds will go on sale in either region.

There are a few open-ear buds priced around that general area, or a slight amount cheaper, but most competitors cost up to 50% more. So Huawei has put out a really tempting option here.

Huawei FreeArc review: Design

The Huawei FreeArc on a white shelf.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Mid-sized charging case
  • Comfortable and reliable bud fit
  • Temperamental touch controls

The Huawei FreeArc comes in a square carry case; it’s not the smallest I’ve ever seen from open-ear buds, but it’s definitely at the smaller end of the spectrum.

The case measures 67.8 x 67.8 x 26.5mm and weighs 67g, and it has basically what you’d expect from an earbuds case: place to lay each bud, a pairing button, and a USB-C port for charging.

The buds themselves weigh 8.9g so they’re not the lightest open-ears I’ve ever tested, but the difference is just a gram or so and they are by no means heavy. Like most open-ears (although not ear-clip/cuff designs – see the Bose Ultra Open), they consist of the main body as well as a sports loop that circles and slips behind the ear, which in the Huawei’s case ends in quite a pronounced teardrop shape.

The Huawei FreeArc on a white shelf.

Evidence of how easily-bendable the hook is. (Image credit: Future)

I found them reliably comfortable and lightweight to wear, and they didn’t shift much during exercises or runs, a problem some other open-ears have. Instead they’re firmly held pretty close to the ear, so you can hear your music well.

The buds’ body supports gesture controls, but I found them a little bit temperamental in picking up my touch. You’re meant to be able to swipe to change volume, double tap to pause or play songs and triple-tap to skip songs, and while the tapping ones worked well, I had to fight with the buds to pick up swiping.

The charging case doesn’t have any protective certification but the earbuds are IP57, which was a pleasant surprise to see given that most rivals are IP54. The ‘5’ in common means that they’re dust resistant and the ‘7’ means that they’re waterpoof up to a depth of 1m for half an hour, whereas most rivals are simply splash-proof. I don’t think this means that you should swim with the buds, but it still means they’re protected from the elements.

You can buy the FreeArcs in black, white or pale green, and as you can tell from the images, my review sample was the former.

  • Design score: 4/5

Huawei FreeArc review: Features

The Huawei FreeArc on a white shelf.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Battery life is 7 hours (only 23 for case)
  • App has convoluted installation process
  • Could do with extra features

The feature set is the Huawei FreeArc’s Achilles Heel, so let’s get the criticisms out the way upfront.

Firstly, the battery life isn’t amazing. At 7 hours of listening per bud, it’s not awful, though plenty of other buds (especially open-ears) beat it. But worse is the charging case, which only gets you 28 hours of listening, a stat that’s got to be one of the lowest I’ve seen in buds like this.

My biggest issue was that downloading the Huawei AI Life app, to unlock extra features, was an absolute pain (on Android, at least, but on iOS it’s simple). To get it on my Realme phone I had to download Huawei’s AppGallery (as an APK on my browser, as it’s not on the Play Store), which took some convincing on my phone, then use the AppGallery to download the AI Life, convince my phone to let me side-load apps from this app, and then set it up via this app. It’s a lot of faff and it took me about 10 minutes, which is approximately 9 and a half minutes more than this process generally takes me during reviews.

The Huawei FreeArc on a white shelf.

(Image credit: Future)

I’m not entirely convinced that the process is worth it either. It mainly lets you find your earbuds if you’ve misplaced them, manage which devices your buds are connected to, and change what the gesture controls do.

The main feature of the app is access to four music presets (default, Elevate for workouts, Treble boost and Voices for boosting vocals). You can also make your own, which gives you access to a 10-band equalizer.

Unlike at least one contemporary rival (that would be the Honor Earbuds Open) there’s no active noise cancellation, no low latency mode and no gimmicky AI feature – yes, I’m looking at the Honor Earbuds Open's AI translator here. None of these are ubiquitous in open-ears so I can’t detract points for that, but the FreeArc do feel like they’re missing some kind of USP.

  • Features score: 4/5

Huawei FreeArc review: Sound performance

The Huawei FreeArc on a man's head.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Large 17mm x 12mm drivers
  • Impressive sound stage
  • Could have done with ANC

The core selling point of the Huawei FreeArc is that they’re the best-sounding open-ear earbuds I’ve tested to date. That’s not the biggest compliment in the world, given that the form factor naturally leads to worse audio (the speaker is dangling away from your ear, of course, and bass clout is usually the first casualty), but I was still impressed with how the FreeArcs sound.

The most palpable and immediately-obvious positive of the FreeArcs’ audio is the soundstage: it’s unprecedented for open-ears, and I was surprised to be able to pick out the strums of guitars and range of piano keys when I was listening.

Music is energetic and exciting, zealous and crisp, and it was a joy to listen to my favorite workout songs and actually hear the details in them. Admittedly, lots of my excitement came from the sheer fact that I could make out individual lines in songs (I hate to harp on, but open-ears generally sound pretty bad), but the Huawei’s do sound great.

Each earbud has a single 17mm x 12mm driver, which is bigger than I can recall seeing in past open-ear headphones, and that might go some way in explaining the quality of the Huawei FreeArc's sonic performance.

I would have liked to hear a little more bass in the FreeArc, as it ended up sounding just a touch underwhelming during workouts when I wanted a bassy kick. The aforementioned Elevate mode does improve things in terms of bass clout, but it also makes more complex songs sound oddly ‘crunchy’ and distorted, so I stopped using it.

It was almost a shame to listen to such high-quality audio in open-ears – it sounded amazing when listening in quiet environments, but as soon as I left the house or went somewhere busy, the extraneous noise that can't help but enter your ear makes it hard to appreciate the detail. ANC would be a blessing on these buds.

  • Sound performance score: 5/5

Huawei FreeArc review: Value

The Huawei FreeArc on a white shelf.

(Image credit: Future)

Given that Huawei tends to release premium products, I was surprised to see the FreeArcs go for £99, which makes them fairly affordable as open-ears go.

They'd be decent value if they only had 'good' sound quality, but the fact that they sound great really helps cement the Huawei FreeArc as one of the best-value open-ear buds you can buy right now.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Huawei FreeArc review: scorecard

Huawei FreeArc: Should I buy?

The Huawei FreeArc on a white shelf.

(Image credit: Future)

Buy them if...

You're an audiophile

If you care about audio fidelity but still need to use open-ear headphones, the FreeArcs are your go-to pick.

You're on a middling budget

While I can't recommend the Huawei FreeArc for people on a low budget, those willing to spend a middling amount will find these a great pick..

You have an iPhone or Huawei mobile

I've waxed lyrical about the app installation pains, but this isn't an issue for people who use iPhones or Huawei devices.

Don't buy them if...

You wait a while before charging

The FreeArcs' battery life isn't awful, but the case charge is. If you don't often get a chance to power up your gadgets, their 23-hour lasting time might not cut it.

You don't listen when it's quiet

Due to their design, you can only make the most of the Huaweis if you listen somewhere quiet. If you only use earbuds in noisy environments, you might not appreciate these buds.

Also consider

Honor Earbuds Open

These buds cost a little more and don't quite match the Huawei buds in sound, but their battery life is better, plus they offer effective active noise cancellation (I know, it shouldn't work, but it does).

Read our full Honor Earbuds Open review

OpenRock Pro

Fitness users should look perhaps to the OpenRock; they have an incredible battery life and a sturdy design – don't expect quite the levels of sonic brilliance as the Huawei or Honor options above though.

Read our full OpenRock Pro review

How I tested

I listened to the Huawei FreeArcs for two weeks before writing this review, and the testing process coincided with that of two rivals: the Honor Earbuds Open and the EarFun Openjump, which helped me better understand all three.

I used the Huawei FreeArc alongside my Android smartphone for most of the review, and also paired them to my Windows laptop at several times. Mostly I listened to music on Spotify but also tested podcasts, games and TV shows. I tested them at home, in the office, on walks around my area and also for various workouts (road cycling, running and gym workouts).

The FreeArcs are the latest of many products I've reviewed for TechRadar; I've been doing so for over six years and have reviewed headphones, smartphones, tablets and more.

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed: March 2025
I’m an open-ear headphones naysayer, but the Honor Earbuds Open won me over for sound
2:00 pm | March 23, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Honor Earbuds Open: One minute review

I’ve long been a naysayer of open-ear earbuds, despite (or probably because of) testing a huge number of them. However the first few months of 2025 brought a slew of impressive such buds to make me change my mind, and the Honor Earbuds Open is one of the ringleaders of the operation. While making it onto our list of the best open-ear earbuds is a relatively low bar, the Honors hurdle over it with ease.

Open-ear earbuds, for those of you who don’t know, are wireless earbuds that don’t sit in your ear, but rather very near your ear canal, to allow outside noises to get in too (useful for if you want to hear public service announcements on a commute, the noise of traffic that you’re nearby or light conversation). While Shokz popularized the category, most tech brands are now starting to reveal their own takes on an open-fit approach (production of such designs is reportedly up 600%, according to rival Huawei), and Honor is simply the latest company to take up the challenge. But the Chinese electronics firm, perhaps best known for its aspirational smartphones, has done a very good job here.

Given their design quirks, you have to forgive a few things with open-ear buds. But the slam-dunk of the Honor Earbuds Open is that they deliver everything you want in normal headphones, not just gimmicky "Ooh I can still hear you" ones.

For example, the Honors sound great, a compliment I’ve never once paid to open-ears. They offer energetic bass, bristling treble and a soundstage that’d be most welcome on normal earbuds, let alone ones that don’t even sit within your ears.

The fit is fantastic too, which is often the area that ruins otherwise-great open-ears. The Earbuds Open fit comfortably and securely, whether I was lounging at home, working out at the gym, cycling or going on runs. It was easy to forget I was wearing them at times!

Honor has also offered a feature that is incredibly rare in open-ears: active noise cancellation. When I first saw that the buds had this, I was baffled; after all, the entire point of open-ears is that they allow you to hear surrounding sounds. However in practice, it worked really well, with its light-touch implementation ensuring you can hear important environmental sounds without drowning your music in the hustle-and-bustle of city life.

A few issues affect the Honor Earbuds Open, most annoyingly the limited battery life which rules these out for long-distance runners. I also found the touch controls a little annoying to use, and you can easily mark any earbuds down for some of the features they don’t offer (an equalizer here) but none of these are deal-breakers… as you can probably tell, from the glowing review score and verdict.

The unfortunate release right at the same time as a cheaper, better-sounding rival (more on that in the 'Also consider' section) will only hurt the Honors, but they remain some of the best open-ear headphones on the market right now.

Honor Earbuds Open review: Specifications

Honor Earbuds Open review: Price and availability

The Honor Earbuds Open on a brown table.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Announced in February 2025
  • Priced at £149.99 (roughly $200, AU$300)
  • Not on sale in Australia or US

The Honor Earbuds Open were announced at annual tech conference MWC in February 2025, alongside a few other Honor gadgets.

You can pick up the buds for £149.99 (roughly $200, AU$300). Honor doesn’t seem to have a huge presence in the US or Australia, so I wouldn’t expect to see the buds go on sale in either region.

That’s a price slightly north of what some impressive rivals cost, (see the Shokz OpenFit Air, priced £119, which is around $150 or AU$229) but there are also big-name open-ears that cost a lot more, and the difference between Honor’s buds and its close rivals isn’t huge.

Honor Earbuds Open review: Design

The Honor Earbuds Open on a brown table.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Light-weight buds that are comfortable to wear
  • Comes in black or beige
  • Cigarette-case holder

The Honor Earbuds Open case reminds me of a cigarette case from an old movie. It’s wide and flat, incredibly slim and opens in a clamshell-style to reveal the curled earbuds hidden underneath. More practically, this compact design makes the case particularly easy to slip into pockets without it being a burden.

The case weighs roughly 80 x 61 x 20mm, and weighs 52.5g, so it’s smaller than a lot of other open-ear cases.

Now onto the buds: you can see the pictures, and you know what open-ear buds are like (hopefully, at least, if you’re considering buying some!). Like sport earbuds, they have a round-the-ear hook, holding the bud itself close to your ear and, hopefully, steadily in place.

The Honor Earbuds Open on a brown table.

Evidence of how easily-bendable the hook is. (Image credit: Future)

I found the Honors to be some of the more comfortable open-ears I’ve tested, thanks to the light weight (7.9g) and their soft plastic material. They also held the bud surprisingly close to the ear, which probably helps explain the superior audio quality which we’ll get to.

Rarely, for a pair of open-ear buds that isn’t being marketed towards athletes, the buds are secure enough for intense sports. I took them for several runs and gym workouts and never had an issue – they stay in place just fine.

Each bud has a touch control, which you can toggle by double- or triple-pressing the body of the bud (the silver bit in the images). It readily picked up my touch every time, but since you have to repeatedly hit the part of the bud that hangs down, I found myself repeatedly pushing it into my ear when I wanted to pause, which was a little bit annoying.

Two other things to note: firstly, you can pick up the buds in black or beige (which Honor calls Polar Gold). Secondly, they have an IP54 rating, which means they’re splash- and dust-proof – but don’t get them too wet.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Honor Earbuds Open: Features

The Honor Earbuds Open on a brown table.

(Image credit: Future)
  • ANC is rare showing for open-ears
  • A few extra features with Honor app
  • Battery life is only 6 hours (40 for case)

The Honor Earbuds Open are the first open earbuds I’ve ever seen that have noise cancellation. What the point of noise cancellation is on an earbud form factor that people pick to let in outside sound I won’t understand, but it worked surprisingly well, so I can’t complain.

It’s by no means industry-leading noise cancellation, but its ‘less-is-more’ approach worked wonders. The open-ear frame lets you hear important sounds around you like train station announcements, the engines of nearby vehicles or calls from people in shops you’ve just left letting you know you’ve left your credit card behind. And the noise cancellation removes the unimportant sounds: distant traffic, annoying screeching trains and horrible weather conditions. Honor has found the Goldilocks spot for ANC: just right.

I personally chose to keep ANC off, not because I love hearing winds announcing that it was about to rain half-way through my 15k run, but because the battery life needs it. The buds only last for 6 hours of listening time when you’ve got ANC off, and even less when it’s on – I’d estimate about 4.5 hours. The charging case brings that total up to 22 hours which again isn’t great, and many rivals beat it.

The Honor Earbuds Open on a brown table.

(Image credit: Future)

If you download the Honor AI Space app on your smartphone, you get access to a few extra features. One of these is the ability to toggle the ANC on and off, another is the ability to connect to multiple smartphones, and you can also find your earbuds or change what the gesture controls do.

There’s technically an EQ toggle, but you can only change it between two modes: ‘Original’ and ‘Workout amplifier’, the latter of which I tested when I was working out and also in a more controlled sound environment. From what I can tell, the latter reduces the bass and the audio quality in favor of more volume and treble; I can see the reasoning for these changes, but they’re not pronounced enough for it to be worth the switch.

Another feature I need to flag is AI Translate; Honor’s website says you need the Honor Magic 7 Pro to use it, but it worked fine on my Realme phone. This is basically an interpreter app that lets you converse with someone in two of eleven languages, using both your phone’s speaker and the earbuds.

From what I can tell, and coming from someone who’s monolingual, it seemed to work well. It’s just a curious feature to come packaged with earbuds, especially when you could equally download and use Google Translate’s app.

  • Features score: 4.5/5

Honor Earbuds Open review: Sound

The Honor Earbuds Open in a man's ear.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Large 16mm drivers
  • Impressive treble and bass
  • No equalizer

I was ready to declare the Honor Earbuds Open the best-sounding open earbuds I’d ever tried; unfortunately, another pair of open-ears I was testing alongside them somehow managed to just pip them to the post, but they’re still great to listen to. I regularly forgot that I was listening to open-ear buds!

Tech-wise, the Honors each boast a 16mm dynamic driver each, which is bigger than on most rivals I’ve tested. And it tells.

Perhaps the most noticeable improvement the Honor Earbuds Open offer over other open-ears I’ve tested is that they have this thing called ‘bass’ – I can’t remember the last buds with this form factor that I’ve tested that have any noticeable amount of bass, a natural side-effect of buds hovering above ears. However the Honors offer warm and energetic low tones, perfect for thumping workout tunes.

But that’s not all: the buds have crisp treble, which is another useful component that lets the Earbuds Open cut through noise, and a pronounced sound stage that makes songs sound detailed and rich when you’re wanting to enjoy your tunes.

The only audio problem I faced was one that’s pretty common in all kinds of wireless earbud: mid sounds fell by the wayside a little compared to treble and bass. But in the eternal words of Meat Loaf “two out of three ain’t bad”, and the Honors are the first open-ears I’ve tested that I’ve actually been glad to put on my ears.

  • Sound performance score: 4.5/5

Honor Earbuds Open review: Value

The Honor Earbuds Open on a brown table.

(Image credit: Future)

Given that the open-ear bud market is still rather new, it’s hard to make decisive statements about the price categories for this kind of audio product. But I’d roughly say that these are at the cheaper end of the mid-range market.

With that in mind, there are definitely cheaper options available to you, although picking them up will naturally saddle you with worse-sounding earbuds (except in one case; more on that below). But there’s more to life than audio quality and some more affordable buds are better for certain uses, with longer battery life or more robust builds.

So if you’re looking for any passable pair of open-ears, the Honors might not offer you great value for money, but if you really care about good-sounding audio they’ll arguably be worth the higher price.

  • Value score: 4/5

Honor Earbuds Open review: scorecard

Honor Earbuds Open: Should I buy them?

The Honor Earbuds Open on a brown table.

(Image credit: Future)

Buy them if...

You need workout and non-workout open-ears

While many open-ear buds are best for exercising purposes, the Honors were equally good for that and for general use.

You need noise cancellation

There are very few open-ear buds that offer Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) but the Honors do – and in use, it is effective.

You need earbuds that translate for you

Admittedly a very niche use case, but if you need an on-the-go translator, I can't think of another pair of earbuds that offer it as a feature!

Don't buy them if...

You need a longer battery life

If you want to listen for long periods of time, whether it's through a full work day or a long run or a journey, the Honors won't help you much.

You like to fiddle with your audio mix

It's pretty easy to find wireless earbuds with some kind of EQ tab, even many open-ears, so the Honors won't suit people who like to tinker with their tunes.

Also consider

Huawei FreeArc

These open-ears from Honor's ex-parent-company Huawei are cheaper than the Earbuds Open, plus they sound better and have a few more features. The battery life is even worse though.

Our full Huawei FreeArc review is just days away… 

OpenRock Pro

These open-ears have a fantastic battery life, and they're really sturdy too, perfect for fitness users.

Read our full OpenRock Pro review

How I tested

The Honor Earbuds Open on a brown table.

(Image credit: Future)

I used the Honor Earbuds Open for two weeks in order to write this review. I tested them at the same time as two rival open-ears: the Huawei FreeArc and EarFun Openjump, which provided ample opportunity for comparison.

Through the review I used them alongside my Android smartphone, largely for music streaming on Spotify but also for streaming TV shows and playing games. As mentioned through the review I used them at home, on walks around my neighborhood, on cycle rides, on runs and at the gym.

I've been testing gadgets for TechRadar for over six years now, and have reviewed, amongst other things, many other open-ear earbuds.

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed: March 2025
This laptop cooling pad is super affordable – and here’s why it’s the best I’ve reviewed to date
11:20 pm | March 18, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets | Tags: | Comments: Off

Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad review

The Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad is an affordable laptop cooling pad, designed to prevent your laptop from overheating during heavy gaming sessions or creative workflows. Given its price point, it would be reasonable to assume you’ll get only moderate-weight cooling. But blow me down: its three 100mm fans, two 80mm fans and one 70mm fan help you secure some pretty cool running.

I ran it through the 3DMark Stress Test on our Acer Predator Helios 300 with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, and the cooling it offered was genuinely pretty glacial. After running 15 minutes of running, the temperature of the laptop had risen from 22.2ºC to only 37.5ºC. That’s a temperature rise of just 15.3ºC – and, in the time I've been testing laptop pads, is the most extreme cooling I’ve seen. It's significantly better than the 31.9ºC warming I saw on our baseline test of the laptop alone.

Despite being frostier than a penguin whose name you just blanked on, the Liangstar’s fans are pretty quiet. Ten minutes into the test, I used a sound meter to measure noise – from a few inches away from the device and at my head height. At 59dB and 45dB respectively, the results weren’t really any worse than any of the best laptop cooling pads I’ve tested, and roughly equivalent to the noise the Acer Predator Helios 300 made on its own.

When it comes to design, the Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad is well put together, in that sharp, angular style common to a lot of gaming gear. Using it felt ergonomically comfortable; I was able to tilt it to the right angle for my wrists, while the flip-up rests didn’t get in the way of using the trackpad or keyboard. Meanwhile, the monochrome lighting is a little more subtle than the RGB type common to many cooling pads – whether this is a positive or negative likely depends on your chromatic predilections, but I feel it’s nice enough here. I’m less keen on the tribal back tattoo at the bottom of the Liangstar, but maybe I’m just not the target audience.

With its powerful performance, you’d be forgiven for expecting this laptop cooling pad to be pricey. But it’s actually competitively priced in most markets: the blue-lit version I tested retails for just $19.99 / £20.99, although Australian readers will have to pay AU$66.91. In the US, you can also get red, white or multi-color lit versions for $22.49, $19.99 or $22.99 respectively. All told, this is a decent saving compared to the $29.99 / £29.77 / AU$49.77 TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad or $26.99 / £21.99 Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad – despite the fact the Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad offers superior cooling. So all told, if you care most about getting the best cooling for your cash, the Liangstar should be your go-to.

The Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad at a 3/4 angle with a laptop on it in front of a pink background.

(Image credit: Future)

Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad review: price & availability

  • Released December 16, 2019
  • Current price of $19.99 / £28.99 / AU$66.91

First launched on December 16, 2019, the Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad is currently available for $19.99 / £20.99 / AU$66.91 from Amazon, with the US price being the lowest we’ve ever seen it. There may be some fluctuations here, though: the MSRP in the UK is listed as £28.99, yet prices have dropped as low as £14.44, so it’s worth keeping an eye on our price trackers, as you may be able to pick up even more of a bargain.

However, even at Amazon’s current prices, it undercuts most other products we’ve tested. The only exception is if you’re based in Australia – over there, the TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad comes in cheaper at AU$49.77, but in tests I found its cooling less impressive than the Liangstar, meaning you may well find the extra AU$17.14 is a price worth paying.

The ports on the reverse of the Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad.

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad?

Buy it if…

You want the best cooling
Thus far, the Liangstar delivers the best cooling performance I’ve seen from a laptop cooling pad at the affordable end of the market, keeping our testing laptop at a pretty balmy 37.5ºC during its intensive stress test.

You want an absolute bargain price
Even compared to other affordable laptop cooling pads, the Liangstar is surprisingly cheap. It’s priced much cheaper in the US and UK than many other cooling pads, despite the fact it offers superior cooling.

Don’t buy it if…

You want specific styling
The Liangstar is neither fish nor fowl in terms of design. Without conspicuous RGB lighting, it may not have enough of a gamer vibe for the esports crowd, but its hard angles and tribal logo might be a bit much for creatives.

You’re buying from Australia
OK, this is less of a "don’t buy" than it is a "think before you buy". The Liangstar has a bit of a markup in Australia, even more than we’d expect from the exchange rate and extra shipping. So it's worth considering if it’s as much as a bargain in your market.

A closeup of the laptop rests on the Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad.

(Image credit: Future)

Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad review: also consider

TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad
The TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad can’t quite rival the Liangstar for cooling – its temperature rise was 22.8ºC versus the Liangstar’s 15.3ºC – but it does almost make up for it when it comes to cool points. Its customizable RGB lighting guarantees to give your gaming setup that extra pop, offering 10 different settings for its rainbow-hued LED trim. Read our full TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad review.

How I tested the Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad

  • Tested it over multiple days
  • Ran a stress test and measured temperature difference with a thermal camera
  • Recorded the volume of fan noise 10 minutes into test with a sound level meter

To test the Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad, I carried out all of the standard benchmarks we run on laptop cooling pads. Firstly, I measured our Razer Predator Helios 300 with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 testing laptop’s hottest point to set a baseline, then ran a 3DMark Stress Test for 15 minutes with the cooling pad set to its maximum setting and then remeasured the temperature.

In addition, I checked how much noise the device kicks out with a sound level meter. Once the test had been running for ten minutes, I recorded the sound levels from three inches away and from head height to get a sense of the immediate and subjective noise levels generated by the cooling pad and the laptop combined. I then contrasted this against the noise generated by the laptop’s fans alone.

As well as this quantitative data, I made sure I got plenty of experience using the cooling pad so I could assess its ergonomics and how well it functions in practice. Here I benefited from the many years I’ve spent testing gadgets as well as the 30 years I’ve spent using gaming setups.

The Philips Sonicare 7100 is a powerful, stylish, but overpriced electric toothbrush
2:30 pm | March 9, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Philips Sonicare 7100: Two-minute review

The Philips Sonicare 7100 isn’t quite as eye-wateringly expensive as the Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige, but at £350 (around $450 or AU$715) it’s still extremely pricey for a sonic toothbrush with a lithium rechargeable battery that will eventually decay. However, it’s a gorgeous piece of kit with a powerful motor, four brushing modes, three intensities, and a couple of cool accessories such as a charging travel case (downgraded from the Prestige's leather to cheaper plastic) as well as a stand. It's definitely up there with the best electric toothbrushes on our list.

The brush is very satisfying to hold and use. It feels premium: I’m used to very plasticky cheaper electric toothbrushes, so I’m pleased to say that if you're paying all this money, the Philips at least is satisfyingly weighty and incorporates metal into its design. Coupled with the black outer shell, it’s slightly reminiscent of a lightsaber, albeit one that cuts through plaque rather than Sith lords.

At 62,000 bristle motions per minute, the Philips Sonicare 7100 is on a par with the Sonicare 9900 Prestige in terms of its brushing performance. It’s got four brushing modes (Clean, Sensitive, White and Gum Health), and each one has three intensities, for 12 brush settings in total. It’s a case of trial-and-error to find the right one for your brushing routine, and I have a sneaking suspicion that a few of these setting and intensity combinations end up being repeated, based on sound and mouthfeel alone.

However, one thing’s for sure: this toothbrush is powerful. After using my cheaper, lower-powered brush for a while, the blast of the full-power Clean setting on the Philips was surprising, to say the least – a bit like grabbing onto a metal handrail and experiencing a static shock. After prolonged usage, and with the option for such a high-power setting should I want it, I’m not sure I could go back to my comparatively underpowered usual toothbrush.

Philips sonicare 7100

(Image credit: Future)

The power is evident in the motor, which does emit a moderate whine: using my phone’s decibel meter app, I measured readings of 55-57 decibels, equivalent to a soft conversation. The Ultim8 Supermouth brush, which I’m also testing, measured 44-46 decibels in comparison. The Philips is at the louder end, then, but it’s worth it for that extra oomph.

The battery life – up to three weeks – is largely immaterial, as your brush will likely either be on the charging stand or in the charging travel case most of the time. However, such a good battery life does mean that when you’re caught on the hop – for example, taking your case on long trips – that the brush will hold out and still provide a good clean.

There are only two issues I have with the Philips Sonicare 7100. The first is its price: while it’s an excellent toothbrush, it is more expensive than most in its category, although it does seem to receive frequent discounts. The second is in its name – Sonicare. This is a sonic toothbrush, which is a lot better than a manual brush, but some studies have shown that some oscillating brush heads are marginally more effective at getting rid of plaque than sonic ones. Our guide to sonic vs rotating toothbrushes can tell you more, but the power of the Philips will ensure that with regular proper usage, you’re still getting a great clean.

Philips Sonicare 7100: Specifications

Philips Sonicare 7100: Price and availability

Philips Sonicare 7100

(Image credit: Future)
  • £349.99 in the UK (around $450 / AU$715)
  • Frequently on sale
  • The Sonicare Expertclean 7500 is the similar equivalent model in US and Australia

The Philips Sonicare 7100 is available in the UK priced at £349.99 (around $450 / AU$715). This is crazy money for a toothbrush, but it’s frequently on sale: at the time of writing, Amazon has it for £158.99 (around $205 / AU$325). I don’t know what it is about electric toothbrushes that means they're priced so highly and then get such severe and almost permanent discounts, but it’s a recognized phenomenon.

Want one in the US or Australia? Philips doesn’t sell the Sonicare 7100 there as it categorizes its products differently in those regions. However, it does sell a very similar Sonicare Expertclean 7500, with four relabelled modes (Clean, White+, Gum Health and Deep Clean) and a slightly differently-shaped charging case. That retails for $199 / AU$312.

If the Sonicare 7100 wasn’t so frequently on sale I’d consider it poor value. However, it should be fairly easy to pick this brush up for around £150-£200, which makes it a very good buy indeed.

  • Value score: 3.5/5

Philips Sonicare 7100

(Image credit: Future)

Philips Sonicare 7100: Scorecard

Philips Sonicare 7100: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You want more power

Want a serious sonic clean? The Sonicare 7100 has the power to tackle the toughest plaque.

You want to brush on the go

The charging case is convenient and very well-designed, with space for your brush head.

You want lots of options

With four modes, each with three intensities, you’ve got 12 combos to choose from.

Philips Sonicare 7100

(Image credit: Future)

Don't buy if if...

You can’t find it on sale

No toothbrush that I’ve yet tried is worth spending £350 / $450 / AU$715 on.

You want an oscillating brush head

As powerful as the Sonicare line is, if you’ve been advised to use an oscillating brush head by your dentist, consider the Oral-B iO Series.

You want to repair it

Unlike sustainable toothbrush manufacturer Suri, this toothbrush is not designed to be taken apart.

Also consider

Suri Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush

The best sustainability-focused sonic toothbrush.

Read our Suri Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush review

Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige

The best premium electric toothbrush.

Read our Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige review

How I tested

I used the Philips Sonicare 7100 for one week. I charged it using both the plug-in base and carry case, tried all the different modes on the toothbrush, and used a decibel meter app to calculate how loud the brush was compared to other brushes on the market.

First reviewed: March 2025

I’ve fallen in love with the Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX 65% keyboard because of its brilliant touch bar and Hall effect keys
2:47 am | March 3, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Keyboards Peripherals & Accessories | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX: one-minute review

Asus has introduced another fantastic keyboard with the ROG Falchion Ace HFX. This 65% board, which compresses only the most essential keys onto a short panel, offers immense functionality across several areas.

The drawcard of the Falchion Ace HFX is its incredible switches. While the standard Falchion Ace is available with three switch choices, the HFX only offers one tactile feel option – comfortable to the touch magnetic keys, making this Asus’ first hall effect keyboard. It’s one of the most satisfying keyboards to use that I’ve ever laid my hands on.

Despite not offering a wireless connection, it does include a dual USB-C arrangement so that it can quickly switch between two computers with a press of a button on the side, similar to how a monitor might switch between devices. A USB dongle or Bluetooth solution might have been more practical to pull this trick off, but it’s still a welcome ability.

The Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX keyboard up close

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

More interesting to me is the return of Asus’ proprietary touch bar, a unique design element of the Falchion series that compresses media controls, volume, keyboard RGB brightness and other handy features into a touch panel, letting you adjust settings with taps and swipes of your finger. This feature rocked and is much more intuitive than a FN + key macro solution, though the depth of macroing with this keyboard is immense, allowing you to arrange quick commands, website hotkeys and quick Windows commands with a bindable keystroke.

With so much positive to say about the ROG Falchion Ace HFX, there aren’t many drawbacks, although the ones that are there might keep you from a purchase. This board doesn’t come cheap and is one of the most expensive options that Asus offers. The lack of a wireless variant will also leave buyers cutting down on cable clutter unimpressed, and those seeking wrist support will need to make a separate purchase.

More diehard keyboard shoppers will also be left unimpressed by the lack of hot-swapping functionality, and that there's only one switch type available (though the standard ROG Falchion offers three different options).

It’s a tremendous piece of kit. The ROG Falchion Ace HFX is one of the keyboards to beat in 2025, and it may be my favourite keyboard since the Logitech G PRO X TKL.

Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX: price and availability

The Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX keyboard

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)
  • How much does it cost? $199/£239.99/$AU$359
  • When is it available? Available now
  • Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, Australia and other regions

The ROG Falchion Ace HFX is the fourth most expensive keyboard that Asus offers, below the base model Azoth, customizable Claymore II, and the extremely expensive Azoth Extreme. The price marked for the Ace HFX is reflective of the epic magnetic switches underlying its awesome-feeling keys, but given its 65% size profile, it lacks a lot of the typically essential buttons present in the higher-priced models, including a dedicated function row and numpad.

Not that you should feel you need to move up the range for said features, because the Falchion Ace HFX is more than competent and exclusive on its own terms. Compared to the competition, it’s one of the only options to offer magnetic switches on a 65% board. You may want to consider the Logitech G Pro X 60 if you want an even smaller board, or the Glorious GMMK 3 Pro 65 if you want greater customization, but there aren't many major brands offering magnetic switches right now.

  • Value: 4/5

Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX: specs

Asus ROG Falchion HFX: design and features

The Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX keyboard with a keycap removed

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)
  • More reserved ROG design
  • Brilliant build quality
  • Useful multifunction panel and dual computer support

Asus’ ROG gaming accessories are at their best when they don’t look too gamery, and the Falchion HFX looks fairly neutral compared to many other high-end boards offered by the manufacturer.

Available only in black, the one thing about this board that I would consider a tad excessive from a design perspective is the spelling out of ‘Republic of Gamers’ across the top. RGB lights behind each key are programmable with several lighting animations available.

At the top left, you’ll see an illuminated symbol, indicating which setting you’ve got your multi-function touch panel set to, cycleable with the press of a multifunction button in the top left. The panel across the back can be swiped with a fingertip, and can be used to adjust brightness and volume, change key actuation points, play and pause media, or even pull off any dedicated macros you have in mind. In the Armory Crate app, you can limit which functions the cycling button switches between, allowing for a more streamlined experience (I simply have it set to volume and media controls). This touch bar isn’t a new feature, as it’s been available on other Falchion models since 2022, but it works especially well on a small board like this.

There are also lights at the top right, indicating if win lock has been activated, if caps lock is currently on, and if ‘Rapid Trigger’ has been enabled, allowing for much quicker keystroke response times than whatever your preset mode is set to.

Your keyboard’s RGB lighting and per key actuation points can also be adjusted in the ROG Armory Crate app, where you'll find Speed Tap mode. This changes the function of the keyboard to allow for quicker directional changes by prioritising the last pressed in key – so instead of coming to a full stop when strafing in a game, you’ll move left to right or vice versa without lifting your fingers off the keys.

  • Design and features: 5/5

Asus ROG Falchion HFX: Performance

The back of the Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)
  • 8,000Hz polling rate
  • Magnetic hall effect switches with five layer dampening
  • Useful competitive gaming features

The Asus ROG Falchion HFX is a gaming keyboard aimed at competitive play, through and through. It offers an exceptional 8,000Hz polling rate – an enormous amount of reports the keyboard provides your computer in a second, theoretically improving response time. As a result of this, click latency is as low as 1.1ms on average with the Falchion HFX.

The keys feel coarse in a comfortable way, allowing for satisfying tactile contact between your fingertips and your inputs. A raised dot on the W key allows you to position your hands for gaming without looking down, brilliant for low-light battle stations.

The actuation point of your keys can be adjusted readily on the fly using the multi-function touch panel, allowing for much more shallow keypresses if you so wish. Backing all of this up is the fact that the keys are magnetic, and well damped to allow for a satisfying press while also being quick and not too loud. On the less technical side, the keyboard has three adjustment angles with two sets of feet underneath.

Many of these features may go above and beyond the needs of a casual gamer and indeed are well past the desires of somebody just after a useful typing tool. But for a dedicated gamer, the ROG Falchion HFX might be the exact device for your hobby.

Mechanical keyboard enthusiasts will likely be disappointed by the lack of hot-swappable keys, and that there's only one switch to choose from. Thankfully, the base model ROG Falchion offers more switch variety – the Falchion HFX is more of a performance model with its magnetic keys.

  • Performance: 5/5

Should I buy the Asus ROG Falchion HFX?

Buy it if...

You crave good performance and feeling

The ROG Falchion HFX offers a brilliant intersection of form and function, contained in a 65% board and offering some of the first magnetic switches on a mainstream model.

You want to ROG out

With its lighting and key programming reliant on Asus’ Armory Crate, you’ll likely want this to compliment other Asus peripherals in your arsenal.

Don't buy it if...

The price isn’t right

The ROG Falchion HFX isn’t designed to be a budget winner, and it’ll be a poor fit if you want to save cash.

You want greater customization

Mechanical keyboard fans will likely crave hot-swappable keys, which the ROG Falchion Ace HFX does not offer.

Asus ROG Falchion HFX: also consider

Keychron C3 Pro

Compatible across Mac and Windows PCs, the C3 Pro offers a solid design and a nice price, though it won’t be a winner among serious gamers.

Read our full Keychron C3 Pro review

Corsair K65 Plus

Slightly larger at 75%, the K65 Plus is comfortable and wireless, though it is on the pricey side.

Read our full Corsair K65 Plus review

Logitech G Pro X 60

Logitech’s smallest gaming keyboard might be a welcome option if you’re after switches from a premium brand but in a tinier unit.

How I tested the Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX

I tested the Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX over four weeks, paired with other Asus products including an OLED monitor, mouse and headset. I used it exclusively on my Windows 11 gaming PC and played games including Marvel Rivals, Avowed, The Headliners and Forza Horizon 5. I also used it for some productivity tasks, such as for typing out documents.

Over that time I used it across several lighting settings, enabled different macros and put it in different positions, while constantly adjusting actuation points and diving into toggles in the Armory Crate app.

  • First Reviewed February 2025
I spent two weeks with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, and it’s one of the best camera phones ever made
5:30 pm | March 2, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phones Xiaomi Phones | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Two-minute review

Say hello to another bombastic entrant in Xiaomi's Ultra series. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra leads with its Leica-backed camera array, made all the more prominent by the existing 1-inch 50MP main sensor being joined by a new, larger 1/1.4-inch 200MP telephoto sensor.

As with the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, it takes superb shots that don't look as processed or technically 'perfect' as what you might expect out of Google's Pixel imaging pipeline, but they're potentially better for it. Meanwhile, its videography skills have been tailored to meet and beat the likes of the iPhone 16 Pro series across areas including resolution, control, and LOG video capture.

Beyond the excellent imaging experience, the phone's underlining internals impress, with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite running the show. That's backed up by tangible optimization benefits from Xiaomi HyperCore resource management, a new IceCool vapor chamber, and the fastest storage and RAM you'll find on any phone out right now.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra REVIEW back straight

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

HyperOS 2.0 (atop Android 15) expands on the AI feature set introduced on the 14 Ultra, with useful translation, productivity and image editing tools. There's nothing that sets Xiaomi's AI feature set apart from major rivals, but it delivers on its promises (save for Reflection Removal, which refused to work correctly in testing).

Beyond AI, there is a wealth of nice refinements to the look and feel of the user experience, however inconsistencies and some inexplicable choices mean Xiaomi's interface remains one of the more convoluted and trickier to deal with. The company has also only committed to four years of OS and six years of security updates, lagging behind industry leaders and harming the phone's long-term value proposition.

The screen is stunning and boasts better drop resistance than its predecessor's, while the new Si-C (silicon carbide) battery lasts less time than expected but can be replenished quickly, thanks to rapid 90W charging. Presumedly due to some EU regulation, 15 Ultras sold in the EU come with a smaller battery than their Chinese counterparts, although this isn't an ailment that's unique to Xiaomi.

All in all, Xiaomi has improved on everything that made the last Ultra so great, while most of the weaknesses are persistent pain points, more deeply rooted in Xiaomi's approach (primarily to software).

For the price, this is a respectable uber-flagship, however those hoping to get their hands on one in markets like the US or Australia will have a tough time doing so, as Xiaomi doesn't sell its phones in these regions, and carrier support isn't guaranteed.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra review: Price and availability

  • Priced from £1,299 / €1,599
  • Released February 27 in China, March 2 internationally
  • Limited to no availability in US and Australia

As with its predecessor, fans in Xiaomi's homeland of China were treated to a native launch of the 15 Ultra first, on February 27. The company then staged an international release in Barcelona just days later, on March 2.

The phone went on sale on the same day, at 14:30pm GMT, coming in with a starting price of £1,299 / €1,599 across the UK and Europe (the same as its predecessor, in the UK). In some markets, there's also a higher 1TB storage model, which costs £200 more.

In regions like the UK, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra undercuts principle rivals – the Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max – by £50 and £100 respectively, when comparing like-for-like storage capacities. The main difference being that both of those alternatives can be had for less, if you're willing to drop down to 256GB of onboard space, which Xiaomi doesn't offer with the 15 Ultra. Both also come with less RAM than the Xiaomi.

As ever with Chinese phone makers such as Xiaomi, while the 15 Ultra's March 2 launch was heralded as its 'international' release, the brand doesn't sell smartphones in key markets like the US and Australia (although you will find their smart home and lifestyle products there). As such, beyond importing or buying via third-party retailers, you won't find the Xiaomi 15 Ultra locally; not to mention there may be carrier band incompatibilities with networks in those markets.

  • Value score: 4.5 / 5

Xiaomi 15 Ultra review: Specs

Xiaomi 15 Ultra review: Design

Xiaomi 15 Ultra REVIEW buttons

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
  • Leica camera-inspired colorway
  • Xiaomi Shield Glass 2.0 w/ improved drop resistance
  • IP68-certified against dust and water

After dropping down display sizes following the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, subsequent generations of the series have generally hovered around the same weight and dimensions, and that continues with the 15 Ultra.

It's a hefty device (226g or 229g, depending on your choice of finish), and a hair thicker than its predecessor. That makes it one of the weightiest candy bar flagships of the current generation and a trait you'll notice in prolonged use, even if it does also reinforce the Ultra's air of premium power.

Aesthetically, the pillowed glass front, chamfered metal frame and large circular camera bump are consistent with the aesthetic Xiaomi has cultivated over the last few generations of Ultra, and stands apart from the more square-jawed looks of its most prominent rivals (save for, perhaps, the similarly curvaceous Honor Magic 7 Pro).

Xiaomi 15 Ultra REVIEW app drawer

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

One of the most notable cosmetic changes is to the camera hardware. Whilst the circular quad-sensor array on the 13 Ultra and 14 Ultra offered a pleasing symmetry, Xiaomi has had to shuffle things around quite drastically to accommodate the phone's new headline telephoto snapper. The result is an asymmetrical assortment of lenses that I'd say is weaker visually but gives the 15 Ultra a more utilitarian look, which some might appreciate.

Along with the base all-black and all-white colorways – as was available on the 14 Ultra – this year you also have the option of a Silver Chrome variant (pictured), which tries to evoke the visual identity of Leica's iconic M3.

It's a bit on the nose, as a representation of the ongoing brand partnership between Xiaomi and Leica goes, but it's also undeniably distinct. Two-thirds of the phone's 'aerospace-grade' fiberglass back is wrapped in black faux leather, which stands in contrast to the satin-finish silver it's next to.

The leather has the practical bonus of added grip and after two weeks of testing, hasn't yet shown any signs of wear. That might be down to the fact that I also threw on the included glossy clear hard-shell case whenever taking the phone out and about, though.

Image 1 of 2

Xiaomi 15 Ultra REVIEW Photography Kit Legend Edition

Xiaomi once again launched a Photography Kit accessory pack with its latest Ultra (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Image 2 of 2

Xiaomi 15 Ultra REVIEW Photography Kit Legend Edition shutter

This generation is called the 'Legend Edition', complete with detachable raised shutter and thumb grip (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

On the subject of durability, like its predecessors, the 15 Ultra packs IP68-certified dust and water resistance, which while great, does now technically lag behind key rivals, like the Oppo Find X8 Pro, OnePlus 13 and aforementioned Magic 7 Pro. In addition to IP68-protection, all three of these alternatives have adopted IP69-certification too (check out our pick of the best rugged phones for a rundown of some of the hardiest handsets out there).

While that pillowed glass frontage does seem a little exposed, especially if you were to fumble the 15 Ultra face-down, it's clad in Xiaomi Shield Glass 2.0. The 14 Ultra sported its first-gen Shield Glass, which claimed to be 10x more drop resistant than the Gorilla Glass Victus on the 13 Ultra, while the 2.0 variant is supposedly 16x more resistant, compared to Victus. In theory, a drop on that 'All Round Liquid Display' shouldn't prove fatal.

Xiaomi hasn't eradicated Corning's presence from the Ultra outright, however, with Gorilla Glass 7i covering the camera array on the phone's back. Despite being as scratch resistant as the brand's top-tier Victus 2 glass, when paying Ultra prices, I'd have hoped for sapphire glass or something with even higher scratch resistance (even at the expense of drop durability), considering part of its job is ensuring camera clarity.

  • Design score: 4 / 5

Xiaomi 15 Ultra review: Display & audio

Xiaomi 15 Ultra REVIEW display

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
  • 6.73-inch 2K 20:9 (3200 x 1440) LTPO AMOLED
  • 1Hz to 120Hz variable refresh rate
  • Improved 'multi-scenario' 3,200-nit peak brightness

The main generational improvement to the viewing experience on the 15 Ultra is its higher peak brightness: an emissive 3,200-nit ceiling that outpaces all its mainstream rivals (the closest being the Super Actua display on the Pixel 9 Pro line, at 3,000-nits), only really falling short of Oppo's and OnePlus' latest flagships, which both claim to reach as high as 4,500-nits.

As with the 14 Ultra, the viewing experience here is unquestionably excellent. Out of the box, it serves up Full HD+ visuals and a dynamic refresh rate (between 1 and 120Hz), however, you have the option to crank the resolution up in the settings menu, to make the most of the phone's impressive 522ppi pixel density. You can also fix motion at 60Hz (for lower power consumption) or 120Hz (for more fluid viewing), and you can even force that higher refresh rate on an app-by-app basis.

Along with options for resolution and HDR upscaling, as well as motion smoothing and TÜV Rheinland-certified blue light eye protection, the 15 Ultra's display also makes the switch to an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, which proves faster and more reliable than the previous optical solution, even when your hands are a little wet.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra REVIEW fingerprint sensor

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Despite an asymmetrical down and forward-firing stereo speaker pair, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra outputs sound with clear separation and clarity through almost the entirety of its volume range.

At maximum volume, the stability of higher frequencies begins to waver, while bass is present throughout, but could be more prominent in the mix. Dolby Atmos support brings with it a set of EQ sliders (including presets) and there's effective spatial audio too.

  • Display & audio score: 4.5 / 5

Xiaomi 15 Ultra review: Software

Xiaomi 15 Ultra REVIEW app folder

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
  • Launches on HyperOS 2.0 atop Android 15
  • New AI features include Interpreter and Reflection Removal
  • 4 years of OS + 6 years of security updates

Last year marked a pretty notable shift for Xiaomi's mobile user experience. The company retired MIUI and replaced it with HyperOS, which although familiar on the surface, served up some notable quality-of-life improvements behind the scenes (it took up significantly less space on your device's storage, for example). It also served as the launchpad for their AI feature set.

Now, the Xiaomi 15 series arrives on HyperOS 2.0 (running atop Android 15). For the most part it adds an extra layer of visual polish, with the likes of the Artistic Lock Screens now able to support video, alongside subtle new animations throughout the UI that generally elevate the experience (even if some might be a little heavy-handed).

Better contrast and reworked UI elements across the Settings, Clock and Calendar apps, make them easier to use, as do a tweaked volume control layout and the ability to long-press on control panel entries – like brightness – to expand and access additional features (very iOS-like in its execution).

Frustratingly, Xiaomi insists on continuing to bury or completely hide some fundamental Android controls (such as Extra Dim) without explanation, but it does at least finally let you toggle Today's Recommendations off, which means there's less cruft within your home screen app folders.

HyperOS is a deeply customizable and capable user experience, provided you've got the stones to learn its nuances and forgive its inconsistencies.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra REVIEW AI Writing

Look familiar Apple Intelligence users? (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

There are new and improved AI tools spanning writing, image editing, and language across HyperOS 2.0, with Xiaomi's repetoire most closely mirroring experiences from the likes of OnePlus. Apple, Oppo, Samsung and Google have all leant a little harder into generative imagery on their latest devices, which isn't really part of the experience on the 15 Ultra, beyond image expansion and the ever-creepy AI portrait (check out our Xiaomi 14 review for a deep-dive on that).

The AI Writing toolset has been fleshed out, with summarization, proofreading, extension and tone alteration; all in a handy pop-up card that, once again, looks suspiciously like Apple Intelligence's interface. Like Samsung's Writing Assist, you can call on these tools essentially anywhere you enter text, which creates more opportunities to actually use them.

The translation app – AI Subtitle – has a well thought out and easy to use interface, allowing for conversational use with a speaker sitting either side of the phone, while the existing image editing tools (Expand, Erase, and Sky) have been joined by Enhance and Remove Reflections options (although the latter was next to useless, in testing).

Erase has also been bumped up to Erase Pro, which uses a larger model for improved results, however, unlike the base feature, it relies on an active internet connection to function. In fact, when disabling my data connection, practically none of the 15 Ultra's AI features worked offline, suggesting that the all rely on off-device processing to varying degrees (the exceptions being the base Erase, Remove Reflections and Sky image editing tools).

At the phone's Chinese launch, Xiaomi also showcased interconnectivity with iOS, iPadOS and MacOS devices, including Oppo Find N5-like screen mirroring and wireless file transfer, which is on track to come to global devices in the near future (as such, I haven't been able to test this feature).

Xiaomi 15 Ultra REVIEW AI imaging

The 15 Ultra's image editing toolset (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Part of the price justification, when it comes to these top-shelf phones, is that they come with long-term support. Apple, Google and Samsung all offer a commitment to around seven years of operating system and security updates, so you know your phone will be supported for the entire time you use it, and also benefit from new functionality over time too.

Despite an improved six years' commitment to security updates with the 15 Ultra, Xiaomi has only promised four years of OS updates, which hurts the phone's value proposition, relative to some of the best phones already on the market.

  • Software score: 3.5 / 5

Xiaomi 15 Ultra review: Cameras

Xiaomi 15 Ultra REVIEW camera

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
  • 50MP f/1.63, 1-inch Sony LYT-900 main sensor w/ OIS
  • 50MP f/2.2, Samsung ISOCELL JN5 ultra-wide w/ 115º FoV
  • 50MP f/1.8, floating 3x Sony IMX858 telephoto w/ OIS + 10cm macro mode
  • 200MP f/2.6, periscope 4.3x Samsung ISOCELL HP9 telephoto w/ OIS
  • 32MP OmniVision OV32B front camera w/ 90º FoV

The previous Ultra – with the same 1-inch main Sony sensor – in my opinion, captured shots as close as any phone has yet come to emulating what you might more readily expect from the best cameras.

Most of the best camera phones – the Pixels and Galaxys of the world – take technically excellent smartphone photos; replete with tone mapping and HDR processing, detail enhancement and face brightening. While the 15 Ultra has access to all these same tricks, however, it handles images very differently... more authentically.

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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample telephoto droplets manual

The 200MP telephoto can let in enough light for fast-motion macro shooting (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample power station telephoto

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample plane

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample building Leica filter

Leica 'Blue' monochrome filter (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample dancer

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample power station telephoto

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample tunnel manual

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample tree underground manual

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample building corner

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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample cat detail

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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample portrait zero bokeh

Minimum amount of bokeh in Portrait mode (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample portrait default sub10

Standard amount of bokeh in Portrait mode (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample portrait max bokeh

Maximum amount of bokeh in Portrait mode (note where edge detection falters around the whiskers) (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample flower macro

Macro mode (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample flower

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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample fabric macro

Macro mode (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample fabric

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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample wall art

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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample garden night mode

Night mode tends to over-correct on white balance, but otherwise impresses (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample garden low light actual

Accurate real-world lighting conditions in which the Night mode shot was taken (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Xiaomi's processing isn't as technically savvy as, say, Google's and the camera system can be a little inconsistent – especially with attributes like white balance and edge detection (much like on the 14 Ultra) – but it doesn't shy away from contrast and shadow, which when twinned with the natural depth effect afforded to that 1-inch sensor, can help you capture truly arresting shots without really trying.

Add to that the Pro mode manual controls and baked-in Leica filters, and there's a lot you can do with that main snapper, without the need for post-capture editing. That lead 50MP sensor is just the start, of course.

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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample optical zoom

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample digital zoom

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

The reason this phone's camera system looks so physically different to its predecessor's is because Xiaomi needed to make room for a huge new 1/1.4-inch telephoto sensor (up from 1/2.51-inches). The 200MP Samsung ISOCELL HP9 that Vivo put to work on its most recent flagship – the X200 Pro – now also finds a home on the 15 Ultra.

Here, it serves up an equivalent 100mm focal length, and helps build on the existing camera system's impressive versatility. That large size means it's able to take in far more light than your average periscopic telephoto sensor (Xiaomi claims 136% more than the 14 Ultra's equivalent), but it's also likely the reason why the 15 Ultra lost out on its predecessor's mechanical aperture; there just wasn't room.

As trade-offs go, it's a compromise I welcome, as this higher fidelity telephoto is far more practical across zoom, portrait and even macro shooting. Speaking of macro, one of the biggest limitations of such a large main sensor is its minimum focal range, which is why it's a relief that the automatic macro mode kicks in and switches to a pleasingly competent ultra-wide.

No longer being unable to stop down in particularly bright shooting scenarios may irk videographers, but at least the Photography Kit allows for ND filters and the like, even if that's more of a band-aid than a solution

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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample tree Leica Vibrant

Leica Vibrant (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
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Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera sample tree Leica Authentic

Leica Authentic (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

As well as filters, Leica's involvement expands to two shooting profiles: Leica Vibrant (the default on Xiaomi's phones) and the more muted Leica Authentic (see above), while some high quality filters can be activatated in-camera too (the monochromatic 'Blue' was a personal highlight).

Xiaomi made a big song and dance about the 14 Pro's video chops, even though stabilization at some resolutions was terrible at launch (later fixed via software updates). Thankfully, that doesn't appear to be a problem with the 15 Ultra's videography skills. You can switch between all the phone's rear sensors while recording at up to 4K/30fps, with options for 4K/120fps, and even 8K/30fps capture, if desired.

The 15 Ultra also joins an exclusive group, by being the only other phone besides the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro lines to support ACES (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) Log video capture (alongside Dolby Vision recording); making it a powerful choice for serious videographers, especially those who prefer Android to iOS.

  • Camera score: 4.5 / 5

Xiaomi 15 Ultra review: Performance

Xiaomi 15 Ultra REVIEW Game Turbo

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC
  • LPDDR5X RAM & UFS 4.1 storage
  • Xiaomi HyperCore system management

As with the rest of 2025's Android flagship contingent so far, the 15 Ultra arrives running on Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset; in most regions accompanied by 16GB of RAM and 512GB or 1TB of the fastest and most power efficient UFS 4.1 storage on the market (there is a 12GB RAM/256GB version that's trickier to come by).

Xiaomi says the chip serves up 45% better multi-core CPU performance (compared to the 14 Ultra), artificial benchmarking places on equal footing with the recent Honor Magic 7 Pro and the company even featured a slide during its Chinese launch, highlighting every aspect in which it trumps the iPhone 16 Pro Max; including gaming and networking performance.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra REVIEW back angled

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

A new dual channel 'IceLoop' vapour chamber offers enhanced cooling, which in real-world testing ensured that even after an hour's gameplay on a demanding title like Zenless Zone Zero with cranked visual settings (i.e. 60fps instead of 30fps), the phone never rose past a slight warmth.

Game Turbo is also on-hand to prioritize gaming performance, while also silencing notifications and the like, although finding how to bring the app onto your home screen to manage installed games takes some doing (hint: it's hidden within Xiaomi's Security app, of all places).

As with every other phone that relies on the Snapdragon 8 Elite, it offers buckets of headroom, ensuring whatever phone it's in will feel fast and remain capable longer than most others in the long term. Xiaomi's latest HyperCore technology then sits on top, better managing resource allocation, so that opening and reopening apps is faster; meaning less time staring at those initial splash screens than before.

  • Performance score: 5 / 5

Xiaomi 15 Ultra review: Battery

Xiaomi 15 Ultra REVIEW USB-C

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
  • Larger 5,410mAh battery than predecessor
  • Up to 90W wired & 50W wireless charging
  • 7 hours of screen-on time per charge

While Xiaomi hasn't disclosed why, as with the Honor Magic 7 Pro, the international version of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra packs in a smaller battery (5,410mAh), compared to the Chinese variant (6,000mAh). That said, 5,410mAh is still pretty capacious, and Xiaomi's Si-C Surge Battery tech offers up increased capacity, without adding addition bulk to the phone's design; Apple and Samsung should take notes.

True to the brand, fast charging is part of the equation here, with the same impressive 90W wired and 80W wireless charging support (just don't expect a charger in-box in Europe or the UK).

If you are able to source the correct adapter, at standard speeds the 15 Ultra refilled to 56% in 30 minutes and hit 100% after 67 minutes. If you dip into the phone's battery settings, however, you can enable Top Speed mode, which warns of more noticeable warmth when charging, in the pursuit of faster recharge speeds. When enabled, the phone hit 44% in 30 minutes and 100% in 50.

If you're the forgetful type, Top Speed mode might better serve you, otherwise the results, to me, suggest it's better to leave the phone in standard charging mode, which still should still prove quick enough for most users (and will likely prolong battery health).

While benchmarking using PCMark 3.0's battery test dished out an impressive score on par to the Ultra's most like-minded and similarly-capacious Si-C battery-toting rivals, real-world longevity underwhelmed at only 7 hours of use per charge. That equates to a day's use, but considering the battery tech, system improvements and capacity of the cell(s), I would have expected closer to the Magic 7 Pro, which has a marginally smaller battery but lasted 45% longer in testing.

  • Battery score: 4 / 5

Should you buy the Xiaomi 15 Ultra?

Buy it if...

You want one of the best camera phones today
If you couldn't tell by the design, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is all about the camera. While it's strong on all fronts, its camera is the prime reason to consider it.

You want a great multimedia experience
The 15 Ultra's top-tier internals and crisp 2K OLED screen make it great for gaming and enjoying media.

Don't buy it if...

You want a long-lasting device
While fast charging is superb, battery life is pretty middle of the road. As for long-term use, only four years of OS updates for a phone this expensive isn't great.

You like a clean, easy-to-use user experience
HyperOS 2.0 is certainly more elegant and easier to use than previous iterations of Xiaomi's mobile interface, but it comes with a high learning curve and some truly illogical inconsistencies compared to other operating systems out there.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra review: Also consider

It's clear from the jump where the Xiaomi 15 Ultra's strengths lie, but there are numerous alternatives that offer something similar or excel in those areas where Xiaomi still needs to improve.

iPhone 16 Pro Max
Sure, it's a fraction more expensive, but the top-tier iPhone of today shares in the 15 Ultra's emphasis on capturing pro-grade video, while the user experience is cleaner and will likely receive OS updates for longer.

Read our full iPhone 16 Pro Max review

Honor Magic 7 Pro
Same chipset, same emphasis on photography, with impressive zoom abilities, plus longer-lasting battery life and longer OS update support for less money.

Read our full Honor Magic 7 Pro review

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
A similar feature set, with a focus on AI, and longer software support render this Ultra a worthwhile alternative. It's also readily available in markets where the 15 Ultra isn't

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review

How I tested the Xiaomi 15 Ultra

Xiaomi 15 Ultra REVIEW front straight

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
  • Review test period: two weeks
  • Testing included: everyday use including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
  • Tools used: Geekbench 6, Geekbench ML, 3DMark, native Android stats, Xiaomi 120W charger

Xiaomi sent me the 15 Ultra just ahead of its Chinese and international launch events. I used the phone as my daily driver over a couple of weeks; taking it to social events for camera testing, gaming and other general smartphone use; from smart home control to social media and web browsing.

Benchmarks were carried out in both Balanced and Performance modes, although most of the time Balanced mode results were actually high. As often happens, Xiaomi devices block access to servers for graphical benchmarking apps, so I was only able to quantify CPU performance, while graphical testing was anecdotal, based on gaming usage and the like.

Having reviewed smartphones for nearly 15 years, including numerous Xiaomi smartphones, as well as devices from the company's key competition, I felt equipped to review this flagship, assessing its strengths and abilities against the market it's competing in.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed February 2025

Asus ZenWiFi BT10 review: sleek and super fast Wi-Fi 7 mesh, but you’ll pay for it
7:35 am | February 13, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Computing Components Gadgets Servers & Network Devices | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Asus ZenWiFi BT10: Two-minute review

Back in the olden days of Wi-Fi 5, it was Asus’ ZenWiFi ‘mega mesh’ wireless routers that led the world. While regular mesh systems merely dribbled performance across numerous network nodes (like many still do), the ZenWiFi nodes innovatively used secondary 5GHz channels (plus, the nascent 6GHz channel) as fast backhaul to maintain peak performance at a distance. Nowadays, such advantages are built into the Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 standards, so where does that leave a Wi-Fi 7 version in the form of the ZenWiFi BT10? Let’s find out.

The two smart-looking nodes seem identical, but note the discreet sticker denoting one as the master. Failing to notice this may lead to hair being torn out, swearing for half an hour, decrying the powers that be and wondering why the dang thing won’t connect when you’ve obviously done everything right, repeatedly checked the password and #$@&%! drat. Otherwise, the setup process is simple via the phone app.

The app provides the usual monitoring and management settings on the first screen, and immediately asks if you want to reset the default password and set up a separate IoT network. You can assign devices to people, limit bandwidth, block them or assign them QoS optimizations for gaming, streaming or WFH. An ‘Insight’ tab provides suggestions for security and optimization. The Family tab enables you to set content filtering and on/off schedules (and, unlike some rivals, these settings are free).

Other features include Asus’ (Trend Micro-powered) AiProtection, which scans and protects your network as well as all the devices on it. The usual networking tools are available, including Google Assistant voice control. Ultimately, it’s well-featured and very intuitive. My main concern is that the QoS controls have a feature that tracks the websites used by everyone on the network. That raises some serious privacy issues.

Wired connections are the same on both nodes: there’s Gigabit WAN/LAN, 10G Ethernet WAN/LAN, and 10G Ethernet LAN. All the ports are color coded but that could be confusing to some users. There’s also a USB 3.0 port, which can be used for file sharing and media serving.

So how does it perform? On paper, the ZenWiFi BT10 is a tri-band router with 18,000 Mbps worth of throughput. Note, you can choose to reserve the 6GHz channel for backhaul, but leaving it at ‘Auto’ saw better results. I tested it by downloading video files from a Synology NAS to an HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 at close range, two rooms away (by the second node, at the front of the house) and 15 meters away in the back garden. It scored 1,661 Mbps, 614 Mbps and 370 Mbps, respectively, which is an excellent result.

All in all, the Asus ZenWiFi BT10 is a very appealing package that looks good, offers heaps of intuitive and useful features, plus fast performance to boot. Then there’s the price… Two nodes cost an eye-watering $900 / £779 / AU$2,799. Still, if you need high-end functionality and speed, it’s hard to beat.

Asus ZenWiFi BT10 review: Price and availability

Asus ZenWiFi BT10 from the side with power cable, on a wooden desk

(Image credit: Future)
  • How much does it cost? $900 / £779 / AU$2,799
  • When is it available? Now
  • Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

Asus has a plethora of Wi-Fi 7 routers, but (like other vendors) it’s pushing the expensive premium models out first. I saw many of its budget Wi-Fi 7 routers at the Computex 2024 trade show and those will offer similar features at lower cost, but there’s no sign of them appearing in most markets, at least not at the time of publication.

Until then, we’re stuck with inflated price tags. It costs $900 in the US, £779 in the UK and AU$2,799 in Australia. For some reason, Aussies seem to be getting particularly hard done by in this case. Most regions sell single nodes, but only a few, it seems, sell the three-node kit.

A tempting alternative is the Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98. While it’s not a mesh system, the powerful gaming behemoth can single-handedly rival the speeds, performance and features of the BT10, but at a cheaper price. As with most current Asus routers, older models or cheap ones can be used as nodes thanks to Asus’ AiMesh technology – a potentially affordable way of expanding the network into dead zones. However, it’s quite a confronting device and not everyone will want what looks like a giant robot spider in their home.

  • Value score: 4 / 5

Asus ZenWiFi BT10 review: Specifications

Asus ZenWiFi BT10 close up of the ports

(Image credit: Future)

Asus ZenWiFi BT10 review: Design

  • Sleek enough for a stylish home
  • Simple to set up
  • App (and web-based firmware) are responsive, powerful and intuitive

The physical design of the ZenWiFi BT10 is not far from its predecessor, the ZenWiFi AX XT8. The grilles at the sides are more refined, but both will happily fit into a stylish home or office better than most on the market.

Setting it up is simple, thanks to the mature, intuitive and well-featured app. Just note that, despite the similarities, there’s a sticker on the primary node and you need to connect to that, as using the secondary node won’t work.

While there are many features accessible within the app, Asus has these and many more advanced options accessible via a web browser, and both interfaces are intuitive and responsive to use.

  • Design score: 5 / 5

Asus ZenWiFi BT10 review: Features

Asus ZenWiFi BT10 app screenshots

(Image credit: Future)
  • Security and Parental controls are included (without subscription)
  • Has almost every consumer networking feature under the sun
  • 10G Ethernet LAN and WAN ports

The Asus router app has been around for some time now and it’s well laid out, intuitive and packed full of features. The opening screen displays a wireless network map and provides a button to manually run a wireless-optimization cycle. There’s a real-time traffic monitor, CPU and RAM monitor, and an at-a-glance display of what type of devices are connected wirelessly and via cables.

The second tab breaks down which devices are connected along with their IP addresses and the resources they’re using. You can easily block them or assign them to family members to provide parental controls. There’s also the ability to configure Asus' AiMesh feature which lets you do things like turn the LEDs off, prioritize the 6GHz channel for backhaul or client connection, and see details like the IP address, MAC address and firmware version. The Insight tab offers smart recommendations regarding using secure connections, intrusion prevention and setting up family groups.

The built-in network security is called Asus AiProtection and it’s powered by Trend Micro. In addition to providing network security assessments, it offers malicious site blocking, two-way intrusion prevention and infected device isolation. It also powers the parental controls and (mercifully) doesn’t require a separate premium subscription – unlike other rivals.

The Family tab lets you add people and their devices to customizable and preset groups. This can provide web filtering that’s suitable for different children’s age groups (plus adults), setting up both online and offline schedules for each day of the week. Again, I’m very pleased to see Asus provide these features without asking for a subscription fee.

The final tab offers access to other standard router features, including QoS and VPN. While the analysis features that come with this are useful, I am concerned about the website history logging, which enables people to spy on the online activity of everyone on the network. You can also set up a USB port as a SAMBA media server or FTP file server, and there’s the ability to add Alexa and Google Assistant integration.

Accessing the firmware via a web browser provides access to all of the above along with functions like adding Dual WAN, 3G / 4G LTE USB WAN, Port Forwarding, Port Triggering, DMZ, DDNS, IPTV, automatic BitTorrent downloading, VPN management; Apple Time Machine compatibility, Shared Folder Privileges, among other high-level, network-admin features. Just note that many of these are available on Asus’ lesser routers, so don’t splash out on an expensive model just because one catches your eye.

Physically, each node has Gigabit WAN, 10G Ethernet LAN, and 10G Ethernet WAN/LAN network ports, plus a USB-A 3.0 connection. It’s also worth mentioning Asus’ AiMesh feature which can use most current (and many older), cheap and premium Asus routers as nodes to further extend a network.

  • Features: 5 / 5

Asus ZenWiFi BT10 review: Performance

  • Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 for blistering real-world speed
  • One of the best performers at long range
  • 10G Ethernet for fast wired connections
Asus ZenWiFi BT10 benchmarks

Close range: 1,661 Mbps
Medium range: 614 Mbps
Long range: 370 Mbps

The tri-band (2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz) router promises 18,000 Mbps of theoretical performance, but that only exists in lab conditions and certainly can’t be achieved in the real world where every network’s situation will be different. It’s possible to reserve the 6GHz channel for backhaul only, but leaving it set to ‘Auto’ saw better results.

I ran my tests, which included downloading large video files from a Synology NAS (with a wired, 10G Ethernet port) connected to the router, to a Wi-Fi 7-equipped HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 laptop at three different ranges.

Up close, it managed 1,661 Mbps, which I’ve only seen beaten by Netgear’s Nighthawk 7 RS700S Wi-Fi router. Two rooms away, at the front of my single-story home (by the second node), it managed 614 Mbps. While that’s a significant drop, it’s still impressive, although other premium routers and mesh systems can be a bit faster. More impressively, the BT10 managed 370 Mbps, 15 meters away, outside the home in the garden. Only top-tier three-node mesh systems have rivaled that (and not all do).

In short, it’s very fast indeed, and I happily edited 4K video on my laptop from across the network with no issues at all.

  • Performance: 5 / 5

Asus ZenWiFi BT10 from above, showing vents

(Image credit: Future)

Should you buy the Asus ZenWiFi BT10?

Buy it if...

You want fast Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 7 really is a game-changer in that it offers superlative performance for old and new devices alike. I never like calling anything future-proof, but the fact that only cutting-edge clients can come close to accessing its full performance is telling. It will be a very long time before it feels slow.

You have weak Wi-Fi in some areas
Some premium routers do a great job of distributing a strong signal across a large area. But there are plenty of larger buildings that have dead spots due to size or thick walls. If that’s the case, the BT10 will likely help you out, and you can still add additional nodes via Asus’ AiMesh technology.

You hate subscriptions
It’s been disappointing to see that some premium-brand routers now come with core features that you have to pay even more for. In some cases, that means paying for both parental controls and security software, separately. Asus deserves credit for keeping it all free.

Don't buy it if…

You want to save money
The BT10, like many premium Wi-Fi 7 kits, is incredibly expensive. While it’s nice to have a future-proof setup, you can still buy last-gen Wi-Fi 6 and 6E models, with similar features for substantially less. You can also add cheap nodes using old and cheap Asus routers that are AiMesh compatible.

You live in Australia
Australians appear to be the victims of price gouging when it comes to premium Wi-Fi 7 networking devices. The price here is anomalously high compared to other regions, even with the usual tax and shipping issues.

You only want basic features
Some people just want to access the internet without much fuss. If that’s the case, then the BT10 is overpowered, over-featured and overpriced for your requirements. You can save a massive amount of money on a lesser device that will still fulfill your needs.

Also consider

If you're undecided about investing in the Asus ZenWiFi BT10 router, I've compared its specs with three alternatives that might suit you better.

Netgear Nighthawk RS700S
The elder sibling of the RS300 is twice as expensive, but it provides Wi-Fi 7 with an even faster speed of 19 Gbps, and has 10G Ethernet, so is great for high-speed broadband connections.

Read our full Nighthawk RS700S review

Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98
This giant robot spider is the ZenWiFi BT10’s big, gamer-oriented brother. If you can get past the looks, it features similar features and performance in one, less-expensive package.

Read our full Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 review

TP-Link Deco BE63
It’s more mature in the market and the price has dropped even more. You also get three nodes to spread the signal even further. It’s a great-value Wi-Fi 7 mesh kit.

Read our full TP-Link Deco BE63 review

How I tested the Asus ZenWiFi BT10

  • I tested it in typical home use
  • I tested it at short, medium and long range
  • I tested both the wired and wireless connections

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test


  • First reviewed in February 2025
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