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The Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave gaming desk looks fancy, and feels great for PC gaming — but you’ll probably want a desk mat

5:00 pm | January 18, 2026

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: Europe, PC, UK, US | Comments: Off

Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave: Two-minute review

If you're looking for one of the best gaming desks, you're probably already aware that these fancy tables often don't come cheap. Nor does the Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave, but having spent a few weeks using it after replacing my tired old office desk (which I bought on Amazon six years ago), I can confidently say that it's worth every penny.

Eureka has a decent history of producing office-standard chairs and desks, but this is the first gaming desk I've personally seen from them - and if the rest of their gaming range is anything to go by, they're taking it just as seriously as the professional office market. This L-shaped desk is of damn good quality, with a sturdy metal frame and two tempered glass panels forming the desktop.

Underneath that dark frosted glass is a small open space lined with RGB LED strips, which create a wave effect (hence the GTG Wave's name) when it shines through. It's a nice feature, and while it's not one I'd necessarily pay extra for, it does look good - especially in a darker room.

The Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave gaming desk in a well-lit room with a PC setup on it and a gaming chair in front, with all the RGB lights turned on. — (Image credit: Future)

Measuring 60 by 40 inches (about 152 x 102cm) in total - though obviously, the L shape means that some of this space is cut out for your chair to neatly slot in - it's certainly on the larger side when it comes to gaming desks. It's larger than the Secretlab Magnus that we highly recommend, so if you're working with limited space at home, you'll likely be better served by something like the far more compact Corsair Platform:4.

Still, if you've got the gaming room real estate, this is an excellent choice. I found it pretty easy to assemble solo, and it comes with a handful of extra features that I definitely value in a gaming desk. Firstly, there's some decent cable management options here; not only are there two flip-down metal racks along the rear edge, which can each house a multiplug unit or AC adapter brick, but the GTG Wave also comes with several plastic stick-on cable tie blocks - useful both for your own devices, and the cables for the LED lighting, which can be connected directly to your PC via a standard 4-pin ARGB header if you want to synchronize the lighting to the rest of your setup.

Another feature that will no doubt prove invaluable for some users is the VESA mounting bracket, which attaches to the back edge of the desk and can support two monitors at once. I don't personally have a VESA-compatible gaming monitor (mine is the fixed-base Razer Raptor 27), but I'm now seriously considering getting one.

Overall, I found it really hard to fault the Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave. If I had to pick out some complaints, it would probably be that the RGB lighting isn't super visible in a brightly-lit room like my home office, but that feels like nitpicking. One thing I would note, however, is that I'm going to need to invest in a desk mat; the all-glass surface makes me a little nervous when I put things on it...

Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave: Price and availability

Retails at $599.99 (around £445 / around AU$890)
Ships to the US, UK, and Europe, but not Australia
Leaning towards the premium end of the market

At $599.99 (around £445 / around AU$890), the Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave is certainly on the pricier end of the market - though it's worth noting that you could easily spend more on a gaming desk and get something smaller and less impressive. In terms of what the GTG Wave offers in value for money, I'm actually very happy with the price.

Considering that this is a pretty large gaming desk, it's actually cheaper than the much smaller aforementioned Corsair Platform:4, and only $100 more than the SecretLab Magnus (which is also a bit smaller than the GTG Wave). I'm not going to go down the rabbit hole of how many square inches of desktop space you get per dollar, but the Wave certainly isn't overpriced when you look at the wider gaming desk market.

When it comes to availability, Eureka is an American company that primarily ships to the continental United States, but they also sell through retail partners in the UK, Japan, and selected European countries. Unfortunately, it doesn't ship to Australia, meaning that our gaming friends down under are out of luck.

Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave: Specs

Price	$599.99 (around £445 / around AU$890)
Height	30in / 76cm
Load capacity	200lbs / 90kg
Material	Steel, tempered glass
Dimensions	60 x 40in / 152 x 102cm

Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave: Design and features

Looks and feels like a premium product
Relatively easy assembly
Plenty of customization

Despite having some extra features and essentially requiring assembly in two separate halves due to its L-shaped design, the Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave was actually quite easy to put together.

While I could've asked my partner to assist me with assembling the GTG Wave, I opted to forge ahead by myself, specifically to see how challenging it would be to build it alone (after all, many of us won't have an extra pair of hands on, uh, hand). I'll be honest; as I unboxed the heavy glass panels and carbon steel frame, I was already starting to regret my decision to fly solo.

However, I'm pleased to report that I had the whole thing upright and ready to use (minus the cable racks and VESA mount) in under half an hour from getting it all unboxed and laid out. The instructions are clear and detailed, and assembly requires no additional tools - just the included hex keys.

You can pretty easily build it one piece at a time with the glass top-down, then flip the whole thing over once it's assembled. At no point in the process did I feel overwhelmed or confused, and once I had it upright, I only had to tighten a few screws for the whole thing to feel very robust. Attaching the cable racks and VESA mount is similarly easy.

The underside of the Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave gaming desk midway through assembly, showing the steel frame and bottom of the glass panel. — (Image credit: Future)

Interestingly, there are screwholes for you to attach a headset hook and cup holder (on the left and right side, respectively), but these weren't included in my review model even though they do feature on Eureka's website and promotional images. I can live without these, personally - I tend to leave my headset on the armrest of my gaming chair, and I'm left-handed, so I prefer to keep my drink on the left side with a coaster anyway - but I'm assuming these should have been included. Amusingly, Eureka initially also sent me the wrong wall plug, but swiftly supplied me with a region-appropriate one once the mistake was realized.

Setting up the RGB lighting only requires you to plug in two cables, regardless of whether you're connecting it to your PC directly or just using the default mode, which is controlled with a basic IR remote. If you're not syncing it to the rest of your build, you can choose between solid color, rainbow, or color pulse patterns, and a sound-reactive mode (which means there must be a tiny microphone hidden in there somewhere). You can also set it to switch off automatically after 30 or 60 minutes.

There are only two levels of brightness, and even the brighter setting isn't super bright - you can still see it in a well-lit room, but it only really pops in a dimmer environment. If you're the sort of person who prefers to be bathed only in the RGB glow of your setup and display while gaming, then it's perfect; otherwise, it's more of a minor style win.

Despite the LEDs, the GTG Wave actually doesn't look that ostentatious, especially with the lighting turned off. With only a small logo stamped on one of the short edges, it actually looks very unassumingly professional - and considering that my gaming PC is also my work PC, I think that's great.

Closeup of one corner of the Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave gaming desk, showing the Eureka logo stamped on the edge.

(Image credit: Future)

Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave: Performance

Cable racks function as designed
Ample room underneath for storage
Glass top makes me a little anxious... and can't take too much weight

As far as performance goes, I have no real complaints about the Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave. It does what it advertises; my whole desktop PC setup fits easily on top with plenty of space left for other assorted bits and pieces. Seriously, I had to tidy up a LOT before shooting these review photos. You don't need to see all my figurines, sorry.

With a height of 30 inches (about 76cm), it's standard height for a gaming desk with a small degree of adjustability (perhaps half an inch or a centimeter or so) coming from the screw-on feet. The real advantage of these is that they can be easily adjusted to make the desk sit stably on an uneven floor. Since setting it up, I've moved a small drawer unit underneath the short edge of the 'L', which fits perfectly. In fact, the size of this desk means I could probably fit more underneath it, but at 6'3", I like having the extra legroom.

Closeup of a person's hands tightening a screw on a desk leg with a hex key while assembling the Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave gaming desk. — (Image credit: Future)

While the cable racks don't feel quite as durable as the rest of the desk (they're made of a notably thinner metal), they had no issues bearing the weight of my multiplug and my Razer monitor's hefty power brick. If you're not using them, you can either leave them unattached or flip them up on a hinge so they don't get in the way. The VESA mount, on the other hand, needs to bear a lot more weight, and it's suitably sturdy.

Of course, the two tempered glass panels that form the upper worksurface of this desk won't bear as much weight as a more conventional metal or wooden desk. The GTG Wave is officially rated for 200lbs / 90kg, which should be plenty - just don't lean too hard on it.

Closeup of the ARGB lighting controller and cabling on the underside of the Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave gaming desk. — (Image credit: Future)

The real concern is edge shattering; I've built enough PCs in my time to know that sometimes a sharp impact on the wrong spot of a tempered glass panel can lead to tiny shards all over your carpet. It's also nigh-impossible to gauge the actual durability of panels like this; it could break tomorrow, or last for another decade. Needless to say, I'd recommend investing in a desk mat. While using a mouse works fine on the glass top, if you're a naughty desk luncher like me, you won't want to put plates or glasses on this without some protection.

Nonetheless, this glass does feel fairly durable. It's fingerprint- and scratch-resistant, bearing no visible marks after weeks of use, though I will note that it shows up dust (and in my case, dog hairs) quite noticeably - probably worse than a wooden desk, since it appears to get dusty faster than my old desk, which was black-painted wood. That being said, it actually encourages me to clear off and wipe down my desk more than I used to, so I can't really mark Eureka down for silently encouraging me to maintain desk cleanliness.

Closeup of one corner of the Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave gaming desk, showing the RGB lighting that runs around the edges. — (Image credit: Future)

Should you buy the Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave?

Buy it if...

You want a statement gaming desk
Not many gaming desks manage to look this cool, while also maintaining a degree of refined professionalism with the RGB switched off. The GTG Wave will look good in almost any home office or gaming space.

You want a tidy setup
With two racks and multiple cable tie points, it's easy to get your gaming setup looking clean and hidden away beneath this desk.

You prefer an arm-mounted monitor (or two!)
The VESA bracket is easy as pie to attach, meaning that anyone who wants to mount their display(s) on a movable arm can do so with ease.

Don't buy it if...

You're a clumsy desk user
Look, I'm not going to mince words here: you shouldn't buy the GTG Wave if you tend to clang your can of energy drink down on the surface of your desk.View Deal

You're on a tight budget
At the end of the day, while it might offer good value for money, this is still a pretty expensive desk. If you're short on cash, there are cheaper options out there.View Deal

Also consider

Not keen on the Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave? Here’s one cheaper desk and one more premium gaming desk option for you to consider.

	Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave	Flexispot E7	Secretlab Magnus Pro
Price	$599.99 (around £445 / around AU$890)	$340 / £360 / AU$420	$799 / £770
Height	30in / 76cm	22.8-48.4in / 58-123cm	25.6-49.2in / 65-125cm
Load capacity	200 lbs / 90kg	275lbs / 125kg	264.6lbs / 120kg
Material	Steel, tempered glass	Steel	Steel, wood fiberboard
Dimensions	60 x 40in / 152 x 102cm	43.3-74.8 x 26.7 x 22.8-48.4in / 110-190 x 68 x 58-123cm	59.1 x 27.6 x 25.6-49.2in / 150 x 70 x 65-125cm

Also consider the Flexispot E7
If you want something similar to the Corsair Platform:4 that doesn’t break the bank, consider the Flexispot E7. It’s not a gaming desk, but it still performs excellently and comes in a wide range of color options.

For more information, check out our full Flexispot E7 reviewView Deal

Also consider the Secretlab Magnus Pro
If you have the space for something larger, then the Secretlab Magnus Pro should be on your radar. It’s a bit cheaper than the Corsair Platform:4, but it still boasts a lot of features that make it fantastic for gaming.

For more information, check out our full Secretlab Magnus Pro reviewView Deal

How I tested the Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave

Used as my main desk
Tested over multiple weeks
Extensive work and play

An old black wooden desk with nothing on it and visible signs of wear and tear. — Look at this sad old desk. Rest in peace, Amazon desk, you were moderately okay for a while. (Image credit: Future)

I replaced my tired old Amazon desk with the Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave several weeks ago, assembling it myself. I used it almost every day, both to work and play on my desktop gaming PC, as well as eating several meals at it (I know, I know, it's a bad habit). I spent many hours at a time sitting at it in my NobleChairs Hero TX - with regular breaks to stretch, of course!

While I wasn't able to make proper use of the VESA mount option, I did set up the cable racks and used them to clear up the space under my old desk, which had become something of a cable-tangle nightmare. I also played around with the LED lighting and connected it directly to my motherboard to synchronize it with my rig's ARGB theme.

Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: one-minute review

The Tassimo Finesse Friendly from Bosch is a compact capsule-based coffee maker that's an affordable alternative to similar machines from Nespresso and Keurig. It works in much the same way as its rivals, accepting proprietary capsules, piercing them, and forcing hot water through to brew your drink.

Unlike some other small coffee makers, it can also brew milky drinks such as lattes if you use separate pods for the milk and the coffee, with impressive results. The downside is that these capsules (known as T-Pods) can be quite expensive, particularly for drinks with two components.

The Finesse Friendly is very simple to use and clean, with a blank disc stored in a slot at the bottom that enables a quick rinsing cycle between drinks. Its water tank is east to remove as well, though its small capacity (just 23.7oz / 700ml) means you'll be making frequent trips to the sink if you're making more than one or two drinks at a time.

Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly coffee maker with top open — (Image credit: Future)

It's a well-built and likeable little coffee maker, but if you enjoy lattes regularly, you might want to consider learning to use a compact espresso machine with a manual steam wand instead. Although the initial cost will be higher, you could save money in the long run by using fresh milk for your regular brews rather than capsules. Take a look at my roundup of the best espresso machines for options at various price points.

Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: specifications

Name	Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly
Type	Capsule coffee maker
Dimensions (W x H x D)	6.2 x 10.4 x 14.2 inches / 15.7 x 26.5 x 36cm
Weight	6.2lbs / 2.8kg
Water tank capacity	23.7oz / 700ml

Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: price and availability

List price £89.99 (about $120 / AU$180), but often discounted
Widely available in Europe, but not in the US or Australia
T-Pod capsules can be quite expensive, depending on type

The Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly is one of the most affordable capsule coffee makers machines I’ve ever tested. It has a list price of £89.99 (about $120 / AU$180), but is frequently discounted to £49.99 (about $70 / AU$100). That’s even less than the entry-level Nespresso Vertuo Pop. You’ll find all today’s best prices below.

The downside is that although it’s widely available in the UK and continental Europe, it’s not currently sold in the US or Australia.

Although the Finesse Friendly is cheap, Tassimo capsules (known as T-Pods) can be quite pricey particularly if you prefer drinks with milk, which require two pods each. They are widely available online and from supermarkets, and include varieties from brands including Cadbury’s, Costa, Kenco, Jacobs, and L’OR.

Coffee and milk capsules for Bosch Tassimo coffee makers — (Image credit: Future)

Prices vary widely depending on your chosen drink. For example, a pack of Costa Caramel Latte T-Pods, for example, contains enough capsules to make just eight drinks, and has a list price of £7.25 (about $10 / AU$15). Pods containing just coffee are much more affordable. At the time of writing, a bundle containing 80 Kenco Pure Colombian capsules is £21.38 (about $30 / AU$40).

Value score: 3.5/5

Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: design

Compact and lightweight
Easy to clean and maintain
Water tank holds only 23.7oz / 700ml

The Tassimo Finesse Friendly is an exceptionally light and compact coffee maker, which is ideal for small kitchens and easy to tuck away in a cupboard when not in use. Its body is made using 60% recycled plastic, and is available in four colors: black, white, cream, and red. The black version I tested had a tendency to accumulate fingerprints, particularly on the matt-finish sides, but they were easily cleaned off with a damp cloth.

Its drip tray is removable for cleaning, and can be repositioned closer to the dispenser to accommodate espresso cups without splashing.

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Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly coffee maker with drip tray raised ready to dispense espresso — (Image credit: Future)

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Woman pressing start button on Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly coffee maker — (Image credit: Future)

It has a single control button, which uses colors and blinks to indicate the machine’s current status. A red light means the machine needs attention, and usually signals that the water tank is running low.

The tank is attached to the back of the machine, and is easy to remove; just angle it slightly and pull upwards. It has a maximum capacity of just 700ml / 23.7oz, so you’ll need to refill it after making two full-size drinks.

Water tank removed from Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly coffee maker — (Image credit: Future)

Cleaning the Finesse Friendly is straightforward. Just remove the orange maintenance disc from the slot at the bottom of the machine, place it in the capsule holder with the barcode facing down, close the lid, and hit the brew button just as you would when preparing a drink.

The machine will rinse itself with a cupful of hot water, leaving it clean and ready to use next time. It’s also worth wiping the outside of the dispenser clean if you’ve made a drink with milk, as this has a tendency to splutter.

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Removing maintenance disc from slot on Tassimo Finesse Friendly coffee maker — (Image credit: Future)

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Cleaning disc inserted in Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly coffee maker — (Image credit: Future)

The Finesse Friendly has no water filter, but is easy to de-scale when indicated by the red status light. Just fill the water tank to the line marked ‘calc’, add two descaling tablets (not provided with the machine but available online), insert the cleaning disc, place a cup under the dispenser and hold the start button for about five seconds.

Design score: 4/5

Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: performance

The Tassimo Finesse Friendly is extremely simple to use. Just fill the water tank to the maximum line, pull the top of the machine upwards to open it, and place your drink capsule in the opening face-down. Push the lid closed and the light on the control button will light up orange, indicating that the Finesse Friendly is ready to start brewing.

After your drink has finished dispensing, wait until the light stops blinking orange before removing the used capsule.

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Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly coffee maker dispensing steamed milk — (Image credit: Future)

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Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly coffee maker with steam after dispensing milk — (Image credit: Future)

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Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly coffee maker dispensing coffee into caffe latte — (Image credit: Future)

I tested the Finesse Friendly with a couple of different capsules: Tassimo Cinnamon Roll Latte (which Bosch provided with the review machine), and Jacobs Latte Macchiato (which I bought myself). Each variety came with two boxes of pods: one containing the coffee, and the other filled with long-life milk.

Although a latte macchiato is usually my coffee of choice, the cinnamon roll pods were the clear winner. Although it was definitely sweet, the drink had a more mellow flavor than many other coffee pods I’ve tried. In fact, it was so good I ended up buying a second pack.

The tiny Finesse Friendly did a particularly good job of steaming milk, producing a long-lasting layer of creamy foam. During my tests the machine had a tendency to sputter a little, and emitted quite a lot of steam once it had finished dispensing, but this had dissipated by the time the orange light stopped blinking.

In the UK, you can recycle used T-Pod capsules through Podback (a scheme that also accepts used Nespresso, L'OR and Dolce Gusto pods). You'll receive a Podback bag when you receive an order of T-Pods, and you can order more through the Podback website.

You can drop off your Podback bags in most big supermarkets, or take loose capsules to a recycling center with a Podback bin. Find your nearest drop-off point.

Performance score: 5/5

Should you buy the Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly

Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly score card
Attribute	Notes	Score
Value	The machine itself is very affordable, but pods for milk-based drinks can be expensive.	3.5/5
Design	Compact and light, made using 60% recycled plastic, but water tank is very small.	4/5
Performance	Heats quickly, foams milk well, and dispenses consistently tasty coffee. Easy to clean and maintain.	5/5

Buy it if

You want a coffee maker that's easy to use

Brewing coffee doesn't get much easier than this. Just add water and a pod, wait a minute, and you'll have a perfectly brewed drink every time.

You want more than just coffee

The Finesse Friendly also makes excellent hot chocolate, and there are plenty of T-Pod capsules available from brands including Cadbury's.

Don't buy it if

You drink several lattes daily

T-Pods for milky drinks can be quite expensive. They're delicious, but you'll go through a pack of capsules very quickly unless you keep them as a special treat.

You want to make drinks for a crowd

The Tassimo Finesse Friendly's small water tank will need refilling after every couple of drinks unless you're brewing short drinks like espresso.

Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: also consider

If the Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly isn't the right coffee maker for you, here are two alternatives to consider.

Nespresso Vertuo Pop

This is another compact pod-based coffee maker with an affordable price tag. The upgraded Pop+ has an extra large water tank, which will be useful if you want to brew drinks for a larger group, and even premium Vertuo pods work out a little cheaper than the most expensive T-Pods.

Read our full Nespresso Vertuo Pop review

Nespresso Pixie

This capsule coffee maker accepts Nespresso Original capsules. Nestlé no longer owns the patent to these, so they're widely available from a huge range of coffee producers, from big chains to small independent roasters.

Read our full Nespresso Pixie review

How I tested the Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly

I used the Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly in my own kitchen for three weeks, making an average of two coffees per day. I used tap water, and used the maintenance disc with the rinse program the clean the machine between each drink.

I used Tassimo Cinnamon Roll Latte and Jacobs Latte Macchiato capsules, and used the milk capsule for each drink first before dispensing the coffee through the foam. I compared the results to those from my own Nespresso Vertuo Pop machine.

For more details, see how we test, rate, and review products at TechRadar.

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ZTE Pad X1102N tablet launches in Europe with 5G support

8:41 pm | December 12, 2025

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

ZTE has introduced a new tablet in Europe, specifically in the Polish market for now - but it might spread to other countries as well soon. Meet the ZTE Pad X1102N. It comes with an 11-inch 1920x1200 LCD touchscreen with a 90Hz refresh rate, a 13 MP rear camera, a 5 MP front camera, and a 7,670 mAh battery with support for 21W wired charging. That battery size is anything but impressive today when mainstream smartphones regularly push above that capacity. Anyway, the Pad X1102N is powered by the Unisoc T8100 SoC, paired with 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It has 5G support, four...

The Honor Magic 8 Lite has the best battery life of any phone I’ve ever tested – but it’s not a total home run

6:00 pm | December 8, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Honor Phones Phones | Tags: Europe, Google Pixel, UK, US | Comments: Off

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Two-minute review

With the Honor Magic 8 Lite, the battery is undoubtedly the star of the show. It has the same massive 7,500 mAh capacity as the Oppo Find X9 Pro, but when combined with its lower-end energy-efficient chip, it lasts even longer. I'm not exaggerating when I say that four days on a single charge is quite easy to achieve with this phone.

The Magic 8 Lite's construction has been significantly upgraded this year, too. It now carries the highest possible IP rating, so dust and water will pose no threat, while a shock-resistant frame and reinforced tempered glass should keep it fairly safe from drops.

The phone's display is another highlight, and it ticks all the most important boxes. It's bright, has a speedy 120Hz refresh rate, supports PWM dimming, and has slim symmetrical bezels all the way around.

Product shots of the Honor Magic 8 Lite — (Image credit: Future)

Unfortunately, the Magic 8 Lite's performance isn't quite so impressive. You'll see the occasional stutter when you're going about your daily business, and you'll need to use very low graphics settings to get a playable experience in modern games.

The cameras, too, left me wanting more. Honor hasn't upgraded the camera hardware on its Magic Lite series for the last few generations, and while the main sensor on this latest model is quite good, the ultra-wide is pretty terrible.

The software won't be to everyone's taste (and it's not fully up to date), but it has some genuinely useful features, as well as some neat AI tricks that are often reserved for pricier flagship phones. I found it very easy to live with.

So, whether the Magic 8 Lite is right for you will all depend on your priorities. As a photographer and a gamer, I didn't have the greatest time with Magic 8 Lite, but not everyone is like me. Battery life is the number one concern for many users, and that's one area where the Magic 8 Lite will definitely not disappoint.

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Price and availability

Announced on December 8, 2025
Coming to the UK and Europe in January
Not available in the US

The Honor Magic 8 Lite was announced on December 8, 2025, and is expected to begin shipping in the UK and Europe in January. As usual for Honor products, it won't be coming to the US.

Honor hasn't confirmed official pricing just yet, but with the Magic 7 Lite retailing for £399 at launch, I'd expect the Magic 8 Lite to cost a similar amount.

If so, that would put it in league with big-name rivals like the Samsung Galaxy A56 and Google Pixel 9a, though the Magic 8 Lite already stands out by offering the biggest battery of the three, as well as an IP69K rating.

Value score: TBC

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Specs

Here's a look at the Honor Magic 8 Lite's key specs:

	Honor Magic 8 Lite
Dimensions	161.9 x 76.1 x 7.76mm
Weight	189g
OS	MagicOS 9, based on Android 15
Display	6.79-inch OLED, 120Hz
Resolution	2640 x 1200 pixels
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4
RAM	8GB
Storage	256GB / 512GB
Battery	7500mAh
Rear cameras	108MP (f/1.75) main, 5MP (f/2.2) ultra-wide
Front camera	16MP (f/2.45)

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Design

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Plastic frame with 6-layer drop-resistant structure
Forest Green, Midnight Black, and Reddish Brown options
IP68/IP69K dust and water-resistant

With the Magic 8 Lite, Honor has done away with the curved edges we saw on the last few generations, instead opting for a boxy design with flat siderails, which is bang on trend. While I appreciated how slim the curved edges made the Magic 7 Lite feel, the newer model feels more premium and modern.

The phone is available in three different colors: Midnight Black, Reddish Brown, and Forest Green. I have the latter in for review, and it looks lovely. The rear panel has a velvety matte feel, and the color shifts slightly when the light hits it. It's not a fingerprint magnet, either, which is often a problem with matte-finish phones.

The cameras are arranged in a centrally placed halo, just like on the previous generation, and the design reminds me of the Huawei Mate-series flagships. Love it or hate it, there's no denying it stands out from the crowd.

One of the big upgrades this year is the new IP68/69K rating for dust and water resistance. This means the phone is effectively immune to dust ingress and can withstand dunks in fresh water, as well as blasts from jets of hot water. So, if you can't resist scrolling while you take a shower, this is one of the few phones that will survive the ordeal.

The drop resistance has also been cranked up a notch. Honor reckons it'll survive drops from up to 2.5m heights, thanks to a new 6-layer drop-resistant structure that incorporates non-Newtonian fluid.

The phone still has a plastic frame, but it doesn't seem to be holding it back in terms of durability. The tempered glass coating on the screen has also been toughened; it now has a 31% deeper tempering depth to help with scratch and crack resistance.

Design score: 4 / 5

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Display

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6.79-inch 120Hz OLED display
3840Hz PWM dimming
6,000-nit peak brightness

The Honor Magic 8 Lite now has a fully flat screen, rather than curved edges, and I much prefer it. Not only does this mean you avoid unwanted reflections and accidental edge touches, but it's also easier to find a quality screen protector.

The bezels are slimmer, too, and they're symmetrical on all sides, which gives the phone a more premium look. The pill-shaped selfie cutout is also gone, and you now get a more typical circular punch hole.

The screen is also brighter than before, able to reach a whopping 6,000 nits at peak brightness. I certainly never had any trouble seeing the display out in the sunlight.

It's an OLED panel, and as you might expect, it delivers the deep, inky blacks and vibrant colors that the technology is known for. A 120Hz refresh rate keeps things looking smooth as you swipe around, too.

If you're concerned about eye strain, you'll be pleased to learn that the Honor Magic 8 Lite supports 3,840Hz high-frequency PWM dimming. This will help your eyes feel fresher when using the phone at low brightness levels.

Another neat feature is Honor's AI Heavy Rain Touch/Glove Touch tech. This ensures that the touchscreen continues working when others might fail, for example, when there's water on the screen. It's very useful in the British wintertime.

Display score: 4 / 5

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Cameras

108MP main (f/1.75)
5MP ultra-wide (f/2.2)
16MP selfie camera (f/2.45)

The Honor Magic 8 Lite has two rear cameras: a 108MP main and a 5MP ultra-wide. Around the front, there's a 16MP punch hole selfie camera.

This is the exact same hardware that we saw on the Magic 7 Lite and Magic 6 Lite before that. Neither of those phones impressed me with their photographic abilities, so my expectations were on the ground when coming to test the Magic 8 Lite.

Indeed, the ultra-wide is as bad as you might expect. You can get passable results in perfect lighting, but there's only so much you can do with such a low-resolution sensor. In low light, you should avoid it entirely.

The main camera, on the other hand, is quite decent. Just don't let the 108MP specification fool you into thinking you'll get exceptionally detailed shots. It spits out 12MP JPEGs by default, and you'll need a bright sunny day if you want to use the full resolution, as the pixels are quite tiny.

I had hoped that this high-resolution sensor would allow for big digital crops without much of a loss in quality, but that's not the case. You can see the quality degrade quite significantly at 3x zoom, and it gets worse as you approach the maximum of 10x.

Still, in the right conditions, you can get some great shots with the Magic 8 Lite. Honor's processing is a little punchy and contrasty for my tastes, but you are given plenty of controls to adjust the way your images look.

The selfie camera is fine, but wholly unremarkable. It's on par with most budget-focused handsets, and it gets the job done, but it doesn't have the edge that Instagram addicts will be looking for.

I found that portrait mode cutouts weren't the most reliable, often chopping off bits of hair. Plus, there's less control than I'm accustomed to. There's no way to change the blur level on the selfie camera, for instance; it's just on or off.

For video shooting, you can capture at up to 4K 30fps on the main camera, while the other two lenses top out at 1080p. Video stabilization isn't the most impressive, and the lack of consistency across lenses means that budding content creators will be left wanting more.

Cameras score: 3 / 5

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Camera samples

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Honor Magic 8 Lite camera samples — (Image credit: Future)

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Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Performance

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Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset
8GB RAM
256GB / 512GB storage

The Honor Magic 8 Lite is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 SoC. It's a healthy upgrade compared to the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 that was (strangely) present in both the Magic 6 Lite and 7 Lite.

Still, this is a budget-focused chipset, so you should temper your expectations when it comes to performance. It's paired with 8GB of RAM, which should be sufficient for some multitasking, and either 256GB or 512GB of storage.

In normal day-to-day use, when scrolling social media and responding to emails and WhatsApp messages, the phone feels quick enough. At times, though, you can feel the difference between this and a flagship device. You can expect to see the occasional stutter in the system animations, and sometimes things will take a split second longer to load. Honestly, though, it's very easy to live with.

However, when you boot up a demanding game, that performance gap widens significantly. In fairness, the Magic 8 Lite was still able to play Wuthering Waves, which is well known as one of the most challenging Android titles, but I had to stick to the lowest preset to get playable framerates, and I still saw the odd performance dip.

So, this phone is not a good choice for keen gamers, but if you're more into Candy Crush or retro titles, you might find this level of performance to be all you need.

Performance score: 3 / 5

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Software

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Magic OS 9, based on Android 15
Plenty of AI features
6 years of updates and security patches (in EU regions)

The Magic 8 Lite runs Magic OS 9, which is the same software you'll find on Honor's 2025 flagships like the Magic 7 Pro and Magic V5. That said, we've already seen Magic OS 10 begin to roll out to these handsets, so it's a little strange that the Lite model is launching one step behind. Hopefully, the upgrade will materialize before too long.

Honor promises six years of OS upgrades and security patches for the Magic 8 Lite in the EU, so it will definitely get the new OS, but how soon it will arrive remains to be seen. Regardless, it's a very decent update policy at this price point; it doesn't match the seven years that you get with Honor's flagship phones, but it outdoes a lot of the similarly priced competition. It should be noted, though, that outside of the EU, this phone only gets two years of updates.

Magic OS continues to be a divisive Android skin. It's heavily stylized, and it changes a lot of the core fundamentals, so Android purists probably won't love it. Personally, though, I quite enjoy it. I think it looks nice, and it adds some genuinely useful features.

Honor's Magic Portal is probably the most unique offering. It allows you to drag text and images from one app to another, and I find myself using it quite frequently. I was pleased to see that Honor's "Knuckle to Portal" gesture is now supported on the Lite model, too, as it was missing when I reviewed the previous model.

In terms of functionality, there's a lot of overlap between Magic Portal and Google's Circle to Search, which is also supported on this phone. That said, having more than one way to accomplish a task is rarely a bad thing, because if one service isn't behaving the way you'd like, you can try the other.

You also get loads of AI-powered image editing tools on the Magic 8 Lite, like an object eraser, reflection removal, outpainting, background removal, and more. Again, a lot of these features are built into Google Photos, too, but if you use both platforms, you can see which one does a better job.

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I'm a big fan of Honor's Magic Pill feature, which is functionally almost identical to Apple's Dynamic Island. It's nothing particularly new, but it means you have quick access to things like media controls and timers, no matter which app is running in the foreground.

The aggressive power-saving measures that the OS applies by default are less impressive. If you want timely notifications, you might find that you need to go into the settings and tweak things. I often found I wasn't getting notifications from my video doorbell, for example.

Software score: 3 / 5

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Battery

7,500mAh silicon-carbon battery
66W wired charging
No charger included

Without a doubt, one of the most appealing aspects of the Magic 8 Lite is its insane battery life. The 7,500mAh silicon-carbon cell is up there with the largest batteries available today (tied with the Oppo Find X9 Pro and RedMagic 11 Pro). The difference here is that it's paired with a less powerful and more energy-efficient chipset, which results in the best battery life of any phone I have tested to date.

When I was working in the office, and not playing too many games or taking a lot of photos, I found I was only using around 25% of the Magic 8 Lite's battery per day. I managed to make the phone last for four days on a single charge, and it wasn't particularly challenging to do so.

Of course, battery life varies wildly depending on how you use your phone, but even the heaviest of users should be able to achieve two days on a charge without any difficulty. So, if you're always forgetting to charge your phone, the Magic 8 Lite could be an absolute game-changer.

What's more, despite having a massive battery, the phone also doesn't take too long to charge. It supports up to 66W speeds using an official Honor charger, but sadly, you don't get one included in the box.

With the right charger, you can expect around a 50% charge in just half an hour, while a full charge will take just over an hour. Not too shabby.

As ever, I would have loved to see wireless charging support, especially since the feature seems to be making its way to more mid-rangers, but there's none of that here.

Battery score: 5 / 5

Should you buy the Honor Magic 8 Lite?

Honor Magic 8 Lite scorecard
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Value	We're still waiting for confirmation of the phone's price.	TBC
Design	The Magic 8 Lite looks a lot more premium than its predecessor, and it's a lot more durable, too.	4 / 5
Display	Slimmer bezels, higher brightness, and PWM dimming make this display a winner.	4 / 5
Cameras	The 108MP main camera can take some decent shots, but the ultra-wide is pretty awful.	3 / 5
Performance	The Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 is adequate for daily use, but it's nothing too special.	3 / 5
Software	There are some great features, but it's already a generation behind, and the power-saving features can be annoying.	3 / 5
Battery	Simply put, this is the longest-lasting phone I've tested to date.	5 / 5

Buy it if...

You hate charging your phone

If you're always walking around with 1% left in the tank, the Honor Magic 8 Lite could be the phone for you. You can easily go for three days on a single charge, and with light use, you might even be able to make it last four.

You need something durable

An IP69 rating for dust and water resistance, along with a shock-resistant frame and thickened tempered glass, makes for a very hard-wearing phone. This device should be able to withstand some abuse.

Don't buy it if...

You want blazing-fast performance

While I found the performance to be adequate for basic tasks, you can definitely tell this isn't the speediest device around. Gamers should steer clear.

You want the best cameras

With the Magic 8 Lite, you only really get one good camera; the ultra-wide and selfie snappers are wholly unimpressive. If photography is your priority, there are better options to consider.

Honor Magic 7 Pro review: Also consider

The Honor Magic 8 Lite is a battery life champion with great durability, but there are plenty of other great options around the same price. Here are a couple of competitors that are worth looking at:

Samsung Galaxy A56

Samsung's mid-range favorite offers a more premium build, using more aluminum and glass than plastic. It also has a superior ultra-wide camera, but the battery is much smaller, and the charging isn't as quick.

Read our Samsung Galaxy A56 Review

Google Pixel 9a

Google's Pixel 9a is powered by the Tensor G4 chip, which is a massive step up from the Magic 8 Lite's Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 in terms of performance. The cameras are more impressive, too. However, yet again, Honor reigns supreme when it comes to battery life and charging speed.

Read our full Google Pixel 9a review

	Honor Magic 8 Lite	Samsung Galaxy A56	Google Pixel 9a
Price:	TBC	$499 / £499 / AU$699	$499 / £499 / AU$849
Display:	6.79-inch OLED	6.7-inch OLED	6.3-inch OLED
Cameras:	108MP main; 5MP ultra-wide	50MP main; 12MP ultra-wide; 5MP macro	48MP main; 13MP ultra-wide
Processor:	Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4	Exynos 1580	Tensor G4
Battery:	7,500mAh	5,000mAh	5,100 mAh

How I tested the Honor Magic 8 Lite

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

I put my SIM card into the Honor Magic 8 Lite and used it as my main phone for just over a week. I used it exactly as I would use any other phone, taking lots of photos, gaming, messaging, working, streaming video, and navigating with Google Maps and Waze.

I also compared the experience of playing graphically challenging games like Wuthering Waves and Zenless Zone Zero to my experience on other Android mid-rangers like the Nothing Phone (3a) and Samsung Galaxy A56. I also ran multiple benchmarks on the handset, including 3DMark, GFXbench, and Geekbench.

I assessed the battery performance based on my real-world usage, and charging times were measured using an official Honor 100W wall adapter and cable.

Lavazza Assoluta: two-minute review

The Lavazza Assoluta is a fully automatic espresso machine with an interesting selling point: when you scan the barcode on a pack of Lavazza beans using the smartphone app, the machine automatically optimizes its own brew settings to deliver optimally extracted, well-balanced coffee.

I was somewhat skeptical about how well this would work, particularly since the Assoluta only has two grind sizes (most machines have 15 or more. In practice, however, it does seem to work well. I tested two very different types of Lavazza coffee, and both times the machine extracted a shot of espresso in 30 seconds, which is pretty much ideal.

The downside is that brewing coffee using your own beans will be hit-and-miss (as Lavazza itself warns), so this isn't a machine for anyone who wants to delve into the world of speciality coffee from independent roasters.

Lavazza Assoluta espresso machine making milky drink — (Image credit: Future)

The Assoluta also has an unusual milk-frothing system, consisting of a large glass cup with a lid containing a steam wand and motorized whisk. Fill the mug with milk to the appropriate measuring line, push it under the coffee dispenser, choose a drink, and two minutes later you'll have a latte or cappuccino topped with rich, creamy foam. It works very well, but the lid can't be used with your regular cups. If there's more than one coffee-drinker at home, you might want to pick up another Lavazza cup so you can both enjoy a drink at the same time.

The Assoluta is advertised for £699.95 (about $920 / AU$1,400), but that price drops to £349.95 (about $460 / AU$700) when you also subscribe to Lavazza's coffee delivery service. Since the machine is specifically designed to work with Lavazza's branded coffee, this is a good option for regular coffee-drinkers.

Lavazza Assoluta: specifications

Name	Lavazza Assoluta
Type	Fully automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine
Dimensions (W x H x D)	8.7 x 14 x 17.1 inches / 22 x 35.8 x 43.5cm
Weight	22lbs / 10kg
Water reservoir capacity	1.6 quarts / 1.5 liters
Milk frother	Yes (in cup lid)
Bars of pressure	Not stated
User profiles	n/a

Lavazza Assoluta: price and availability

Available now in Europe
Australian release expected in early 2026
Not expected to launch in the US
Half price with a Lavazza coffee subscription plan

The Lavazza Assoluta is only available in Europe at the time of writing (November 2025), but is expected to arrive in Australia in early 2026. Lavazza currently has no plan to release the machine in the US.

The Assoluta has a list price of £699.95 (about $920 / AU$1,400) when bought alone, or £349.95 (about $460 / AU$700) when you also sign up to Lavazza’s coffee subscription service.

The subscription price is very reasonable, and cheaper than anything in my roundup of the best bean-to-cup coffee machines, but Lavazza’s website doesn’t actually seem to let you buy the machine alone at full price. I’ve enquired about this with Lavazza, and will update this review when I have more information.

Value score: 4.5/5

Lavazza Assoluta: design

Attractive and solidly made
Easy to clean and maintain
Fold-out tray for espresso cups
Glass cup has milk frother in lid

The Lavazza Assoluta is a large, but good-looking automatic espresso machine with a bronze-colored plastic case and bright LED control panel.

When the Lavazza Assoluta is switched on, a light on top illuminates to show its current status (ready to brew, brewing, connecting to Wi-Fi, or requiring attention). Turning the top of the bean hopper left or right will adjust the "aroma", changing the dosage of coffee for a stronger or milder drink.

Using dial to adjust aroma on Lavazza Assoluta espresso machine — Turn the dial on top of the machine a few degrees to adjust the "aroma" (or dosage) (Image credit: Future)

The bean hopper has a control for adjusting the grind size, but there are only two settings: fine and coarse. The finer you grind your beans, the longer it takes for water to pass through. Most espresso machines offer at least 15 settings so you can get exactly the right extraction time for your particular beans, so the fact that this machine offers only two is surprising.

The water tank is solidly made with a sturdy handle, but it’s worth bearing in mind that it lifts out of the back vertically, so you’ll need plenty of space above the machine. If you place the Assoluta under a cabinet, be prepared to slide it out whenever it’s time for a refill.

The left-hand side of the machine has a large panel that provides easy access to the Assoluta’s brewing group for cleaning, and the drip tray pulls out to reveal the dump box for used coffee grounds. The machine won’t warn you when this needs emptying; personally, I recommend doing this at the end of each day, cleaning the box and drip tray, and leaving them out overnight so everything has a chance to dry out.

Lavazza Assoluta espresso machine dispensing espresso — The Assoluta has a small flip-down drip tray for espresso cups (Image credit: Future)

The Assoluta has a small fold-out tray to hold an espresso cup, but if you want to make a milky drink then you’ll need to use the large Lavazza Trasparenza Collection mug supplied in the box.

Unlike most automatic espresso machines, which dispense foamed milk from a carafe, the Assoluta requires you to fill your mug with milk, then place a special lid on top. This lid contains a steam wand and electric whisk, which foam the milk for your lattes and cappuccinos before the Assoluta pours a shot of espresso on top.

Milky drink with thick foam prepared using Lavazza Assoluta — The milk-frothing system works well, but can only be used with Lavazza's own large glass coffee cup (Image credit: Future)

I’ve never seen a system quite like it before, and although it works (read on for more details), it means you can’t use your favorite mugs with the machine, and all your milky drinks will end up being quite large. The cup has minimum and maximum fill lines to indicate how much milk to add.

The fact that the machine only comes with a single mug also means that you’ll be drinking your lattes alone unless you purchase a second Trasparenza cup for $22.70 / £15 (about AU$30).

Design score: 3.5/5

Lavazza Assoluta: performance

Before using the Assoluta for the first time, you’ll need to install the Piacere Lavazza app on your phone, and connect it via Bluetooth. Many of the best espresso machines I’ve tested have their own apps, but these are usually pretty limited. They might allow you to update your machine’s firmware and view its instruction manual, but that’s usually it.

The Piacere Lavazza app is different. Once set up, give it permission to access your phone’s camera, scan the barcode on your bag of Lavazza espresso beans, and it will transmit the optimal brew settings to the Assoluta. The machine will then configure itself accordingly, selecting the ideal dosage and brew temperature. The only thing it can’t adjust itself is grind size, so you’ll need to do that by turning the dial inside the bean hopper as instructed.

Setting up Lavazza Assoluta machine in Lavazza app — Scan the barcode on your coffee with the Piacere Lavazza app to configure the machine (Image credit: Future)

As mentioned above, the Assoluta has just two grind sizes, so I was a bit skeptical about how well it would be able to cope with different bean types. After all, dialling in a coffee grinder is often one of the trickiest parts of making a well-extracted espresso, with even small adjustments making a big difference. However, when I tried it out with different Lavazza beans, I was pleasantly surprised.

The machine I tested came with a pack of Lavazza Espresso Barista Gran Crema coffee beans, and I bought an extra pack of Lavazza Espresso Italiano Classico to see how well it coped with both types. The Barista Gran Crema is made using a blend of light roasted arabica and robusta beans, while the Italiano Classico is 100% arabica and more similar to the coffee I usually choose at home.

Espresso brewed using Lavazza Assoluta espresso machine — Brewing a double-shot of espresso took 30 seconds with both Lavazza blends I tested (Image credit: Future)

I timed how long it took the Assoluta to extract a shot of espresso, and in both cases it took exactly 30 seconds from the moment the pump started, which is pretty much ideal. Although it was lightly roasted, I found that the robusta beans in the Barista Gran Crema gave the coffee a slightly more bitter, traditionally Italian flavor, while the Italiano Classico (which required the finer grind size) was fruitier and sweeter.

I’d have liked to try Lavazza’s whole range with the Assoluta if my budget allowed, but I was impressed at how well the machine dealt with these two very different coffees. The downside is that results with your own coffee are likely to be hit-and-miss. You might find that one of the two grind sizes works reasonably well, but if not, you’re going to be left with a disappointing shot of espresso - and Lavazza does warn you that this might happen. You can’t use your own grinder either, because unlike some bean-to-cup coffee makers, the Assoluta doesn’t have a chute for pre-ground coffee.

Lavazza Assoluta machine pouring espresso into foamed milk — The milk-foaming system works particularly well with full-fat dairy milk (Image credit: Future)

During my tests, the Assoluta’s unusual milk-frothing system worked best with full-fat dairy milk, and I attained the best results using the thick foam setting. You're instructed to place the lid on the cup so that its steam spout is opposite the handle. The lid never looks like it’s sitting completely flush with the rim of the cup, but in practice this doesn’t seem to matter; I never had any trouble with milk splashing out, even when using the maximum recommended quantity.

It will take about two minutes to foam your milk, after which the machine will pour your coffee through the top and bleep to let you know your drink is ready. Removing the whisk and steam pipe from the cup disturbs the foam and makes the top of your drink look a little untidy, but that’s a very minor quibble. Despite the long steaming time, the milk isn’t overheated, and the Assoluta creates consistently creamy, sweet-tasting foam.

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Creating custom drink using Lavazza app — Creating custom drinks in the Lavazza app is much easier than using a tiny touchscreen (Image credit: Future)

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Hot drink recipes in Lavazza app — You'll find various hot drink recipes in the Lavazza app, which will help you make them using the Assoluta (Image credit: Future)

Steaming and whisking the milk directly in the cup is unusual, but it means that you’re not limited to making coffee with the Assoluta – you can also use it to prepare hot chocolate following the instructions provided in the app, which is packed with recipes. They’re well worth perusing, and work in a similar way to the Cookidoo app for the Thermomix all-in-one cooker, taking you through preparation of your preferred drink step-by-step.

You can also use the app to create custom drink recipes from scratch, adjusting the coffee volume, temperature, aroma (coffee dosage), and milk thickness. The machine itself offers quite a small menu of presets, but the app makes it easy to tinker with brewing options, walking you through the process one step at a time.

Checking coffee consumption stats using Lavazza app — Worried you might be overdoing the caffeine? The Lavazza app keeps track of how much you're drinking (Image credit: Future)

If you're concerned that you might be drinking too much caffeine, the app even keeps track of your consumption over the past day, week, month, and year, with a breakdown of the type of coffee you tend to drink most often. It's a nice extra feature (and potentially eye-opening).

Performance: 4/5

Should you buy the Lavazza Assoluta?

Lavazza Assoluta score card
Attribute	Notes	Score
Value	Very affordable if you also subscribe to Lavazza's coffee subscription service, but not available in the US.	4.5/5
Design	Good-looking and easy to clean, but milk can only be frothed using Lavazza's large lidded mug, plus the grinder has just two settings.	3.5/4
Performance	Brews consistently good coffee with Lavazza's own beans, and customizing drinks using the app is a breeze. You may not be able to achieve good results with other beans. Foamed milk is thick and creamy.	4/5

Buy it if

You like long, milky drinks

You can only prepare lattes and cappuccinos using the Trasparenza Collection Lavazza Mug, which is pretty huge. Great if you want to be able to wrap your hands around a big, warm drink for cozy nights in.

You want simplicity, but don't like pods

If you like the idea of using fresh coffee beans, but don't want the hassle of setting up a coffee machine perfectly to use them, the Assoluta does the calculations for you.

You want to make more than coffee

The Lavazza Assoluta's unusual milk-frothing system is ideal for making hot chocolate drinks, or making milky drinks infused with syrup.

Don't buy it if

You love experimenting with speciality coffees

The Assoluta is designed to be used with Lavazza's own espresso beans, and although you can use your own, the machine only has two grind sizes, so you have very little control when dialling it in.

You're attached to your own coffee cups

The Lavazza Assoluta's milk-frothing system only works with the large glass mug supplied with the machine.

Lavazza Assoluta: also consider

If you're not completely sold on the Lavazza Assoluta, here are two other espresso machines to think about:

Ninja Prestige DualBrew System

This machine gives you both, with a full-size filter coffee maker, a Nespresso machine, and a pull-out milk frother. It's extremely convenient, and particularly handy if you're bleary-eyed and sluggish in the morning.

Read our full Ninja Prestige DualBrew System reviewView Deal

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series

An excellent little bean-to-cup espresso machine for small households, and particularly easy to keep clean and fresh. It brews hot and cold, and offers an impressive menu of 20 different coffee drinks.

Read our full Philips LatteGo 5500 Series reviewView Deal

How I tested the Lavazza Assoluta

I tested the Assoluta with the Lavazza Espresso Barista Gran Crema beans that came packaged with it, as well as Lavazza Espresso Italiano Classico beans, which I bought myself. I made sure that all the beans in the hopper were finished before changing beans, to prevent mixing.

I installed the Piacere Lavazza app on my phone, and used it to choose the correct brewing profile for each type of coffee, then timed how long it took the Assoluta to brew a shot of espresso with each one.

Two bags of Lavazza coffee beans — (Image credit: Future)

I tested the milk frother with both plant-based and dairy milk, and used both regular and thick milk texture settings. I also tried different drink recipes from the Piacere Lavazza app, and used it to make custom beverages.

First reviewed November 2025.

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Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave: Price and availability

Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave: Specs

Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave: Design and features

Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave: Performance

Should you buy the Eureka Ergonomic GTG Wave?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

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Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: specifications

Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: price and availability

Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: design

Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: performance

Should you buy the Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly

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Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: also consider

How I tested the Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Two-minute review

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Price and availability

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Specs

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Design

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Display

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Cameras

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Camera samples

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Performance

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Software

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Battery

Should you buy the Honor Magic 8 Lite?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Honor Magic 7 Pro review: Also consider

How I tested the Honor Magic 8 Lite

Lavazza Assoluta: two-minute review

Lavazza Assoluta: specifications

Lavazza Assoluta: price and availability

Lavazza Assoluta: design

Lavazza Assoluta: performance

Should you buy the Lavazza Assoluta?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

Lavazza Assoluta: also consider

How I tested the Lavazza Assoluta

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