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Sony Bravia 8 review: high-end performance without the price
10:02 am | September 11, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Televisions | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Sony Bravia 8: Two-minute review

Sony consolidated its TV lineup for 2024 with fewer models and a naming convention that was easier to follow. Perhaps what was most interesting about this move was that a mini-LED TV – the Bravia 9 – was spearheading the charge as the new flagship Sony TV, effectively demoting OLED to the next rung down. Enter the Bravia 8, a pure WOLED screen that replaces the excellent A80L

If you want the absolute pinnacle of Sony’s OLED prowess, the A95L released in 2023 is still available to buy, complete with its much higher price tag. But you may not feel the need to stretch that high, since the Bravia 8 (on review here) takes the A80L's winning formula and makes a few notable improvements.

Sony claims this latest mid-range OLED model is brighter than its predecessor, yet manages to do without some of the brightness-boosting tech we’ve seen applied to other OLED TVs in the past couple of years. Instead, the Bravia 8 relies on Sony’s new Bravia XR processor to do the proverbial heavy lifting and stake a claim as one of the best OLED TVs you can buy.

This processor harnesses the power of AI to better understand the image on screen and make adjustments to ensure it’s delivered at its absolute best. And it does (for the most part) improve over the A80L where brightness is concerned to deliver a gorgeous picture no matter if you’re watching TV or movies, or playing games.

Sony’s Acoustic Surface+ audio system makes a return, maintaining the brand’s position as being one of the best TVs for sound thanks to actuators placed behind the screen to physically vibrate it – a feature that’s exclusive to Sony TVs. It means the Bravia 8 can go loud, is dynamically impressive and is capable of placing objects within a soundfield better than many other flat-screen TVs. When connected to one of Sony’s latest Bravia Theater soundbars – the Theater Bar 8 is a natural pairing – an Acoustic Center Sync feature can be used to turn the TV into a dedicated center channel speaker.

The Bravia 8 is a great option for gamers thanks to its support of all the major gaming features, including 4K support at 120Hz, an auto low-latency mode (ALLM), variable refresh rate (VRR) and Sony’s ‘Perfect for PS5’ tech that automatically adjusts picture settings to their optimum – for both games and movies – when a PlayStation 5 console is detected in either of its two HDMI 2.1 inputs. Yep, the Bravia 8 still only supports 4K/120Hz across two of its four HDMI inputs and you’ll need to use the one marked ‘eARC’ if you plan to connect an external soundbar. Sony isn’t alone in offering support across only half of its TV’s inputs, but it’s a shame that it’s still happening in 2024.

The main caveat at the time of writing, however, is that in some territories the A80L is still readily available and for a more affordable price. While there’s no doubt the Bravia 8 makes improvements over its predecessor, some customers either won’t notice, or won’t care for the admittedly incremental upgrades. The Bravia 8 is indeed Sony’s best mid-range OLED, but it’s not quite the generational leap we’ve seen between some other TV series – see the improvements Samsung makes each year with its S95 QD-OLED series as an example.

Sony Bravia 8 review: Price and release date

  • Announced in April 2024 for July 2024 launch
  • Pricing starts at $2,799 / £2,699 / AU$3,495 (55-inch)
  • No 83-inch model in 2024

The Sony Bravia 8 was announced in April 2024 and released in July 2024 in 55-, 65- and 77-inch sizes. The A80L predecessor was available in a larger 83-inch size, but that has seemingly been dropped this time around.

Pricing has remained relatively consistent compared to the A80L, with the 65-inch model I’ve reviewed setting you back $2,799 / £2,699 / AU$4,495. That’s $200 / £200 more expensive than the A80L in the US and UK and the same as the A80L’s launch price in Australia. Since launch, we’ve already seen small price drops in all markets, so it’s unlikely you would need to pay the full suggested retail price if you decide to buy.

The 55-inch Bravia 8 has been priced at $2,799 / £2,699 / AU$3,495 while the range-topping 77-inch retails for $3,899 / £3,499 / AU$6,995. The Sony Bravia 8’s pricing once again puts it squarely up against the LG C4 (the A80L and LG C3 were similarly priced in 2023) and in most cases, LG’s mid-range OLED comes out the more affordable, and it’s available in a greater variety of sizes.

LG’s telly offers full 4K/120Hz support across all four HDMI inputs, making it a better prospect for gamers and those with multiple external devices, but as was the case in 2023, LG’s TV has weaker built-in sound.

Sony Bravia 8 review: Specs

Sony Bravia 8 review: Benchmark results

Sony Bravia 8 review: Features

  • New Bravia XR processor
  • Voice Zoom 3 for improved vocal clarity
  • New eco-friendly remote control

The Sony Bravia 8 uses a standard WOLED panel as found in its A80L predecessor, but the key metric Sony is keen to advertise with the Bravia 8 is that it's capable of going 10% brighter, thanks to the aforementioned XR Processor. There’s no Micro Lens Array (MLA) or QD-OLED tech to be found here, so it is strictly the power of the new chip and its ability to better understand how to manipulate lighting that is going to result in that brightness boost.

Indeed, Sony says its new XR chip can better detect objects in scenes with greater accuracy and will then automatically optimize the picture to get as close to the creator’s intentions as possible. Also new in the Bravia 8 is a dedicated Prime Video Calibrated Mode (also a feature of the flagship Bravia 9) which will automatically adjust picture settings when you’re watching a raft of content on Amazon’s streaming service. This is in addition to the Netflix Calibrated Mode and Sony Pictures Core Calibrated Mode, both of which work in similar ways and have been carried over from the outgoing A80L.

Sony's Eco Dashboard viewed on a Sony Bravia 8

The latest iteration of Sony's Eco Dashboard gives clear insights into how much energy the TV is using. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

Voice Zoom 3, also taken from the high-end Bravia 9, is integrated into the Bravia 8, which can be used to boost (or decrease) voices and dialogue in whatever content you’re watching.

Elsewhere, there is little to separate the Bravia 8 and A80L from a features perspective. Both support Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG HDR formats (no HDR10+) and the Bravia 8 once again gets Google TV as the operating system of choice. Sony’s second iteration of its Eco Dashboard makes an appearance too, allowing you to adjust various energy-saving features and view their effects in a neat bar graph-style chart.

Sony also ships the Bravia 8 with a new Eco Remote that has a slight speckled appearance. This remote is made from 80% recycled materials, is backlit and recharges via USB-C.

  • Features score: 4.5 / 5

Sony Bravia 8 review: Picture quality

  • Wonderfully natural colors
  • Slightly increased brightness for improved HDR performance
  • Performs at its best in darker rooms

Sony’s claims of the Bravia 8 benefitting from a 10% brightness increase over the A80L certainly carry some weight, with its latest OLED TV recording a 149.5 nits measurement in HDR Filmmaker Mode on a full screen, compared to the A80L’s 139 nits based on our measurements.

Scene from Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings shown on a Sony Bravia 8 TV

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

There are noticeable differences in the 10% window brightness measurements in both HDR and SDR Standard modes, too. HDR Standard returned a result of 816.7 nits on the Bravia 8 (compared to the A80L’s 741 nits), while SDR Standard saw the Bravia 8 improve upon the A80L’s 247 nits with a measurement of 287.9 nits. Interestingly, measurements taken for SDR content in Filmmaker mode (or rather, Sony's own version called Professional) returned vastly different results and not in the Bravia 8’s favor, with a measurement of 99.4 nits compared to the A80L’s 224, indicating this is a picture mode you’ll want to avoid when watching SDR content.

Outside of this, it should mean the Bravia 8 will take everything that we loved about the A80L but throws in a helping of improved contrast and, with the new XR Processor acting as the brains of the operation, finer control of light for improved HDR performance.

As for color performance, the Bravia 8 does well against some of its closest competitors, covering 99.1% of the UHDA-P3 color gamut and 75% BT.2020. The LG C4, by comparison, returned results of 98.7% and 72.7%, respectively.

For my real-world performance tests, I streamed the opening fight sequence between Ta Lo and Xu Wenwu in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings on Disney Plus in its IMAX Enhanced version. It's a glorious test of color with various shades of green, yellow and red as the two go head-to-head with their own fighting styles. I was watching in a dark room and so selected the Dolby Vision Bright picture setting, which increases brightness without any sacrifice to detail and found the Bravia 8 reproduced this scene beautifully. Dolby Vision Dark was a little too dim for my preference in this case. 

Sony’s XR Triluminos Pro technology, which aims to reproduce natural and accurate colors, worked to full effect, with the greens and yellows of the forest setting looking incredibly realistic – it was easy to notice the different shades depending on where the light was hitting and the characters’ faces were clear and detailed.

Scene from Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings shown on a Sony Bravia 8 TV

The Sony Bravia 8 demonstrates excellent control of light and highlights (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

Even the rings around Xu Wenwu’s arms gave off a satisfying blue shine as they were powering up for attack, highlighting the Bravia 8’s – and more specifically, the XR Contrast Booster’s – ability to precisely control the light. What makes this all the more impressive is the fact that there is no MLA technology or Quantum Dot layer, but instead a traditional WOLED panel.

After we meet present-day Shang Chi and he’s speaking with friends in a dimly lit bar, the Sony Bravia 8 flexes its muscles with regard to picking out detail where there’s little to no light. His dark T-shirt is clearly distinguishable from his even darker cardigan, while the stripes on his female friend’s blazer can also be seen. There’s no discernible light blooming around the bright table lamps, both the one at the front and center of the screen, and the numerous others dotted about in the background.

Scene from The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare shown on a Sony Bravia 8 TV

The Sony Bravia 8 offers the option to switch to a dedicated 'calibrated' mode when watching content on Prime Video (as above), Netflix or Sony Pictures Core (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

An Ultra HD stream of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare on Prime Video provided a good opportunity to test out the new Prime Video Calibrated Mode. Switching this mode on and off is as simple as toggling a switch in the picture settings, but in the instance for this particular movie, I noticed absolutely no difference between the Calibrated picture settings and Sony’s own Professional picture mode (the brand’s version of Filmmaker mode). This could potentially be because the Bravia 8 doesn’t support HDR10+, which Prime Video uses, but regardless, in either mode, I was presented with a beautiful, natural image with great depth. I compared the same opening scene on the LG G4 and, while the better-specced TV did have more refined light control, it wasn’t quite the stark difference I was initially expecting – which is kudos to Sony.

I switched the overhead lights on and loaded up Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes on Disney Plus – while there was a fair amount of reflection noticeable in the opening, very dark scene, it wasn’t enough to distract me from my viewing. And that viewing was glorious, with the Bravia 8 managing to pick out the individual strands of fur on the apes, while also handling Caesar's burning funeral pyre without any noticeable signs of blooming.

  • Picture quality score: 4.5 / 5

Sony Bravia 8 review: Sound quality

  • Accurate placement of object sounds
  • Dynamically impressive
  • Still lacking in the bass department

Sony has once again employed its Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology here, which sees actuators placed behind the screen to physically vibrate it, turning the entire surface into a speaker. Not a lot has changed in this iteration compared to the A80L, although Sony says its added a new tweeter to help boost higher frequencies and, in particular, dialogue.

It’s a really remarkable system – and the first time I’ve personally heard it in action – as when using the same opening fight sequence from Shang Chi, gusts of wind, flailing arms and attacks using the 10 rings were accurately placed within the soundfield; when an attack was landed towards the bottom left of the screen for example, that’s exactly where it could be heard, as opposed to a full sound coming from all speakers. 

When I began the stream, I received a pop-up asking if I wanted to activate the IMAX Enhanced DTS:X soundtrack (the Sony Bravia 8 is an IMAX Enhanced-certified TV) and there was a genuine effect of height to the audio. These effects were only amplified the louder I turned up the volume and they remained distortion-free.

The Voice Zoom 3 feature works incredibly well, too, for any spoken content that you may have a little trouble hearing. Not only does increasing the level help dialogue become easier to hear, it does so without sounding separate from the rest of the soundtrack or other audio, instead sounding entirely natural. The same feature can be used when connected to an external soundbar or speaker system.

The only slight downside is that bass performance still isn’t a strong point of Sony’s audio system. While this will undoubtedly be a blessing to your neighbors, it does mean that despite the Bravia 8 being more impressive than its peers in the sound department, you will want to invest in one of the best soundbars to experience more engaging home cinema thrills. Taking the car chase scene from The Batman as a prime example, there isn’t a deep rumble from the Batmobile’s engine that you would get from an external subwoofer, but is certainly more engaging than most other TV sound systems.

  • Sound quality score: 4.5 / 5

Sony Bravia 8 review: Design

  • Height adjustable feet in two positions
  • Slimmer rear makes it easier to wall mount
  • Invisible speakers

As well as the Bravia 8 delivering a 10% increase in brightness, I’m going to also say it’s 10% better looking. For starters, Sony has slimmed the TV down to a depth of just 37mm, making it easier to wall mount in the process. This is due to Sony removing the protruding rear housing for all the connections, subwoofers and processing electronics on the A80L. Instead, the rear is a uniform panel – something Sony calls “One Slate” design – and the grid of etched squares has now been increased in size to cover the entire rear.

You’ll still find a similar set of connections on the right-hand side when viewed from the back, including four HDMI ports (only two of which are HDMI 2.1, and one of these supporting eARC), optical digital audio out, an ethernet port, RF antenna port, two USB type-A and an input S-Center speaker input, which you can use to turn the TV into a center speaker as part of a wider external sound system. If you connect one of Sony’s new Bravia Theater soundbars, you can bypass the need for this connection and still use the TV as a center-channel speaker via Acoustic Center Sync.

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Sony Bravia 8 TV

The Bravia 8's feet can be adjusted to two different heights in both a narrow or wide position. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
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Sony Bravia 8 TV

The Sony Bravia 8 TV remote is backlit and made from up to 80% recycled materials. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
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Sony Bravia 8 TV

It employs a unique speckled effect. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
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Sony Bravia 8 TV

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

Also new for the Bravia 8 – and the entire 2024 Bravia lineup – is the ability to position the included feet in any of four ways, up from the previous three. You can position them in either a narrow or wide configuration – meaning those with smaller TV stands can place the Bravia 8 on top with little issue – and this time you can raise the screen a few inches in both narrow and wide configurations, to better accommodate a soundbar beneath.

A single remote control comes in the box this time around, which is effectively the same as the one that shipped with the A80L. It’s relatively long and thin, with a central mic button for voice recognition – I figure this positioning is Sony’s attempt to encourage users to interact with the Bravia 8 more with their voice – and direct buttons for six streaming services at the bottom.

What is perhaps more interesting about this remote control, however, is the fact it’s made from approximately 80% recycled plastic, and the way in which Sony produces the speckled design means that each one is ever so slightly different. It’s backlit and rechargeable via USB-C.

  • Design score: 4.5 / 5

Sony Bravia 8 review: Smart TV and menus

  • Google TV smart system
  • Google Assistant baked in and 'Works With' Alexa/Apple HomeKit support
  • Eco Dashboard 2 for power saving tips

The Bravia 8 continues Sony’s appreciation for the Google TV platform, which is a smart thing to do. As expected, the full suite of major video and music streaming apps is available, along with (quite literally) tens of thousands of others. The home screen, which Google TV calls 'For You', shows you content you’re currently in the middle of watching across any installed apps, followed by recommended content based on your viewing habits and Google Search history across other devices when you’re logged into the same account. Google Assistant is available for voice commands and to help you find whatever you want faster.

Google TV home screen on Sony Bravia 8 TV

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

I did appreciate Sony’s implementation of a quick settings menu system, whereby you just press a button on the remote control with the wrench icon to bring up a row of common settings along the bottom of the screen, each with its own set of choices to cycle through. The order of these can be personalized, so if you know you’re going to want to adjust picture and sound settings the most, for example, you can place these at the start of the row.

Sony has installed the second-generation of its Eco Dashboard in the Bravia 8, which presents the TV’s power consumption history in the form of animated graphs. You can also adjust power-saving settings from this screen, with the dashboard indicating how much power in kilowatt-hours (kWh) you’ll save.

Naturally, Chromecast is supported for streaming to the TV from compatible devices, as is AirPlay 2. And, despite using Google TV, Sony clearly doesn’t want to discriminate, as it’s added ‘works with’ support for Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit.

This was the first time in a long time I’d personally used Google TV. I’d read and heard good things, so I was keen to experience it for myself. However, in comparison to LG’s webOS TV system, which I’m very familiar with, I found Google TV here to be quite slow and clunky. Button presses on the remote control weren’t received with the immediacy I’d expect for a TV of this caliber.

  • Smart TV and menus score: 3.5 / 5

Sony Bravia 8 review: Gaming

  • 4K @ 120Hz and VRR support
  • Dolby Vision Gaming for compatible sources
  • Improved 12.8ms input lag

The Bravia 8 presents itself as a great option for gamers thanks to its excellent color reproduction and improved HDR brightness, and is a natural partner for the PlayStation 5 thanks to Sony’s ‘Perfect for PS5’ feature that automatically adjusts the image to deliver optimum results. 

Even if you don’t have a PS5, you can still benefit from VRR and ALLM, while Xbox gamers can take advantage of Dolby Vision Gaming. During my testing, I measured an input lag of 12.8ms, which is a significant improvement over the 16.5ms lag on the A80L, putting the Bravia 8 on par with the likes of the LG G4, although the LG C4 – Sony's closest competitor for this telly – undercuts it further with a figure of 9.2ms.

Marvel's Spider-man 2 displayed on a Sony Bravia 8 TV

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

Loading up Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and it’s clear the Sony Bravia 8’s excellent lighting control when watching video content is carried over to gaming. Spidey’s suit and buildings exhibit clear shine where they’re being hit by sunlight, while the stunning vistas in Grand Theft Auto 5 exhibited fantastic depth, with plenty of detail to buildings and bushland when viewed up close.

Sony’s Game menu pops up at the press of the Menu button on the TV remote control, bringing up quick-select options for game type, toggling VRR on or off and a new, previously promised feature to adjust the screen size. You're also able to toggle on an on-screen crosshair, which could help players of FPS games get an upper hand.

The picture does improve when switching to the LG G4, but this is to be expected with its greater control of light and increased peak brightness. But, for a mid-range OLED, the Sony Bravia 8 will be great for gamers.

The only thing that does continue to hold it back is that only two of its four HDMI ports support the 2.1 standard for 4K/120Hz. If you only have one games console, this won’t be an issue but, if you have multiple, then you'll be better served by a model from LG or Samsung. There's also no support once again for Nvidia G-Sync or AMD FreeSync.

  • Gaming score: 4/5

Sony Bravia 8 review: Value

  • Small premium over A80L but with improved performance
  • Already receiving discounts
  • LG C4 can be found for similar money

The Sony Bravia 8 presents itself as good value for money. Its launch price is a little higher than its predecessor in some territories, but you are getting a number of upgrades, such as the new processor and Dolby Vision Gaming mode, to justify it. However, since launch, we've seen its price come down and, at the time of writing, there are savings of up to $900 / £200 / AU$1,100 direct from Sony, with third-party retailers likely price-matching or beating those prices.

While some may have wished for a greater leap in terms of brightness, it’s not a total shock that Sony has continued to omit brightness-boosting technology, such as MLA or Quantum Dot, as these technologies are reserved for the flagship screens – the LG C4 gets the same treatment for example.

But considering what the Sony Bravia 8 can do, such as displaying movies with great detail and light control, and offering up a number of picture modes that work well as opposed to the one or two you sometimes find on competitor screens, it’s a fantastic, affordable option for those with dark rooms.

  • Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the Sony Bravia 8?

Buy it if...

You want a glorious TV for movies without breaking the bank

The Bravia 8’s beautifully natural image processing and 4K clarity makes it perfect for watching movies, especially in HDR, all for a relatively affordable price.

You want a TV to sound good without an external system

Sony’s Acoustic Surface audio system continues to prove why it’s the best at built-in sound. It’s fired directly into the room and is especially capable at placing objects in your space.

Don't buy it if...

You watch content during the day

The Bravia 8 does an admirable job at countering brightly lit rooms, but it can’t compete against TVs that have much higher peak brightness credentials.

You want a super slick TV OS

Google TV offers plenty in the way of apps and connectivity, but it’s slow and clunky in comparison to others on the market.

Also consider...

LG C4
LG has made great improvements to its mid-range OLED TV, including boosting its brightness to above-average levels. It continues to support 4K/120Hz across all four HDMI ports, making it a great choice for gamers.
Read our full LG C4 review

TCL C855
If you're not loyal to OLED but you still want the best bang for your buck, the mini-LED TCL C855 is one of the best choices you could make. It delivers a stunning picture and has a strong set of features, all for an incredibly affordable price.
Read our full TCL C855 review

Hisense U8N
Another great choice for gamers with Dolby Vision gaming and 4K/144Hz support, the Hisense U8N is another wallet-friendly wonder. It can go incredibly bright, yet controls it well with powerful local dimming.
Read our full Hisense U8N review

How I tested the Sony Bravia 8

While this was my first time using a Sony TV for an extended period of time, I have previously tried and tested a few LG TVs. So the first I did was dive into menus to familiarize myself with the setup, then played a variety of content from streaming apps and via 4K Blu-rays playing on a PlayStation 5 over the course of five weeks.

I streamed content in both SDR and HDR and assessed the available picture mode options for each from services including Netflix, Disney Plus and Prime Video. I found Professional to offer the best results for non-Dolby Vision content, and the Dolby Vision Bright setting for content produced in that HDR format. I also toggled between the calibrated picture modes for Netflix, Prime Video and Sony Pictures Core, and found the settings for Prime Video to be the weakest of the three, in the sense that there was no obvious difference to the overall picture.

You can read in-depth how we test TVs at TechRadar for much more information.

Android Auto to summarize messages with Google Assistant and AI
6:29 pm | December 28, 2023

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

Google is working on a new feature for Android Auto that will use Google Assistant and artificial intelligence (AI) to summarize messages. This revelation comes from 9To5Google, who decompiled version 14.52 of the Google app uploaded to the Play Store with lines of code for this feature. This new feature will use AI and Google Assistant to summarize messages in Android Auto, which could make constant notifications from group conversations less annoying and disruptive when driving. Android Auto settings for message summary Google says the "summaries will be generated by...

Levoit 600S air purifier review: floor-standing air purifier that efficiently extracts whiffs
4:00 pm | October 31, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Air Quality Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: | Comments: Off

Levoit 600S: two-minute review

Air purifiers are designed to remove dust, dander and dodgy odours, leaving you with a fresher smelling and healthier home. In the height of summer, or faced with an overly-heated home you soon start to notice the whiff of other people and pets. 

They differ from fans, which waft the air around at speed, creating a cooling effect, instead extracting impurities and particulates that cause smells and cause germs. An electrostatic or fabric filter captures these as they are blown towards them by the air purifier’s gentle fan mechanism and, as with the Levoit 600S model, are collected in a disposable bag at the bottom of the device. Once cleansed, the air is sent back out into the room, leading to a fresher atmosphere. 

The Levoit 600S promises to filter as much as 99.97% of PM2.5 particles (particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometre diameter). This covers the fine dust, pollen and pet hair as well as road traffic pollution and pollen. These can all irritate and, in the longer term, damage the lungs and impact respiratory function. Levels of less than 12μg/m3 should pose no health issues, and we were pleased to find that the existing levels in the first of the two properties in which we tested out the air purifier were already below this figure. 

When things get whiffy or lingering sprays have been applied, the Levoit 600S is capable of changing the air in a 147m sq room twice an hour. This is a lower rate of air change than the best air purifiers TechRadar reviewed recently but is plenty for all but larger rooms or the most persistent smells and pollutants. 

Although the 600S can be operated directly using the on/off button on the top, the VeSync app provides far more control, showing current PMS levels and the air quality steadily improving as its four-speed fan whips everything through its HEPA and carbon filters to remove airborne nasties. Both the LED on top of the unit and the app give real-time PMS readings and offer one-touch fan adjustments. The app adds scheduling and light-sensing options, making it ideal for use in a bedroom where the fan will automatically reduce in power so you can drop off to sleep. 

Levoit 600S: price and availability

  • How much does it cost? £299.99 (about $360, AU$574)
  • When is it available? Available now
  • Where can you get it? Available in the UK

The Levoit 600S is available from Amazon UK for £299 (about $360, AU$574). A £50 discount voucher is currently active, bringing the price down to £249). Although you won’t need a replacement filter immediately, if you like to be organised you can get ahead by adding this £69.99 consumable or a pet allergy version for £101 to your online shopping cart.

This model launched last year in the US, but Amazon notes the current unavailability of the Levoit 600S model (although both branded and third party replacement HEPA filters are for sale there), while Australia has only the filters for sale.

  • Value: 4 / 5

Levoit 600S: Specs

Levoit 600S in use in the author's home

(Image credit: Future / Rosie Hattersley)

Levoit 600S: Design

  • Large but lightweight unit
  • Useful status indicator lights
  • Whisper-quiet fan

The imposing but elegant Levoit 600S seems to take up more room than its stated 60cm height suggests. While its 300S stablemate sits happily and fairly unobtrusively on a kitchen countertop, the 600S model is a real presence. Placed alongside our microwave, it dwarfed it. If space is at a premium, you will probably want to store it out of sight and bring it out for specific use rather than keeping it on standby. We found this particularly true when we were in the more cramped environment of our terraced home. 

However, the curved design and off-white finish are stylish, and the materials sturdy.  And, while it weighs 6.2kg, it feels far lighter. The well-positioned recessed handles on either side of the upper section also make it easy to move around. 

Looks-wise, the Levoit 600S is smart with a sleek curved body and large fan blades covering the top. In the centre of the fan are the Levoit 600S’ controls and options to change the fan speed, set a timer, check on the filter and current air quality, and determine whether it is connected to Wi-Fi or using Bluetooth for the associated VeSync app. The lower half of the purifier features a fretwork effect, and contains the filter and the bag into which particles sucked in by the fan are deposited. 

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Levoit 600S in use in the author's home

(Image credit: Future / Rosie Hattersley)
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Levoit 600S in use in the author's home

(Image credit: Future / Rosie Hattersley)

Setup involves twisting apart the top and bottom halves of the air purifier’s body, extracting the filter that it comes with from inside, and removing its packaging before popping it back in place. There is a bright yellow sticker on the top of the unit that prompts you to do this before use. The two halves of the unit then click to lock together. It doesn’t matter which way round the top half faces, but the corners need to align with the corresponding corners on the bottom half, a simple enough process. 

Although the Levoit 600S is a freestanding unit with no external moving parts, it needs space to operate so it doesn’t overheat. It should, therefore, be placed around 40cm away from the nearest walls. The power cable is more than a metre long, which is ample to accommodate this requirement. 

Once switched on, the Levoit 600S can be used either manually using the controls on top, or via the VeSync app. Each of the on-device controls lights up when you touch them, with multiple presses used to increase or reduce the fan speed.

  • Design: 4.5 / 5

Levoit 600S in use in the author's home

(Image credit: Future / Rosie Hattersley)

Levoit 600S: Performance

  • Effective dust and dander removal
  • Quickly gets rid of aerosol particulates
  • Less effective on kitchen odours

I tested the Levoit 600S in both an open plan 1960s detached house and a 1930s terraced house, the latter home to two asthmatics and a cat who is less than impressed at the ongoing renovations. The contrasting challenges were larger rooms with carpets, lots of upholstered furniture, and the odours associated with the older generation versus the renovation dust and the pet dander of our London home, which has wooden floors and tiles throughout. 

Both have open plan kitchens where food is often oven-baked or prepared on a hob. I tested the changing air quality while sauteing a variety of vegetables as well as frying fish and meat, and noted whether having the window adjacent to the cooker made much difference to the rate at which the air purifier cleaned the air. 

To set up the Levoit 600S air purifier, I first installed the VeSync app (iOS and Android versions are available). Next, I switched on the device and pressed the on/off switch on top until the Wi-Fi icon flashed blue. It was then recognised by the app and the two paired over Bluetooth. Next, the app searched for my home Wi-Fi network and prompted me for a login and password. 

Although it accepted my previously registered email address, it doesn’t actually want you to provide the password for your VeSync app at this stage and is really after your Wi-Fi password. This tiny misunderstanding took moments to correct. Once connected, you will need to keep the VeSync app open as the firmware is updated. However, the 600S will start operating as soon as it’s connected to Wi-Fi, with its internal fan working at its level 4 maximum rotation speed. 

Once the app has updated the firmware, you will be able to adjust the duration and schedules. You will also be shown the current air quality status based on the level of PM2.5 particulates it detects. What is not quite as apparent is that this screen also gives you the option to change the fan speed. 

Levoit 600S in use in the author's home

(Image credit: Future / Rosie Hattersley)

Sitting across the room, I found the Levoit 600S giving off a gentle rhythmic hum that was noticeable but unlikely to upset all but the most sound-sensitive family member. It hums along gently, with an unobtrusive decibel rating of less than 40 on the slowest speed setting and no more than 64dB when it kicks into its top speed rating and then settles at around 52dB. The ambient background noise in the room prior to switching on the air purifier was 38dB, so it barely disturbs the tranquillity. 

Even my sound-sensitive mum was untroubled by its operation at the lower fan settings, but pleased with the improved room freshness after 30 minutes of use. Blasting Febreze at the fan itself for a sustained 10 seconds filled the room with choking levels of air freshener, but the purifier removed the lot in 12 minutes at setting 3 (of 4), while our comparison on opening the patio doors and other windows wide had no discernible effect after the same period. 

I also found the Levoit 600S effective in removing dust from the air after a weekend of DIY, taking less than 20 minutes to clear the hallway and landing of visible particles. Sharing a home with a cat, I also appreciated it filtering stray hairs and slight odours. 

However, it impressed me less when it came to removing cooking smells and signs of domesticity: the kitchen levels were modest before I began frying and sautéing, and the purifier was not much better than the overhead fan and an open window for this use. Given the 600S’ larger dimensions, we would no doubt choose its smaller sibling for this room in any case. 

  • Performance: 4 / 5

Levoit 600S: App

  • Provides full control over the 600S
  • Alexa and Google Assistant voice controls
  • Strong scheduling and light sensing features

The VeSync app is well-designed with attractive graphics in calming shades of blue and turquoise. It provides a visual guide when setting up the Levoit device and has a user manual that you can access from its side menu. 

You can control every aspect of the air purifier once installed, with options to adjust the fan speed, schedule days and times for it to operate, change air quality levels that will trigger it automatically switching on and on, and activate a light sensing feature that seems aimed at use in a bedroom. The rationale here is that the gentle hum of the fan helps promote sleep, especially once the air is duly freshened, so you can nod off without the interruptions from an asthmatic or cat-allergy wheeze. 

The VeSync app is free to install and also works with Alexa as well as Google Assistant. This gives access to voice control options should you want to prompt your air purifier to go about its business without having to reach for your smartphone. I tried each of these without issue, finding the option to turn the fan off using a voice command useful when the phone rang while the 600S was clearing the air in the kitchen after cooking and I wanted to settle in for a chat. 

Levoit 600S in use in the author's home

(Image credit: Future / Rosie Hattersley)

Should I buy the Levoit 600S?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the Levoit 600S

  • I used the Levoit Core 600S air purifier and the VueSync app for 10 days
  • Trialed it in two homes: one open plan; one a terraced house
  • Substances purified included pet odour, cooking smells and air freshener

I used the Levoit 600S air purifier in a number of different rooms, finding it particularly efficient at clearing the odours from a downstairs room that doubles as an elderly person’s bedroom. Being able to effectively cleanse this room of telltale odours associated with ageing, as well as Febreze and other masking sprays that disguise them was a good test since we had lots of visitors during the week in which the 600S was installed there. I react badly to perfumes and sprays due to asthma, so quickly clearing these smells was critical to me too. I continuously sprayed the aerosol contents at the purifier fan until the PM levels rose above 150 before switching on the unit to begin clearing the particulates.

With one family member being particularly sound-sensitive, being able to instantly dial down the fan setting such that she was undisturbed by the fan was vital. I also tested the unit while frying food and after making toast, as well as setting the Levoit 600S to automatically purify the landing of my own home during and after stripping paint from the stairs and sanding them down. I used a decibel meter app on my phone to measure how loud the fan was at various settings.

I compared the effects of simply allowing the air to clear naturally by opening windows either side of the room with the performance of the 600S, timing both to see how long it took for the PM level to drop below 12.

To test the air purification monitoring and speed, I sprayed heavy particulate aerosols (dry shampoo and deodorant) while the purifier was in Auto mode. This mode detects changes in the room and sets the fan speed accordingly.  

I lit a scented candle next to the purifier and also positioned it in the kitchen while frying and grilling different meat and vegetables. I measured the volume with a mobile phone decibel meter. 

Read more about how we test

First reviewed October 2023

Roku Plus Series review: a great budget 4K QLED TV
6:00 pm | June 10, 2023

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

Roku Plus Series TV: Two-minute review

Most people know Roku for its streaming boxes and sticks – like the Roku Streaming Stick 4K – as well as the company’s smart interface, which can be found in TVs from brands like TCL, Hisense and others. Back in March of 2023, the company also started selling its own Roku-branded TVs, and as with its streamers, they are priced at a level that most people can afford.  

There are two lines of Roku TVs: the Plus Series and the Select Series. Both are inexpensive compared to other sets, but the Plus Series is more feature-packed and consequently priced a bit higher. I was sent a 65-inch Plus model to review, and as a longtime Roku user, I was very curious to see how this $649 set would stack up against other 4K TVs I’ve recently tested.

Along with the company’s own smart TV interface, Plus Series TVs feature AirPlay for wireless streaming from devices and work with Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also conduct hands-free voice searches using the remote control’s built-in mic by first saying “Hey Roku” or by pressing a button on the remote and speaking your search directly.

Plus Series TVs use a QLED display panel with a full-array local dimming backlight, and there’s support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG high dynamic range. The 65-inch model I tested doesn’t offer nearly the same peak brightness as QLED TVs with a mini-LED backlight, but it has a local dimming feature that's effective enough to deliver images with strong contrast.

All new Roku TVs have a native 60Hz refresh rate. And while we normally recommend 120Hz 4K TVs for gaming, the Plus Series had an impressive 11.5 ms measured input lag when its Game mode was enabled.

The design of Plus Series sets are basic though, and they come with side-mounted support feet that can’t be height-adjusted. Inputs include 4 HDMI 2.0 ports (1 with eARC) along with an RF connection for an antenna and an optical digital audio output.

Audio on the Plus Series is also basic, with the TV sporting two bottom-mounted speakers. And while the sound is perfectly satisfactory given the TV’s price, the company offers several inexpensive options to enhance audio quality, including a 2-channel soundbar that connects wirelessly with the TV, and wireless surround sound and subwoofer speakers.

Between the company’s own The Roku Channel and a Live TV portal with an enormous amount of free streaming channels that can be browsed in a grid format with TV broadcasts pulled in by antenna, there’s plenty available to watch here, much of it free. Even so, the Roku smart TV interface provides almost every streaming service app you could possibly want, and it also supports personal photo streaming, with an option to add pictures directly from your phone.

Roku Plus Series TV review: price and release date

  • Release date:  March, 2023 
  • 55R6A5R: $499
  • 65R6A5R: $649
  • 75R6A5R: $999

The Plus Series models are the step-up offerings in the Roku TV lineup. They are available in 55-, 65-, and 75-screen sizes, and are only sold in the US at Best Buy stores and online.

Pricing for the Roku Plus Series TVs is in the same approximate range as budget models from Hisense, TCL, and Amazon Fire TVs, all of which also feature QLED screen tech, and in some instances a local dimming backlight similar to Roku Plus series models.

Roku Plus Series TV review: Specs

Roku Plus Series TV back input panel

Back panel inputs include two side-mounted HDMI 2.0 ports (one with eARC), two bottom-mounted HDMI 2.0 ports, an optical digital output, and an antenna connection. (Image credit: Future)

Roku Plus Series TV review: features

  • Roku smart TV interface and voice remote
  • Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG high dynamic range 
  • Four HDMI inputs, one with enhanced audio return channel (eARC)

Roku Plus Series TVs feature the company’s popular smart TV interface, which is easy to navigate compared to other options. It provides an extensive amount of streaming apps to select from, and includes The Roku Channel and the Live TV portal for streaming free ad-supported TV shows and movies. Live TV also lets you integrate TV channels tuned by an indoor TV antenna.

Plus Series TVs support AirPlay for wireless streaming from iPhones and iPads, and they also work with Alexa and Google Assisant. They include voice remote pro features, a rechargeable battery and it has a built-in mic that allows for hands-free voice searches (the built-in mic can also be easily disabled using a switch located on the remote).

A QLED display panel with a native 60Hz refresh rate is used for the Plus series, and there’s a full-array local dimming backlight for enhanced contrast. High dynamic range support includes Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and HLG. A Game mode is also provided that reduces input lag when gaming with a connected console.

The set’s four HDMI inputs include one that supports HDMI eARC for a soundbar connection, and there’s an optical digital audio output and an RF input to connect an antenna. When viewing TV broadcasts, you can pause and rewind live TV for up to 90 minutes when a 16GB USB flash drive is plugged into the set’s USB port. Roku TVs also support a wireless audio connection to the company’s Roku Smart soundbar

Roku’s features package for its Plus Series is fairly basic overall compared to other TVs, but it includes a solid array of video performance basics such as a QLED display panel and full array local dimming backlight.

  • Features Score: 3.5/5  

Roku Plus Series TV showing Max app screen with Avatar 2

The new Max is one of the many streaming apps available in the Roku smart TV interface (Image credit: Future)

Roku Plus Series TV review: picture quality

  • Average brightness
  • Deep blacks with detailed shadows 
  • Some screen reflections

The 65-inch Roku Plus Series TV I tested delivered an average brightness level for a QLED TV, with peak brightness topping out at 556 nits (measured on a 10% white window test pattern) in its Standard HDR picture mode, and 533 nits in Dark HDR mode. To put those numbers into perspective, the TCL 6-series TV, a model with a mini-LED backlight, can hit 1,326 nits peak brightness, while the LG C3 OLED TV tops out at 830 nits.

A full-array local dimming backlight on the Plus Series enabled it to display deep blacks, though it didn’t hit the 0 IRE full black that OLED TVs and the best mini-LED models are capable of, with maximum contrast measuring 20,500:1. Even so, blacks looked strikingly deep in most movie clips I watched, and backlight 'blooming' artifacts were surprisingly minimal given the set’s low price. For most of my testing I kept the Micro Contrast setting at High, which delivered the best black depth and shadow detail.

The color balance in the Movie picture mode’s default Warm color temperature setting was slightly blue-ish, with most Delta E values measuring in the 3-4 range (we typically look for these to dip below 3). Measurements made with Portrait’s Calman display calibration software also showed coverage of DCI-P3 (the color space used for mastering 4K Blu-rays and digital cinema releases) to be 95.8%, and BT.2020 to be 81.3%. These are very good results, and closely match what was measured on the TCL 6-Series TV.

Roku’s Plus Series set had a fair amount of screen reflectivity, with reflections visible when viewing in a room with bright overhead lights. Picture contrast and color saturation also weren’t as solid when viewing from off-center seats, though that effect is common with LCD-based TVs like the Plus Series.

I watched several scenes from 4K Blu-ray discs that I typically use for testing on the Roku Plus Series, starting out with the Spears & Munsil Ultra HD Benchmark (the just-released new version). Viewing the 4,000 nits version of the montage sequence, some clipping artifacts were visible with the set’s Dynamic Tone Mapping setting active, though the issue disappeared when I watched a version graded at 1,000 nits – a more typical peak brightness for programs with HDR. Otherwise, images in the montage looked clean, crisp and had rich color, though the strongest highlights lacked some of the visual punch I’ve seen when watching the same material on brighter TVs.

Next up was No Time to Die, the James Bond film from 2021. Shadows looked deep and solid in the early scenes where Bond and Madeleine arrive in Italy, and in a later one where 007 walks across a craggy hill toward the resting place of Vesper Lynd with the camera panning along, the motion was smooth with almost no blurring artifacts.

Dune also looked very good on the Roku TV, with the set’s processor managing to deliver a detailed and noise-free picture even in difficult scenes like one where Paul walks through a dark and misty environment with Lady Jessica following an interrogation by the Reverend Mother. I’ve seen other, much more expensive TVs trip up on this sequence, which made the Roku’s handling of it all the more impressive.

With Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse now out in theaters, it seemed appropriate to give 2018’s Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse a spin on the Roku Plus TV. This film has an incredible range of color, and images are enlivened with finely detailed textures throughout that give it a printed comic book look. The Roku conveyed all of it in a convincing manner, with images looking impressively dynamic for such an affordable TV.

  • Picture quality score: 4/5

Roku Plus Series TV main smart interface

Inputs can be accessed from the main Roku TV interface  (Image credit: Future)

Roku Plus Series TV review: sound quality

  • Two downfiring speakers
  • Average TV sound quality 
  • Can make a wireless soundbar connection

Roku Plus Series use two down-firing speakers and the sound quality is average – you can easily hear dialogue and there’s a good overall balance, but otherwise dynamic movie soundtracks tend to flatten out during loud scenes.

Roku sells a two-channel Roku TV wireless soundbar ($150), which is designed specifically for its TVs and can be connected wirelessly (surround speakers and a subwoofer can also be added for a wireless 4.1-channel setup). Roku sent me its wireless soundbar to try out, and setting it up was incredibly easy. Configuration and control of the soundbar is carried out using the voice remote pro, with sound presets selectable via the TV’s menus.

Of the various presets, the Standard mode proved to be the best for most viewing, and with it selected dialogue gained weight and body while soundtrack elements like music and effects came across with greater clarity and dynamic presence. Given the TV’s low price, this is definitely a situation where you should consider a soundbar, and while there are plenty of great choices on our best soundbars list, the Roku TV wireless soundbar is a perfect match for this TV.

  • Sound quality score: 3.5/5

Roku Plus Series TV support feet on TV stand

The 2-channel Roku TV wireless soundbar (shown) provides an easy and inexpensive audio upgrade (Image credit: Future)

Roku Plus Series TV review: design

  • Basic design
  • Side-mounted, non-adjustable support feet 
  • Roku voice pro remote with built-in mic

The design of Plus Series TVs is fairly basic, with a thin bezel surrounding the screen’s edges and a thicker bezel at the bottom with a protruding compartment with an IR receiver and multipurpose control button under the Roku logo. Side-mounted feet provide sturdy support, though both their height and horizontal spread can’t be adjusted.

Two of the TV’s HDMI ports are located on an input panel accessible from the side, while the other two are on the panel’s bottom along with the antenna, USB, and Ethernet ports. There’s also a composite-video and RCA-type analog stereo audio input here that lets you connect legacy sources such as a VCR or vintage game console. The bottom HDMI ports were somewhat difficult to access, and could potentially be a challenge when using a stiff cable to connect sources.

The built-in battery of Roku’s compact voice pro remote control can be recharged by connecting it to the TV’s USB port. It has a built-in mic that can either be always on or disabled using a switch located on the remote’s side. The benefit to having the mic always on is that you can do hands-free voice searches by saying “Hey Roku” followed by a request. You can also momentarily activate the mic for searches by pressing the mic button at the remote’s center. Four quick buttons let you instantly access the Apple TV Plus, Disney Plus, Netflix and Max streaming services, and there are two numbered “shortcut” buttons that can be configured for a range of uses.

  • Design score: 3.5/5

Roku Plus Series TV Live TV program guide shown onscreen

The Live TV "Favorites" program grid with streaming and broadcast TV channels listed (Image credit: Future)

Roku Plus Series TV review: smart TV & menus

  • Roku TV interface
  • Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
  • Picture adjustments hard to access

Roku’s well-known and well-regarded smart TV interface is one I’m familiar with having spent many years as a Roku owner before making the leap to an Apple TV 4K. It’s a great interface for browsing apps, mainly because everything is right up front and accessible, and it’s easy to add or delete apps.

The Roku Live TV portal is a good way to supplement any streaming services you subscribe to. It offers an abundance of free channels organized in a time-based grid, and you can add broadcast TV channels tuned by an antenna to expand your free TV menu. With so many channels to choose from, it’s a good idea to edit the grid down to a more manageable size – something that the Favorites feature easily lets you do.

The Roku Photo Streams app has received recent enhancements that let you upload images directly from a phone to for viewing on the TV. You can also now edit streams and set screensavers, and the app now supports up to 1,000 images. When it comes to displaying personal photo libraries, the Roku Plus series is no Apple TV 4K, which provides tight integration with that company’s Photos app. Even so, most viewers will find Photo Streams to be sufficient for their needs.

Picture adjustments are carried out by pressing the remote’s asterisk button, which calls up the onscreen setup menus. You can adjust picture settings separately for regular and HDR sources, and those custom settings can also be applied across all of the TV’s inputs. Getting to basic adjustments like Brightness, Contrast and Color can take a lot of button presses, which is something that I found annoying during my time testing the TV's performance.

  • Smart TV & menus score: 4.5/5

Roku Plus Series TV remote control held in hand

The Roku TV remote has a USB rechargeable battery and quick buttons to access select apps (Image credit: Future)

Roku Plus Series TV review: gaming

  • No cloud gaming apps
  • Low 11.5 ms input lag
  • Auto Game Mode

With a native 60Hz refresh rate, the Roku Plus isn’t designed to be a powerhouse gaming TV. There’s also no gaming portal with subscription cloud-based services like you’ll find on Samsung and LG sets, and there’s no support for Bluetooth game controllers.

What Roku Plus TVs do offer gamers is a Game mode that reduces input lag to 11.5ms – an impressive level for a budget TV and one that will satisfy all but competitive gamers. Game mode is automatically enabled when a console input is detected, saving you the trouble of having to turn it on in the TV’s settings menu.

  • Gaming score: 3/5

Roku Plus Series TV showing image from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse onscreen

The Roku TV Plus isn't the brightest TV, but it has a very good combination of features and performance for the money (Image credit: Future)

Roku Plus Series TV review: value

  • Very good picture quality for price
  • Roku interface adds to value
  • Loads of free (but ad-supported) streaming channels

At just $649, the 65-inch Plus Series TV I tested is a great value. It’s not able to hit the high peak brightness levels some of its budget TV competition manages, particularly models with a mini-LED backlight, and that limitation lessens some of its impact when viewing movies with HDR. But overall, image quality here is very good for the price.

Also adding to the value of Plus Series TVs is the company’s built-in streaming interface, which is clean and easy to navigate and offers pretty much any app you’d want along with a Live TV portal to stream a multitude of free ad-supported channels. You’ll have a tough time not finding something to watch on Roku’s TV, and if you do, you can always use its hands-free voice remote to recommend something.

  • Value score: 5/5 

Roku Plus Series TV shown at side angle

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Roku Plus Series TV?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if…

Also consider...

TCL 6-Series mini-LED
TCL’s 6-Series TVs are a fairly substantial price jump over the Roku Plus Series, but you’re getting a big brightness boost for the money. The 6-Series is also a better option for gaming with next-gen gaming features like 4K 120Hz and VRR.

How I tested the Roku Plus Series TV

Roku Plus Series TV showing Ferris Wheel onscreen

(Image credit: Future)
  • I spent about 15 hours in total measuring and evaluating
  • Measurements were made using Calman color calibration software
  • A full calibration was made before proceeding with subjective tests

When I test TVs, my first step is to spend a few days using it for casual viewing for break-in and to assess the out-of-box picture presets. The next step is to select the most accurate-looking preset (typically labeled Filmmaker or Movie) and measure the white balance (grayscale), gamma, and color point accuracy using Portrait Displays’ Calman color calibration software. The resulting measurements provide Delta-E values (the margin of error between the test pattern source and what’s shown on-screen) for each category, and they allow for an assessment of the TV’s overall accuracy.

Along with those tests, I make measurements of peak light output (recorded in nits) for both standard high-definition and 4K high dynamic range using 10% and 100% white window patterns. Coverage of DCI-P3 and BT.2020 color space is also measured, with the results providing a sense of how faithfully the TV can render the extended color range in ultra high-definition sources.

For the Roku Plus Series TV, I used the CalMan ISF workflow, along with the advanced picture menu settings in the Roku control app, to calibrate the image for best accuracy with SDR and HDR sources. Once done, I watched a range of reference scenes on 4K Blu-ray discs that I’ve gathered after years of TV and projector testing to assess the TV’s performance, as well as new Dolby Vision-encoded material streamed from sources like Netflix and Max.

  • First reviewed: June 6, 2023
Sonos Roam review
6:17 pm | March 1, 2022

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home Smart Speakers | Tags: | Comments: Off

Editor's Note

• Original review date: April 2021
• Cheaper Sonos Roam SL now available
• Launch price: $179 / £179 / AU$299
• Official price now: $179 / £179 / AU$299

Update: February 2024. Coming up to three years after its launch, the Sonos Roam is a still arguably the best Bluetooth speakers for a lot of people thanks to its flexibility at a good price. It has the full Sonos Wi-Fi connectivity to act as a multi-room speaker, as well as Bluetooth support, a tough design, and a bass-forward sound that's suited to outdoor use. The big wrinkle is the Sonos Roam SL, which Sonos says is exactly the same but lacks built-in voice assistant support – we haven't had a chance to test this, but since every component is apparently the same apart from the lack of Alexa/Sonos Voice Control, we're inclined to believe Sonos. It's also worth nothing the Sonos Move 2 is now out, as Sonos' latest portable speaker, but it's over double the price and way more than double the size and weight, it's not quite a replacement for this product. The rest of this review remains as previously published.

Sonos Roam: Two-minute review

The Sonos Roam is the latest portable wireless speaker from the multi-room audio company, and the brand’s CEO Patrick Spence calls it “the smartest speaker we have ever built.”

Following in the footsteps of the larger Sonos Move, the Roam comes with both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, which means it can work as a portable speaker as well as part of your wider multi-room Sonos system – and with Google Assistant and Alexa onboard, it doubles up a smart speaker too. 

At $179 / £179 / AU$299, it’s the cheapest and smallest Sonos speaker to date, and therefore the most affordable entry point into the brand's multi-room audio ecosystem. For the avoidance of confusion, the Sonos Ray is a newer product from Sonos, arriving on June 7, 2022, ($279 / £279 / AU$399) but the Ray is a demure plug-n-play soundbar, rather than this portable Bluetooth beauty. 

Back to the Roam then, and in spite of its (relatively) low price you’re getting a lot for your money here. Its slick design means the Sonos Roam won’t look out of place in your home, while a rugged, waterproof and dustproof build and a decent battery life make it ideal for listening to music outdoors. It also comes with Google Assistant / Alexa support, so you can control it with your voice alone, and use it to control your other smart devices. 

If the idea of a Bluetooth speaker with built-in microphones makes you feel uneasy, Sonos also offers a version of the Roam that comes without them – the Sonos Roam SL is also slightly cheaper owing to the omission of mics, in a similar vein to the Sonos One and Sonos One SL speakers.

To make that transition from indoors to outdoors as seamless as possible, the Sonos Roam comes with a host of cool features. The first of these is Sound Swap – simply hold down the play button and the Sonos Roam will ‘throw’ your audio to the nearest other Sonos speaker available. 

Another, Automatic Switching between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections, means you can simply walk into your home and the Sonos Roam, having previously been paired with your Bluetooth device, will connect to your Wi-Fi, without the need to set it up and reconnect manually. 

Finally, the Auto TruePlay feature first introduced with the Sonos Move has been upgraded here, so the Roam will automatically tune its soundstage to your environment, whether you’re on Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. 

Of course, all these flashy features would be pointless if the Sonos Roam didn’t sound great – but we’re happy to report that, despite its small stature, the Roam delivers a powerful sonic performance, with remarkably prominent bass, even if it does lack the rhythmic accuracy you'd expect from an audiophile speaker. If you do count yourself among the audiophiles of the world, you may find the bass to be slightly overpowering – though those forceful low frequencies work well outdoors, where there are no walls for the sound to bounce off. 

The Sonos Roam's combination of class-leading connectivity features, powerful sound, and excellent design means it's our pick for the best portable speaker of 2021 and 2022, though take note: it doesn't beat the seriously talented Sonos One in terms of audio quality.

In any case, we think Sonos has achieved its aims of creating the smartest Sonos speaker to date, and for that reason, we'd absolutely recommend buying it if you're looking for a portable speaker that can slot into your existing home audio system as easily as it can provide tunes around a campfire or at the beach. 

And Sonos isn't one for resting on its laurels either. In September 2021, the Sonos Roam got even better thanks to an upgrade that brought improvements to connectivity and battery life. Downloading the update via the Sonos S2 app improved the Roam’s power management to help extend the Roam’s battery life when not actively being used. Neat! 

The sonos roam speaker in a tree.

The Roam is the cheapest Sonos speaker to date. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Sonos Roam review: Price & availability

  • Available to buy now
  • $179 / £179 / AU$299
  • Cheapest Sonos speaker to date

The Sonos Roam is available to buy for $179 / £179 / AU$299; that's $20 / £20 / AU$20 more than its original launch price in April 2021, after Sonos announced a nearly product-wide price hike.

That price tag makes it the level-cheapest Sonos speaker to date in the US and UK, equalling the Sonos One SL, which also costs $179 / £179 (although it gets a bit confusing in Australia, because here the One SL costs AU$269). It's also cheaper than Sonos' first portable smart speaker, the Sonos Move, which costs $399 / £399 / AU$649 – a price that puts that speaker firmly at the top end of the Bluetooth speaker market, although it earns that price tag thanks to its array of Sonos smarts and powerful audio.

It’s still not cheap by any means though; one of our favorite Bluetooth speakers, the UE Boom 3, costs $129.99 / £129.99 / AU$199.95, and the cheap and cheerful Tribit Stormbox Blast is only $199 (which is around £163 or AU$290, where sold) – although of course, neither come with the smart assistant compatibility of Sonos’ latest device.

If you don't want your Roam to come with voice assistant capabilities, you can save money on the new Sonos Roam SL. It's available for $159 / £159/ AU$269.

the sonos roam bluetooth speaker outdoors

The rugged Bluetooth speaker comes with a IP67 water-and-dust-resistance rating. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Sonos Roam review: Design

  • IP67 water-and-dust-resistance rating
  • 0.95lbs / 0.43kg
  • Rugged build

While the Sonos Roam retains the minimalist aesthetic of the brand’s previous devices, its design is still quite the departure for the audio company, with a focus on ruggedness and portability. 

It’s longer and thinner than the comparatively squat Sonos Move, and is similar in size to a water bottle – or the newer Cleer Scene (which is very similar in shape to the splendid JBL Flip 6). It’s far lighter than the Move too, weighing in at 0.95lbs / 0.43kg, and you can easily hold it in your hand or sling it in a bag when on the move.

That light build, combined with an IP67 water-and-dust-resistance rating, makes it more easily portable than its predecessor, and rugged enough to withstand the elements. In fact, Sonos says it can survive being three feet underwater for 30 minutes.

On the front of the speaker is an embossed Sonos logo in white; above this, is an LED that indicates the speaker’s connection status, while an LED on the opposite end indicates battery life.

The control buttons are on the left end of the speaker when it’s placed horizontally – you can also orient the speaker vertically, with the buttons on the top.  There are volume up and down buttons, a play/pause button, and a button for turning the microphone on and off. The play/pause button can be double-pressed to skip to the next track, or triple-pressed to go back to the previous track. 

To pair the Roam with other Sonos products, you need to press and hold the play/pause button; keeping the button pressed for longer will activate the aforementioned ‘throw’ feature, switching your audio to the nearest other Sonos speaker. Slightly embossed, the buttons feel more tactile and easier to use compared to the touch-sensitive buttons on top of the Sonos Move – and they’re more accessible for those with visual impairments.

the sonos roam bluetooth speaker in a garden

You can stand the Sonos Roam upright, or on its side. (Image credit: TechRadar)

On the back of the speaker is the power button – you need to press and hold this until you hear the pairing tone to connect the Sonos Roam to a Bluetooth device. Beneath the button is a USB-C port for charging – you get a USB-A to USB-C connector in the box, but you’ll have to use your own adapter.

The ends of the speaker are slightly concave, which Sonos says increases its  drop-resistance, and helps to prevent accidental button presses, so you don’t jack the volume up to 11 every time you brush past it.

The buttons themselves are described by Sonos as “tactile and slightly embossed”, with the raised design making it easy to hit play or change the volume. They’re very responsive, and we didn’t experience any lag in between hitting the button and the resulting action; the Sonos Move’s buttons are touch-sensitive, so the ability to feel the buttons will likely be a welcome feature for anyone with visual impairments. 

Coming in 'Shadow' black and 'Lunar' white, the Sonos Roam boasts a “precision-engineered” honeycomb grille – it’s not a wraparound grille though, so don’t expect true 360-degree sound.

the sonos roam being held

The design of the Sonor Roam works just as well indoors as it does outdoors. (Image credit: TechRadar)

You have some flexibility when it comes to placing the speaker – the Roam can be positioned horizontally for stability on uneven ground, or vertically for a smaller footprint, with its triangular shape funneling sound upwards. If you do place the Roam horizontally on a flat surface like a table, small feet on what is, in this orientation, the bottom of the speaker help to keep it stable.

If you wish, you can buy a $49 / £44 / AU$79 wireless charging stand for the Roam. Simply place the speaker on the stand and it’ll snap into place with magnets, giving the Roam a permanent home inside yours. 

Overall, we think the design of the Sonos Roam is really attractive. While many of the best portable waterproof speakers are finished with garish colors and functional materials, the Roam retains the slick aesthetic of the brand’s home speakers, and its light and compact build makes it ideal for listening to music on the go.

If Sonos’ goal was to make a speaker that works just as well indoors as it does outdoors, it has succeeded.

the sonos roam bluetooth speaker on a table

You get a powerful sound from the Roam, but the bass can be overwhelming. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Sonos Roam review: Audio performance

  • Powerful sound
  • Bass can be overwhelming indoors
  • Comprehensive support for streaming services

In spite of its small size, the Sonos Roam delivers a powerful sonic performance with remarkably prominent bass. Inside the speaker are two class-H amplifiers, with a high-efficiency motor that Sonos says increases the power and range of the audio output, as well as a custom racetrack mid-woofer, and a tweeter.

While the sound isn’t as room-filling as that provided by the larger Sonos Move, the Roam comes pretty close, thanks to some clever design choices when it comes to the transducer. 

Key specs

Weight: 0.95 pounds (0.43 kg)

Battery life: 10 hours

Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5

Drivers: One tweeter, one mid-woofer

NFC: Yes

Aux-in: No

The transducer transforms the electric signal into wave-shaped changes in air pressure – the sound you hear – and for that it needs space to move, as well as space within the speaker to pack in as much air as possible.

As Sara Morris, Principal Product Manager at Sonos explains, the team managed to keep the size down by making the transducer part of the housing itself, allowing the Sonos Roam to be “smaller, lighter, and still have a really good sound.” 

Sonos has certainly succeeded in that regard. Listening to Childish Gambino’s Feels Like Summer, thumping bass lines drive the smooth synths, while the clear and rich falsetto vocals soar above the mix. 

If we’re nit-picking, we’d like to hear a little more from the mids and lower trebles, as some of the detail is lost amid that powerful bass; in fact, if you’re using the Roam inside, you may want to adjust the EQ settings to increase the treble frequencies. Those powerful low frequencies work very well outside, where there are no walls for the sound to bounce off, but inside, it can be slightly overpowering.

Listening to Gorillaz' Glitter Freeze, and the whining synths sound clear without being overly harsh, while the driving bass lines are powerful. The Sonos Roam lacks the kind of rhythmic accuracy and dexterity of audiophile speakers, but for a speaker of this size, we weren't disappointed by the overall presentation of our music. 

As for support for music services, there’s support for AirPlay 2 on Apple devices with iOS 11.4 and later, Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, YouTube Music, 7Digital, Sonos Radio, and more via the Sonos S2 app. 

the sonos roam on a garden table

The Roam isn't quite as sonically powerful as the Sonos Move. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Sonos Roam review: Sound Swap

  • Throws sound from your Roam to another Sonos speaker
  • Works in reverse

Sound Swap is one of the best features on the Sonos Roam, allowing you to ‘throw’ the music from your Sonos Roam to the nearest Sonos speaker available, and vice versa. 

All you need to do is hold down the play/pause button until you hear the third tone (one more than if you were pairing two speakers), while holding the Sonos Roam close to the other speaker. Your music should then begin playing from the second speaker – or if you’re casting to a Sonos system, the full speaker setup. 

We tried Sound Swap with our home cinema system, comprising a Sonos Arc, two Sonos One SL rear speakers, and the Sonos Sub, and it worked seamlessly. Being able to bring the Sonos Roam in from the kitchen to our living room and continue listening to our music on a surround sound system without messing around with our phone was wonderful.

As mentioned this feature also works in reverse, so holding down the play/pause button will cause the Roam to pick up audio that’s playing on another speaker or setup – handy when you’re taking the Roam out into the garden for example.

the back of the sonos roam speaker

You can charge the Roam via the USB-C at the back of the speaker. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Sonos Roam review: Connectivity

  • Easy setup
  • Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity
  • Automatic Switching

In spite of its focus on portability, the Roam is very much part of the Sonos ecosystem, which means you can use it as part of a wider multi-room audio setup, or pair two speakers for stereo sound. Pairing the Sonos Roam with other Sonos speakers can be done by simply holding down the play/pause button.

Unfortunately, though, you can’t use two Sonos Roams as a pair of rear channels for your home cinema system. We expected this to be the case, as the same is true for the Sonos Move – the company puts this down to sync issues, and the potential for a directional soundtrack to lose its focus if a speaker isn't optimally positioned in a room.

The Roam works with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5, so you can use it in the home or on the move, and the new Automatic Switching feature makes this transition more seamless than ever, with the speaker automatically connecting to your Wi-Fi network when in range, and re-pairing with your phone when you’re out and about. 

To start using the Sonos Roam you’ll need to connect it to your Wi-Fi network via the Sonos S2 app – this isn’t super-clear from the instruction leaflet included in the box, but you won’t be able to pair via Bluetooth without doing this first. 

sonos roam

Pairing the Roam with other Sonos speakers is super easy. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Setting up the Sonos Roam took us just a few minutes. To get started, you’ll need to download the Sonos app if you don’t have it already, and then tap Settings > System > Add Product.

When you begin connecting the Sonos Roam to your network, you’ll be prompted to enter an 8-digit code that you’ll find on the bottom of the speaker – this can either be entered manually, or automatically using NFC. 

Once you’ve done this, you’ll hear a chime to let you know that the code has been entered successfully, and the speaker will begin connecting to your Wi-Fi network. You may also have to wait for the Roam to update, if an update is available.

Once connected, you can turn on Auto Trueplay, add your voice assistant of choice (Google Assistant or Alexa) and toggle other settings. There’s also a ‘product tour’ within the app, to help you get to know the Sonos Roam’s controls and features – it’s a neat touch that makes the setup process feel really easy. 

Sonos Roam review: Voice Assistant

  • Google Assistant or Alexa
  • Smart home control
  • Requires Wi-Fi

Both Google Assistant and Alexa are onboard, and you can use your voice assistant of choice to control the speaker hands-free, control your other smart home devices, check your calendar, ask questions, and more – you will need to be connected to Wi-Fi to take advantage of these features. 

Setting up the Sonos Roam with Google Assistant is super easy, with the Sonos app directing you to the Google Home app to configure your settings. We found the microphones were able to pick up our voice pretty clearly, even with music playing at a medium volume.

It's a shame that you can't call on the voice assistant while using Bluetooth, but it's certainly not a dealbreaker – and we daresay the experience of using Google Assistant over Bluetooth would be more frustrating than helpful.

the sonos roam bluetooth speaker on a garden table

You can only use the Sonos Roam's voice assistant while connected to a Wi-Fi network. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Sonos Roam review: Battery life

  • 10-hour battery life
  • 10 days in sleep mode
  • Supports wireless charging

The claimed battery life of the Sonos Roam is 10 hours, though we found that this came in at around nine hours while playing at a medium volume, and the company says the speaker can last for up to 10 days in sleep mode – it’ll automatically go into sleep mode when you stop playing music. 

That battery life almost matches the Sonos Move’s 11 hours, and that of most decent portable speakers on the market.

You can charge the Sonos Roam with any Qi-certified charging device, but if you want to keep it in the family, Sonos sells a dedicated wireless charging stand for $49 / £44 / AU$79, which features magnets to hold the speaker in place. You also get a USB-A to USB-C connector in the box, so you can use your own adapter.

Should I buy the Sonos Roam?

the sonos roam being held on a picnic blanket

The Sonos Roam is our pick for the best Bluetooth speaker you can buy today. (Image credit: Sonos)

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Sonos Roam review: Also consider

Not convinced by our Sonos Roam review? We've picked out three more Bluetooth speakers for you to consider below:

First reviewed: April 2021

Nanoleaf Essentials A19 E27 smart bulb review: affordable smart lighting
9:34 am | September 24, 2021

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

Nanoleaf might be better known for its beautiful light panels and lines, but the brand went back to basics in 2020 by offering a smart bulb – a great option for anyone testing the smart home waters for the first time.

The Nanoleaf Essentials A19 (or A60 in some regions) smart bulb, however, isn’t your typical smart bulb. Not only does it step away from the usual smooth dome diffuser, it also supports an incredible 16 million colors, with a white color temperature range of 2,700-6,500 Kelvin. It surpasses some of its competitors by being able to hit 1,100 lumens, making it one of the brightest available today.

Its looks and brightness aren’t the only features that make the Nanoleaf Essentials A19 smart light bulb stand apart from the crowd. This smart bulb is the first of its kind to come with both Thread and Bluetooth connectivity. That means the Essentials light bulb can be used alongside any other Thread-enabled smart device without a hub and, if you aren't using one of those, the bulbs will work via Bluetooth, giving them a wider and more future-proof appeal.

[UPDATE (April 2023): Nanoleaf has a new Essentials bulb now available in most major markets. This new model is Matter enabled, the latest standard in smart home connectivity. While the new bulb isn't very different from the model reviewed here, Matter connectivity means it should become easier to set up a smart home without having to worry about getting caught up within a specific platform or ecosystem. So whether you use Apple devices, Google or even Amazon's Alexa as a smart hub, all Matter-compatible gadgets can be controlled using any iOS or Android handset. At the time of writing this update, Nanoleaf is just one of two companies to have released Matter-compatible smart devices.]

Nanoleaf Essentials smart bulb

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Price and availability

  • Cheaper than Philips Hue
  • Announced November 2020
  • Available to buy from Apple and directly from Nanoleaf

Nanoleaf announced its Essentials range in 2020, going up for pre-order on the company’s online storefront in November and available to purchase immediately from Apple. As of March 2021, the Essentials range – which currently includes the light bulb and a lightstrip – is available to buy directly from Nanoleaf and several other major retailers around the world, Apple included.

The Essential light bulb costs just $19.99 / £17.99 / AU$39.99 each. That's cheaper than the basic Philips Hue White Ambiance bulb that only offers – you guessed it – different hues of white/yellow light for $25.99 / £29.99 / AU$84.95.

Considering that the Nanoleaf bulb supports several colors and light hues, its direct competition is the Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance that costs a lot more at $64.99 / £49.99 / AU$99.95 per light globe, so there's a lot more value for money here.

And if you opt to upgrade to the new Matter-enabled Essentials bulb (see update above), you won't be paying too much more either. The new Essentials bulb cost $19.99 / £19.99 / AU$39.99 and that means future-proofing your smart home setup doesn't have to cost a pretty penny.

Nanoleaf Essentials smart bulb

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Design

  • Unique rhombicosidodecahedron shape
  • Looks great even when switch off
  • Available in E27 and B22 fittings

The Nanoleaf Essentials smart light bulb looks more like a golf ball than a light fixture – very much in keeping with Nanoleaf’s design ethic. Its geometric dome is a rhombicosidodecahedron, a shape made up of a combination of triangular and pentagonal faces with several edges.

This interesting shape also makes it look quite good when not in use, and perfect for those industrial-looking lamps that keep the bulbs exposed.

Other than that, the Essentials smart bulb looks like any other standard bulb, measuring 6cm x 11cm (2.4in x 4.4in). Like its Philips Hue counterparts, it’s available in both Bayonet and Edison screw caps that fit most standard fixtures.

Nanoleaf Essentials smart bulb

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Setup and app

  • Easy setup
  • Works with HomeKit and Google Assistant
  • Not the best app design

The Essentials light bulb is remarkably simple to set up. Just get it out of its box, screw it into a lamp, scan the QR code on the device or from the card in the box and you’re done. The bulb automatically decides what the best connection method is without you having to think about it too much. 

If it recognizes an Apple HomePod mini, it quickly latches on and you’re set up immediately, with no additional steps to go through. However, you don’t need a HomePod mini to use the Essentials bulb. HomeKit will add the bulb to your collection of smart devices if you’re an iPhone user, while the Google Home app takes care of it for Android users, and both work via Bluetooth.

Nanoleaf Essentials smart bulb

Screw the bulb into a holder, scan the code and you're ready to go (Image credit: TechRadar)

If you’ve already set up a Nanoleaf Essentials accessory and then get a HomePod mini, it automatically shifts its communication to the Apple smart speaker (or any other Thread-enabled device) without you needing to reconnect. At present, the HomePod mini and the latest Apple TV 4K are the only Thread device commercially available to buy – other smart speakers have Thread radios installed, like the Google Nest Hub Max or Amazon’s Eero, but they haven’t been ‘switched on’.

When connected via Thread, the Nanoleaf bulb works real quick, responding to commands instantly. On a Bluetooth connection, however, there is some lag which, during our testing, wasn’t too significant – it took no more than a couple of seconds to pick up a command, provided you’re in the same room or within range.

Both Siri and Google Assistant can be used to control the Nanoleaf Essentials via voice commands but, at the time of writing, there was no Alexa support which might be a deal breaker for some.

Nanoleaf Essentials smart bulb

(Image credit: TechRadar)

The Nanoleaf app, while great for the light panels, is not as user-friendly for the Essentials range. At launch, you couldn't even download the several user-defined Scenes available in the Nanoleaf library. That, however, is not possible and it's a lot of fun to watch the lights previewed on the bulb before downloading a particular Scene.

If you're feeling adventurous and creative, you can create your own Scenes, although editing after you’ve saved a Scene can take a few annoying tries. A color palette in the app makes it easy to choose your preferred shade or to set white light at different hues. You can even set a specific RGB value if you know precisely what you want – a feature that isn’t common for smart lights.

The app will also let you adjust brightness, change Scenes and set a circadian rhythm for the lights. The last feature automatically adjusts the light’s color temperature through the day to calm or energize the mind by switching to warm tones for the morning and evening, and cooler white for the afternoon.

Nanoleaf Essentials smart bulb

(Image credit: TechRadar)

However, annoyingly, you can set schedules for any of the Essentials products in the Nanoleaf app. You'll have to use Apple HomeKit or Google Home to do that, as long you have a smart home hub set up on a device. There is a dedicated section for scheduling in the app, so we’re hoping this functionality will be added as part of a future update.

Another annoyance about the app is its complete sync with HomeKit. This pushes every single default Scene in the Nanoleaf app to the Home app every time you open it, even if you’ve previously removed it from HomeKit.

Features and functionality

  • Supports 16 million colors
  • Screen mirroring
  • Quite bright for a smart bulb

The Nanoleaf Essentials smart bulb is rated for a maximum of 1,100 lumens, making it one of the brightest smart lights on the market, with an average brightness of over 800 lumens. We’ve tested a few smart bulbs in the past and compared to them, including some older Philips Hue lights, it’s a lot brighter. The only other bulb that trumps Essentials bulb in brightness is the newest white-only Philips Hue light that’s rated for 1,600 lumens.

However, brightness dips significantly when you change the light from white to color, but this is not unique to Nanoleaf – every color smart bulb we’ve tested behaves the same way.

Nanoleaf Essentials smart bulb

(Image credit: TechRadar)

While you can use Nanoleaf’s own Circadian Lighting feature in the app, the Essentials bulb currently does not support the HomeKit Adaptive Lighting option – this changes color temperature of white light automatically throughout the day to match daylight in your location. However, Nanoleaf’s Circadian Lighting feature gets deactivated every time you use HomeKit to control the accessory and you will need to switch it on again in the Nanoleaf app.

The Essentials bulb also has the best dimming ability of any smart bulb we’ve tested. While most others dim down only to a certain point, the Nanoleaf goes all the way down to zero.

At launch, Nanoleaf said the bulb would have the ability to mirror colors of Mac and Windows displays, but the feature was rolled out only months after the device has been on the market. It's here, however, and you will need to download the Nanoleaf desktop app to make it work, and keep it running as long as you want the bulb to mirror your monitor. So the only way to make the bulb mirror your TV is to cast a streaming service onto your telly. There are different mirroring 'moods' to choose from as well, which is rather nice.

Nanoleaf Essentials smart bulb

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Verdict

It’s easy to recommend a smart lighting system that won’t burn a hole in your pocket, or eat through your energy bill, especially when they look as good as the Nanoleaf Essentials smart bulb and work as well. Admittedly Nanoleaf has some work to do on its app to make it a little more intuitive, but you can ignore the app for the most part and use Apple's HomeKit or Google Home instead.

Moreover, with Thread support built in, this is a future-proof smart bulb that can easily be used with any other Thread-enabled device without the need for a hub, thus streamlining your smart home setup. Bluetooth connectivity might not be as quick as Thread, but that’s not the fault of the bulb but of the wireless protocol itself.

It’s also feature-packed, with circadian rhythm available on the app, and plenty of custom Scenes that you can set up yourself if you don’t like any of the default ones. There's even screen mirroring on board. 

While it needs Thread connectivity to unlock its full potential, it's still worth it on a Bluetooth connection as well.

Nanoleaf Essentials smart bulb

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Should I buy the Nanoleaf Essentials A19 smart bulb?

If you’re after an affordable HomeKit-enabled smart lighting system, then yes. And even more resounding yes if you already own an Apple HomePod mini or Apple TV 4K (the 2021 edition specifically), or plan to get either one. Its white light is brighter than most other smart bulbs on the market and its colors are beautiful and vivid, like the Nanoleaf Shapes light panels. It already has some great features, with more to come, making them well worth it.

However, there’s no Alexa support available at the time of writing, although Nanoleaf has promised to roll that out soon. So if you use an Alexa speaker to control your smart home, you may need to look elsewhere.

[First reviewed March 2021]

Fitbit Versa 3 review
6:02 pm | June 4, 2021

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

Editor's note

  • First reviewed: July 2022
  • Launch price: $229 / £199 / AU$399
  • New official price:  $169 / £169.99 / AU$299.99

Updated: January 2024: We reviewed the Fitbit Sense 3 in 2022, during which we praised it and called it the best Fitbit watch device overall. Since then, quite a few Fitbit devices have come and gone, including the Fitbit Versa 4: but due to the removal of some community and music features, we didn't rate the Versa 4 as highly as the Versa 3. Therefore, we still think the Versa 3 is a great buy, and although the official price has gone down, you can find deals on the Versa 3 even cheaper with third parties. 

The rest of the review remains as previously published.

Two-minute review

The Fitbit Versa 3 has finally fixed our biggest gripe about the Versa line of smartwatches, and we can recommend it as a great buy. Depending on price, we've even ranked it above the Fitbit Sense in our list of the Best Fitbits, earning the top spot. The Versa 3 now comes with integrated GPS to track – in real time – the pace and distance of your walks, runs, bike rides or hikes if you choose to leave your phone behind.

While that’s definitely a step up from the Versa 2, as is the larger and truly gorgeous display, there are still little things about the Versa 3 that make it oh-so-frustratingly-close to being one of the best wearables on the market.

Key stats

Price: $229 / £199 / AU$399
Case size: 40.48mm x 40.48mm 
Display tech: AMOLED
On-board GPS: Yes
Max battery life: 6 days

Don’t get us wrong – the Versa 3 is a serious contender to be the best fitness tracker on the market, especially given its relatively affordable price tag and the plethora of fitness tracking capabilities it has, which also includes an SpO2 sensor to measure blood oxygen levels while you sleep. However, a lot more useful information is locked behind the Fitbit Premium paywall, and the redesign of the side button has made it frustrating to use.

Instead of a physical button, like there is on the Versa 2, there’s now an indent on the left side of the chassis that’s similar to the inductive button that debuted on the Fitbit Charge 3. Unfortunately, it’s not as well implemented on the Versa 3, and it takes a few tries to find the exact spot you need to press to bring up apps and sub-menus.

Other than that, though, the Versa 3 is a beautiful wearable that does a lot of what the Fitbit Sense can do, with the exception of stress management and advanced heart monitoring. That means it’s cheaper than the Sense, although it is slightly more expensive than the Versa 2 in some markets (it costs the same £199 in the UK as its predecessor). However, built-in GPS, a larger 1.58-inch AMOLED display (the same as the one on the Sense) and an SpO2 sensor more than justifies the slightly higher launch price of $229 / AU$399.

There’s also a lot more fitness monitoring features on the Versa 3, making the on-device interface a lot busier than what was available on the Versa 2 at launch. There are ways to manage them all, but they do take time to get used to.

Despite that, performance is excellent, as we've come to expect from Fitbit devices. Battery life is about six days on a dim screen setting, but it drops to half that if you have the display set to always-on. GPS isn't as pinpoint accurate as on some other bands we've reviewed, but for the average user that won’t matter very much. The heart rate monitor is now a bit more precise than the Versa 2, but without a chest strap to compare, it’s hard to judge exactly how accurate it is.

Alexa is, of course, on board to help you answer some questions that are displayed on the device, and with Google buying Fitbit, a firmware update some time in the future will add Google Assistant to the wearable as well.

There’s still a dearth of productivity apps for Fitbit’s smartwatches but, as we said in our Versa 2 review, these are first and foremost fitness trackers that have  a few smartwatch perks.

Fitbit Versa 3 settings screen

One of the Fitbit Versa 3's best features is its high-resolution AMOLED display (Image credit: TechRadar)

Fitbit Versa 3 price and availability

  • Cheaper than Fitbit Sense
  • Pricier than Fitbit Versa 2 in some markets
  • Available in three color options

Fitbit announced the Versa 3, along with the Sense and the Fitbit Inspire 2, at a virtual conference in August 2020. It went up for pre-order the following day and began shipping by late September. The Versa 3 is currently available to buy directly from Fitbit and from major retailers around the world.

Interestingly, in the UK, both the Versa 2 and the Versa 3 are listed for the same price of £199. In the US and Australia, though, the Versa 3 carries a higher price tag than its predecessor, retailing for $229 and AU$399 respectively. That makes the Versa 3 the middle child – it’s no longer the flagship, with the Fitbit Sense taking over that role and costing a lot more at $329 / £299 / AU$499.

Unlike the Versa 2, which had a more expensive Special Edition version available, the Versa 3 comes in just the standard issue in three different colors – two soft gold cases with a Pink Gold and Midnight Blue strap, and a black chassis with a black band.

Fitbit Versa 3 on woman's wrist

The Fitbit Versa 3 has essentially the same design as the Fitbit Sense, with a large square display and rounded corners (Image credit: TechRadar)

Design and display

  • 40mm AMOLED display
  • Easy strap removal mechanism
  • Redesigned side button

At first glance the Versa 3 looks identical to its predecessors, but a closer look reveals a few design tweaks that make the new device a bit sleeker. In fact, a change in the color of the aluminum chassis makes the Versa 3 look rather elegant. The ‘soft gold’ case is neutral, but a black option keeps the Versa 3’s universal charm. 

The change in chassis color isn’t the biggest design change though; it’s the size of the screen. The display is now a larger 40mm AMOLED panel as compared to the 39mm on the Versa 2, with a higher resolution of 336 x 336 pixels (the Versa 2 is 300 x 300). It’s a bright, crisp and very clear display that looks absolutely stunning even at its ‘dim’ setting at pretty much any viewing angle. The bezels, though, still remain quite thick, similar to the Versa 2.

Navigating through the menus and apps via the screen is also a walk in the park – not once did the screen lag during our testing period, and swiping to bring up different functions works remarkably well.

Another design change is the side button, or rather the lack thereof – and it’s perhaps our biggest complaint about the Versa 3. Instead of a physical button, there’s a capacitive indent on the left side of the watch that, when pressed correctly, sends a short vibration to indicate you’ve activated the smartwatch. It’s located below the lip of the chassis, so you need to feel for it, and finding the exact spot to press is not especially easy. We've been using the Versa 3 for over a month now and we still need a few tries to find the exact spot. Thankfully, you don’t always need to use this “inductive” button to interact with the watch – you can set the watch to wake with a tap on the screen, then swipe to bring up whichever menu you need. That said, there are ‘shortcuts’ (like bringing up Alexa) that can be set on the watch, and these require either a tap-and-hold or double-tap-and-hold action to activate them. And they can be frustrating to bring up due to that button inconsistency.

Fitbit Versa 3 showing button on side of case

The Fitbit Versa 3 has a redesigned side button that's easier to operate (Image credit: TechRadar)

On the right edge of the watch chassis is a tiny mic and a speaker which, in theory, should allow you to take calls.

Fitbit has also changed the strap mechanism – the same as in the Fitbit Sense – and we think it’s better than the mechanism on the Versa 2. A small button acts as a latch, which when pulled slightly down releases the clasp. It gives the watch a much more streamlined look and makes it remarkably easy to swap out the default sporty strap it comes with.

This silicone strap is also different to the one that comes with the standard edition of the Versa 2. Fitbit calls this new model the "Infinity Band", as it lacks a buckle – it’s the same one that ships with the Sense as well.

Another major difference between the Versa 2 and the new iteration is the charger. Instead of the older box-like USB charger, there’s a small magnetic dock that tops up the juice extremely quickly – we went from 64% battery to 100% in under 15 minutes.

The Versa 3, like its predecessor, is also water resistant to 50m/164ft – meaning you can wear it in the shower or head out for a swim with it on your wrist. It can even survive a dip in salt water, although Fitbit recommends you not wear it in a hot tub or sauna.

Fitbit Versa 3 showing main menu

The large screen makes menus easy to scroll through (Image credit: TechRadar)

Smartwatch features

  • Alexa support, with Google Assistant coming in the future
  • Limited productivity apps
  • Phone call support

As a smartwatch, the Versa 3 functions exactly the same as its predecessor. It’s still a pared-back, no-frills experience as compared to something like an Apple Watch, but there should still be enough apps to keep many users happy. For example, a Philips Hue app is available to control smart lights, and there's a map app as well. That said, some apps are geo-specific to the US, UK or other regions, so the range of apps available to you will vary depending on your location. Fitbit Pay, though, should be a convenient option for most countries, with many banks around the world now supporting the cashless payment method.

It's worth reiterating that many of the better Fitbit apps are paid, just as they are on Apple Watch or Android Wear OS devices, so you'll need to pony up if you want some of the expanded functionality they provide.

Fitbit has a decent range of clock faces to choose from, so it should be easy to find something you like... although strangely, switching to a new face takes a while to apply. Amazon's Alexa is also on board to help with quick questions and, if you set up the Alexa app on your phone and sync your Amazon account, you can do a lot more, like set reminders and control your smart home devices. With Google set to buy Fitbit, Google Assistant support is also due to be added, but there's no firm timeline on when that is due to occur yet. 

As before, there's Deezer and Spotify music-streaming support available, but if you’re leaving your phone behind when on a workout, the only way to get access to your tunes offline is via Deezer. There’s still no offline Spotify feature, which is certainly quite disappointing.

Alarm app on Fitbit Versa 3

The Fitbit Versa 3 comes with various handy tools, including an alarm that can wake you up without disturbing your partner (Image credit: TechRadar)

With a built-in mic and speaker, you should, in theory, be able to take calls, although at the time of writing we were unable to test this functionality. We were able to answer an incoming call, but it seems Fitbit needs to enable this feature so users can use the device’s Bluetooth connection to their phone to speak to a caller (and hear them) by just raising their wrist close to their mouth. Fitbit lists this feature as "coming soon" on its website, so we’ll update this review when the company rolls out a firmware update to fully enable it.

As before, you’ll get all your phone notifications on your wrist, and you can choose which apps can push notifications to the Versa 3 in the Fitbit app. Most commonly used messaging apps are supported, including Slack and WhatsApp, along with emails and Uber.

Android users can reply to text via the Versa 3 with a handful of preset messages, but iPhone users don’t have that option. If you're an iOS user and keen on more smartphone functionality from a wearable, then you could consider opting for the Apple Watch SE. Unfortunately, having an onboard mic doesn’t mean you’re able to dictate messages and send them on any platform.

Fitbit Versa 3 fitness tracking modes

The Fitbit Versa 3 has a wide range of tracking modes for indoor and outdoor activities (Image credit: TechRadar)

Fitness and health tracking

  • SpO2 monitoring
  • GPS enabled
  • Several workout options

Like the previous iteration, fitness and health are the areas where the Versa 3 shines. Admittedly, it doesn’t have as many health tracking features as the Sense does, but there’s enough here for the average user to stay on top of things, thanks to 24/7 activity and heart monitoring.

There are guided breathing exercises available now, with ways to track your mindfulness and the ability to listen to meditation tracks on the Fitbit app. You can set up hourly reminders to move around a little, set your fitness goals and keep tabs on your sleep quality. The Versa 3 will also monitor your blood oxygen level while you sleep (provided you wear the device to bed), and this can be important in detecting disorders like sleep apnea. 

Fitness tracking stats in the Fitbit mobile app

The Fitbit mobile app is available for both iOS and Android devices (Image credit: TechRadar)

Your daily activities are broken down into step counts, steps taken, calories burned and zone minutes. You can get a pretty good picture on how you’re tracking, but if you want to delve deeper, you’ll need to be a subscriber to the Fitbit Premium service, which costs $9.99/£7.99/AU$15.49 per month. This gives you access to the new Health Metrics dashboard that offers advanced statistics on breathing rate, oxygen saturation and heart rate variability. While you won’t get notifications when your heart rate spikes (like on the Sense), there will be a record of it in case you’re monitoring yourself closely. Like the Sense, the Versa 3 vibrates when you’re moving between heart rate zones – useful when you’re working out and can’t keep looking at the clock face to check your pulse.

There are several workout options to choose from, including circuit training and interval workouts, covering most people’s needs. As mentioned earlier, you can even wear the Versa 3 during a swim, either in the pool or the sea.

Run tracking stats in the Fitbit mobile app

The Fitbit Versa 3's on-board GPS means it can track your route on runs and walks even if you leave your phone at home (Image credit: TechRadar)

And now, thanks to the Versa 3’s onboard GPS, all your outdoor activities can be mapped in real time. The GPS isn’t always very precise and does momentarily drop out, but despite that it’s a huge step up from the Versa 2. Keep in mind that the GPS only gets activated when you select a workout mode manually. Fitbit’s SmartTrack feature – which automatically detects and records movement that’s 15 minutes or longer as exercise – will not activate the GPS. Maps are available on the Fitbit app almost immediately after you’ve ended the exercise, with pace, heart rate and calories burnt graphically denoted as well.

Fitbit Versa 3 case back

The Fitbit Versa 3 features an SpO2 sensor on the rear to track blood oxygen saturation (Image credit: TechRadar)

Battery life

  • Up to 6 days of battery
  • 2-day battery with always-on display
  • Charges quickly

Battery life is another thing Fitbit does really well, far better than Apple or Samsung. Like the Versa 2 before it, the Versa 3 offers up to 6 days of juice on a full charge, with the display set at normal brightness and the GPS being used no more than 2-3 times a week. The more you use the GPS, though, the quicker the battery drains; we measured a roughly 8% drop for 30 minutes of GPS use.

Keeping the screen always-on, though, drains the battery significantly, giving you no more than two days on a full charge. And if you use the GPS combined with the always-on display, you’ll need to charge the battery every day.

When the Versa 3’s battery needs some juice, topping it up is thankfully very quick. As we mentioned earlier, a 15-minute stint on the new USB charger gave us 36% more power. 

First reviewed October 2020

Fitbit Versa 3 with weather app on screen

The Fitbit Versa 3 comes with a handy weather app preinstalled (Image credit: TechRadar)

Also consider

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

Fitbit Sense review
5:54 pm |

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

Editor's Note

  • First reviewed: July 2022
  • Original price: $329.99 / £299 / AU$449.95
  • Current official price: $159.99 / £219.99 / AU$224.95

Updated: January 2024: There are two reasons why we think the Fitbit Sense is worth buying over its successor, the Fitbit Sense 2. For one thing, since its launch, the Fitbit Sense has drastically dropped in price. And for another, the Fitbit Sense 2 has arrived on the heels of Fitbit's gutting of several community and music-related features in its watches going forward. At this very attractive price (and you can get it even cheaper during deals events at third-party stores like Best Buy in the US and Currys in the UK) the Sense remains worthy of inclusion in our best Fitbit list, and a relevant cheap watch for Fitbit enthusiasts.

The rest of this review remains as previously published. 

Two-minute review

The Fitbit Sense is one of the best Fitbits, and builds on the success of the Fitbit Versa line with several thoughtful upgrades. It's designed to put you in charge of your wellbeing, helping you understand your body and mind, and make changes to improve your physical and mental health. It succeeds, for the most part – even better than its sequel, the Fitbit Sense 2.

Fitbit Sense: Key specs

Case size: 40mm x 40mm x 12mm
Weight with strap: 49.5g
Display type: color OLED
GPS: yes
Sports modes: 20
Operating system: Fitbit OS

Like many of the best smartwatches and best fitness trackers, it includes an ECG sensor to detect signs of atrial fibrillation, but its stress monitoring function is what really stands out, and is something everyone can benefit from and use every day – not just in a health crisis. It's a shame that many of the tools for managing your stress levels (such as meditation sessions and mindfulness tutorials) are only available to Fitbit Premium subscribers, but the Sense comes with a six-month free trial, so you can get a lot of benefit from them even if you choose not to extend the subscription afterwards.

The fitness tracking features offered by the Sense are also impressive, particularly if you're interested in training using heart rate zones. There's a wide range of activity tracking options, and together the watch and Fitbit app provide you with a set of workout appropriate stats once you've finished.

The ECG feature wasn't available at launch, but was activated in October 2020 via a firmware update. In June 2021, Fitbit began rolling out a new firmware update for the Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 that added audible Google Assistant notifications, new goal celebrations, and the ability to more easily change the watch face. Some users also received a new 'snore detection' tool as part of a public beta test.

The Sense isn't perfect though, and we can also see room for improvement within the Fitbit companion app - particularly the menstrual tracking tool, which would benefit from integration with the skin temperature sensor and stress-monitoring functions.

Price and availability

Fitbit Sense: Price and availability

At the time of writing, the Fitbit Sense is available directly from Fitbit and from third-party retailers, and currently costs $159.99 / £219.99 / AU$224.95. It's not available from Fitbit in the US due to the release of the Fitbit Sense 2, so the price above was pulled from Best Buy. 

Contrast this with the Sense 2, which costs $299.95 / £269.99 / AU$449.95. 

Fitbit Sense on woman's wrist

The Fitbit Sense's color OLED display is clearly visible in all lighting conditions, though using always-on mode will drain the battery more rapidly (Image credit: Future)

Fitbit Sense: Design and display

  • Bright, clear display
  • Comfortable Infinity Band strap
  • Wide range of watch faces

The Fitbit Sense is a good-looking smartwatch. It has a very similar, almost identical
screen design to the Fitbit Versa line, with a square face and rounded edges that Fitbit's designers say are inspired by the lines of the human body.

The case is stainless steel, giving the sense a premium look, with a small touch-sensitive button on the left-hand side that can be set up for quick access to your most frequently used apps. A single-press will open one app (this is Alexa by default), and a double-press will display four shortcuts to other apps. We found this particularly useful for accessing our favorite workouts without scrolling through the watch's menus, and for quickly starting an EDA scan (more on that below).

Fitbit Sense watch showing options menu

You can adjust the watch's brightness, volume, and other options through the settings menu (Image credit: Future)

The color display (covered with Gorilla Glass) is bright, sharp and responsive. Swiping to the right reveals various settings, including access to sleep mode, which dims the screen and deactivates vibrations, volume, screen brightness, always-on screen, and do-not-disturb mode. Swiping down from any screen will reveal a shade containing your notifications, which can be customized in the Fitbit app.

The Fitbit Sense comes with an Infinity Band strap, which is made from soft silicone with no hard buckles or catches. It’s very similar to the band on the recently released Polar Unite, and has the same issue of being ever so slightly tricky to fasten as you have to feed the end of the band underneath the strap to secure it. However, once you've mastered it, the band is extremely comfortable, and we found we barely felt it, which is particularly useful at night.

Fitbit recommends wearing it a little tighter while you’re working out to ensure an accurate heart rate reading, cleaning the band regularly with soapy water, and taking it off periodically to allow your skin to breathe.

Fitbit Sense side view

The Fitbit Sense has a smart aluminum case and soft silicone strap (Image credit: Future)

Like most Fitbits, the Sense is supplied with two bands to fit a range of wrist sizes. The smaller band fits wrists 5.5-7.1 inches in circumference, while the larger one fits wrists 7.1-8.7 inches in circumference.

There’s a huge array of watch faces to choose from in the Fitbit app (including the newly released SpO2 face), and you can pick four to save to your Sense for quick access. However, their location on the Sense is a little counterintuitive. Although the watch’s settings menu allows you to change various settings related to its face, including setting the brightness and toggling always-on mode on and off. However, if you want to change the design of the watch face, you need to access a separate menu labelled ‘Clocks’.

Fitbit Sense: Features

  • Supplied with Alexa voice controls; Google Assistant coming soon
  • Daily stress tracking and mood logging
  • Wide range of mindfulness and meditation tools

The Fitbit Sense offers a maximum battery life of six days, but regular use of its various sensors will reduce that time significantly – as will use of the always-on screen. When it's time to top it up, charging is simple; the Sense comes with a small USB charger with a square dock that attaches to the watch’s pack using magnets. It’s very easy to use, and the magnetic connection means it’s impossible to misalign.

It offers all the usual smartwatch features you'd expect from a high-end Fitbit, including voice controls via Alexa (Google Assistant is coming towards the end of 2020) and Fitbit Pay (provided your bank is among those supported).

You will also receive call and SMS notifications from your phone, and can dictate responses to text messages using the Sense's built-in microphone. We'll be testing these features in depth over the coming days and updating this review based on our findings. Bluetooth call-answering is coming later in 2020. 

Fitbit Sense showing main menu

The large display of the Fitbit Sense makes navigation easy (Image credit: Future)

The Sense's standout feature is stress monitoring, which is measured in the form of electrodermal activity (EDA) responses, which are caused by the conductivity of your skin. This is affected by sweat, which is in turn affected by your adrenal glands. It’s worth noting that emotional stress isn’t the only factor that can affect EDA responses – physical stress like exercise and heat can affect it as well.

To run a scan, make sure you have the Sense secured well so that it can record your heart rate accurately, then swipe left, select ‘EDA scan’ and place your free hand over its face for two minutes. You’ll feel a gentle vibration when the scan begins and another when it’s completed. The fewer EDA responses the watch records, the calmer you (probably) are.

Once the scan is done, you’ll also be prompted to enter a quick record of how you’re feeling at that moment – very calm, calm, neutral, stressed or very stressed. You can then review these measurements in the Fitbit app.

Stress monitoring falls under the category of ‘Mindfulness’ within the Fitbit app. Here you can find a record of all past scans, plus a calendar showing your mood variations over time and a set of exercises to help you manage your stress. You can set ‘Mindfulness goals’, which will prompt you to perform an EDA scan, record your mood and practice mindfulness exercising  over the course of several days. You can then look back at how your mood fluctuates over time and get an understanding of the factors that affect it.

Data collected by Fitbit Sense in the Fitbit mobile app

You can download additional faces for the Sense through the Fitbit mobile app for Android and iOS (Image credit: Future)

There are various tools for managing stress within the Fitbit app, but it’s worth noting that most of these require a subscription to Fitbit Premium. The Sense comes with six-month free trial of Premium, but you may well want to continue subscribing after this expires to get the most out of the device.

The Sense can also measure skin temperature at night, allowing you to monitor it for trends over time. It can’t explicitly tell you whether you’re suffering from an infection, but raised temperatures can be a sign that something is amiss. 

After three nights, the Fitbit app will be able to establish a baseline temperature for your skin, and show you how it fluctuates as you sleep (some changes overnight being normal). The graph only shows variation, but this is sensible, as skin temperature on your wrist will be vastly different to core temperature, so the trends are more useful than the specific value and skin temp is better used to inform your overall sleep score than provide accurate core temperature readings. 

If you choose to, you can take your core temperature with a thermometer and enter it manually.

Sleep tracking metrics in the Fitbit app

The Sense offers advanced sleep tracking, though you'll need a Fitbit Premium subscription to access full insights (Image credit: Fitbit)

The Sense also tracks blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) as you sleep, which can help you spot signs of conditions such as sleep apnea, in which you stop breathing periodically during the night, resulting in disturbed sleep and fatigue in the morning. You will need to activate the sensor manually in your device's settings, and bear in in mind that doing so will cause the battery to drain a little faster.

Menstrual tracking is present in the Fitbit app, and although it's not recommended as a form of contraception, it shows when you're likely to be most fertile and allows you to log symptoms of PMT so you can be better prepared each month. This could be improved by integration with the mood tracking tools, so you can more easily see the impact of monthly hormonal fluctuations. We'd also like to see it incorporate data from the skin temperature sensor, which could be a useful indicator of ovulation.

Fitbit Sense: Performance

  • Great choice of workout options
  • Good for heart rate zone training
  • On-board GPS and Strava support

Workout options for the Fitbit Sense include bike, bootcamp, circuit training, elliptical, golf, hike, interval workout, kickboxing, martial arts, pilates, run, spinning, swim, stair climber, tennis, treadmill, weights, workout and yoga – which should cover pretty much everyone.

Fitbit Sense showing Active Zone Minutes notification

Get moving and raise your heart rate to earn Active Zone Minutes, and the Sense will notify you when you achieve your goal (Image credit: Future)

The Sense is water resistant to 50m, making it suitable for swimming in the pool or the sea (though Fitbit advises rinsing the strap with clean water afterwards).

We took the Sense for a pretty intense spin session and noticed no unexpected dips in heart rate that indicate an issue with fitness trackers. Our heart rate shown on the watch face mirrored our efforts on the bike, with only a slight delay as you'd expect from any wrist-mounted heart rate monitor.

The Sense vibrates to indicate when you're moving between heart rate zones, which is a very useful for training. We also liked the fact that the heart rate was displayed prominently on the screen at all times – something not all fitness trackers do.

Heart rate, female health, and sleep metrics in the Fitbit mobile app

The Fitbit Sense can alert you if your heart rate is unusually high or low, and the app can track your menstrual cycle (Image credit: Future)

The only issue we encountered was that the Fitbit Sense logged quite a few steps while we were on the static bike, even though we were using the dedicated Spin exercise mode. It seems like it would be wise for cycling modes to temporarily turn off the watch's pedometer, though we're not sure how feasible that would be.

The Sense also features on-board GPS, so you can map out your runs, walks and bike rides without the need to carry a phone. The GPS will only be activated if you select the correct workout mode manually (it won't be activated if the device detects that you've begun exercising by itself), but this makes sense as it conserves battery life.

Once you've finished, your maps are visible in the Fitbit app straight away, and you can connect your Fitbit account to Strava so they are synced automatically.

Physical and mental wellbeing can have a huge effect on one another, and this is the first smartwatch we've seen that puts an equal focus on both. It still has some quirks to be ironed out, but these are mostly on the software side, so we anticipate the Sense will become even more useful over time.

Fitbit Sense: Buy it if

Fitbit Sense: Don't buy it if

Also consider

First reviewed October 2020.