If you're looking for a fairly conventional electric bike the Pure Free City model is well worth considering. Everything about this two-wheeler is from the past, save for the battery and electric motor. Perhaps because of that, and the way it’s been built, the Pure Free City is quite likable in a retro kind of way.
You get a step-through frame design, narrow spoked rims and tires, a workmanlike saddle, basic pedals, and caliper brakes. In a lot of ways that’s what makes the Pure Free City e-bike a safe bet, and it’s reasonably affordable too at just over a thousand quid. The downside is this is a hefty bike to lug around, with all of the weight sitting at the back end.
Usefully, however, the sober styling makes the Pure Free City of less appeal to thieves, which is always a bonus if you’re going to make regular forays into the less salubrious areas of town. If you can overlook the compromises in build quality and performance, this is a chunky everyday ride that’s simple but effective, although it might not quite make the list of best electric bikes.
Pure Free City: Specifications
Pure Free City: Price and release date
(Image credit: Rob Clymo)
£999 in the UK
Approximately $1,340 / AU$1,900
Not available in other markets (except by international shipping)
The Pure Free City e-bike is available now and costs £999. The bike isn’t available in other markets, but if it was you’d be paying around $1,340 in the US and AUS $1,900 in Australia. Whichever way you look at it, the Pure Free City e-bike represents pretty good value for money.
Pure Free City: Design
(Image credit: Rob Clymo)
Simple design choices
Good for a first electric bike
Drab colorway
Pure has definitely played it safe with the styling of the Free City bike, but that’s actually not a problem. The plain and simple appeal of this bike will be a hit with anyone who’s moving up to their first electric cycle, and the step-through unisex frame makes it a doddle to ride by just about anyone.
This being a relatively affordable electric bike, there is something of an issue with weight. The Pure Free City e-bike is quite heavy and weighs in at 23kg. The other thing that’s most noticeable as you lift it out of the box it arrives in is that this weight is largely found at the back.
There’s a chunky battery pack, which sits under the cargo rack above the rear wheels. There’s a hub motor too, which along with the gearset, chain guard and what not leaves you with little desire to manhandle it very far. No matter though, because you’ve got the benefit of electric propulsion, which is just as well considering the bulk of the bike.
Our review model arrived in a very low-key black, with some minimalist Pure graphics and little else to provide much in the way of visual thrills. Again though, this actually works if you want a bike that isn’t going to turn heads. It’ll fit into a bike rack in town or at the supermarket and nobody will notice it. An e-bike with that credential is always a bonus in our experience.
Full marks to Pure for making the Free City model a complete package, which doesn't have the annoying need to add on lots of vital extras. You get a luggage/pannier rack over the back wheels, the front and rear lights seem to be very good indeed and there’s the added benefit of full mudguards.
While the saddle is very basic it does provide decent levels of comfort on short runs, which is what this e-bike is all about.
On first impression then the construction, fit and finish is reasonably on the money, though there are obvious compromises to be found along the way.
Design score: 3/5
Pure Free City: Performance
(Image credit: Rob Clymo)
Low range
Delivers as promised
7 speed Shimano gearing is reliable
Given the 23kg weight of the Pure Free City electric two-wheeler it’s fair to expect rather pedestrian performance. In essence, that’s exactly what you get. The 250W motor is more than adequate, and there are three different power modes. These let you increase your speed in increments, 9mph, 12mph or 15mph as a maximum, which is standard fare for e-bikes in the UK.
Delivery of said power isn’t as smooth as some bikes we’ve ridden, but it is there when you need it. We’re also keen on the 7-speed Shimano gearing, which rarely disappoints and is no exception here. Range is a fairly economical 28 miles, so you might find that on occasions you’ll be relying on those gears more than expected as the battery ebbs away. However, a six-hour charge can get the power pack up to 100% ready for your next jaunt. All necessary cables come included.
As outlined above, the Pure Free City is a heavy bike, which combined with a rider on board can push the battery pack to the max. While it is possible to ride the e-bike with a less intense setting, we found that it worked to best effect with the most potent propulsion mode. Without assistance the bike is a hefty beast to haul around, so chances are you’ll do the same.
Nevertheless, the 28 miles official range is good enough for trips to the shops, which appears to be the main thinking behind this bike. It’s got enough zestiness to be useful on a trip to the country too, but you might tend to keep an eye on the available power that’s left to avoid pushing the thing home again. The quoted six hours to recharge seems about right in our experience following a near flat run out on the two-wheeler.
With its wide range of products in the security monitoring and consumer electronics space, Australian company Swann is today well known in more than 40 countries worldwide. Swann sells a customizable range of wireless devices and wired CCTV surveillance systems that feature video resolutions from 1080p Full HD to 4K Ultra HD. The Swann CoreCam is just one model of off-the-shelf wireless smart camera that you can buy from the brand's online selection.
Stylish and fuss-free in design, the Swann CoreCam wireless smart security camera comes with a rechargeable 6,000mAh lithium battery. Screws and plugs are included in the box, which make it easy – even for a DIY novice – to affix the camera to a wall. Once I had charged the camera battery via the micro-USB cable included (note that a plug isn't supplied), the trickiest part of setting up was deciding where to place the CoreCam.
The smart camera is weatherproof and can be positioned inside or outside. I chose to place it on an external wall of my home, overlooking my driveway. While I received instant alerts when it detected a person or package at my front door, I did experience some delay of the live feed whenever I tried to access it via the Swann app – possibly a result of poor Wi-Fi coverage. As such, if you’d like to place the CoreCam outside, you'll need to make sure your home Wi-Fi signal is strong enough.
Overall, however, the camera did well to send instant alerts whenever someone passed, and recorded clips that I could easily view on a timeline in the app.
Keep scrolling to find out how the Swann CoreCam performed outside my home and head to our best home security cameras guide for more comparisons.
Swann CoreCam review price & availability
List price: $129.99/£99.99/$AU 179
Available in US, UK and Australia
Swann sells a wide range of security cameras, which are customizable depending on your requirements. The single CoreCam wireless security camera works well on its own, or as part of a larger smart home security setup with multiple cameras and alarms. These can all be linked to work in harmony and controlled easily via the Swann app.
The Swann CoreCam is sold direct from the brand's website or via resellers such as Best Buy, Walmart and JB Hi-Fi.
It arrives with a local 32GB microSD card pre-installed, which allows it to store video clips. To get the best from the camera, you'll need to sign up to a storage subscription service to benefit from the warranty, the best detection smart alerts, and cloud storage. Subscription services cost from $2.99 / £2.99 / $AU5.55 per month; plus you get a free three-month trial when you buy the camera. This stores video footage for up to 60 days in the cloud and offers extras such as Package, Pet & Vehicle detection in addition to the Person heat and motion detection.
Price: 4/5
Swann CoreCam review specifications
These specs are the same for US and UK Swann CoreCam models.
(Image credit: Future | Photo by Emily Peck)
Swann CoreCam review design
100-degree wide angle view
Weatherproof casing
Built-in speaker and siren
The design of the Swann CoreCam is simple, yet the camera feels solid and well built. Finished in white, it possibly isn't the most discreet security camera you can buy; but if you're looking for a small and compact shape that won't interfere too much with your exterior decor, it feels like a safe bet.
The CoreCam arrives with a rechargeable 6,000mAh lithium battery inside, which took six hours to fully charge. Built into the camera head is the local 32GB microSD card and True Detect PIR heat and motion sensor. There’s a speaker and siren, and lens with 100-degree wide-angle view, all built into the weatherproof design.
The Swann CoreCam also offers a pretty decent night vision distance of up to 50ft / 15m, and I was able to see clearly once night had fallen. However, the camera doesn't move around with whatever it has captured, which I think would provide more scope for better monitoring.
Getting the camera out of the box and onto the wall took less than an hour. It was simply a matter of ensuring the wall I was fixing it to was suitable for a screw and mount, and then use the mounting kit included in the box to attach the mount to the wall. The camera can then be easily screwed on and off for recharging. While there's a USB charging cable included in the box, there's no plug, so I had to use my own.
Design: 4 / 5
The Swann CoreCam app features a range of information and controls (Image credit: Future | Photo by Emily Peck)
Swann CoreCam review performance
Live feed and recording of video and audio
Wi-Fi connection (2.4GHz)
Two-way talk and night vision
The CoreCam camera comes with all the usual features you’d expect from an intuitive smart home security camera, including heat and motion sensing, night vision and two-way talk.
Having charged the camera, I screwed the camera head onto the mount. I downloaded the Swann app and paired the camera with my smartphone over Wi-Fi. This was a surprisingly quick and smooth process. I then simply needed to move the camera head around on its mount to adjust the live video footage that was being fed to the app.
In terms of view, the camera could then send a 1080 HD quality feed to the app on my phone, with a wide-angle view of 100 degrees. This isn’t as wide as I’d like, but it did capture an ample area by the main entrance leading to my house – with the stairs and part of the drive in frame. Purists may find the feed a little grainy, but I was generally impressed. The color night vision was satisfactory, too. You can actually adjust the live view quality in the app from low to medium to high, depending on your preference.
Featuring True Detect technology, the camera has the ability to detect people, packages, pets and vehicles (depending on the subscription package you sign up for). You get the first three months for free, included in the price of the camera. So once I was linked to the app, I could set up on the 90-day free Unlimited Plan. This meant that the camera could generate motion clips whenever it detected someone passing by, or thought there was a package left in its view, and send me push notifications on my smartphone to alert me. I found the alerts came through thick and fast in the first week; it was usually the postman, visitors or footage of myself walking out to put the rubbish bins out. Luckily, no intruders in sight.
While the alerts came through instantly whenever there was something detected, I did notice that there was a slight delay when I went to view the live feed. This was possibly due to my Wi-Fi or 4G connection playing up. Sometimes I was able to connect faster than at other times.
(Image credit: Future | Photo by Emily Peck)
While there's no 24-hour recording capability, I do like the way the camera can distinguish between a person or a package, generating a motion clip and sending an alert to my smartphone.
However, after a while, the frequency of the alerts became rather annoying. I realized that I could adjust the sensitivity of the camera to lower the frequency of the alerts when I was at home, reducing false alerts and prolonging battery life as a result. You do this through the Modes section, which has settings for when you’re Home, Away and at Night.
While these modes are useful for adjusting the sensitivity on a single camera, I think this part of the app really comes into its own as part of an extended home security setup with multiple Swann cameras and an alarm all linked up.
Performance: 4/5
Swann CoreCam review app
Live view with siren, two-way talk and camera
Modes to adjust sensitivity
Playback tab for motion recordings
The smart app brings lots of useful features, although possibly more than you'll need for just one camera. As well as the ability to adjust the sensitivity of the camera and reduce/increase the number of alerts you receive, there's also a chart that presents stats on the level of motion detected, the number of people and pets the camera captured over the course of a day, and over a week. Although interesting, it was perhaps a little unnecessary for my needs.
I found all the recorded activity clear to see under the Playback tab in the app. It's presented in a daily timeline that's stored in the cloud from seven up to 60 days (depending on the subscription package you sign up to).
Click on the Live View mode in the app, and you can also make use of all the extras. These include the ability to take photos of the live view, record footage if needed, turn on the siren if you see cause for alarm, or just speak to the person in the picture. I tried the two-way talk feature when the postman came past and it worked well.
App: 4/5
The app comes with lots of useful features (Image credit: Swann CoreCam )
Swann CoreCam review battery life
Takes 6 hours to charge
USB to micro-USB charging cable
Up to 90 days of battery life depending on how you use it
The CoreCam's battery can last up to 90 days, but of course this will depend on how much you use the camera to record extra clips, take photos and how you configure the sensitivity modes. With the Away mode on, which signals high alert, I found the battery lasted around 12 days before it needed recharging. If you were to use Home mode, which reduces the amount of times you are disturbed with unnecessary alerts, the battery is likely to last longer.
To recharge the camera I simply unscrewed it from the mount and took it indoors; via USB cable, the unit took six hours to top up to full. Note that while the cable is supplied, the plug isn't, so you'll need to source one for yourself.
Battery life: 3/5
Should you buy the Swann CoreCam home security camera?
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
Swann CoreCam review: also consider
If you want an outdoor security camera but want to shop around before you buy, here are a couple more options to consider...
How I tested the Swann CoreCam home security camera
I used the Swan CoreCam in my home for one month
I monitored my home both day and night to see how well it performed
I trialled the Swann CoreCam at home over the course of a month. I attached it to the wall on the exterior of my property and paired it with the Swann app on my smartphone to monitor any comings and goings.
I took note of how quickly and successfully it sent alerts to my smartphone when it detected human motion or a parcel, both day and night. I tried logging into the app when I was away from home (over 4G) and when I was at home (over Wi-Fi), too.
Google detailed its propositions on billing for Android developers in the United Kingdom. The set of potential commitments includes lowering fees for app distribution and in-app purchases and introducing an alternative in-app billing system, presented in a neutral manner.
The proposals are part of the UK’s Competition and Market Authority (CMA) investigation of whether Google infringed competition law by making app developers use only Google Play Billing (GPB).
The changes for British developers are similar to what is already happening in Continental Europe - the service fee will be...
The Polar Ignite 3 is a follow up to the hugely impressive Polar Ignite 2, which emerged back in 2021. A couple of years is a long time in the fast-moving world of smartwatch tech, so Polar has revised the already excellent and undeniably attractive Ignite design to reflect as much.
The good news is that it still delivers the same value appeal, sitting nicely into the mid-range pricing category, which makes it an affordable option for those looking for one of the best running watches on a budget.
The vibrant AMOLED display is a definite highpoint, but there are also new features including multi-band GPS (which brings it up to par with other mid-range Garmins) and powerful statistics tools like SleepWise, which proves impressive at monitoring your levels of shut-eye. The svelte and very lightweight design means it sits easily on the wrist, even during sleep.
Unfortunately, the Polar Ignite 3 is also plagued by less than impressive battery life and a touchscreen interface that frequently feels sluggish, verging on buggy. If you can live with its frustrating edge, it can offer pretty good value for money, but there are better options at this price point.
Polar Ignite 3: Specifications
Polar Ignite 3: Price and availability
(Image credit: Rob Clymo)
$329.95 in the US
£289 in the UK
$428.67 in Australia
The Polar Ignite 3 is available now, directly from Polar itself or via many of the popular online outlets including Amazon. It has a current RRP of $329.95 in the US, £289 in the UK and $428.67 in Australia.
Polar Ignite 3: Design
Bright, bold AMOLED screen
Slimline form factor
Cool color choices
The Polar Ignite 3 looks very tempting on the box, but it’s not until you take the watch out of its packaging that you realise just how good this slender creation looks. It’s just 9.5mm thick, weighs only 35 grams but still has a spacious touchscreen to enjoy.
The 1.28-inch display is perhaps the highpoint of this model, which once powered up is gorgeous to look at with crisp, clear and very vibrant colours to enjoy. The edge of the bezel has a neat array of vertical grooves around its edge, although this does look and feel like it could be susceptible to marks and scratches over time.
It can be found in a number of colour options, including Night Black, Purple Dusk, Greige Sand and Brown Copper, so there’s a look that’ll suit just about any taste. Our review example was the Brown Copper model, which came with a spare strap in the box for when wear and tear gets the better of the original.
Also in the box is a selection of micro manuals for just about any language plus a USB charging cable, which mates to the watch via a magnetic clip on the back.
Meanwhile, the design of the supporting Polar Flow app is very respectable, with plenty of detailed metrics to get stuck into. It’s got comprehensive historic graphs of all your major data points with no additional subscription fees. It’s not quite as intuitive as it could be: it eschews nice well-rounded Sleep and Readiness scores in favor of complex graphs and data deep-dives, so it’s more for regular runners and data nerds rather than lifestyle and activity.
Nevertheless, once you’ve figured out where everything lives, it is pretty comprehensive on the data front.
Design Score: 4/5
Polar Ignite 3: Features
(Image credit: Rob Clymo)
SleepWise monitors shut-eye closely
Customizable widgets work well
Polar Flow app is nicely designed
While it’s undoubtedly a good-looking thing, the Polar Ignite is slightly less impressive on the typical smartwatch features front. At first glance, it has most things you need, with notification services for emails and messages, alarms, timers and the ability to control your music all housed inside the interface. Dig a little deeper though and there are omissions. There is no way to make contactless payments, which is increasingly appealing for folks at places like the gym or on a run, who don’t want to carry anything else with them.
Similarly missing is any way of answering calls, and you can’t ping off a text from the watch either, only receive one. In fact, if you want to get any real mileage from the Polar Ignite 3, you’ll most likely end up taking your phone with you, because you’ll need it to tap into your music collection due to limited storage on board the watch itself.
The GPS system can track your route on a localised run but, again, it feels like the features are a little underwhelming. It’s a shame to have the watch so tethered to your phone, especially when the UX promises so much on your first viewing.
SleepWise analyses your sleep patterns well enough as does Nightly Recharge, which reports back on how your body deals with stress. Polar’s FitSpark service offers up on-demand exercise suggestions should you need them, which also cleverly take into account your training load and recovery needs. For example, on the day after a hard run, it’ll recommend a less strenuous exercise than it might on a day which you’re fully recovered, and you have a better Nightly Recharge score. In-training voice guidance from the watch is another cool add-on.
Getting to the features and functions is where the frustration creeps in though: we found basic tasks, such as starting a cross-trainer session, erratic and less than user-friendly. People who are exercising want quick and easy access to simple Stop/Start controls, which just doesn’t seem to happen with the Polar Ignite 3. There’s too much fiddling around the watch face itself, not enough immediacy. No-one wants to waste time in the gym.
Features score: 3/5
Polar Ignite 3: Performance
(Image credit: Rob Clymo)
Dual-frequency GPS is solid
Latest processor is a step-up
Energy source breakdown is neat
While everything initially appears good in both the looks department and the feature setlist, it’s once you start using the Polar Ignite 3 that some holes start to appear. After installing the supporting Polar app, the setup process was okay – but not as seamless as some of its counterparts. The Polar Ignite 3 has subsequently seemed to be less than enthusiastic during syncing too, with often a few tries needed in order to get the process to kick into gear.
More annoying though is the less-than-simple way this watch works during everyday use. It frequently seems unresponsive, promoting confusion as to whether or not it’s doing anything. That means repeated interaction with the screen, or pressing of the back button on the left-hand side of the bezel.
This in itself feels quite stiff and unresponsive. It’s understandable to have a button that can’t be inadvertently pressed, thereby avoiding cancellation of workouts and suchlike, but it’s a bit too unforgiving for its own good.
Battery life isn’t too great either. Polar suggests that you’ll get up to five days in watch mode or up to 30 hours of continuous training using the GPS and heart rate monitoring features. That may well be right, but we found the watch battery ebbed away quite quickly during average everyday use, prompting you to feel like you need to charge it more frequently than the official figures suggest.
Overall, performance and usability shortcomings are perhaps the biggest weakness with the Polar Ignite 3, which is a shame given just how good it looks.
Patience is a virtue – and savings too as smartphones both old and new have been slowly going down the price ladder. Also, this week there are a few bundles that include a free laptop, a free game or just a gift card. Use the links below to jump to your region.
The UK
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USA
India
UK
The base Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (256GB storage) is £1,250 on Samsung.com. It costs that much on Amazon too, but the retailer will include a Galaxy Chromebook Go for free. This is as basic as it gets, an 11.6” laptop with an Intel Celeron N4500 (2 cores, 1.1GHz base, 2.8GHz...
Alienware m18, Dell’s refresh of its largest Alienware laptop line and some of the best Dell laptops, has gone in a different direction from the previous Alienware X14 (2022) and Alienware x15 R2. This latest model is unabashedly a desktop replacement in every sense of the word, from the thick and bulky chassis to its heavy weight to the same black color. However, it separates itself from the pack with its incredible performance and, if you select the upgrade, its fully mechanical CherryMX RGB keyboard.
The keyboard is, by far, the best I have ever tested, rivaling some of the best gaming keyboards I’ve used. It strikes the perfect balance between the switches being thin enough to allow the laptop to close (it does cheat a little by using some of the thickness to create a slight divet for the keyboard to rest in). The keys themselves have 1.8mm of key travel as well as that perfect satisfying feedback despite the thinner size. Nothing is sacrificed in its quality; I could and have typed for hours without it ever losing its luster. The touchpad is large and responsive, everything you could ask for if you’re a fan of them.
Its 18-inch display is absolutely phenomenal, with either a QHD+ 165Hz panel like my own review model or a beyond incredible FHD+ 480Hz panel for the truly passionate professional gamer. The webcam is a standard one, not particularly amazing but works well enough if you need to jump in a conference call or livestream. The audio quality is quite good as well, as the speakers are able to handle music and general sound design with ease. When gaming or streaming movies on this, you should only really need headsets for privacy reasons.
One major improvement from the previous Alienware x15 R2 laptop is the ventilation, which is by and far much better. That’s thanks to the quad-fan design that circulates and expels from several vents across seven heat pipes, along with improved thermal paste quality for both the CPU and GPU. As a drawback, it almost sounds like a jet engine whenever the fans even slightly rev up, but most video streaming services and software have noise reduction properties so that’s not an issue there.
Performance is where the Alienware m18 shines, as it makes its mark as one of the best gaming laptops by completely beating out every other desktop replacement gaming PC we’ve tested in terms of GPU benchmark testing, including the much more expensive MSI GT77 Titan. However, CPU testing is a little less consistent, with some laptops like the Lenovo Legion 7i Pro or the Titan beating out the m18 in certain scores while falling behind in others.
Of course, if you want the full gaming experience and aren't in need of portability, then you might want to invest in the best gaming PC instead since the performance can't be matched due to superior specs. And if a cheaper price is more your game, then the best budget gaming laptops will definitely be more of your speed.
Alienware m18: Price & availability
(Image credit: Future)
Starting at $1,999.99 / £2,068.99 / around AU$2,999
Available now
Available in the US and UK, and Australia
For a desktop replacement, the Alienware m18 pricing starts at a rather affordable rate of $1,999.99 / £2,068.99 / around AU$2,999 – still expensive but definitely leagues cheaper than the current competition. But if you’re getting a hardcore gaming machine 512GB of storage isn’t what you’re looking for. Even my own review unit, priced at $3,549 / £3,299.99 / around AU$5,316, is far cheaper than the Lenovo Legion 7i Pro and around the same price as the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023) and has similar specs to both.
As with most other Dell products, this laptop is available in a wide variety of regions, including the US, UK, and Australia. The UK is mostly the same as the US in terms of specs and pricing, with the exception of the 480Hz display panel that’s only available for lower specs, which is an odd choice to say the least. Meanwhile, Australia has only one high-spec model equipped with the RTX 4080 and packing 64GB of RAM, but there’s no 480Hz option either.
Price score: 4.5 / 5
Alienware m18: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
The specs for the Alienware m18 review unit sent to me are as follows: an Intel Core i9-13980HX CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD of storage, and 18-inch (2560 x 1600), 16:10 QHD+, 165Hz display.
The Alienware m18 comes in several customizable configurations, depending on which options you choose. These specs include the choice of display, CPU, GPU, memory, storage space, and even the choice of membrane or mechanical keys.
Specs score: 5 / 5
(Image credit: Future)
Alienware m18: Design
Extremely heavy and bulky
Excellent keyboard
Port selection is fantastic
Like older models, the Alienware m18 uses the same distinctive chassis design that accommodates mostly rear-situated ports and includes customizable RGB lighting on both that and the Alienware logo on the top cover. Despite this, the extremely heavy and bulky form factor, combined with the rather boring all-black color palette, almost completely cancels out the effect, making it look noticeably less visually appealing. Considering that this laptop is built more for performance and ventilation, the decision to cut back on aesthetics is understandable.
But it cannot be understated how heavy and big this laptop is. It weighs nearly nine pounds, and you can feel every single pound of it. It couldn’t even fully fit in my Lo & Sons O.G. 2 overnight bag, which has fit both 17 and 18-inch laptops just fine. With this big boy, I had to leave my bag open as I traveled home. If you purchase it, make sure to keep it home or only pack it in your travel luggage.
The 18-inch display is phenomenal, and in the US and UK, you can choose between either a QHD+ 165Hz panel like my own review model or a ridiculous FHD+ 480Hz panel for the truly serious. I wish the webcam was just as amazing, but it’s a pretty standard 1080p HD camera found in most gaming laptops, that works fine in good lighting but suffers if you have a dimmer setup. If you livestream seriously, you’ll want to upgrade; otherwise, it’s fine for a conference call.
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What I enjoy the most about its design is the keyboard, which can be updated to Alienware CherryMX ultra-low profile mechanical keys with N-key rollover tech. This is by and far the best keyboard I’ve ever used, combining that satisfying click and feedback of mechanical switches with the slimmer keys expected of any laptop. Its touchpad is quite nice; smooth, large, and responsive, perfect for those like me who use them frequently. The speakers are quite excellent as well, delivering a nice robust sound with solid bass that conveys both music and sound effects in your games well.
Its port selection is absolutely fantastic, featuring every type of port you could possibly want including four USB 3.2 Type-A ports, two Thunderbolt 4 Gen 2 Type-C ports with DisplayPort Alt Mode/USB4, one Ethernet port, one audio port, one HDMI 2.1 port, one power-adapter port, one mini-Display port, and one SD card slot.
Design score: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Future)
Alienware m18: Performance
Gaming performance is top-notch
Clears benchmarks
CPU struggles a bit
Alienware m18: Benchmarks
Here's how the Alienware m18 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
Ventilation has improved by leaps and bounds with the Alienware m18, fixing every issue from the previous Alienware x15 R2 and making the much thicker design completely understandable. It features a quad-fan design that circulates and expels from several vents across seven heat pipes, along with improved thermal paste quality for both the CPU and GPU. The trade-off is a laptop that sounds almost like a jet engine, but if you’re passionate about performance and especially overclocking, then it’s more than worth it.
Speaking of performance, the Alienware m18 is currently king on the GPU front. It beats out the other desktop replacements that we’ve tested so far, including the MSI GT77 Titan, which is way more expensive for similar specs. And it’s not only benchmarking that it reigns over, as those scores translate to higher frame rates as well. There’s not a single game, whether Cyberpunk 2077 or Dirt 5, in which this laptop scored under 100fps on average, even on maxed-out settings. And yes, even when ray tracing is enabled.
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Keep in mind that these are results taken straight from a setup right out of the box, with the only change being that I set it to the generic Performance mode in Windows 11. The updated and redesigned Alienware Command Center software is even easier to use now thanks to a complete UI overhaul, making overclocking a breeze and performance results skyrocket. Since I had the old version equipped before I updated, I could see the difference, and it's leagues better than below.
When it comes to CPU results, it’s not as consistent with some scores being higher than the competition and others much lower, the latter of which happened most often against the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i. In general, it follows the same current-gen trend of the CPU performance potential being throttled by the GPU, as well as occasionally slowdown and webpage or video loading issues. Despite that, I was able to use it as a productivity machine for a full day of work without much issue.
Performance score: 5 / 5
Alienware m18: Battery
(Image credit: Future)
Awful battery
Charges fast
Unsurprisingly, the battery life on the Alienware m18 is pretty atrocious. Our HD movie battery test found that it barely lasts three and a half hours, and when used for productivity work, it reaches about four hours before dying.
As with any other desktop replacement, this is not meant to be taken off the charger unless you need to carry it somewhere. That said, it does at least charge quickly, so you won’t be stuck at an AC adaptor for very long.
Battery score: 2 / 5
Should you buy the Alienware m18?
Buy it if...
You want a gaming performance monster It chews up and spits out any PC game on the highest possible settings, even with both ray-tracing and DLSS 3 enabled.
Don't buy it if...
You’re on a budget
Though this is a premium-quality gaming laptop, that level of performance comes at a steep price. This is definitely above the budget of the average gamer.
Alienware m18: Also consider
If the Alienware m18 has you considering other options, here are two more laptops to consider...
How I tested the Alienware m18
I tested the Alienware m18 for several weeks
I tested it using both benchmark tests and video game benchmarks
I stress-tested the battery using the TechRadar movie test
First, I tested the general weight and portability of the Alienware m18 by carrying it around in a laptop bag for a day. After I set it up, I ran several CPU and GPU benchmarks to thoroughly test out the graphics card's performance and how much it affected processing performance. Finally, I used a variety of programs and applications to test out both battery life and general performance during work-like conditions, as well as gaming benchmarks to test the RTX 4090 GPU.
The Alienware m18 is a desktop replacement for gaming, meaning it's meant to be used for hardcore gaming sessions. I made sure to thoroughly test out this laptop in that regard, to make sure it reached certain levels of performance.
I've tested plenty of gaming PCs and laptops, making me more than qualified to understand benchmark test results and how to properly stress test machines to see how well they perform as a work machine.
British bike builder Volt has already produced some cracking electric two-wheelers and the Volt Infinity offers more of the same. This is an upright, very comfortable e-bike that features an aluminium frame, a Sony powerpack plus a host of component parts from Shimano.
What this all means is that you get an easy-to-ride electric bike, complete with the Shimano Steps system that delivers auto gear shifting if you want it, along with an 8-speed derailleur setup if you prefer to work the gears yourself.
The 250W Shimano hub-mounted motor offers dependable assistance, the range is impressive and you’ll get there in comfort thanks to a nice spongy saddle, flat handlebars and chunkier tyres. It’s all very civilised. The Volt Infinity also comes with full mudguards, front and rear lights and a rack over the back wheel, so it’s ready to hit the road.
Volt Infinity: Price and availability
(Image credit: Rob Clymo)
£3,000 in UK
Approximately $3,750 / AU$5,600
Available from manufacturer directly
The Volt Infinity is available to buy directly from Volt, with a price tag that starts from £3,000 in the UK (approximately $3,750 in the US, and AU$5,600 in Australia). If that seems to be quite a lot for an around-town hybrid, just bear in mind this two-wheeler comes with very impressive specs.
While the Volt Infinity does have a seemingly exorbitantly high price, this is a good value bike. The design and build quality is very good overall. However, what really takes it up a notch on the value front is the use of components. Products from Shimano feature heavily here, including the powertrain, bike computer, brakes and so on. Add in the other touches of quality, like the excellent Velo saddle plus the various ancillaries like full mudguards and lights, along with a carry rack over the rear wheel and it’s a decent package.
Volt does also offer an optional GPS tracker to use with the Infinity, which comes with an additional cost.
Volt Infinity: Design
(Image credit: Rob Clymo)
Restrained but cool-looking frame design in silver
Integrated Abus lock and Spanninga lights plus luggage rack
Good choice of components delivers a premium feel
There’s plenty to catch your eyes with the Volt Infinity, but while it looks cool enough, I rather like the slightly low-key stance of this hybrid e-bike. To start, the bike’s solid 19-inch aluminium frame is suited to riders from 5’ 7” and upwards. Although the brushed silver colour of the aluminium is distinctive, it’s not at all shouty. This is always a plus if you get nervous about taking your bike into town centres where thieves tend to hang out: it’s not gaudy enough to stick out (although we wouldn’t recommend locking such an expensive bike up in an area known for criminal activity).
Nevertheless, there’s a built-in, Dutch-style Abus lock on the back wheel too, which adds some piece of mind. However, it’s well worth supplementing with one of our best bike locks if you plan to leave it in public for any length of time.
And, if you think the Volt Infinity looks like quite a comfortable e-bike to ride, I can confirm that it is indeed great on the posterior thanks to a quality Velo saddle. That, combined with the flat handlebars, makes it an excellent choice if you’re looking for an everyday hybrid-style bike. Shimano components highlight the quality of the frame design, with a Shimano hub-style electric motor built into the bottom of the frame. Elsewhere, the design is supplemented by more Shimano components, including the Alfine DI2 8-speed gearing and Shimano brakes, which are discs front and rear.
Thankfully for such an expensive bike, the Volt Infinity comes with everything needed to get you on your way. There are front and rear lights included, along with a luggage rack over the rear wheel. Full mudguards keep you dry too, while the Schwalbe tyres are a little chunkier and therefore deliver a much more forgiving ride on the road, aided and abetted by Suntour forks that absorb ruts and kerbs nicely in equal measure. The included kickstand is also a blessing and saves you having to prop up the bike on kerbs or against walls.
Design Score: 4/5
Volt Infinity: Performance
(Image credit: Rob Clymo)
Fuss-free power delivery and plenty of torque
Automatic shifting works well in most scenarios
Range figure seems pretty realistic with careful use
The Volt Infinity is a sprightly e-bike performer considering its bulk and overall weight. Getting ready for the off is easy, you simply press the power button on the handlebar-mounted computer and the display shows you the state of play. It’s possible to pick through the various settings using the toggle switches at either side of the handlebars, so gears and assistance modes all fall easily to hand.
If you’re looking for a completely assisted electric bike ride the Volt Infinity will meet your needs without issue. I tended to go for a middle ground setting, with average assistance, which allowed me to exploit those great Shimano derailleur gears. The setup feels just about right for the type of bike this is, so nipping into town on variable surfaces and with some gentle inclines, it worked perfectly for me.
If you’ve got the bike on auto shifting mode it can feel a little bit disconcerting at times. In fact, I found that occasionally the system couldn’t quite make up its mind about which gear to be in. Not enough to get annoying, although steeper hills mean you want to know in advance what the bike is going to do. So, if you live in a hilly area and like the idea of this bike, using the manual gear change selection might be the better way to go.
Generally speaking though, the Volt Infinity cruises along very nicely indeed. It feels nicely planted on the road and that saddle, plus those chunkier tyres means the ride is very comfortable indeed. The other plus with this type of arrangement is that the Volt Infinity is just as happy scooting along grass or hardened mud trails and still manages to feel sure-footed. It handles well too, considering the overall size and weight of the design. Take it easy with the power consumption and, to me at least, Volt’s range figures seem perfectly reasonable too.
Performance score: 4/5
Volt Infinity: Battery life
Excellent range but battery removal is a chore
An overnight charge will get you ready to go again
Front and rear lights don’t seem to have an adverse effect
The Volt Infinity is a great bike and it’s made even better thanks to the potency of the lithium battery. Volt’s official figure for the Infinity is around 90 miles, using the mildest Eco setting. Of course, all e-bikes can have their range affected by the way they’re ridden and the Volt Infinity is no exception.
However, during my time trialling the e-bike I found it to be pretty frugal on the power usage front, especially considering I did most of my riding with the bike set on Normal. This is a perfectly serviceable, middle-ground setting and, thanks to the clever gearing, got me to my various destinations without breaking into a sweat.
If you’re really trying to eke out the most from the battery then Eco is the setting to aim for, though conversely the high setting is brilliant for testing inclines if you’re laden down with shopping.
Overall, the battery life seems impressive even if you’re using it a lot and taking into account the weight of the bike with a rider on it. The only downside is the way the battery is mounted into the frame, which can make getting to it a pain. Luckily, I have a plug socket close to where the bike was being stored so this didn’t turn out to be an issue, though it might be for anyone who doesn’t.
Battery life score: 4/5
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
Also consider
How I tested the Volt Infinity review electric bike
The week I got loaned the Volt Infinity to review coincided with a period of very unsettled weather. This mean that I got to use it in both wet and windy weather, where the power delivery was well and truly tested to the max, especially while cycling into strong headwinds.
I also got the benefit of the Volt Infinity’s full mudguards, which provide perfect protection for your legs as you cycle through puddles and over long stretches of saturated roads. The setup of the bike is also well suited to our pot-hole strewn surfaces too, thanks to decent Schwalbe tyres and the spongy front forks.
Considering the fact that the Volt Infinity isn’t exactly lightweight, I was impressed with its agility, although anyone who needs to get the bike inside, or, say, up a flight of stairs may find it unwieldy. I think this is a bike that’s best suited to ground-floor storage, with ideally a power point close by for easier battery charging.
The Honor Magic5 Pro is one of the more impressive flagships launched this year and it’s now available in the UK. Magic5 Pro will be available in green and black colors for £949.99 with orders starting on April 19. We also got confirmation that the device is due to launch in other EU, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific markets soon.
During our review, Magic5 Pro impressed us with its premium dual-glass curved design, great 120Hz LTPO OLED display and top-notch performance courtesy of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. The three 50MP cameras on the back were equally impressive with superb...
It’s well known that the prices of Android flagship fall pretty quickly after launch and we’re seeing just that this week. We also found offers for tablets for those wanting a larger screen. Use the links below to jump to your region:
USA
The UK
Germany
India
USA
The Galaxy S23 series may be flying off the shelves, but that (thankfully) hasn’t prevented price drops even this early in its life cycle. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is already down to $1,000 for the base 12/256GB unit, $200 off its MSRP. Similarly, the Galaxy S23+ is down $150 and is now close to the...
This week we found some major discounts on current flagships, plus deals on mid-rangers and some entry-level phones. Use the links below to jump to your region:
The UK
Germany
India
USA
UK
The new Galaxy S23 starts at £900 unless you engage in trade-in deals. The Galaxy S22 is still a fairly capable phone and it is a good deal cheaper at £540. This was the last generation of Exynos-powered S-phones in Europe, but the rest of the hardware is similar enough (it’s not like the S23 got a QHD LTPO display or faster than 25W charging).
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