It's no secret that I'm not fond of the Microsoft Surface Laptop series, so even with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip and all the new Copilot+ AI bells and whistles attached to the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, I wasn't expecting much of an upgrade. But to my surprise, it's quickly turning into one of the best Windows laptops and best laptops of the year thanks to a sleek design, solid battery life, and excellent performance.
One of the most consistent aspects of the Surface Laptop series is its design. The chassis is always sleek and lightweight yet sturdy, there's a nice variety of colors to choose from, and the keyboard feels snappy and responsive while typing. Thankfully, the Laptop 7 doesn't change on that front but instead embraces its positives while focusing its efforts on enacting improvements it actually needs.
(Image credit: Future)
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 boasts a 13.8-inch (2304x1536) HDR-supported display with a high refresh rate of 120Hz - especially high for a non-gaming laptop. It weighs less than three pounds, ensuring its super portability - an absolute gem for any office worker or student who needs to transport it around between home and work offices or to and from school. I wish it also featured an OLED screen option but omitting it keeps the cost down, so it makes sense.
Its keyboard is also just as snappy and responsive as you'd expect, though the touchpad has minimal response issues that need to be rectified by adjusting the sensitivity settings. The webcam is the standard 1080p fare, nothing too shabby, but it lacks a physical shutter which for its price point is an oversight worth mentioning.
Port selection isn't the worst, as it comes with two USB Type-C ports, a USB Type-A port, and a combo port. But it's certainly not well-balanced either, with it missing several important ports like ethernet, SD card reader, and an HDMI. Even worse, Microsoft still insists on that abysmal Surface Laptop connect charging port, which only serves to take up space that could have been given to literally anything else.
It has a solid sound quality as well, with instruments sounding clear and distinct from each other. Bass isn't too shabby as well, which is always surprising when it comes to a non-Ultrabook or gaming laptop.
(Image credit: Future)
Another defining feature of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 is its AI Copilot+ integration, including the Copilot key that Windows AI laptop keyboards are now outfitted with. As of now, however, the Copilot key simply doesn't work and there's no way to reprogram the key to make it work either.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7: Benchmarks
Here's how the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
The Copilot feature does work and quite well I might add. I tested out the Copilot chatbot on all three levels - creative, balanced, and precise - and it performed quite well on all three. The answers, ranging from basic math to a mock interview to an outline for a novel, were well thought out and well sourced. You can also enable various plug-ins for more types of conversations or to help with shopping for a variety of products.
I also tried out two other features included in Microsoft Paint called Cocreator and Image Creator, both powered by AI model DALL-E. The former transforms your own drawing into an AI-generated picture, and you can choose between several styles as well as the level of 'creativity' (aka how much of the finished product is from you versus the AI). Unfortunately, Image Creator uses a credit system, in which you're awarded 50 credits when you sign up for the service and each image generation costs one credit, so you'd need to pay for additional images after you run out of credits.
(Image credit: Future)
There was one feature that I couldn't test out, the infamous Windows 11 AI Recall. Set to launch alongside Windows AI PCs, it was kicked back to the Windows Insider Program when its numerous security issues came to light.
Basically, Recall takes screenshots every few seconds, building up a library of images you can search via AI. But the issue is that the Recall database, which contains all the data from those screenshots and the history of your PC usage, is stored in plain text (in an SQLite database).
This makes it light work for hackers to obtain highly sensitive information like finances, passwords, work data, and more. So as of right now, Recall is not available for me to test out, and until Microsoft works out the safety issues it shouldn't be.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7's benchmark results are quite impressive, especially compared to its competition. Even without a GPU, the CPU does an incredible job of maintaining a high level of performance no matter which and how many tasks you're currently balancing. These benchmarks prove that the Laptop 7 can handle productivity work, conference calls, streaming, and more.
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The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 I tested featured a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite CPU and boy does it make all the difference. A common denominator between the past Surface Laptops is their poor performance, as they juggle a massive amount of tasks behind the scenes that result in major slow down, freezes, and even the aptly named 'Blue Screen of Death.'
But the Laptop 7's Qualcomm chip rounds out and fills in the numerous issues. It starts up and runs quickly, it's responsive when it comes to loading video websites as well as AI tools, and programs run as smoothly as they can. The latter is especially important as one of the biggest drawbacks was constant crashing when certain large programs booted up, including benchmarks like PCMark 10. But since I've been using it, there have been no performance hiccups in the slightest - in fact, I genuinely enjoyed my time with this laptop and would jump at the chance to make it my official work machine.
(Image credit: Future)
The battery life has also been rejuvenated, with an absolutely incredible 15 hours of off-AC power when it comes to regular use and just over ten hours with the TechRadar movie test. It's rare to find a laptop with that kind of lasting power outside of MacBooks these days, and coming from a Windows laptop it's even more unbelievable.
Another improvement is the ventilation system, as I never experienced any overheating even when the Laptop 7 had been running for several hours without break. Better vents also lead to better performance and less risk of crashes, going hand in hand with its superior battery life.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7: Price & availability
How much does it cost? starting price is $999.99 / £1,049.99 / AU$1,899
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia
The starting price for the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8-inch model is $999.99 / £1,049.99 / AU$1,899, netting you a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus processor with 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD storage. The 15-inch model starts at $1,299.99 and comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor, 16GB RAM, and 256GB SSD.
It's cheaper than the entry-level M3 MacBook Air 13-inch and matches the starting price of the M3 MacBook Air 15-inch, while the highest configuration roughly matches the price of the highest configuration of the MacBook Air.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7: Specs
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8-inch model starts with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus processor with 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD storage. The 15-inch model starts out with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor, 16GB RAM, and 256GB SSD.
Should you buy the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7?
(Image credit: Future)
Buy the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 if...
You want solid productivity performance This laptop can handle plenty of productivity work including video calls, documents, web surfing, and more while never sacrificing performance on any level.
You’re on a budget
This laptop is quite affordable, beating out other laptops with similar or worse performance and specs. If you're on a budget, this is an excellent choice.
Don't buy it if...
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7: Also consider
If my Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 review has you considering other options, here are two more laptops to consider...
How I tested the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7?
I tested the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 for a week
I tested it using productivity and creative applications
I stress-tested the battery using the TechRadar movie test
First, I tested the general weight and portability of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 by carrying it around in a laptop bag. After I set it up, I ran several benchmarks to thoroughly test out the new Qualcomm processor. Finally, I used a variety of programs and applications to test out both battery life and general performance during work-like conditions.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 is meant to be a portable laptop with a thin and light chassis. I had to spend a good amount of testing not only on performance issues but also looking for any ventilation issues. I also tested out battery life to see how long it could last off AC power.
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.
The 32-inch Aorus FO32U2P “Tactical” gaming monitor has a fast, 4K third-gen Samsung QD-OLED panel, some nifty design elements and is the first I’ve tested that has DisplayPort 2.1 connectivity. It’s in a crowded market, so how competitive and compelling will it be?
First up, it’s worth noting that there’s very little benefit to having DP 2.1 right now. Only AMD’s top-end workstation cards currently support it and there’s likely little real-world visual difference compared to DP 1.4 anyway. Still, it may be attractive to those seeking future-proofing.
The monitor is easy to assemble thanks to its three-piece-one-screw stand design. The panel itself is incredibly thin and all core electronics are isolated in a box at the back where it attaches to the stand. It's generally quasi-aggressive in terms of styling and includes an RGB strip at the rear – although you’ll likely never see it. A cool, rainbow-iridescent logo catches the light at the base, but all other design elements are geometric in nature.
While early QD-OLED panels struggled to display text without turning it spidery, this was practically banished when second-gen screens appeared and now there’s no problem at all. It uses the same anti-reflective coating we've seen on previous QD-OLEDs and this does a fine job of eliminating the black-mirror effect when viewing dark content – unless you have a bright light source behind you. The main downside of the coating is that it can slightly wash out OLED’s inherent true-black performance but it’s really not by much and I, for one, am OK with the trade-off.
The on-screen display (OSD) is operated by a small joystick button at the base that provides low-lag access to numerous standard display options, plus OLED care settings and game-boosting functionality – the latter includes on-screen crosshairs and contrast-equalization that stops enemies jumping out of shadows and bright lights.
The numerous anti-burn-in features still highlight the QD-OLED technology’s potential flaw (for use as computer monitors) – static images like toolbars risk burning into the screen if you regularly use them for work. Fortunately there’s a three-year anti-burn-in warranty to provide peace of mind.
A ‘tactical’ switch next to the joystick button can be programmed to do things like drop the screen size to 24 inches for competitive FPS players and also to activate, change or deactivate the crosshair.
As for gaming performance, the fast pixel response time marries with the fast 240Hz refresh rate to produce impressive ghost-free motion performance. It’s not as blur-free as 360Hz or pro-grade TN (twisted nematic) technology panels, but only some pro FPS players might grumble.
Multimedia performance is impressive, especially when Windows HDR is activated. Bright lights shine out of the screen and details are retained in dark shadows. Both colorful and monochromatic gradients are impressively smooth and designers will like that it supports 99% of the difficult DCI-P3 color gamut.
There are two 5W speakers that get loud but don’t provide much in the way of bass-heavy punch, but it's still handy to have them for casual video watching.
(Image credit: Future)
Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P: Price and availability
$1,299 / AU$2,199; UK price TBC
Available in US and Australia, UK availability TBC
This is far from a cheap monitor and it’s difficult to find outside of Asian markets right now. There are plenty of high-performing gaming monitors that rival many of the specs here, but the combination of QD-OLED, a UHD resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate and DisplayPort 2.1 really bumps the price up. Rivals with similar specifications (though without DP 2.1) can be found from MSI and Asus, but their availability and price also varies from region to region.
Value score: 3 / 5
Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P: Specs
Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P: Design and features
Easy to build
Packed with future-proof features
Some features not totally necessary right now
The Aorus FO32U2P has a very thin screen that’s mounted to a two-foot stand and has only minor decorative elements when compared to some bling-laden gaming beasts. It’s simple to fit together using the screen’s clip and a single finger screw (at the base) and, after construction, you’re left with a smart-looking gaming monitor that’s got a discreet (nay, hidden) RGB strip on the back and some ‘aggressive’ geometric lines.
The stand affords plenty of adjustments: there’s +20° to -5° of tilt, +20° to -20° of swivel, 90° of clockwise pivot and a generous 130mm of height adjustment.
There’s also one of the most impressive complements of ports I’ve come across on a monitor, even though some are so new (and expensive) that I’m questioning the value of their inclusion in the current market.
(Image credit: Future)
Indeed, if the 48Gbps bandwidth of HDMI 2.1 has felt constrictive for you(!), the Aorus FO32U2P supports DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR20 connectivity that goes up to 80Gbps for a potentially completely uncompressed 240Hz UHD image. For most people this will be a bit like Spinal Tap going up to 11, as the existing image is excellent and looks far from compressed. Still, when compatible consumer graphics cards appear, image quality might suddenly improve – to some extent – and I might be eating my words. That’s hard to imagine on a 32-inch screen, though I’d expect it to be more apparent on massive 4K and 8K TVs.
Right now DP 2.1 UHBR20 only works on Radeon Pro (workstation) graphics cards anyway. Also be aware that the supplied DP cable is relatively short, so might not reach if your PC isn’t on your desk.
A joystick button provides access to the OSD where the usual preset display settings (plus HDR additions when turned on) live, along with the option to activate FreeSync Premium Pro.
There’s Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture that can be made use of via the two HDMI 2.1 ports, a USB-C port (with 65W PD charging) and the two main DisplayPorts (one is miniDP). There’s also a DisplayPort out for daisy chaining. Note too, there are dual 3.5mm audio jacks that will please/annoy those with (in)compatible headsets.
A Game Assist menu enables you to display a timer and the monitor refresh rate. There are also various styles of onscreen crosshairs (great for CoD Hardcore) and an Eagle Eye (sniper) mode that zooms in on a moveable area of the screen so you can cheat get better headshots. To be frank, if you can succeed using such a distracting feature, then good for you.
(Image credit: Future)
You can also activate a Dashboard that provides an on-screen system status (CPU, GPU and frame rate) list.
A Resolution Switch mode transforms the display into a virtual 24-inch screen – gimmicky but potentially attractive to e-sports players who require a smaller screen with a more eye-friendly field of view.
An OLED Care menu monitors how long you’ve been using the screen and provides numerous burn-in tools like Pixel Clean, Static Control, Pixel Shift and (zoned) screen dimming. While burn-in on QD-OLED panels is still a heated issue, Gigabyte offers a three-year burn-in warranty for peace of mind.
A Tactical Button next to the joystick can be configured to instantly drop the resolution, activate the crosshair, enable an OLE-care cleaning cycle or mute the speakers.
Ultimately, it’s a good-looking and very well-specced monitor with few missing features and additional future-proofed, high-bandwidth connections.
Design and features score: 5 / 5
(Image credit: Future)
Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P: Performance
Vibrant colors
Impressively fast in use
Built-in speakers are good but not great
The Aorus FO32U2P’s colors are as vibrant as I’d expect from a QD-OLED screen and both monochromatic and colorful transitions are smooth when Windows HDR is turned on.
Contrast is excellent, with details remaining visible in bright and dark areas alike. The 250 nit SDR brightness might seem low but it's uniform and well suited to gaming and day-to-day use. HDR brightness can hit 1000 nits on 3% of the screen – enough that all but larger highlights really pop. You can also butcher it with Aorus’ Black Equalizer 2.0 settings to stop enemies hiding in shadows and jumping out of the sun.
The 240Hz refresh rate marries well with the super-quick 0.03ms (stated) pixel response time. You can get faster screens but only super-fussy pro e-sports players might grumble at the minuscule blur on show.
(Image credit: Future)
Another potentially contentious issue with monitors using this third-gen Samsung QD-OLED panel is that it’s not quite true black. An anti-reflective coating does a very impressive job of banishing reflections (even in dark scenes) and despite this being a great trade-off, some multimedia purists might hate having ever-so-slightly washed-out blacks.
A less contentious issue concerns the QD-OLED’s spidery text problems from its early days. It was almost perfectly fixed on second-gen panels and I didn’t have any issues on this third-gen display.
The twin 5W speakers get loud and offer a bit of punch. However, there’s not much bass to speak of and fidelity suffers in the mid-range when at high volume. Still, I like having them as sometimes you want to watch a quick video without dealing with headphones.
Performance score: 5 / 5
(Image credit: Future)
Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P: Score card
Should I buy the Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P?
Buy it if...
You want an uncompromising gaming monitor
Having a 240Hz refresh rate on a UHD-resolution QD-OLED panel ticks my three core features of a dream monitor, and this Aorus has them all.
You want DisplayPort 2.1
There are few actual benefits to having this technology but, if you’ve been hanging out for huge video bandwidth, then this is the first monitor to provide it.
Don't buy it if...
Money is an issue
It’s a very expensive display and you can get non QD-OLED variants that have similar headline specs for much less money.
Thoughts of QD-OLED burn-in gives you anxiety
There are many anti-burn-in technologies in the Aorus FO32U2P (plus a three-year warranty), but you’ll be thinking about it a lot – especially if you’re planning on working with a fixed Windows Taskbar on a day-to-day basis.
Also consider
Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2
The non-P version of this monitor doesn’t have DisplayPort 2.1 (or DP daisy chaining) and its USB-C port isn’t as powerful (18-Watt PD), but this can save you some money. However availability is not great in all regions.
Gigabyte M32UC
Gigabyte’s non-QD-OLED 4K gaming monitor packs in the features and still manages to offer a 144Hz refresh rate. It also costs one-third of the price!
For the review, I tested the Aorus FO32U2P over the course of a month by using it as my work-from-home monitor, which I also use for gaming. That means I regularly use all Microsoft and Google Office applications, Adobe photo and video editing applications, social media and YouTube.
In order to test the overall image quality I focus on real-world tests and a few technical tests. For multimedia performance I use UHD video clips (HDR where possible) on YouTube to establish color vibrancy and accuracy, smoothness (and noisiness) of chromatic and monochromatic gradients, plus contrast range and true-black performance.
For speed and gaming performance I predominantly focus upon CoD MWIII and PCars 2 for fast-and-frantic motion smoothness. I also look at the TestUFO technical motion test.
For physical attributes I check reflectivity of the screen and speed/intuitiveness/features of the OSD.
I’ve been reviewing computers, peripherals and components for over 20 years for multiple titles in the UK, Australia and internationally.
Motorola has done it. If you’re sick of the same old smartphone, the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 is your cure. The Razr Plus is the flip phone that should be the envy of boring slab phone owners everywhere. It’s bright and colorful in every way, inside and out, screens and shell. This Razr is completely different in (mostly) the best ways.
I didn’t think last year’s Motorola Razr Plus needed much improvement, but Motorola has improved it anyway. The best flip-phone cover display, larger and more versatile than the file-folder window on Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6, is even bigger and brighter this year than before. It fills the phone and gives you a miniature window into all of your apps. Apps become more useful than ever when you use them on this palm-sized marvel.
The Razr Plus 2024 also gets a welcome durability upgrade, and it’s now water resistant enough to take a dunk. Motorola’s vegan leather, with a new suede feel, replaces the glass on the back of the Razr Plus. The result is a colorful finish that feels great to hold, giving the Razr a unique look all its own. It also won’t slip off your desk.
No branding on the spine, unlike Samsung's Z Flip (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Has Motorola avoided the latest smartphone AI fads? Or has it crammed AI onto the new Razr 2024 phones? Unfortunately, it’s the latter. Motorola has run with the crowd and pushed half-baked AI onto its new Razr Plus, with predictably bad results that may only get worse.
The Razr Plus 2024 has Moto AI tools that highlight the worst stereotyping tendencies of generative AI. Moto AI produces results that seem racist, misogynist, ageist, and anti-Semitic. The AI tools on the Razr Plus 2024 show how AI is not ready for retail. Tools like this should not be part of a consumer device, especially an expensive smartphone. It’s embarrassing, and the Moto AI image generator needs to go.
Kind of a bummer, right? I was excited for the new Motorola Razr Plus 2024, with its new colors and bigger cover display, but the offensive AI quelled my excitement. Even worse, Motorola promises that even more intrusive AI features are coming. Right now, the bigotry is confined to the wallpapers, but soon Moto AI will be listening to all of your phone calls and conversations. Ugh.
Frankly, you can ignore these new AI features on the Razr Plus 2024. This phone is still very good without the AI gimmicks. The improved hinge on the Razr Plus 2024 snaps open and shut with more aplomb. You can take a group photo and watch people smile when they see themselves on the cover screen.
All of the Motorola Plus 2024 color options (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Nasty AI can’t make this phone less cool, right? It comes in Hot Pink! Can AI ruin Hot Pink? No, nothing can ruin Hot Pink.
For now, I’d take a wait-and-see approach to buying the Motorola Razr Plus 2024. If the price drops, or if Motorola cleans up its AI act a little bit, this will be an easier phone to recommend. However, if you’d rather not endorse Motorola’s vision of a mobile AI future, I would avoid it and look for a future that’s a little less cool.
Razr Plus 2024 review: Price and availability
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Available to pre-order for $999.99 / £999.99 / AU $1,699
256GB storage in US; 512GB storage in UK and Australia
Called Motorola Razr Plus 2024 in the US, Motorola Razr 50 Ultra everywhere else
The Motorola Razr Plus 2024 starts around $1,000 / £1,000 / AU$1,700, which puts it in the same price range as the Google Pixel 8 Pro and the Apple iPhone 15 Pro.
To Motorola’s benefit, Samsung raised the price of its flip phone by $100 / AU$150 (the Z Flip’s price is unchanged in the UK), making the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 more expensive than the Razr Plus 2024 in those regions.
That’s a lot of competition at this price, but Motorola loves to offer discounts, so I would wait for a good deal if you don’t need to buy this phone right away. The Razr Plus 2023 saw fantastic deals throughout its first year on the market, including a perpetual $300 discount in the US.
Will the new Razr Plus 2024 get the same deals? Only time will tell, but the improvements here aren’t so groundbreaking that a price cut is out of the question. The cover display is a bit larger, and the phone is now officially water resistant, instead of just unofficially splashproof.
This phone would be an easier choice if it cost less, but at this price I worry that it competes poorly on cameras, long-term software support, and overall durability – aspects that make a smartphone worth keeping for longer. If Moto dropped the price by 25% or more, I wouldn’t care so much.
Value score: 3 / 5
Razr Plus 2024 review: Specs
Motorola Razr Plus 2024 (left) and Razr 2024 (right) (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Motorola only offers one configuration for the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 in the US, and another in the UK and Australia – you get 12GB of RAM wherever you are, with 256GB of storage in the US and 512GB in the UK and Australia. Don’t worry, US fans; that’s enough space, especially if you use cloud storage for photos and videos.
The Razr Plus 2024 doesn’t skimp on specs when it comes to its two displays: each screen refreshes at a blazing fast 165Hz, and brightness levels are exceptionally high.
The Motorola Razr Plus 2024 is the first phone with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset that was announced earlier this year. It’s a step down from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor found in phones like the OnePlus 12, but Qualcomm says it can still handle more AI tasks than older Snapdragon platforms. I found performance to be acceptable for non-AI tasks, and battery life was excellent on this new platform.
Razr Plus 2024 review: Design
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Bigger cover display than any other flip phone
Stylish color options available
Cameras sometimes get in the way
The Motorola Razr Plus 2024 is the coolest phone you can buy, and Moto has clad it in some fabulous colors, including the Spring Green of my review sample and a Hot Pink that’s a throwback to 2005’s pink Motorola Razr V3. Motorola has found its audience for this phone – people who hate boring slabs of glass and metal, even if the metal is titanium.
Everything about the design is thoughtful and slick, from the ‘vegan leather’ back that shows off the Peach Fuzz paint job nicely, to the humongous cover display that the twin camera lenses float in like lily pads in a pixel pond. The foldable inner screen lays so flat you have to concentrate to feel the crease.
Sometimes it doesn't matter if the cameras are in the way (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
That folding mechanism is improved as well. It snaps open and shut in a much more satisfying way than on the Razr Plus 2023, and flicking the phone open and slamming it shut is a joy that becomes addictive; I may need to start making more phone calls so I can answer and hang up more often. The Razr Plus 2024 is also more durable, with an IPX8 rating ensuring that it can take a dunk under water without issue. It’s not all perfect. Sure, the cover display is amazing, wrapping around the camera lenses like pixel magic, but some important buttons on my apps were obscured by those lenses, and while you can resize apps to fit better, it’s a chore. On Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6, the cover display is smaller, but it isn’t blocked by the lenses. Samsung may be onto something here.
I also take issue with ‘vegan leather,’ but only because ‘vegan’ gets confused with ‘environmentally friendly.’ Vegan leather is plastic. It’s very nice plastic, and Motorola says it won’t fade or stain, and it’s still good for vegans because no animals were harmed in its production. Other benefits seem purely aesthetic, not environmental. Whatever, aesthetic is in.
If you want a phone that’s cooler than what everybody else is carrying, get the Razr Plus 2024. Watch eyes widen when you fold it in half and tuck it away. Check the smiles on your cover display as you take a group photo.
This is a phone for showing off, and my biggest design complaint is that I can only choose one color. Check back around the new year, as well, because Motorola has partnered with Pantone for two years straight to launch Razr phones in Pantone’s Color of the Year.
Design score: 5 / 5
Razr Plus 2024 review: Display
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Wow and wow: both the inner and outer displays are excellent
Interior screen is humongous
Both displays are super-bright, maybe too bright
The Motorola Razr Plus 2024 has a larger cover display than last year’s Razr Plus, and though it didn’t need the upgrade, the bigger outer screen cements Motorola’s dominance in flip phones. This is how a flip smartphone should look. Once you’ve used it, with its dominating cover display, you’ll see that no other flip phone comes close.
Both screens on the Razr Plus 2024 are incredibly bright. The big interior screen can hit 3,000 nits peak brightness, according to Moto, and the cover display can go to 2,400 nits. That’s too bright for a phone I leave next to my bed – checking messages late at night, I blasted myself in the face with bright light more than a few times.
The cover screen wraps around the camera lenses for a signature Motorola look that Samsung hasn’t aped for its Galaxy Z Flip series. Sometimes those lenses get in the way, as on my Roku TV remote app, where some buttons are hidden. I still think it’s a better look than the cutout that Samsung uses; I just wish developers accounted for apps being shown on a smaller, squarish screen.
Sometimes those cameras block important buttons (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The foldable inner display is flatter than ever – I can’t see the crease unless I hold the phone at an angle to the light. I can hardly feel the crease either, even if I flick my finger back and forth.
Display score: 5 / 5
Razr Plus 2024 review: Software
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
A light touch on Androi… wait, is that AI? Oh no
Motorola makes the huge AI mistake we’ve been hoping it would avoid
I’ll get the basic Motorola Android software out of the way first so I can rant about my huge problems with Moto AI. I was hoping that Motorola would stay away from AI – OnePlus has mostly managed to avoid the topic – but unfortunately, Moto ventures into dangerous AI territory, and the results are sadly predictable.
Ignoring Moto AI, the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 is a solid Android phone. Motorola’s version of Android looks a lot like Android on the Google Pixel 8. Moto doesn’t brand its interface; it’s just Android 14. It also doesn’t promise five years of software updates, so don’t expect to run Android 19 on this phone, like you will (hopefully) with the Samsung Galaxy S24 and Google Pixel 8 phones.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Motorola has added useful shortcuts to its phones. I love the camera gesture: you twist your wrist a couple of times to launch it. I found this even more fun and reliable than double-pressing the power button, which is the shortcut on most Android phones. You can also ‘chop’ the phone twice to toggle the flashlight on and off.
Both of these shortcuts also work when the phone is closed, which makes taking selfies on the cover display even easier, with a quick double twist of my wrist. The Razr Plus is also the best flashlight phone I’ve ever used, since it’s so easy to hold when it’s closed.
This butterfly background was made with Moto AI (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Okay, enough compliments – let’s talk about AI. Motorola has added some AI features, with more on the way. I’ll start with AI wallpaper, because it’s emblematic of the larger problem.
The Motorola Razr Plus 2024 has an AI wallpaper generator, but it’s nothing like the AI wallpaper you’ll find on the Google Pixel 8 and Samsung Galaxy S24, both of which use AI as a tool to produce stylish and unique wallpapers.
The Motorola Razr Plus, on the other hand, produces images that often cling to stereotypes, with repeated results that are racist, misogynistic, and bigoted. I wish I were joking.
On the Pixel 8, the AI wallpaper is limited. You choose a look such as ‘Soft-focus,’ and then you fill in some blanks: “A soft-focus photo of ________ with ________ hues.”
You can’t fill the blanks with any word you choose – there are options to pick. For the first blank, there are eight choices, including Butterflies, Flowers, and Fireflies. There are nine options for the hues, including Red, Cream, and Natural. It’s limited, but you get 72 different options, and the phone creates four images each time you generate a wallpaper from a phrase. So that one ‘Soft-focus’ scene results in 288 wallpapers. You can ask the phone to generate new wallpaper again and again based on the same phrase, so the choices are limited, but there are infinite possible results.
If the Pixel 8 seems too constrained in this respect, and you’d like the option to submit open prompts, as you’ll find on Midjourney and other AI image-generation tools, I have good news and bad news.
Moto AI created this happy, furry lighthouse wallpaper for me (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The good news is that the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 has an AI wallpaper feature that can generate anything you can imagine (with some limits); the bad news is that the generative AI image tools are so bad that they're offensive.
How is the Razr Plus 2024 offensive? That depends on what a happy person looks like. Or a successful person. A happy person could look like anybody! So, how does an AI generate an image of a happy person? What image does it create, drawing upon its understanding of a successful person?
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
I asked the Razr Plus 2024 to make me a wallpaper image of “a happy person.” I asked 10 times. Eight of the images were young, white, blond women smiling. Another image was a young, white man smiling, and the last was a dark-haired, young, white woman.
I tried the same test for a number of terms, and the results were strikingly similar. If you ask the Moto AI wallpaper tool to create an image of “a successful person,” I’ll bet you $1,000 that person will be young, male, and white.
It’s a huge problem when your AI has been modeled to understand that only young white people can be happy or successful, but if you think that’s bad, buckle up.
Can you guess what I asked for when I got this result? (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
I asked the Razr Plus 2024 to make me a wallpaper of “a Jewish person.” I asked 20 times. I got 20 white men. Not a single woman, nor any other skin tone. Almost all the men were wearing hats, beards, and payes, the long locks that Orthodox Jews grow at their temples. There was nobody who might not be an Orthodox Jew, even though Orthodox Judaism accounts for only one in seven Jews in the world. I asked for “a Palestinian person” and I only got men with beards.
When an AI has been modeled to understand that all Jewish people look the same, or that all Palestinian people look the same, to the exclusion of women, then that AI will generate images that support stereotypes including anti-Semitism, misogyny, and other forms of bigotry. That’s what I see happening with Moto AI, and I have a huge problem with this.
Don't look close or you may barf (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Also, it’s just weird. I asked for “friends having fun at the beach” and I only got groups of young, white people, mostly wearing string bikinis. AI doesn’t do good string bikinis, and the photos were monstrous, like a horror movie. I asked for “a strong person” and I got impossibly muscle-bound men, often only a view of bodies from the bulging neck to below the bulging crotch. I’m not joking.
How did this make it into a final product? This is entirely unacceptable. Moto AI isn’t an AI wallpaper generator. It’s an AI stereotype generator. It needs to be removed.
If Motorola isn’t taking this seriously, maybe it will if one of its execs asks its own AI for an image of “a cool smartphone.” I got pictures of an iPhone Pro, with its characteristic triangle camera layout. I got no pictures of a Motorola Razr.
That's no six pack. How many packs is that, 8? 12? (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Before this review, I took the unusual step of telling Motorola that I had serious concerns about the AI image tool, and asked if they had any response. I shared the results of my queries, and the conclusions I was drawing. At press time, Motorola had no response.
If you do use the Moto AI wallpaper generator, despite all of the above, be warned that there’s a monthly limit to how many images you can create. You can’t buy more images, so you just have to wait until the first of the next month.
Software score: 1 / 5
Razr Plus 2024 review: Cameras
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Image quality is good, but still not great
Taking photos and video is much more fun with a Razr
Photographers say the best camera is the one you have with you; I carry two or three phones at a time, so I would say that the best camera is the one I like using the most. Whether or not the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 takes the best photos, it is the most fun camera to use in almost every situation.
Video shooting is especially clever with the Razr Plus. The camera automatically recognizes ‘camcorder mode,’ when you bend the screen halfway and aim the camera at the action. The Razr Plus will start recording video automatically, and you can stop with a tap anywhere on the bottom half of the screen.
Shooting selfies is ridiculously fun. There’s no need to open the phone – I just give my wrist a twist (or tap the Camera app) and the cover display shows what the camera sees. Instead of using the selfie camera, the higher-quality main cameras can take selfies and portraits. Holding the folded Razr Plus is easier than trying to hold a large smartphone for selfie shots, and people loved seeing themselves on the cover display as I lined up group photos.
The Razr Plus has even more creative shooting options. You can fold the phone in a variety of ways to make it stand on its own. If you want a selfie when the phone is aiming up from the ground, just raise a palm and the camera will start a countdown. It works very nicely. There’s also a Photobooth mode that will take four shots in a row and post the quad-photo composite to Google Photos.
Images from the Razr Plus 2024 look good, and photos are definitely helped by whatever AI tools Motorola is applying. Colors look very saturated in most shots, although photographs seem to lack a sense of depth and life. In photos with a blurred bokeh background, the blurring looks very artificial and digital, and not smooth like you’d get from a better camera.
The camera also had trouble focusing, especially for close-ups. It never seemed to get exactly what I wanted in the sharpest plane of focus, even if I tapped on my subject on the screen before taking the shot.
I also had some trouble with the digital level that you can use on the camera screen to ensure that your photos look straight. My landscape photos often seemed crooked, even though I followed the level until it turned green.
Camera score: 3 / 5
Razr Plus 2024 camera samples
Here are samples taken in New York City and the surrounding suburbs
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Razr Plus 2024 review: Performance
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
Performance was smooth until the AI needed to talk to the cloud
The Motorola Razr Plus 2024 is the first phone launched with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, and the ‘s’ apparently stands for ‘slower.’ In Future Labs’ benchmark tests, the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 landed closer to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, which uses a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, than the Galaxy S24, which has the more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy. We’re still putting the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 through testing, but it has the same processor inside as the Galaxy S24.
Still, I had no trouble running any of my apps on the Motorola Razr Plus 2024, and the interface was smooth and snappy. Even fancy tricks like opening the camera with gestures, or moving an app from the big internal display to the smaller cover screen, worked with no delay. The phone also did a great job playing games and movies, including high-resolution, multiplayer games like Call of Duty: Mobile.
My only setback came when I was using the new AI features. I have Google Gemini loaded on the phone, and I subscribe to Gemini Advanced, so I enjoyed using Gemini on the Moto Razr Plus cover display – you can’t do that on the Galaxy Z Flip 6. However, most AI features were very laggy, especially compared to the performance of similar features, like the AI writing tools and AI wallpapers, on the Pixel 8 Pro and Galaxy S24. Whether I was generating a new wallpaper or just revising some text, I had to wait for a connection to Motorola’s cloud, and this added a long delay.
In fact, often the AI features would simply fail to connect, seemingly for no reason. I could make 10 successful requests in a row, then all of a sudden the AI would stop working for the next request. It would usually work again if I changed one word slightly, but there was no apparent problem with my choice of words; it just stopped working, then started again.
Performance score: 3 / 5
Razr Plus 2024 review: Battery
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Excellent battery life beats the competition
Fast charging is nice, but no charger included
That mid-range Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor on the Razr Plus 2024 pays off in battery life, if not in performance. The Razr Plus has a 4,000mAh battery that is only 7.5% larger than the 3,700mAh cell in the Galaxy Z Flip 5, but it delivers almost 50% more battery life in our tests. We saw less than 10 hours of screen time on the Z Flip 5, but we regularly topped 14 hours of use with the Motorola Razr Plus 2024. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 has a 4,000mAh cell, and we’ll publish detailed comparisons once we’re done testing Samsung’s latest flip phone.
The Motorola Razr Plus offers fast 45W charging, but you need to buy a special charger to use the 45W capabilities. There’s no charger included in the box, and if you’re upgrading, especially from an iPhone, your charger probably tops out at 25W or less. It’s worth buying a newer charger, because that fast charging speed can give you extra hours of phone time if you top up in the 10 minutes you spend getting ready for an evening out.
I had a weird charging glitch with the Razr Plus 2024 as well as my Motorola Razr 2024 review sample. As I was charging the phones, they would frequently wake up and flash the charging percentage on screen, as if I had just plugged in the power cord. They would each do this repeatedly, no matter which USB-C cord I used.
Even worse, when I put the phones on a wireless Qi2 charger, they did the same thing. The phones still charged, but the display lit up in an annoying way to report their progress every few seconds.
I was expecting a software update during my two-week review period, but it never arrived. I’m hoping Motorola’s first update for the Razr 2024 family fixes this glitch.
Battery score: 4 / 5
Should you buy the Motorola Razr Plus 2024?
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Buy it if...
You want the coolest-looking phone around
The Motorola Razr Plus 2024 is the coolest phone you can buy right now, with snazzy color options and unbeatable features that show what a flip phone can be in the age of smartphones.
You want two devices in one
The Razr Plus 2024 has such a large cover display that it’s almost like getting two devices – a pocket-sized communicator that opens up to reveal a massive smartphone inside. It’s a totally new experience.
You don’t want the phone everybody else has
The Razr Plus 2024 is drawing iPhone fans away from Apple, according to Motorola, and it’s easy to see why. Motorola does everything Apple won’t, from foldable screens to bright colors to open AI features.
Don't buy it if...
You need a really good camera
The camera on the Motorola Razr Plus has gotten undeniably better, but it still can’t match the best camera phones you can buy, and doesn’t have the lenses and features of other phones in this price range.
You’re worried about bad AI features
The Motorola Razr Plus makes a major misstep with its AI image generator tool that creates stereotyping images and results that feel racist, misogynist, and possibly anti-Semitic. Yes, it’s that bad.
You can wait for a good discount The Motorola Razr Plus 2024 launches at a good price, comparable to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip, but Moto put last year’s Razr on a perpetual sale that dropped the price by hundreds. If you can wait, you might save big.
Razr Plus 2024 review: Also consider
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is like a Motorola Razr Plus with more power and less cover screen. Samsung is more conservative with its outer display, but the Z Flip packs more features, and is a professional flip phone, not a party trick.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro For the same price as the Razr Plus 2024 you can have an iPhone 15 Pro, which not only has much better cameras, but will also give you Apple’s (hopefully) more refined Apple Intelligence AI features in the next year or so.
Motorola Razr 2024 The base-model Motorola Razr this year has a slower processor, but a much bigger cover display than before, more like last year’s Razr Plus. For the incredibly low price it may be worth suffering the weird AI, and you can get it in orange.
How I tested the Motorola Razr Plus 2024
I tested the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 for two weeks before starting this review. I received the Razr Plus 2024 and the Razr 2024 together, and I used the Razr Plus as my only smartphone for work purposes. I checked messages, managed my calendar, wrote stories, and edited photos on the display. I also used the phone as a primary personal phone: controlling my smart home devices, playing games, and managing my social life.
I tested the durability of the phone thoroughly. Every time I opened and closed the phone I did so with deliberate force. I used the phone in the bathtub, and washed it in the sink. I dropped it a few times onto the pavement. It still looks just fine.
To test the AI features, I used a standard prompt list that I always use with AI image-generation tools to prove that they resort to common stereotypes. I ask every AI tool for the same images, 10 times for each prompt, and sometimes more if results are interesting or inconsistent. I ask for images that test stereotypes on race, religion, ethnicity, culture, gender, socio-economic status, and other criteria.
I tested the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 with a variety of accessories, including the Pixel Buds Pro earbuds, a Pixel Watch 2, and my Bluetooth car receiver. I used an Xbox One gaming controller, in addition to a variety of charging devices, especially my Anker 737 battery, which can charge the Razr Plus at full speed.
The GameSir Kaleid fixes one of the few problems I had with its predecessor, the GameSir T4 Kaleid (for the sake of simplicity, I’ll refer to it as the ‘T4’ from now on): it lacked compatibility with Xbox consoles, despite having the console’s ‘ABXY’ face button layout.
Now, GameSir has released a version of one of the best PC controllers that's compatible with Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, and PC. However, the Kaleid does lose the Nintendo Switch compatibility enjoyed by the T4, so it isn’t the definitive option if you have to choose between the two based on your console of choice.
The GameSir Kaleid is identical to the T4 in almost every way. If you’re familiar with the T4 and its excellent micro switch buttons and Hall effect thumbsticks, you’re getting those same features here. The only notable differences are the darker translucent shell, a mildly improved D-pad, and a slightly higher price tag.
(Image credit: Future)
Price and availability
$49.99 / £59.99
Pricier than the T4 Kaleid ($41.99 / £41.99)
US and UK availability (not currently available in Australia)
The GameSir Kaleid launched on May 30, 2024, and can be bought either from GameSir’s website or the brand’s Amazon store page. It’s priced at $49.99 / £59.99, which is a good bit more than the T4 in the US ($41.99), and significantly more than in in the UK (£41.99). Overall, it’s similarly priced in comparison to the Xbox Wireless Controller ($59.99 / £54.99), though the GameSir wins out here in terms of overall features and customizability.
It’s worth noting that if this will be your first time purchasing a GameSir product, you can pick up the Kaleid from the brand’s official website with an 8% discount as a new customer. This brings the price of the Kaleid down to $46.99 / £56: a small saving, but noteworthy all the same.
Specs
(Image credit: Future)
Design and features
The new GameSir Kaleid is practically identical to the T4 in terms of features. That includes Hall-effect thumbsticks to practically eliminate the risk of drift, plus welcome ancillary features like remappable rear buttons, and a central multi-function button useful for adjusting trigger stop distance, the brightness of the controller’s RGB effects, overall RGB patterns, thumbstick dead zones and button layout profile creation.
Yes, that delightful RGB lighting remains in the new Kaleid. And despite the darker translucent shell, the lighting still manages to shine brightly. In fact, I think the subtler translucency helps the RGB effect stand out much more effectively here; it looks great encased in that darker shell.
Otherwise, this is, by and large, the same controller as the T4, albeit with Xbox console compatibility in place of Nintendo Switch. This nicely positions it as a top contender for one of the best Xbox controllers in its price range.
The new Kaleid retains that same Xbox Wireless Controller-adjacent build and button layout, and the central GameSir-branded Home button is replaced with the official Xbox logo. And yes, the Kaleid features the ‘Designed for Xbox’ seal of approval, meaning it’ll work with Xbox consoles out of the box with no fuss.
(Image credit: Future)
Performance
The T4 is one of my favorite PC controllers and my go-to controller for fighting games in particular, owing to its snappy micro switch buttons and drift-resistant Hall effect thumbsticks. Both of those are found here and feel just as excellent to play with.
One thing of note is that the new Kaleid’s D-pad is a step up from the T4's. Like the face buttons, it’s now micro switch-based, feeling much more tactile and responsive as a result. All other modules, meanwhile, including the shoulder buttons, triggers, sticks, and central Home and sharing buttons, feel practically identical. It also shares the T4’s lack of wireless functionality, unfortunately, so you’ll be relying on a wired USB-C connection (a cable is included in the box). This may be a dealbreaker if you typically prefer wireless play.
It’s also worth noting that you can further customize the Kaleid with the GameSir Nexus app, available on PC and now Xbox consoles as well. The dedicated controller software is genuinely excellent, allowing you to adjust thumbstick dead zones, RGB lighting patterns and brightness settings, trigger sensitivity, and map the functions of the extra rear buttons. Much of this can also be done via the controller’s multifunction button, by holding it down and referring to the button inputs found in the included manual. However, I preferred having a visual guide for my changes via the app, making it much easier to fine-tune my controller’s setup.
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the GameSir Kaleid?
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
Also consider...
If the GameSir Kaleid isn’t quite what you’re looking for, consider the following two options, which we believe are strong alternative picks.
(Image credit: Future)
How I tested the GameSir Kaleid
Tested nearly every day for a week
Tested with Xbox and PC games
Compared with other recommended and affordable Xbox controllers
I tested the GameSir Kaleid over a week, starting on Xbox Series X with titles including Halo Infinite, Elden Ring, Sea of Thieves, and Forza Horizon 5. I downloaded the GameSir Nexus app on the console and created numerous custom profiles based on a variety of game genres for an enhanced experience with each. I also tested the controller in conjunction with similarly excellent Xbox gamepads, such as the Xbox Wireless Controller and the Victrix Gambit.
Moving over to PC, I tested the GameSir Kaleid with a range of Steam titles, including Elden Ring once again, Final Fantasy 14 Online, and Tekken 8. My experience here was largely similar to that of the T4, given that they are, by and large, identical. As such, less testing was required here as it provided a similarly high-quality experience overall.
The smaller sibling of the OnePlus Pad, the OnePlus Pad Go continues the brand’s tradition of making budget mobile devices to take on the higher-priced giants in the space.
Despite the relatively low asking price, the OnePlus Pad Go still looks like a premium product. It’s light and slender, although a few design flaws undermine the experience in the hand: chief among these is the placement of the camera at the center of the long edge, which is simply asking to be smothered by your fingers every time you grasp it. The build quality doesn’t seem to be up to quite the same standard of more premium tablets either, as I did notice small imperfections in the construction of my test model.
The 11.35-inch, 2.4K display is crisp and conveys colors with brilliant vibrancy, and the 60-90Hz adaptive refresh rate offers a smooth, seamless experience. Despite this, it is overshadowed – literally – by its high reflectivity. Dark hues essentially turn the Pad Go into a glorified mirror, so you’ll struggle to see much of anything in dimly lit scenes.
When it comes to actually using the Pad Go, OnePlus’ Android-based system, OxygenOS, performs well. It ran smoothly during most of my time with it, but I did have a few issues, including the incongruous way you manage app windows, and the inconsistent functionality of the face unlock and auto-rotate features. Those points aside, it was refreshing to be presented with a minimalist Android interface that was as easy to use as that on many of the best tablets.
Performance wise, the Pad Go can handle all the basic tasks expected of a modern tablet, including browsing online content and streaming HD video. It can manage the latter with aplomb, barring the occasional slowdown on loading and buffering, but such occurrences weren’t enough to detract from the overall experience.
It’s also capable of playing the latest and most popular mobile games, albeit they won’t look as impressive as they will on dedicated mobile gaming devices. Productivity is well within the Pad Go’s wheelhouse too, although power users shouldn’t think about substituting it for their laptop or desktop, as it will struggle with high-demand workloads.
The battery life is generous enough to handle a good day’s worth of varied use, and although it does have fast charging capability, it wasn’t that fast, taking around a couple of hours to get back to full. Gaming and other demanding tasks will drain the battery quicker, and the 14-hour video playback claim made by OnePlus didn’t bear out in my tests – it seemed closer to 10.
When stacked up against its nearest competitors, the OnePlus Pad Go’s sleek design and capable performance make it very good value. It won’t be able to handle the most professional of tasks, and it’s a shame the screen is so reflective, but aside from those setbacks, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better tablet that’s cheaper than the OnePlus Pad Go.
(Image credit: Future)
OnePlus Pad Go review: price and availability
Launch price of £299, but now £269
Available now in UK only
Only comes in Green
The OnePlus Pad Go is available now for £269 from the OnePlus website, down from its original price of £299. You can also choose between a charger or the Folio Case as a free gift, but unfortunately there is no official keyboard, at least not yet. Currently, the OnePlus Pad Go isn’t available in the US or Australia.
While £299 is still a large amount of cash to part with, it’s much more affordable than its rivals, particularly the iPad 10.9-inch from 2022, which still retails for £349. For everyday use, the Pad Go offers close to the same performance, working well as a media playback device with light productivity pedigree.
It’s also considerably cheaper than the OnePlus Pad, the company’s higher-spec tablet, which is equipped with a more powerful chip, a better display and a marginally better rear camera.
However, as we noted in our OnePlus Pad review, that tablet still isn’t powerful enough to be a productivity powerhouse, and with that being the case, there’s less reason to buy it over the cheaper Pad Go.
Value score: 5 / 5
OnePlus Pad Go review: specs
(Image credit: Future)
OnePlus Pad Go review: display
Vibrant and bright
Effective automatic warmth adjustment
Reflective screen not great for dark images and video
The 11.35-inch 2.4K display on the Pad Go is, for the most part, a joy to look at. It’s bright and renders colors vibrantly and clearly, and the adaptive refresh rate offers between 60-90HZ, making for smooth transitions. Up against an iPad with an IPS LCD screen, the OnePlus Pad Go acquits itself well.
There are also settings to make the screen easier to look at, such as a reduced blue light mode, which OnePlus calls Eye Comfort, as well as a feature called Nature Tone, which automatically adjusts the display to emit a warmer color palette based on the ambient lighting in your environment. Both of these work well while maintaining the same levels of image clarity.
However, the screen is extremely reflective, which is particularly noticeable with dark images. No matter where you are or what adjustments you make to the brightness settings, this is always a persistent issue, and one of the Pad Go’s biggest weaknesses from a usability perspective. It becomes a real problem when watching movies with darkly lit scenes, and even using dark mode creates noticeably reflectivity.
Smudges, dust and other debris are picked up very easily by the display too. There’s also no fingerprint sensor, meaning you’ll have to secure your Pad Go with a facial scan or a PIN, password or pattern.
Display score: 3.5 / 5
(Image credit: Future)
OnePlus Pad Go review: design
Sleek and slim
Slightly uncomfortable to hold
Camera position can be awkward
Opting for a more rounded geometry than Apple’s squared-off look, the OnePlus Pad Go is very sleek and thin, and the materials feel premium to the touch. The bezel that runs along the camera, though, has a finish that picks up fingerprints and smudges very easily, and the join as it meets the chassis is quite pronounced, which you can feel under your fingertips.
The sides are also very acutely curved, which can feel uncomfortable and less secure in the hand. The test model I was given also had a small but noticeable panel gap in the chassis joint on one side, suggesting it isn’t as well-built as its rivals.
Perhaps the biggest contention I have with the design is the position of the camera, which is located in the center of one of the long sides. This makes it all too easy to clasp the lens with your fingers when holding the tablet in portrait. And since the front camera is in the same position, taking selfies in portrait means you’ll have to look askance into the lens, lest you’ll be caught looking off-center in the photo.
Design score: 3.5 / 5
OnePlus Pad Go review: software
OS is intuitive and uncluttered
Almost no bloatware
A few usability issues with navigation buttons and managing app windows
OxygenOS, the iteration of Android used by the OnePlus Pad Go, is for the most part a robust and very intuitive system to use. It’s very minimal and responsive, rarely getting in the way of the experience. There are also plenty of settings that are easy to find and understand, with useful explanations accompanying many of them.
In practice, the operating system runs smoothly, barring a few minor usability issues. Both the autorotate and face unlock functions were temperamental in my experience, with the former being too eager or not eager enough to switch orientations, and the latter failing half the time to take me straight to the home screen after unlocking, despite the fact I’d toggled the setting instructing it to do so.
Managing multiple app windows isn’t as smooth as it could be either. It takes just a few too many swipes to switch between them, and the Floating Windows feature is too clunky and limited to be used frequently. I also found it to be largely irrelevant, since there aren’t enough compatible apps (the same is also true of the Split Screen function).
As with other Android systems, there is an option to change the navigation method from gestures to buttons, which I personally prefer. However, with the OnePlus Pad Go, the buttons constantly shift position depending on whether or not you’re focused on an app, making it harder to use them than it has to be. The only way to prevent this shifting is if you also disable the task bar along the bottom from showing when in apps.
The aforementioned are only small niggles, though – there is plenty to like about the Pad Go’s software. Mercifully, there is next to no bloatware preinstalled, which can be a common problem with Android devices.
OnePlus has kept everything minimal, and the first-party apps that are present work well and are non-intrusive. The Notes app, for instance, is modeled heavily on Apple’s, and functions as expected, while OnePlus’ own photo gallery app has some useful people-related editing options that aren’t present in Google’s Photos app.
OnePlus has also added what it calls a Gaming Panel, a drop-down menu where you can make various tweaks and access certain tools, such as screen recording, while playing. OnePlus’ HyperBoost Gaming Engine is also located here, which lets you adjust performance modes, ranging from Low Power to Pro Gamer. In practice, however, I didn’t find these modes had any substantial impact on either performance or battery life.
Software score: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Future)
OnePlus Pad Go review: performance
Helio G99 chip handles work and media playback well
Mobile gaming graphics somewhat limited
Speakers are pretty mediocre
The OnePlus Pad Go handles most standard tasks well, from productivity to media playback. The 8GB of RAM is sufficient, and so too is the 128GB of storage. The MediaTek Helio G99 chip is a step down from the OnePlus Pad’s Dimensity 9000, and neither tablet will be able to take the place of a laptop for professional workloads. The Pad Go only suffers from the occasional minor slowdown or stutter, but even with High Performance mode enabled (which is buried in the settings with no shortcut available), I didn’t notice any discernible improvements.
Wi-Fi connectivity doesn’t seem to be the best either. As it happened, during my test I experienced a weak connection. However, my phone was still getting an internet connection, whereas the Pad Go failed to connect until I restarted it.
Mobile games ran relatively smoothly on the whole, although both FIFA Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile did look rather rough around the edges, despite upping the graphics settings as high as I could (in FIFA Mobile, I could not choose high or ultra settings, as the game stated my device did not support them).
Despite warnings about the device getting hot when using Pro Gamer mode, I only ever noticed a slight warming in the top corner of the tablet. But regardless of which mode I chose, I was only able to get around 40 frames per second in Call of Duty Mobile, and FIFA Mobile was capped at 30fps due to the aforementioned lack of device support. Asphalt 9 ran better in my experience, hovering somewhere around the low to mid 50s, but again, the different performance modes didn’t seem to make a difference.
If you’d prefer to use a gamepad instead of a touchscreen, then you can connect a wireless Xbox One controller via Bluetooth. In my experience this worked flawlessly, even letting me control certain aspects of the main UI, although this functionality is limited. I also used a keyboard and mouse for productivity purposes, the former connected via Bluetooth and the latter via the USB-C port. Again, both of these worked without issue. The same was also true when connecting wireless headphones.
When it comes to sound, the four speakers are nothing to write home about. There is a distinct lack of bass, and mild distortion occurs all too easily, as sudden peaks in volume aren’t contained well. The addition of Dolby Atmos, however, is a nice touch. It’s largely redundant when used with the average inbuilt speakers, but when watching movies with a good pair of headphones, it improves the stereo field substantially and imparts a greater sense of space.
The front and rear cameras are middling in their spec, offering only 8MP each and video capture at 30 frames per second at 1080p. There are at least panoramic and time lapse modes, as well as an image stabilization feature. They function well enough, but the 10th-gen iPad is better for shooting, thanks to its 12MP cameras. At this price point, though, there aren’t many tablets that have better cameras than the Pad Go.
Performance score: 4 / 5
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OnePlus Pad Go review: battery
Lasts over a day for casual use
But intensive tasks drain it much faster
‘Fast’ charging takes two hours to charge to full from 5%
For casual use, I found that the battery life of the Pad Go will last over a day, However, intensive tasks such as gaming will naturally drain the battery quicker. After an hour of gaming, with high performance mode and pro gamer mode turned on, the battery went from full to 85%.
OnePlus claims that the Pad Go will last 14 hours when used for playback alone. During my tests, however, I found this figure to be rather optimistic, as I could only manage around 10.
Fast charging speeds are only adequate: it took two hours to charge to full from 5%, since the Pad Go is only capable of charging speeds of 33W; that’s significantly down on the OnePlus Pad’s 67W capability, which can charge from empty to full in two-thirds of that time.
Battery score: 3.5 / 5
Should you buy the OnePlus Pad Go?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
OnePlus Pad Go: Also consider
How I tested the OnePlus Pad Go
Used the device for two weeks
Consumed various forms of content, including video, games and music
Conducted heavy-duty workloads, such as image editing and music production
I spent two weeks with the OnePlus Pad Go. During that time, I used it to watch YouTube videos, live streams and movies, as well as play various games and listen to music.
I also used it for general internet browsing and light productivity, including document writing and spreadsheet creation. For more heavy-duty workloads, I edited images using Adobe Lightroom and played around with the music production app Cubase LE 3.
I used the cameras for taking photos and videos, trying out all the different shooting modes and the integrated editing features. I connected various peripheral devices, such as a keyboard, mouse, and headphones via Bluetooth and the USB-C port.
Honor’s 'number-series' phones have a reputation for delivering flagship-level specs at mid-range prices. We saw this in 2023 with the impressive Honor 90, and the Honor 70 before that. However, while the range has, in the past, included Pro variants in China, they’ve never made their way to Europe, until now.
The Honor 200 Pro is a different class of device to last year’s Honor 90. Rather than targeting the upper mid-range market, it’s aimed at the lower-tier of flagship devices. Think the Samsung Galaxy S24, rather than A55. At this level, you need top-notch cameras, blazing-fast performance and cutting-edge features to compete, and thankfully, the Honor 200 Pro delivers on all fronts.
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The most exciting feature is, surprisingly, a new set of portrait filters developed with the world-famous Studio Harcourt. Yes, they’re just filters, but the results speak for themselves. You can take some truly stunning portraits with this phone.
Elsewhere, the device is solid on across the board. The phone's Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset allows for smooth and snappy daily operations and a great gaming experience, the mammoth 5,200mAh battery keeps things ticking over for a long time, and its charging is among the fastest in its class, either wired or wirelessly.
The competition is fierce, though, and devices like the Samsung Galaxy S24 and Google Pixel 8 are sure to be more appealing to some buyers. In either case, you get more advanced AI features and a longer window of support, but you’ll miss out on the impressive battery life and portrait prowess of the Honor 200 Pro. Whether it’s right for you depends on your priorities.
Honor 200 Pro review: Price and availability
Costs £699.99 in the UK
Released May 2024 – China only, June, 2024 – internationally
No availability in US and Australia
The Honor 200 Pro launched alongside its non-Pro sibling, the Honor 200, in China on May 31, 2024. Then, less than a month later, both devices made their global debut in Paris on June 12. Both phones are now available to pre-order in Europe, but as usual, there’s no US or Australian launch on the cards.
The Honor 200 Pro costs £699.99 in the UK and comes in one storage configuration: 512GB with 12GB RAM. For context, the comparable Samsung Galaxy S24 starts at $799 / £799 / AU$1,399, so £699.99 is a reasonable price for the Honor 200 Pro.
Value score: 5 / 5
Honor 200 Pro review: Specs
Honor 200 Pro review: Design
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Velvety-feeling matte glass back
Casa Milá-inspired camera surround
IP65 dust and water resistant
The Honor 200 Pro stands out from the crowd with its unique elongated circular camera surround. Apparently, this design is inspired by the shape of Barcelona’s Casa Milá, but it also looks a bit like an airplane window, or a turret from Portal.
I found the notch a little off-putting at first, but it has grown on me somewhat, and it definitely helps to differentiate this model from the sea of circular and square-shaped camera bumps. The silver bezel surrounding the camera glass looks super-premium, too.
Elsewhere, things are a little more traditional. The phone has curved edges on the front and rear that make it feel slim and comfortable in the hand, and there’s a high-gloss metal frame around the edges.
The rear is made from glass and it has a velvety-feeling matte texture, similar to recent Vivo flagships like the X100 Pro. It feels lovely and is completely immune to fingerprints, but it’s slippery, so you’ll need to be very careful if you use it without a case. Thankfully, a transparent TPU number is included in the box, so you can keep it protected easily.
The Honor 200 Pro is available in three colors: Moonlight White, Black and Ocean Cyan. I have the white version in for testing, which has a marble-like pattern across the rear, and it reminds me of a fancy kitchen countertop. The black version has a more understated uniform finish, for those that prefer a more professional look. Meanwhile, the cyan model is the loudest; it has a dual-texture rear with a sweeping S-shaped curve down the back.
Design score: 4 / 5
Honor 200 Pro review: Display
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6.78-inch quad-curved 120Hz OLED display
3840Hz PWM dimming
4000 nits peak brightness
The Honor 200 Pro has a bright, vivid display that’s curved on all sides, and an adaptive refresh rate that can dynamically shift between 60Hz and 120Hz, depending on what you’re viewing. It’s not quite as impressive as an LTPO panel, which can go all the way down to 1Hz, but it still means you can expect longer battery life without sacrificing smooth scrolling and high-refresh-rate gaming.
Usually, I prefer flat displays, but the Honor Magic 6 Pro won me over with its relatively tight curves – effectively delivering the best of both worlds. I was hoping for more of the same here, but that’s unfortunately not the case. The Honor 200 Pro has a more typical curved display.
Some people are sure to love it, and it definitely helps to make the device feel slim in the hand and pocket, but it’s more prone to accidental touches than I’d like.
Elsewhere, I have zero complaints. The panel is sharp and high-resolution, the color rendition looks fantastic, and it’s more than bright enough to compete with the springtime sunshine. There are plenty of eye health features included here, too.
The display can deliver an astonishing PWM dimming rate of 3840Hz, besting some of the priciest flagships on the market. The Samsung S24 Ultra only supports 480Hz PWM dimming, for example. If you’re not familiar, this tech essentially ensures low flicker at all brightness levels, to reduce eye strain for those who are sensitive to such things.
Display score: 4 / 5
Honor 200 Pro review: Cameras
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50MP main (f/1.9)
50MP 2.5x telephoto (f/2.4)
12MP ultra-wide macro (f/2.2)
Honor describes the 200 Pro as “the portrait master”, so clearly it believes in the phone’s photographic capabilities. And indeed, this phone packs some serious hardware to support that claim.
Around the back, you’ll find a 50MP main camera with a 1/1.3-inch sensor and OIS, a 50MP 2.5x telephoto with OIS and a 12MP ultra-wide with macro focusing capabilities. On the front, there’s a pill-shaped cutout housing a 50MP wide-angle selfie camera.
As usual, the main camera delivers the most impressive results, especially in low light, where the larger sensor comes into play. The camera app gives you a 2x button for digitally cropping in with this camera, and there’s almost no loss of quality when the lighting is sufficient.
The 2.5x telephoto is very impressive, too. Personally, I would have liked a longer focal length, but this 70mm-ish equivalent is still very useful. You can get good results pushing it to about 5x or so before the image starts to break down, but if you go above 10x with the digital zoom, prepare for disappointment.
The ultra-wide is decent, but with a 16mm equivalent field of view, it’s not quite as wide as some of the competition. It does have autofocus, though, and it can focus extremely close for some unique macro shots. It’s lower resolution than the other sensors, but it still captures a good amount of detail. It’s not great in low light, but that’s usually the case with ultra-wides.
The selfie camera has an ample 50MP resolution and a wide FOV that makes it suitable for group shots. Of course, you can also digitally crop into a more typical focal length. It doesn't seem to have autofocus, which is a bit disappointing, so you’ll need to ensure that you’re standing in the sweet spot for the best results.
The most impressive thing about this camera isn’t the hardware, though, it's a new portrait mode developed in collaboration with legendary Parisian portrait studio Studio Harcourt. And yes, it is essentially just a couple of filters, but they’re really, really good ones.
Harcourt Classic aims to recreate the studio’s signature black and white headshots, and the results can be stunning. It’s most effective with portraits – that’s what the feature is designed for, after all – but I got great results with animals, too.
Harcourt Color is a similar effect, but in color, as the name suggests. It creates images with a lovely warm color palette. Both modes add an artificial bokeh effect, and they seem to accentuate lens flares from light sources, too. Honor’s edge detection is second to none, and I was really impressed with how well it managed to cut out wisps of hair and other difficult scenes.
Finally, there’s a Harcourt Vibrant, and I found this a little less impressive. It processes color similarly to the normal camera modes, and it loses some of that vintage allure that the other modes provide. Still, it might be useful to have if you prefer a poppy vibrant shot.
I was a little disappointed to learn that these effects only work on the main and telephoto rear cameras, so you can’t use them for snapping selfies. I’d love to see support for that added, but maybe this selfie camera didn’t quite get the Harcourt stamp of approval.
When it comes to video shooting, the Honor 200 Pro supports capture at up to 4K 60fps on the main and telephoto cameras, while the ultra-wide and selfie camera max out at 4K 30fps. The resulting videos have great stabilization, and as usual, Honor’s software has tons of features packed in, including full manual controls.
Cameras score: 4 / 5
Honor 200 Pro camera samples
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Honor 200 Pro review: Performance
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Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset
12GB RAM and 512GB storage
The Honor 200 Pro is powered by the new Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, which is supposed to bring some of the flagship Gen 3 experience to more affordable price points. In day-to-day use, I’d say it achieves that goal; the phone feels snappy and apps open quickly with no stuttering or hesitation.
In benchmarks, the difference becomes more apparent. The Honor 200 Pro finds itself lagging behind last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-powered phones in graphical performance, and occasionally beating them in computational workloads. So, it’s not quite top-of-the-line, but it’s still a more capable gaming machine than the Exynos-powered Galaxy S24 or Pixel 8, for example.
I had no issues playing graphically demanding games like Wuthering Waves at maximum settings, so in the real world, the 8s Gen 3 provides more than enough horsepower for most people. The phone does heat up a bit when you give it such a demanding workload, but it always remained comfortable to hold. Honor’s new super-sized vapor chamber is clearly working as it should.
Performance score: 4 / 5
Honor 200 Pro review: Software
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Magic OS 8.0, based on Android 14
The Honor 200 Pro runs Magic OS 8.0, a heavily customized skin that’s built on top of Android 14. This is the same software that we tested on the Honor Magic 6 Pro, and it’s a pretty significant departure from the stock Android experience.
Honor takes some inspiration from Apple for Magic OS. The notification shade and quick settings menu are separated, the app drawer is disabled by default, and there’s even a Dynamic Island-like feature that Honor calls Magic Capsule.
If you’re used to a more traditional Android experience, Magic OS will take some getting used to. On the flip side, if you’re coming from an iPhone, you might have an easier time. As an Android user, I found it jarring at first, but it has grown on me. I especially like the Magic Capsule, as it gives me quick access to my media controls and timers no matter which app I have running in the foreground.
Another great feature is Honor’s Magic Portal. This allows you to drag text or images to the side of your display, and a selection of recommended apps will pop up. Then you can quickly share or search for your selection in the relevant app. I love being able to drag an address into Google Maps for speedy directions, and it’s a really fast way to reverse image search, too.
It’s not all perfect, though. There’s a little bit of bloatware to clean up when you first set up the phone (mostly just Honor’s own apps), and the Magic Capsule had a couple of hiccups during my use. Again, nothing horrific, but it wouldn’t let me tap the media controls at some points, and then it randomly started working again. I am using pre-release software, mind, so in all likelihood, these issues will be ironed out.
Software score: 3 / 5
Honor 200 Pro review: Battery
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5,200mAh silicon-carbon battery
100W wired charging
66W wireless charging
The Honor 200 Pro uses the same cutting-edge battery tech as the Honor Magic 6 Pro to squeeze a 5,200mAh battery pack into a very svelte shell. This means it’ll easily get you through a day of very heavy use, a day and a half poses no issue, and you might even get two days out of a charge if you use it sparingly.
What’s more, the Honor 200 Pro charges up very quickly with the included 100W wall adapter. By my count, it took just 50 minutes to go from completely dead to fully charged. Half an hour on the charger will get you up to around 70%.
It also boasts the same lightning-fast 66W wireless charging speed as the pricier Magic 6 Pro. You’ll need Honor’s SuperCharge stand to get the full power output, but I happen to own one, and it’s impressively quick. It’s well worth the investment to be able just to slap your phone down and have it fully topped up in about an hour.
Battery score: 4 / 5
Should you buy the Honor 200 Pro?
Buy it if...
You want a more affordable version of the Magic 6 Pro There are plenty of similarities between this phone and Honor’s flagship Magic 6 Pro. If you like the look of that device, but it doesn’t fit your budget, then this is a great alternative.
You love taking portrait shots The Studio Harcourt-inspired portrait modes are some of the most impressive I’ve ever seen. If you take lots of portraits, you’re sure to love this phone.
You want a slim phone with great battery life The Honor 200 Pro has a slim chassis and its curved edges make it feel even slimmer. Despite that, it packs one of the biggest batteries in its class and can go a long time in between charges.
Don't buy it if...
You’re an avid selfie snapper While the rest of the cameras impressed, I found the selfie camera underwhelming. There’s no autofocus and you can’t use the awesome Harcourt filters, either.
You love stock Android Honor’s MagicOS 8.0 is a big change from stock Android, and some users are sure to find it overwhelming.
Honor 200 Pro review: Also consider
The Honor 200 Pro delivers impressive specifications and features at a competitive price point, but the competition has plenty to offer, too.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Samsung’s most affordable flagship is a more compact option that doesn’t compromise on specs and quality. If you’re keen on generative AI features, it offers a lot more in that department.
How I tested the Honor 200 Pro
Review test period: Two weeks
Testing included: everyday use including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
Tools used: Geekbench 6, 3DMark, GFXBench, native Android stats, Honor 100W charger and wireless SuperCharge stand
I popped my SIM card into the Honor 200 Pro and lived with it as my main device for around two weeks before reaching any conclusions. I used it exactly as I would use any other phone, taking tons of pictures, gaming, messaging, working, streaming video and navigating with Google Maps.
I also compared the experience of playing graphically demanding games like Wuthering Waves, Genshin Impact and PUBG Mobile to my experiences with other Android flagships like the Honor Magic 6 Pro, Vivo X100 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. In addition, I ran several benchmarks on the handset including 3DMark, GFXbench and Geekbench.
Battery performance was assessed based on my real-world usage and charging times were measured using the included 100W wall adapter and cable. I also tested the wireless charging capabilities with Honor’s Wireless 100W SuperCharge stand.
We tested the UK version. Be aware there may be minor differences between different countries' models.
The Braun TriForce Power Blender (known as the Braun PowerBlend 9 in the UK and Australia) brings all the benefits of the best blenders with a few extras, such as a hot Soup mode and Chop function, thrown in. It's a highly customizable appliance, offering 18 preset blending options – six presets with three texture settings for each – plus 10 manual speeds, a Pulse feature and Clean mode. It comes with 2-liter triangular Tritan jug, a fixed blade and tamper.
The TriForce Power Blender is the flagship model in Braun's countertop jug blender range. Its unique triangular, 2-liter jug sets it apart from other blenders I’ve used. Not just in terms of design, but also because this shape makes sure food rarely gets stuck to the sides. Everything is pulled towards the blades and blended quickly – up to four times faster than rival models, according to Braun.
It offers a wide range of intuitive presets – Smoothie, Soup, Chop, Ice Crush, Frozen Dessert, and Spread – making it super easy to not only make a selection of drinks, dips, butters, desserts at the touch of a button, but to get your ideal consistency time and again. During my tests, it produced an almost perfect smoothie in seconds, despite some tiny flecks of kale; its Spread setting is brilliant for making hummus because it cycles through blending and pulsing; and its Ice Crush feature worked as expected. The ice wasn't as powdery as on other blenders I've tried, but it wasn't far off.
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Elsewhere, you can easily set or change the consistency of anything you make by cycling through the different textures – Smooth, Medium and Coarse – and the manual speeds are varied enough to bring an extra level of precision. The hot soup function is also a pleasant surprise. It turned cubes of vegetables and stock into warm, tasty, comforting soup in less than six minutes. Minimal hassle, minimal mess.
Speaking of mess, the TriForce Power Blender's Clean mode works really well, which is a welcome feature considering you can't remove the blades to clean underneath them. You can also put the jug safely in the dishwasher.
Despite its wide array of features, the TriForce is surprisingly compact, fitting neatly under my cabinets and light enough to move around and store easily. It measures 16.9 x 7.9 x 7.9" / 43 x 20 x 20 cm (H x W x D) and weighs 10.1lbs / 4.6kg. The anti-slip feet and tidy cord storage are thoughtful touches that make it practical and safe for everyday use.
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This blender can get loud, especially at higher speeds, reaching as high as 105db. This is equivalent to having a car horn blasting in your kitchen, which can be uncomfortable at times. But since it blends so quickly, at least it’s a short-lived racket.
In sort, if you're looking for a high-performance blender that can do it all and a little more, and are happy to invest a bit more to get it, the Braun TriForce Power Blender is a great choice. It's a powerful, intuitive addition to your kitchen and while it's far from cheap, it is at least good value, specially if you can get it for one of the many discounts being offered regularly from third-party retailers. That's the short version – read on for my full Braun TriForce / PowerBlend review.
Braun TriForce Power Blender review: price & availability
List price: $249.95 / £199.99 / AU$299
Available in US, UK and Australia
There are three Braun countertop blenders – the $99.95 entry-level Braun PureMix Power Blender (JB7200), the standard $249.95 Braun TriForce Power Blender (JB9040BK) and the $299.95 TriForce Power Blender with Smoothie2Go accessory (JB9040BK). This accessory turns the jug blender into a personal blender for an extra $50. I reviewed the standard TriForce model.
As 2-liter jug blenders go, the TriForce is one of the more expensive models on the market. Few countertop blenders exceed the $200 mark with the exception of those from high-end brands such as Vitamix and Smeg with the $649 Vitamix A3300 Ascent Series, or the $429.95 Smeg Professional Blender. The closest Braun rival, in terms of size and features is the Ninja HB150C/HB152 Foodi Heat-iQ Blender and this sells for $198. It's slightly smaller, but has more automated settings.
In the US, you can buy the TriForce Power Blender from Braun directly, or via a number of third-party resellers including Walmart, Amazon and Target. At the time of writing, the TriForce Power Blender was being sold across these third-party sites for as much as $70 less than its RRP. In fact, only Braun was selling it for its full price.
In the UK, and Australia, the appliance is known as the Braun PowerBlend 9 and you can buy it directly from Braun, as well as Amazon, Debenhams and AO in the UK. In Australia, you can buy it from Braun, Harvey Norman and Appliances Online. Again, few sites in the UK and Australia regularly sell the PowerBlend 9 for its RRP and some regularly sell it for ~£100/AU$150 less.
The Braun TriForce Power Blender is a powerful appliance with a wide range of features that elevate it beyond a simple jug blender. From a hot soup function to a food processor-style chopping feature. As a result, it has a price to match. There are cheaper blenders that perform well against the Braun, but there are also more expensive models that don't live up to its performance. So, while $249.95 seems a little high, it is decent value and you get some of the benefits of multiple appliances for the price of one. Plus, with a number of sites regularly dropping the price, you could get a really good deal.
Value for money score: 4 out of 5
Braun TriForce Power Blender specifications
Braun TriForce Power Blender review: design & features
The first thing I noticed about the Braun TriForce Power Blender is its triangular, 2-liter jug. Most jug blenders have circular or boxy jugs yet Braun has deliberately designed its jug in a way that means food rarely gets stuck to the sides. This is because the sides bring the food closer to the blades, and thus it's constantly being pulled back towards the center due to the centrifugal force. Braun claims this guarantees "faster blended results in less time."
The BPA-Free Tritan triangular jug then slides and locks into place on top of a rubber triangular base, while the jug's lid, complete with small, detachable cap, locks onto the base via two large clips on each side.
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Below the jug is a touchscreen display and rotating dial. Along the display are each of the preset buttons – Smoothie, Soup, Chop, Ice Crush, Frozen Dessert, and Spread – and while I appreciate how self-explanatory they all are, I don't love the use of lowercase font throughout. It's a very minor, almost ridiculous complaint, but it makes the machine look less professional than its price would suggest.
Below these buttons are the Manual and Pulse buttons above the Clean button, on the right-hand side, and the Start/Stop button that doubles up as the control dial in the center. This dial can be used to set the manual speed, when Manual mode is selected, or used to switch between the blender's three iTexture settings: Smooth, Medium or Coarse.
This mix of presets and textures takes the total possible number of automated settings to 18. This extends to 29 settings when you add in the 10 manual speeds and the Pulse function. This is a very impressive number and could feel overwhelming. However, by making every button and setting easy to use and identify, Braun has avoided over-complicating things. This intuitive design even encouraged me to experiment with different settings without fear of breaking it or something going drastically wrong.
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Despite its 2-liter jug and panel of impressive controls, the blender is surprisingly compact measuring 16.9 x 7.9 x 7.9" / 43 x 20 x 20cm (H x W x D). It should fit easily under most kitchen cupboards, even with the jug attached, and will sit neatly in a corner.
It's a lightweight blender too. The base and jug together weigh 10.1lb / 4.6 kg and this makes it easy to move around your countertop, or if you want to store it in a drawer or cupboard. It then has anti-slip feet on the bottom of the base, and a 3ft / 1m cord. Such is its compact and portable nature, the blender was one of the few appliances I was able to leave out on my limited countertops when my kitchen was being remodeled.
The use of black plastic and rubber follows suit with the majority of blenders on the market and while this means it will blend into most aesthetics, it's hardly groundbreaking. The only element that gives the TriForce Power Blender a touch of flair is the green light used to illuminate the Start-Stop button and speed dial. That's not to say it's ugly; rather if you want something with striking looks, this blender may not be for you.
It's also a shame that the blades aren't removable but, thanks to the built-in cleaning mode and the fact the jug is dishwasher-safe, this is another minor flaw that's easily remedied.
Design score: 4.5 out of 5
Braun TriForce Power Blender review: performance
Almost faultless results across various blending tests
Blends quickly and effectively
Presets perform better than manual settings
For my first test of the Braun TriForce Power Blender, I made a kale, blueberry and banana smoothie with almond milk. I add all of the ingredients to the jug, pressed the Smoothie button, selected the Smooth texture, and pushed the Start button. In as little as 20 seconds, the drink looked smooth and well blended but I let the Smoothie setting run to its default time of one minute before pouring the drink.
The resulting drink was almost velvety in texture. I could see tiny flecks of kale and blueberry skin when I looked at the drink, but they were so small I couldn't taste them. If you choose the Medium texture, the total blending time is 44 seconds, and for Coarse it's 42 seconds. I was impressed by how quickly the blender achieved these results, and in my experience it lives up to the brand's claim that it creates food "60% finer and four times faster" than other models.
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Next, I made hummus. I usually have to use a manual setting when making hummus on most blenders I review because they rarely have an appropriate, dedicated setting. On the Braun TriForce Power Blender I used the Spread setting, which the instruction manual says is designed for hummus, pesto and nut butters, and the blender ran for 2 minutes and 20 seconds cycling through a pattern of blending and pulsing.
The resulting hummus was the perfect consistency. It was smooth but thick, making it ideal for dipping vegetable sticks into, while also coating the inside of my mouth with flavor. What's more, I didn't once have to stop the blender to scrape the mixture from the edges, or press it down using the tamper.
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Finally, I used the blender to make crushed ice using the Ice Crush setting. This setting causes the blender to operate in short bursts for 25 seconds to crush the ice to a powder. It worked well, in terms of quickly and effectively blending the ice cubes, but the result was less powdery than other blenders I've used. It was closer to the consistency of a sorbet. There is a very subtle distinction between the two, but whereas other blenders have turned the cubes to light powder, the Braun's crushed ice was more wet so stuck together in clumps. You can easily use it to make frozen drinks but I felt the texture was slightly off.
In addition to the above tests, I also wanted to put the TriForce Power Blender's Soup function to the test. The brand claims you can turn room-temperature ingredients into hot soup in almost six minutes. I tested this by adding chunks of cooked butternut squash, garlic, onion, carrot and a liter of vegetable stock to the blender. I pressed the Soup button, pushed Start and the blender began by chopping the ingredients, before blending and slowly heating them for five minutes and 45 seconds. The result was a slightly coarse, warm soup that lacked some of the depth of soup made on a stove, but was still tasty and comforting.
(Image credit: Future)
The only real downside to all of these pros is how loud the TriForce blender can be. On Speed 1 in Manual mode, it's relatively quiet, averaging 63dB. It was easy to have a conversation with my partner or children while the blender was running at this speed.
However, during my Smoothie and hummus tests, this sound jumped up to an average of 97db. This is equivalent to the sound of a motorcycle engine and feels uncomfortable in such a confined space like my kitchen. On Manual Mode, Speed 9, the average reading was 91db, and it jumped to an average of 105db when crushing the ice cubes. This is equivalent to a phone playing at full volume and just below the sound of a car horn. Any sounds over 85dB for extended periods can cause hearing problems.
Thankfully, because the blender works so quickly and efficiently, these sounds run for less time than they do on other models so at least you don't have to be subjected to them for longer than necessary.
Overall, the TriForce blender's performance is a little hit and miss but largely positive. I was worried, given its wide range of features, that it would be a Jack of all trades, master of none but this is far from the case. I also appreciate the different ways I can customise my drinks and food and this makes up for any of the blender's shortcomings in my opinion and experience. Mainly because if I want a different texture, or the presets don't work as I want, I have a range of ways to correct it and tweak it until they do.
Performance score: 4.5 out of 5
Should I buy the Braun TriForce Power Blender?
Buy it if...
Don’t buy it if...
How I tested the Braun TriForce Power Blender
I used it to blend drinks, food and ice
I checked the noise level at different speeds
I assessed how easy it was to clean
I used the Braun TriForce Power Blender in my own home for four weeks, making smoothies, sauces, hummus, soup and crushed ice.
I assessed how simple it was to set the blender up, how easy and intuitive it is to navigate the different presets and textures, how well it performed different tasks, its noise levels and how easy it was to clean.
I’ve been reviewing home and kitchen appliances for more than 15 years and have a wealth of knowledge and experience to draw on when assessing how well a product such as a blender performs.
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro for Console: one-minute review
The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro’s latest incarnation is the wireless gaming headset that does it all, improving on its predecessor in the most important areas, and can now make a claim to be among the best wireless gaming headsets.
The battery life is stated at 70 hours, and while we’ve been testing it that figure has held true. Razer’s also clearly proud of the revamped ‘hyperclear super wideband’ mic, and rightly so - it offers great clarity and body out of the box, and using the Synapse software you can push it to even higher fidelity levels. The sound quality might not be audiophile-grade, but it’s nice and neutral, and the comfort and finish really convey that this is a step up from the cheaper BlackShark V2.
It also works as a PS5 headset, Xbox Series X headset, Nintendo Switch headset, is compatible with mobile devices, and except for the slight inconvenience of not being able to use it over a wired 3.5mm connection on them, its strengths shine through on those platforms too.
Since we started testing with it, we haven’t once felt the need to return to another headset.
(Image credit: Future/Phil Iwaniuk)
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro for Console: Price and availability
List price: $199 / £199 / AU$349
Available in the UK, US, and AUS
UK pricing feels steep
Conversion rates don’t favor the British consumer here - the Blackshark V2 Pro for Console is a costlier acquisition on one side of the pond than the other since they’re both pitched at £199 / $199.
That makes this model more expensive than the previous version, and slightly pricier than Steelseries’ Arctis Nova 7x which retails for $179.99 / £174.99. It’s going up against competitors’ flagship headsets like Corsair’s Virtuoso range and Logitech’s G Pro X Wireless ($245 / £219). Happily, the build quality and features match up favorably against even these slightly pricier options.
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro for Console: Specs
(Image credit: Future/Phil Iwaniuk)
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro for Console: Design and features
Gorgeous stealthy aesthetic
Great comfort
Handy detachable mic
Razer’s esports ties with the likes of Optic, Mouz, and Edward Gaming really show through in the ruthlessly functional design of the BlackShark headset range. Gone is the battery-sapping RGB and the feature bloat, and what’s left is an MMA fighter of a headset. Not an ounce of fat to be seen across its all-black earcups and headband, although when you look closely there are nods to its premium pricing - gloss finish Razer logos on the earcups, a gloss Razer imprint at the top of the headband, and some immaculate stitching between the pleather headband upper and the cushioned fabric lower sections. We love how this headset looks, and while that’s a totally subjective take, the visual and tactical upgrade from the cheaper BlackShark V2 to this model is not. It looks and feels more premium.
The inner headband and earcups are finished in breathable lightweight fabric, and while that has implications on both isolation and sound reproduction which we’ll cover in the performance section below, it’s the right call for comfort. If you’re looking for a pair of cans to combat the sweaty summer sessions, the BlackShark’s materials and relatively light clamping force ensure cooler temps and a floating-style fit that’s reminiscent of Arctis headsets and their ski goggle headbands.
Another welcome upgrade to its cheaper stablemates is the detachable mic. We always value the flexibility of using a headset with or without a mic, as it means we can take it on the road and enjoy Bluetooth connectivity as a smartphone headset without looking too conspicuous.
We’ve put in some long shifts during our testing. Full race distances in F1 24; hours of Unreal Engine 5 reverie with Senua’s Saga:Hellblade 2; hard-to-justify afternoons lost in Unreal Tournament ‘99; during all of them this headset felt airy but snugly attached, beautifully cushioned, and lightweight enough to simply forget we were wearing it.
(Image credit: Future/Phil Iwaniuk)
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro for Console: Performance
Strikingly clear mic audio
Less isolation than previous models
Still stronger on PC compared to console
Into the nitty-gritty, then. This being a performance-focused product range that wears its esports creds proudly, you have to hold the BlackShark V2 Pro for Console to the highest standards. Whether it meets those standards depends on your use case.
As a PC gaming headset it benefits from Synapse’s easy profile tweaking and saving, and when also being used via USB-C - so we could keep playing while we charged - it’s hard to fault this headset. But since that’s kind of the point of a review, here’s one small gripe: the physical controls lack a chat mix dial as you’d find on a SteelSeries Arctis headset.
You can adjust chat mix easily via Razer’s Synapse app, but to us that almost defeats the point - you could just as easily tweak the mix by adjusting the relative volumes of your game and your friends via the game audio sliders and Discord’s output sliders. Having a physical dial means you don’t have to, and that’s the only thing we felt was missing here during our time with this headset.
Sound quality, however, is absolutely not lacking. The 50mm drivers aren’t tuned to produce a truly flat frequency response like an audiophile might prefer. But the frequency response curve is more neutral than you might expect from a gaming headset, and that gives it a great out-of-the-box body and clarity which you can dial in to meet your tastes with either the physical EQ profile switcher button on the righthand earcup’s rear, or via Synapse. Usually, we stuck with the ‘game’ EQ preset throughout, even when watching videos or listening to Spotify.
(Image credit: Future/Phil Iwaniuk)
Minor point here, but shoutout to Razer’s best-in-class audio cues when you power on, change an EQ preset, or mute the mic. Rather than cryptic bleeps or 2000s-grade text-to-speech, you hear a crystal clear voice telling you the settings you’re adjusting, and that really elevates the experience of using Razer headsets.
Onto the mic: it really is audibly better than both the cheaper BlackShark V2 and the previous iteration of the BlackShark V2 Pro. You notice it most on sibilant consonant sounds - ‘S’ and ‘Z’, with the wideband mic capturing more of the high-end detail here to accompany what was already a beefy midrange in the mic’s previous version.
On the product page you can hear a sample from the mic that sounds basically broadcast quality - in our experience you need to draft in Synapse and apply one of the presets to hit those lofty heights, but when you’re speaking via default mic settings on PC or console it’s still very clear and with enough midrange to stand proud of the game audio mix.
The only black marks against the BlackShark, then, are that you can’t make use of Synapse’s functionality on consoles or play via a wired connection. How big a deal those are really depends on your use case - if you're looking for something premium to use first on PC and then with as a PS4 headset or Xbox One headset, for example, this might be easy to overlook.
We use this headset across all our devices, primarily on PC. In this scenario, we can certainly live with those minor console issues, but if you’re buying this exclusively to use with a console it’s more significant.
Should you buy the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro for Console?
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
Also consider...
If the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro doesn’t get a bite from you, there’s plenty more fish in the sea.
How I tested the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro for Console
100+ hours of testing
Used with competitive games, cinematic experiences, and Discord chat
Battery life and recharge time measured
We donned the BlackShark V2 Pros for many hours of F1 24, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, and golden oldie Unreal Tournament 99, and it also accompanied us on our continuing, crippling, PUBG habit where team comms are crucial.
I've been through my fair share of fans over the years, ranging from small desktop ones (shout out to my original Woolworths desk fan) to larger air circulators. And as excellent as some of those have been, few can match the versatility of the Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan. If you want something that adapts to pretty much any situation, this could well be the best fan for you.
For this review I tested the UK version, but the SharkBreeze is also available in the US (there may be very minor differences, but it's essentially the same product). For avoidance of doubt, these are the names and product codes for the US and UK:
US: Shark FlexBreeze Fan With InstaCool Mist Attachment FA222
UK: Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan FA220UK
Shark has built a name for itself as the brand behind some of the best vacuum cleaners on the market, and its sister company Ninja is well respected in the kitchen appliance space, particularly when it comes to the best air fryers. Shark isn't particularly known for its fans, though. The Shark FlexBreeze, nonetheless, is a classic SharkNinja product – that is, one that's especially clever and capable replacing a couple of different products in a top-class, well-engineered package.
This is largely because the FlexBreeze is a fan that can be used in as many different ways as you can think of, whether it's as a conventional pedestal fan or as a desktop fan with its fold-out legs. It also has a mister attachment for use outdoors with cooling water directly from an outdoor tap and can be corded or cordless and run for up to 24 hours away from the mains. This makes it an ideal fan for use virtually anywhere in your home, and it's a fan that's so good, that I've purchased two of them.
(Image credit: Future)
There are five fan speeds on offer, and even at full blast the FlexBreeze is a quiet performer, while also being able to push air so you can feel it from up to 70 feet away. It is virtually silent on its lowest setting too, and worked a treat in a bedroom when I was trying to sleep. It's also UV and rain-resistant and has no trouble working outside, while the InstaCool mister attachment fires out two reasonably powerful jets of water that create a cooling mist.
The FlexBreeze is by no means a perfect fan, though. It lacks advanced features such as app control and more granular control for fan speeds, offering only five levels. Unlike other fans and air circulators, it also lacks any form of automatic vertical oscillation, although offers up to 55 degrees of manual tilt and 180 degrees of automatic oscillation horizontally. However, where the FlexBreeze really wins is on its quietness, versatility and ease of use – all of which will be expanded on below.
Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan review: price & availability
List price: $199.99 / £199.99
Launch date: April 2024
Availability: UK/US
The Shark FlexBreeze is a premium fan, carrying an appropriately weighty £199.99 / $199.99 price tag, and comes in a single configuration – that's as a fan with cover, magnetic remote control and mister attachment, suitable for use as a pedestal fan and, with its integrated legs, as a tabletop fan. Interestingly, the fan carries different names in the UK and US, as is typical with SharkNinja products. In the UK, it's the Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan, while in the US, it's the Shark FlexBreeze Fan with InstaCool Attachment.
With that higher price tag, it's pitted against top-class floor-based options such as the Meaco MeacoFan 1056P and the Dreo PolyFan 704S, although Shark's option is unique among its contemporaries. That's because it can operate both as a pedestal fan and as a table fan with integrated legs, without the need for a cable, and it can also be used outdoors, with its mister attachment if required. No other fan offers as much versatility as the FlexBreeze, making it an excellent-value purchase if you want a do-it-all fan that can work virtually anywhere.
Compared to more conventional table fans, it is quite chunky and heavy with a larger plastic fan head than others, making it a little unwieldy to place on smaller tables or surfaces. That said, the FlexBreeze's entirely plastic construction remains sturdy in all configurations, which, alongside its accessories and versatility, goes a long way towards justifying the price tag.
Value for money score: 4 out of 5
Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan review: design
Entirely plastic construction
Works either as a pedestal fan or as a table fan
Comes with a mister attachment for use outdoors
The Shark FlexBreeze in its default configuration is akin to a typical pedestal fan, with a large fan head atop a skinnier stand with base at the bottom. Available only in black, it sets itself apart from the sea of white and silver fans out there, including the Meaco MeacoFan 1056P and Dreo Polyfan 704S, and sits well both in my front room and out in the garden. That being said, the entirely plastic construction would have benefitted from some metal accents and differing materials to help justify its premium price tag.
There is a small handle on the top of the fan head for easy maneuverability, while its 12.2lbs / 5.6kg weight makes it lighter than the competition, and simple to pick up and place wherever you need it to be. The 13.77 x 13.77" / 35 x 35cm base is quite large, although the FlexBreeze is still compact enough to fit in the corner of a small bedroom if needs be, while being able to move a substantial amount of air with its larger head.
The 37" / 94cm height thanks to the pedestal raises it up to a suitable level for use while sitting at a desk, on a sofa or for use in bed, while the fan head can also be angled up or down manually for more targeted airflow. There are up to 55 degrees of tilt here, and 180 degrees of oscillation. That being said, the FlexBreeze lacks the automatic vertical oscillation of other fans, although it can oscillate horizontally via the remote control.
(Image credit: Future)
The clever thing about the FlexBreeze is that the fan head can be detached from the pedestal with a small button on the back side of its shaft, revealing some small fold-out legs so that it can be used as a tabletop option. The plastic legs are sturdy enough, and do a good job of keeping the FlexBreeze stable. Combined with its handle, the small fold-out legs make this an especially portable fan for use all around the home.
The fan element contains three large blades in grey, offsetting the black colorway well, with a plastic grille that has a small Shark logo in its middle. It continues the black look found across the fan, and springs little surprises. The back of the fan head is home to a small magnetic panel with an indent for the FlexBreeze's simple remote control.
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If the remote control isn't your preferred control method, there is a small selection of dedicated controls on the fan head's top side for power, oscillation and speed. The fan speed is in five levels, indicated by a small bar on the top edge of the grille with five LED lights. Next to those lights is a battery indicator for the FlexBreeze when used cordlessly – depending on the level, it is either green, orange or red. When plugged in, it pulses white.
The FlexBreeze comes with no app control or smart features, although comes with a small cover for stowing away, and a mister attachment. This is known as InstaCool, and attaches magnetically on one end to the logo plate in the middle of the fan head, while the other attaches to a hose outlet. When turned on, it provides a cool mist of water directly from an outdoor tap, which is handy for the hot summer months when air on its own just won't do.
For the most part, the Shark FlexBreeze offers a well-considered and versatile design, with a sturdy plastic finish and convenient accessories. Some additional style accents wouldn't have gone amiss, but on the whole its solid finish helps to justify its price.
Design score: 4 out of 5
Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan review: performance
The FlexBreeze performs excellently on its five different fan speeds, with even the lowest setting providing ample push to reach me across the other side of my living room, or indeed the patio outside. Its airflow is cold, and helped to cool me and the room down by a fair margin in a matter of moments.
Of course, the faster the fan goes, the more airflow there is, and at full tilt the FlexBreeze doesn't half cool down a room quickly. Shark claims that the FlexBreeze can make a room feel up to 10 degrees cooler, which is welcome for particularly stuffy days.
(Image credit: Future)
While the fan isn't silent on its most powerful setting, it remains whisper-quiet and isn't so overpowering that the noise will disturb any conversations or sound from a television. From the base level to its middle option, however, the FlexBreeze is virtually silent, and if you're a light sleeper this isn't a fan that's going to disturb your slumber. I had the fan on its pedestal level with my mattress, and its airflow wafted over me on the lowest setting, helping to cool both me and the room around me impeccably.
If you have a particularly large room or outdoor area, then the BreezeBlast mode (enabled when the fan is on its most powerful setting), which can drive its airflow up to 70 feet away, is going to be king, and worked a treat when placed at one end of my garden, with me sitting at the other. It may not be the biggest area and nowhere near 70 feet in length, but it works nonetheless.
(Image credit: Future)
Speaking of outdoor use, it's also good to know that the FlexBreeze is both UV and rain-resistant, meaning you can use it come rain or shine, and being cordless also makes it an ideal companion on a warm day without a cable trailing from indoors. The InstaCool mister attachment worked a treat too, attaching to the fan head via magnets, and hooking up to my outdoor tap in a matter of moments. It pushes out two quite powerful jets of misted water, which did an excellent job of cooling me down on a particularly warm day.
It can be used either corded, with a small power brick and long cable, or cordless, which is handy for portability and putting the fan exactly where you want it. Battery life is solid too, with the FlexBreeze offering up to 24 hours of runtime away from the mains, giving you a literal day's worth of runtime. My testing matched up with Shark's figures, with it requiring a charge every two or three days when used on the base fan level without the need for oscillation. It can also be used while charging, too, so you aren't missing out on valuable time being cool.
The FlexBreeze isn't perfect, however, lacking the MeacoFan 1056P's sheer number of speed modes for instance, or customization of those fan speeds, such as a sleep mode and eco mode. These would have been pleasant to see on the FlexBreeze, although Shark's option wins in other ways.
Performance score: 4 out of 5
Should you buy the Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan?
Buy it if…
Don't buy it if…
How I tested the Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan
I used the Shark FlexBreeze for three weeks around my house, positioning it in various rooms including the master bedroom, office, living room and outdoors in the garden and patio.
I used it every day on all of its speeds and on particularly warm nights. When it was a pleasant day outside, I also used it outside with the InstaCool mister attachment for a blast of cool water. I also measured its battery life and used it both on its pedestal and as a desktop fan.
Google's Gemini app for Android is finally available in the UK and EU, many months after its original introduction. You can download it from the Play Store. You can of course use Google's Gemini inside the app, and it can even take over from the Google Assistant if you want it to.
It has to be either or, you can't have both functioning as your assistant at the same time, so you'll have to make a choice on the matter. Also note that Gemini currently can't interact with your smart home devices, so if you have a lot of those it's probably best to stick with the Google Assistant for...
