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Samsung Odyssey S32G80SD review: a supreme 4K gaming monitor
10:00 am | June 4, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Two-minute review

The Samsung Odyssey S32G80SD seems to want to be all things to all people. While it ticks pretty much every gaming box you’d expect a gaming monitor to tick (and then some), it also just so happens to be a stunning video display.

At the heart of its multifaceted talents is one of Samsung’s latest Quantum Dot OLED panels, here delivered in a flat 32-inch screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Samsung has managed to fit a full 4K resolution into this gaming monitor, backed up by support for a 240Hz refresh rate.

Where the S32G80SD really kicks up a gear, though, is with a trio of remarkable new features. First, a potent new screen filter enhances gaming immersion and contrast by somehow suppressing almost all reflections from your room. Second, pictures are driven by the same ultra-powerful processor deployed in Samsung’s flagship 8K TVs. Third, a new ultra-efficient cooling system has been built into the S32G80SD’s OLED screen to protect it more effectively than any other OLED monitor from potential heat damage.

Add to these ground-breaking features insanely precise and vibrant gaming images and a video performance that humbles many premium TVs, and the S32G80SD’s initially hefty-looking $1,499 / £1,099 price suddenly doesn’t look unreasonable at all. 

The Samsung S32G80SD viewed from a slight angle.

(Image credit: Future)

Price and availability

  • Price at $1,499 / £1,099.99
  • Available in the US and UK

The Samsung Odyssey S32G80SD is available from the first week of July, priced at $1,499 in the US in the US and £1,099.99 in the UK. That represents a serious hunk of change in a world where 32-inch HDR-capable monitors such as the recently tested Gigabyte GS32QC can be had for $250 / £250, but the S32G80SD does one heck of a job of justifying that cost.

It’s built around a premium Quantum Dot type of OLED panel for starters, with all the innate picture quality advantages that it brings. Around that screen, moreover, Samsung has built a gorgeous-looking chassis packed with premium processing and hardware features the like of which, in some cases, the monitor world hasn’t seen before. 

Specs

The corner of the Samsung S32G80SD.

(Image credit: Future)

Samsung Odyssey S32G80SD: Design

The S32G80SD looks and feels every inch a premium monitor. Build quality for the 32-inch, 16:9 flat screen is excellent, as a silvery metallic sheath wraps around from the outer edges of the bezel to cover the rear panel. This is replicated, too, over the handsome, heavy-duty hexagonal desktop foot. The rear panel is on-trend slim, but still finds room for some elegant arcs and curves, while the stand neck features a reflection-free corrugated black finish on its front edge and a cable tidy ‘ring’ on its rear.

Against such a subtle and refined design the appearance of a ring of colored LEDs around the stand attach point feels a bit garish at first. Thankfully you can turn this light show off if you wish - though actually, over time I grew to quite like the extra immersion it brings to gaming.

Impressively the S32G80SD’s screen attaches to the neck and the neck attaches to the stand simply by twisting them together until they click into place. There’s not a screw in sight. The screen can tilt, swivel, pivot, and slide up and down on the stand, and there’s support for VESA mounting if you want to move away from the provided stand. 

Connections are rather awkwardly positioned but impressively include two high bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports as well as two USB-C ports, one USB-B port, and a DisplayPort (1.4). The S32G80SD ships with a small but ergonomic remote control that features a USB-C charge point on the bottom and, even better, a solar panel on its rear. 

The rear lighting of the Samsung S32G80SD.

(Image credit: Future)

Samsung Odyssey S32G80SD: Features

The Samsung Odyssey S32G80SD’s epic roster of features kicks off with its use of one of Samsung’s new Quantum Dot OLED type of screens, which are already renowned for their remarkable color and contrast properties. What’s more, using a 16:9 aspect ratio has allowed Samsung to squeeze in a native 4K/UHD pixel count of 3840x2160.

The screen sports arguably the most effective anti-reflection filter I’ve ever seen on a monitor. General ambient light and mildly reflective objects in your room are rejected pretty much completely, while even harsh direct lights positioned directly opposite the screen are dispersed to a degree where you barely notice them even when you’re wandering around the dark underground environments in Shadow Of The Tomb Raider. There’s no overstating how much this reflection suppression enhances your immersion in whatever you’re watching or playing.

Anyone concerned about OLED’s susceptibility to screen burn-in should be very interested indeed in the S32G80SD’s new Pulsating Heat Pipe cooling system. This condenses or evaporates coolant contained in tiny pipes that run behind the screen to control heat where necessary without any compromise to image brightness.

This potentially game-changing new OLED panel protection feature is joined by more traditional ones such as local dimming of logo/HUD elements, general ‘thermal modulation’ (brightness control), and a screen saver.

The gaming hub application of the Samsung S32G80SD.

(Image credit: Future)

The S32G80SD is powered by what has to surely be the most powerful processor in the gaming monitor world. Samsung has essentially ported in an optimized version of the Neo Quantum 8 AI Gen 3 processor used in Samsung’s latest, highly acclaimed flagship 8K TVs. This might sound like overkill for a 4K monitor, but it really does make sense to apply to a gaming monitor a processor able to handle vast amounts of pixels, motion, color, and multi-window management (including simultaneous playback of different external AV sources) in real-time backed up by a knowledge base derived from no less than 512 separate neural networks. 

The S32G80SD also carries the same Tizen operating system, with a few monitor-specific tweaks, used in Samsung’s latest gaming TVs. This means you get access to Samsung’s excellent Game Hub, which brings together your external game devices as well as streamed gaming services like Xbox Game Pass, NVidia GeForce Now, Boosteroid, and Utomic into one attractive and intelligently curated dedicated home screen. A ‘Daily+’ section of the Tizen interface also provides monitor-friendly features such as Easy PC setup, Remote PC support for PCs and Macs, Microsoft 365, and Samsung’s DeX system, while the home screen additionally gives you access to a great selection of video streaming apps. Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Disney+, and Apple TV, for instance, are all present and correct, as are many of the UK’s most popular terrestrial broadcaster catch-up platforms.

Almost every aspect of the S32G80SD’s features can be controlled by voice commands using either the Bixby or Alexa voice recognition systems, often giving you an excellent shortcut without having to delve into the on-screen menu system.

Alongside the relatively unusual and premium features detailed so far, of course, are plenty of other modern gaming staples. There’s support for 240Hz, for instance, as well as 120Hz with native 4K feeds meaning it is firmly positioned to offer a premium PS5 monitor or Xbox Series X monitor solution. Variable refresh rates are supported in the core HDMI and AMD Freesync (though not NVIDIA G-Sync) flavors, while Auto Low Latency Mode switching (ALLM) is provided so that the TV can switch into a video or gaming mode automatically depending on what sort of content you’re playing on your console or PC.

You can also call up a dedicated Game Bar menu while gaming to get game signal information and fast access to gaming assistants such as an onscreen crosshair, and a couple of motion enhancement levels if you want to reduce judder at the cost of a little screen response time, and the option to raise the brightness level of dark areas without impacting the rest of the picture. 

When it comes to HDR, finally, the S32G80SD supports the HDR10, HLG, and HDR10+ formats. There’s no support for the popular Dolby Vision system.

The Samsung Odyssey S32G80SD gaming monitor on a table with an Xbox Series X

(Image credit: Future/John Archer)

Samsung Odyssey S32G80SD: Performance

The Odyssey S32G80SD’s combination of a top-end OLED panel and ground-breaking new processing and features delivers images that are consistently jaw-dropping. And not just with games, either.

In fact, because it's so monumentally good with video compared with any other monitor I’ve seen, that’s where I’m going to start. With streamed video or external video sources, for starters, immaculately deep and clean black levels combine with pristine bright whites and rich colors without the slightest hint of compromise - even when the lightest and darkest parts of an HDR image are just a pixel apart.

Sharpness and detail are out of this world, as cramming a 4K pixel count into a 32-inch screen delivers a pixel pitch so small that high-quality 4K sources essentially just look like real life rather than something a screen is producing. The hugely powerful NQ8 AI Gen 3 processor delivers the most natural, detailed, and dense upscaling of sub-4K content I’ve ever seen on a monitor too. Please note, though, that while it’s fine with internal apps and connected video devices and consoles, the upscaling doesn’t work if the monitor is set to its PC mode.  

Colors are gorgeously rich (bolstered by the pure RGB architecture of the QD-OLED panel), but also full of nuance and balance. They enjoy totally natural video tones, too - something most other monitors find very difficult to achieve.

Viewing angles are pretty much infinite, while the ability of the NQ8 AI processor to show even small objects like tennis or cricket balls without them phasing in and out of the picture is like nothing I’ve seen before on a monitor.

You have to be a little careful with some of the S32G80SD’s video settings. I’d recommend avoiding the garish Dynamic preset, turning off the Auto Picture clarity mode, and choosing a custom setting with the Blur and Judder reduction elements set no higher than their level five. I’d also turn off Dynamic Tone Mapping, as it can cause some brightness instability with HDR sources. 

The rear ports of the Samsung S32G80SD.

(Image credit: Future)

Set up correctly, though, the S32G80SD’s video images are nothing short of a revelation.

While the S32G80SD’s video mastery might be its biggest surprise, though, it is also, of course, a joyously brilliant gaming display. The sense of detail with native 4K games like Ori And The Will Of The Wisp delivered from an Xbox Series X is out of this world, for starters. In fact, the extra sense of the beauty of Ori’s world I got when running the game in 4K 120Hz on such an incredibly precise monitor actually felt a bit emotional!

Contributing to this sense of absolute precision is the OLED panel’s ability to control the light output of every individual pixel, which yields a gorgeously refined but also at times remarkably dynamic and intense sense of contrast. The range of colors the S32G80SD can cover (I measured 100% of sRGB and a whopping 99.2% of the DCI-P3 gamut) with almost infinite tonal subtlety plays a part in the immaculate finish of high-quality gaming images too.

If you’ve got a gaming PC capable of running 240Hz smoothly, you’ll find the S32G80SD more than up to the job of doing full justice to it. Unfortunately, neither this nor an incredibly fast screen response time of 0.03ms Grey to Grey could stop me sucking at Fortnite on PC - but at least getting hammered looked nicer.

Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3 on PS5 looked and played better than I’ve ever experienced before on a monitor, too, while the beguiling world of Baldur’s Gate 3 on console and PC became even more enticing and rich looking - especially with the Game Motion Plus tool called in to smooth away any slight judder.

Games streamed from the many services the S32G80SD’s Game Hub carries are all handled extremely slickly too, thanks to the monitor’s high-bandwidth Wi-Fi system and processing architecture expressly designed to minimize lag.

It’s tough to find anything negative to say about the S32G80SD’s image performance. The Dynamic Tone Mapping option set to on by default in the Standard video preset can cause some distracting brightness instability with video sources, and I guess the image isn’t spectacularly bright in HDR or SDR (319 nits and 190 nits respectively on a 10% measurement window) mode.  On the brightness point, though, the pinpoint precision of the OLED lighting, the reflection-free screen, a pretty high claimed typical brightness of 250 nits, and the impressive potential to hit nearly 1000 nits when showing small HDR highlights all add up to a typically quite rich and punchy HDR performance.

The S32G80SD partners its imperious pictures with a stereo 5W sound system. This is not, inevitably, in the same realm of brilliance as the picture quality is, but it does deliver game and film soundtracks with a decent sense of clarity and busyness, and without succumbing to distortion even at almost maximum volume. There isn’t much bass around, maximum volumes are limited and the sound lacks forward impact and impetus. But it’s perfectly acceptable, for the most part, for users who are likely to be sat quite close to the screen.

All in all, while not cheap by 32-inch monitor standards, the Samsung Odyssey S32G80SD does more than enough in the feature and, especially, image quality departments to justify its cost. While there are a couple of notable absentees in the form of Nvidia G-Sync and Dolby Vision support, the S32G80SD compensates for this with a raft of new unique cutting-edge performance enhancements and a remarkable ability to be a fantastic video screen as well as a brilliant and wonderfully immersive gaming monitor.

A picture of the Samsung Odyssey S32G80SD gaming monitor with a close up on its game menu while sitting on a table

(Image credit: Future/John Archer)

Should you buy the Samsung Odyssey S32G80SD?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

 Also Consider

Not sold on the Samsung Odyssey S32G80SD? Here are two good alternatives to consider. 

The rear of the Samsung S32G80SD.

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Samsung Odyssey S32G80SD

  • Tested over 12 days
  • Used for gaming, productivity, and media consumption
  • Tested with plenty of games

Over the course of the 12 days I spent with the Samsung S32G80SD before writing this review, it was liberally used not just as a desktop display and gaming monitor, but also, once I realized how good it was with video, as a screen for watching streamed video from the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

I’ve never spent anywhere near as much time watching video on a gaming monitor as I did with the S32G80SD, in fact. But then I’ve never previously come across a video that’s so brilliant at showing video.

This didn’t prevent me from getting many (many!) hours of both work and play out of the monitor too, though. Calman software was used to measure the screen’s color capabilities and accuracy, along with a Murideo signal generator and Minolta colorimeter.

Games that found themselves in regular rotation were Fortnite and Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 on a PC; Ori And The Will of The Wisp, Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Baldur’s Gate 3 on Xbox Series X; and Fortnite and Elden Ring on PS5. 

Tests were done for video, desktop and gaming uses in both HDR and SDR modes. 

Read more about how we test

First reviewed June 2024

Reuters: TikTok is splitting its algorithm code to appease the US
1:19 am | June 1, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: | Comments: Off

TikTok is preparing a second version of its algorithm code for its 170 million users in the United States, reports Reuters. According to multiple sources who spoke to the agency, the work on splitting the code began late last year, predating the Congress-approved bill that wants ByteDance to sell its business in the United States or be banned from the country. The social media owner initially declined to comment, but later, a statement was posted on X, saying the story was “misleading and factually inaccurate” without providing further info on what exactly is inaccurate. The report...

Dreo PolyFan 704S smart fan review
6:01 pm | May 31, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Dreo PolyFan 704S two-minute review

As someone who is always hot and has been known to wear flip flops and shorts when in winter, I own – and have tested – a huge number of fans in my time. This includes cheap, desktop models right up to Dyson behemoths and I can honestly say the Dreo PolyFan 704S beats them all. 

It's a high-performing, smart pedestal fan that comes with a huge, and impressive array of features. Not only does it provide nine speeds of powerful airflow that cools you down without ever leaving you feeling icy cold, it covers a huge distance. Despite its relatively small, 9" / 22.7cm fan head. This is due to its huge 110ft / 33.5m wind distance coupled with the fact you can angle it by 150-degrees horizontal and 120 degrees vertical. Even in Turbo mode, where the fan operates at maximum speed, the fan is surprisingly quiet, while in Sleep mode and at lower speeds you can barely tell it's on. So much so I often went to turn the fan on, via the app, before realizing it was already running. 

Dreo PolyFan 704S

(Image credit: Future)

Speaking of the app, the fan comes with Wi-Fi built in which means that you can connect and control it from both your phone, as well as your voice through smart speaker integration. Via the Dreo app you can set the angle, control the speed and oscillation, set timers and schedules and even customize the fan to match its speed to the room's ambient temperature. Or, via Alexa or Google Home, you can turn the fan on and off, increase or decrease the fan speed, and even adjust the angle by as little as one-degree increments, hands-free. 

It's not perfect. The premium features and performance are let down slightly by the fan's plastic stand, which makes it look and feel cheap. I'd also like the option to change the oscillation speed but these are very minor points. In all my time testing the best fans, I'm yet to find a fan that ticks as many boxes as the Dreo PolyFan 704S and this makes it great value for money and a worthwhile investment. 

Dreo PolyFan 704S review: price and availability

  • List price: $149.99 (silver); $159.99 (gold)
  • Only available in the US

There are four models in Dreo's PolyFan range, starting with the entry-level $89.99 PolyFan 311 up to the flagship $199.99 PolyFan 715S. The Dreo 704S launched in Spring 2024 and, at $149.99 for the silver version, sits just below the flagship in terms of price and features. You can alternatively buy a gold model for $159.99.

This makes the 704S one of the more expensive pedestal fans, not just in the Dreo range but more widely too. You can buy basic pedestal fans for around $50, while good-quality pedestal fans tend to cost $100. However, when you add smart features like those seen on the 704S, these prices rise to between $130-$150 meaning Dreo's model is on a par with its rivals.  

You can buy the PolyFan 704S direct from Dreo in the US, as well as Amazon, and Walmart. 

The best like-for-like alternative to the Dreo 704S is the $135 Ofuzzi Breeze 10 Pro+. It offers similar app and voice controls, is almost as quiet and has a slightly narrower, 140 degree horizontal oscillation range. It only produces half the wind distance and the app isn't available on the Google Play Store; you have to download it via the Ofuzzi website. 

While $149.99 isn't cheap, especially when you can get a standard pedestal fan for a third of the price, the Dreo 704S is priced fairly compared to similar models on the market. You're largely paying for the smart features and the fan's power, but both are more than worth the investment making the fan great value in my opinion. 

  • Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5  

Dreo PolyFan 704S review: specs

Dreo PolyFan 704S review: design

  • Plastic, conical stand feels and looks cheap
  • By contrast, the fan head is high-end
  • Touch controls and display
  • Adjustable height + vertical oscillation is welcome

The Dreo 704S isn't the most elegant pedestal fan I've used. I reviewed the silver model and while the fan head is classy and well-built, the plastic, conical and chunky design of the stand and base makes the overall fan look and feel cheap. That's not to say it's ugly; it will comfortably fit in to most people's homes but I would have preferred more metal accents or features to give it a more premium feel to suit its price. 

The major plus side to this, however, is that the fan is easy to move around. It weighs 17.82lb / 8.1kg and has a handle on the rear to make it comfortable to pick up and reposition. The base measures 13.7 x 8.7" / 34.8 x 22.1cm (D x W), making the 704S compact enough for tight spaces while still feeling sturdy and secure and delivering powerful airflow.

Dreo PolyFan 704S

(Image credit: Future)

The fan head sits between two arms that allow for an impressive range of oscillation, both horizontally and vertically. As you change the fan head's position, it glides smoothly between these arms and looks high-end. The fan itself is made using three blades (said to have been inspired by the wings of an owl) behind a 9" / 22.7cm circular protective grille. In stark contrast to the plastic stand and base, the fan head and grille look and feel high-end. 

The fan's touch controls are then aligned vertically down the front of the base. From top to bottom: 

Dreo PolyFan 704S controls

(Image credit: Future)
  • Wi-Fi indicator light
  • Power button
  • Fan speed – 1-9
  • Fan mode – Normal, Natural, Sleep, Turbo, Custom, and Auto
  • Timer – up to 12 hours
  • Vertical oscillation 
  • Horizontal oscillation

You can also control the fan via remote control, or by connecting it to the Dreo app. This remote control can be stored on the fan's base via a small clip, to avoid it getting lost. However, I rarely used the remote – favoring the touch controls or the app – so it hardly ever left this clip. 

At its tallest, the fan measures 42.5" / 108cm but can be dropped down as low as 37.5" / 93.5 cm. This range is more than adequate for when your sat on sofa, working at a desk or lying in bed. What's more, the fact you can tilt the head up on its 120 degrees vertical axis adds significantly to this height and range. I often stood over the 704S with the fan tilted towards my face in between reps, while working out. This is a very welcome bonus. 

The majority of elements on the 704S fan are well considered. It's a shame it's let down by its plastic look and feel but this is a relatively minor flaw in an otherwise attractive and well-designed appliance. 

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Dreo PolyFan 704S review: performance

  • Whisper quiet, even on Normal mode
  • Extremely powerful, even on the lowest settings 
  • App adds unprecedented control and customization 

While the design of the Dreo PolyFan 704S has a couple of flaws, the same can't be said for its performance. It's rare for me to say this, but I'm struggling to find fault with it. 

Even on the lowest setting, the fan is powerful and effective. I could sit on the other side of the room and still feel the wind touching me. The air itself is cool enough to lower both my temperature, and the temperature of the wider room, without ever making me feel cold, or icy, as is common with powerful fans. 

This made it an ideal fan to have in the bedroom at night. As did its whisper-quiet noise. The PolyFan 704S has a Sleep mode that reduces the strength of the wind, which in turn lowers the sound so it doesn't disturb you in the night. Yet I didn't need to use this mode. The fan is so quiet on Normal mode, even on the highest speed settings, that I could sleep comfortably and without distraction. The biggest benefit of using Sleep mode is that the speed gradually decreases throughout the night. This means that as the temperature drops outside, you're not still being blasted with a fast wind speed that no longer suits the temperature in your room.

At its quietest, the 704S lived up to the brand's promise of producing just 25dB of noise, akin to the sound of leaves gentle rustling. On the highest, Turbo mode this noise increased to slightly above Dreo's promised 51dB, averaging 56dB. A small, almost indiscernible difference and at a level that's equivalent to the humming of a refrigerator. 

Speaking of modes, the differences are as follows:  

  • Normal Mode: This mode runs the fan at a fixed speed, selected manually. 
  • Auto Mode: This mode adapts the speed based on the ambient temperature. 
  • Turbo Mode: Runs the fan at the maximum speed.
  • Natural Mode: Natural mode varies the fan speed to simulate a natural breeze. 
  • Custom Mode: This mode lets you set different speeds to correspond to different ambient temperatures. For instance, when the room temperature exceeds 23 degrees, you can set the fan to switch on at Speed 3 and so on. 
  • Sleep Mode: Air circulator speed decreases every 30 minutes, offering Level 1 to Level 9 options.

My favorite mode is Natural mode. It really does feel like there's a gentle breeze flowing over you and this is comfortable and calming. Auto Mode works really well, too. In my living room I have a large bay window that faces west. In the morning the room is cool but as the sun travels over the house and beams through the large window, this room can become stifling – the difference can be as much as 10 degrees. Auto Mode solved this problem. Without having to make any adjustments, the fan kicked into action before the heat could reach an uncomfortable level and maintained a cool temperature all day. Elsewhere, the Custom Mode is a great addition but beyond playing around with it in the app to see how it worked, I never used it. The other modes gave me more customization and automation than I needed.  

Dreo PolyFan 704S display

(Image credit: Future)

When it comes to oscillation, the wide range of movement both vertically and horizontally, combined with the power and efficiency of the wind, means the PolyFan 704S can cover a surprisingly large space despite its relatively small fan head. You can select the angles at which the head oscillates from a list of presets – 30, 60, 90, 120 or 150 degrees for horizontal oscillation, or 30, 60, 90 and 120 degrees in the vertical – or you can customize these angles in one-degree increments. 

The presets can be accessed via the base's touch controls, and remote. It's easy to keep pressing the respective buttons until you reach the desired angle. However, you can only customize the more precise angles via the app, or using voice commands. My only, very minor complaint is that the oscillation speed is slower than I'd like. I'd love the option to speed this up but I'm nitpicking. I remarked to my partner during my review that "I love this fan" and it's true. From how easy it is to use, to the fact the large number of options and settings never feel overwhelming, its power, efficiency and how well it fits into my home and lifestyle, it's almost perfect. 

  • Performance score: 5 out of 5  

Dreo PolyFan 704S review: voice control

  • Easy to set up 
  • Adds an extra level of personalization
  • Perfect for hands-free control

One of the standout features of the Dreo PolyFan 704S is the ability to control it using voice commands via your smart speaker. 

Once the fan is connected to your home Wi-Fi, via the Dreo app, you can connect it to any Amazon Echo or Google Home device on the same network at the press of a button. Once connected, go into the Settings menu on the Dreo app, select the Voice Control menu and you'll see all the relevant command prompts. I used my with Alexa and there are 26 standard prompts listed. Everything from, "Alexa, turn on Dreo Fan" to, "Alexa, increase Dreo Fan horizontal angle by five degrees", timers, and more. 

I often used these controls at night when the fan was in my bedroom. If I hadn't set the angle or speed correctly before getting under the covers, I could ask Alexa to adjust the power and wind direction without having to leave my bed. It's pure convenience, or laziness depending on how you look at it, but it's a fantastic addition. Similarly, when I had the fan in the playroom, I could get the fan to follow where my youngest was playing, by asking Alexa to change the angle and oscillation, to make sure he remained cool while jumping around the round.  

Beyond the standard Alexa-powered voice commands, thanks to Alexa Routines you can also create a sequence of events based on other criteria. For example, I set the fan to switch to Sleep mode at 10pm, or even switch off when it detected snoring. This is in addition to the timer and scheduling features found on the Dreo app. All of the Alexa features are managed via the Alexa app, and are simple to navigate and set up. Once you're in the Alexa app, you can also edit the voice prompts and control the fan's settings, adding yet another way to control the device. 

Dreo PolyFan 704S review: app

  • Offers a wide variety of customization options
  • Easy to set up and intuitive to use 

The app, alongside voice commands, is one of my favorite features of the Dreo PolyFan 704S. It's intuitive and everything is well-labelled and clear. When you first open the app it will search for nearby Dreo devices. If it doesn't, or it fails to find the devices, make sure Wi-Fi is enabled by pressing and holding the horizontal oscillation touch button for five seconds. 

The app guides you through setup and once the fan is connected, you'll see an image of it on your app's homepage. From this homepage you can see how much time is left on the timer, the room's current temperature, what mode the fan is on, and any schedules you've set, at a glance. You can also access the fan's Wi-Fi and voice controls via the Settings button. 

Dreo PolyFan 704S app screenshots

(Image credit: Future)

Clicking the image of the fan takes you to the full range of 704S' controls. There's a menu at the top that lets you switch between Standard, Turbo and Custom modes. In Standard mode, you'll additionally see four icons, each one corresponding with the four wind modes: Normal, Auto, Sleep and Natural. A slider on the right-hand side lets you manually adjust the fan's speed, above the fan's oscillation controls and 3D Angle Control. 

You can then enable panel sounds, set the display to turn off after one minute, set a child lock and calibrate the oscillation.  

Out of all of these features, my favorite – and the one I use all the time – is the 3D Angle Control. On this screen you can manually set the horizontal and vertical angle of the fan head by running your finger over the screen. Alternatively you can move it using the arrows, or set Common Angles. The latter is particularly useful if you like the fan at a certain angle in bed but you don't want to manually set it each night, after having changed it during the day. 

Dyson fans and purifiers have offered a similar feature on its smart appliances for years, yet it's rare to find control like this on such a relatively affordable fan. I'd pay a large part of the PolyFan 704S' price for this feature alone. 

  • App score: 5 out of 5 

Should you buy the Dreo PolyFan 704S?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

If you don't want or need all of the Dreo 704S fan's features, here are a couple of options to consider...

Dreo Pilot Max

This tower fan is a top option for those on a budget, and it doesn't lack features. It offers 12 speeds, 4 modes, and 4 oscillation degrees. The overall design is sleek too.

Read our Dreo Pilot Max review

Meaco MeacoFan 1056P

The Meaco MeacoFan 1056P tops our best pedestal fan list because it's effective, it oscillates both horizontally and vertically, and comes with 12 speed settings.

Read our Meaco MeacoFan 1056P review

How I tested the Dreo PolyFan 704S

  • I used the Dreo PolyFan 704S and its app for 4 weeks
  • Positioned in different rooms around the house 

I used the Dreo PolyFan 704S in different rooms around my home for four weeks. This included my living room, large open-plan loft, children's bedrooms, and master bedroom. 

I used the device every day, and on nights when the weather was warm, on a range of modes and speed settings. I scheduled timers to turn the fan off, and tested all the features of the app, and its remote control. This includes using voice commands.

I also monitored how loud the fan was on different speeds, and in different modes.  

Read more about how we test

First reviewed May 2024

Samsung Galaxy A55 review: mid tier has never looked so high end
10:43 am | May 28, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phones Samsung Galaxy Phones Samsung Phones | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Samsung Galaxy A55 5G: Two-minute review

If you’re shopping for a mid-range phone in 2024, there’s a lot of box-ticking happening in this category. Thankfully, Samsung is a pretty sure-fire bet in this space and its latest release, the Galaxy A55, is another strong contender to become one of the best cheap phones you can get. Like its predecessor, it’s a mid-tier phone with a design that arguably looks and feels as good as its flagship counterpart.

It might not possess all the high-end components and cutting-edge features of the Galaxy S range, but straight out of the box, the Galaxy A55 looks and feels like a premium smartphone – all while costing less than half the handsets that sit atop our list of the best Samsung phones. And while it might be slightly sacrilegious, I think it's even more attractive than the Samsung Galaxy S24. 

The A55 has kept the elegantly smooth and clean design of its predecessor, including the shiny back glass that was a major improvement over the Samsung Galaxy A53. However, what sets the A55 apart from both the Galaxy A54 and other mid-tier phones, and what makes it feel like a premium device, is that it’s completely ditched plastic in favor of a new and strikingly classy metal build. 

Samsung Galaxy A55 on desk

(Image credit: TechRadar/ Max Delaney)

Upgrading the already impressive 6.4-inch display in the A54 to 6.6-inches, you could assume the size increase would make the A55 harder to hold than its predecessor. Don't immediately rule out the A55, however: while I admittedly have big hands and had no issue using the Galaxy A54, I found the A55’s aluminum frame even easier to grip. As a happy side effect, this ensures its bigger Super AMOLED display isn't tarnished by having to put your grubby fingerprints all over it to comfortably hold it.

That's about where the big talking points end. The Galaxy A55 won't leave you disappointed in the photography department, keeping the same 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide and 5MP macro camera trio that we loved in our Samsung Galaxy A54 review. The photos and videos are detailed, the app is snappy, the autofocus is quick and it does indeed perform well in low-light areas, even if it takes a bit of a learning curve to get the best results. The only real flaw I found was that the photos taken in bright sunshine tended to be overexposed, resulting in a hazy, unsaturated image. 

Despite retaining the same 5,000mAH battery as its predecessor, the Galaxy A55 easily saw me through more than seven hours of screen time during my testing – that’s regular use like social media, YouTube, some light gaming and sitting on the home screen while I stare into the abyss – and that’s thanks to its new Exynos 1480 chipset. It's unlikely to see you through the two-day battery life that Samsung boasts about, but it will last long enough for most users. While I loved the battery life, it's charging was slower than I'd have liked, and it didn't have the convenience of wireless charging to make up for it.

Samsung Galaxy A55 rear glass on natural background

(Image credit: Future/ Max Delaney)

This also isn't the phone for the more intense or passionate mobile gamer, but it can still handle relatively demanding titles (like 3D online shooters) with medium graphics settings. 

These few sacrifices, though, are what make the Galaxy A55 a great budget smartphone – a speedier chipset than before, a bigger display and a premium design at an affordable price tag that matches the launch price of the A54 in some markets.

Samsung Galaxy A55 review: Price and availability

  • Launch price from £439 / AU$699
  • Released March 20 in the UK and March 25 in Australia; unavailable in the US at the time of writing
  • Available in two storage options and four colorways

While it was released across the globe in March 2024, the Galaxy A55 is unavailable in the United States as Samsung places a larger focus on the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE and the even more budget-friendly Samsung Galaxy A35 5G in that market.

In other markets like the UK and Australia, the A55 is available in two storage options –  128GB and 256GB – both with only 8GB of RAM (there is a model with 12GB RAM that seems to be listed only for availability in India). However, the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G provides the rare feature of up to 1TB of additional storage via a microSD card.

In a change to what we see across a span of products, Aussies actually get quite the deal in comparison to their UK brethren, as £439 directly converts to over AU$800. So while we think the Australian price is very fair, UK customers aren't getting the same deal. It's not all bad, though, as the UK price is actually cheaper than the launch price of the Galaxy A54's two £449 and £499 models last year, and the 6GB RAM option is no more.

  • Value Score: 4/5

Samsung Galaxy A55 review: Specs

Samsung Galaxy A55 on desk

(Image credit: TechRadar / Max Delaney)

There's a few considerable changes from the Galaxy A54, including improved glass durability, a larger display and greater size generally. Here's a quick breakdown of the Samsung Galaxy A55's specs.

Samsung Galaxy A55 review: Design

Samsung Galaxy A55

(Image credit: TechRadar/Max Delaney)
  • Aluminum build
  • IP67 rating means it can handle a splash
  • Fingerprint sensitive
  • Bigger and heavier than it predecessor

With no plastic in its build, Samsung has continued its lean towards sustainability by opting to use aluminum for the Galaxy A55’s chassis, giving it a premium-looking, exceptionally classy and functional metal build. When combined with its stylish back glass, it amounts to a supremely elegant design that brings the handset physically more in line with Samsung's Galaxy S series. 

It's not beauty over function, though, as the upgraded Corning Gorilla Glass Victus Plus – the toughest yet – adds even more durability to its front and back than what we saw in the A54, and the pretty aluminum build increases sturdiness while making it easier to grip. During my testing period, it's strong build and IP67 rating had no problems handling the trials of everyday life – in and out of bags, a few small drops onto a carpeted floor and some water-laden situations when listening to podcasts while in the shower – the A55 is almost as durable as it is beautiful.

Samsung Galaxy A55 showcasing fingerprint smudges on its rear glass

(Image credit: TechRadar/Max Delaney)

Unfortunately, that big sleek, glossy back glass isn’t without drawbacks, as I found out as soon as I picked up my Navy Galaxy A55, which was anything but ‘Awesome’ in this respect. It picks up smudges as easily as my niece picks up germs from preschool. Even leaving some room for the possibility that I have an above-average knack for smudges, the phone is extremely smudge sensitive. However, it's safe to assume fingerprint marks on the lilac, lemon and ice blue models will be less visible.

It's also probably worth mentioning that the A55 doesn't lie evenly on its back due to its floating camera design – and placing it face down just put the abundance of fingerprint smudges on display. This little niggle is not exclusive to the Galaxy A55, but I did find it bothersome.

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Samsung Galaxy A55's rear outdoors

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Samsung Galaxy A55

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Samsung Galaxy A55

(Image credit: TechRadar / Max Delaney)

While UK customers will have access to the full gamut of colorways, a design factor that the Galaxy A55 5G has retained from its predecessor, Australian customers only get two colors. Last year it was Awesome Violet and Awesome Graphite, and now in 2024 it's Awesome Lilac and Awesome Navy. Apparently Aussies only like near-black shades and variants of purple. The UK has a little more room for taste, with Awesome IceBlue and Awesome Lemon added into the fold.

  • Design Score: 4.5/5

Samsung Galaxy A55 review: Display

Samsung Galaxy A55 display

(Image credit: TechRadar / Max Delaney)
  • Bigger display than the Galaxy A54 (6.6-inches)
  • 1000-nit peak brightness
  • 120Hz variable refresh rate
  • Protected with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+

It would be unreasonable to expect immense display upgrades with such heavy improvements to the A55's design, but there are a few slight improvements from the A54 that make a definitive difference. Most notably being a slight increase in size, moving up to 6.6 inches from the A54's 6.4 inches. Otherwise, you'll get the same 1080 x 2340 resolution Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR 10 support and the same 19:5.9 aspect ratio. 

While Samsung makes a clear point of saying the A55 peaks at 1000 nits, and did not say that the A54 did, our time with both shows that the difference, if any at all, is negligible. In comparison to the Google Pixel 8a's 2000-nit maximum, let alone something like the OnePlus 12 that boasts an insane 4500 nits, the A55's output can't be considered much more than a pass mark.

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Galaxy A55 display reflecting the sky

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Galaxy A55 display

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Samsung Galaxy A55 display playing PUBG Mobile

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The Samsung Galaxy A55 5G has a wonderful display that makes swiping through socials, watching videos and playing games an absolute blast. Heck, I could almost taste LeBron James' wine while watching the Mind the Game podcast. With a passable peak brightness you'll be able to enjoy its beauty even in direct sunlight and its minimum brightness is more than comfortable laying in bed. The A55's display is vibrant, detailed and strong, so while there might be better displays on more expensive phones, I have very few complaints.

One thing I did like about the A55's display was the built-in fingerprint sensor. While it's not the snappiest I've experienced, it was accurate and faster than typing in a passcode or pattern. Even if it's a bit slow for your taste, the payoff of the A55's flawlessly clean design – with no fingerprint sensor or button below the screen or on the back glass – is well worth it. However, I was unimpressed with the A55's facial recognition, too often finding myself swiping to unlock before it was ready, despite my face being unobstructed. 

  • Display Score: 4/5

Samsung Galaxy A55 review: Software

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Samsung Galaxy A55 software

(Image credit: TechRadar / Max Delaney)
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Galaxy A55 homepage, app library and control panel

Galaxy A55 homepage, app library and control panel (Image credit: TechRadar / Max Delaney)
  • Android 14 w/ One UI 6.1
  • Four years of OS updates
  • Knox Vault and Seamless Updates

If you were expecting the Galaxy A55’s software to mimic that of the Galaxy S24, you've set yourself up for disappointment. This is a mid-tier phone that costs a lot less than the S24, so expecting mass upgrades from the A54's output would be unfair. That said, the OS is far from bad, it's just a minimal update to that of the A54, running on the Android 14-based One UI 6.1.

Despite reported issues for older phones and rumored impact on charging speed from the One UI 6.1 update, the Galaxy A55 runs very smoothly, and will be familiar to those with some Samsung experience. While it doesn't have the Galaxy AI functionality of the S line, and only four major upcoming OS updates to the latter’s seven, One UI 6.1 is a perfectly fine operating system that works seamlessly within the A55.

One positive feature worth noting – a very happy introduction that comes years after Google launched a similar function with the first Google Pixel – is the introduction of a new era of update functionality for Samsung devices. 'Seamless Updates' adds the ability to download system updates in the background, and the A55 is the first Samsung phone to feature it as part of the brand's March 2024 security patch.

Shutting your phone down for 20 minutes while it updates is, or should be, a thing of the past, and this patch means only a speedy 3-minute restart is needed to complete updates. Along with seamless updates, the A55 also sees the addition of Knox Vault – a new addition passed down from the S24 – that secures important data like passwords and biometrics.

Now, while those two little features aren't much, when put together with the design and display developments we've already looked at, it makes for quite the enhancement. Combined with smooth performance and everything Samsung fans already enjoy about the Galaxy software – squircles and all – there's a lot to like about the software of the A55.  With guaranteed four years of software updates coming, you can rest easy knowing your phone will remain up to date, at least for a while.

  • Software score: 4/5

Samsung Galaxy A55 review: Cameras

Galaxy A55 camera trio

(Image credit: TechRadar / Max Delaney)
  • 50MP f/1.8 main camera w/ OIS
  • 12MP ultra-wide + 5MP macro camera
  • 32MP f/2.2 front-facing camera
  • Improved low-light photography

Photography is a crucial part of the modern handset, and a phone's camera can make or break it in the eyes of the user. In the best way possible, the Galaxy A55's camera does neither. 

Providing a rear trio of cameras that can take wonderful photos in various ways, and a front camera that you'll have no problem taking flattering selfies with, the camera is a huge upgrade… over the Samsung Galaxy A53's 64MP main camera. But, a lack of massive change from the A54 isn't what disappointed me about it.

Whether it's selfies, ultra-wide shots, high-detail pics or snaps of your morning coffee, the Galaxy A55 has an objectively good camera system that will be more than serviceable, even for the most photo-obsessed. My biggest problem was that it just didn't capture the reality of what I was looking at when I most expected it to – aka in bright sunlight. Whether it was photos of my sun-baking dog, the book I was reading or a cat-holding selfie out in the garden, the results were a toned-down, dull version of what my eyes were seeing due to overexposure. They were still clear, beautiful images, but a touch too hazy for my liking.

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Photos of my sun-loving doggo

(Image credit: TechRadar / Max Delaney)
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Some flicks of a morning coffee and some very handsome limes

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Galaxy A55 excels at pet photos

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Galaxy A55 Camera

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Night photography

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Samsung Galaxy A55 camera

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Samsung Galaxy A55 camera

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Samsung Galaxy A55 camera

(Image credit: TechRadar/ Max Delaney)

Combine that issue with a macro camera that was near-impossible to hit the sweet spot with – as you can see by my best results below – and you have a camera that is little more than good. There is just too much high-quality competition, even within this price range, to give it any further praise.

Samsung does make up for that slightly, though, with an abundance of options to help you take the best photo possible, even before you get to the pool of editing tools waiting for one to be taken. Within the four main photo-type options in the camera app (Fun, Portrait, Photo and Video) are tools to help you smooth out the image, get the right framing, activate a timer, turn the flash on and enter the camera settings to ensure you're ready to click away.

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Samsung Galaxy A55 macro camera

macro camera results (Image credit: TechRadar / Max Delaney)
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Galaxy A55 macro camera

(Image credit: TechRadar / Max Delaney)

While the modes within More, like macro, slow-mo and Pro, will undoubtedly be put to good use by some users, they remain mostly unused by me. However, the one mode hidden here that I do think is worth a special mention, is night mode. I wasn't blown away by the A55's ability to take photos in low-light areas at first. However, when I put it to the test in a pitch-black room its performance was truly impressive.

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Galaxy A55 night-mode photography

Testing the night mode on the Samsung Galaxy A55 (Image credit: TechRadar / Max Delaney)
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Galaxy A55 low-light photography

The before: the books are invisible in normal, standard photo mode (Image credit: TechRadar / Max Delaney)
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Samsung Galaxy A55 low-light photography

The after. The same lighting but with night mode turned on (Image credit: TechRadar / Max Delaney)

While it might not be a breathtaking photo of the night sky, I think the night mode better portrays how well the Galaxy A55's camera performs in low light. As you can see from my sample images, it works pretty darn well. From freezing cherished moments at dimly-lit restaurants, taking selfies under the hazy ambiance of street lights and snapping pics of your puppy snoozing under the TV’s silver glow,  the A55's nighttime performance will be there for a really good shot.

  • Camera score: 4/5

Samsung Galaxy A55 review: Performance and Audio

Samsung Galaxy A55's rear glass shining in the midday sun

(Image credit: TechRadar / Max Delaney)
  • New Exynos 1480 Chipset
  • 8GB RAM (12GB in select locations) with no more 6GB model
  • Stereo speakers
  • Up to 256GB of storage with up to 1TB additional storage

With a new chipset, I had high hopes for a noticeable performance improvement over the Galaxy A54, but I was prepared for the more-than-likely event that it would be hardly noticeable. Thankfully, the Exynos 1480 chipset provided much more of the former than the latter. 

With scores of 1155 and 3468 in the two single-core and multi-core Geekbench tests, and solid results in the 3D Mark: Wildlife, Wildlife Extreme and Sling Shot Extreme stress tests of 3996, 939 and 6216, the Galaxy A55 won't be getting any awards on the test front. However, its results were consistent. For reference, the Google Pixel 7a and Samsung Galaxy S24 results can be seen below.

Despite what the numbers might say and how they compare, the A55 felt excellent during my time with it. From Spotify, Instagram, Reddit, YouTube, Netflix to the camera, the A55 ran each one of them perfectly, even when I switched haphazardly between them to try and force some lag – it didn't break a sweat.

Galaxy A55 rear glass reflecting the sky while resting on a red hat

(Image credit: TechRadar / Max Delaney)

One area the Galaxy A55 did slow down slightly was within high-performance apps like the Camera after considerable use. With a day’s worth of apps open and some considerable time spent within the camera app, load times started to get noticeable when switching between camera modes. Though it was little more than slight stutters, the lag did stand out compared to its otherwise smooth performance.

Perhaps due to its upgraded cooling system and adaptive refresh rate that better uses its battery, the A55 will be more than adequate for even a heavy casual mobile gamer. I had no problems earning 20 eliminations and a win in my first game of PUBG Mobile, even if it was against a bot, and was happy to see PUBG automatically set the graphics and framerate to their mid-range settings, with the A55 remaining smooth even when turned up to Ultra HD and the highest framerate. However, some rendering issues did start to occur at those high settings, but didn't impact gameplay. Whether it's PUBG Mobile, Apex Legends or hours of Candy Crush interspersed with regular phone use, the Galaxy A55 will handle it all, with battery to spare.

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PUBG Mobile on the Samsung Galaxy A55

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PUBG Mobile on Galaxy A55

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PUBG Mobile on Galaxy A55

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PUBG Mobile on the Samsung Galaxy A55

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PUBG Mobile on the Samsung Galaxy A55

(Image credit: TechRadar / Max Delaney)

As for audio, whether you like to listen to podcasts through the phone's stereo speakers or blast music through a pair of the best wireless headphones, the days of muffled speakers from the A-series handsets are gone. You'll find little problems in how the A55 handles its audio. 

The phone's earpiece and down-firing speakers combine to offer clear, balanced sound, providing easy listening when you don't feel like using headphones – and you won't unless you need to. While audiophiles might want to stick with their high-powered stereo units, the A55 does more than well enough for the average person, retaining some clarity even at high volume. And, in regards to connecting wireless devices via Bluetooth, I had absolutely no issues – even when pairing Apple AirPods 3, which don't always easily connect to Android devices.

  • Performance and Audio score: 4/5

Samsung Galaxy A55 review: Battery

  • 5000mAh battery
  • 25W wired charging
  • Advertised two-day battery life

Simultaneously great and disappointing might sound strange, but the Samsung Galaxy A55's fantastic battery life was slightly tarnished by its disappointing charge speed.

The surprisingly good battery life of the Galaxy A55, improving on the A54, more than offsets the slight disappointment I felt when my handset went from only 18% to 48% after 30 minutes of charging. That's far from terrible, and fully charging in around 90 minutes to reach 100% isn't the worst thing in the world, but it took longer than I had hoped. Unfortunately, Samsung's claims that the A55 has “super fast charging”, burying in the fine print that the fast-charging wall adapter is sold separately, sets the phone up for some disappointment.

Samsung Galaxy A55 on-screen battery and charging information

(Image credit: TechRadar / Max Delaney)

Retaining its predecessor's 5,000mAh battery, Samsung created high expectations once again, and fell short once again. While you won't get two days of use unless you leave your phone untouched and unopened, I was still impressed by the A55's battery life. Whether it was the seven hours of continuous Stranger Things – after which it still had more than 15% battery left – or hours of Candy Crush, plus everyday actions like social media, video calling, browsing and audio playing – the battery life of the A55 more than held up. I racked up around seven hours of screen time from a full charge, far more than my personal average of just over five, and there was still ample battery at the end of the day.

While the A54 charges slightly faster than the A55 in my experience, the Exynos 1480 chip the Galaxy A55 uses helps it to outlast its predecessor – if by a miniscule amount – leaving enough charge left that could be the difference between ordering an Uber and being left stranded. In short, the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G has more than enough battery life to get you through work, fun and be there when you need it. Just don't expect it to charge to 50% in 15 minutes before you head out.

  • Battery score: 4/5

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy A55?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider...

If this review of the Samsung Galaxy A55 has left you wondering about other mid-tier alternatives, take a look at a few listed below. I’ve also compiled a specs comparison between them and the A55 for a clearer snapshot.

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy A55

  • Review period: Three weeks
  • Testing included: everyday use including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
  • Tools used: 3D Mark: Original, 3D Mark:Extreme, 3D Mark: Slingshot Extreme (unlimited), Geekbench 6.2.2, Geekbench, native Android stats

Once I received the Samsung Galaxy A55, I put it to the test immediately by running it through some benchmarking tools. I then used it as my main phone through the first week and this included playing games, taking photos and watching content.

Across the final two weeks of my testing time, I put it under the stresses, both technical and physical, of everyday life. From scrolling sessions at home to podcasts on the bus to being pulled in and out of my bag and accidentally walking into the doorway of my bedroom. These activities allowed me to see how the battery holds up over the course of time with normal use, not just how it handles high-impact stress tests.

With a heavy coverage focus on phones here at TechRadar, I'm knowledgeable of the phone market, what it has to offer and how different phones aimed at different budgets fit into it – making me the perfect candidate to test a mid-tier phone like the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G. 

Read more about how we test

[First reviewed May 2024]

JBL Xtreme 4 review: an outdoorsy, bold-sounding Bluetooth speaker that even harnesses AI
12:00 pm | May 24, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

JBL Xtreme 4: Two-minute review

“Unleash powerful sound everywhere” is the tagline of JBL’s Xtreme 4 Bluetooth speaker, but does it live up to the hype? The short answer is, well… yes. The Xtreme 4 paints a dynamic aural picture in a bid to feature among the best Bluetooth speakers to have graced our testing process, with well-defined high frequencies, full-bodied mids and a pumping bass. It’s worth flagging, though, that its true power isn’t let loose straight out of the box, especially at low frequencies, although that’s nothing the JBL Portable app can’t solve through its customizable EQ settings. In addition, the Xtreme 4 can serve up a very good sonic experience at loud volumes without being hampered by distortion.

It doesn’t drastically depart from the JBL Xtreme 3, but the newest model in the product line brings some cool new features to set itself apart. These include AI Sound Boost, which predicts speaker movement and response to deliver “better and more powerful” sound, and Auracast Bluetooth technology. However, the Xtreme 4’s biggest upgrade is to its battery life, with a base playtime of 24 hours, extendable by a further six thanks to the addition of Playtime Boost. 

The Xtreme 4 also has the IP67 rating, proving it is both waterproof and dustproof. This makes it a solid, great-sounding and dependable pick as one of the best waterproof speakers if you're heading to a pool party or beach (you lucky thing, you). 

So far, you’re probably thinking that this can’t get too much better, but there’s a ‘but’. The main thing holding the Xtreme 4 back is its high price point, which stands at $379.95 / £329.99 / AU$499.95 (note that it is only available in the UK at the time of writing). There are a handful of similarly-sized alternative speakers which offer great audio quality and smart design at a more reasonable cost, meaning the Xtreme 4 isn’t likely to win any ‘Best Value’ prizes.

Despite its protection against the elements and practical design features, the Xtreme 4 isn’t the prettiest Bluetooth speaker either (at least in my view), with similarly-priced competitors (such as the Ultimate Ears Epicboom) pulling off a similar look and sound quality, but with a bit more class. That’s not to say that it’s abhorrent though, in fact, you may even be a fan of its rugged and outdoorsy look – something you can double down on with the Black Camo color option. 

If you’re a loyal JBL fan, the Xtreme 4 is well worth checking out, especially if you’re looking for a larger speaker that's a true all-rounder. However, if you already have the Xtreme 3, you’re open to buying from other brands or you're on a tight budget, you may want to consider better value competitors – or wait for a sale.

JBL Xtreme 4's passive bass radiator closeup, on pink background

(Image credit: Future)

JBL Xtreme 4 review: Price and release date

  • Released on March 14, 2024 (UK), date TBC for US and Australia
  • Price: $379.95 / £329.99 / AU$499.95

The JBL Xtreme 4 launched in March 2024 in the UK, so it's perhaps a little odd that launch date is yet to be revealed for the US and Australia.

Though it may not command the eye-watering prices you’d expect to see from a top-drawer brand (think Bang & Olufsen), the Xtreme 4 is still quite the investment. So, if you’re on a tighter budget, there may be better choices for you.

For ultimate portability you could opt for the slightly smaller but still brilliant JBL Charge 5, priced at $179.95 / £169.99 / AU$199.95, or for more of a party-ready speaker you could nab the eye-catching Tribit Stormbox Blast for $199.99 / £162 (about AU$300).

JBL Xtreme 4 review: Specs

JBL Xtreme 4's strap closeup, on pink background

The strap is fine, but a handle might be helpful (Image credit: Future)

JBL Xtreme 4 review: Features

  • Top notch battery life of up to 30 hours
  • AI-enabled sound refinement
  • Auracast Bluetooth technology

It will probably come as little surpriise to learn that the JBL Xtreme 4 isn’t a huge overhaul of the Xtreme 3. Neither of the speakers are too far apart in terms of weight or size, and both are IP67 rated, have a built-in power bank, as well as Bass Radiators. 

However, the Xtreme 4 brings some new features to the party to set itself apart, such as AI Sound Boost. This essentially utilizes an AI algorithm to predict speaker movement and response in real-time, helping the Xtreme 4 to deliver “better and more powerful” sound, and reduce distortion at loud volumes. No, it's not going to predict your music tastes or answer calls, but it will help the sonic chops. 

A second new addition is that of Auracast, a Bluetooth technology ensuring that there is no limit on the amount of JBL devices (which also have Auracast) that you can connect at once. This is a neat feature if you want to play music in multiple rooms at a party, using the newest standard. You can also rest assured that JBL speakers without Auracast, such as the Xtreme 3, will still be able to pair with the Xtreme 4, thanks to the PartyBoost feature on the JBL Portable app.

Without doubt the biggest (and best) difference between the Xtreme 4 and its predecessor is the far superior battery life. JBL says that the new model has a base battery life of 24 hours, nine hours longer than its older sibling, which is more than enough for most listeners. When I left the Xtreme 4 playing music at 30% volume for 2 hours, it only lost 5%, so there’s no need to doubt JBL’s claim. The speaker can also be fully recharged in just 3.5 hours.

If you need to squeeze a bit more out of the Xtreme 4, the JBL Portable app has a valuable feature called Playtime Boost. This can be activated to grant up to six hours of additional playtime, and ramps up the volume of the speaker to consume less battery. One downside to Playtime Boost, however, is that when active, EQ settings are disabled, meaning you’ll miss out on unleashing the potential of the Xtreme 4’s bass – more on this later. Overall, Playtime Boost makes for a strong addition though, and you won’t find too many Bluetooth speakers of the Xtreme 4’s quality with such long battery life.

On the topic of playtime, you can go one step further to keep the party going thanks to the Xtreme 4’s replaceable battery – yes, really. You can unscrew the base of the speaker to swap in a new, rechargeable battery with ease, though it should be noted that additional batteries must be purchased separately. Charging-wise, the Xtreme 4 opts for a minimalist approach with a single USB-C port only, as opposed to the Xtreme 3's inclusion of a USB-A output port as well. The Xtreme 4’s USB-C port can be used to charge the speaker itself or to give external devices some extra juice. 

If you’re satisfied with the Xtreme 3’s battery life, I’d argue that the other new additions don’t set the Xtreme 4 apart too much. It's also important to note that since the summer of 2023, it has been possible to buy upgraded versions of the JBL Charge 5 and Boombox 3 with Wi-Fi (and Atmos for the Boombox), while the Xtreme 4 really is 'just' a Bluetooth speaker. That said, when I compared the Xtreme 4 against the lower-cost Anker Soundcore Boom 2, I certainly felt that JBL’s speaker had more depth and verve sonically, particularly due to the presence of that AI Sound Boost.

  • Features score: 4.5/5

JBL Xtreme 4 closeup of the control panel on pink background

(Image credit: Future)

JBL Xtreme 4 review: Sound quality

  • Serves up well-rounded sonic experience 
  • Audio elements are distinct with highs sounding particularly sweet 
  • Bass disappointing out of the box, but booms with EQ adjustment

The initial feeling I got when firing up the JBL Xtreme 4 and throwing on Moloko’s I Want You, was one of disappointment – more specifically a disappointment with its deep bass output. For a portable Bluetooth speaker, which you’d expect to get its fair share of use during occasions with plenty of background noise, a powerful bass is fundamental for a great listening experience. For a model costing in excess of $370, and claiming to pump out “next level massive” sound, I expected a higher level of impact from the Xtreme 4 (not least due to its explosive name). 

Luckily, my disappointment was quickly quashed by the JBL Portable app’s EQ settings, which made a world of difference. When I switched to a custom setup, in which the lowest frequencies were considerably dialled up, the Xtreme 4 showed what it was made of – and its bouncing Bass Radiators were well and truly put to work. The pumping bass in I Want You now hit the depths that I’d been thirsting for, so you will want to steer clear of the default ‘JBL Signature’ EQ preset if you’re looking to get the best out of bass-heavy bangers.

Even when compared it to the Soundcore Boom 2 (which although cheaper, has an identity forged around its powerful low-end output), Black Eye by Allie X’s deep bass-laden opening sounded far more energetic and controlled on the Xtreme 4. The Xtreme 4 was very competent at bridging deep bass to the mid-range and maintaining clarity with more demanding audio profiles.

Aside from bass, the Xtreme 4 is very competent when delivering a strong audio performance across the frequencies, and boasts an improved response compared to its predecessor at 44 Hz – 20 kHz (53.5 Hz – 20 kHz for the Xtreme 3). Despite it not going beyond the realms of human hearing through the treble, I would argue that this speaker’s ability to produce crisp highs may be its strongest asset, with Rains again by Solji making for a particularly enjoyable listen straight out of the box. The Xtreme 4 beautifully delivered the track’s delicate vocals, and the sound of rain pouring throughout the song’s opening maintained a natural, soothing tone.

The Xtreme 4 delivers its sweet highs, punchy bass, and textured mid-tones dynamically and clearly, even at high volumes. When listening to Young Blood by The Naked and Famous, guitars in the upper bass range sounded distinct and layered; separated from bass riffs in a cohesive mix. JBL’s “next level” claim may still be a slight exaggeration – after all, the Xtreme 4 doesn’t do anything particularly game-changing – however, it certainly gives room for listeners to taste the distinct flavors of each audible component that might get lost in a hard-to-digest mix through lesser speakers. Sure, the chef may need a bit of guidance, but with the right adjustments, you can bet that a well-balanced plate of sound will arrive at your table.

  • Sound quality score: 4.5/5

JBL Xtreme 4 on pink background, with a closeup on the USB-C charging port

JBL Xtreme 4 will charge your device, so you won't have to take a break from the music  (Image credit: Future)

JBL Xtreme 4 review: Design

  • Not the most elegant, but well-suited to outdoor environments
  • IP67 rating makes it perfect for the beach
  • Convenient shoulder strap but no handle for carrying short distances

Is there such thing as love at first sight? I’m not sure, and I don’t think the JBL Xtreme 4 is going to help me find out. Look, it’s not doing anything strikingly different from the Xtreme 3 appearance-wise, but I’m not sure I can get behind the semi-cylindrical, outdoorsy vibe, especially in the Black Camo coloration (the Xtreme 4 is also available in Blue, the version I tested, or Black). Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and if you’ve liked the aesthetic of JBL’s previous efforts, you’ll almost certainly be a fan of this. 

One thing I did like visually was the speaker’s passive external bass radiators (as seen in the predecessor and several JBL cylindrical models), which pulse with pounding impact when the volume is cranked up high, immersing you deeper into the listening experience. Another neat design choice is that the Xtreme 4 is made, in part, using recycled materials. For instance, the speaker’s grille incorporates ‘post-consumer’ recycled plastic and fabric.

Personal tastes aside, there’s no denying that the Xtreme 4 is designed with utility and longevity in mind. It has medium-large sized buttons, all of which play their part in facilitating a swift setup. The speaker is also pretty bulky, weighing in at 4.63 lbs / 2.1kg. Additionally, it has rubber strips at the base which provide a steady foundation. If that wasn’t enough, the Xtreme 4 is IP67 certified, meaning that it’s both waterproof and dustproof, standing it in good stead for use at a beach event, pool party, or similar outdoor gathering. When I placed the Xtreme 4 in a full sink, it conveniently floated on its side, and played music without any quality reduction after taking a minute-long dive underwater.

Another practical feature is the detachable strap included for taking the Xtreme 4 out and about, tote bag style. I was a fan of the strap’s shoulder padding, which made it comfortable to transport around. It’s also adjustable if you want to wear it across your body. However, I couldn’t help but wish there was more of a ‘handle’ option here for when I just wanted to move it a short distance, especially as the speaker is too large to hold in one hand without the strap attached.

Closeup of JBL Xtreme 4's replaceable battery pack

Believe it or not, JBL will let you replace the Xtreme 4's battery in a kind nod to sustainability (sold separately) (Image credit: Future)
  • Design score: 3.5/5

JBL Xtreme 4 review: Value

  • Delivers a great user experience with top features and sound quality
  • But speaker’s main sticking point is its steep price
  • Competitors can offer brilliant quality at a far lower cost

Sure, the JBL Xtreme 4 delivers controlled bass, clear mids, and delicate highs, it also boasts a long battery life and some cool new features, but there’s one sticking point: you guessed it, the price.

You certainly get an enjoyable listening experience out of the Xtreme 4, but there are a number of cheaper, yet still high-quality alternatives out there. The Tribit Stormbox Blast, for instance, offers textured sound with booming bass for just $199 / £162 (around AU$300), 30 hour battery life, and customizable EQ settings. 

Additionally, the JBL Xtreme 3, is just £199.99 / AU$399.95 (but typically seeming to be priced much higher in the US at $379.95) as well, despite the pair having a myriad of similarities. So, if you’re into the JBL brand, but don’t want to shell out hundreds of dollars on a new speaker, the Xtreme 3 could be a better option.

At the time of writing, it just feels as if the Xtreme 4, despite its qualities, isn’t exactly the best value option on the market.

  • Value score: 3/5

Should you buy the JBL Xtreme 4?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

JBL Xtreme 4 review: Also consider

JBL Xtreme 4 review: How I tested

  • I put the speaker through its paces over a two-week-long period
  • Mostly used in our music testing room in the TechRadar office
  • I listened to a wide variety of music genres during each listening session

Using TechRadar’s intense and methodical testing procedure, I spent hours listening to music on the JBL Xtreme 4, trying its various EQ settings and determining its ease of operation. 

I used Spotify on my Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Tidal on the Fiio M11S hi-res music player, to stream tracks from our curated (and regularly updated) TechRadar reference playlist. This included songs with pumping deep bass, delicate vocals, and complex mixes, enabling me to test a speaker’s full range and dynamic nuance across the frequencies. I also used the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 as a point of comparison, when appropriate.

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed: May 2024
Amazon Luna review: perfect for Prime members
7:42 pm | May 22, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Two-minute review

Amazon Luna is a cloud gaming service that allows you to stream games over your internet connection. If you already have an Amazon Prime subscription, then you can access Amazon Luna at no additional cost right now. This is one of the biggest reasons to consider the service, as this basic tier offers a surprisingly well-rounded package. You get a rotating selection of a few free games, which has recently included big hitters such as Fallout New Vegas, on top of access to free-to-play titles like Fortnite and Trackmania.

If you own any Ubisoft games on PC, like Assassin’s Creed Mirage or Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, you can also link your Ubisoft and Amazon accounts together to gain immediate access to them on Luna. This isn’t just restricted to recent titles either and, while there are some omissions, I was pleasantly surprised to see that I could still jump into older favorites including Beyond Good & Evil and Far Cry 2 on the cloud. 

A screenshot of the Amazon Luna web page showing Ubisoft games.

(Image credit: Amazon)

If you don’t own any Ubisoft PC games, you can buy them in Luna and have them automatically added to your Ubisoft PC library - a smart way to ease concerns about losing access to purchased games in the event that the service’s servers are taken offline. Although it’s not available right now, Amazon is also working to integrate a selection of games from the GOG storefront in a similar way which will even further expand its library.

You then have the option to upgrade your membership with Luna+, which grants access to a range of new games. It’s cheaper than the competition, which is reflected in the more limited catalog, but there’s still an impressive variety in the titles here ranging from AAA blockbusters to smaller indie adventures. Amazon Luna is also compatible with Ubisoft+, on top of offering an incredibly affordable Jackbox Games subscription which grants access to all of the Jackbox Party Pack games on the service. The multiple tiers and various services might be a little confusing for newcomers, but they bring a level of flexibility that’s simply not present in any other cloud gaming service and allow you to save cash by only paying for the parts of the library that interest you.

No matter what you’re playing on Amazon Luna though, you can expect smooth performance provided your internet meets the minimum speed requirement of 10 Mbps. I found that games ran almost flawlessly at that speed, with very little if any noticeable input latency and a clear 1080p 60 frames per second (fps) picture. That said, you can expect sudden lag and visible compression if your connection becomes unstable, so it’s definitely worth playing with an ethernet cable if possible.

A screenshot an Amazon Luna game library.

(Image credit: Amazon)

Price and availability

  • Basic tier included with Amazon Prime
  • Upgrade to Luna+ for $9.99 / £8.99 per month
  • Available on a range of devices in the US and UK

Basic access to Amazon Luna is included with Amazon Prime, which costs $14.99 / £8.99 per month. This base tier offers a rotating selection of games plus access to free-to-play titles and your Ubisoft PC library. If you’re already an  Amazon Prime member with good internet speeds there’s really no reason not to boot up the service and give it a go.

You can also upgrade your membership with Luna+, which costs an extra $9.99 / £8.99 a month and includes just over 120 games. You can still buy Luna+ if you’re not an Amazon Prime member though, which comes with the same perks and access to your Ubisoft PC library without the need for the Prime membership. In addition to the game library, Luna+ grants priority access to servers allowing you to boot up your games a little more quickly. 

There’s also a separate Jackbox Games subscription that costs $4.99 / £3.99 a month. This offers access to ten installments of the Jackbox Party Pack series, plus Drawful 2 and The Jackbox Party Starter. If you’re looking for a cheap way to dive into some top-party games with friends, this could be a worthwhile add-on.

On top of all this, Amazon Luna is also compatible with Ubisoft+. Ubisoft+ costs $17.99 / £14.99 per month and lets you play all of the Ubisoft games on the service. If you’re a Ubisoft+ subscriber, you can also use your membership on a range of other platforms including PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.

The Amazon Luna service is available as a web app that can be accessed on iOS, Android, PC, and Fire tablets, in addition to Fire TV devices and recent Samsung smart TVs in both the US and UK. Amazon Luna is not currently available in Australia, though.

Features and interface

No matter your platform, the Amazon Luna interface is simple and easy to navigate. It shares a lot in common with video streaming services, as each game is presented through a panel that you can then view a trailer or further details. When you’ve found a game that you want to try, you simply hit the prominent “Play now” button and wait a few moments for it to begin. Some titles take a little longer than others to start, but I found that I could get into most games in under twenty seconds which is an impressive result.

Image 1 of 2

A screenshot of River City Girls 2 on Amazon Luna.

(Image credit: Amazon)
Image 2 of 2

The mobile Amazon Luna interface.

(Image credit: Amazon)

When you’re in-game, you can hit a shortcut to open a basic overlay that displays the option to quit or begin live streaming via Twitch. In addition to capturing your gameplay, the Twitch streaming option supports external microphones and webcams giving you everything that you need to capture your reactions. Multiplayer games also allow you to start a Luna Couch session. This gives you a short code that you can share with your friends, allowing them to quickly jump into your game without the need for their own subscription. It’s a fantastic feature and one that I found worked surprisingly well, even while playing with friends with less reliable internet connections.

Games can be played using touch-screen controls, a compatible controller such as an Xbox Wireless Controller, or a keyboard and mouse if you’re on PC. You also have the option to use your phone as a wireless controller via the Luna Controller app in a pinch, though the lack of physical inputs and cumbersome layout make this a little more trouble than it's worth.

If you're struggling to find games to play, the Luna home screen lets you sort games by a variety of criteria, including different genres and age ratings. You can save your favorites to the ‘Playlist’ tab, making for a simple way to keep track of any longer games that you might want to dip in and out of.

The Playlist tab in Amazon Luna.

(Image credit: Amazon)

Game library

Amazon Luna’s biggest shortcoming is its relatively small game library. Luna+ offers just over 120 titles to choose from. Even when you add on another 40 coming from Ubisoft, 12 more from Jackbox, and the 12 or so titles offered to Prime members, this is still less than half the number of games that you can find on Xbox Cloud Gaming. Even so, Luna does offer a solid selection of different genres so it’s not like you’re going to find yourself without at least a few things to play. 

I personally loved revisiting River City Girls and Elex 2, but also discovered a new favorite in Young Souls. The lack of any downloads makes it easy to jump in and out of games immediately, which is especially easy to appreciate with many of the larger titles like Control Ultimate Edition and Devil May Cry 5. Many Ubisoft games also offer full cross-progression and even cross-platform multiplayer, which is a perfect match for sprawling adventures like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Far Cry 6. Being able to jump right into my existing saves from my phone during my lunch break in the office is almost magical and a great way to squeeze in a little more progress.

Amazon says that 4K game streaming is in the works but, for the time being, every title is restricted to a 1080p maximum resolution. This is realistically going to be enough for most casual players, but it does mean that some more graphically demanding games lose a bit of their luster on big displays. Even at 1080p, however, the data requirements for game streaming are absolutely immense. You can expect to use about 10GB per hour of play, making this one to avoid if you have a limited internet or mobile data plan.

Some of the couch co-op games available with Amazon Luna.

(Image credit: Amazon)

I personally loved revisiting River City Girls and Elex 2, but also discovered a new favorite in Young Souls. The lack of any downloads makes it easy to jump in and out of games immediately, which is especially easy to appreciate with many of the larger titles like Control Ultimate Edition and Devil May Cry 5. Many Ubisoft games also offer full cross-progression and even cross-platform multiplayer, which is a perfect match for sprawling adventures like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Far Cry 6. Being able to jump right into my existing saves from my phone during my lunch break in the office is almost magical and a great way to squeeze in a little more progress.

Amazon says that 4K game streaming is in the works but, for the time being, every title is restricted to a 1080p maximum resolution. This is realistically going to be enough for most casual players, but it does mean that some more graphically demanding games lose a bit of their luster on big displays. Even at 1080p, however, the data requirements for game streaming are absolutely immense. You can expect to use about 10GB per hour of play, making this one to avoid if you have a limited internet or mobile data plan.

Buying a game on Amazon Luna.

(Image credit: Amazon)

Should I use Amazon Luna?

 Use it if…

 Don’t use it if…

How I tested Amazon Luna

I tested Amazon Luna for over two months, playing around five hours of games each week. During that time I tested a large share of the games in the Amazon Luna catalog with a range of hardware. This included playing on my iPhone 15 Plus and Samsung S23 Plus with a Razer Kishi Ultra in addition to a PC and laptop. While playing on PC, I used a number of compatible peripherals including the Amazon Luna Controller, the Xbox Wireless Controller, and the Turtle Beach Recon Cloud Controller.

I was careful to try the service using a range of internet connections and mobile data in order to assess performance at different speeds. During my time with the service, I used a combination of my personal Amazon Prime membership, personal Ubisoft PC library, and a complementary Luna+ membership that was provided by Amazon.

Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 review: excellent noise cancellation, shame about the lacklustre sound
2:37 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3: Two-minute review

The FreeBuds Pro 3 are the newest addition to Huawei’s top-tier line of true wireless earbuds, vying for entry to our best noise-cancelling earbuds roundup by replacing last year’s FreeBuds Pro 2 and acting as a more premium alternative to the jelly-bean-looking FreeBuds 5. 

I can’t get over how good the noise cancellation in these headphones is At the press of a button I could tune out the noisy clacking of keyboards in an office, the angry rumbling of a busy road near my house, even my own annoying habit of drumming on my desk as I listen to music. 

You’d be hard-pressed to find better noise cancellation in an audio product that isn’t an over-ear alternative, especially at the price – it’s really something.

This doesn't surprise me, because when you pick up a Huawei gadget, you can almost guarantee that it’s going to have one absolutely fantastic feature – something that’s best-in-class, truly game-changing, absolutely phenomenal to use. However, you can also put good money on the fact that most of the rest of said device won’t come anywhere close to that standard.

For the best Huawei phones, their incredible cameras are undone by the sticky app situation; for the smartwatches, you can rely on a great list of health features but funky designs. 

And the same remains true for the new Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3: the noise cancellation is stellar, but unfortunately, it feels like the rest of the package is held together with duct tape and paper clips – not literally, as the build quality is another premium element, but many other elements of the device threaten to ruin the positive experience that the ANC offers.

Take, for example, the tie-in AI Life app that you use to control the buds: on Android this isn’t on the app store, and you have to side-load it or download it through Huawei’s AppGallery, which is itself a side-loaded app. 

The battery life is another disappointing area as, with the ANC on, you won’t even get five hours of listening without needing to power up the buds. That’s about half a day of work, and then you have to remove the buds to let them charge, making you face all those noisy clacking keyboards you’re trying to avoid.

I also found the music quality surprisingly poor for the price, with frequent peaking in songs, no soundstage to speak of and an overall lack of energy in music. I love listening to music, but I didn’t feel I was doing my favorite songs justice by listening to them on the FreeBuds.

Credit where credit’s due, Huawei has nailed a few other areas that other earbuds-makers struggle with. The fit is comfortable, with four in-box tips and a fit-check function in the app to ensure that you’re wearing the right tips. Plus, the on-bud controls are easy to use, with a simple pinch gesture toggling different functions.

Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 review: Price and release date

The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 being held in a hand above a grassy field.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Costs $245 / £179.99 / AU$277 
  • Released in late 2024
  • Uncommon Huawei tech in that it's available in the US

You can pick up the FreeBuds Pro 3 for $245 / £179.99 / AU$277, so they’re straddling the mid-range and top-end earbud market. That price roughly matches that for last year’s FreeBuds Pro 2.

One thing stands out right away – because unlike some other Huawei gadgets, these are available in the US. Good luck finding a Huawei phone to pair them with, though!

The buds were released in the latter months of 2023, and at the time of writing in mid-2024, you can find them on offer pretty easily. It’ll save you about 10%, or maybe more during sales times.

That price puts Huawei in a swimming pool full of hungry sharks – and by that I mean, many close rivals. Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 are only a little pricier (especially in the US, with only a $4 difference) while Sony’s WF-1000XM5 are cheaper during sales (and only cost a little more outside of them). Audio-Technica’s ATH-TWX7 are also circling, with a price that’s lower in the US and only a little more in the UK.

Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 review: Specs

Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 review: Features

The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 being held in a hand above a grassy field.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tie-in app has to be side-loaded on Android
  • Noise cancellation is top-tier
  • Battery life is limited

If there’s something to be said about the FreeBuds Pro 3, it’s that their noise cancellation is great – possibly the best of any headphones I’ve tested at this price. As soon as you put in the buds, surrounding sound almost vanishes – a building site will sound like a Lego build site once you’ve set these things up. It’s surprising how empty a busy office floor can feel when you’re listening to these things!

The app offers loads of different modes. There’s Off (no prizes for guessing what this does), Awareness (which is an ambient option with a Voice Mode you can toggle on or off, which specifically doesn’t cancel voices) and then standard Noise Cancelling mode. This has a range of intensities ranging from ‘Cozy’ to ‘Ultra’ depending on how noisy your area is, but I generally tested in Dynamic, which changes depending on where you are.

I never stopped being impressed with just how great the FreeBuds were at removing background sound. Two thumbs up for this one feature.

Now on to the app: I’ve never spent so much time – and lost so much hair – as I did trying to get the FreeBuds’ tie-in app to work. It’s called AI Life and it should be pre-installed on Huawei phones; on Androids, like I have, you have to side-load it and install it from Chrome. No, you can’t just download it on the Play Store, which was the source of my consternation, and it was only through some online trawling that I found the answers (luckily for iPhone users, the App Store does list the app).

The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 being held in a hand above a grassy field.

(Image credit: Future)

You don’t need AI Life, but most of the features of the FreeBuds Pro 3 are either locked to the app, or really challenging to use without it.

As well as toggling noise cancellation there’s an equailizer, a battery indicator and the ability to change the buds’ gestures. The Buds Pro 3 also let you connect to multiple devices at once, and the AI Life app lets you easily switch between them.

On the topic of the battery indicator, don’t expect to see it at 100% much, because the buds don’t have a very good battery life. With ANC turned on, they’ll last 6.5 hours between charges, but if you utilize this key feature of the buds that’ll drop below 5 hours (depending on the ANC mode and your volume). Using the charging case will kick that lasting time up to 31 hours (with ANC off, 22 with it on), and none of those figures are that competitive.

Charging is done via the USB-C port, but there’s also slow wireless charging if you prefer that, though it’ll more than double charging times. You’ll need roughly an hour to get the case charged to full with a wire, or 2.5 hours with wireless powering.

  • Features score: 3.5/5

Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 review: Design

The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 being held in a hand above a grassy field.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Small well-fitted buds, fairly large case
  • Touch controls work well
  • IP54 certification for buds

The design of the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 barely differs from that of their predecessor. The main highlight is that there’s a new color option: Green joins Silver Frost, Silver Blue and Ceramic White.

The case is a pebble-shaped plastic disc measuring 4.7 x 6.6 x 2.5 cm, and weighing 46g – it’s lighter than you might think given its size. It’s pretty barebones, save for the LED light indicator and the USB-C charging port. 

The buds themselves are nice and light. They weigh 5.8g each, slightly down from their predecessors, and have a similar design in being a tip connected to a short stem. You might notice that the stem is shorter than those on rival devices, giving the buds a compact appearance.

To enable a good fit, the FreeBuds come with four different-sized tips in the box; I found the medium tips provided a comfortable and reliable fit, but it’s good to have the options. The AI Life app has a tips fit test that checks to see if you’re using the right tips for you, which is a pretty cool addition.

I can see the FreeBuds’ on-stem buttons being divisive, but I found them a lot easier to use than most. You see, the buds don’t have physical press buttons but rather haptic-like areas which are best pressed by pinching the stems. You don’t have to press a physical button on the bud – an action that always seems simply to jam the bud into your ear – but instead just pinch the stem, in a really easy motion.

The buds have an IP54 protection against small particles and sweat or small splashes of water; they’ll survive a light rain shower or some running-to-bus sweat, but you shouldn’t really be using these for exercise. The charging case has no IP protection.

  • Design score: 4/5

Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 review: Sound quality

  • Bass-heavy sound
  • Treble is lacking
  • Equalizer lets you tweak sound to an extent

The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 being held in a hand above a grassy field.

(Image credit: Future)

The best thing I can say about the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3’s sound quality is that it’s mostly balanced. You’re not getting an awkward skew that favors bass or treble too much; it’s right there in the middle.

That’s also the only good thing I can say about the Buds’ sound, because I was disappointed by the quality overall, bearing in mind the roll call of high-end features present within them.

I’m talking dual drivers led by a chunky 11mm dynamic driver joined by a planar diaphragm driver; LDAC codec support; Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification… the list goes on. But it’s all for nothing, as the sound quality just isn't good.

Music had a startling amount of peaking, with drum hi-hats, acoustic guitars and sibilance in vocals becoming noticeably tinny. This wasn’t so extreme as to suggest that the buds were defective, just enough that the FreeBuds performed more like cheap buds than triple-figure ones.

The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 being held in a hand above a grassy field.

(Image credit: Future)

There was also a real lack of soundstage, as though an entire orchestra was inhabiting the exact same chair right at the center of the stage. Instruments were blended together like a fruit smoothie, sapping the energy or pizazz from music.

The buds were fine for spoken word and the like, but I missed the energy that many other earbuds serve. I know that if Waterloo doesn’t spark joy, the earbuds are doing something wrong.

Another disappointing area is AI Life’s equalizer, which comes with six presets though you can create your own, too. I tried all six of these on multiple songs, plus some of my creations where the sliders were moved to the extreme, and I couldn’t hear any audible difference in music.

App issue? Hardware issue? My hearing issue? I can’t say, but it makes Huawei’s website’s talk of a “triple adaptive EQ” seem like meaningless noise. Maybe the buds should cancel that, too.

  • Sound quality: 3/5

Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 review: Value

The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 being held in a hand above a grassy field.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Great if you're buying for ANC...
  • ...fall behind rivals for audio chops

The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 come with a fairly lofty price tag, but it’s hard to see how they justify that price beyond their wonderful noise cancellation.

The FreeBuds’ feature set is identical to that of almost every other wireless earbud from here to the moon, with little to justify its price over most of its rivals. That is, except for the noise cancellation. Those plentiful affordable rivals also have better sound quality, or at least play music with more personality. 

So if all you care about is noise cancellation – you literally don’t mind anything else – these will justify their price. Otherwise, it’s hard to recommend them for their full retail price.

  • Value: 3.5/5

Should I buy the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3?

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 review: Also consider

How I tested the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3

The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 being held in a hand above a grassy field.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested for 2 weeks
  • Tested at home, in the office and on walks in quiet and busy areas

I tested the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 for two weeks, which included using the buds in my office, at home, and on walks in different parts of a busy city. The buds were tested with my Xiaomi Mi Note 10 smartphone for testing, on to which I side-loaded the app.

Testing was mainly done on music streaming apps over a range of genres, though I also used the buds for playing video games, watching Netflix and listening to podcasts.

I have over five years of gadget-testing experience at TechRadar, which includes reviews of many Huawei products like watches, smartphones and tablets. I've also tested plenty of earbuds, including some of the competitors mentioned above.

  • First reviewed in May 2024
Samsung Galaxy A35 review: a Samsung Galaxy S24 for the rest of us
7:00 pm | May 19, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phones Samsung Galaxy Phones | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Samsung Galaxy A35 two-minute review

The Samsung Galaxy A35 is a smartphone designed for people who want the finest tech from South Korea’s favorite phone company, but can’t stomach the hefty price tag often demanded by the best Samsung phones.

By ‘finest tech’ I of course refer to the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, Sammy’s recent line of flagship phones, which come with a cost that's north of my monthly rent. Thankfully, people who prefer their cheap phones can still enjoy some of the best Galaxy tech thanks to the A35.

If you’re new to the Galaxy A range, it’s Samsung’s step-down line compared to the flagship Galaxy S range (though not as far down as the M or J series, available in some countries). The ‘3’ in the title refers to the phone’s place in the sliding scale of premiumness – ‘0’ is super-cheap, and higher numbers get incrementally better – while the ‘5’ tells you that this is part of the fifth generation of Galaxy A mobiles (well, at least since Samsung started this numbering system).

These handsets all borrow specific bits of Samsung tech from the company's top-end mobiles, while otherwise presenting an affordable package with corners cut to keep the price low. And the Galaxy A35 is another great example of that strategy.

Samsung’s fantastic display tech is shining brightly on the Galaxy A35: the screen is big, bold, bright, vibrant, and other synonyms for ‘nice to look at’. If you consider your phone to be a glorified Netflix, Prime Video or Disney Plus-streaming device, then the Galaxy A35 will tick your box.

The Samsung Galaxy A35 leaning against a bench.

(Image credit: Future)

You’re getting all of Samsung’s popular OneUI software here, with its customization tools, programmable routines and the colorful, fun user interface. You’re also getting its bloatware, as it’s not just stuffed with Samsung and Google apps, but also some choice third-party ones, too.

The chipset is a surprising feature: on paper, it’s just a bog-standard, low-end Samsung chip, but it absolutely cracks through long gaming bouts or intensive tasks; mobile gamers won’t find anything to turn their nose up at here.

It’s not a perfect phone, though, even by Galaxy A standards. The cameras are a prime example, as they just don’t hold a candle to those on other models I’ve tested. Low-light snaps were vibrant enough, but odd scene optimization AI edits and questionable ultra-wide performance marred the results.

The trappings of low-end mobiles are here in some respects, too: charging is slow, the design is a bit utilitarian and the fingerprint sensor is just awful. Stick to facial unlocking or a PIN/password if you buy this device.

Still, there’s nothing on this phone that’s outright disappointing when you consider its price, and a fair few features are actually better than you’d expect. All told, then, you’re not going to be left feeling mugged off if you buy the Galaxy A35.

Samsung Galaxy A35 review: price and availability

  • Released in March 2024
  • On sale in the US, UK and Australia, among other regions
  •  $399.99 / £339.99 / AU$549.99, only one variant

The Samsung Galaxy A35 was announced in March 2024 and released shortly thereafter, as part of the company’s 2024 line of budget smartphones.

You can pick up the device for $399.99 / £339.99 / AU$549.99 in its sole 128GB configuration, though you can pick between a few color options if you want some amount of customization.

At that price, this is a worthy budget alternative to the $799 / £799 / AU$1,399 Samsung Galaxy S24, getting you a few specs and features pinched from the premium mobiles, but at a much lower price.

It’s not Samsung’s cheapest phone, with the Galaxy A0X, A1X and A2X lines all offering cheaper options, though almost all of those devices have specs weak enough to make them not worth considering (with the exception of the Samsung Galaxy A25).

Samsung Galaxy A35 review: specs

The Samsung Galaxy A35 has specs that run the gamut from low-end to top-end, which you can see below:

Samsung Galaxy A35 review: design

The Samsung Galaxy A35's USB-C port.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Standard-looking chocolate bar Android phone
  • Color options vary by region
  • Fingerprint scanner is unreliable

Samsung hasn’t exactly been changing things between its Galaxy A-series mobiles of late, and the Galaxy A35 is certainly no exception. It’s your standard chocolate bar smartphone with a fairly large body and a flat edge.

The handset weighs 209g, so it’s roughly average as mobiles go, and it measures 161.7 x 78 x 8.2mm, which is a little on the hefty side but not as big as Samsung’s ‘Ultra’ phones. It’s noticeably bigger than the S24, though.

The Galaxy A35 has a glass front and back, making it feel more premium in the hand than many other mid-range phones. It ships in a range of color options, too, but those options depend on region: US buyers can pick between navy and lilac, Australian customers can choose navy or pale blue, and UK buyers get all three of those options, as well as the fetching pale yellow that you see in the images accompanying this review. All these colors are relatively restrained given the vibrancy of some of Samsung’s previous Galaxy A color options.

Unlike some of its cheaper A-series siblings, the Galaxy A35 doesn’t have a 3.5mm headphone jack. Instead, its only port is the USB-C one on the bottom edge of the device.

Both the volume rocker and power button are on the right edge of the device, and you may find yourself stretching to reach them unless you have big mitts.

Samsung uses an under-display fingerprint sensor for the phone, but you’d be forgiven for not noticing — that is to say, it failed to find my finger more often than it succeeded, and I ended up having to type my password in far more often than on most other mobiles.

The phone is certified with an IP67 rating, which means it’s totally protected from small particles (sand, dust, flour and the like) and will also survive being submersed in liquid at a depth of up to 1 meter for a limited time – don’t take it swimming, then, but it should still work if you accidentally drop it in your beer.

  • Design score: 3 / 5

Samsung Galaxy A35 review: display

The Samsung Galaxy A35 leaning against a bench.

(Image credit: Future)
  • 6.6-inches with 1080 x 2340 resolution
  • Super AMOLED results in punchy visuals
  • 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling

If any part of the Samsung Galaxy A35 will make you forget that you’re using a budget mobile, it’s the display.

The phone boasts a big 6.6-inch display, which is bigger than most Galaxy A-series mobiles and also the Galaxy S24. It has a 1080 x 2340 resolution, which is the same as most mobiles on the market, and a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. 

Anyone who’s used a Samsung phone will know that the company’s tech is strongest in the display department; this mobile uses a Super AMOLED panel with a fairly high max brightness of 1000 nits. The screen is bright and colors pop, enhancing that Netflix stream or gaming session.

Even your average scrolling experience is better on the Galaxy A35 thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate, which makes motion look smoother and is far from a given on phones in this price range (heck, even the iPhone 15 doesn't have a 120Hz refresh rate).

  • Display score: 4 / 5

Samsung Galaxy A35 review: software

The Samsung Galaxy A35's quick settings menu.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Android 14 with One UI 6.1 over the top
  • Customization and routines good, bloatware bad
  • Four years of OS updates, five of security

A major similarity between the Samsung Galaxy A35 and its Galaxy S24 brethren is in the software department: both come with Android 14 pre-installed, with Samsung’s One UI 6.1 slathered over the top.

Samsung has promised four years of software updates, taking you up to Android 18 (unless Google decides to get funky with numerical orders) and you get an extra year of security updates on top of that.

Visually speaking, One UI is one of the more distinctive Android forks, offering pebble-shaped icons, colorful menus and easy-to-parse icons in the quick settings menu. However, between the Samsung apps, Google apps and a fair few third-party apps, the Galaxy A35 is also chock-full of bloatware, which is something you’d think a massive company like Samsung would be above.

One UI brings plenty of customization options with widgets for your installed apps, a wide range of pre-installed wallpapers, the ability to pick a system-wide color palette, and more. The options here aren’t quite as extensive as on, say, Motorola or stock Android phones, but it’s something.

Like on iPhones, Samsung offers a handy ‘Modes and Routines’ feature so you can jump between, say, sleep, driving or workout modes at the tap of a button, which lets you completely change the way your phone works if you need different settings for a temporary amount of time. These options do require some set-up, though, so carve 15 minutes out of your schedule when you first buy the phone to set them up.

  • Software score: 3.5 / 5

Samsung Galaxy A35 review: cameras

The Samsung Galaxy A35's camera app.

(Image credit: Future)
  • 50MP main, 8MP ultra-wide and 5MP macro cameras
  • 13MP selfie camera on front
  • Range of extra photography and video modes

You’re looking at three rear cameras on the Samsung Galaxy A35. They create a package that’s par for the course for a mid-range phone at this budget, but won’t hold a candle to the Galaxy S24 range or even higher-priced Galaxy A mobiles.

The leader of the pack is a 50MP f/1.8 main camera, which is joined by a 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide snapper, with a 5MP f/2.4 macro rounding out the trio.

In well-lit conditions, the main camera takes bright and colorful pictures, which made pictures of close items like flowers or food look bold. That's likely due to Samsung’s scene optimization AI processing, which is a staple of Galaxy phones. This feature adds some pep and pizazz to your snaps; and by that I mean it ratchets up the contrast and saturation, and also drizzles in some sharpening and HDR. 

Seasoned photographers might find this tweakery unwanted, but seasoned photographers probably aren’t using this kind of phone. The optimization is most welcomed for snappy social media posts and selfies.

Why did I specify ‘close items’ before? Well, for wider shots, pixel binning seems to result in a noticeable lack of quality, which you can see in the picture of a tree in the camera samples section below.

The Samsung Galaxy A35 taking a selfie.

(Image credit: Future)

The Galaxy A35 also struggled in lower-lighting conditions, with details lost and contrast handled about as well as you’d expect. Sometimes scene optimization decided to cast an odd blue pall over snaps – a picture of some ducks below was taken in overcast conditions, yet looks like a cheap TV-movie day-for-night.

The camera will suit you better if you usually take pictures of close-up subjects (including people) in decently-lit environments, rather than wider landscapes at darker times of day.

The Achilles’ heel of the phone’s camera array is the ultra-wide snapper, because photos taken on it looked dull and lifeless compared to their counterparts. It’s as though the AI scene optimization forgot to step in!

Rounding out the trio is the macro camera, which is a lot more situational in use than its siblings; it’s used for those close-up photos that the main camera will struggle to keep in focus. It’s up to the task, but you probably won’t be using this camera too much if you can help it.

On the front of the phone is a 13MP f/2.2 selfie camera, and everything I said about the rear camera’s optimization is out here in force, with the added distinction that the subject of a selfie is generally going to be close to the camera, so no landscape-shot woes here. There’s nothing wrong with nice bright selfies though, and in Portrait mode the device was fab at blurring the background and balancing the elements of the picture to create a great-looking shot.

Video recording goes up to 4K at 30fps or FHD at 60fps, or goes very low with several slow-mo modes. Most of the modes here are par for the course for a modern-day smartphone, with night, time-lapse and Portrait modes present and correct. Samsung stalwart modes Food (which ramps the saturation up for a very limited focus area) and Fun (which adds AR effects on human subjects) are back here, too.

Samsung Galaxy A35 camera samples

Image 1 of 8

A selfie taken on the Samsung Galaxy A35

A selfie taken in 'standard' mode. (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 8

A selfie taken on the Samsung Galaxy A35

A selfie taken in Portrait mode. (Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 8

A bright flower taken on the Samsung Galaxy A35

A flower taken on the standard camera. (Image credit: Future)
Image 4 of 8

A field with a church taken on the Samsung Galaxy A35

An ultra-wide picture of a field. (Image credit: Future)
Image 5 of 8

A field with a church taken on the Samsung Galaxy A35

A 1x zoom picture of a field with a church. (Image credit: Future)
Image 6 of 8

A field with a church taken on the Samsung Galaxy A35

A 2x zoom picture of a field with a church. (Image credit: Future)
Image 7 of 8

A well-lit tree taken on the Samsung Galaxy A35

A well-lit willow tree with detail lost on the leaves and grass. (Image credit: Future)
Image 8 of 8

A picture of ducks taken on the Samsung Galaxy A35

An oddly-blue picture of ducks on the Galaxy A35. (Image credit: Future)
  • Camera score: 3 / 5

Samsung Galaxy A35: performance and audio

  • Snapdragon 695 is fit for purpose
  • 128GB storage can be expanded up to 1TB, plus 4GB RAM
  • 3.5mm headphone jack for wired audio

The ‘brains’ of the Samsung Galaxy A35’s operation is Samsung’s own Exynos 1380 chipset, which Samsung previously used in the pricier Galaxy A54 from last year.

In a Geekbench 5 benchmark test, the Exynos 1380 returned an average multi-core score of 2,868; the warmer the phone was, the lower the result, with scores ranging from the low 2,900s when cool to the mid 2,700s when warm. I’ve seen phones with much more dramatic ranges than that, I just say this to contextualize the average score.

The high 2,000s is nothing to phone home about, but it’s more than enough for most everyday use cases, and the A35 performed admirably in real-world testing. It blitzed through many games of Call of Duty Mobile or PUBG Mobile without breaking a sweat (though it did warm up if I was pushing it), and it did so without significant lagging, bugging or any crashing. Mobile gamers on a budget won’t find anything to dislike here.

Similarly, the phone felt snappy and fast to navigate, which is something you hope for but can never guarantee with phones around this price.

There’s 6GB RAM and board and 128GB storage; if you want more space you’ll need to rely on cloud storage, as there’s no expandable memory.

With no 3.5mm headphone jack, you’ve got one less option for audio on the Galaxy A35. The stereo speakers are serviceable: I found them perfectly fine for CoD:M, but even cheap headphones are better for music. The Bluetooth is 5.3, which is a decent standard for reliable and power-economic connection. You can also use a USB-C to 3.5mm adaptor if you absolutely need wired music.

  • Performance score: 3.5 / 5

Samsung Galaxy A35 review: battery life

  • Chunky 5,000mAh battery
  • Phone lasts a day of use, sometimes more
  • 25W wired charging is slow

The Samsung Galaxy A35 leaning against a bench.

(Image credit: Future)

You’re looking at a 5,000mAh battery on the Samsung Galaxy A35, which is the same battery you'll find in the vast majority of other budget and mid-range mobiles (and some high-end ones, too).

In testing, that saw the phone comfortably last for a full day of use, despite the big bright screen and 5G connectivity. It limped until lunchtime on a second day before charging really became necessary, so I’d recommend charging daily.

Charging is done using the USB-C port, and it’s 25W, which isn’t exactly fast. At that speed, you’ll have to be tethered to the wall for over two hours, which nudges into ‘overnight charging’ territory.

There’s no wireless charging, but that’s no surprise when it comes to a mid-range mobile like the A35.

  • Battery score: 3.5 / 5

Samsung Galaxy A35 review: value

The Samsung Galaxy A35's camera bump.

(Image credit: Future)

In many ways, the Samsung Galaxy A35 gives you exactly what you pay for, but you’re getting great value for money in a few distinct areas. I wasn’t kidding when I called this a budget Galaxy S24.

The display, software and performance all reach above the trappings of the A35’s low-mid-range price tier, giving you an experience that’s not quite ‘premium’, but is still more than you’d usually get for this price.

Plus, there’s no real department in which the Galaxy A35 falls below expectations: value all around.

  • Value score: 4 / 5

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy A35?

Buy it if...

You watch lots of videos
The good-looking display on the Galaxy A35 makes it a dream for Netflix fans on a budget.

You're a gamer on a budget
The A35 is decently powerful for its price, but the big and attractive display ticks even more boxes.

You want One UI, without the price
You don't need to pay Galaxy S24 prices to use all of One UI's handy features, like routines and its customization options.

Don't buy it if...

You're a photography fan
The Galaxy A35's three cameras aren't going to impress amateur photographers much, especially with its overactive AI optimizations.

You need quick charging
You can buy budget phones with 120W charging, so the Samsung Galaxy A35's paltry 25W is slower than its rivals.

Your budget goes a little higher
Only a small fee will let you upgrade from the Galaxy A35 to the Galaxy A55, or another Samsung phone with improved features.

Samsung Galaxy A35 review: Also consider

If you're not certain on the Samsung Galaxy A35, here are some alternatives you might want to consider:

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy A35

The Samsung Galaxy A35's Samsung logo.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Review test period = 2 week
  • Testing included = Everyday usage, including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
  • Tools used = Geekbench 6, Geekbench ML, GFXBench, native Android stats

I tested the yellow – sorry, 'Awesome Lemon' – version of the Samsung Galaxy A35 for two weeks for this review. Product photography was conducted right at the beginning of testing, hence why I've only got a few apps in-shot.

Testing was done by using the phone as my normal smartphone for the two-week duration: texting, photography, music streaming, Netflix, and so on. 

I have over five years' experience of reviewing tech gadgets for TechRadar, having previously been an editor for the phones team and currently freelancing for several verticals. I've used plenty of Samsung phones (and other gadgets by the company) including previous Galaxy A devices.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed May 2024

Nutribullet Pro+ 1200 blender review
5:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Juicers & Blenders Small Appliances | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Nutribullet Pro+ blender: two-minute review

The Nutribullet Pro+ 1200 personal blender sits towards the upper end of this brands range, with a more powerful motor and an added pulse button compared to cheaper models. 

This looks a lot like a standard Nutribullet, and for the most part it's the same straightforward but effective design. Add the blade part to one of the two included cups, twist it on to the main body of the blender and it starts to blend immediately, cutting out after 60 seconds to prevent pressure from building up in the cup. The more powerful motor (1200W) makes light work of even tough smoothie ingredients, and delivers consistently smooth results. To-Go lids can be attached directly to the blending cup once you've taken off the blade part, enabling you to blend and go. 

Another point of difference here is the addition of a pulse button. This is good for things like salsas, and make it easy to tailor your blend to the perfect consistency you're looking for.

Pulse button on Nutribullet Pro+ 1200 blender

(Image credit: Future)

Price-wise, it sits in the mid-range of the wider market, and I'd say it's worth it if you want that extra power and the versatility of the pulse function. If you don't want the pulse function and are happy with a lower-powered option, you might be just fine with a cheaper Nutribullet like the 900 (read TechRadar's Nutribullet Pro 900 review), and if you want a quieter model with a fancy touchscreen rather than the twist-to-blend approach, you'll need to spend a bit more on the Ultra model (read TechRadar's Nutribullet Ultra review). However, in terms of effectiveness and value for money, the Pro+ 1200 is easily one of the best blenders I've tested, especially for smoothies.

The names are very slightly different in different territories, so for avoidance of confusion, here's what you're looking for:

For my review, I tested the UK version. There may be very minor differences between the models in different territories. 

Nutribullet Pro+ blender review: price & availability

  • List price: $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$189.95
  • Launched: 2023
  • Available: worldwide

The Nutribullet Pro+ 1200 is available worldwide and is a mid-range blender. At ticket price, it's $129.99 in the US, £119.99 in the UK and AU$189.95 in Australia. 

Within the Nutribullet personal blender range, it's one of the pricier options, sitting between the 900 series and the top-of-the-range Ultra. If you're on a tighter budget, there's also the less powerful 600 Series. See how all the models compare in the specs comparison table. 

While the Pro+ 1200 isn't the cheapest, I think it's reasonably priced for a personal blender with a powerful motor. It's also worth keeping an eye out for deals around sales periods like Black Friday. 

  • Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Nutribullet Pro+ blender review: design

  • Powerful 1200W motor
  • Two cups with two To-Go lids and two Comfort Lip Rings
  • Twist-to-blend, with 60 second auto-shut off
  • Manual pulse mode that lasts up to a minute

The Nutribullet Pro+ 1200 sits neatly on the worktop and is held in place by four suction feet. The main machine, without cups attached, measures 5.4 x 5.4 x 15" / 13.6 x 13.6 x 37.5cm (W x D x H).

It has a black body with a silver trim, and while it's not quite as sleek as the Nutribullet Ultra or the eye-catching finish of the Pro 900, it's still compact and stylish on the countertop. 

Close up of blade for Nutribullet Pro+ 1200 blender

(Image credit: Future)

It comes with a powerful 1200-watt motor which – like the Ultra – is designed to split through tough ingredients such as frozen berries and almonds. To start it, you simply need to twist on the cup and a 60 second blend will start. What makes it stand out from cheaper models in the Nutribullet blender range, is a dedicated illuminated Pulse button on the front of the motor base, which allows you to stop the auto-blend within 5 seconds of it starting and then manually pulse your ingredients yourself for up to a minute. 

To-Go lids on Nutribullet Pro+ 1200 blender cup

(Image credit: Future)

There are two blending cups provided – an 'Oversized' 32oz / 900ml cup and a 'Tall' 24oz / 680ml cup. There's no 'Short' 18oz / 511ml cup provided (this is the best option for a single smoothie serving) but one can be purchased separately from Nutribullet. The larger cup sizes give you plenty of flexibility when it comes to making smoothies or dips for a few people. 

Both provided cups come with To-Go lids and Comfort Lip Rings, which means you don't have to decant your smoothie to a different cup before taking it out with you. 

The cups can simply be twisted off after use and while they are dishwasher-safe, I found that washing the blade and cups with warm, soapy water straight after use kept them looking box fresh. Note that if those cups don't suit your needs, you can purchase other sizes separately from Nutribullet.

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Nutribullet Pro 900 specs

Nutribullet Pro+ 1200 blender review: performance

  • Creates super-smooth smoothies, and pulse function useful for chunky blends
  • A little noisy in use – and louder than the Nutribullet Ultra
  • Ingredients can get stuck at top for thicker blends
  • Also decent at crushing ice

To give the Nutrbullet Pro+ 1200 a fair trial, I used it for a month in my kitchen to create smoothies and dips. I followed the recipe for a Creamy Coffee Smoothie, with banana, coffee, almond milk, Greek yoghurt, cinnamon and maple syrup, for example, which made a nice change from my hot morning coffee. I was also keen to find out how well it did at creating grainier dips such as hummus, as well as for a thick pancake mix.

With a 1200-watt motor base, the Nutribullet Pro+ 1200 has twice the power of the original Nutribullet 600. As soon as the cup is twisted on the blend cycle starts, and it will cut off automatically after a minute. I used the full minute for my Creamy Coffee Smoothie, and it created the smoothest of blends, and whipped the ingredients into up a delicious frothy texture. The 60-sec cutoff is so as not to cause a pressure build-up inside the cup, and it's important to wait until the motor cools before blending again.

Image 1 of 2

Making pancake batter in Nutribullet Pro+ 1200 blender

(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2

Coffee smoothie made in Nutribullet Pro+ 1200 blender

(Image credit: Future)

Like the Ultra, the blades in the Pro+ 1200 are designed to work on tough ingredients, so ice, nuts and chickpeas will all work well here – provided you have enough liquid in the cup to help the mixture blend that is. If you don't have enough liquid, the ingredients tend to get stuck at the top of the cup. I had this issue when making my pancake batter – on my first attempt, the flour got stuck to the sides. I added more almond milk and shook the cup a few times, and after that it combined more effectively, and very quickly, too. 

Ingredients for pancakes next to Nutribullet Pro+ 1200 blender

(Image credit: Future)

My final test was to see if the Pro+1200 could handle crushing ice. It performed well in our ice test, blitzing through the majority of a cupful of ice so that it formed a powder like finish ideal for snow cones. After 30 seconds i gave the cup a shake and let it soldier on through the remaining ice cubes. 

Nutribullet Pro+ 1200 blitzing ice

(Image credit: Future)

One feature the Pro+ 1200 has that cheaper Nutribullets don't is a Pulse button. I used this to help when making a textured hummus, and I also think this would work well for chunky salsas, guacamole or anything else where there are tough ingredients that need breaking down into small chunks. 

To use the Pulse button, you need to twist the cup on the base and press the Pulse button within five seconds. You can then manually press the Pulse button for up to a minute to adjust the texture to your exact preferences.

Overall, I really enjoyed using this blender and appreciate how powerful and flexible it is. It's quite loud in operation, however. The Nutribullet Ultra (which is designed to be quiet) measured 88.9 decibels on my Decibel Meter App, while the Nutribullet 1200 Pro+ came in at around 93.3 decibels. This isn't something that would put me off buying it, however, as my household is more than used to hearing me say ‘cover your ears for 60 seconds' whenever I want to prepare my morning smoothie.

  • Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Nutribullet Pro+ 1200 blender?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Nutribullet Pro+ 1200 blender

I trialled the Nutribullet Pro+ 1200 personal blender in my kitchen to see if it was capable of blitzing up standard blending recipes with ease. I used it to make humus to see how well the pulse feature could work here, and also make pancakes and a creamy coffee smoothie to see if all the ingredients combined effectively. To get a good idea of how loud it is in use, I measured noise levels using the Decibel Meter App on my smartphone. I also gave it a good wipe down and washed it to see how easy it was to clean. 

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed May 2024
NEO S controller review – retro hardware that prioritizes customization and convenience
4:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming Gaming Accessories | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

One-minute review

The NEO S is the newest product from CRKD, the creator of one of the best Nintendo Switch accessories in the Nitro Deck. Despite its compact size, there are a surprising amount of features stuffed into the controller that help it stand out in an oversaturated market of controllers for Nintendo’s console. But, if you want something more versatile, the NEO S is also compatible with PC, smart TVs, and mobile which makes for a great all-rounder. 

Given its extensive range of features that pit its capabilities above its peers, there’s a lot that goes into making the NEO S a controller worth adding to your collection. For those after a new go-to Nintendo Switch controller, the NEO S is cheaper than a pair of official Joy-Con controllers as well as the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. Plus, it offers Hall effect thumbsticks to prevent stick drift, alongside neat extras like adaptable triggers and re-mappable back buttons to help further customize your experience. 

These are features that a lot of budget Nintendo Switch controllers don’t offer, but can drastically improve your gaming experience and mark the NEO S as a standout product in its price range. 

The corner of the CRKD Neo S controller.

(Image credit: Future)

Price and availability

  • $49.99 / £49.99 
  • US and UK availability
  • Slightly pricier than third-party controllers from PowerA and PDP 

The NEO S costs $49.99 / £49.99, and is available through the CRKD store page or via Amazon store. When compared to other ‘collectible’ controllers on the market, the NEO S isn’t an expensive controller by any stretch of the imagination but still falls a little short of being a hugely budget-friendly option for the Nintendo Switch. However, once you factor in that the controller isn’t exclusively compatible with the Nintendo Switch, since you can also connect via PC, mobile, and Smart TV, its price tag does begin to justify itself.  

Specs

A top down view of the CRKD Neo S controller.

(Image credit: Future)

Design and features

The design of the NEO S is its main appeal. As we saw with CRKD’s Nitro Deck variants, the controller initially sells itself on its collectability. Although the unit we are reviewing is the ‘Classic Clear’ variation, the controller launched as part of a collection of nine controllers, all sporting various, vibrant designs. 

The ‘Classic Clear’ design is quite literal, offering a translucent clear shell that allows you to see all the inner workings. Both thumbsticks and the d-pad and home buttons are black, and both triggers and back buttons are a light gray, but a pop of color is added through the face buttons. As a whole, the design of the controller is a blatant stab at replicating the retro side of 90s hardware, especially with its translucent design and vibrant buttons. It’s a sturdy build, though the face buttons somewhat betray the NEO S with a cheap feel compared to the rest of the controller.

The bottom left hand side of the CRKD Neo S.

(Image credit: Future)

One of the main concerns I had about the design of the NEO S prior to use was its potential discomfort during longer gaming sessions due to its rectangular shape. For players used to using controllers with grips, the NEO S will feel like a drastic difference since it's a very flat gamepad. But, even though the product looks as though it’ll be uncomfortable in your hands after using it for a few hours, curves on the back support your hands and provide a grip for overall more comfortable gaming. 

The design of the back of the controller and where your hands naturally sit during use provide easier access to the pair of re-mappable back buttons. This is ideal if you need to quickly input something without moving your hands from the sticks or buttons on the front of the controller. Even though it does stray from the traditional controller shape in favor of something reminiscent of early Nintendo consoles like the SNES and NES, it's clear that the NEO S has been made with its ergonomics in mind to ensure it's consistently comfortable to use. 

Performance

The NEO S is incredibly easy to set up straight out of the box regardless of which platform you’re connecting it to. For Nintendo Switch, it’s as simple as holding down the central CRKD button in the controller connect screen from the main menu while you can use the USB-C cable that comes with the controller to connect to a PC. 

There are a lot of in-built features that make the NEO S feel like a high-quality product, especially given its reasonable price tag. You’ll feel the benefits of rumble, which you can increase or decrease the intensity of via the app, and motion controls which are essential for games on the Nintendo Switch like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Splatoon 3. For those looking for a more reactive gaming experience, you can fine-tune everything from trigger to thumbstick sensitivity. 

Due to the amount of individual features you can customize, the experience can be tailored to suit your exact needs. Although you can use the controller straight away, there are noticeable dead zones for games that require fast movement such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, meaning that there are certain distances you have to move your thumbsticks before inputs register in- game. Fortunately, the controller also comes with a no deadzone mode which you can toggle on and off in the same way you’re available to adjust trigger sensitivity and remap the back buttons.

The back of the CRKD Neo S.

(Image credit: Future)

This can all be done through the CRKD app, where you can scan in your controller to see your product number and its rarity. This is great if you’re an avid collector of hardware, and lean into the collectible side of CRKD products. However, alongside accessing all this information, a large button labeled ‘CTRL’ (also referred to as CRKD CTRL) is your gateway to customizing your controller and also installing any future firmware updates. Even if you’ve never personalized a controller before, the app does a great job at walking you through it step by step so you know exactly what you’re doing. 

All in all it’s a neat bit of tech that offers everything you could need for a Nintendo Switch controller. Paired with a battery life that lasts around eight and a half hours from my testing, given I only had to charge it once during my 20-hour testing period, it’s a vital addition if you need a decent spare gamepad or something far more comfortable than the Joy-Con. But although its offerings don’t necessarily fall short when connected to a PC, Smart TV, or mobile, they do feel more tailored to the Switch which is why we hold our comparison so close to alternative third-party controllers designed for the system. 

Should I buy the NEO S?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

 Also consider

If you’re not keen on the NEO S, take a look at these two alternatives.

The CRKD Neo S controller.

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the NEO S

  • Tested for 25 hours
  • Tested across Nintendo Switch and PC 
  • Compared to other third-party controllers at the same price point

I tested the NEO S controller on both Nintendo Switch and PC for over 20 hours on a variety of games. For the Nintendo Switch, I tested the controller within games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Super Smash Bros Ultimate, whereas I used it for games like Stardew Valley, Duck Game, and Tekken 8 on PC. The programmable back buttons and customizable dead zones of the controller gave me the opportunity to personalize my settings to suit whatever game I was playing, which is a feature many alternative products lack. 

Given the mid to high price point for a third-party Nintendo Switch controller, I wanted to see how it stacks up against its competitors - especially given the emphasis on the collectible side of the product over its performance.

To ensure thorough and honest testing, I used a variety of other controllers at a similar price, such as the PDP Afterglow, and during the testing period within the same games, and can say with confidence that the NEO S offers a solid, more personal performance due to its customizable features, alongside a sturdy build quality and unique design that makes it a product well worth considering if you’re looking for an alternative gamepad that also looks the part. 

Read more about how we test

First reviewed May 2024

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