The CMF Watch Pro is astonishingly cheap, retailing for just $69 / £69 / AU$142, but despite that it looks and feels premium throughout. Moving into this watch from my (comparatively expensive) Amazfit Balance, I was worried that the experience would be laden with frustrations and limitations, but on the contrary, I’ve really enjoyed testing it.
The design, while clearly taking inspiration from Apple, is lovely. It looks great on the wrist, the materials and finish are top-notch, and Nothing’s signature design language is present across a large library of aesthetically pleasing and functional watch faces. It’s a chunky watch, but extremely lightweight, and that makes it a pleasure to wear.
Of course, at such a low price, there are plenty of features missing that have become commonplace on more expensive smartwatches. There’s no onboard Wi-Fi, no payment system and the vast majority of features will require your smartphone to be connected in order to function, but I think the Watch Pro covers the basics well enough to satisfy most users.
The frustrations arise when you realise how much effort it takes to keep the watch connected to your phone. It just seems to disconnect itself all the time, and that means you won’t be getting notifications and many functions will be unavailable until you open the smartphone app and reconnect your phone.
Hopefully, this is something that will be improved as the software matures, and in fairness, there have been multiple updates pushed over the few weeks I’ve been wearing it. As it stands, it’s still a great-looking smartwatch at a bargain price, but there are definitely some refinements to be made.
CMF Watch Pro: Specifications
(Image credit: Luke Baker)
CMF Watch Pro: Price and availability
(Image credit: Luke Baker)
£69 in the UK
$69 in the US
AU$131 in Australia
The biggest draw of the CMF Watch Pro is its low asking price. While it may look a lot like an Apple Watch, its pricing puts it in closer competition with devices like the Xiaomi Smart Band 8, Fitbit Inspire 3 and the Amazfit Bip 5. All great watches in their own right, but none have quite the same premium allure as the CMF option.
It launched in September 2023 as a debut product for the CMF by Nothing brand, alongside some earbuds and a wall charger.
It’s available to purchase now from Nothing directly and via various authorised resellers in the UK. In the US, it can be found on Amazon and in Australia it’s available via AliExpress.
Value score: 5/5
CMF Watch Pro: Design and screen
(Image credit: Luke Baker)
1.96-inch AMOLED display
Dark Grey and Metallic Grey options
Replaceable 22mm silicon wrist strap
The CMF Watch Pro is quite a sizable watch, and while I think it looks great on my wrist, it’s worth noting that I am male and over 6 feet tall – it’s likely to look more out of place on petite wrists.
This watch is only a few millimeters smaller than the Apple Watch Ultra, so it’s quite chunky, but it wears it well. It’s also extremely lightweight, coming in under 50 grams including the silicon wrist strap, so you’ll barely feel it on your wrist – but you’ll see it.
I was sent the Dark Grey variant for testing and I think it’s the better-looking of the two finishes. The Metallic Grey option has a polished, almost mirror finish on its frame, a bit like the Google Pixel Watch 2, and while it does look nice I know I would be concerned about scratches and blemishes. The Dark Grey option is anodized with a more rugged-looking matte finish, and comes paired with either an ash gray or dark gray sports strap, the flashier orange strap is only supplied with the metallic version.
On the right-hand side, there’s a push button and a speaker, while all the other sides are blank and minimalistic. On the base, you’ll find an array of four optical sensors for fitness tracking and two pogo-pin pads that attach to the magnetic charging puck.
The screen is large, sharp and bright and it’s extremely responsive to touch input. There are large bezels on all sides, but for the most part, you’d never know. The UI has a black background throughout, and the majority of watch faces are dark, too. This means you rarely see these chunky bezels unless you’re really looking for them.
My biggest gripe with the screen isn’t the fault of the screen itself, it’s just that the watch doesn’t have an ambient light sensor. This means that on many occasions, the display is inappropriately bright or dim. Thankfully, it only takes a couple of taps to adjust the brightness, but it’s a hassle that you won’t experience with the more expensive watches on the market.
Design score: 4.5/5
CMF Watch Pro: Features
(Image credit: Luke Baker)
110 sport tracking modes
CMF Watch companion app for Android and iOS
Bluetooth calling with AI noise reduction
As you might expect with a watch at this price point, the functionality is quite limited compared to a Wear OS device or an Apple Watch. There’s no app store, everything that you can use comes preinstalled and ready to go out of the box. That said, the most commonly used smartwatch features are present here, and there’s more than enough for most people's needs.
There’s also no Wi-Fi onboard, so for any feature that requires internet access, like weather info, you’ll need to be paired to your smartphone via Bluetooth. The CMF Watch app is available on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store and it makes it as simple as can be to get up and running.
Most of the CMF Watch Pro’s features are accessed by tapping the button on the right-hand side. In the resulting menu, you’ll find everything from timers and alarms to music controls, phone calls and fitness tracking. When you open the Exercise app, you’ll find a comprehensive list of 110 different activities to choose between. I was pleasantly surprised to see that some of my more unusual hobbies, like inline skating and snowboarding, were represented here – so there’s a good chance that your sport of choice will be on the list.
Most of the tracking works similarly, measuring your heart rate, workout duration and location data (where applicable). It’s enough information for the casual user, but it might be a little lacking for true fitness buffs. You can’t use the watch to track your reps while strength training, for example.
The CMF Watch Pro can also check your stress level and blood oxygen levels, and it can monitor them 24/7 if you want it to, though that will cost you some battery life. Personally, I chose to keep the 24/7 heart rate monitoring active, which is the default, and activated the other sensors manually.
You can make and answer phone calls directly from the watch, so long as you are connected to your phone, and the function works quite well. My friends told me that my voice came through clean and clear, and the surprisingly loud built-in speaker meant that I could hear them well, too. The only frustration is that you have to manually add contacts to the watch, they won’t appear by default, so you’ll need to do a bit of set-up before you can call people on a whim.
One feature that I found quite appealing was the camera remote, which allows you to trigger a photo or start a timer using your watch. Unfortunately, I couldn't get it to work with my Vivo X100 Pro, and the literature says it won't work with an iPhone, either. Still, I've seen it demonstrated with other Android devices, and if yours happens to work, it could be handy.
Features score: 3/5
CMF Watch Pro: Performance
(Image credit: Luke Baker)
Up to 13 days of battery life
Heart rate, sleep, stress and SpO2 monitoring
Built-in multi-system GPS
The CMF Watch Pro is advertised as having up to 13 days of battery life on a charge, but of course, that all depends on how you use it. Personally, I used it with the always-on display active, 24/7 heart rate monitoring and notifications enabled for all of my most-used applications. With this configuration, you can expect to be charging it every five days or so.
When it's time to charge, you do so with the proprietary magnetic charging puck that comes included in the box. It's a bit of a flimsy connector and I think it could benefit from some stronger magnets or a ridge to lock into as it's very easy to accidentally disconnect it. That said, it gets the job done well enough, and it'll juice you back up to full battery in under 2 hours.
Nothing hasn't provided any information about the processor powering this watch, nor is there much information about its operating system, but what I can tell you is that it feels snappy and responsive in use and I haven't experienced any freeze-ups or stutters in my usage. In terms of fitness tracking, it’s hard to gauge exactly how accurate the measurements are, but my step count always came close to the figures I’m used to seeing on my other devices, and my average and maximum heart rates were very similar to the readings I got with my Amazfit Balance, too. The only oddity was that sometimes it would think I was asleep when I was relaxing and watching TV, so the sleep data might not be the most reliable out there.
Otherwise, the only real performance issue I experienced was the connection between the CMF Watch Pro and my phone. Unless I had recently used the CMF Watch app, the Bluetooth connection would just randomly drop, and that means no more notifications until you reopen the app, which seems to bump start the connection.
This happened every day without fail, and no matter how many permissions I gave the CMF Watch app, it didn’t seem to change. I tried pairing the watch with a couple of different phones, and the results were always the same, so it’s not an isolated problem, either. On the plus side, there has been at least one firmware update a week since I have been testing, so Nothing is actively working to make the experience better. Fingers crossed one of these updates brings with it better Bluetooth connection stability.
Performance score: 3/5
CMF Watch Pro: Scorecard
CMF Watch Pro: Should I buy?
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
CMF Watch Pro: Also consider
CMF Watch Pro: How I tested
Our reviewer wore the CMF Watch Pro as his primary smartwatch for over two weeks, and it accompanied him in travelling, commuting and during regular workouts. It was paired to a Vivo X100 Pro for the majority of the testing period, but was also tried with an Honor smartphone and a Google Pixel to compare.
The tracking results were compared to historical results from the Amazfit Balance and TicWatch Pro 5, as well as the built-in step counter on the smartphone and the Strava app for GPS accuracy.
The Withings Body Scan sets a new benchmark for the capabilities of modern smart scales. It's both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, has a build quality and design that sets it apart from the pack, a clear and responsive display, and can provide more in-depth analysis of a user's body composition and physical well-being than its major competitors like Eufy, Wyze, Fitbit and Garmin.
When used with the Withings Health Mate app, the Withings Body Scan can not only provide you with an analysis of your body composition, the ratio of fat-to-muscle-to-bone that makes up your body but also outline where your measurements sit in comparison to healthy averages. Using this information, it can identify trends in changes to your measurements over time, letting you know if you're gaining or losing weight and how you compare to averages for your age and gender.
For those needing specialized data readings – for example, if you are pregnant or an athlete – the Withings Body Scan can adapt its measurement methods accordingly, to ensure readings are as accurate as possible whilst remaining safe and impressively efficient for the user. In pregnancy mode, it'll tell you the approximate size and weight of your baby depending on how far along you are.
The Withings Body Scan's key drawback for most people will be the price tag. Sitting at nearly £200 more than the next-cheapest Withings smart scale, there aren't that many reasons to spend that much more on a scale. However, if you are looking to take a deep dive into your body composition, take steps to improve your long-term health and habits, or are a keen fitness enthusiast looking to get the most out of your workouts, the value-for-money will show itself in the long run.
Withings Body Scan: Specifications
Withings Body Scan: Price and availability
$400 in the US
£350 in the UK
Only available via resellers in AU territories
The Withings Body Scan is on the considerably pricier side for a smart scale. However, the unique measurements and level of accuracy you receive for the price mean that if you're looking for an all-in-one health station, it's almost understandable.
The Withings Body Scan is currently available for $399.95 / £349.95, Users in Australia can't get it from Withings directly, so prices may vary there.
Value score: 3.5/5
Withings Body Scan: Design
(Image credit: Rob Dunne)
Stylish and robust
Handles up to 200kgs of weight
Wall mount for handle included
As with all products that come from Withings, the Withings Body Scan is an undoubtedly stylish and robust device. You can get the Withings Body Scan in either a white or black color, both of which feature lighter banding across the scale which is used to send small electrical signals through your body to gather your body measurements.
The Withings Body Scan features a 3.2-inch color LCD display, measures 12.8 inches in both length and width, and only comes 1.1 inches off the floor thanks to its extremely thin base pads which run along either side. These also help give the Body Scan a very sturdy feel across the base when taking measurements. The device also uses a tempered glass panel on the front of the scale, and weighs around 4.8kg overall, giving the device a premium feel despite the plastic used across the underside of the scale.
Thanks to the tempered glass front, as well as the overall sturdiness of the build of the Withings Body Scan, the smart scale can handle weights up to 200kg / 440lbs / 31.5 stone, all while retaining the device's impressive 50g/0.1lb weight reading accuracy.
Some of the key design features of the Withings Body Scan revolve around the handle which acts as one of the key improvements over other Withings body scales. The handle, and its on-scale holder, are made of the same plastic used across the rest of the device, and use a well-braided cable to attach one to the other.
The handle and cable are light enough that you should experience no issues while holding them, whilst also not being so light that they feel cheap or underdeveloped. The electrodes on the handle are also usefully positioned to allow easy access for your thumbs on both sides.
Given the importance of the handle to the improved metrics the Withings Body Scan can provide, these steps have been well considered, even to such an extent that, with your smart scale, you also receive a wall mount for your handle, which means should you struggle leaning down to reach it from the scale itself, you can simply mount it to the wall and use it from there.
It should be noted, however, that should you choose to mount your handle to the wall, Withings asks that you set this up in the app to ensure the device still gives as accurate readings as possible. This is a simple enough process and takes a matter of seconds.
Design score: 4/5
Withings Body Scan: Features
(Image credit: Future / Rob Dunne)
The features of the Withings Body Scan smart scale are where the device really comes into its own. To give you a sense of just how much the Body Scan does whilst you're on the scale, here's everything your smart scale is measuring while you're stood on that piece of glass, it measures:
Weight
BMI
Basal Metabolic Rate
Metabolic Age
Segmental body composition analysis including:
Muscle Mass (across five zones)
Fat Mass (across five zones)
Bone Mass
Visceral Fat Index
Lean Mass
Water Mass
Nerve health
ECG
Pulse Wave Velocity
Heart Rate
Vascular Age
And that's before everything else you can integrate into the app! If you integrate your Apple Health, Google Fit, or most other fitness apps, your Withings Health Mate app can become a hub for everything from your vascular age to your sleep quality, you can keep all your data in one place and utilise it to better your daily routines, workouts, sleep, eating and long term health.
When testing the Withings Body Scan, the only two of the many measurements above that we struggled with were Pulse Wave Velocity and Vascular Age. These measurements required a slightly more specific positioning on the scale which proved tricky to master, and the scale required five complete readings before it could start giving you data, which resulted in a greatly reduced amount of data compared to other areas.
Getting all of this data is one thing, understanding it is another, and this is an area where, once again, Withings has hit the nail on the head through the Health Mate app. Through the app, not only are you able to turn on recommended zones and see average data and how you compare to the average in each measurement, but you can also find guides explaining what each measurement means, so if, say, you don't understand what vascular age means, you can find a guide explaining everything you need to know about where it should be, and how it can be improved.
If you are working with a trainer or health professional, you're also in luck, as the app allows you to create a shareable report of your health that you can give to anyone who might benefit from it, a simple, but effective addition to the app.
Features score: 4.5/5
Withings Body Scan: Performance
(Image credit: Rob Dunne)
Simple and efficient setup
Eight different profiles full of detail
Export data to/from Apple Health or Google Fit
Straight out of the box the simplicity and efficiency of Withings products is as present as ever. Setting up the device takes a matter of minutes through the Withings Health Mate app. If you are new to Withings and don't have an account, the setup of an account plus getting your Withings Body Scan ready takes a maximum of 15 minutes.
In that time, you'll also be able to import health data from services such as Apple Health or Google Fit, as well as receive a full tutorial on how to properly use your new smart scale and set some goals in the app.
There are a wide array of tutorials available on additional features within the app, some of which – the at-a-a-glance health improvement score and library of how-to workout/recipe/health management content – are unfortunately locked behind a Withings+ subscription. This costs $9.95 / £9.95 / around AU$18 per month, but none of it affects the usage of the scale in any way – still, it'd be nice to have after spending this much on a smart scale.
Once your Withings Body Scan is set up, utilizing it for not only your own, but your family's health is simple. The device can support up to eight profiles, which it can automatically detect. If however, a number of you are of similar weights, the device shows each profile as a list, which you scroll through by balancing on the foot of the direction you wish to scroll, so to go along the list, you simply need to put your weight on your right foot.
The Withings Body Scan also has a black variant (Image credit: Daniel hessel)
The process of attaining your measurements takes around a minute, most of which is taken up by one of the unique features of the Withings Body Scan, the 6-lead ECG (echocardiogram). The ECG takes 30 seconds to complete and is one of the key benefactors of the Body Scan's unique handle.
Each step of the measurement process is displayed for you on the 3.2-inch display, showing you the results of each test as they are collected, as well as some general daily info such as weather and air quality. You can customize the steps your Body Scan shows on the smart scale through the app, meaning if, understandably, you don't want to know the weather when you're weighing in, you can remove that from your slides.
The display (and device) are noticeably responsive, and the bright LCD makes it easy to see everything you need as and when it comes up. Once you are finished, your results will already be waiting for you in your Withings Health Mate app, meaning it's quick and simple to access the more in-depth data with no waiting around.
Overall, using the Withings Body Scan is extremely simple, everything you want to know can be seen on the smart scale itself during your weigh-in, and more detailed information can be found in the app once you are finished. The accuracy of measurements taken is extremely high, with weight having an accuracy of up to 50g/0.1lbs thanks to the four weight sensors spread across the scale, as well as featuring patented position detection technology and 'Position Control' technology. The Body Scan's segmental body composition capabilities are equally impressive thanks to the device's BIA (bio-electrical impedance analysis) multifrequency technology, which during testing was able to provide consistent results across five different bodily segments.
As the next offer down from Withings, the Body Comp offers a great alternative for those looking to access the various benefits of the Withings Health Mate app whilst sacrificing some of the more accurate and more detailed measurementsView Deal
An alternative suited to Garmin users. The Index S2 offers a number of Garmin-tailored features, for a reduced price, whilst sacrificing some of the accuracy and detailed measurements offered by the Withings Body ScanView Deal
The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud is a 10-inch tall mattress available in all-foam or hybrid versions. For this review I tested out the former, sleeping on it for three weeks and also asking a panel of others to try it out and share their thoughts. The aim was to see how it compares to the rest of the best mattresses on the market, and if it justifies the premium price tag.
Like all of this brand's beds, the Tempur-Cloud uses Tempur Material – a kind of high-end foam that delivers a sink-in, deep contouring feel. Tempur-Pedic is widely considered to be one of the best luxury mattress brands, but it won't be for everyone.
This mattress has a medium firmness (I'd rate it a 5.5 out of 10, with 10 being a rock). That, combined with the squishy feel, makes it a great choice for lightweight people and side sleepers seeking a bit of extra softness. The pressure relief here is excellent. It also has perhaps the best motion isolation of any mattress I've slept on. I didn't toss and turn as usual during my review period, and I couldn't feel my husband getting in and out of bed, either.
It will be too soft for most back or stomach sleepers, who will find their hips sinking too low into the surface. Ditto anyone who weighs above average and needs a bit of extra support. And while the slow-moving memory foam will be amazing for some people, it might prove problematic for those with mobility issues – the deep sinking feeling on the edges of the bed made me feel like I was heading towards the floor, which isn't ideal.
All of Tempur-Pedic's mattresses sit in the premium price bracket, and you're mostly paying for the high-end, own brand foams. It's pricier than most of today's best memory foam mattresses, and to be honest, I feel that Tempur could do more to justify that price – especially with regards to things like delivery (which is only to your door) and trial length (short at 90 nights). However, if you want that unique Tempur mattress feel, this is the most affordable of the lineup, and for some people it'll be worth it. Read on for more detail in my full Tempur-Cloud mattress review.
Tempur-Cloud mattress review: Design
10" tall mattress made in the US
Available in all-foam (reviewed here) or hybrid versions
Cover is super-stretchy and designed to be breathable
The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud is a 10-inch tall mattress available in all-foam (reviewed here) or hybrid versions.
The top of the mattress is wrapped with a polyester-blend, soft cover that's designed to be ultra-stretchy – so you can get the full benefit of the foams beneath – as well as breathable. It's not removable, so you'll want to add one of the best mattress protectors to make cleaning easier and guard against spills. There are no handles to help with maneuvering.
The all-foam version (top, reviewed here) and the hybrid (bottom) (Image credit: Tempur-Pedic)
Next up you'll find a 'comfort layer' made from an updated version of Tempur Material. This is a proprietary material that the brand is adamant is not memory foam, but we would class as memory foam (it certainly has that slow-moving, sink in feel that most would associate with classic memory foam). This top layer is designed to cushion pressure points and alleviate muscle pains and achy joints.
This softer top layer sits above a layer of slightly firmer Tempur Material, to add more support and prevent the whole thing from becoming too squishy. If you opt for the hybrid, you'll find a layer of pocket coils next. These will add a touch of bounce as well as creating space for air to circulate within the mattress. Finally, there's a sturdy polyfoam base that supports layers above it. It's thicker on the all-foam version, to make up the height.
Design score: 3.5 out of 5
Tempur-Cloud mattress review: Price & value for money
Premium priced mattress, sometimes 30% off over sales events
Cheapest option in the Tempur-Pedic mattress range
Not the best value for money
The Tempur-Cloud mattress is the cheapest in the Tempur lineup, but it still sits firmly in the premium price bracket. For comparison, at MSRP a queen sized Cloud is $1,999, the Adapt is $2,199 and the Breeze is $4,599. If you're smart, and flexible about when you buy, you can avoid those prices. Tempur-Pedic mattress sales tend to crop up around major shopping events, and usually knock 30 per cent off MSRP.
Here are the list prices for the main sizes of the Tempur-Cloud mattress (all-foam):
On paper, it's hard to see where this extra expense is coming from. The design is pretty standard – the layers diagram for the Tempur-Cloud would look very similar to the Nectar memory foam mattress or Cocoon Chill mattress, both of which are significantly cheaper.
What about the extras? Well, they're nothing special, either: you've got a 90 night trial, which is shorter than pretty much every other big bed brand, and a 10-year warranty, which is standard. Shipping is free, but that's common, and there are no perks such as setup and packaging removal to sweeten the deal.
The only real point of difference is the inclusion of Tempur Material, which has a fairly unique feel, and which you won't find in any other mattresses. It's this material that has earned Tempur a reputation as one of the best luxury mattressbrands around.
You're definitely paying for the brand name a bit, too. Many of the other reviews mention being loyal Tempur-Pedic customers. If you love that unique Tempur mattress feel, that's what you'll need to pay (unless you just opt for the topper – which you can read about in our Tempur-Adapt topper review), but I wouldn't say it's amazing value for money.
Value for money score: 2.5 out of 5
Tempur-Cloud mattress review: Comfort & support
Medium sleep surface with a sink-in feel and excellent pressure relief
Best for lightweight side sleepers, lacks support for heavier people
Gooey, slow-moving foams, takes a long time to return to shape
Climb into bed with the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud mattress, and you'll sink in immediately and keep going, with the foams contouring around your joints. That's often referred to as a 'quicksand-like feeling' in the world of mattress reviews and testing.)
In terms of actual firmness, Tempur-Pedic says this is a 'medium', which would be about a five or six out of 10 on the firmness scale. I'd agree with that, and judged it to be a 5.5. I placed a 12lb kettlebell in the middle of the bed and it sunk in two inches. More so than the softness, the deep sinking feeling of this mattress threw me for a loop.
The brand website says the foam is designed to be responsive but I'd disagree with that. During my testing, I pressed down on the mattress with my hand, and it took about 20 seconds for the surface to completely return to its original shape.
That quicksand feel is divisive – some people will love it, while others hate it. It's a characteristic associated with memory foam mattresses, but it's really pronounced here. I've tested other all-foam bed-in-a-box mattresses that felt much more responsive.
For me, there were some benefits – I usually shift position a lot at night, whereas I tended to stay in place a lot more while sleeping on the Cloud. However, it also made it harder to get out of bed. I'd imagine someone who is pregnant, has mobility issues, or who needs to get up a lot throughout the night might be thrown off by this aspect of the design.
For reference, I'm of average build and height, and predominantly a side sleeper, and I like to put a pillow between my knees for comfort and pressure relief at night. I mostly tested this mattress by sleeping on my side but I also experimented with lying on my stomach and back for naps.
(Image credit: Future)
Although the deep sinking feeling did take some getting used to, I found this mattress fairly comfortable in my usual side sleeping position. I felt like my shoulders and hips were supported, and the contouring prevented pressure from building up uncomfortably. The best mattresses for side sleepers tend to be medium or medium-firm (five to seven-and-a-half) out of 10) to allow the hip and shoulder to sink in a little, while still keeping the spine neutrally aligned.
It was less comfortable when lying on my back. When settling into a reclining position to scroll through my phone or read a book before going to sleep, my butt would sink all the way down while my legs felt like they rested on top of the mattress and my top half almost felt like I would fall back, even though I was propped up on pillows.
(Image credit: Future)
I couldn't really sleep an entire night on my back, because my butt and hips felt like they were sinking too far into the mattress. This would be even more of an issue if you're on the heavier side, and would likely lead to back pain over time. Typically, we recommend medium-firm to firm mattresses for back sleepers (so at least a seven).
It was a similar situation when I lay on my stomach – my hips sank in deep. This isn't really ideal, as it puts strain on the spine. Again, stomach sleepers usually need a firmer mattress to ensure their back is properly supported.
Because comfort is subjective, I also asked some others to give this mattress a go and share their opinions. My petite, average weight mom tested it on her back and she said she thought it was comfortable once you settled in and would give it a 3.5 stars out of 5 for comfort. My dad is an average height, heavier-than-average man who is a side sleeper and he thought it was comfortable once he settled in as well. He gave it 4 out of 5 stars but noted the lack of edge support immediately (more on that in the performance section).
(Image credit: Future)
In general, softer mattresses tend to work best for lightweight people, who will benefit from the extra cushioning. The heavier you are, the more support you'll need and the firmer your mattress should be. Personal preference does come into it, too, as does sleep position. I tend to get on best with mattresses that score around seven out of 10 in terms of firmness.
Overall, I'd say the Cloud would be best suited to lightweight side sleepers, although it may also suit some average weight side sleepers, if they have a preference for a softer feeling mattress. Heavier weight people, as well as back or stomach sleepers, should approach with caution, as they likely won't find the support they need here.
Tempur-Cloud mattress review: Performance
Temperature regulation is poor, not the best for hot sleepers
Edge support is terrible
Motion isolation is excellent – great for couples and light sleepers
As well as general comfort and support, there are other factors that affect your experience with a mattress. In this section of the review, I'll be assessing the mattress' temperature regulation, edge support (how firm it is on the sides of the bed and bottom), as well as the motion isolation. Here's how I got on…
Temperature regulation
The Tempur-Pedic website says the mattress offers superior breathability and airflow compared to 'other compress mattress brands', but overall I wasn't too impressed with the temperature regulation here.
I tend to sleep neutral, and although the Cloud didn't feel immediately warm, I would occasionally wake up feeling clammy during my review period. My sister runs hot and she said she woke up feeling sweaty during her one night on this mattress.
(Image credit: Future)
That's more notable because I tested this memory foam mattress out in a basement bedroom so it was cooler than other areas of the home. For context, the outside temperatures were 30 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit during my testing period. I slept with a sheet and a duvet cover on the mattress, both made from cotton/polyester blends.
This mattress would work for those who run cool or neutral, but if you struggle with overheating, it's one to avoid. You could consider the Tempur-Breeze, which is this brand's specialist cooling model, or head to our best cooling mattress guide for some more alternatives.
Temperature regulation score: 2.5 out of 5
Motion isolation
Motion isolation refers to the extent to which a mattress absorbs movements or lets them reverberate across the surface. It's something couples might want to look for in a mattress, particularly if they have differing sleeping and waking hours or if one sleeper tends to get up often at night.
The Tempur-Cloud mattress has excellent motion isolation. When my husband was asleep on his side of the mattress, he couldn't feel me getting in or out of bed, and vice versa.
(Image credit: Future)
My parents slept over in this bed a few of the nights during the testing phase and didn't notice when the other person got out of bed in the middle of the night or early morning to help with my toddlers, either.
To gain a more objective view, I dropped a 12lb kettlebell near a wine glass balanced on the center of the bed. The wine glass didn't move when it was dropped, 4, 10 and 20 inches away. In fact, when I dropped the kettlebell right next to the wine glass, it only wobbled a little, still staying upright. If you're a light sleeper, the Tempur-Cloud would be an excellent choice.
Good motion isolation can also help promote a more restful sleep if you tend to toss and turn at night. That was the case for me – I usually move around a lot when I sleep, but I slept much more solidly on this mattress. When I woke up, I was in the same position I fell asleep in.
Motion isolation score: 5 out of 5
Edge support
Edge support refers to how sturdy a mattress is around its perimeter. All of our testers said some variation of, “Whoa!” as soon as they sat on the edge of the Tempur-Cloud bed. What does that mean? As soon as their butts hit the edge of the mattress, they were surprised by how far they kept sinking, further and further down and towards the edge of the mattress.
When I stand up, this mattress height hits my mid-thigh. When sitting down, even if I position myself 10 inches or so from the edge of the mattress, I keep sinking until my butt is parallel with my knees and my legs are at a 90-degree angle or less.
So why does edge support matter? If you're short on bed space, you want to be able to use every inch of the available surface for sleeping, without fear of rolling off the mattress. Or if you're someone who likes to sit on the edge of the bed while getting dressed or putting on your shoes on, a mattress with flimsy edges probably won't allow you to do that comfortably. If the edge support of the mattress isn't good in the beginning, it's likely only going to get worse over the years.
(Image credit: Future)
When I placed a 12lb kettlebell on the edge of the mattress, it sank in a couple of inches. That's the same sinkage as I recorded in the centre of the mattress, which is actually an acceptable result. However, the softness is exacerbated by how slow-moving the foams are. When I left my 12lb kettlebell on the edge for 10 to 20 seconds, the mattress still hadn't returned to its full height when I checked it again over an hour later.
If you are sleeping by yourself and sleep in the middle of the mattress, it might be a non-issue for you. Also note that poor edge support is more common in all-foam mattresses, so the hybrid version of the Cloud might perform better on this front.
Edge support score: 2 out of 5
Tempur-Cloud mattress review: Customer experience
Mattress delivered vacuum-packed, rolled and bagged
Standard delivery is free, but no white glove option
90 night trial period is short, especially for the price
Tempur-Pedic offers a free delivery for this Tempur-Cloud model. After ordering online to my home in New York, it estimated delivery in five to seven business days. The mattress was delivered to my garage door compressed and rolled up, but interestingly, not in a cardboard box, as most bed-in-a-box mattresses are.
If you buy the pricier Tempur-Adapt or Breeze mattresses, white glove delivery is included for free, but that's not the case with the Cloud. I think that's a little stingy, given that it's still very much a premium priced mattress.
I noticed it was heavy (40 to 50 pounds) and kind of an awkward cylinder shape so I dragged it into my house, downstairs to the guest bedroom where I'd be testing it. With that heavy of a package, it would be nice to have a white glove delivery option, even if I had to pay extra. If you ordered the king-size models, they'd be about 80 pounds and most people would need help getting that size package from wherever UPS dropped it off into a bedroom and on a bed frame.
(Image credit: Future)
The trial is 90 nights and Tempur-Pedic recommends each customer try their mattress for at least 30 nights, partly because memory foam can take some time to get used to if you're a former innerspring mattress sleeper, and partly because it molds to your body better after a few weeks. That's about the shortest trial period of any major bed brand – the likes of Nectar and Saatva give customers a full year. If you return your mattress or exchange it within the 90-night sleep trial, you'll need to pay a $175 fee. Only a handful of brands charge for this, and this fee is particularly high with Tempur, too.
There's a 10-year full replacement limited warranty, replacing or repairing a defect within that time frame if you bought from a Tempur-Pedic authorized retailer or the site. I think it's noteworthy that the Tempur-Pedic site explicitly outlines the type of frames, surfaces and foundations that its beds are designed to be placed on. If you don't use those and want to return the product, the site says “...if purchaser uses inappropriate foundations, box springs, adjustable bed bases, or bed frames with the mattress… such will void the Limited Warranty and all other warranties.”
Tempur-Pedic says it regularly donates to “charitable organizations within our community.” At time of writing, there have been quite a few recent complaints and negative reviews captured on the Better Business Bureau website but it's difficult to tell if those products that customers were unhappy with truly fell under the warranty parameters.
Customer service score: 3 out of 5
Tempur-Cloud mattress review: Specs
Tempur-Cloud mattress review: Other reviews
On Tempur-Pedic's website, the Tempur Cloud has 4.5 stars out of 5 stars from over 1,500 reviews (December 2023). The only other site I could find reviews of this model was Walmart, which pulled most of the reviews from Tempur-Pedic's site or the Better Business Bureau.
Many of the reviews of five stars for the Tempur-Cloud were for the hybrid model, which features innersprings. Price comments were positive when compared to other Tempur-Pedic mattresses and other feedback tended to be along the lines of 'worth the cost', while noting that it was expensive.
Some customers who have other Tempur-Pedics found that it was not the same quality as their other products, but noted it was a more affordable line.
Some reviewers mentioned the lack of edge support and there were a lot of comments about it sleeping hot. Complaints tended to be about it being too soft and not getting their money back through the warranty after the trial.
The Tempur-Cloud was launched in 2019, and I couldn't see many comments dealing with the long-term wear and feel of this mattress-in-a-box.
Should you buy the Tempur-Cloud mattress?
Buy it if...
✅ You love a deep 'hugging' feel: Tempur-Pedic is known for its pressure-relieving memory foam products and the customer reviews of this mattress sang the praises of this aspect of the mattress. It delivers excellent pressure relief via its contouring, squishy top layer.
✅ You're a lightweight side-sleeper: The medium feel of this mattress is a good fit for side sleepers, and it'll cradle your shoulder and hip and prevent pressure from building up. It's also great for lightweight people who need a little extra cushioning to feel comfortable.
✅ You're a light sleeper or toss and turn at night: The slow-moving foams isolate motion extremely well, which is great news if you're a light sleeper and toss and turn at night – I found I stayed in the same place when sleeping on this mattress. It's doubly useful if you share a bed and don't want to be disturbed by a partner's movements.
Don't buy it if...
❌ You're a back sleeper or a stomach sleeper: The deep, sink-in surface of this mattress isn't well suited to most back and stomach sleepers, as they'll find their hips drop in too low, putting a strain on their back.
❌ You weigh more than average: Bigger bodies need more support than this medium mattress will offer. If you weigh more than 250lbs, check our best mattress for heavy people guide for some recommendations.
❌ You like a responsive mattress that you lie on top of: This mattress' deep sinking feel that hugs your shape is perfect for some people. But if you're looking for a mattress that you lie on top of and is easy to change position on, this won't suit. Something like the Saatva Classic is similarly luxurious but has a much more traditional feel.
❌ You're on a budget: This mattress is an investment. If you're on a tighter budget, something like the Leesa Studio has a fairly similar, slow-moving feel. Or there are plenty of cheaper options in our best memory foam mattress guide.
How I tested the Tempur-Cloud mattress
I slept on the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud for most of three weeks, other than when we had overnight guests over who also tested the mattress. I normally sleep on an innerspring Saatva so I'm used to more of a traditional mattress and like that springy feel.
This mattress was slept on in a basement in the fall in New York so it was fairly cool, between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit outside, but the basement is the coolest area in the house. I used a polyester/cotton blend sheet and comforter set. My parents – in their 70s – slept on it, as well as my sister who's in her 40s.
I ran tests to determine the edge support, motion isolation, and responsiveness. I asked the testers what they thought of the mattress, since they're used to sleeping on an all-memory foam mattress, Zinus, in that room. They found it comfortable overall and slept well on it but everyone seemed to prefer the Zinus mattress feel.
One of the more notable headlines from last week was Epic Games’ win against Google in the District Court of Northern California. The three-year-long legal battle was settled with the jury determining Google holds a monopoly in the Android app distribution market and in-app billing services. That court settlement wasn’t the only one fought by Google as the Android maker was also facing an anti-trust lawsuit against a coalition of attorney generals from all 50 US states.
Google reached a settlement with the US legal officials back in September and we now get the detailed settlement...
Apple will preemptively remove the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 from its stores in the US this week to comply with an ITC ruling regarding a patent dispute with Masimo. The ruling bans Apple from selling the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 in the US on its website after 3 pm ET on December 21, and in stores from December 24.
The ruling is regarding Apple using medical device maker Masimo's technology in the two watches SpO2 (blood oxygen) sensor. Apple spokesperson Nikki Rothberg says Apple "strongly disagrees" with the order and is "pursuing a range of legal and technical options" to...
Confession: ever since testing the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+’s predecessor, the Diletta Bello, earlier this year, it’s been a struggle having to go back to my old French press and my cheap milk frother.
It's not that a French press doesn't have its advantages – it lets you brew rich, full-bodied coffee and has the lowest carbon footprint of all coffee makers – but as one of the best espresso machines on the market, the Bello has truly made a convert out of me, compelling me to appreciate the beauty of an even slower coffee morning routine.
There’s a touch of romanticism that comes with the craft of espresso- and latte-making, from the tamping of the grounds in the portafilter to the turn of the lever to produce that robust double shot of espresso to the surprisingly tricky way you have to steam your milk so that it produces the perfect foam. All of that takes time, patience, and an unhurried pace, and starting my day with that felt like an addictingly cozy break from my usual mad dash of life.
Naturally, when, after months of pining for the Bello, Seattle Coffee Gear asked me to test the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+, I had to jump at the chance. After all, it’s basically the Bello on steroids – at least in terms of features. It comes with a PID controller that moonlights as a shot timer, and programmable pre-infusion, both of which are supposed to, as Seattle Coffee Gear claims, “give home baristas the tools they need for improved shot quality.” It also comes with an eco mode for faster heat-up times and an even bigger-capacity drip tray.
Of course, more features typically mean a higher price tag, and that’s also the case here, contributing to the Bello+'s lofty price point. This makes it harder to recommend to a lot of people, even the most passionate coffee enthusiasts. That’s especially because I don’t find the extra features particularly necessary for most people – not when the slightly more affordable Bello is already near-perfect without them.
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+: Price
List price: $1,899 (about £1,500, AU$2,800)
Unavailable outside the US
To be more specific, the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ is $200 more than the Bello. Taking this manual espresso machine home means shelling out $1,899 (about £1,500, AU$2,800) of your hard-earned money, and while those with deep pockets might not bat an eye at that, most people will balk at having to spend that much just for a daily cup of coffee, no matter how smooth it is.
One thing to learn here though, if you’re an espresso machine novice, is that most top-quality espresso machines are going to be expensive. A handful of manual espresso machines from the likes of Breville and Delonghi are more than $1,000 / £1,000, and you’ll find a handful from other brands that are even pricier than the Bello+.
That doesn’t change the fact that the Bello+ is a luxury purchase, even for those who take their caffeine fix very seriously. And I’m just not completely convinced that it’s worth paying that extra $200 for all those additional features – at least not for most people who would want to jump on the manual espresso machine bandwagon.
Value: 3.5 / 5
Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+: Specs
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+: Design
Additional features missing from the Bello
Gorgeous, retro design and solid stainless steel build
Manual controls when brewing and steaming
Those extra features on the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ could be worth it for a handful of espresso enthusiasts, however. The PID controller does come in handy as it lets you do things like change your desired steam boiler temperature – note that the ideal brewing temp for espresso is around 194-205 degrees F (90-96 degrees C) – and adjust the pre-infusion time to up to 10 seconds (pre-infusion, to the uninitiated, is the process of soaking the tamped grounds in the portafilter before brewing to evenly extract coffee from the puck.)
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
I’ll discuss those two features in detail later, but for now, just know that the PID controller is definitely useful if you really want to hone in on your daily dose/s of caffeine. It also lets you set things like turn on/off Standby Mode, set the Eco Mode Timer, change the Probe Sensor Height, and more. The PID display also moonlights as a shot timer, allowing you to monitor your brewing progress.
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(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
These are not available on the Diletta Bello, allowing it a more analog approach to espresso making, but the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ still offers the same manual controls for extraction, milk steaming, and hot water dispensing. There are now buttons for these. Both the steam wand and the hot water wand, located on either side of the group or brew head, work by turning their respective knobs. And for the group head start (and stop) brewing espresso, you have to lift (and lower) the brew lever yourself – not to mention monitor its progress.
Since I have experience with manual espresso machines, I prefer to simply look at the liquid pouring out and lower the lever when it “blonds” (turns light brown). However, you can use the Shot Timer on the PID display as well – although you still have to know how many seconds is ideal for your preferred brew, which takes some experimentation.
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
The Bello+ comes in three colorways, including black and white, with its case, frame, and boiler made of stainless steel. It’s just as robust and as beautiful as the Bello, with the same elegant retro look that makes it a classy addition to any kitchen, no matter your aesthetic. It also has a pressure gauge, which helps guide you when the machine is ready to brew, as well as a cup warmer on top next to the water tank opening so you can warm your cup up.
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Unlike the Bello, however, the Bello+ comes with a larger drip tray so you don’t have to empty and clean it as often. During testing, I’ve only had to do so every 6-7 days, which means I don’t have to spend time I don’t have on weekdays to clean it out.
If you’re new to the world of manual espresso machines, the Bello+ can be intimidating. However, while it may take a bit of practice to get that perfect brew, it really won’t take you long to get comfortable with the controls. Plus, Diletta provides a quick start guide with the machine, which is all you need. Honestly, it’s all very simple, and pretty soon, it’ll start being fun to operate.
Design: 4.5 / 5
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+: Performance
Slow to reach thermal stability
Eco mode isn’t all the faster for heating up
Smooth results with pronounced crema, produces rich froth
If you’re not used to manual espresso machines and used to rushing through your morning coffee brewing, the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ may be a bit of an adjustment for you. After you turn on the machine, you have to wait at least 13 minutes and 30 seconds for it to reach your set temperature and the boiler pressure gauge reads between 1 and 1.5 bars. That’s not counting the actual extraction process – not to mention the milk steaming if you want a latte or a cappuccino.
To put that in perspective, regular drip coffee machines take an average of about 5-10 minutes to finish brewing while it takes me about 6 minutes to brew my coffee in my French press. If your mornings are almost always a rush, I recommend turning this machine on first thing before showering, making your breakfast, or feeding your pets.
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
There’s a minor disadvantage, here, unfortunately. I’m not sure if it’s just my review unit – since Seattle Coffee Gear only has a handful of units available for media reviewers, my unit is not new out of the box, and it’s possible that I got a slightly imperfect unit – but I have found that there were a handful of times, even when my machine had reached the set temperature and the gauge needle was between 1 and 1.5 bars, when water still wasn’t hot enough for proper infusion. I often found that I had to give it a bit more time to warm up, and when I didn’t, my resulting espresso was not only relatively cool in temperature but also not as smooth or rich as it should be. It didn’t happen every single time, but it happened often enough.
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
The great news is that when the temperature is right, it produces rich and incredibly smooth espresso with a nice crema on top. Even non-coffee aficionados will notice the difference between coffee made from this and coffee made in a French press or with a drip coffee machine.
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(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
The steam wand also worked as expected, and it’s effective enough to produce thick foam even from oat milk, which is notoriously hard to froth. As is the case with the hot water wand, which is useful for making tea and such.
Eco mode is a fantastic feature as it lowers the machine’s power consumption when it’s still turned on but not in use but offers faster heat up times when you need another shot of espresso. While this is useful for energy-saving purposes, it still takes time to heat up – just a few minutes faster than when you’re turning the machine on for the first time. If you need a caffeine fix every couple of hours or so, it may be wise to turn this feature off.
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
The 3L water tank will last you quite a while – it usually takes me around a week to refill it, and that includes me running the group head to rinse grounds that are stuck to it. Although, if you do drink a lot more than one or two double shots of espresso a day, you naturally will go through the reserve faster.
Overall, the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ is an impressive espresso machine that delivers delicious espresso shots or coffee drinks. And it's a fantastic appliance to have if you want a slower and more relaxing morning routine.
Performance: 4 / 5
Should I buy the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+?
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+: Also consider
If the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ is not for you, here a couple of options to consider.
How I tested the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+
Tested daily for a month
Used both bottomless and double portafilters
Experimented with its basic and premium features
Testing the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ for a little over a month, I used the machine every day to make one or two coffee drinks a day. Lattes are my favorite coffee drinks, so I made a lot of those, with oat milk as my choice of cream.
I made espresso shots using both the bottomless and the double sprout portafilter Seattle Coffee Gear provided, and utilized the steam want often. I also made sure to test the machine's other features to see how useful they are to the espresso extraction process.
As an avid coffee drinker (and a bit of a coffee snob), I've owned, tested, and reviewed my share of coffee machines, from the drip types to the bean-to-cup models. I'm also the Interim Homes Editor here at TechRadar.
We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.
It’s the last hurrah for the Galaxy S23 series as Samsung is gearing up to launch the 2024 flagships. But the outgoing models are down on price right now, in part because of the Discover Samsung Winter Sale and in part because of Amazon discounts.
The vanilla Samsung Galaxy S23 is $675 on both Samsung.com and Amazon. You should go with the former if you want to trade in an old phone, Samsung is doing its usual “enhanced trade in” so you can send in more than one device (including tablets and watches), phones with cracked screens are also accepted (at a lower but not by much price).
...
The Polar Vantage V3 is the update to Polar’s flagship premium multisports watch, which launched back in 2020. So we’ve waited a few years for its successor and Polar has rewarded that wait with some big features.
The headline addition might be the new AMOLED screen, but Polar has also introduced its new Elixir biosensor that can now deliver blood oxygen, skin temperature and heart rate via ECG to arm you with more metrics. It’s also adding offline maps and dual-frequency GPS to deliver more accurate outdoor data.
While the Vantage V2 was a solid offering from Polar, the Vantage V3 sees things step up a notch and it now feels like a better match for the competition. It's meriting an inclusion in our best running watch guide.
I’m still not entirely convinced its core heart rate powers are the best, but the Vantage V3 is definitely a multisports watch that stands out for all the right reasons.
Polar Vantage V3: Specifications
Polar Vantage V3: Price and availability
(Image credit: Michael Sawh)
$599.90 in the US
£519 in the UK
$899 in Australia
The Polar Vantage V3 was announced in October 2023 and is available to buy now directly from Polar and a small collection of retailers currently. It has a current RRP of £519 in the UK, $599.90 in the US and $899 when purchasing it in Australia, around the same asking price as the Garmin Forerunner 965.
Value score: 4/5
Polar Vantage V3: Design and screen
New AMOLED touchscreen
Heavier than Vantage V2
Nicely textured buttons
The Vantage V3 is Polar’s performance watch, so unlike its Grit series, it’s offering high grade materials, all while keeping things relatively light and comfortable to wear day and night.
It still measures in with a 47mm case like the V2 but is now thicker at 14.5mm compared to the 13mm thick case on the Vantage V2. It’s also got heavier, jumping from 52g to 57g. Those changes ultimately don’t alter the experience of strapping the V3 on. It’s still a pretty sleek-looking watch with aluminium in the case and the bezel to give it an attractive metallic frame.
The strap attached to that case is a workout-friendly silicone one, though you wouldn’t think it at first glance as Polar has clearly tried to give it the appearance of a traditional watch strap. I’m not sure I entirely love the feel of it though as it sits very snug towards and can pull at hairs. Both strap and watch case are waterproof up to 50 metres depth, which does mean you can use it in water but is a downgrade on the stronger 100 metre waterproofing available on the V2.
Around that aluminium case lies five physical buttons and they still have that nicely textured finish that makes them nice to press, even with sweaty or wet fingers. That surrounds a 1.39-inch, 454 x 454 resolution AMOLED touchscreen with Gorilla Glass on top to protect it against scratches. Along with the added pop of colour it’s a bigger display, and while there is a thin black bezel around the edge it’s well hidden by Polar’s predominantly black coloured watch faces.
It's a great AMOLED panel, with deep blacks, good max brightness and I’ve had no issues viewing it indoors, outdoors or in a swimming pool. The screen can be kept always-on with the raise to wake gesture support not as responsive as I’d have liked. What is nicely responsive is the software running on the V3. It’s slick, doesn’t lag and is a massive improvement on the experience of interacting with its predecessor.
When you need to charge it Polar includes a proprietary charging cable that clips into the port just below that new sensor array. It’s not the most secure of charging setups, and you just need to be mindful it’s out of the way of anything that might knock it out of place.
Design score: 4.5/5
Polar Vantage V3: Features
(Image credit: Michael Sawh)
Dual-frequency GPS
Free offline maps
Elixir sensor array
The Vantage V3 takes everything that was good on the V2 and aims to make improvements in some pretty important departments.
On the tracking front, Polar’s introduced dual-frequency GPS to enhance outdoor tracking accuracy for activities like running, when using the watch near tall buildings, in bad weather or densely forested areas. It’s now also adding free offline maps to join the existing turn-by-turn guidance offered by the Komoot app support.
There’s still over 150 sports profiles offered and Polar is bolstering one sport in particular, promising additional swim metrics including automatically detecting swimming style.
Around the back of the watch is where you’ll find Polar’s new Elixir sensor array, which sees a change in the design of the optical setup that’s now capable of capturing blood oxygen, skin temperature, take ECG heart rate measurements, with the upgraded Gen 4 version of Polar’s optical heart rate sensor also in tow.
Polar continues to offer rich sleep and training features, so you’re still getting access to its Training Load Pro and Recovery Pro insights, with Polar’s FitSpark suggested daily workouts and FuelWise fueling reminders for endurance athletes also still on board. It’s added the voice guidance support from the Ignite 3 along with the Work-Rest-Guide, which uses heart rate data to dictate when you should rest between workout sets.
On the smartwatch front, Polar still keeps things simple once again, offering the ability to view your notifications, change watch faces and control music playback on your paired smartphone. The added AMOLED screen and boost in CPU performance certainly makes these features much nicer to use day-to-day.
Features score: 4.5/5
Polar Vantage V3: Performance
(Image credit: Michael Sawh)
Welcome dual-frequency GPS accuracy boost
Heart rate still so-so
Delivers good battery life and overall performance
The V3 is Polar’s premium multisports watch, so it’s giving you the best the company has to offer in watch features. It’s bringing in the dual-band GPS support it debuted on the Polar Ignite 3, it’s boosting the mapping and navigation features it introduced on its Grit outdoor watch and the new Elixir sensor aims to offer boost in accuracy to improve the reliability of sports, wellness and sleep tracking.
Polar’s dual frequency GPS, which like Apple, Garmin and Suunto among others, means the V3 can use the L1 and L5 frequency bands to enhance positioning tracking accuracy. I wasn’t massively impressed with it on the Ignite 3 where Polar first introduced it, but it’s certainly more reliable here on the V3. I’ve been using it alongside Garmin and Suunto’s similar modes and while just slightly off on the distance tracking compared to the Garmin and Suunto, it wasn’t enough to cause any concern. Mapped routes inside the Polar Flow app didn’t raise any alarms either.
Polar says it’s also boosted the swimming metrics on offer, so I hit the pool along with the Form Swim Goggles and Garmin Forerunner 965, two swim trackers I know deliver good tracking accuracy in the water. Despite delivering good core swim data, I can’t say I saw anything particularly groundbreaking here. You’ll get quickest pace and average pace stats along with average and max cadence metrics and that’s really about it.
Then there’s the reliability of that new Elixir sensor, which promises an upgraded optical heart rate sensor, though I can’t say the accuracy has been massively upgraded for me. Even on steady paced workouts I found the optical heart rate sensor tended to report lower average heart rate readings and maximum heart rate readings seemed higher against a heart rate monitor chest strap. It’s not a terrible performer, but it’s also not the best performance I’ve seen from a wrist-based heart rate monitor. If in doubt, pair up an external heart rate monitor.
Polar’s Elixr sensor array also brings new blood oxygen tracking, skin temperature tracking at night, and ECG measurements when you hold your finger on the top physical button for 30 seconds. All of these new metrics place the onus on your simply tracking and analyzing trends, which can help you decide whether you should be taking it easy or you’re in good shape to have a strenuous day.
That insight also works in tandem with Polar’s rich sleep tracking, something that does separate it from the sports watch competition. Along with core sleep tracking stats, it’s offering you nightly recharge measurements, nightly skin temperature and the boost from sleep insights, which feels similar to Garmin’s Body Battery energy monitor. Crucially, the sleep data is some of the most reliable I’ve come across on a watch and it held up well against the Oura Ring Gen 3’s great sleep tracking.
Another big positive is that unlike previous Polar watches, comprehensive sleep tracking doesn't show a huge drain on battery, which on the whole, is a big improvement on the Vantage V2. There’s now a bigger 488mAh capacity battery, which Polar says can last for up to 12 days in its daily watch mode and 61 hours in training mode, up from 40 hours. I found the Vantage V3 could last a week with regular tracking using the top GPS accuracy mode. When you opt to keep the screen set to always-on, you’re going to get less than 5 days, and using features like GPS will see a further dent too.
Performance score: 4.5/5
Polar Vantage V3: Scorecard
Polar Vantage V3: Should I buy?
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
Also consider
Garmin Forerunner 965
Garmin's top-tier running watch, now with an AMOLED screen.
In the Moto G54 5G, Motorola has in some ways gone back to the drawing board. There is still the overall mission to offer customers the best possible mobile experience for as little money as possible, but in the G54 5G, I think it’s genuinely achieved it. I say that in the sense of, with the previous model in this series, the Moto G53 5G, there were too many compromises for one to make. In this latest model,Motorola has properly cracked it, and I feel it not only delivers an experience that belies its price, but it gives phones a fair bit more expensive than it a decent run for their money.
Yes, Motorola has now done a complete 180 since the G53 and made improvements across the board, to deliver an undeniably affordable smartphone that I struggled to find major fault with. And the company is actually charging less for this latest model than it did for the G53. That alone should be lauded.
No, of course the Moto G54 5G still isn’t going to trouble the four-figure flagships of the world, but the more mid-range phones? They should certainly be worried. For anyone looking for an affordable phone, I can’t personally think of anything better than this. The screen is finally full HD+, the processor offers a decent amount of performance (super intense gamers should still tread with caution) and the camera takes noticeably improved images compared to its predecessor. I also think it looks fantastic, and did plenty enough to make me rethink what a ‘budget’ phone is supposed to look like.
Having reviewed the earlier Moto G53 5G myself, I approached taking temporary ownership of the G54 5G with caution. And yes, I definitely made pre assumptions in my mind that I was going to be in for much of the same ride, just maybe in a shiny new colour. Well shouldn’t I now just eat my shoes. I was wrong and I applaud Motorola for producing a genuinely good device for not a lot of money.
Motorola Moto G54 5G review: Price & availability
List price of £180 / AU$299
No direct US equivalent again
Availability of Motorola devices continues to be inconsistent, depending on where you are in the world. As we’ve seen with previous Motorola smartphones, the Moto G54 5G is available in the UK and Australia, but isn’t available in the US, not by the same model name anyway. In the UK, you can expect to pay £180, £10 less than the previous model, while in Australia the Moto G54 5G receives a AU$30 discount over its predecessor, coming down to AU$299.
In the US, the Moto G Power 5G appears to be the most similar on paper, and this can be bought for $199.99 (down from $299.99) at the time of writing.
The fact that Motorola has taken what was already an affordable phone and made it cheaper is seriously impressive. When I reviewed the Moto G53 5G I gave it a value score of 4 out of 5, and given the G54 5G is cheaper and offers much-improved specs, it has to receive a 5 stars this time around.
• Value score: 5/5
Motorola Moto G53 5G review: Specs
Motorola Moto G54 5G review: Design
(Image credit: Future)
Multiple colors, including vegan leather option
Thinner and lighter than previous model
Not always the most ergonomical
The majority of wallet-friendly phones now follow a very similar design language. Namely, plastic build, large-ish bezels (compared to the very best phones at least) and, in my experience anyway, they’ve all been lightweight and come in a selection of unexciting colors.
And, while the Moto G54 5G doesn’t deviate from the norm too much, I think there have been enough changes to make it look decidedly more premium and, dare I say, sexy? The review unit I received came in the Indigo Blue color, which employs an attractive vegan leather material on the rear. It’s a material often reserved for more premium devices to cement their premium status, so it was a genuine surprise to find Motorola has been able to get it to trickle down here – the company’s Razr 40 Ultra flip phone employs a similar material, for example. The result is a tactile phone that really is a joy to hold.
The other color options are Midnight Blue in Australia/UK and Mint Green and Glacier Blue in the UK – though they are all of a plastic-only persuasion.
Elsewhere it is largely business as usual. A large 6.5-inch screen dominating the front with a small punch hole camera in the top center. A small bump housing the two camera lenses is on the rear, and I’m pleased to say this bump barely protrudes at all, so when the phone is placed down on a surface it continues to sit flat.
A power button with built-in fingerprint sensor and the volume rocker are on the right edge, and it’s here that I did find a slight flaw. While the power button does sit at a natural height for one to use their thumb to unlock the phone – I did find using the fingerprint sensor unlocked the phone 9 times out of 10, and quickly too – the volume rocker, for me, sits too high up the right edge to be used comfortably. This is a tall phone, and I would say I have large hands and even I had trouble using it. I either had to shuffle the phone down in my hand, or move to two-handed operation. A minor issue to most, I would expect, but an issue I found nonetheless. I would have preferred to have seen the volume buttons placed at a more natural height on the left edge so I could adjust using my index and middle fingers.
Speaking of the left edge, it’s where you’ll find the SIM card and micro SD card tray, the latter being capable of accepting cards up to 1TB. The Moto G54 5G also supports eSIM along with physical SIM cards, and you’re welcome to use one of each in conjunction if you wish.
As with the Moto G53, there’s no mention of Gorilla Glass protection for the screen on the Moto G54, so I would recommend investing in a screen protector as a best practice safety precaution. Motorola also only advertises a water-repellent design, so while a splash of rain shouldn’t trouble the Moto G54, you’ll want to avoid any possibility of fully immersing it.
• Design score: 4/5
Motorola Moto G54 5G review: Display
6.5-inch full HD+ LCD with 120Hz refresh
Fantastic colors and contrast
Excellent for watching streamed content
(Image credit: Future)
One of the biggest drawbacks to the Moto G53 5G was, in my opinion, its display. While it did support a 120Hz refresh rate, the resolution was a big let down at only HD+. While it could be argued this was acceptable for a ‘budget’ phone, the fact was other companies producing similarly-priced phones were including full HD resolutions as a minimum.
I don’t think I was alone in that assessment and it appears as though Motorola has listened to the criticism, because now we’ve got a full HD+ display, baby! The resolution this time around has been increased to 2400 x 1080, resulting in 405 ppi. It’s not quite double the resolution of the outgoing model, but it’s a huge improvement and colors are noticeably sharper, more accurate and vibrant. I once again turned to a Disney Plus stream of The Incredibles – one of my go-to movies for testing color and movement – and while I didn’t have the G53 to hand to test side-by-side, I have a strong memory of the picture when playing the Pixar movie on that device to be a little pale. Definition between the red suits of the super family and green forest trees was good, but overall it was a rather lackluster performance.
The same can’t be said of the Moto G54. My experience this time was far more enjoyable across the board. Images were sharp and really did pop with color, and despite there being a pixel density difference on paper between the G54 and my iPhone 13 Pro, I couldn’t detect any discernible difference. If anything, I preferred the image produced by the Moto G54, owing to it looking more natural.
I also loaded up a Netflix stream of Edge of Tomorrow and again, was thoroughly impressed. Colors appeared natural, whether it be skin tones, sandy beaches or blue skies. Contrast was admirable too and fast-moving scenes were handled well. Black levels weren’t quite OLED deep, but honestly, they weren’t far off. The only thing I will say about the display as a whole is that the glass can be quite reflective even with brightness turned up all the way. So if you’re viewing with a bright light source behind you, then you may find yourself having to readjust your position to get the best possible experience.
A 120Hz refresh rate returns, and this can be set to automatically adjust if you wish, or you can lock it at either 120Hz or 60Hz, either to the detriment of battery life or to preserve it, respectively. I left it on Auto mode for the majority of my review, which gives all control over to the phone to determine what refresh rate is required at what time, depending on how you’re using it or what you’re viewing. I never noticed any notion of stutter, even when flicking quickly between home screen menus – something I did occasionally notice when using the G53.
For a sub-£200/AU$300 phone, the Moto G54 5G’s display is nothing short of outstanding.
• Display score: 5/5
Motorola Moto G53 5G review: Cameras
50MP main, 2MP macro and 16MP front cameras
Optical image stabilization a new addition
Improvement on previous model, but still not up there with the best
(Image credit: Future)
Motorola has opted for the same dual camera system in the G54 as it did with the G53, in the form of a 50MP main sensor and a 2MP macro sensor. However, Motorola has reduced the micrometer from 1.28 to 1.22. What this should mean, on paper, is that the camera in the G54 is theoretically capable of taking sharper images, as the pixels are more compressed.
This should be especially true in the case of the G54, as Motorola has also added optical image stabilization, which shouldn’t just help produce sharper images during the day, but help to improve low light photography too.
In practice, yes, images are better than those I was able to take on the previous model, but they’re still not all that great. In good lighting you will be able to take decent images, with colours appearing natural and only a minimum amount of noise being introduced when you zoom in.
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I personally decided to turn off the Auto Enhance feature, as I felt it made images look a little fake or airbrushed, particularly on images of people. Changing the setting to Natural made things look more… natural. As for the front-facing camera, despite getting a bump from 8MP to 16MP, it still leaves a lot to be desired, which I was surprised by. Ok, so I probably do look a bit better in selfie pictures compared to the previous generation, but other than posting them here for the purposes of this review, I don’t think I’d be sharing them on my socials.
Naturally, you have to factor in the cost of the Moto G54 when forming an opinion on the camera, and in this sense, it could be considered capable. But, as smartphone cameras in general go, it does still leave a lot to be desired.
The Motorola Moto G54 5G comes running Android 13 and will be eligible for an Android 14 upgrade when it becomes available. Motorola has confirmed its team is working on the upgrade, but doesn’t yet have a release date.
So, in the meantime, what you get is a predominantly bloatware-free Android experience, although Motorola does preinstall some of its own apps, which includes one that lets you customize your G54 to make it truly your own. You’re able to change the font, theme colour, layout of the home screen and any gestures to carry out an assortment of tasks. It’s an intuitive app, and I was able to adjust multiple settings in no time at all.
What I also appreciated about Motorola’s own UI was just how much better it looked on the G54 compared to the G53, made possible by the full HD+ upgrade to the display. If I hadn't known how affordable it was already, then I would certainly have assumed it would have cost more, had I seen it in the hands of someone around me.
To gain a clearer idea of how well (or not so well) the Moto G54 5G performs compared to similar devices, we can turn to Geekbench 6 and 3DMark to run a couple of tests. On Geekbench 6, the Moto G54 5G returned a single core score of 924 and a multi-core score of 2,354, both notable improvements over the previous G53, which posted scores of 719 and 1,743. With this latest phone, Motorola has opted to use a Mediatek Dimensity 7020 processor, moving away from the Snapdragon 480+ chip found in the G53. The move appears to have been the right one, and coupled with 8GB RAM as opposed to the previous 4GB, the G54 is far better equipped to handle a range of everyday tasks.
To determine how well the GPU of the Moto G54 5G performed, I ran 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme, and was returned a score of 2,565. The 3DMark app told me this was only 56% better than results from other devices. I was unable to run our usual 3DMark Wild Life test, as the Moto G54 5G doesn’t support all Vulkan features.
However, this doesn’t necessarily affect real world gaming performance, and to find out, I installed and played Asphalt 9 with no discernible lag or frame rate drops. In fact, I played through a good number of races and the phone performed admirably. The only thing I would point out is that I did start noticing a bit of heat generation through the rear panel, so I wouldn’t recommend playing for seriously long sessions – and more graphically-intense games may be out of the question – but for the most part, mobile gaming is fine on the Moto G54 5G.
In terms of audio, I was pleased with the volume produced by the speakers. The Moto G54 supports Dolby Atmos audio processing, and it’s on by default – there’s no way of turning it off. You are able to change from the base setting of Smart Audio, which analyses the type of content you’re watching/playing, and adjust sound output accordingly.
I switched the setting to Music when playing songs via Apple Music, and there was a noticeable difference. Vocals came through a bit clearer, albeit with a bit of harshness in the top end, and I was able to pick out slightly more detail in the stream of Alicia Keys’ Rock wit U. But, for the best overall audio performance, I would recommend leaving the Smart Audio setting on.
When streaming video content from Netflix, the virtual surround sound applied via the default Dolby Atmos processing was more noticeable. During the first beach fight scene near the beginning of Edge of Tomorrow, sounds of helicopters flying around did appear to move around the phone, as opposed to coming directly from the speakers at either end of the device. Bullets flying out of Tom Cruise’s arm-mounted machine guns had real impact, and the movie’s soundtrack provided support in the background. All in all, an impressive presentation.
There is a separate ‘Spatial sound’ option in the sound settings menu, which can be turned on in conjunction with Dolby Atmos, and which appears as being available in Netflix for content that I’m aware is available with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack on other platforms. I switched between turning Spatial sound on and off in the settings while watching a number of films, and found they all sounded better with it switched off. The same was the case for playing music, again from Apple Music. In all instances, Spatial sound did introduce a slightly wider soundstage, but on the whole it just sounded more echo-y and totally unnatural.
• Software & performance score: 5/5
Motorola Moto G54 5G review: Battery
5,000mAh battery lasts well over a day
15W 'TurboPower' charging could be quicker
No wireless charging
I’ve always found battery life in Motorola phones to be exemplary and the same can very much be said of the Moto G54 5G. Once again, Motorola has fitted a 5,000mAh battery which, under general everyday use, should last you into a second day without needing a recharge. It did for me, anyway.
Of course, performing more intensive tasks such as streaming video content or playing games will reduce it significantly, as will locking the screen refresh rate to 120Hz, as previously mentioned. Indeed, spending about half an hour playing Asphalt 9 did diminish the battery percentage considerably, by around 10%.
Where Motorola has improved things compared to the G53 is by adopting a faster charging speed. The Moto G53 maxed out at 10W throughput, which meant it took just over two hours to recharge the phone from near empty. In the Moto G54 however, this has increased to 15W with support for TurboPower charging, and Motorola even includes a 20W charger in the box.
Admittedly, I wouldn’t call the charging speed of the Moto G54 ‘Turbo’, but I didn’t exactly feel short changed or as if I absolutely needed it to be quicker. Charging from 18% to 100% using the supplied charger took roughly an hour and a half. It’s also worth noting that wireless charging isn’t supported. I personally didn’t mind this, as I’ve never used wireless charging, but if you are a user, you’re going to be missing out.
• Battery score: 5/5
Motorola Moto G53 5G: Score card
Should I buy the Motorola Moto G53 5G?
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
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How I tested the Motorola Moto G55 5G
I used my review unit of the Motorola Moto G54 5G mainly for leisure during my testing period of a few weeks. I predominantly used it to browse web pages, scroll through social media and to take some pictures, and also found myself watching full length movies, due to its display being so engrossing. I also attempted to play a few games on it to best mimic the most likely real-world use case scenarios.
I didn't use it to replace my usual phone, an iPhone, but I was still able to send messages to friends via social media apps when connected to Wi-Fi. I also used my iPhone as a means to compare picture-taking abilities, being well aware that the iPhone was going to take more impressive shots due to its more capable camera system.
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