The Call of Duty season has arrived, and this year Infinity Ward is back in the driver’s seat. After back-to-back Black Ops games, Activision’s FPS cash cow returns to the Modern Warfare moniker and gameplay style, which I've always preferred (not that I dislike Black Ops; I just prefer MW's cast of characters and gameplay).

Modern Warfare 4 feels like a return to form for the long-running franchise, both in the single-player campaign and in the overall gunplay. The time-to-kill is a little longer than in the last couple of games, letting you use more inventive tactics in firefights. It’s not just about who shot who first. And I’m genuinely torn. It doesn’t feel like what I’m used to from the franchise, but maybe that’s not such a bad thing.

If you never liked COD games, nothing here will change your mind, but if you’re a lapsed fan of the series who wants to see how Captain Price’s story ties up and still enjoy a fun first-person shooter, this might be the one to come back to.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4: The Basics

• What is it? Modern Warfare 4 is a well-rounded FPS with three main modes that will keep franchise fans coming back for hours until next year’s Call of Duty drops.
• Who is it for? Infinity Ward made this game for Call of Duty fans. It packs the silky-smooth shooting that has kept the series going. COD haters won’t change their minds about the franchise based on Modern Warfare 4, though.
• What’s the price? Amazon sells Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 for $69. The Vault Edition costs $99 and includes a range of digital extras.
• What other games has the developer made? Infinity Ward is best known for Call of Duty, making its mark with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (though the first two Call of Duty games were great as well).
• What games is it similar to? Call of Duty is its own thing now. Other first-person shooters like Battlefield compete with it, but nothing really matches COD’s twitchy gunplay, bombastic campaign and extensive multiplayer modes.

Campaign

I'm generally not a Call of Duty campaign fan. I usually play a few hours a year and spend the rest of the time longing for multiplayer, so I fizzle out about halfway through. Which is why I was shocked when the Modern Warfare 4 campaign actually hooked me right off the bat and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through.

Sure, the story is a little convoluted, especially the Price portion, which has the unenviable task of cleaning up the mess left by the last few Call of Duty: Modern Warfare games. But I think it does a fantastic job of tying up all the loose ends into a coherent story that successfully caps Price’s story (at least until the next time Modern Warfare gets rebooted).

Price’s missions take place five days before the story’s other half (you’re essentially playing two campaigns at once and switching back and forth). His story crescendos with the start of the other plot and a massive Korean invasion.

Price’s story will make you feel like Jason Statham or John Wick, running around shooting and fighting in first-person hand-to-hand combat. The Korean story has a more traditional war-game feel and follows Park Hyun Jun and his squad. They’re entertaining, with a mix of Korean and US soldiers who add lighthearted humor during intense frontline moments.

The two interwoven stories contrast in a way that makes this the best Call of Duty campaign since 2009’s Modern Warfare 2.

Both sides of the campaign can get a little dark and heavy. An early scene puts you in the shoes of an invader on the Korean side, forcing difficult decisions that can make you wonder if you're the hero or villain (or somewhere in the gray middle ground). For example, an early Price fight scene ends in pure and utter brutality.

Then there’s the heavily hyped Stranded mission, a ramped-up version of the DMZ mode with a story and characters you actually care about. While most of the campaign is linear, this mission gives you a level of freedom we don’t often see in COD games. It’s dripping with tension and best of all, it’s fun. It was a dangerous call for Infinity Ward to include one mission that stands out, as it risked making the rest of the campaign feel inferior. However, because the more traditional COD missions are also so well executed and the stakes feel so high, this problem is negated.

DMZ

I got seriously into Arc Raiders for about a month before some updates made me fall off. It was my first taste of an extraction shooter, and it felt good to return to the genre with DMZ mode. It’s definitely the weakest of the three main modes in Modern Warfare 4, but it’s still fun.

We already know the extraction formula is successful. In my opinion, Call of Duty is the best first-person shooter franchise from a pure gunplay perspective, so it makes sense that smooshing the two together would lead to a solid online mode.

The missions in DMZ are relatively generic and basic, but they’re motivation enough to keep you moving through a session beyond just grabbing the best loot and extracting.

My only issue with DMZ comes from the overall COD culture. Years of competitive multiplayer have created a shoot-first mentality that removes much of the tension that comes from talking to people in other extraction shooters. I love the “hey, are you cool?” interactions I experienced in Arc Raiders (and even in the Dark Zone of The Division), and in the DMZ matches I played for this review, every encounter with other players was instantly hostile.

The thrill of finding loot and getting out at an extraction point is as satisfying as any other game in the genre (perhaps even more so, because getting your loot almost certainly involved fighting another player who attacked as you tried to extract).

And while there wasn’t much in the way of enemy negotiations, I had great experiences with other players in my squad. In almost every match, my random squadmates cared as much about my survival and successful extraction as I did.

I look forward to seeing how Infinity Ward builds on DMZ, both in this Modern Warfare 4 and across future COD titles.

Multiplayer

For me, this is the main event of any Call of Duty game. Sure, the campaign is fun for eight hours or so, and other modes like Black Ops’ Zombies and DMZ will hook a certain percentage of the player base; it’s multiplayer that has made this franchise one of the biggest in gaming history.

And while it had a few small flaws at launch (erratic spawns and skill-based matchmaking being all over the place with so many new players), the overall experience is there, and it’s great. The guns are fun to level up and add new attachments (the usual slots are all there), and it even adds new modes that borrow from other FPS games, like Collateral, a round-based plant-and-defuse mode with buy stages like Counter-Strike. It’s a well-executed game mode that feels fresh even if it’s been done before outside of COD.

Frontline is a spawn-campers' dream. Instead of spawning in logical, somewhat “safe” locations, you only spawn in your base. This becomes a problem when you’re on the losing team, because the other squad knows exactly where you’ll pop up next. Sure, you get a couple of seconds of invincibility, but that’s hardly enough to save this mode.

Map selection will always be contentious when a Call of Duty game launches. Some players will call them inventive and fun while others will say they’re more of the same. I'm in the latter camp, as the only map that does anything exciting is Kill Block, with its shifting, evolving nature. Sadly, that’s only available as a 10 vs. 10 map, so traditional 6 vs. 6 players won’t even see it.

However, even if no map in the normal rotation stands out as exceptionally good, none stand out as outright bad. Each map is good enough to have fun shooting enemies across, and that’s really all I’m looking for (though, like most COD launches, spawn points need a tweak, as I’ve had a few times where I died and spawned right in an enemy’s field of view). Hopefully this will be one of the first things IW fixes with the inevitable post-launch patches.

My favorite mode has always been, and always will be, Team Deathmatch. There’s something pure about two teams of six going head-to-head to see who can eliminate the other side more. But I’ve also enjoyed some Domination, another staple of the COD games. Fortunately, Infinity Ward kept these and all the other staples intact for Modern Warfare 4 (Kill Confirmed, Search and Destroy, Hardpoint, etc.). If you’re coming into this game looking for the stuff you already know you love, I can assure you it’s all there and just as good as ever.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 review: Verdict

I love Modern Warfare 4. I’m confident I’ll keep playing this version of Call of Duty through the rest of 2026 and deep into 2027, until the next game in the annualized series drops (with a break to follow soon for Grand Theft Auto VI).

Infinity Ward has reminded everyone that it is the “A” developer of Call of Duty, and Modern Warfare 4 will be a tough act for Raven, Treyarch and Sledgehammer to follow. All three modes are fun, and the campaign sucked me in and kept me playing, as none have since the original Modern Warfare 2 (which I still stand by as the best COD campaign ever released). I’d go so far as to say this is in the top three COD campaigns of all time.

Add in the multiplayer and the extraction-based DMZ mode, and you have a well-rounded Call of Duty package that will please fans. It probably won’t convince people who already don’t like COD, but lapsed fans and hardcore players will find plenty to keep them coming back again and again.

The upgrades don’t stop with the design. Thanks to the powerful A20 Pro chip inside, this tiny tablet punches above its weight. This efficient processor also gives the iPad mini 8 astonishing battery life, lasting over 14 hours in our testing. Audio also gets an upgrade, thanks to Audio Display technology, which delivers punchy sound right through the panel.

Though the iPad mini 8 lacks Face ID for easier unlocking and has a 60Hz display, there’s no denying it’s one of the best iPads you can buy. It’s a superb tablet for watching movies, reading books, and even for some light work. I’ve found it a delight to use, and I’m sure you will too. Find out more in my review!

Apple iPad mini 8 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? The iPad mini 8 is the latest version of Apple’s smallest iPad, upgraded with a thinner design, an OLED panel, and an A20 Pro chip.
• Who is it for? It’s for folks who want a small but powerful iPad that’s easier to travel with.
• What does it cost? The iPad mini 8 starts at $699 for the 128GB model with a glossy screen. Our review unit is valued at $1,249 and features a Nano-texture display and 512GB of storage.
• What do we like? We like the gorgeous OLED panel, compact size, sleek design, powerful performance, and epic battery life.
• What don’t we like? We don’t like the lack of Face ID and that the display is locked to a 60Hz refresh rate.

Apple iPad mini 8 review: Specs

Apple iPad mini 8 review: The ups

The iPad mini 8 is a fantastic tablet thanks to its portable design and beautiful OLED panel. If that wasn’t enough, it delivers near iPad Air levels of performance and battery life.

Lovely design

The new iPad mini 8 features a thinner and lighter design than previous models, making it even more portable and easier to hold. Thanks to that, it was easy for me to read books and comics with one hand for much longer. The sturdy and smooth aluminum chassis also feels fantastic in hand. The iPad mini 8 comes in Midnight and Starlight colors, and both look great.

Another significant redesign is that the 12MP front camera is now positioned for landscape mode. This helps keep you centered during video calls or when taking selfies. The rear 12MP camera remains in the same position as before. The same is true for the power button / Touch ID sensor and volume buttons, which are located on the top when held in portrait orientation.

For the first time, the iPad mini features an IP67 rating that helps protect it against water and dust. So if you enjoy reading by the pool or want protection when working outside on a rainy day, you can do so with less stress.

Vivid OLED panel

The iPad mini 8’s upgraded display is a marvel to behold. Thanks to the smaller bezels, the screen is now 8.5 inches across instead of 8.3. It also gets a noticeable resolution bump to 2316 x 1512 pixels with 326 pixels-per-inch (ppi). These upgrades alone would have made this a better display, but Apple sweetened things up with an OLED panel.

Using the same OLED technology as the iPad Pro, the iPad mini’s panel delivers excellent contrast between dark and light elements. As a result, colors practically pop off the screen. When watching a nature video featuring a lava flow, I was stunned by how vivid the reds and oranges were, while also marveling at the detail in the surrounding environment.

The review unit Apple sent features a nano-texture display, which does an excellent job of diminishing screen glare without meaningfully sacrificing an image’s vibrancy. A glossy screen would make everything pop a bit more, but I’d rather have less screen glare, so it’s a fair trade-off since you’re not losing much, at least to my eyes.

How did the iPad mini 8’s display fare in our lab testing? Apple said its small tablet can deliver 600 nits of SDR brightness and hit a peak of 1200 nits of HDR brightness. While the former is certainly true, HDR doesn’t quite make the claim. That said, getting a tad over 1000 nits of brightness is fantastic, and is more than double the brightness of the iPad mini. Trust me, this display gets extremely bright.

Color reproduction (sRGB and DCI-P3) is more saturated than before, which accounts for how rich colors appear. That said, hues don’t get too oversaturated and still maintain a lifelike quality. Color accuracy (Delta-E) is also quite strong.

Incredible performance

This is the most powerful iPad mini ever, thanks to its powerful A20 Pro chip—the same 2nm processor found in the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The Wi-Fi + Cellular model I tested has a 6-core CPU and 7-core GPU, which gives it a bit more oomph. Thanks to this chip, the iPad mini 8 comes close to matching the performance of the M4-powered iPad Air, which proves this tiny tablet punches above its weight.

Even with dozens of open Chrome tabs and a YouTube video running, the iPad mini 8 keeps going with no noticeable slowdown. If you want to get some work done on this tablet, it can handle it. The same goes for gaming: Resident Evil 4 Remake runs at a solid 30 frames per second.

Our benchmark results confirm my anecdotal testing. As you can see above, the iPad mini 8 blows away its predecessor on the Geekbench CPU benchmarks, turning in significantly higher scores. And while the iPad Air M4 outpaces it, the gap isn’t significantly large.

We see a similar story on the 3DMark benchmark, which tests a device’s GPU performance. The iPad mini 8 not only crushes the iPad mini 7, but it also scores better than the iPad Air M4! Granted, a device’s design plays a role, so it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison (pun intended), but the fact that the iPad mini 8 is even in the same conversation as an iPad Air performance-wise is impressive.

More than all-day battery life

Apple says the iPad mini 8 has up to 10 hours of battery life while surfing the web on Wi-Fi or video playback. However, our testing reveals that the diminutive tablet actually lasts well past that claim.

In the Tom’s Guide battery test, which involves continuous web-surfing over Wi-Fi with the display set to 150 nits of brightness, the iPad mini 8 lasted for an astonishing 14 hours and 24 minutes! That’s nearly four hours longer than the previous model and Apple’s claims.

We typically perform our battery test three times to get an average, but we only had time for a single run for this review. I’ll update this piece after we’ve completed all three runs, but I suspect the final results will be close to what you see above. Basically, this is one of the longest-lasting iPads we’ve ever tested!

Punchy sound

The iPad mini 8 ditches a traditional speaker system for what Apple calls an Acoustic Display. As the company explains, specially designed woofers are paired through the display to produce punchier bass and louder volume. Custom tweeters hidden beneath the display and enclosure also help with higher-pitched sounds.

Technical jargon aside, this iPad mini produces fantastic sound that always made my ears sing. Audio from podcasts always sounds sharp and clear, and the same is true for movie trailers. I was particularly impressed when listening to Tommy Johansson’s cover of Black Sabbath’s “Headless Cross,” where the powerful vocals and roaring guitars came through brilliantly.

Though the iPad mini 8 doesn’t get as loud as an iPad Pro, nor does it deliver similarly punchy bass, it’s still one of the best-sounding tablets I’ve ever tested.

Sharp cameras

Video calls and taking photos are more natural now that the front 12MP Center Stage camera is positioned for landscape orientation. Better yet, the camera now features a wider f/2.0 aperture (up from f/2.4), which helps improve photos taken in dim areas. As you can see above, the front camera does a great job of capturing all the details on my face, clothing, and in the background.

The rear 12MP camera keeps 4K video at up to 60 frames per second, but it also adds Adaptive True Tone flash for taking low-light shots and document scanning. Like the front camera, it does an excellent job of capturing details in photos.

iPadOS 27

The iPad mini 8 supports iPadOS 27 out of the box. The latest version of the operating system is more iterative than revolutionary, but it delivers strong system refinements and better AI integration, along with a more refined user interface that I quite enjoy.

Arguably the biggest change in iPadOS 27 is the smarter Siri, which now has a dedicated Siri app that works like a standard chatbot. Not only does it understand what you have on the screen, but it can also take actions on your behalf, like creating calendar events. The Liquid Glass UI isn’t as overbearing as before, and you can better fine-tune how it looks.

iPadOS 27 is very AI-centric, so your mileage may vary on how much you’ll use the new Apple Intelligence and Siri AI features. These aren’t things I typically use, but having small things like notification summaries is admittedly useful. Overall, iPadOS 27 is another smooth and stable operating system that works great on the iPad mini 8.

Apple iPad mini 8 review: The downs

The iPad mini 8 brings some fantastic upgrades, but it’s curiously missing some crucial features.

No Face ID

Face ID is one of my favorite features on Apple, since it makes unlocking devices that support it so much easier. Unfortunately, this is a feature lacking on the iPad mini 8.

It’s a curious omission considering all the upgrades the tablet has already received. I won’t endeavor to guess why Face ID isn’t supported, as there could be any number of reasons. Thankfully, Touch ID is still supported and works as intended.

No 120Hz

While the display has received a marvelous upgrade thanks to the OLED panel, larger size, and higher resolution, there is no ProMotion support. Because of that, the refresh rate tops out at 60Hz.

To be fair, that 60Hz refresh rate is extremely smooth, especially for games and videos. However, if you’re used to the 120Hz smoothness of the iPad Pro, then actions like swiping the screen and opening apps will appear choppy in comparison.

That aside, touch controls are as snappy and responsive as ever on the iPad mini. This applies when using your finger and when using accessories like the Apple Pencil Pro. Speaking of the latter, the stylus works marvelously on the iPad mini’s display for taking notes and doodling.

Apple iPad mini 8 review: Verdict

The iPad mini 8 is a phenomenal little tablet that I can’t get enough of using. And that’s saying a lot considering how the iPad Pro is my usual daily driver. I just love how vivid and sharp videos and books look on the tandem OLED panel. Holding the iPad is also nice thanks to its thinner, lighter design.

Even if the iPad mini 8 is now pricier than before, it’s a worthwhile purchase. You won’t find a tablet this small offering the same rich features and delightful experience. It also hints at what’s to come, as I’m sure Apple will incorporate features like Audio Display into future iPads. But for now, this is the most exciting iPad mini ever.

I’m no YouTube sensation, but when I’m doing something exciting with friends and family, I like to make videos to remember the moment. And while I previously used my phone, I’ve discovered that adding a few gear upgrades makes all the difference. Using one of the best microphones for clear audio is one of the best upgrades I’ve made.

The DJI Mic Mini 2S is essential for content creators due to its great audio quality with environmental noise cancellation, making sure nothing gets in the way of your sound. The battery life is also impressive, and the mic is great value for money since you’re getting near flagship features at a fraction of the price.

It’s worth noting that the mic may not be suited to the most professional settings since it struggles with popping plosive sounds. The receiver is also a little bulky. To find out more, keep reading this full DJI Mic Mini 2S review.

DJI Mic Mini 2S review: Specs

DJI Mic Mini 2S review: What I like

• Audio quality
• Environmental noise cancellation
• Battery life
• Affordable price tag for the quality

The audio quality with the DJI Mic Mini 2S is great, and the environmental noise cancellation makes it easy to use. You don’t need to worry about any unwanted background noise. The battery life is more than enough for day-to-day use, and the price is very attractive compared to other mics in the DJI range, such as the DJI Mic 3, which costs £259.

32-bit float audio

With 32-bit float audio capture, the DJI Mic Mini 2S can record a huge dynamic range — more than the human ear can hear. So, if there are quieter parts of the recording that are important, it's very easy to boost these in post-production. It also means that screeching sounds, like screams, for example, won't be clipped, and instead can simply be made quieter in post.

This is a feature of the DJI Mic 3, but not the earlier Mic Mini models, so having a flagship feature on a cheaper product like the 2S is nothing to be sniffed at.

The mics have 14.5GB of internal storage, which means they can hold around 22 hours of 32-bit float audio, or 28 hours of 24-bit float audio recording.

Audio quality: Fricatives/sibilance

The microphone records sound, and especially airy sounds known as fricatives and sibilance, very well. These include sounds such as ‘s’, ‘sh’ and ‘f’. Sounds like this tend to cause whistling in the microphone, which is harsh for listeners, but that wasn’t an issue with this microphone.

As you can hear in the audio recording above, the words are clear without any distortion. However, plosives are a different story, and I’ll discuss that later on.

Simple connectivity

Connectivity with the DJI Mic Mini 2S couldn't be easier. The most straightforward way to use the plug-in USB-C receiver, but if you have a DJI camera you open the door to the DJI OsmoAudio Ecosystem.

When using the mic as part of the ecosystem, you can connect to any DJI devices without needing the receiver. You can also connect to traditional cameras using a 3.5mm cable, USB-C or simply via Blueutooth.

The transmitters and receiver of the DJI Mic Mini 2S have backward compatibility with older models, too. These include the Mic Mini and Mic Mini 2 transmitters, and you can connect up to four. You can mix and match, allowing you to upgrade your older setup with the latest noise-cancelling capabilities and 32-bit float rate by simply buying a Mic Mini 2S transmitter.

Environmental noise cancellation

When I made the recording you can listen to above, I had my work laptop in front of me. As any remote worker will know, it tends to pop and ping with notifications almost eternally, and it was no different when I was delicately performing my tongue twisters.

I had to stop to re-record the clip a few times because of the notifications, but I finally decided to just keep going, and to my surprise, there wasn’t a single notification sound on the finished recording. The DJI Mic Mini 2S microphones use two-level noise-cancelling technology, which identifies and reduces unwanted background noise. The standard Mic Mini 2 struggles a little here, making the audio sound underwater, so the 2S is certainly an upgrade.

Battery life

Each DJI Mic Mini 2S transmitter has 11 hours of battery life, which is more than the eight hours of the DJI Mic 3. The receiver of the Mic Mini 2S holds 10 hours of battery and the charging case gives a total of 40 hours of runtime.

This is more than enough battery for my usage, which is talking to a camera three times a week, and recording voice-overs for my videos. And for amateur creators taking the microphone out on a weekend-long adventure, it has enough power to carry you through most recording stints without reaching for a power pack.

Price

The DJI Mic Mini 2S is available for purchase in the U.K. for £169 from Amazon or the DJI online store. This is the version I tested, with two transmitters, but you can also get a cheaper version with one transmitter for £79.

Unfortunately, you cannot purchase the Mic Mini 2S in the U.S. just yet due to ongoing regulatory and import restrictions against DJI, but you can still buy the older DJI Mic Mini for $99 at Amazon U.S.

Depending on what you need the mic for, you could opt to get the DJI Mic Mini 2, but this only connects two mics to the receiver, whereas the 2S can connect four.

If you want the flagship DJI Mic 3, you’re going to be paying £259. Going for a cheaper option and getting similar battery life, the same core mic components, and a similar level of environmental noise performance is — to me — a no-brainer.

DJI Mic Mini 2S review: What I don’t like

• Plosive sounds
• Bulky receiver

Although this is one of the best microphones for content creation, it comes with two minor flaws. The letter ‘p’ is picked up very strongly by the microphone, and the receiver is a bit too bulky.

Audio quality (Plosives)

Although the audio is generally very impressive, when it comes to plosives, the microphone seems to struggle. These are notoriously difficult sounds, including the likes of ‘p’, ‘b’, ‘d’ and ‘g’. The most noticeable issue was with the ‘p’ sounds at the start of words, which sounded very harsh. I could hear the air pushing into the microphone.

This makes listening quite tiresome, as the pinching and popping sounds will put people off listening to the audio. This issue isn’t present in the DJI Mic Mini 2. It’s worth noting that these sounds can also be due to microphone etiquette (how close you hold the microphone to your mouth), so your performance will be better or worse depending on how you use the microphone.

Receiver design is bulky

This isn’t the end of the world, but the plug-in receiver for the DJI Mic Mini 2S is quite bulky. Depending on what it’s plugged into, it can make your device top-heavy or sit awkwardly on the table. When plugged into my phone, I can’t stand the phone up or lay it flat, which makes it feel a little cumbersome.

For ease of use, the Insta360 Mic Air is a better choice because it’s less bulky. This makes it more comfortable for longer recording sessions.

DJI Mic Mini 2S review: How does it compare?

So, how does the DJI Mic Mini 2S measure up against its competitors? It certainly holds its own, and although it costs more than the budget Insta360 Mic Air (£69), I think it’s worth the extra spend. The DJI Mic Mini 2 (£89) is a lot cheaper than the 2S, but it’s still worth the extra spend if you’re planning to record in noisy environments and want to keep ambient sound out of your audio. The additional AI noise cancellation technology is what steps up this microphone, as it makes editing audio in post-production far easier.

I think the DJI Mic Mini 2S is the perfect option for anyone who wants to up their content game but is new to wireless microphones. Another good option is the Rode Wireless Micro for £139, as these clip-on microphones are also good for filtering ‘pop’ sounds, but for professional video makers, the DJI is still the best choice for quality.

DJI Mic Mini 2S review: Who should buy it?

The DJI Mic Mini 2S microphone has great audio quality. The environmental noise cancellation technology silenced all outside noise in my recordings, and it isolated my voice so it was crystal clear. The microphones also have a long battery life, and with the charging case you can get up to 40 hours of use. I think this microphone is great value for money as you get all of the perks of the flagship DJI models at a fraction of the price.

Though I love the microphones, there are obvious popping sounds when pronouncing plosives. The receiver is also bulky, so you’ll need to keep this in mind depending on the device you’re transmitting to.

I recommend the DJI Mic Mini 2S for content creators who need to level up their audio, especially if a lot of their work is done outside with lots of ambient sound.

What if you didn’t have to decide between the best headphones or the best Bluetooth speaker when you’re packing? That’s what the TDM. Neo promises with its hybrid design. This device is creating quite the buzz right now. With Jimmy Fallon declaring it “legendary,” and a decent haul of awards at CES 2026, there’s a reason it turns heads.

The innovative design twists the headphones into a Bluetooth speaker, and it features impressive battery life. With the right EQ settings through the companion app, the sound quality can be pretty good too.

However, the price tag is a little steep, the volume is far too quiet, and getting the best positioning for the speaker takes some time. To find out more about the device, keep reading my full TDM. Neo review.

TDM. Neo review: Specs

TDM. Neo review: What I like

• Quirky design
• Battery life
• Sound quality adjustments

The TDM. Neo is an interesting device, and there’s a lot to like. The design is a major talking point here, and for good reason — it’s innovative and very useful. The battery life is very impressive, with up to 200 hours of listening in the headphones configuration, and the companion app makes the sound experience even better.

Quirky design

There’s no denying the design of the TDM. Neo turns heads. The headphones transform into a speaker with a simple twist of the headband. They connect with magnets on the side of the headphones so the speaker holds its shape. To listen to your music with headphones instead, you simply unravel the headphones, and the music mode automatically switches. The device weighs 12 ounces, comfortable enough to wear as headphones and to carry around with you as a speaker.

If you’re pushed for space when packing for a trip, I think the TDM. Neo is the perfect solution. When I’m heading on vacation, I always like to have a speaker with me for my room and a set of headphones for travel, and when trying to pack light, this can prove to be somewhat challenging. I honestly thought this would be just another gimmick, but this headphone/speaker combination is one of the most handy gadgets I’ve ever used.

Battery life

What’s more impressive than the design is the battery life. If you’re using the TDM. Neo as headphones, you’ll get 200 hours of battery life, and if using it as a speaker, you’ll get 16 hours. Obviously, this is a little trickier to put to the test, as I was switching between the modes regularly while using them.

Other headphones in this price range, such as the Sony WH-1000XM5, will give you up to 40 hours of listening. The Marshall Milton ANC headphones cost $229 and have upt ot 80 hours of battery life with ANC turned off, so you can find headphones with much higher listening times, meaning the headphones time of the DM. Neo isn’t that impressive, but the speaker time certainly is.

There is a quick charge option to get eight hours of music playback from five minutes of charge. However, it’s not specified whether this is for the headphones or the speaker mode. The battery module is also replaceable, meaning you’re less likely to have to replace the full unit down the line.

Sound quality with app

Is this the best sound quality of any headphones or speaker I’ve used? Absolutely not. However, the TDM. Neo’s companion app lets you adjust the EQ settings to make the sound much more balanced. To use the custom EQ feature, you need to create an account, or you can choose from one of the six pre-programmed EQs. I used Qobuz, our pick for the best music streaming service for audiophiles, to listen to music with the speaker and headphones.

During my testing, I created an EQ with increased bass and decreased treble. The high-frequency sounds were a bit tinny, so decreasing the treble made the sound much better. I listened to “Roman Holiday” by Fontaines D.C., which is a guitar-heavy track. It generally sounded good, but even with adjustments, the treble sounded a little tinny and clipped. This is fine for casual listening but makes the soundstage feel narrow. But the bass in this song was impressive and guided the rhythm of the track.

I also listened to “If I Get High” by Nothing But Thieves. This track starts off stripped back and slow, with the vocals as the focus. The vocals sounded amazing and clear here, but as the song built, we were met with the tininess again as the drums and cymbals kicked in. Again, the bass guitar shone here, making the sound much fuller.

Finally, I listened to “Witches” by Alice Phoebe Lou, which features shimmering sounds that carried very well, and actually avoided any tinny sounds at all. The vocals here are very delicate, but they were replicated well through the speaker.

I found the sound quality much better as a speaker when the device is in the carry case, as this acts as sound dampening, so the higher frequencies don’t sound as harsh.

TDM. Neo review: What I don’t like

• Pricing
• Too quiet
• It has to be positioned perfectly

Although I mostly like the TDM. Neo, and I love how innovative the design is, there are a few things that are a little annoying. The price tag seems steep; it doesn’t get loud enough, and it needs that Goldilocks positioning to get the sound just right.

Price tag

The first thing I don’t like about this device is the price tag. The TDM. Neo is available for $249 /£249 from the TDM. online store, but for this price, I would expect premium sound and build, which I don’t feel I got. The sound is certainly good, but is it $250-good? I don’t think so. Instead, you’re getting a budget pair of headphones and a budget speaker but paying for both devices — you’re paying for the convenience of a two-in-one product.

In terms of quality, I’d liken the speaker to cheaper options like the Tozo PE1, which costs $39. But for around the same price as the TDM. you could get the JBL Charge 6 ($199) that has 28 hours of battery life and louder volume.

If you consider headphones, $249 places you firmly in the premium category. The Marshall Milton headphones cost $229 and have a powerful bass performance, so if the headphones feature on the Neos is what you’ll use most, you should get the Miltons.

Volume

The TDM. Neo doesn’t actually get very loud in headphones or speaker mode. When I’m using a speaker, I want to blast my music throughout my whole house, but the sound just doesn't carry.

For massive sound from a small speaker, I’d recommend the Bose SoundLink Micro 2 ($129). This speaker has sound that carries easily and bass that booms when you need it to.

Speaker positioning

How good the TDM. Neo sounds is highly dependent on its positioning. This is the case for a lot of speakers, but with the twisting nature of the Neo, it’s more important to make sure it’s sat just right. The sound comes from two speakers on either side of where the headphone earcups are folded, so it can’t be placed flat on the table — although this feels most natural. Instead, it needs to be balanced on its side so both speakers are exposed.

This balancing act can feel precarious at times, but with the carry case for the speaker to sit in, you can clip it to something so it’s not touching any surfaces. This is how you’ll get the best sound.

TDM. Neo compared

Though I’ve made comparisons to other headphones and speakers throughout this review, it’s not exactly a fair competition. The TDM. Neo gives you the opportunity to have two devices in one, in theory saving some cash, but in doing so, both devices compromise on their overall quality.

With that said, there are a few similar devices on the market, but they’re not as polished as the TDM. version of the device. The HyperGear Flip ($34) headphones have earcups that flip outward to act as external speakers, but the design of the Neo is what makes it so functional.

Who should buy the TDM. Neo?

I think there is a place for the TDM. Neo in most people’s audio setup. The highly innovative design means you get two devices in one, and this is incredibly useful if you’re trying to pack light while traveling. The battery life is impressive too, and you can get good sound quality by making some adjustments in the companion app.

However, I personally think the price tag is a little steep for the quality you’re getting, and the speaker volume doesn’t go high enough for my liking. It’s also annoying that the speaker has to be perfectly balanced to get the best sound, although the carry case and strap make this easier.

Do I think the hybrid device is perfect? No. But do I think we’re now going to see more hybrid audio devices follow in its footsteps? Absolutely!

The Instax Square 2 has a few shortcomings, though. Its flash is perpetually on which can create bright spots in photos, and while its battery life is super long, the camera uses four disposable batteries. There aren’t any double-exposure or creative modes either.

Should you still buy it? I think so. To find out why, read my full Fujifilm Instax Square 2 review.

Fujifilm Instax Square 2 review: Specs

Fujifilm Instax Square 2 review: Price & availability

Launched in October 2026, the Fujifilm Instax Square 2 is the latest addition to Fuji’s Square instant cameras lineup. It’s preceded by the Instax Square SQ1 which first came out six years ago. The new Instax Square 2 is around $40 cheaper than its predecessor, retailing for $119 at Instax U.S. / £94 at Amazon U.K., and is only a little pricier than its smaller sibling, the Instax mini 13 ($93).

Since the Instax Square 2 prints square photos (the name’s a dead giveaway), it competes with the likes of the Lomography Diana Instant Square ($129) and the Lomography Lomo’Instant Square Glass ($149), but trumps them when it comes to build and image quality.

There’s also the Polaroid Now Gen 3 ($129), and the Polaroid Mod ($169). The latter is more expensive but gives you more manual control over shooting settings. If you want a simple point-and-shoot-and-print camera, though, the Instax Square 2 is hard to argue against.

Fujifilm Instax Square 2 review: Design & build

The Fujifilm Instax Square 2 looks similar to its predecessor, the Instax Square SQ1, but with a more rounded body and edges. It looks and feels premium, with its body made of high-quality plastic. The Instax Square 2 comes in three colors: Misty White, Slate Blue, and Brick Red. I tested the Slate Blue model and it looks lovely — neither too loud nor too understated.

There are a few differences between the Instax Square 2 and the Instax Square SQ1. While it’s still turned on by twisting the lens barrel, the Instax Square 2 adds a dedicated Landscape focus mode (alongside Standard and Close-Up), and I’ll discuss this in detail shortly. In addition to that, the Instax Square 2 now features built-in Warm and Cool filters which can be toggled via a switch also located on the lens.

As I’d expect from a Fuji Instax camera, handling is sublime. The Instax Square 2 features a chunkier grip than on the Instax SQ1. My fingers wrapped very comfortably around it, and it made shooting with either one or both hands easy. The camera measures 5.47 x 4.70 x 2.80 inches and weighs 15.87 ounces, so it takes up more space in your bag than, say, the Fujifilm Instax mini 13. But it’s bigger to accommodate square-sized film. Still, I didn’t have any issues carrying it around in my backpack.

The Instax Square 2 also has a selfie mirror, located on the front, and it’s big enough to accommodate two people. Overall, the Instax Square 2’s design and build quality don’t give you much to complain about.

Fujifilm Instax Square 2 review: Lens & viewfinder

The Fujifilm Instax Square 2 is fitted with a retractable lens with an effective focal length of 65.75mm and a fixed f/12.6 aperture. The 65.75mm lens is neither too wide nor too telephoto which makes the instant camera suited to landscape, portrait and street photography.

In Standard mode, the Instax Square 2 has a focus range of 0.5m to 3m, and 0.3m to 0.5m in Close-Up mode. As I mentioned earlier, there’s a new Landscape mode which has a focus range of 0.3m to ∞. Because instant cameras are more about “imperfect” and candid photographs than technically perfect shots, I haven’t found the Standard and Landscape modes to make much of a difference. Close-Up mode, on the other hand, is a bit hit or miss, and I’ll discuss that in the Image Quality section below.

The Instax Square 2 adjusts exposure, shutter speed and ISO automatically, so all you need to do is look through the viewfinder and shoot. I’ve found the viewfinder comfortable and spacious enough to look through, even while wearing my prescription glasses.

You also get a built-in flash that’s located above the lens barrel. Frustratingly, the flash can’t be turned off and is always on — just like on the Fujifilm Instax mini 13. This isn’t a dealbreaker per se, but it can create bright spots when shooting close to a subject.

Fujifilm Instax Square 2 review: Controls

I mean it when I say the Fujifilm Instax Square 2 could be used by a six-year-old. Its controls are extremely straightforward. The round shutter button is located on the protruding grip and it gives good tactile feedback when pressed. Switching between Landscape, Standard and Close-Up modes is easy, too, as all you need to do is twist the lens barrel.

You can swap between the Cool and Warm filters via the toggle on the front. Again, it’s self-explanatory. But unlike the Fujifilm Instax mini 13, the Instax Square 2 doesn’t feature a self-timer, so you can’t put it down and pose for a photo.

There isn’t a double-exposure mode either, which limits how creative you can get. You’ll need to spend a little extra on the Polaroid Now Gen 3 or the Polaroid Mod if you want more creative control and features. The Mod features modes like Split Shot, Light Painting, and Motion Freeze, but I haven’t tested the camera (yet) so can’t comment on their effectiveness.

Fujifilm Instax Square 2 review: Image quality

The Fujifilm Instax Square 2 prints on square film which is big enough for landscape shots. Most of the photos I captured turned out lovely with a retro touch to them. Colors, especially greens, appear vivid and vibrant, as you can see in the gallery above. I love how bright the shades of yellow look, too. The Instax Square 2 has done a great job at capturing the fall colors.

As with any instant camera, the images can be hit or miss, and it’s true in the case of the Instax Square 2, too. While I don’t have an issue with the balance between the shadows and highlights in the first image above, the shot is slightly out of focus.

I also love the second photo of my partner, but the camera has slightly overexposed her face. But what I appreciate is that the square-sized print is wide enough to capture a lot of the scene around her, giving some context to the image. You don’t get that with smaller instant cameras, like the Fujifilm Instax mini 13 or the Polaroid Go Gen 2 ($79).

I’ve loved messing around with the Instax Square 2’s Warm and Cool filters. The Warm mode adds an orange filter to the shot, giving the scene a warmer and oversaturated look. Meanwhile, the Cool mode adds a blue filter, giving the scene a cooler look.

The first photo in the gallery above was taken using the Warm filter, while the second is the same image with the Cool filter (so is the third). I love how both have turned out. No other analog instant camera has this feature, and it’s a neat party trick — one I hope shows up on other Instax cameras going forward.

Finally, let’s talk about the Close-Up mode, which doesn’t always work as intended. It’s quite difficult to gauge the distance between the camera and the subject, which can result in ruined shots. In the first photo above, can you take a guess what I was trying to capture? If you said, “I have no clue,” you’d be correct, because I was trying to photograph a wild blackberry that’s nowhere to be seen in the print!

A little trial and error can yield decent shots, though, like the second image of my Highland cow trinket (which has come out nice and sharp), so don’t be afraid to experiment.

Fujifilm Instax Square 2 review: App

The Fujifilm Instax Square 2 is accompanied by the Instax Up! app, which I’ve always sung praises of in previous Instax reviews. Sporting a clean interface with no intrusive pop-ups, the Instax Up! app enables you to scan your prints, save them to your phone, create wallpapers out of them, and edit their brightness, contrast and more. The Remove Reflections feature works well, too.

If you don’t own a scanner (like I don’t) and don’t want to spend ages scanning your prints using third-party apps, Instax Up! is worth downloading on your iOS or Android phone.

Fujifilm Instax Square 2 review: Film cost

The Fujifilm Instax Square 2 uses Instax Square film which generally costs $22 / £16 per double film pack (20 pieces of film). That equates to approximately $1.10 per picture. Alongside the Instax Square 2, Fujifilm also launched Soft Haze film that produces prints with softer color tones — 10 sheets of this costs $18 / £9.

One reason why I’d pick the Instax Square 2 over the Polaroid Now Gen 3 or the Polaroid Mod is that film for those cameras usually costs more. Eight sheets of Polaroid i-Type film costs $18 / £15. That alone makes the Instax Square 2 better value for money.

Fujifilm Instax Square 2 review: Battery life

To power the Fujifilm Instax Square 2, you’ll need four AA batteries. Yep. Four. I’m not a big fan of cameras using disposable batteries as these are difficult to recycle, and would have much preferred it if the Instax Square 2 had a built-in rechargeable battery instead, like on the Polaroid Now Gen 3 or the Polaroid Mod.

But one thing I’m thankful for is that the Instax Square 2 uses AA batteries, which are easily found at any superstore. Its predecessor, on the other hand, used harder-to-find two CR2 3V batteries. The Instax Square 2 utilizes the same number of batteries as the Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 ($149).

The upside of this is that the Instax Square 2 can last a long time. Fujifilm says that it can shoot and print 300 photos between battery replacements. That’s the longest battery life on a Fujifilm Instax camera yet. That’s a hard claim to test, though, as I’d have to burn through 30 packs (10-exposure each), and that would be a waste of film.

Fujifilm Instax Square 2 review: Verdict

Fujifilm continues to impress with its Instax line-up of instant cameras. The Instax Square 2 is a fun instant camera that looks good, handles well, and is built superbly. The square-sized photos it prints are suited to landscape photography. Colors are vibrant with a lovely retro touch, and the camera’s built-in Warm and Cool filters are great for creating moody shots.

The Instax Square 2 boasts long battery life, too, rated for 300 prints — but it’s powered by four disposable batteries. And while I love its built-in filters, I wish it had a double-exposure mode, something its competitors, like the Polaroid Now Gen 3 and the Polaroid Mod, offer. The Instax Square 2’s flash can’t be disabled either which can be a little annoying at times.

Given that the Instax Square 2 offers fantastic value for money, I still think it’s worth picking up, especially if you want an easy-to-use instant camera that takes and prints gorgeous photos.

But is it perfect? Not really. Its FHD panel (which is the competition standard) doesn’t make the monitor an all-rounder. And while its 1ms response time is fine, many of its competitors perform far better with their 0.03ms or even 0.02ms response times. The monitor isn’t the cheapest either, priced at $999.

So, should you still buy it, despite its flaws? Find out in my full LG UltraGear 25G590B review.

LG UltraGear 25G590B review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A 25-inch FHD monitor with a blistering 1,000Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time
• Who is it for? Esports gamers and professionals
• How much does it cost? $999 / £899
• What do we like? The 1,000Hz refresh rate and strong gaming performance, excellent color coverage and accuracy, and sleek design
• What don’t we like? It’s FHD only, the response time is limited to 1ms, and it's expensive

LG UltraGear 25G590B review: Specs

LG UltraGear 25G590B review: The ups

There’s a lot to love about the LG UltraGear 25G590B, from its excellent gaming performance (bolstered by its 1,000Hz refresh rate) and its strong color coverage, to its sleek and practical design.

A ridiculous 1,000Hz refresh rate

First things first, let’s talk about the LG UltraGear 25G590B’s headline feature, and that’s its 1,000Hz refresh rate, achievable at 1080p.

That’s one thousand frames every second. Let that sink in.

In comparison, the LG UltraGear 27GX790B-B ($994) and the Sony Inzone M10S II ($1,099) hit only 720Hz at 720p. 1,000Hz is overkill for most gamers but if you’re an esports player looking for speed above all else, this is the monitor for you. Also, you’ll need a powerful machine to hit that frame rate — I’m talking RTX 50-series graphics cards, at the very least. You’ll need a GPU that supports the latest Displayport 2.1 standard, too. Our gaming rig couldn’t achieve 1,000fps in any game I played.

Even so, the gaming and visual experience was nothing short of sublime. You get a 1ms response time, which is slower than that of the Sony Inzone M10S II (0.2ms) and the LG UltraGear 27GX790B-B (0.2ms), but that’s because the 25G590B features an IPS panel versus the rival OLEDs, which shift pixel color more quickly. Though I didn’t experience much motion blur or ghosting, I have my qualms — but I’ll discuss that later in the “The Downs” section.

Back to the good things for now. In Forza Horizon 5, which is a highly graphic-intensive game, I hit 250fps while racing. This was with the graphics set to Extreme (Ray Tracing enabled and all). Movement was buttery smooth without any choppines, and it had me wondering how I’d go back after using the 25G590B. Counter-Strike 2, on the other hand, ran at 490fps with graphics set to High, and this jumped to a whopping 840fps when I dropped the graphics to Low.

A range of gaming features

Similar to the Sony Inzone M10S II, the LG UltraGear 25G590B features a range of gaming features designed for esports players. Via the OSD (On-Screen Display) and joystick, you can toggle an on-screen crosshair. The target point is then fixed in the center to enhance shooting accuracy — something I found useful in Counter-Strike 2 where some weapons lack an ADS mode. The on-screen crosshair helped me aim more accurately in both Counter-Strike 2 and Cyberpunk 2077.

There’s also a Black Stabilizer mode which boosts shadows without affecting lighter areas of the screen. You get AI Scene Optimization, too, which automatically adjusts key picture settings, like color temperature and sharpness, to match the content type — whether that’s work-related tasks, gaming, or movies. In my testing, it worked as described.

And of course, there’s NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync for minimizing tears and lags. Overall, this is a competent and powerful esports monitor that doesn’t give you too much to complain about.

Strong color coverage and accuracy

Alongside its phenomenal gaming performance, the LG UltraGear 25G590B boasts wide color coverage and accuracy, too. To my eyes, colors in Forza Horizon 5 appeared vivid — though not as vibrant or rich as on an OLED panel. Blacks appeared dark in Cyberpunk 2077 but, again, not as inky as on an OLED screen.

As you can see in the table above, the 25G590B covers 135.8% of the sRGB color space and 96.2% of the wider DCI P3 gamut, upstaging the Alienware AW2524H ($829) — also an IPS panel — in both spaces. 100% coverage is ideal, so the 25G590B does more than enough. You also don’t want coverage to reach too high, as that can then make colors appear oversaturated. None of that here, though — the 25G590B delivers a pleasing viewing experience.

I then measured color accuracy which is represented by Delta-E. It scores the difference between the source color and what appears on the monitor. Lower scores mean higher fidelity, with values near zero representing near-perfect accuracy. In my lab tests, the 25G590B achieved a Delta-E score of 0.14, which is excellent. It’s either on par with or better than its IPS as well as OLED rivals.

Bright panel

In addition to its strong color coverage and accuracy, the LG UltraGear 25G590B’s panel is bright, especially in its SDR mode.

In my lab tests, the 25G590B achieved a peak brightness of 387 nits in SDR and 310 nits in HDR (10% window size). Its SDR performance is better than the IPS Alienware AW2524H, and every other OLED competitor, as you can see in the table above. Low brightness is a limitation of OLED and QD-OLED panels, though, so this is expected.

In real-world use, I found the 25G590B plenty bright in both SDR and HDR modes. I wouldn’t recommend playing with the brightness turned all the way up anyway, as it can potentially harm your eyes.

Sleek and practical design

Right before I started writing this review, I was testing the LG UltraGear 52G930B ($1,697), a gigantic 52-inch monitor that I struggled to carry up and down the stairs. The LG UltraGear 25G590B is its antithesis. It feels featherlight in comparison, and I was so relieved when I managed to pick it up with just one hand as it weighs just 11.46lbs (with stand).

As the numbers in its name suggest, the 25G590B is a 25-inch monitor, and it measures 22.5 x 20.1 x 8.2 inches with the stand attached. This makes it perfect for small spaces. It’s a little smaller than the 27-inch Sony Inzone M10S II, its chief rival, but the trade-off is that you’re getting a ridiculous 1,000Hz refresh rate (more on that shortly).

The 25G590B is sleek and practical. Similar to the Sony Inzone M10S II, LG’s offering features a cantilevered stand which channels the weight into the center, keeping everything balanced and resulting in the monitor using a small circular base. This also frees up space on your desk, giving you more room for freely positioning your keyboard. The stand’s height can be adjusted and the screen titled, and it can also swivel where it’s attached to the base.

Adequate number of ports

Unlike productivity-focused monitors, like the BenQ Creative Pro PD2730S ($1,199) or the Dell UltraSharp U3226Q ($2,499), ports are fairly stripped-back on the LG UltraGear 25G590B — but they’re more than sufficient for hooking up your peripherals. Located next to the power port on the monitor’s rear panel, you’ll find dual HDMI 2.1 and a DisplayPort 2.1 ports, as well as a USB-C upstream port and a 4-pole headphone/mic jack.

Surprisingly, though, there aren’t any USB-A ports on the 25G590B. I don’t really have an issue with that, though, as I keep my keyboard and mouse plugged into our gaming rig’s motherboard. Hey, at least the 25G590B has a modern Type-C port and not an outdated Type-B one, like on the Sony Inzone M10S II.

LG UltraGear 25G590B review: The downs

Though the LG UltraGear 25G590B is powerful, it isn’t without its flaws. It features an IPS FHD panel, and its response time tops out at 1ms only. Oh, and it’s expensive!

IPS panel and FHD only

This is a complaint similar to the one I had about the LG UltraGear 52G930B. Frustratingly, the LG UltraGear 25G590B doesn’t feature an OLED panel, and its IPS panel’s resolution tops out at 1920 x 1080 Full HD (FHD). Its IPS panel has a 1,000:1 contrast ratio which means that blacks don’t appear inky, while OLED panels typically deliver pitch-black dark scenes.

It’s also important to note that the 25G590B has a 1920 x 1080 FHD resolution. While this is the competition standard and is great for fast gaming, it falls short for everything else. If you’re looking for a monitor that can do everything — gaming and work — the 25G590B won’t be ideal. A monitor that has an FHD competition crop, like the Sony M10S II, will be more suited to at-home gamers, or aspiring esports players.

1ms response time only

That, very nicely, brings me to my next point: the LG UltraGear 25G590B’s 1ms response time. Though that should suffice in casual gaming, high-speed camera pans and rapid movements can produce pixel trails or subtle blur. The monitor has a Motion Blur Reduction feature, yes, but it doesn’t make much of a difference aside from reducing the monitor’s brightness.

On the other hand, 0.03ms or 0.02ms response times on OLED panels offer dramatically sharper response. Combine that with better resolutions, better visuals, and better overall performance, and you’ve got yourself a winner. Again, for that reason, the LG UltraGear 27GX790B-B and the Sony Inzone M10S II make for better investments. Even the MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 ($949) with its 360Hz refresh rate would be my port of call over the 25G590B.

Expensive

Finally, let’s talk about the LG UltraGear 25G590B’s price. Retailing for $999 at Adorama U.S. / £899 at Currys U.K., the 25G590B costs a lot for an IPS FHD monitor. Sure, you get a 1,000Hz refresh rate and that won’t come cheap in any world, but it’s also an IPS panel. For just $100 more, you could pick up the Sony M10S II ($1,199) which features an OLED panel and offers a 24.5-inch competition crop as well as an FHD mode.

But of course, if it’s sheer speed you’re after and you want the fastest monitor possible, $999 feels like a fair price to pay. Would you? Let me know in the comments below!

LG UltraGear 25G590B review: Verdict

None other monitor does what the LG UltraGear 25G590B can — at the time of writing, at least. It packs a blazing fast 1,000Hz refresh rate, making it a phenomenal monitor for esports players and competitive gamers. It sports a lovely, sleek design that doesn’t take up too much space, and color coverage and brightness doesn’t give you much to complain about.

But things you can complain about? The 25G590B features an IPS FHD panel, and I really wish it was OLED and 4K — something many of its competitors offer for the same price. Also, it’s got a 1ms response time only which is fine for most gamers, but its OLED rivals offer faster 0.03ms (and sometimes even 0.02ms) response times.

If that doesn’t bother you (or you can afford it), and you really, really want to run Counter-Strike at over 800fps, then there’s no better monitor than the 25G590B.

It has impressive performance on hard floors and a user-friendly app to organize cleaning routines. The design is great, and the base station makes it easy to maintain. Mapping is efficient, and navigation is top-notch.

It’s worth noting that carpet performance isn’t the best, and the suction power isn’t as strong as other flagship models from Dreame. To find out more, keep reading this full Dreame X50 Ultra Complete review.

Dreame X50 Ultra Complete review: Specs

Dreame X50 Ultra Complete review: Price & availability

The Dreame X50 Ultra Complete is available in the U.S. for $1,099 from Amazon, or from Amazon U.K. for £699. The robot vacuum comes in black or white, so you can select the one that best suits your home.

Though the X50 is a flagship model from Dreame, the company released the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete earlier this year, which costs $1,699 and offers more advanced features. The new model has up to 42,000Pa suction, which is more than double that of the X50, and more advanced object avoidance and detection. I gave the X60 a five-star review as it really blew me away, so if you have an extra $600 to spend on your robovac, it’s worth getting the upgraded model.

The MOVA V70 is the same price as the X50 Ultra Complete and has a higher maximum suction power of 42,000Pa. MOVA is part of the same family as Dreame, so the performance is to a very high standard. The MOVA is the winner here for me since the features are slightly more advanced.

Another option with a slightly higher suction power than the X50 Ultra Complete is the Roborock Qrevo 2 Pro for $799. This robovac has 25,000Pa of suction and 65 days of self-maintenance, but it’s a lot smaller than the Dreame.

Dreame X50 Ultra Complete review: Design

Like most products from Dreame, the X50 Ultra Complete looks more like a piece of home decor than a home appliance. The base station measures 23.2 x 18 x 13.4 inches, so it’s pretty big. But if you have the space, the design helps it blend in.

The base station houses a clean and dirty water tank to refill the robot for mopping, and a large dustbin. The robovac empties after every use.

The robot is around the same size as most other robot vacuums. At 13.8 x 13.8 x 4.4 inches, it can easily fit under furniture in my home and maneuver between chairs at the dining table. The Pro Leap system helps the robot climb over boundaries with two small arms that extend on the underside. This is useful if you have small steps between rooms.

A 360º scanning sensor rises from the top of the robot to map surroundings to avoid spinning when finding its position. The sensor lowers when the robot moves beneath furniture.

The mop pads on the robot are circular, which I prefer to the roller mop present on the Roomba Max 775 Combo. I think the mop’s circular shape does a better job of cleaning and getting into room edges.

Dreame X50 Ultra Complete review: App

I’ve used the Dreame app when testing other robot vacuums from the brand, and it’s still one of my favorites. Creating an account is quick and easy, and you can program cleaning schedules and adjust the settings.

The interface is easy to digest, and all the settings you can change on the device are clearly set out. If you’re not already familiar with the Dreame app, that’s not a problem since you get a walkthrough when you first download the app. I find this helpful as a little refresher for each new product I test, as sometimes these controls can change.

Dreame X50 Ultra Complete review: Mapping

Mapping with the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete is easy. It took around five minutes to map four rooms, and this process was so fast because of the 360º scanner on top. The map is created using LiDAR.

It displays accurate boundaries. It even identified the type of floor and any obstacles on the floor, including shoes and loose wires from other devices.

Dreame X50 Ultra Complete review: Cleaning

Like most robot vacuums, the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete performed best on hard floors. I was also impressed by the vacuum’s performance on carpet, considering it only has 20,000Pa of suction. However, there are other vacuums with higher suction that will be much better if you have pets.

Vacuuming

tested how well the Dreame C50 Ultra Complete worked while vacuuming, first by testing on carpet and then on hard floor. I followed our usual standardized lab testing criteria at home. While it did a decent job on the hard floors, the carpet performance was more disappointing.

Hardwood floor:

The Dreame X50 Ultra Complete did a good job of picking up most of what I threw at it, and the side-sweeping arm guided the debris right into its path.

The vacuum manages to pick up 80-90% of all debris on the floor during testing, which is quite impressive at 20,000Pa. It took a while to pick up the hair, as the brush moved it around the floor a little, getting it caught in the roller.

Carpet:

As you can see from the results below, the performance on carpet wasn’t as good, but this is a common theme with most robot vacuums. It particularly struggled with picking up flax seeds jumping around the carpet due to vibrations.

However, if you have pets at home, I would recommend the newer version, the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete, as the higher suction power copes better with pet hair.

Mopping

To evaluate the mopping capabilities of the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete, I put ketchup, mayonnaise and soy sauce on my kitchen floor. I let these dry for a while before creating a mopping route for the robovac to get cleaning.

It did a good job of clearing up all of the mess, and there wasn’t any residue left on the floor afterwards.

Dreame X50 Ultra Complete review: Storage & maintenance

The Dreame X50 Ultra Complete can self-empty for up to 100 days, depending on usage in your home. Since the base station has hot water to wash the mop pads along with a heated air cycle, you don’t need to wash the mops yourself, which makes maintenance very easy.

The side brushes will experience wear and tear after some time, and Dreame recommend you should replace them every three to six months to ensure they continue sweeping to the best of their ability.

Dreame X50 Ultra Complete review: Verdict

The Dreame X50 Ultra Complete is a great choice for homes with hard floors and minimal carpet. It picks up most debris on hard floors with help from the side-sweeping arms, and has great navigation from mapping to help it clean every corner of the room. The base station makes the robovac easy to maintain, and the user-friendly app makes it easy to program and track cleaning routines. The cherry on top is the design that makes the base look like a piece of home decor.

Unfortunately, the X50 Ultra Complete doesn’t perform the best on carpets, but I’ve come to expect that with robot vacuum cleaners.

I think this is a perfectly good robot vacuum, but I’d recommend buying the newer flagship model, the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete, for even more suction power.

​After driving the 2027 Volvo EX60 P10 AWD for a week, I’m convinced it sets the benchmark for luxury electric SUVs. With an as-tested price of $68,745, it undercuts two of my favorite alternatives: the Audi Q6 e-tron and Rivian R2.

Inheriting much of the charm and punchy performance of the smaller EX30 — which happens to be one of the best electric cars I’ve tested all year — the EX60 easily proves it’s worth the price of admission. Here’s why.

2027 Volvo EX60 review: Specifications

2027 Volvo EX60 review: Testing summary

​I drove a total of 189.4 miles during my week’s worth of testing the 2027 Volvo EX60 P10 AWD, achieving an outstanding average efficiency of 4.1 mi/kWh. That doesn’t just make it one of the most efficient luxury EVs on the road — it easily outperforms similarly sized rivals like the Subaru Trailseeker, as well as three-row haulers like the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9. In fact, its energy consumption rivals much smaller crossovers like the Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ.

​Where the EX60 truly shines is in low-speed, stop-and-go suburban driving. I recorded a peak short-distance efficiency of 5.43 mi/kWh, while highway cruising settled at an impressive 3.85 mi/kWh over long distances. Put simply: you'ill stretch your battery pack significantly farther between charges than in almost any competing mid-size luxury EV.

When it comes to charging, the EX60 features Tesla's NACS port for straightforward Level 3 DC fast charging at Tesla Superchargers. At home, plugging into a standard 120V Level 1 wall outlet yielded a charging rate of 5.34 miles per hour — the fastest Level 1 recovery speed I’ve tested to date. In practice, that meant adding roughly 50 miles of range back into the pack in just under 9.5 hours of overnight charging.

2027 Volvo EX60 review: What I like

The most efficient mid-size SUV I’ve tested

​I can’t overstate the EX60’s outstanding efficiency, largely because being frugal isn't what this segment is about. Most mid-size electric crossovers struggle to reach the 3 mi/kWh baseline I consider average, but the EX60 goes the distance by surging past 4 mi/kWh. That puts it in the same efficiency territory as aerodynamic sedans and smaller crossovers like the Lucid Air and Kia EV6.

​In the luxury EV space, dual-motor all-wheel-drive haulers are power hungry — and previously I've tested like the Audi Q6 e-tron and BMW iX xDrive45 prove how difficult that barrier is to break. Yet, the EX60 shatters expectations by achieving those figures despite packing a 503-horsepower dual-motor powertrain. Volvo just proved that compromise is no longer mandatory for a mid-size SUV.

Minimalist dashboard that works

​Volvo employs a distinctive design language that I find fascinating, standing in stark contrast to the over-the-top visual excess often found in Mercedes-Benz and BMW cabins. The Scandinavian-inspired design language Volvo carries over from its other EVs delivers what I call "silent luxury."

​Borrowing heavily from the playbook of the smaller EX30, the EX60 strips away dashboard clutter in favor of an open, airy aesthetic anchored by a crisp 15-inch curved OLED center display. Thoughtful packaging touches — such as a sliding center console that extends to reveal dual cupholders, paired with rich woven textile surfaces — further elevate the understated tone that gives the cabin a calming look and feel.

Intuitive software package

Few things frustrate me more in modern EVs than dealing with outdated, sluggish software. Volvo’s infotainment system continues to make major strides, delivering a polished interface that feels contemporary.

From a home screen that logically positions Google Maps and core media functions as the primary focal points, to clean-looking icons and fluid animations that respond to every tap, the software experience is every bit as impressive as the minimalist cabin surrounding it.

Helpful three-camera view

Navigating tight parking spots is a breeze thanks to sharp exterior cameras that provide comprehensive 360-degree coverage. Beyond the impressive daytime clarity and wide dynamic range in high-contrast lighting, the real highlight is how Volvo arranges the feeds on screen. Instead of forcing you to rely on a single perspective or cycle through menus, the system splits into a simultaneous three-camera view that gives you real-time visibility out front, directly behind, and from an overhead bird's-eye angle all at once.

Really fun to drive

​Moving up to a mid-size SUV, I was worried that the EX60 might lose the pep and responsiveness that made the smaller EX30 so thrilling to drive. Luckily, it delivers driving dynamics that are just as engaging, making this mid-size crossover surprisingly fun to manuver. The EX60 P10 AWD serves up almost that exact same punchy sensation, courtesy of dual permanent-magnet synchronous motors that produce 503 horsepower and 524 lb-ft of torque.

​Not only does it leap forward instantly whenever I stomp on the accelerator, but it's also remarkably agile during quick highway overtakes. There's zero hesitation from this zippy crossover. Thanks to its low center of gravity and planted stance, it gives off genuine sports car vibes in how eagerly it handles corners and responds to my acceleration.

Precise dynamic headlights

As with the previous XC40, EX40, and XC90 models I’ve tested, I’ve always appreciated Volvo’s signature "Thor’s Hammer" headlights. However, the EX60 brings a major functional upgrade by shifting to fully adaptive dynamic matrix LEDs. It's easily one of the smartest lighting setups on the road, functioning very much like the adaptive matrix headlights found on Rivian’s R1T, R1S, and R2.

Rather than simply toggling high beams on and off, the system actively shapes the light beam around oncoming traffic and lead vehicles. Watching it adapt in real time at night looks almost surreal: the matrix array carves out precise dark cutouts around other cars while keeping the shoulders, signs, and open lanes ahead brilliantly illuminated.

Refined Pilot Assist performance

Highway driving is an absolute breeze in this EV because Volvo’s latest iteration of Pilot Assist with adaptive cruise control naturally adapts to changing traffic flow. Not only does it keep the crossover centered and smoothly applies braking and acceleration when needed, but thoughtful details throughout the system highlight just how refined it truly is.

The EX60 excels at reading the road ahead through its high-resolution camera and radar suite, gently letting off the pedal and applying a gentle brake when another car cuts into my lane. Additional safety touches enhance the experience further, including extra-bright blind-spot warning LEDs integrated into each side mirror and clear visual notifications in the digital driver's display that render nearby adjacent vehicles in real time.

Fast, flexible charging

The EX60 delivers the fastest Level 1 charging rate I’ve recorded from any EV to date. Replenishing at a rate of 5.34 miles per hour, nothing else I've tested on standard household power comes close — especially when most competitors struggle to reach 4 miles per hour. For drivers who haven’t yet installed a dedicated Level 2 charger at home, the EX60 can recover a practical amount of daily driving range from an ordinary 120V wall outlet.

When you need to charge on the road, the EX60 features a native NACS (North American Charging Standard) port, providing seamless access to Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network. You can also equip the vehicle with optional adapters, ensuring you still get access to standard CCS DC fast chargers and older public stations.

2027 Volvo EX60 review: What I don't like

Still a stretch for some budgets

While the 2027 Volvo EX60 undercuts many of its luxury rivals, namely BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz, it’s far from a budget EV. Starting under $60,000 for a base trim — and climbing to $68,745 for the P10 AWD I tested — it remains a stretch for some households when cheaper options exist. That becomes even more pronounced when stacked against incoming competition like the Rivian R2, which enters the market starting under $60,000 for a top-of-the-line trim.

2027 Volvo EX60 review: Bottom line

It’s not often I say this, but the 2027 Volvo EX60 stands out as one of the most satisfying EVs I have tested all year. There’s no denying that its $68,745 as-tested price remains a serious financial commitment for many households, but unlike many luxury crossovers that demand major trade-offs, the EX60 overdelivers across the board.

Not only does it preserve the punchy driving dynamics that made the smaller EX30 so enjoyable, but it also scales up into a practical mid-size footprint with generous passenger room and clever storage. Coupled with Volvo's signature "silent luxury" interior aesthetic, what truly steals the show is its staggering real-world efficiency of 4.1 mi/kWh — alongside a class-leading recovery rate of 5.34 miles per hour on simple Level 1 home charging.

If you have the budget for a premium crossover, the EX60 doesn't just meet expectations, it sets a new standard for the class.

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The main reason you’d want this Kindle is its color display. If you read a lot of comics, books with pictures, or just want to see book covers in color, this e-reader delivers. Though the resolution drops to 150ppi in color and the display isn’t as bright as a black-and-white Kindle, having a color display balances that loss.

Most of what I said in my Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (2026) review applies here, as the main difference between the two devices is that one has a color display while the other doesn’t. Unfortunately, one of the biggest negatives I had with the Paperwhite is more pronounced here: the steeper asking price. At $319, it’s certainly a harder recommendation.

But if you’re willing to pay for this high-end color Kindle, the Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (2026) won’t disappoint. Find out why in my full review!

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (2026) review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? The Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (2026) is a premium version of the regular color e-reader, featuring an aluminum back casing and 32GB of storage.
• Who is it for? For Kindle users who want a higher-end version of the Colorsoft or anyone who wants a color e-reader.
• What does it cost? The Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (2026) costs $319 on Amazon. It has 32GB of storage and no ad support. The standard Kindle Colorsoft costs $289 on Amazon.
• What do we like? We like the color display, aluminum housing, long battery life, and seamless integration with the Kindle ecosystem.
• What don’t we like? We don’t like the higher asking price, proprietary wireless charging, and that color images have half the resolution of black and white.

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (2026) review: Specs

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (2026) review: The ups

The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition offers meaningful upgrades, including a more vivid display, a lighter build, and a sturdy aluminum chassis.

Rich color display

The display on the new Kindle Colorsoft is roughly the same as the previous model, except Amazon used a new reverse-stack display construction to make the screen-to-bezel transition more seamless. Other than that, this is still a 7-inch color digital ink display that’s flush with the bezels.

Now that I’ve had two years of experience with the previous Colorsoft, I know black-and-white content won’t look as bright or as defined as it does on the Paperwhite. It’s certainly a trade-off, since the layer that produces color makes the screen darker overall. I tend to read novels with the Kindle’s front lights off (while I sit near a lamp or other light source), but with the Colorsoft, I turn the device’s lights on for better clarity. It’s not a deal breaker and doesn’t negatively affect my opinion of this reader, but it’s something you should know.

As before, the Colorsoft does an admirable job with color pages. In fact, colors are slightly more vibrant than on the previous model. Sure, the display doesn’t get anywhere as bright as an iPad mini, but the Colorsoft offers a more paper-like look, which is naturally a bit washed out in comparison. It’s a small concession, since seeing the covers of the books in my collection is not only cool, but also makes them easier to identify by color.

For color, you can choose between Standard and Vivid in the settings. Standard gives you the full range of colors, while Vivid makes the colors pop more. I still prefer Standard because it balances colors well and lets more detail show. Vivid is okay, but image quality isn’t always uniform.

Black-and-white pages appear at full 300ppi resolution, while color pages are at 150ppi. The drop in resolution is noticeable but not egregious. When reading comics, text is plenty readable, and I have no trouble seeing fine details in the drawings. Zooming in helps you see more detail in smaller drawings, and it doesn’t greatly degrade an image’s quality. I still prefer reading comics on a 13-inch iPad Pro or the 12-inch Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, but reading them on the Colorsoft isn’t terrible.

Lovely design

The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition is a truly elegant e-reader thanks to its soft curves and overall minimal design. My review unit came in Fig, which also enhances the device’s sleek aesthetic. Beyond looks, it’s also quite practical.

At 6.9 x 5.0 x 0.3 inches and 8.1 oz, the Colorsoft Signature Edition can easily fit into most backpacks and pockets. I traveled to and from work with it and almost always forgot it was there. The aluminum back housing makes this e-reader a tad heavier than the regular Colorsoft, but I found the extra weight negligible.

One huge change is the repositioned power button, which moves from the bottom of the device to the right-hand side. That’s a feature I loved about the Kindle Scribe, so I’m glad that all Kindles now have it. Now, it’s almost impossible to accidentally shut off a Kindle while you’re reading it, unless you’re holding it unusually.

Amazon has done a fantastic job with these aluminum Kindles, as they feel more premium while still retaining the classic Kindle design. Sure, this makes Kindles cost more, but I just love how the aluminum e-readers feel in hand.

Enduring battery life

Kindles are known for their weeks-long battery life, and the Colorsoft Signature Edition is no exception. Amazon claims that its color e-reader can last up to 8 weeks on a single charge. I haven’t used this Colorsoft for nearly that long, but during my two weeks of use, I’ve yet to charge it.

I read about an hour a day with adaptive brightness on and color set to Standard. In two weeks, the battery dropped from 95% to 68%. Doing some napkin math, I can likely get another month or so of use before I have to recharge at that rate. Needless to say, this is one long-lasting e-reader!

Kindle ecosystem

The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition has the same simple UI as its siblings, so if you’re familiar with the interface, you’ll feel at home.

You’ll see all the books you’re currently reading or have recently read on the Home page, with a list of recommended books right beneath that. You'll also see curated recommendations from Kindle Unlimited when you scroll further down. Everything refreshes quickly, so it’s easy to click a recommended book and read its description or sample pages to see if you’re interested.

From the drop-down menu, you can toggle options like airplane mode, Bluetooth, and Dark Mode. More options appear when you’re reading a book, such as font, theme, chapter selection, and more. The robust settings let you really curate your reading experience.

Kindle Store and Goodreads integration are another highlight for me, especially the latter since I enjoy updating my reading status and sharing it with friends who are also on Goodreads. I’m not ashamed to admit that this level of integration is why I find it difficult to move to another e-reader ecosystem, since I’ve been using Kindles for the better part of 10 years. This level of integration is key to truly getting the best Kindle experience.

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (2026) review: The downs

The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition is great, but it's hindered by two major things.

Steep asking price

Let’s not mince words: the new Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition isn’t cheap. This was also true about the last model, which started at $279. But now, with component prices climbing every day, you’ll have to pay more for Amazon’s color Kindle.

The Signature Edition of the Kindle Colorsoft costs a hefty $319. That’s a $40 price bump from the previous model, which is pretty significant. The same is true for the standard $289 Colorsoft, which is also $40 more expensive. So no matter which Colorsoft (or Kindle) you buy now, you’ll have to pay more than before.

Proprietary charging

The previous Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition supported Qi charging, a great feature that gave you more versatility when you needed to charge the device. Unfortunately, this feature is no longer available.

If you want to wirelessly charge the Colorsoft Signature Edition, you’ll need to do so with the Amazon Charging Stand, which costs 59. When placed on this stand, the Kindle charges via the pogo pins on its bottom back side. It’s a neat way to charge the e-reader, but it would have been better if Qi charging were still supported.

Like I said in my Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition review, you won’t have to charge the device very often, so Qi charging isn’t necessarily a necessity — nor is the proprietary wireless charger. Still, I wish we didn’t have to trade Qi charging for a wireless charging stand.

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (2026) review: Verdict

The Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (2026) might be pricey, but it delivers an enjoyable reading experience thanks to its sharp color digital ink display, lovely design, and integration with the Kindle Store and Goodreads. Though I still prefer the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition for its clearer and sharper black-and-white display, the Colorsoft is still darn impressive.

If a color display and a premium design aren’t as important as affordability, then the basic Kindle is a great choice starting at $149. If you want a larger display than that basic reader, then the $199 Kindle Paperwhite is another great pick. Of course, if you do want a color Kindle, the standard Kindle Colorsoft with 16GB of storage and ad support isn’t too bad.

Costs aside, if you liked what I had to say about the Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition and don’t mind paying a premium, then I won’t deter you, as it really is a lovely e-reader. Right now, it’s arguably the best of its kind. And given Amazon’s penchant for discounting Kindles during sales events, you can likely get it for a few dollars off. If that happens, then don’t hesitate to get a Colorsoft. You won’t be disappointed.

Reddit has many opinions — some worth your time, some not. But the HIFIMAN Sundara are some of r/audiophile and r/headphones’ most-recommended hi-fi headphones, and you know what? I agree.

At just $179, they’re pretty accessible for most people. Hi-fi headphones can very quickly start costing well over $500, but not the HIFIMAN Sundara. These inconspicuous cans are comfortable, affordable, and, most importantly, sound excellent. Texture and timbre is divine, and the warm tuning makes for a non-fatiguing listen.

Is this price and performance enough to make the HIFIMAN Sundara some of the best headphones? Almost undoubtedly yes. I’ll go over everything in detail in this HIFIMAN Sundara review.

HIFIMAN Sundara review: Specs

HIFIMAN Sundara review: What I like

From the $179 price tag to the sound quality, there’s a lot I like about the HIFIMAN Sundara.

Sound quality

Oh, the HIFIMAN Sundara sound like angels singing into my ears. To get the best sound, I used them with my FiiO K11 R2R DAC/Amp. With a low 32Ω impedance and sensitivity of 96dB/mW, the headphones are loud enough to power from a phone, so don’t require an amp. However, low-impedance headphones with large drivers like these perform best with stable power from an external amp, which helps the drivers move properly to avoid distortion and muddiness.

The Sundara are more expansive than a hot air balloon trip across the Alps. You can feel everything — every lick of sibilance, every singer’s inhale, every pulse of bass. Instruments are separated delicately and with precision, particularly in Charlotte Gainsbourg’s “Deadly Valentine”.

The atmospheric, dark alt electronic track is structured over two basslines, one a soul-inspired slap-bass and one a wriggling synth, both of which came through clearly. Gainsbourg’s smooth, buttery vocals were replicated with clarity and technical detail. This is music you feel, rather than merely listen to.

Even heavier genres fared well, which is a pitfall some cheaper Hi-Fi cans stumble into. “Knights of Cydonia” was a propulsive, energetic inferno. The arpeggiated synths were tucked deftly underneath the harmonized vocals, and the sci-fi sound effects bounced around the back of the soundstage like they were alive. While a touch of the higher-frequency synths were lost right at the crescendo, I’m willing to overlook this for $179.

Stereo imaging was also a standout, especially in “Vogue (Q-Sound Mix)” by Madonna. The soundstage was atmospheric and vast; the subtle sub-bass flickered in the background, allowing space for the finger-snap percussion. But the true excellence here was Madonna’s vocals: each whisper of “vogue” was a tangible, material (pun intended) sensation.

The HIFIMAN Sundara seriously punch above their weight in terms of sound. Subtle foreshadowing, but corners have been cut elsewhere to keep the costs down.

Price

At $179 from Amazon U.S. and £169 from Amazon U.K, the HIFIMAN Sundara are relatively affordable, all things considered. This price makes them accessible to casual hi-fi fans or beginner audiophiles.

Similar options are the FiiO FT1 Pro ($219), Sennheiser HD569 ($179), or the Sennheiser HD 560S ($199). The FiiO FT1 Pro are a little too pricey, in my opinion, so I’d recommend the Sundara over them. However, if you can spend a little more and prefer a neutral tuning, the Sennheiser HD 560S might be an overall better option. The 560S are famous in the audiophile world for a reason: they’re expansive and detailed, just like the Sundara, but they’re tuned a little flatter. The Sundara are a little warmer in the treble.

Comfort

Despite weighing 12 ounces, the HIFIMAN Sundara are relatively comfortable to wear for long periods. I have a small head and weirdly small ears — which I didn’t realize until I started doing this job and testing headphones all day, by the way — and I didn’t feel the headphones clamping or pressing in during testing. Equally, the headphones didn’t overheat my ears or cause any discomfort.

The pleather headband alleviates a lot of pressure, and the metal band takes most of the weight. Of course, you can adjust on both sides — there are eight adjustment notches on either side of the headphones. These were quite janky, but we’ll get into that more later.

I’d say these headphones are just as comfortable as something like the FiiO FT1 Pro, FiiO JT7, and FiiO JT3. They weren’t notably uncomfortable nor particularly luxurious. Just comfortable enough to forget I was wearing them, which is exactly what you want in reference headphones.

If you wear dangly earrings, I’d recommend removing them before long listening sessions as the cups tended to dig the backs into my head.

HIFIMAN Sundara review: What I don’t like

Although the Sundaras punch well above their weight in terms of sound quality, I fear they may be a “Frequently returned item” on Amazon for one key reason.

Build quality

Right, let’s get into it.

The HIFIMAN Sundara are cheap(ish), and, well — they look it. As briefly touched upon earlier, the size adjustment notches are incredibly stiff and janky. You can actually feel the metal grating during adjustments. There’s already an erosion mark on my testing sample, from just two people using the headphones. You can’t adjust while wearing; you have to remove them. I needed two hands to get enough strength to drag the poor metal prongs out of the notches.

It’s not just the adjustment notches, though. The metal headband is extremely flimsy. You can twist the headphones without even trying. I would be worried about leaving these in rooms accessible to kids or people with a proclivity for mischief.

You can also impress upon the mesh driver casing with even the slightest pressure. Although the Sundara are open-backs, which makes them less durable than your standard closed-backs anyway, this makes me wonder how protected the drivers are.

In short: Great for sound, not-so-great for longevity. You might be buying another pair a lot sooner than you think — but obviously neither of us has a big crystal ball. I’d recommend taking care of them well, treating them delicately, and keeping them in a safe location.

How does it compare?

Wired open-back hi-fi headphones are no longer an inaccessible, tax-bracket-restricted item. I’ve tested a whole bunch of affordable headphones, namely the aforementioned FiiO JT7 ($119) and even cheaper FiiO JT3 ($69). If you’re just starting out in the audiophile world, I would recommend spending as little money as possible and getting the JT3. You’d save $110 over the HIFIMAN Sundara, and the sound quality is genuinely impressive for the price. No, you won’t get the highest highs and the same expansiveness as the Sundara, but the JT3 are an honorable pick.

There’s also the previously referenced Sennheiser HD560S ($199), whose neutral tuning provides faithful sound quality. The Sundara are a touch warmer in the treble and are less fatiguing for long listening sessions, but some people prefer the completely flat tuning. You’ve also got the closed-back Sennheiser HD569 ($179), which are also tarred with Amazon’s pesky “Frequently returned item” brush, but offer Sennheiser’s classic studio sound.

Should you buy the HIFIMAN Sundara?

If you value sound quality above all else, the HIFIMAN Sundara won’t disappoint you. They sound truly gorgeous. Deep sub-bass, accurately replicated vocals, and balanced midrange make for a delicious listening experience. Furthermore, the open-back design provides expansiveness and immersion.

Personally, I would buy the Sundara. Despite build issues, the sound quality is good enough for me to overlook. I would simply keep the headphones in a safe space and only wear them inside (which is standard for hi-fi headphones anyway).

If, like me, you value sound quality above all, the HIFIMAN Sundara will not let you down.

But is looking the part enough to make it one of the best fitness trackers? The TL;DR is this: at some point in the future, yes. 100%. The Luna Band has so much potential. But right now? It doesn’t feel finished. There are tons of “Coming Soon” banners in the app, and you can’t customize any personal targets — which is such a shame, because I genuinely adored testing it. I would recommend buying it, but not for a few months.

I’ll get into all the gnarly details in this Luna Band review.

Luna Band review: Specs

Luna Band review: Price & availability

The Luna Band is $149 from Amazon U.S. and £129 direct from Luna in the U.K. This is $50 cheaper than the Garmin Cirqa and $50 cheaper than the Whoop 5.0 (from $199 to $369 per year).

However, the Fitbit Air ($99) and Amazfit Helio Strap ($99) both undercut the Luna Band by $50. The Luna Band looks much more appealing — and feels nicer on the skin — than the Amazfit Helio Strap and the silicone-y Fitbit Air strap (unless you pay extra for the upgraded knit option).

Luna Band review: Design

The Luna Band looks fantastic. I have nothing bad to say about its appearance. I tested the beige option, but it also comes in black and green. You get two straps, S-M and M-L, which are between 240mm and 295mm long. There’s a decent amount of Velcro at one end, so you can tighten the strap to your preference. I have wrists that can only be described as “Victorian child”, and it fit me perfectly without looking weird.

The Luna Band is also 5 ATM rated, which means you can wear it while swimming, but avoid high-impact water sports or scuba diving with it. I wore it in the ocean, and it both stayed put and didn’t get damaged.

The fabric not only looks good, but it doesn’t trap heat or sweat, unlike the silicone wristband on my Apple Watch SE 3.

Luna Band review: Fitness features

The Luna Band offers a huge range of fitness tracking functions. However, you have to go into the “Health and Activity” tab of the Luna app to start a workout — it’s not on the home page (even though surely it should be?).

Once I found the fitness section, I could scroll through 57 activities, although one of these is “Steam and Sauna Room,” not sure how “active” that one is. (To its credit, it does have a “Recovery” label next to it.)

There’s no onboard GPS, so when you go for hikes, cycles, or runs, it won’t generate a nice map like Amazfit Helio Strap or Garmin Cirqa — even if you take your phone with you. This band feels more suited to general lifestyle use rather than conscious training programs.

Automatic workout detection is a little blurry: I went for a run, but I clearly wasn’t running fast enough or long enough, as the Luna Band auto-detected a 4-minute run. This is a huge shame because my heart rate was between 144 and 162 BPM for thirty minutes on that day, but the band didn’t classify that as a run. There isn’t a huge amount of post-run analysis other than heart rate, so if you’re a serious runner, I’d recommend the Amazfit Helio Strap, Garmin Cirqa, or Fitbit Air instead.

However, this is also an issue on the Amazfit Helio Strap. After these hiccups, I learned my lesson — and started a workout manually from the app every time. After workouts, you get a nice heart rate zone bar chart and cardio versus strength efficiency.

I found the HRV to be somewhat unreliable. For a portion of my testing, I wore the Luna Band with my Amazfit Helio Strap, and the latter tracked my HRV at around 20 ms higher than the Luna Band. Of course, I can’t say for certain which was correct, but it’s worth mentioning.

Some features, like blood oxygen, are grayed out with a “Coming Soon” badge. There are tons of “Coming Soon” graphics in the app — I joked to my colleagues that it looks like a “Coming Soon” wasteland.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t test these “Coming Soon” areas. Does the blood oxygen saturation feature work? Who knows! For now, the Garmin Cirqa and Fitbit Air pip the Luna Band to the post here.

Luna Band review: Extra features

The Luna app is replete with cool, lifestyle-oriented features. The home page has your ideal daily plan (but you can’t change it — more on that) and your peak score. Everything else shows up in the “Health” tab.

Sleep tracking

Sleep tracking on the Luna Band is one of its standout features. It tracks from the moment you lie down rather than when you fall asleep, so you can see your precise sleep latency. You don’t have to do math, like with the Amazfit Helio Strap, which tracks from the moment you fall asleep. Remembering what time I put my phone down when I’m groggy in the morning is always a challenge.

Here’s a screenshot of an example night.

I love seeing the stratification of my sleep quality and my body’s response during the night. Tracking HRV is one of the most important things I look for in a fitness tracker.

However — and I’ll get into this in more detail in the “App” section — you can’t adjust your sleep targets. I don’t want my sleep target to be 7 hours; I want it to be 8 hours. You can’t change this because the band works out how much sleep it thinks I need. But I don’t care how much sleep the fitness tracker thinks I need — I want my target to be how much sleep I think I need. I checked with the built-in chatbot, and it told me you can’t customize these targets manually.

Peak score

At first, I hoped Peak Score would be more like Amazfit’s BioCharge feature, but it doesn’t really work like that. While BioCharge goes down during the day and resets at night, Peak Score uses your workout data, sleep data, and general wellbeing data to generate a set daily number. This means if you run a marathon, your peak score won’t change.

While this isn’t inherently wrong or bad, it’s worth noting if you’d like a dynamic number that reflects your activity for the day. For example, if you run in the morning and go to a boxing class in the evening and want to know how hard you can push yourself.

I like Peak Score, and I like Amazfit’s BioCharge. Both have their merits.

Luna Band review: App

The Luna app is less fitness-focused and more lifestyle-oriented. While it does still offer insights into energy, readiness, and so on, it also features tons of suggestions for eating, walking, and sleeping,

My prevailing thought regarding the app is that I wish Luna hadn’t released it unfinished. Because that’s what it is — unfinished. The app wants you to sleep for seven hours; walk 5,000 steps; burn 410 active calories; walk/run 8km a day. There’s no option to change any of these targets, or, if there is, it’s incredibly well-hidden — and the built-in AI chatbot doesn’t know how to change it either.

That brings me to my next point: there is, however, an AI chatbot in the app, because of course there is! I wish the Luna team had spent more time finishing the app — allowing you to actually set personal targets — rather than polishing said AI chatbot.

I don’t want to sleep for seven hours; I want to sleep for eight. I don’t want to walk 5,000 steps; I want to walk 10,000. Sure, you can do this manually, but I want the dopamine release of the app itself congratulating me for reaching my more difficult target.

It’s really unfortunate, because the app itself is beautifully laid out. The design team has done a great job. Everything is sleek, well-designed, and easy to understand. At first, I wondered if the app could do with more easily navigable customization tabs, but then I realised there were none. Again — a huge shame, because the Luna Band has serious potential.

However, there’s no subscription, which is a huge plus over Whoop, which requires a subscription, and the Fitbit Air and Garmin Cirqa, which lock some features behind a monthly paywall. Even so, I would recommend waiting for these “Coming Soon” features to actually arrive.

Luna Band review: Battery life

The Luna Band is rated for around 10 days. I found this accurate during testing — I charged it four times over a five-week period.

This battery life isn’t as good as the Whoop 5.0 (14 days) or Amazfit Helio Strap (14 days), but it’s better than the Fitbit Air (one week) and equals the Garmin Cirqa. I’m extremely happy with this battery life.

Should you buy the Luna Band?

Right now? No. I’d recommend waiting until the app is actually finished. There’s little point in investing in a new fitness tracker and learning the app when there’s actually not that much to learn right now.

This is such a shame, because I really enjoyed using the Luna Band. It’s sleek, pretty, inconspicuous. It’s much smaller and more feminine than the Amazfit Helio Strap, and cheaper than the Garmin Cirqa. On top of that, there’s no subscription, which is amazing.

Choosing the Luna Band’s rating was incredibly hard because I genuinely loved wearing this fitness tracker. Sleep tracking is fantastic. The app design is gorgeous. It’s just a shame Luna released it before it was ready.

But it does have a couple of shortcomings. While its VA LCD panel is detailed, it doesn’t deliver the inky blacks I’ve come to love on OLED panels. It’s also very expensive, priced at nearly $2,000. Oh, and you should forgo getting it if you’re short on space.

Could this still be the best curved monitor for you? Read my full LG UltraGear 52G930B review to find out.

LG UltraGear 52G930B review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A 52-inch 5K2K curved gaming monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time
• Who is it for? Gamers who want the ultimate immersive experience… and have a lot of space
• How much does it cost? $1,697 / £1,599
• What do we like? The massive 52-inch panel, good SDR brightness, strong color coverage and accuracy, and gaming performance
• What don’t we like? The non-OLED panel and premium price point

LG UltraGear 52G930B review: Specs

LG UltraGear 52G930B review: The ups

There’s a lot to love about the LG UltraGear 52G930B: excellent color coverage and accuracy, strong SDR performance, and a massive 52-inch panel for immersive gaming. Throw in a 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time and you’ve got yourself a winner.

So much screen real estate

As the numbers in its name suggest, the LG UltraGear 52G930B is a 52-inch mammoth — it’s only a touch smaller than my 55-inch TV! You’re getting a lot of real estate here. The 52G930B is a curved monitor with a massive VA LCD panel that has a 5120 x 2160 (5K2K) resolution.

At the time of writing, it’s the world’s largest 5K2K 240Hz gaming monitor — and it’s definitely the biggest monitor I’ve ever tested. I think of other curved monitors, like the MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 ($949) and the Dell Pro P3426WEV ($749), and all of a sudden, they feel really small.

Naturally, the 52G930B isn’t designed for small spaces, as it measures 46.3 x 28.1 x 13.8 inches (with stand). It also weighs a lot, at 37.03lbs, so you might struggle to pick it up all by yourself. I’ll whine about that in “The Downs” section below.

Back to the good things for now. Thanks to its large panel, the 52G930B delivers a truly immersive gaming and viewing experience. The 1000R curve pulls the screen’s outer edges towards you, bringing the panel into your natural field of view.

Even though I had to move my head slightly to see, say, mission objectives in Cyberpunk 2077, it never became annoying or, more importantly, fatiguing. The 52G930B, then, feels very manageable, and anytime I used it, I felt enveloped in the colors and visuals.

Just the right number of ports

The LG UltraGear 52G930B is a well-endowed monitor, packing enough ports for nearly all of your needs. They’re all located on the back and LG happily includes a plastic clip-on cover if you want to hide them or protect them from dust.

These include a power port (of course), two HDMI 2.1, one DisplayPort 2.1, two USB-A ports for hooking up peripherals, and a 3.5mm jack for plugging in headsets or a mic. This level of connectivity is par for the course for gaming monitors, and is similar to what you’ll find on the MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 and the Alienware AW3926DW ($1,099).

You also get a USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode upstream port with 90W of power delivery. What “DisplayPort Alt Mode” essentially means is that it enables the USB-C port to receive video signals using the DisplayPort protocol.

You get higher data bandwidth, and you can even daisy-chain multiple monitors from a single port — handy for cable management as well as routing graphics through a docking station via USB-C as you can continue accessing DisplayPort’s high resolutions and refresh rates. I’ve seen this on the Dell UltraSharp U3226Q ($2,499) before but not on a gaming monitor.

A bright panel

When I used the OSD (On-Screen Display) on the LG UltraGear 52G930B to push its brightness to the max, I flinched because of just how bright the monitor got — and my lab testing all but confirmed what my eyes were seeing.

As you can see in the table above, the 52G930B reached a peak brightness of 415 nits in SDR mode, outclassing nearly all of its competitors. The MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 (280.2 nits), the Alienware AW3926DW (243 nits) and the Lenovo Legion Pro 34WD-10 OLED ($1,199, 266 nits) all pale in comparison. These are OLED panels, though, and they don’t get nearly as bright as non-OLED ones.

The 52G930B is upstaged by the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 ($2,499) and its 619 nits in SDR, but the monitor also costs a lot more than LG’s offering. I’d advise against using any of these monitors with their brightness turned all the way up anyway, so there isn’t much in it.

Frustratingly, though, the 52G930B struggles in its HDR mode, achieving only 252 nits on 10% of the display. Many of its chief rivals — barring the Lenovo Legion Pro 34WD-10 OLED — perform better in this area, if that is of concern to you.

Commendable gaming performance

Let’s talk about the main event now. The LG UltraGear 52G930B is, first and foremost, a gaming monitor — and it’s a beast. Its native 5K2K resolution is beautiful in every sense of the word, though you’ll need a high-end graphics card, like RTX 4090, to drive it.

Packing a 240Hz refresh rate, the 52G930B ensures you don’t experience any choppiness during fast-paced games. The smooth, blur-free performance is outstanding, really. It also features a 1ms response time to negate motion blur and ghosting. Some OLED monitors, like the MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 and the Alienware AW3926DW, feature low 0.03ms response times (on account of featuring OLED panels), but the 52G930B should be fast enough for most casual gamers.

That all sounds great on paper, and it’s even better in real-world use. I played Cyberpunk 2077, Forza Horizon 5 and Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core Reunion, and was highly impressed with the 52G930B’s performance. The 240Hz refresh rate resulted in a buttery smooth experience across all three games, and as promised by the 1ms response time, I didn’t experience any ghosting.

The visuals are stunning, too. Even though FFVII: Crisis Core Reunion doesn’t natively support an ultrawide resolution, the 16:9 aspect ratio it occupied on the mahoosive 52-inch panel still looked incredible. The black bars didn’t really deter from the viewing experience. Watching cutscenes in FFVII: Crisis Core Reunion and Cyberpunk 2077 felt like watching a movie.

The 52G930B’s visual performance is further bolstered by outstanding color coverage. In my lab tests, the monitor covered 161.3% of the sRGB color space and 114.2% of the wider DCI P3 gamut. This is similar to what you get with the MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36.

100% coverage is what we’re always looking for, so the 52G930B goes above and beyond. Colors on the 52G930B appear bold but balanced. Blues and reds look rich while greens appear vivid. Blacks are dark but they aren’t as inky as you’d expect on an OLED panel. There’s no oversaturation either, which you sometimes get with monitors that cover nearly 200% of the color gamuts.

Strong color accuracy, too

In addition to outstanding color coverage, the LG UltraGear 52G930B boasts strong color accuracy, too. Color accuracy is represented by Delta-E, a numerical representation of how much two colors differ, and how close the color relayed on screen (i.e. the monitor) is to the color output from the source (i.e. the computer). You want this score to be as close to zero as possible, as that means the colors are extremely accurate.

My lab tests showed that the 52G930B has a Delta-E score of 0.06, which is excellent. The monitor trumps most of its competitors, as you can see from the table above. I can confirm that the colors on the monitor appeared exactly how they looked on my testing laptop.

This gave me confidence to edit photos for my Instagram photography account. This is a gaming monitor, though, and I’d recommend a monitor like the Dell UltraSharp U3226Q if you want productivity-specific features.

LG UltraGear 52G930B review: The downs

There are two things that may deter you from buying the LG UltraGear 52G930B: it doesn’t feature an OLED panel, and it’s quite expensive. Oh, and it isn’t designed for small spaces either.

Not for small spaces

“Man, I really need to start working out more.” Nothing has humbled me more than when I was dragging the LG UltraGear 52G930B’s box across the floor. What I’m about to say isn’t a dealbreaker, but a pre-purchase consideration, especially if you’re short on space.

In its box, the 52G930B is gigantic. Take it out (or at least struggle to) and you realize just how mahoosive and heavy this thing is. If you live on your own, you might want to ask a friend to pop over and help you assemble it.

As I mentioned before, with the stand attached, the 52G930B weighs a whopping 37.03 pounds or 16.8 kilograms. That sounds like a lot on paper and you’re right: it’s a lot. Don’t try lifting it on your own lest you actively want to pull your back.

Of course, when LG offered me the 52G930B for review, the “52” in the name should have been a dead giveaway about the weight and size — but even so, I was stumped, as was our studio photographer. My 55-inch TCL C6K television is lighter than the 52G930B monitor, weighing 24.9 pounds which feels featherlight in comparison. Good lord, this thing is a lot.

Not OLED

Even though the LG UltraGear 52G930B boasts powerful performance and gorgeous colors, it features a VA (Vertical Alignment) LCD panel and not an OLED one. OLED panels deliver superior picture quality, infinite contrast, and instant response times, while VA LCD ones prioritize higher sustained brightness and zero risk of screen burn-in.

This might be a dealbreaker for some users, especially given how much the 52G930B costs. If you inky blacks and a response time that’s faster than the 52G930B’s 1ms speed, I’d recommend the MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36, the Alienware AW3926DW, or the Lenovo Legion Pro 34WD-10 OLED instead.

Expensive

Given that the LG UltraGear 52G930B doesn’t feature an OLED panel (or the strongest HDR performance), it feels a little overpriced. It has a retail price of $1,697 at Amazon U.S. / £1,599 at Currys U.K., so it’s priced similarly to the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 ($1,799). That’s a lot of dough for a VA LCD monitor.

As I mentioned earlier, you’d be better off with the likes of the MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 ($949) or the Alienware AW3926DW ($1,099) instead — though you won’t get as much screen real estate as the 52G930B. The good news is that the 52G930B is at least cheaper than the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 ($2,499) and the Dell UltraSharp U3226Q ($2,499), even though they don’t pack OLED panels either.

LG UltraGear 52G930B review: Verdict

Though it’s heavy and unwieldy, the LG UltraGear 52G930B massive 52-inch curved panel with its 1000R curvature puts you right in the heat of the action. A 5K2K resolution along with outstanding color coverage and accuracy, as well as strong SDR performance, delivers gorgeous visuals. You also get a 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time for buttery smooth gaming performance.

But you should only get the 52G930B if you have a large desk as it takes up a lot of space, and it’s quite heavy for the average person (or me, at least) to lift on their own. It doesn’t feature an OLED panel either, which many cheaper monitors do. Speaking of, it isn’t for the budget-conscious buyer as it retails for $1,700.

If none of those things bother you, then the 52G930B could be great for you. It isn’t perfect, but my goodness, it’s the most immersed I’ve felt when playing games like Cyberpunk 2077.

That’s why I’ve been so excited about the Rivian R2. It represents an ambitious push to reach the masses with a much lower price tag. By trimming down its footprint compared to the full-size R1S into a practical midsize frame — while keeping its starting price under $60,000 — Rivian finally has a vehicle with mass-market appeal, and I’m all for it.

After spending a full week behind the wheel of the 2027 Rivian R2 Performance, I can honestly say this eagerly awaited EV lives up to the hype and is one of the best electric cars out there. Here’s why.

2027 Rivian R2 review: Specifications

2027 Rivian R2 review: Testing summary

I drove a total of 236.8 miles during my week testing the 2027 Rivian R2 Performance, averaging an efficiency of 3.24 mi/kWh. That's a massive leap over the dismal 1.85 mi/kWh I saw in the R1S, proving that the R2 makes the absolute most out of its 87.9 kWh battery pack. At the same time, it lands right in the efficiency sweet spot alongside premium rivals like the Audi Q6 e-tron and BMW iX xDrive45 — but with a far more attainable price tag.

During long-distance drives consisting mostly of highway cruising, the Rivian R2 proved surprisingly efficient, peaking at 3.68 mi/kWh. Meanwhile, short-distance trips topped out at 3.59 mi/kWh. What makes these figures so impressive is that efficiency doesn't come at the expense of performance because the R2 still delivers all the instant punch I crave without feeling choked back to hit efficiency constraints.

Home charging is another welcome step up from the R1T and R1S. Plugged into a standard 120V household outlet for Level 1 charging, it added back 29 miles of range in roughly 8.6 hours — a replenishment rate of about 3.37 mi/hr. It's also worth noting that the R2 natively uses Tesla’s NACS charging port for hassle-free access to the Supercharger network, though an included adapter still allows for seamless charging at CCS stations.

2027 Rivian R2 review: What I like

Excellent size, great utility

As much as I adore the distinct look of the R1S, driving it can feel like navigating a massive yacht through narrow canals. That’s why the Rivian R2 hits the mid-size sweet spot without sacrificing everyday practicality, proving far more maneuverable through busy city streets and tight parking garages. On the inside, it remains remarkably spacious, with generous legroom and headroom for all passengers.

Cargo flexibility is where the R2 truly outclasses its competition. It offers a deep frunk that consistently turns heads whenever I pop it open for groceries instead of using the rear hatch. Out back, you get 28.7 cubic feet of trunk space, which is deep and upright enough to swallow my JackRabbit OG2 micro e-bike upright without needing to fold it flat to fit.

Finally, all of this practical utility doesn’t change the fact that its design is instantly recognizable. Just like its larger sibling, the R2 proudly carries the rugged aesthetic that makes Rivian’s lineup so distinct — bolstered by its full-width LED light bars and signature halo headlights.

Outstanding Autonomy+ performance

If there’s one feature I can’t live without, it’s adaptive cruise control — and the 2027 Rivian R2 Performance proves it has one of the best systems out there.

Rivian’s upgraded Autonomy+ driver assistance package relies on a suite of high-resolution exterior cameras and radar sensors to keep the SUV locked into highway lanes, responding with smooth braking and acceleration as adjacent traffic merges in and out.

Beyond standard cruising, Autonomy+ truly shines in daily driving with how effortlessly it executes automatic lane changes. A simple tap of the turn signal starts the process and once the system confirms my blind spots are clear, it smoothly glides into the next lane and even turns off the blinker for me. And because the cameras feature high dynamic range (HDR), the digital feeds don't suffer from the noisy, grainy artifacts that plague other vehicles at night.

Just know that Rivian includes Autonomy+ for free as part of the Launch Package for a limited time. If you miss out or configure one of the other standard trims, unlocking the full Autonomy+ suite will require a one-time $2,500 software upgrade fee. Given how polished it is in my experience, that $2,500 buy-in is well worth the investment.

Intelligent Dynamic Matrix LED headlights

Driving at night in the Rivian R2 is an absolute breeze, thanks to its full Matrix LED headlights equipped with Dynamic Adventure Lighting and active Adaptive High Beams. Rather than relying on a standard on/off high-beam switch, this intelligent system dynamically sculpts and shapes its beam pattern in real time.

During nighttime drives, the system actively carves out dark boxes around oncoming cars and lead vehicles while keeping the surrounding roadside flooded with light. Watching the light beams dynamically shift and mask targets as traffic approaches is genuinely impressive, keeping both me and oncoming drivers safe without causing glare. Given the R2’s sub-$60K price tag, this level of advanced lighting isn’t something I expected to find — and it adds tremendous value.

Keep in mind that this tech is exclusive to the Performance and Premium trims, leaving the entry-level Standard model without an upgrade path.

Powerful audio system

I love a good sound system, and despite not boasting a brand name most people recognize, Rivian doesn’t skimp on the acoustics. The R2 is outfitted with Rivian’s Elevation Audio system, which delivers just the right amount of surround sound to make me feel like I’m sitting in the middle of a live concert — complete with deep bass that adds a firm thump to the low end. What truly elevates the listening experience is the integration of Dolby Atmos spatial audio.

Even at highway speeds, I'm never distracted by the windy noise outside because of its whisper-quiet cabin, allowing the acoustics to shine without needing excessive volume. Small details, like the animated equalizer visualizer dancing on the main display, complete the serene in-cabin experience.

Open air feel with power-lowering rear glass

Although the power-opening frunk is arguably the Rivian R2’s coolest party trick, the power-lowering rear glass is a very close second. Rather than a fixed rear windshield or a split liftgate, you can lower the rear tailgate glass completely with the press of a button. It really helps flush out stagnant air on warmer days, and I love how it delivers a genuine open-air driving experience when all the windows are rolled down.

Intuitive software and integrated dash cam

When I think about what modern software should look like in an EV, the Rivian R2 exemplifies everything I want. Rivian’s custom software interface remains one of the cleanest and most responsive infotainment systems out there, easily rivaling what I’ve experienced from Tesla, Polestar, and Volvo. From the logical menu layout across the massive central display to the fluid animations, everything feels exceptionally polished.

That thoughtful software design extends to practical utility with Drive Cam, Rivian's integrated dash cam. To get it running, all you have to do is plug a storage drive into the USB-C port inside the center console. Because it taps directly into the vehicle's built-in exterior cameras, you get continuous incident recording while keeping your windshield and dashboard completely free of messy aftermarket mounts and dangling wires.

Unique Haptic Halo Wheels controls

Although sitting behind the wheel felt immediately familiar, one major difference from the R1T and R1S is how the R2 uses a pair of steering wheel controls called the Haptic Halo Wheels. Unlike traditional direction pads, these scroll wheels control a myriad of vehicle functions — making me far less reliant on the main touchscreen display.

For example, they can be used to adjust the volume, toggle audio tracks, or fine-tune the side mirrors and steering column. Integrated haptic pulses provide the physical feedback of a mechanical button, but I wish there were a way to dial back their sensitivity because I occasionally lowered the volume by accident just by brushing my palm against them during turns.

2027 Rivian R2 review: What I don't like

No privacy with panoramic glass roof

Don’t get me wrong, I love the expansive panoramic glass roof on the Rivian R2. It floods the cabin with natural light and offers an unobstructed view of the sky, backed by a protective UV layer that keeps you from getting roasted when the sun is beating down. However, the lack of an interior shade creates an obvious privacy issue.

Unlike the electrochromic glass roof on some rival EVs that switches from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button, this panel remains permanently see-through. Leaving gear inside makes items far more visible to potential thieves, and if you plan on car camping or resting while charging, you simply don't get much cabin privacy.

Awkward cruise control access

I’ve pointed this out in my R1S and R1T reviews, but the R2 unfortunately continues to package its adaptive cruise control functions directly into the vehicle’s drive selector. Positioned to the right of the steering wheel, this dual-purpose stalk can easily cause confusion.

Personally, I strongly prefer keeping cruise control inputs completely separate from the gear selector. Combining them into a single mechanical lever adds extra complexity. While engaging Autonomy+ requires double-pressing the stalk downward, adjusting your cruising speed is handled by the steering wheel's scroll wheel. Even after days behind the wheel, there were a couple of instances where I hesitated on the lever or toggled the wrong input when trying to activate the system in traffic.

2027 Rivian R2 review: Bottom line

The 2027 Rivian R2 Performance takes nearly everything I love about the flagship R1S and condenses it into a smaller footprint without compromising on performance — and more importantly, at a far more attractive price point. It delivers the practical utility I look for in an adventure crossover, making it an ideal fit for couples, small-to-medium families, and empty nesters seeking everyday versatility and safety.

Beyond its smart packaging, solid efficiency, and intuitive software, there’s a strong incentive to jump on the Performance trim early while the Launch Package bundles Autonomy+ for free, making long-distance highway hauls virtually effortless.

Looking ahead, spending time with this build makes me even more excited for the base Standard trim arriving next year at an approachable $45,000 starting price. While it naturally scales back on premium features and dual-motor muscle, it could strike just the right balance to become the mainstream EV benchmark.

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Hisense has been impressing us for some time with bright screens and full color; the UR8 continues that trend. The company has pinned its fortunes to RGB mini-LED technology, which uses a backlight with a dense array of red, green, and blue LEDs — rather than the white or blue arrays that other TVs feed through the color filters and pixels. It's an expensive technology, reserved for its higher-end models, and a tricky one to get right. But the UR8 nails it, while also providing meaningful brightness, especially in high-dynamic-range scenes. This TV is also a first-rate gaming screen, with imperceptible lag and the ability to support the highest possible frame rates (up to 180Hz). Although the sticker price is a bit high, at about $2500, frequent sales drop it well below $2,000, making it one of the best TVs you can get if the price is right..

Hisense UR8 review: Pricing and availability

The Hisense 75UR8SG is the 75-inch model of the 2026 UR8 RGB MiniLED lineup, which includes 55-, 65-, 75-, 85- and 100-inch sizes (starting around $1,000). The 75-inch screen lists for about $2,500 (Hisense doesn't post a suggested retail price), but it's regularly discounted substantially. The UR8 sits below Hisense's flagship UR9 RGB MiniLED line and above Hisense's conventional Mini-LED U7 and U8 series.

At its street price at press time — roughly $1,600 to $1,900, depending on retailer — the 75UR8SG lands in the same bracket as the TCL QM7L and the step-up TCL QM8L (which both impressed us), as well as Hisense's own U8QG. Another option: If you don't "need" a 75-inch screen, you could downshift to the 65-inch UR8, which sells for about $500 less, depending on fluctuating online prices.

Hisense UR8 review: Design

The UR8 is a tad chunkier and busier-looking than some rival TVs. Instead of just the brand name, the lower left corner of the bezel features the words "Hisense / RGB MiniLED," while the right corner features "TUNED BY DEVIALET." They designate video and audio features we'll talk about below. That bezel has a silvery brushed-metal look, unlike the thinner, plain black we see on most TVs. They designate video and audio features we'll talk about below. That bezel has a silvery brushed-metal look, unlike the thinner, plain black we see on most TVs.

The UR8 also has a large central pedestal in the same metallic finish. You can also wall-mount the 2.3-inch thick TV using its VESA-standard 400×400mm screw-hole configuration.

Hisense UR8 review: Ports

The TV has the full assortment of connections you'd expect on a performance model. They include four HDMI 2.1 ports, all supporting 4K video at up to the panel's native 180Hz refresh rate. (Only a few very high-end gaming PCs can serve such a signal. Consoles typically output up to 120Hz.) One of the HDMI ports supports eARC, which can output Dolby Atmos audio to a capable soundbar or home theater sound system. The UR8 also has an optical digital audio out port.

The RF/antenna in port connects to an ATSC 3.0 tuner, supporting NextGen TV features such as 4K resolution and high dynamic range. (This matters only for over-the-air broadcast signals. Streaming services and cable boxes generally also support these features, independent of the tuner.)

There are also two USB ports, and for good measure, the generally useless LAN port. (Of course, the TV has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth or network connections.) At press time, Best Buy's listing stated that a, "Multi-Functional USB-C Display Port supports 4K display output, file transfer, and up to 10W charging with a single cable." There is no such port on this TV.

Hisense UR8 review: Performance

I lost track of time while reviewing this TV, as I couldn't pull myself away. The UR8 aced dark scenes, including Chapter 2 of the "Top Gun: Maverick" Blue-ray, in which our hero tries to push an experimental jet to 10X the speed of sound. It's a gorgeous interplay of light and dark: the dim control room and cockpit pierced by bright screens and controls, the plane taking off at sunset then climbing into a darkening sky.

This TV features Hisense's "Ultra-Low Reflection Obsidian Panel,” which it claims renders dark scenes “up to 3x darker,” as well as cutting reflections. I don't know if that's what did the trick, but this TV does excel in dark content and keeps reflections to a minimum.

The UR8 also nailed the challenging Chapter 10 of "Dune," Part 1. Duke Leto awakens in a dark bedroom, with the set's HDR capability providing plenty of light on his face. (The Theater and Filmmaker picture modes look about the same.) Later on, as the evil Harkonnen ships descended by night, faces of the soldiers stayed pretty discernable in the glow of the fires. The orange and blue explosions are overwhelming — in a satisfying way.

I did noodle with the settings to get the best look, especially in "Dune." (Local dimming: Low; Peak Brightness: Medium; Brightness: 90; Contrast: 70, Black Level: +3; Dark Detail: On.) My experiments illustrate the great level of control the TV provides to tweak performance to your taste, or to what you are currently watching.

This TV also made quick work of Netflix's "Brigerton" (Season 1, Ep 3, 17:00-19:00). The Dolby Vision Standard setting was perfect for a bright room and passable in a dark one. (Dolby Vision Pro Reference is ideal for the latter.) It captured the rich riot of dresses in outdoor and indoor scenes, without overdoing their subtle hues. The wide variety of skin tones displayed well, a woman's face that tends to look a bit ashy on lesser screens. The UR8 even preserved detail in the Prussian Duke's blond hair under bright sunlight.

For material that doesn't use Dolby Vision to specify picture modes, the TV defaults to Energy Saver. It looked quite good in a bright room in tests with the Bruno Mars "Risk It All" YouTube video and a collection of still photos (many shot for our camera tests over the years). Images sometimes appear a tad warm in Energy Saver, which many people may like. If it's too much for some content, Standard mode provides a slightly cooler appearance. For darker content, Movie Maker mode had a fine appearance. If you want a bit more light, Theater Day and Theater Night are attractive options — and to my eye, looked nearly identical to each other.

Hisense UR8 review: Test results*