The SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini might just be perfect for you, if you're looking for a compact gaming mouse that makes no sacrifices when it comes to performance.

The SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini has everything a competitive gamer could ever want, be that true 8K polling, programmable buttons, 42K DPI sensitivity… you name it. It even brings ‘infinite power supply’ tech to the table, meaning you’ll have next to no downtime when duking it out against your opponents.

However, this mouse doesn’t come cheap. At $179.99 / £169.99 (about AU$250), it sits firmly in the premium category, meaning it has to go above and beyond to prove itself against the best mice on the market. But is it truly worth that steep asking price? Here’s my view after hours of intensive testing.

Let’s start things off by looking at some of the features that the Rival Pro Mini has to offer. I may have piqued your curiosity when I mentioned that ‘infinite’ power supply just now — but what exactly does that mean?

Well, the Rival Pro Mini and its accompanying Ultra Wideband base station come with hot-swappable batteries. One will slot into your mouse while gaming, and the other will sit in the base station and charge up in the meantime. When your mouse eventually runs dry — around 60 hours with 1K polling or 16 hours with 8K — you can simply pop the battery out of your base station, slot it into your mouse, and continue playing in an instant.

This is a truly brilliant feature, and means you’ll never run out of juice when competing in a tournament or playing a few casual rounds. Even though the Rival Pro Mini mouse has no USB slot for wired use, this tech means that you’ll never truly need it.

But there are so many more features to discover on the Rival Pro Mini. First up, you’re getting true 8K polling for ultra-smooth performance. SuperSync is also here, which enables you to independently set tracking and clicking polling rates. There’s also aim tools, 42K DPI sensitivity, and six fully programmable buttons on board.

You can customize the way that buttons function in the GG app or web platform, which also lets you adjust sensitivity, polling rate, and power management among other things. I found both the downloadable and web app to be incredibly easy to use and navigate, with no shortage of options at my disposal.

But just how does the Rival Pro Mini feel to use in practice? Just as good as you’d hope. When playing Cyberpunk 2077 on the LG UltraGear 25G590B 1000Hz gaming monitor, I was blown away by the all-round quality on offer. When aiming, movement felt supremely stable and accurate, and even basic functions like turning the camera was super smooth and highly responsive.

In addition, the optical switches had a great feel to them, and allowed me to blast down my foes with unrivaled speed and precision. Like typical optical switches, these aren’t the quietest around, but their satisfying click felt never seemed obnoxiously loud or distracting to me. The mechanical scroll wheel also impressed me with its control and tactility, and its ridges provided ample grip when gaming or simply performing everyday tasks at work.

This mouse gets it right when it comes to ergonomics too, although it is a more compact model, so if you have larger hands I’d recommend picking up the full-sized Rival Pro instead. But the mouse’s molded exterior and lightweight feel fantastic, and I was able to use the Rival Pro Mini for hours on end without any cramp or fatigue. This is an ergonomic model for right-handed gamers, though, so if you’re a lefty, I’d suggest checking out the symmetrical SteelSeries Sensei Pro Mini.

The Rival Pro Mini plays it fairly safe looks-wise, but it does have a sleek aesthetic, and the orange scroll wheel gives it a bit of pop. It also has strong build quality, and I liked its lightly textured matte finish, which adds a premium touch. One thing I will say, however, is that this finish does turn the Rival Pro Mini into a bit of a fingerprint magnet, so it’ll need a good wipe down every now and then if you want to keep it looking pristine. Still, fingerprints will likely seem less visible if you opt for the white colorway over the black variant I tested.

There’s very little holding this mouse back, though one thing could prove to put some gamers off. And you guessed it: it’s that asking price.

While I think that the Rival Pro Mini offers solid value thanks to its exemplary functionality, at $179.99 / £169.99 (about AU$250), it’s unquestionably expensive. It’s also priced identically to the larger, full-size model — no big deal given that they share the same features, but it would’ve been nice to get this one at an ever-so-slightly lower price.

When all’s said and done, though, I had an overwhelmingly positive experience with the SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini. Its S-tier performance, clever hot-swappable batteries, and customizable buttons make it a great option, even for the most competitive gamers out there, and if you can stomach the price, it’s well worth picking up.

SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini review: price & release date

• Priced at $179.99 / £169.99 (about AU$250)
• Released in October 2026

The SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini first arrived in October 2026 alongside three other models, namely the larger SteelSeries Rival Pro, as well as the SteelSeries Sensei Pro and Sensei Pro Mini. The Rival Pro Mini has the same list price as the full-sized model, coming in at $179.99 / £169.99 (about AU$250). As you’d expect, that places it in the premium category with competition including the Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike and the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro — both of which you can learn more about in the ‘also consider’ section.

SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini review: specs

Should I buy the SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini review: also consider

How I tested the SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini

• Tested intensively for hours
• Used for gaming and general productivity
• Made use of all features in the GG web app

I tested the SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini across the course of a few days, and spent hours using it for both gaming and general productivity purposes.

For playing games, I made sure to pair the Rival Pro Mini with the LG UltraGear 25G590B 1000Hz gaming monitor, which helped me get the best performance possible out of the mouse. I also made sure to try the mouse with a variety of games, though I mainly used the PC version of Cyberpunk 2077 to test its capabilities. What’s more, I made sure to trial all of the mouse’s features and customization options in the GG web app.

More generally, I’ve spent years testing gadgets here at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve reviewed everything from premium wireless headphones to mechanical keyboards, and have tested a number of mice, including the Logitech Mobi Fold.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: October 2026

NordVPN review scores

NordVPN price plans

• Prices start from $3.49/month with NordVPN Basic.
• Complete offers the best value balance of features and price.
• Auto-renewal fees are eye-watering – remember to opt out.

NordVPN has changed some of its plans and their respective prices in recent months. It’s removed the Plus tier and now offers three tiers instead of four: Basic, Complete, and Prime.

While all countries offer Basic and Complete plans, top-tier plans vary by country: in the US it's Prime, in Canada it’s Ultra, and in the UK it’s known as Ultimate Max. For this review, we're primarily focusing on the US plans.

Still, one constant is that you can secure up to 10 devices simultaneously – matching ExpressVPN and Proton VPN.

NordVPN’s current pricing puts it at the premium end. It’s particularly expensive when comparing its one-month subscription plans. While its entry-level Basic plan is $14.99/month – the same as ExpressVPN – the latter’s mid- and top-tier equivalents are significantly cheaper.

There’s little reason to choose NordVPN if you want the flexibility of a short-term plan. Only Surfshark’s base tier is more expensive at $18.95.

You’re better off considering Proton Plus at $9.99/month, or PIA for $11.99/month. Let’s not forget Mullvad either, which, at €5 a month (roughly $5.60 at the time of writing), is a steal - three months of Mullvad is almost the same price as one month of NordVPN Basic.

Where NordVPN gets more competitive is with its one- and two-year subscriptions. This is where the steep discounts kick in, though you’ll need to pay the full amount upfront.

One-year prices of $4.99, $5.99, and $8.99/month are on par with ExpressVPN and Proton VPN. However, Surfshark has the edge, offering plans from just $2.99 a month.

Two-year plans deliver the biggest savings. NordVPN’s prices of $3.49, $3.99, and $6.99/month put it below those of ExpressVPN. Proton VPN is similarly priced, but Surfshark is cheaper, starting at $2.19/month.

When you total the yearly cost, the numbers won’t add up – that’s because you’re getting three extra months included too. Also note that the prices quoted are pre-tax, and the final bill will increase based on your country’s sales tax.

There isn’t too much of a gulf between the total price you pay for NordVPN’s Basic and Complete plans, at least not initially. Upgrading from Basic to Complete costs just $1.00/month more on the annual plan, or $0.50/month more over two years.

This represents solid value considering it adds Nord’s next-gen antivirus, call, email, and message protection, a password manager, and cloud storage.

The bigger price jump is between Complete and Prime – $45 upfront for the annual term, or $81 for the two-year plan, for advanced identity protection via Coveron. That’s an extra $3/month either way, though it won’t be worth it if you’re outside the US since Coveron’s identity protection is US-only.

We then have to consider NordVPN’s auto-renewal prices which are significant to say the least. Take NordVPN’s Complete plan over two years, for example. That’s just $107.73 for the initial two-year term, but it rises a staggering 358% on renewal to $438.86.

You’re not just paying more later, either – you’re also getting fewer months. The initial term throws in three extra months so your lump sum stretches over 27 months; the renewal charges full price for just 24.

If anything, this is a reminder to make sure you turn off auto-renewal upon signup to prevent any nasty surprises further down the line. And if you want the best NordVPN deal, you’ll likely find the deepest discounts during major sales events like Black Friday.

Price and plans score: 8/10

Features: What can NordVPN do?

• NordVPN Basic and Plus plans are the same across the world.
• Full NordProtect cyber-insurance only available in the US.
• NordPass password manager included with all plans apart from Basic.

NordVPN Basic

The Basic plan from NordVPN does exactly what the name suggests. The main feature is the VPN product itself and not too much more. It's the same full VPN software as available on all NordVPN plans.

NordVPN Plus

The Plus plan is my favorite NordVPN plan. Available in any region, it strikes a good balance between value and power by incorporating what I think are NordVPN’s most essential tools and features.

Most notably, you’re given Next Gen Antivirus. This adds malware protection via file scanning, ad-blocking capabilities (including tracker blocking), and measures to protect against phishing and other malicious websites.

Unfortunately, these improvements can only be seen on NordVPN’s desktop apps, which is great if your home PC is the device you’re most concerned about, but leaves you short-changed across all of your mobile devices.

This is especially unfortunate since Surfshark, for example, offers its complete protective toolkit for mobile too – including antivirus on Android, which NordVPN doesn’t have whatsoever.

Something included across almost any device, however, is NordPass. We rate NordPass as the best password manager available right now, so getting it thrown in alongside your VPN package is some serious value.

It’s compatible across all major desktop operating systems, as well as popular web browsers such as Chrome, Brave, Firefox, Edge, and Opera, and of course, iOS and Android mobile devices.

NordPass encrypts your passwords using XChaCha20 but also secures password generation, passkey support, and easy synchronization of data between platforms, so you’re never stuck without the details you need.

What's more, you can use NordPass' data breach scanning – which is traditionally kept for premium NordPass plans. That said, we found it only worked through the NordVPN app, which could be confusing if you're using it alongside NordPass.

NordVPN Complete

Entering the upper echelons of NordVPN is where things get complex since, as mentioned, no one country gets the same premium plans. For the moment, we’ll stick with what the US gets.

NordVPN Complete adds two features to the spread offered by a Plus Plan: firstly, 1 TB of end-to-end encrypted storage. For an extra dollar a month, that may initially seem to be a great deal, but first, consider whether the added storage is actually going to be used.

If, like me, you’ve already pushed the limits of your free storage allowances on systems like Google and iCloud, then maybe it will, but will the added storage outweigh the convenience these services offer? The value for money for that 1 TB of storage is good, but, if you won’t use it, why pay more?

In terms of the value, it’s definitely worth mentioning that among the top VPN providers, only Proton VPN currently offers encrypted storage with any of its packages.

Though to get 500 GB of storage with Proton, you pay $3 per month more than you’d pay for a NordVPN Complete plan. And that makes NordVPN Complete comparatively better value if storage with your VPN is a priority.

Next up is Scam Call Protection. This is NordVPN's latest feature addition, offering potential scam detection, caller identification, and caller categorization (such as telemarketers). For now, this is an Android-only feature, NordVPN has confirmed it's planning to bring the functionality to iPhone users soon.

NordVPN Prime

Prime only brings one new thing to the party, though this time it’s a biggie – NordProtect.

NordProtect is an all-in-one package aimed at protecting your identity at all costs. Firstly, Dark Web Monitoring searches for your social security number, phone number, and email on the dark web 24/7, with immediate notifications should anything be found.

Your credit card also gets similar protection. 1-Bureau credit monitoring notifies you about changes, including inquiries into your credit file, new accounts, and unauthorized use. You can also make use of VantageScore credit scoring, should you wish for insights into how to improve your credit.

TransUnion, the company behind VantageScore, also provides credit freeze assistance as part of NordProtect. This not only helps to prevent credit card fraud, but also ensures your credit score isn’t impacted if you fall victim to it.

If that wasn’t enough, you’re also provided with identity theft insurance up to $1M in coverage, and cyber extortion insurance up to $100K in coverage.

All this protection does come at a hefty cost, however, as Prime Plans start from $6.99 per month on the two-year plan.

That takes your total payment to $50 more than Complete, and your cost on renewal rises to around $340 before tax. So, make sure you really need NordProtect before signing up.

A surprising omission from almost all NordVPN plans worldwide is Incogni. Developed by Nord Security, NordVPN and Surfshark’s parent company, Incogni is a data removal tool that removes your personal information from company databases and people search sites, helping reduce the risk of scams, fraud, and identity theft.

Only Canada’s Ultra plan includes Incogni. Though, much like the US Prime plan, you’ll be forking out a fair sum for it, with prices starting from CA$8.19 per month.

If there’s one constant piece of advice we can give about picking a NordVPN plan, it’s this: know what you want. They all offer value, but only if you actually use the features you're buying.

Score: 10/10

Server network and locations

• Most countries covered of any tested VPN (150).
• Most locations overall with 225
• Approximately 8,000-strong network of RAM-only servers.

NordVPN offers the largest selection of server locations of any VPN we test. Nobody beats NordVPN's 225 locations, while only Proton VPN's 149 countries come close to NordVPN's chart-topping 150

The spread of these locations also earns it top marks. 77 locations in North America is the most of any VPN, 54 locations in Europe are only usurped by NymVPN, ExpressVPN, and Proton VPN, and 30 locations in Africa are only topped by Proton’s 33.

NordVPN also remains top for locations in South America and Oceania, while its 43 Asian locations keep it second to Proton VPN's 51.

The provider offers around 79 virtual locations in regions where physical servers are not possible. This is perfect if you're travelling to regions with tight internet restrictions and require a stable, secure connection. However, you can't see in-app which locations are virtual when on Windows, which is unfortunate.

Much like other top VPNs, NordVPN’s network runs on RAM-only servers. This is now reasonably standard practice, since RAM-only servers not only ensure no user data is accidentally stored (since they wipe on reboot) but they are also more efficient in terms of speed, latency, and power consumption.

This ensures the servers are capable of handling NordVPN’s various server uses, be that P2P, multi-hop, or Meshnet, without noticeable drops in performance.

Handily, NordVPN also recently made all of its servers P2P compatible. That means you no longer need to select a dedicated P2P server from the dedicated 'Speciality Servers' list, instead, you can use whichever NordVPN server works best for your needs.

Earlier in 2025, NordVPN threw a challenge to the VPN industry, claiming that the exact number of servers across its locations isn’t important. This means we no longer have a precise figure to use to compare NordVPN with its competitors.

Surfshark, a VPN also owned by Nord Security, uses around 4,500 servers currently, while Proton VPN uses over 15,000. Our latest research suggests NordVPN's figure is somewhere over 8,000 servers, which is above average, but by no means the most.

Realistically, however, we rarely see VPN servers reach absolute maximum load, and, frankly, with the spread of locations NordVPN has, you'll never be short of another place to connect to. There's really nothing we can complain about here, loads of locations, RAM-only servers, top marks!

Score: 10/10

Privacy

• Strong, privacy-focused protocol choices – NordLynx and NordWhisper
• Double VPN and Onion over VPN boost privacy and anonymity
• Tapjacking protection is a handy bonus for Android users

NordVPN’s privacy is founded on its no-logs policy. Not only is the policy in depth, but it has been audited six times, most recently by Deloitte at the end of 2025.

That depth doesn't make for good casual reading but it does successfully cover every important topic, and in enough detail that we’re comfortable with saying that nothing is amiss.

The closest NordVPN comes to recording data is its enforcement of the 10 device limit. As it explains, username and timestamp information is “used to limit the amount of concurrent active user sessions and is automatically deleted within 15 minutes after a session is terminated”.

In-app, NordVPN’s primary privacy focal point is its NordWhisper protocol.

Introduced in January 2025, the protocol is based on the Tor Project’s WebTunnel technology. It wraps your encrypted VPN traffic in a standard HTTPS connection to hide it from detection. This disguises it as standard web traffic and makes NordWhisper especially effective in regions of high internet censorship and places where people found to be using VPNs can be punished.

For everyday connectivity, you’re not short of options either. OpenVPN is available in both its TCP and UDP forms. The former provides a more stable, reliable connection for emailing, browsing, and the like. The latter is more focused towards speed for gaming, streaming, or similar.

Alongside this, you also get NordVPN’s other proprietary protocol, NordLynx. NordLynx uses a ‘double NAT’ system to remove privacy vulnerabilities you’d be at risk of by using traditional WireGuard.

By combining double NAT technology and WireGuard, NordLynx allows you to experience the speed benefits of WireGuard, without any identifiable information being stored, even temporarily, in a server.

NordLynx is also NordVPN’s first post-quantum encrypted VPN protocol. It ensures that your data remains secure even once quantum computing arrives with its enormous boost in code-cracking, number crunching power.

NordVPN has chosen to use ML-KEM, an approved quantum-resistant cryptographic standard, with NordLynx.

NordVPN’s use of RAM-only servers helps too. Since RAM-only servers don’t store any data permanently. That means you’re never at risk of being personally identifiable should Nord’s servers be seized, since there’s no data to be found.

Connecting to NordVPN offers several privacy-centric options. Double VPN works as the name suggests, routing your connection through two VPN servers rather than one. In other words, your data is encrypted twice.

That makes your connection twice as difficult for cybercriminals to crack, your IP address is further protected (since the second server doesn’t have any information about it), and your ISP knows nothing about where you end up on the web.

This makes Double VPN perfect for those needing greater protection in regions where governments attempt to intercept messages or surveil online activities.

NordVPN currently offers 12 Double VPN locations, including 2 locations in the US and Canada. This is far fewer than the likes of Proton VPN and Surfshark.

Proton VPN offers 64 locations that utilize its Secure Core technology, while Surfshark’s Nexus network allows you to make any two server connections you want from its entire server network.

Another option for concealing your VPN connection is NordVPN’s obfuscated servers. These servers now use NordVPN's NordWhisper protocol in addition to extra protections to ensure your VPN connection isn't detected. The shift to using NordWhisper also means you can now connect to obfuscated servers in almost all of NordVPN's locations.

If you’re looking to access the darker corners of the web securely, NordVPN also offers Onion Over VPN connections. Available via its Amsterdam, Stockholm, and Zurich server locations. This connection routes your traffic through both a VPN server and the Tor Network.

As a result, since the Tor Network’s servers are volunteer-operated, you are secured by a VPN before entering it in case a bad actor has planted servers intent on tracking your online activity and stealing your data. This added security when using Tor is something only offered by a few top VPNs, the most notable of which are NordVPN and Proton VPN.

Depending on the platform you’re using, NordVPN also offers several handy privacy settings you can use to further affirm your privacy. Android users get arguably the biggest spread. Notably, NordVPN’s ‘Tapjacking protection’ is something you won’t find on any other NordVPN platform, or offered by any other VPN for that matter.

The system aims to protect users against malicious overlays and is as simple to use as toggling on and forgetting about it. Having had the protection turned on for a matter of months now, I can comfortably say I've never found an instance where an overlay has slipped through the net, and I've never noticed it adding unwanted strain to my phone’s performance either.

Score: 10/10

Security

• Strong encryption and post-quantum encryption standards already live.
• Next Gen Antivirus performs well against malware and phishing sites
• Lots of options for granular security customization.

NordVPN’s security is top-notch.

We tested its claims of strong AES-256-GCM encryption on OpenVPN using a 4096-bit Diffie-Hellman key, and we saw exactly that. Our tests registered AES-256-GCM-SHA384 encryption with 4096-bit certification using TLS 1.3. This makes NordVPN’s OpenVPN protocol as secure as possible, ensuring you needn’t worry about your connection, no matter your location.

On NordLynx, you’re similarly protected. Since the protocol is based on WireGuard, it uses the same ChaCha20 encryption you’d expect to see, using Poly1305 for authentication. This means you’re using the latest and greatest encryption capabilities across both of NordVPN’s primary protocols.

Post-quantum encryption has also already reached NordVPN. While providers such as Proton VPN and Surfshark are yet to implement it or are in the early stages, NordLynx is already post-quantum ready, with the future-proof encryption method available at the switch of a toggle.

While that might seem superfluous right now, it's a key differentiator given the existence of harvest now, decrypt later attacks.

OpenVPN and NordWhisper aren’t post-quantum-equipped quite yet. It's worth knowing that if you turn on post-quantum encryption, it'll turn itself off if your automatically selected protocol isn't NordLynx. This can be fixed in a matter of clicks by turning automatic protocol choosing off, instead selecting to always use NordLynx

You also won’t be post-quantum-protected when using Meshnet or NordVPN’s obfuscated server connection; the same goes if you add a dedicated IP to your plan.

If you’ve turned on post-quantum encryption before using Meshnet, beware that this automatically turns Meshnet off, making you choose between your secure local network and a super-secure VPN connection.

NordVPN also, of course, a more standard suite or security options in place.

Auto-connect jumps straight to mind, since you can fully customize exactly when and how NordVPN auto-connects you to a server.

It covers both the server type, and the instances in which it connects. This includes options for Double VPN, Obfuscated, Onion-Over, and P2P servers, and connecting when on Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or mobile networks. You can even create lists of trusted networks that are excluded from auto-connect parameters.

I use this kind of customization to make sure that I'm always protected and I particularly like it to my ensure my connection on-the-go.

If you want to continue the granular levels of security tailoring, you can also control the DNS server address you connect to, your visibility over LAN, and, on desktops, whether your computer can still be accessed remotely when connected. It’s worth noting, with LAN invisibility especially, toggling these settings can impact performance.

For example, with LAN invisibility turned on, iPhone, iPad, and Mac users won’t be able to use AirDrop. You may also experience significant performance impacts due to how Apple integrates the relevant API parameters in its hardware. If you want to know more, NordVPN released a complete breakdown you can read here.

Something that continues to impress is NordVPN’s kill switch. It's often the downfall of less secure VPN providers. In our security testing, a kill switch is key to ensuring your connection is never inadvertently exposed to bad actors, governments and the like.

We tried to break NordVPN’s kill switch in various ways, including uninstalling NordVPN’s network adapter driver while connected. Not only did NordVPN disconnect us successfully without any IP leaks, but it recognized the issue, reinstalled and activated the driver, and reconnected us, all within seconds.

If we could wish for one thing to improve NordVPN’s kill switch, it would be moving away from the native kill switch system on Android devices.

Across all platforms aside from Android, you can turn the kill switch on and off as you please. On Android, the native kill switch forces you to use the VPN at all times and disconnects you completely from the internet should the connection fail.

While this is super-secure, it’s frustrating should you only require a VPN connection in certain situations.

Something we’ll cover in more depth in the compatibility section is NordVPN’s feature parity across platforms. Split tunneling, another of NordVPN’s security capabilities, is a notable victim of some of NordVPN’s variations by device.

Windows users can create either a list of apps that must use the VPN or a list of apps that must not. Android users can only choose which apps won't use the VPN, and Mac and iOS users don’t get split tunneling at all – though this is reasonably common among VPNs owing to the security systems in place on Apple devices.

Our testing showed no reason to doubt NordVPN’s split tunneling capabilities, though it would be great to see its Android apps gain the same capabilities as Windows. Lacking the choice in this way puts NordVPN behind the likes of Surfshark and Proton VPN, which offer both choices on their Android apps.

We’ve mentioned NordWhisper already, but NordVPN also offers traditional obfuscated servers too. This is helpful since, at the time of writing, NordWhisper isn’t quite available on all platforms as yet – though Windows, Android, Linux, Mac, and iOS all have it already.

These servers, however, have one big problem: accessibility. Not only does NordVPN only offer obfuscated servers in 16 of its 127 countries, but also, depending on the app and protocol you’re using, you may not even see the option. NordVPN’s obfuscated servers only work over OpenVPN, which is understandable given the added security it brings, even if at a huge speed deficit, but if you’ve not manually selected OpenVPN as your protocol choice, your app may not show them.

Our testing on Apple devices showed the option simply doesn’t exist in the app unless you go into your settings and change to OpenVPN.

Windows and Android users don’t face the same issue. The option appears in the ‘Specialty Server’ section, no matter the protocol chosen, which makes much more sense and begs the question of why it isn’t this simple across all devices.

What’s more, the lack of locations means those in regions distant from a server will face even greater performance drops than you’d expect anyway from obfuscated servers.

Another feature lacking in locations is NordVPN’s Onion-over VPN capabilities, though in this instance, this is less of a problem since many providers don’t offer this at all. Onion-over VPN allows you to connect to sites on the Tor Network while secured by a VPN connection, something only offered by Proton VPN among other top VPN providers. In NordVPN’s case, it offers three countries to connect to: the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland.

By comparison, Proton’s six locations include Sweden and Switzerland, but the additions of France, Germany, Hong Kong, and the US give the VPN provider not only wider EU coverage but broader coverage worldwide.

As with any VPN connection, reduced locations often mean worse speeds, either due to distance to the server or the load the server is under, and NordVPN’s Onion-over VPN servers prove no different.

Onion-over VPN connections (otherwise called Tor-over VPN) always require greater processing. That makes a dent on performance straight away, no matter the location, but the 741 Kbps download speeds we saw in testing demonstrate just how limited you can be, yes, that was Kbps by the way!

Finally, Double VPN. This is NordVPN’s version of a multi-hop connection, though its simpler than some competitor alternatives. This is because NordVPN doesn’t allow you to choose your entry and exit server, unlike Surfshark.

Even Proton, whose Secure Core Technology limits the choices you have, gives users a few choices. We won’t directly compare NordVPN and Surfshark here, since Surfshark’s Nexus technology gives users complete freedom to multi-hop between every Surfshark server, something no other VPN provider offers.

Outside of the VPN itself, NordVPN also offers Next Gen Antivirus. This works at a deeper level, protecting your desktop devices from phishing and malicious URLs, as well as ads and trackers. It can even scan for and block malicious downloads.

While this is nice, there are several downsides. Firstly, Next Gen Antivirus, oddly, isn’t actually an antivirus. It can’t scan files already on your computer for malware, nor can it remove them. Secondly, the full Next Gen Antivirus suite is only available on desktop devices, while mobile users only get Threat Protection.

That limitation puts NordVPN behind Surfshark here. Surfshark includes a full antivirus with its Surfshark One plan – and it works on mobile as well as desktop.

That said, you can hardly fault Next Gen Antivirus’s results.

We tested Next Gen Antivirus against 50 brand-new malware-hosting and phishing pages, and it was the top-performing software of anything similar we tested among VPNs. It blocked 92% of phishing sites and 80% of malware sites.

By comparison, Surfshark Antivirus achieved only 48% and 28% in these same tests, putting a stretch ahead.

While these results do impress when compared to VPNs, a dedicated antivirus software performs far better than even Next Gen Antivirus.

The likes of Avast, Norton, and ESET achieved equal or greater success in phishing protection tests carried out by AV-Comparatives in 2025. This is why we normally recommend picking up one of the best antivirus software in addition to your VPN of choice.

It's also worth mentioning that Next Gen Antivirus's remit is constantly expanding. In recent months, Email Protection, hijacked session and double extension alerts, search result safety indicators, and crypto wallet checks have all joined the mix. While many of these are niche solutions, they're a handy addition should they fit your everyday needs.

Score: 10/10

Speed

• NordVPN is still among the fastest VPNs using WireGuard.
• Minimal latency and jitter make the best VPN for gamers.
• Struggled over OpenVPN in latest speed tests.

We recently completed our second round of testing using a 10 Gbps line with an increased number of data points.

This time around, NordVPN's NordLynx speeds saw a slight improvement, recording 1427 Mbps, having previously achieved 1249 Mbps. Despite this, NordVPN remains slower than Proton VPN and Surfshark using WireGuard and ExpressVPN’s Lightway Turbo protocol.

Take ExpressVPN’s results with a pinch of salt, though, since Lightway Turbo is only available on its Windows app, and ExpressVPN has warned that it might cause issues with some websites and games.

None of that is true for NordLynx and, although Lightway Turbo’s 1479 Mbps speeds put it a margin ahead of NordLynx on paper, most users won’t see this difference in day-to-day usage.

Instead, you’ll likely benefit more from the added compatibility of NordLynx.

NordLynx’s results do, however, put it among the best VPN protocols for gamers, since in our testing, it recorded only 7 ms latency and 2.2 ms jitter when connected to our nearest server.

High latency results in laggy gameplay, and high jitter can lead to unstable gameplay and stuttering, so recording latency and jitter at low result is key when choosing the best gaming VPN.

Connecting to US NordVPN servers from the UK proved less effective, though still improved over last time around. NordLynx achieved 939 Mbps connecting over the pond this time, having only managed 688 Mbps last time.

This is still slower than many other VPNs over the same distance. That said, you'll rarely struggle with these results no matter what streaming or gaming you test it with.

NordVPN did still hold up well for latency and jitter over long distance, proving, again, that it's a great gaming VPN choice – perfect, in this instance for avoiding unwanted lag while connecting to servers abroad for gaming, streaming, or other high-intensity tasks.

Unfortunately, NordVPN's OpenVPN performance has yet again dropped off. Previously registering 688 Mbps, it now only achieved 633 Mbps, much lower than several other top VPNs.

Score: 9/10

Unblocking streaming services

• Only struggled with two streaming services we tested.
• Never encountered unwanted CAPTCHAs, or dropouts.
• All servers are streaming optimized.

NordVPN was the clear winner in our latest unblocking testing. It struggled with the fewest streaming services of every VPN we've tested.

We test Netflix, across the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Japan, Prime Video, Disney+, and YouTube. We also tested NordVPN at unblocking local free streaming services, including BBC iPlayer, ITVX, C4, 9Now, and 10Play.

Only YouTube US and Prime Video Australia proved inaccessible. Aside from these, we never encountered VPN detection, unwanted CAPTCHAs during login, or any dreadful lag, buffering or connection dropouts to ruin our streaming experience. This was the same whether we were attempting to watch something live or catching up on demand.

So, while there are now some small blips on NordVPN's record, most won't be heavily impacted.

Proton VPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark all equally struggled with US YouTube. Proton also struggled with Disney+ USA alongside ITVX and Channel 4 in the UK. Surfshark suffered a spread of issues across platforms worldwide, a big change from a near-flawless performance last time out.

What was even more impressive was the lack of impact of NordVPN's Threat Protection Pro ad-blocker. Normally, we find that the ad-blockers of VPN services disrupted the streaming capabilities of local, ad-based services like Channel 4 and ITV, but we saw no such issues with NordVPN. The same cannot be said of Proton VPM and Surfshark.

NordVPN never found itself unable to load services due to their advert reel requirements, even when connecting to ad-based services abroad, such as Peacock. Top marks.

Something certainly playing into this success is that all of NordVPN’s servers are streaming-optimized. This move not only means you never have to scroll through to find those with the correct optimization, but it also means you’re never short of another server to connect to if one struggles to connect to the streaming service you’re trying to access.

Score: 10/10

P2P and torrenting

• Most servers are P2P optimized.
• Lots of guides to help beginners get started.
• No port forwarding support.

Nothing summarizes NordVPN’s torrenting capabilities more than the fact that all but four of its countries offer P2P-optimized servers – sorry to those looking to torrent connected to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, and North Macedonia!

What’s more, finding the server you need is super simple. NordVPN’s P2P-optimized locations can be found in its Specialized Servers section on any app, and you even get the option to quickly connect to the fastest server if you’re not after somewhere specific and would rather sheer performance.

Thankfully, NordVPN’s speed capabilities mean your torrenting experience is likely to be more limited by your peers than your VPN. What’s more, its security measures meant we never found ourselves receiving warnings from our ISP when testing its capabilities with uTorrent, no matter if we were using NordLynx or OpenVPN.

As is standard among top VPNs, NordVPN doesn’t support port forwarding due to the security risks posed. A full blog article outlines their reasons for this, which you can read here.

If you’re new to torrenting, it’s also great to see NordVPN has a whole variety of guides for setting up proxies with popular torrenting services, including BitTorrent, uTorrent, and qBittorrent. They’re easy to digest and come with all the information you need packed in, too.

Score: 4/5

Compatibility

• Apps for every platform – including Linux GUI and routers.
• A similar look across almost every app.
• No Threat Protection Pro on mobile.

NordVPN has apps across every platform out there, including a GUI Linux VPN and router VPN capabilities, alongside the expected web extensions and smart TV apps.

The majority of NordVPN's apps share a similar feel and consequently enough regularity that the features you can access will be found where you’d expect them. Smart TVs are, as expected with most VPNs, the platform with the most differentiation in layout, but that change brings added simplicity and makes it easy to use.

I mentioned already that NordVPN isn’t stellar in terms of its feature-parity across platforms, but for the most part, NordVPN’s compatibility is nothing to be concerned about.

As you can see, in the table below, like most VPNs, Windows gets everything, and iOS users get the least. In amongst this, though, are several key differentiators.

NordVPN users on iOS and Mac don't get to enjoy split tunneling. In the past, that proved difficult for all VPN providers on iOS and Mac due to Apple's security infrastructure, but now the likes of IPVanish and Surfshark are beginning to roll the feature out. NordVPN users have no such luck.

It’s not often that we see Android users facing big feature shortfalls as well but, most frustrating, of the absentees is that there's no Threat Protection Pro on any mobile devices. That's a real loss.

Threat Protection Pro is the best-performing VPN security add-on we've tested, and is a notable step up from the results we saw basic Threat Protection, which mobile users do get.

By comparison, Surfshark's full antivirus capabilities are available across any platform, including the regular file scanning feature – something not offered by NordVPN.

Score: 4/5

Usability

• Simple set up – but ensure you disable auto-renewals.
• Similar user experience across most apps.
• Reducing the use of the map has improved functionality hugely.

Set up

Setting up NordVPN is simple enough. Once you’re signed up, you can download the VPN directly from the website (unless you’ve signed up within the iOS or Android app, in which case you’ll have already installed it to do so). From there, you’re almost on your own.

Loading the installer gives you the option of also adding NordPass and the NordVPN browser extension to your device. Both are great tools and super handy to have – and then you’re straight into the NordVPN app.

Something we recommend doing as soon as you’re in is stopping your auto-renewals. This will stop you getting a nasty and very expensive surprise when your initial NordVPN agreement runs out.

Stop auto-renewal by heading to the Account section of your Settings menu. It takes almost no time at all.

User Experience

NordVPN is as close to identical as it can be across the majority of its apps nowadays, which is only a good thing for sure.

The only times you’ll see anything especially different is on smart TVs, as is expected with most VPNs, and streaming devices such as Fire TV Sticks.

Older Fire TV Sticks, especially, will be in for a shock, as, depending on your device generation, you can be hit with a much older-appearing UI than anywhere else.

Even NordVPN's Chrome extension shares a similar feel. While you can't use it to access VPN protocols or specialist servers, you're never left wondering where anything is.

What's more, you're still equipped with everything from the kill switch, auto-connect, and split tunneling, to otherwise hidden features such as location spoofing, which is only available via the web extension and sets your browser to the location and time zone of your VPN server. It's by no means perfect, but you have all the essential tools in a familiar package.

One of NordVPN’s quirky inclusions in its desktop and mobile apps used to be an interactive map interface you could use to select your server. While this did look rather pleasing, we’ve never found ourselves using it in all the years it’s been there, nor did it ever do anything to make the connection process quicker. So, we’re glad to see it getting phased out on desktop devices in favor of more screen space for features such as Threat Protection Pro.

This change makes it supremely quick and easy access to almost every tool, whether on mobile or desktop.

The home screen brings quick access to every VPN country available, each of NordVPN’s specialty server types, Meshnet, Dark Web Monitoring, and the three key aspects of Threat Protection Pro – anti-malware, advanced browser protection, and ad and tracker blocking.

Accessing these features in more detail is as simple as clicking the corresponding icon on the side-nav, and once you’re where you want to be, you’re greeted by explainer after explainer giving you everything you need to know to understand the tool and how it’ll benefit either your VPN connection or your online security.

I do have two gripes with the desktop version however:

Firstly, the search bar isn’t the most advanced. While some VPN providers will allow you to search for a location and choose between its specific capabilities, for example, P2P or obfuscated, Nord’s shows you the location as though you were connecting normally.

If you’re after, say, a P2P server, you’d have to search P2P, and then choose a server from the icon that appears – a method slower than simply choosing P2P in the specialty servers section you’re greeted with on the home screen.

Secondly, the desktop app no longer offers both choices of pausing your connection or disconnecting entirely. Instead, you now get a pause button which, once clicked, becomes a dropdown with a series of pause durations alongside a disconnect button.

While I understand adding steps to the disconnection process reduces the chance someone will, thus improving their security, for those of us who know when we do and don’t want to be connected, it’s an unnecessary added step. Still, it's a pretty minor beef.

Mobile users get a similarly efficient experience, which we love. While it retains the interactive map, you can access every country, Meshnet, and all of Nord’s Specialty Servers from your home screen – though, understandably given screen restraints, there’s no room for Threat Protection or Dark Web Monitoring this time round.

You still get the same detailed explanations of each feature and setting throughout the app, though you’re still stuck with the same limited search capabilities and pause button that the desktop app uses.

Oddly, something omitted from the main screen across desktop and mobile is any reference to key features, such as protocols or the kill switch. To set up or change these, you need to head into the settings instead. What’s more, while on desktop you can click one button to set the server you’re connected to as your auto-connect, you’re given no such convenience on mobile – though for many this won’t be so useful.

Aside from the minor gripes, NordVPN’s apps are the best they’ve been in years – efficient, clean to look at, and easy for beginners.

The few issues we’ve found, and their minor impact show just how much thought has gone into NordVPN's usability across the board.

Score: 5/5

Accessibility

• NordVPN's website is among the most accessible VPN websites.
• Not a huge amount of language support.
• Keyboard-only navigation could be better.

We put NordVPN.com through an AccessibilityChecker audit, and its score of 83% puts it among the most accessible VPN websites out there. It scores higher than Proton VPN (35%), Surfshark (41%), and ExpressVPN (21%) and PIA (10%). This makes it the most accessible VPN website of all our best VPNs.

Website Accessibility Scores

AccessibilityChecker audit of the home pages of each VPN website

Accessibility score

NordVPN

83

Surfshark

41

ExpressVPN

23

Proton VPN

35

PureVPN

35

Mullvad

89

IPVanish

71

CyberGhost

17

AdGuard VPN

17

PrivadoVPN

10

Hotspot Shield

23

TunnelBear

74

Accessibility score Data

Product	Value (Percent)
NordVPN	83
Surfshark	41
ExpressVPN	23
Proton VPN	35
PureVPN	35
Mullvad	89
IPVanish	71
CyberGhost	17
AdGuard VPN	17
PrivadoVPN	10
Hotspot Shield	23
TunnelBear	74

NordVPN offers a very easy to navigate website for those with visual accessibility needs. The apps could have better keyboard-only support, though.

The site passed all interaction and navigational checks. One element failed a screenreader test due to a prohibited ARIA attribute, and 36 elements failed visual and structural accessibility tests because of poor contrast between foreground and background.

On investigating the contrast issue, it turned out it referred to text that became clearer when scrolled over.

Looking at NordVPN on desktop, we found it supports 13 languages, including options including English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional.)

However, much like Surfshark, it lacked others, including Arabic, Turkish, and Swedish. This seems a simple enough area both NordVPN and Surfshark can improve on, especially since providers such as Norton VPN and Proton VPN have 26 and 28 languages supported, respectively.

Keyboard support on NordVPN is also not the best. Disconnecting our mouse for a second, it quickly became apparent that doing anything other than actually connecting to a VPN server wasn't easy enough.

Unless you’d happened to connect to where you wanted to recently – so it’d appear in your ‘Recent Connections’ list – it was nearly impossible to get a connection going. Using Meshnet, Threat Protection Pro, or anything else, however, was simple.

An easy comparison to make here is with PIA, whose app allows you to scroll its country list, highlight a country, and connect within a few taps of the keyboard – it really should be this simple.

Score: 2/5

Customer support

• 24/7 live chat and email support available alongside a support site
• Easy access to support via the apps
• Excellent online user guides.

NordVPN offers several customer support options, including a support site, 24/7 live chat, and a 24/7 email ticketing system.

Usefully, the app gives you easy access to raising a ticket or accessing the support site if you need help.

We found running diagnostic testing from within the app when you encounter a problem helps speed up the support process, as it reduces the number of additional questions agents need to ask. You can even include a list of apps installed on the impacted device in case any of them may be a contributing factor that the support agent can identify.

Putting its Live Chat service to the test, we found it sufficiently responsive, with an agent responding typically after 2-3 minutes. Its email service wasn’t so hasty. We had to wait around 18 hours before receiving a response to our test question.

Despite its sluggishness, the email system was effective. Our agent solved our test issue by asking a selection of relevant questions at once, collecting our responses, and using them to diagnose the problems.

It was also refreshing to avoid the typical customer support responses of “have you reinstalled the app?” or “have you cleared your cookies?” since the questions we were asked required detailed enough responses that there was no need. This also reduced the amount of back-and-forth required to resolve our test issues.

NordVPN’s customer support page is also very helpful. It doesn't bombarded the reader with category options to click between straight away, as is expected nowadays. Instead, you’re greeted by five overarching categories, one of which is about exploring other Nord Security products. So, in reality, four categories, and a search bar.

There is a trade-off for usability, though. For example, entering any of the categories removes the search bar from your screen, forcing you instead to use the breadcrumb trail at the top of the page to return to the main screen and search from there.

This leaves you doing a lot of unnecessary navigation if you’re merely looking for a quick fix, especially if you’ve clicked through several options in the categories already to try and find your answers that way.

To NordVPN's credit, once you find the article you need, it's usually extremely helpful.

For example, Nord’s proxy setup guide for uTorrent not only gives you the super-clear steps you need, but it also tells you how to then check that what you’ve done is working.

This is great for any kind of VPN user and typically of how strong NordVPN is on customer support.

Score: 4/5

User reviews

Although all review sites should be approached with a level of skepticism, they do offer a good enough gauge of how trustworthy a VPN is and how well it performs if you’re looking at a quick glance.

Across Google Play and the App Store, NordVPN has ratings equal to the very top VPNs. Its rating on TrustPilot is lower than most at only 4.2 out of 5, with 12% of the 44,000+ reviews being 1-star too.

The majority of negative reviews on Trustpilot surround NordVPN’s auto-renewals, which, should you be worried about it, can be turned off in a matter of clicks. We recommend doing this early on in your subscription to ensure you’re not stung down the line.

Track record: can you trust NordVPN?

• Reasonably spotless reputation throughout its history.
• 2018 breach is only notable blot on its record.
• Currently facing some lawsuits around its auto-renewal practices.

NordVPN’s history is, for the most part, positive, though 2018 proved to be a tricky year.

A breach in March 2018 saw NordVPN’s reputation tarnished, in part due to the obvious security concerns, but mainly since it didn’t admit to the breach for another 18 months, with the announcement coming only in October 2019.

The breach was only to one VPN server in Finland, and NordVPN explained in the belated announcement that none of NordVPN’s own servers were compromised, claiming the breach “was made possible by poor configuration on a third-party data center’s part”.

NordVPN was supposedly only made aware of the issue in April 2019, prompting a review and the consequent delay in announcing the breach to customers.

It’s not thought that any identifiable data was stolen in the breach, due to its small scale and the fact that it didn’t breach Nord’s central infrastructure, and all 5,000 servers NordVPN used at the time were audited on the breach’s discovery to remove further vulnerabilities.

NIST’s vulnerability database also has three weaknesses on record from that same year, though thankfully, none in the seven years since, suggesting that there’s little to worry about now.

In 2019, NordVPN would become one of the founding members of the VPN Trust Initiative (VTI), an industry-led consortium focused on “improving digital safety for consumers by building understanding, strengthening trust, and mitigating risk for VPN users”.

This consortium also consists of ExpressVPN, StrongVPN, Surfshark, and encrypt.me, and aims to improve public trust in VPNs and help users make informed decisions.

While this bears no direct impact on its reputation, it’s a clear sign of good intent from NordVPN that has shown little reason to be doubted since.

NordVPN would go on to experience around five years with its reputation out of the spotlight, but a lawsuit against its auto-renewal practices would abruptly end this.

Wittels McInturff Palikovic (WMP) filed a $100m lawsuit against the VPN provider, alleging that it "uses deceptive and illegal auto-renewal practices" in August 2024. In May 2025, a second action was filed on similar grounds.

While this case remains ongoing, the topic of auto-renewals remains on the lips of almost all VPN users, with many of the best VPNs adopting similar practices.

This has lead to similar instances across the industry of users facing unexpected payments for subscriptions and getting pretty upset about it.

If you’re concerned about getting stung, we recommend turning off auto-renewal once you’re logged into NordVPN. You can do that as soon as you've installed it in a matter of a few clicks.

NordVPN's latest headache came in January 2026, when a hacker claimed to have breached a NordVPN development server. No sensitive user information was compromised in the alleged breach, and NordVPN has continuously denied its success.

Score: 4/5

Final verdict

NordVPN is the best VPN for most people. While it’s more expensive than Surfshark, it has superior streaming performance, comparable speeds, and a suite of features, including the best password manager available, depending on the plan you choose.

We recommend a NordVPN Plus plan over its other alternatives. It provides tools, including premium password management and ad and tracker protection, as well as malware blocking and data breach alerts, all alongside its full VPN capabilities.

Who should use NordVPN?

✅ Those looking for top streaming performance: NordVPN performed near-flawlessly across our streaming tests. It had no issue unblocking any provider we threw at it aside YouTube US and Prime Video Australia. It never struggles with buffering or unexpected dropouts. Plus, it has apps for almost any platform you might wish to stream on.

✅ Those wanting a top password manager alongside the VPN: Included in Plus plans and above, NordPass ranks as our top password manager right now. It offers passkey support, features including secure password sharing and strength detection, and is compatible with almost any platform.

✅ Those wanting effective ad and malware blocking: NordVPN Threat Protection Pro performed the best in our latest testing for protection against malware and blocking ads.

Who should try a different VPN instead?

❌ Those wanting full antivirus protection included: While Threat Protection Pro offers solid security capabilities, it is by no means a fully-fledged antivirus. Providers such as Surfshark offer true antivirus protection in their more premium plans, alongside features included with NordVPN such as ad and malware protection.

NordVPN FAQs

NordVPN testing methodology

Throughout this review, I'll refer to things either 'I' or 'we' have seen. Whenever I say 'I' have seen something, this means it is something I, Rob Dunne, and I've seen it in hands-on testing of NordVPN.

When talking about things that 'we' have seen, this refers to anything uncovered during our technical lab testing. This is performed by VPN Technical Editor, Mike Williams.

We test each VPN every six months. These tests cover speed, ad-blocking, anti-phishing and malware, streaming service unblocking, and local IP address leaks. Plus, the server networks are spot-checked to confirm that the VPN server locations are accurate. We also check through each VPN provider's security credentials, privacy policy, and executable files.

You can take a look at our VPN testing methodology to see the full measures we put each VPN through.

The TechRadar VPN team fact-checks every VPN review we write, using our own research and knowledge alongside information provided by NordVPN. We update this review regularly to include any new features or information about the product, ensuring that what you’re reading is 100% up to date and as you would find the product if you downloaded and used it today.

If you notice anything while using NordVPN that doesn't match what you read on this page, please let us know in the comments or by emailing us. We will then do our best to offer product support information or include corrections and warnings to other users, depending on which is appropriate.

Dyson has updated its lightweight wet floor cleaner with a redesigned floorhead and extra-long battery life, without increasing the price. The second-generation PencilWash takes the best features of the original — its lightweight build, ease of use, and effective wet cleaning — and adds thoughtful features that add up to make it an even better everyday cleaning tool.

The cleaning head’s plush-feeling roller is now sprinkled with stiffer bristles to tackle welded-on stains effectively without scuffing your floor. The upgraded clean water tank is larger and fully detachable, and emptying soiled water is less messy too. After mopping, your floors will be dry and ready to walk on almost immediately.

It’s an excellent package, but before buying, note that Dyson has now cut the price of the original PencilWash to just $199.99 / £179 in the US and UK respectively. That’s great value, and it could be all you need if you want to spruce up a relatively small home.

For me, the only real drawback of the W1 PencilWash was that hair tended to get wrapped around one of the wheels underneath the floor head, rather than sticking to the roller and being scraped off by Dyson’s new metal comb.

Note that the PencilWash isn’t a vacuum cleaner, and has no suction. If you’re looking for a slim and lightweight vacuum, take a look at the Dyson PencilVac instead.

Dyson W1 PencilWash: price and availability

• Went on sale in October 2026
• List price $349.99 / £299.99 in the US and UK
• Not yet available in Australia, but likely to be AU$549

Dyson announced the W1 PencilWash at its Dyson Unveiled event in September 2026, and the product launched globally in October the same year — nine months after the original PencilWash.

It has a list price of $349.99 / £299.99, which is the same as the original PencilWash at launch, though you may also be able to find it cheaper (for example, Dyson is offering a $100 discount in its US store at the time of writing). The W1 PencilWash isn’t yet available in Australia, but I would expect it to be AU$549 when it arrives.

That's relatively expensive for a wet-only floor cleaner, and there are several excellent wet-and-dry vacuums available for about the same price. For comparison, the Bissell Crosswave HydroScrub wet/dry floor cleaner is $369.99 (about £280 / AU$540), while the Shark HydroVac Cordless WD201 / WD210 is $359.99 / £329.99 / AU$399.99.

What you're paying for here is the light weight and compact design, which will be better suited to apartments and other small homes than a bulky wet-dry cleaner.

• Value score: 4/5

Dyson W1 PencilWash: design

• New stiffer bristles in microfiber roller
• Clean water tank is larger and fully removable
• Emptying waste water is less messy

At first glance, the W1 PencilWash looks very similar to its predecessor, with a slender handle (this time colored indigo rather than copper), and one of Dyson’s Submarine floor heads. A tank at the back of the floorhead dispenses water onto a microfiber roller, and a squeegee-like blade squeezes dirty water out, and dispenses it into a separate tank inside.

On closer inspection, however, there are a few significant differences. The most obvious change is the floorhead’s microfiber roller, which is now scattered with stiffer fibers to more effectively scrub away stubborn dirt. There is also a new metal comb designed to detangle and scrape hair off the roller. (Both of these features are borrowed from the bulkier Dyson Clean+Wash Hygiene wet cleaner, which launched at the start of 2026.)

The head disassembles into more parts, as you can see below. Most significantly, the clean water tank is now fully removable, making it easier to fill at the sink, and has a significantly larger capacity so you can keep cleaning for longer.

Dyson PencilWash floorhead comparison

Dyson W1 PencilWash

Original Dyson PencilWash

The dirty water collection tank has also been reworked, and is now much less prone to spills during emptying. It’s still wise to hold the whole floorhead over the sink when removing the cassette, but I found the process much less messy than the original PencilWash.

Note that the W1 PencilWash has different docks in the US and UK. The UK model, which I tested here, has a charging stand that holds the PencilWash’s handle, and a separate holder for the floorhead.

The US model has a magnetic charging stand called the Dok, which holds the whole PencilWash with its floorhead attached. This seems slightly more convenient, and will save a few seconds during cleaning.

• Design score: 5/5

Dyson W1 PencilWash: performance

• Excellent cleaning on dried-on spills
• Much easier to fill and empty than previous model
• Battery lasted over two hours in testing
• Hair wrapped around wheel underneath floorhead

In use, the W1 PencilWash feels very much like its predecessor. The handle is light in the hand, and its plush microfiber roller propels it forward so you barely need to apply any force when cleaning.

I tested it with a variety of stains and spills, including dried-on juice, ketchup, dried toothpaste (to simulate spills in a bathroom), flour, and hair.

You can use the PencilWash with plain water, or a cleaning fluid. I tested it with Dyson 02 Probiotic Hard Floor Cleaning Solution (which is specifically recommended for the company’s wet floor cleaners) diluted according to the instructions on the bottle.

The W1 PencilWash fared well in all my cleaning tests, clearing up flour, dried juice, and ketchup on a single pass. Congealed toothpaste proved the toughest challenge, taking about four passes to completely remove, but I was impressed that the roller system removed all the mess and deposited it in the waste tank, leaving no streaks when I continued cleaning the rest of the floor. The new stiffer bristles work well to scrub away dirt that would normally require you to get down on your hands and knees to remove, and I was pleased to note their tougher fibers aren’t rigid enough to damage your flooring.

The floorhead is fully articulated for easy maneuvering, and the handle can be laid almost flat to clean under low items of furniture. I was able to clean right between the legs of my dining chairs, which have a crossbar just a few inches above the ground. The roller cleans very close to furniture and baseboards as well, leaving a gap only half an inch wide.

Ketchup cleaning test

Before cleaning ketchup

After cleaning ketchup

Your floors will dry exceptionally quickly as well; after a pass on the regular cleaning mode, my laminate flooring was dry within 10 seconds.

The new metal comb wasn’t quite such a success. It does catch hair, and the roller needs less hand-cleaning after use, but quite a lot of hair became caught in one of the small wheels on the bottom of the floorhead during my tests. This didn’t seem to affect performance, and I didn’t even realize while maneuvering the cleaner, but it was wrapped tightly around the tiny axel and had to be cut free with scissors.

Toothpaste cleaning test

Before cleaning toothpaste

During cleaning toothpaste

It’s worth noting that the microfiber roller takes quite a long time to air-dry. I placed it near a dehumidifier to speed up the process, but it still took two days before it was dry enough for me to feel comfortable storing it.

The big surprise was the battery life. Dyson’s specifications claim that the W1 PencilWash can run for 45 minutes on a single charge (up from 30 minutes for the original PencilWash), but during my tests it ran for an astonishing two hours and 13 minutes — and that was during active mopping, not just running the roller without resistance. I have contacted Dyson’s press office to ask whether that’s expected performance, but it’s safe to say that you shouldn’t have any problems cleaning even large homes.

Overall, I’m impressed with the W1 PencilWash. Dyson has clearly taken on board feedback from the first model (the detachable clean water tank and scrubbing bristles are highlights) while keeping the fundamentals the same. If you have a large home with lots of hard flooring, or live with pets or children, then this new model would be a great choice. If, on the other hand, your home is relatively small and you want something for everyday maintenance, the original PencilWash might be the smarter choice at its newly reduced price.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Dyson W1 PencilWash?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

Dyson W1 PencilWash: also consider

If the Dyson W1 PencilWash isn't the right wet floor cleaner for you, here are two other options to think about.

How I tested the Dyson W1 PencilWash

I tested the Dyson W1 PencilWash on sealed laminate flooring, using Dyson 02 Probiotic Hard Floor Cleaning Solution and tap water. I used it on common household stains including dried juice, dried toothpaste, ketchup, flour, and human hair.

I emptied the floor head cassette, and cleaned the tank, comb, and microfiber roller using plain water.

I fully charged the W1, then used it to clean the floors, moving it backwards and forwards as in normal use, and timed how long it took for the battery to run flat.

First reviewed November 2026

28 years on from the release of the original Ocarina of Time, a lot has changed in the world of gaming. Hardware limitations, even on the Switch 2, are far fewer than ever before, and there’s a game for everyone.

So in a world that now includes everything from niche interests in PowerWash Simulator to AAA giants like GTA 6 to Fortnite’s bizarre multiverse of pop stars and anime icons, can a remake of a decades-old game that now feels relatively simplistic find its footing, or even be one of the best Nintendo Switch 2 games going?

Do you see that man with the evil eyes?

It’s natural that the phrase ‘don’t mess with perfection’ springs to mind when thinking about Metacritic’s best-ever-scoring video game, but a remake without meaningful changes is always going to feel like a nostalgia-baiting cash grab.

Flying in the face of that narrative, Ocarina of Time’s remake proves classic Zelda still has a place in current gaming, bringing meaningful additions and alterations across the board from level design to voice acting and even some juicy new lore while still staying faithful to the source material.

All areas of Hyrule have been revisited and retouched, with few drastic changes but plenty of improvements. A rich tapestry of flora and fauna, thick fog swirling at Link’s feet, organic terrain, and detailed furnishings bring every location to life.

The storybook visual direction of the remake comes together beautifully with this new detailed world, making its own mark on the Zelda franchise. Its vivid style might not be to everyone’s taste, but it’s certainly immersive, as is the rich, re-orchestrated soundtrack.

It runs beautifully too, with its buttery-smooth locked 60fps and no visible lag in my experience. While loading screens are still in place these barely create any friction, controls are snappy and it’s bug-free barring one occasion where I noticed a texture glitch in a waterfall.

The world is more alive in more ways than one. I do miss the mad panic of racing to Hyrule Castle gates before night falls in the original, but thanks to the constant day-night cycles within towns, you now see a lot more of the lives of non-player characters (NPCs).

While still fairly two-dimensional, the supporting cast are full of character, especially so thanks to a new feature of the Mask of Truth you earn through the Happy Mask Salesman quest line. Now, when wearing the mask, you can find the hidden truths behind folks around Hyrule; the Dancing Couple dropped a bombshell I won’t spoil for you, but it adds whole new dimensions to some of the people Link encounters on his quest.

You’re encouraged to explore the world and its secrets with new mechanics like Fairy Messages (which replace some of Navi’s hints and reward you with Rupees, Mana, or Hearts, generally) as well as old favorites like Golden Skulltulas and Fairy Fountains, but most of all I found myself frequently looking for viewpoints from which to take in the world just for the sake of it. Quite a lot of the collectibles, grottos, and boulders are in the same or very similar places, but if you don’t have a photographic memory from the original, there’s plenty of fun to be had in rediscovering Hyrule.

As I expected from my preview, some of the vocal performances did win me over by the end of the game, and Matt Mercer reprising his role as Ganondorf absolutely nailed it (of course). Others, unfortunately, missed the mark; Navi’s original sound bites were so iconic and plucky, but it’s a fairly flat performance here, by comparison.

Even then, every cutscene was a delight. I loved some of the extended dialogue and how it adds depth and personality to the world, with more beautiful cinematography than ever. I laughed, I cried, I paused and googled if some small line was a reference to a deep lore video I watched the other weekend; the narrative is richer than ever, and it celebrates the original game in all the right ways.

Can Hyrule's destiny really depend on such a lazy boy?!

Especially if you’ve played the original any time recently, there’s an immediate sense of liberation when you load into Kokiri Forest for the first time; even having played the same area at a preview event several weeks before receiving my review code, I couldn’t resist the urge to jump, dash, and swing around the camera like a lunatic in celebration of unhindered freedom to move.

Combat also feels more fluid and fun. While there’s still a fair amount of waiting around for an opening, gone are Link’s sluggish movements, painstaking in-menu item swapping, and cumbersome crowd control. I love small details like how the camera focus shifts to blur the background when you target enemies, which also means other baddies politely waiting their turn to attack you don’t stick out as much.

Overall, it’s great; jumping and dodging around, quickly switching between weapons with the right trigger, and aiming projectiles with the gyroscope improve pacing massively.

That pacing improvement carries over to Temple design too, none more so than the dreaded Water Temple now that you can quick-equip Iron Boots with the D-pad. Some temples see more significant overhauls than others, but overall rooms and puzzles have been shrewdly redesigned, with a few new additions or expanded segments like in Hyrule Castle’s garden maze, which now also leads Link through the castle kitchens.

It’s often in the smallest adjustments that Ocarina of Time’s remake is at its best; for instance, changes to the environment around you in combat that make more narrative or gameplay sense. Some are subtle; I noticed one room in the Fire Temple especially with more dynamic platform design for Lizalfos to hop around, and in locations like the Forest Temple where new obstacles like acid pits replace empty pits in the floor.

I didn’t clock any fundamental changes to enemies, but the scale and range have been adapted for enemies like Iron Knuckles as well as some bosses like Volvagia. This, paired with tweaks to the attack strings, a few new moves, and some with higher stakes, ensures Link’s lighter feet are still challenged in combat.

When you fight the real me, it won't be so easy!

That being said, I wouldn’t say difficulty is the Ocarina of Time remake’s strength. I’ll caveat heavily with the reminder that this game is as much for kids as it is for us aging nostalgia-chasers, but given I only ran out of health a handful of times, mostly by making silly mistakes or getting distracted, it does feel like Ocarina of Time has moved one step closer to being nerfed.

It’s a similar story with items — I didn’t have to refill any supplies more than three, maybe four times in my entire save. A new item in the game, the Business Deku Seed, summons a shopkeeper with his stock of supplies, including potions. It’s one of the only new features I find to be a bit of a headscratcher, making the game easier still.

Add to that the golden webs that hint at the location of overworld Golden Skulltulas, more obvious traps and visual cues for important locations, doors, and boulders, and there were few times I was particularly mentally challenged, either.

Having rolled credits, I was therefore doubly disappointed to learn Master Quest isn’t offered to up the ante a little. I’m hoping this comes at a later date, and I’m really hoping it’s not DLC, because with a little more challenge, my only real complaint about the game would be quickly remedied.

It’s not enough to score the game down; it’s ticking all of the obligatory boxes for a good remake, and I loved every second of it. Still, I can’t help but feel just a tinge of disappointment that most changes to the game are limited to optimisations and err on the side of “safe”. The original Ocarina of Time was great, in part, for how it took the limitations of contemporary game design and created some of its best mechanics to work around them in a creative way; without that challenge, the remake at times feels just a little unremarkable.

Still, this one niggle didn’t impact my personal enjoyment of the game nor negate the many, many strengths it brings to the table, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake feels like exactly the game that the developers would have made in the late 90s were it possible on contemporary hardware.

From the first time I played the game at my dad’s knee, I fell in love with the world of Hyrule, and it was just as impactful for me in its third iteration as it was in its first. Whether you’re an adult or a child, when you boot up the remake, it’s not a game you’ll forget in a hurry.

Should you play The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake?

Play it if...

Don't play it if...

Accessibility features

Within the game’s settings, you can change the camera controls, speed, toggle motion-control aiming, and choose between one-click or press-and-hold targeting.

You can swap the jump controls, use one-handed ocarina-playing controls, toggle subtitles, and add speaker-name display. Accessibility is, as I’ve come to expect from Nintendo, a weak point, but there are a few more customization options here than I’ve seen in other titles.

How I reviewed The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake

I’ve completed the main storyline in my 25-hour save, as well as a vast majority of side quests and secret content. I played mostly docked to enjoy the sprawling scenery, but I did try handheld too, comparing my overall experience with the original as well as more modern action-adventure games, including Zelda titles like the original Ocarina of Time and modern entries like Tears of the Kingdom, as well as titles like Outer Wilds, Tunic, and more.

I played on the standard Nintendo Switch 2, listening to the gorgeously re-orchestrated soundtrack through my Corsair Void Max Wireless v2 headset and through the Switch 2’s speakers.

More generally, I’ve covered a huge array of games here at TechRadar, where I serve as Head of Video and previously as Managing Editor. I’ve reviewed a number of action-adventure and Switch 2 titles.

First reviewed November 2026

The EVO-X5 packs in the latest Strix Halo CPU, and while the updates to the specifications of the Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 495 processor over the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 may look modest, when you give it the additional boost of 196GB of unified memory and the internal space for up to 24TB of storage, you suddenly have a machine whose abilities far exceed the superb EVO-X3 I reviewed recently.

Like so many of these small machines, it’s hard to believe the power it contains when it arrives. The box is small and relatively discreet, a departure from the large, powerful gaming and AI workstations I usually associate with its computing power. Part of the reason for that size reduction is that this is the processing hub, and while the AMD Radeon 8065S graphics will see you through a decent bit of gaming, if you want that full GPU power alongside what’s on offer with the CPU, you’ll need to break out to an external GPU option.

This distinction makes the machine's intended use clear. You can use it on its own as a powerful workstation, handling everything from office day tasks to video and image editing, and even 3D work. You can also rack it alongside additional EVO-X5 Pros to build an almighty AI personal data centre, with features such as the OOB, which lets you access and control the machine even if it’s mid-blue-screen or terminal crash. However, professional IT skills will inevitably also be needed.

On a smaller scale, and in the way that I’ve checked this machine out in this review, is to check the day-to-day function first. Is this $5000 machine good enough to run Microsoft Windows, Office, Adobe Creative Suite, edit images, video, and audio, and all the base functions a powerful machine in the office or studio needs to do, especially at that price?

But to go deeper: if this machine is going to cost almost double today’s pretty decent workstations, why should I pay all that extra money for a machine like this? Am I just paying for the latest AI-enhanced CPUs, or is there more to it? Can the machine's capabilities offset that cost?

To put it to the test, I’ve run through all the usual benchmarks and real-world tests, but after testing a good volume of AI headline-leading mini PCs, I want to see if it can take on a little more.

For instance, can it not only code a straight site, but also build a site from designs? What is the image-generation capability, and can it really run a 300B LLM without stalling? What I’ve noticed with some smaller mini PCs recently is that while they meet the specs and perform impressively, most hit their limits pretty quickly. However, with far more unified RAM than most, this machine has plenty of headroom.

The main test for me here is: can it effectively edit video in DaVinci Resolve? While my workstation can do this, it takes time, and a couple of the machines I’ve looked at recently have hit their limits with that kind of processing.

This looks to be a formidable machine among the best mini PCs I've reviewed, and one that will suit many looking into the use of AI in their day-to-day workflows. But all this power comes at a huge cost, and in balance, is this machine worth that price?

GMKtec EVO-X5 Pro: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? From £5,299 / $6,799
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Directly from GMKtec or Amazon

At present, the machine has just gone on sale and is available for $6799 from GMKtec in the US, and £5,299 from the UK website.

The machine is available in either a 2TB or 4TB version, with a $400 / £300 increase for the extra storage.

• Value: 4 / 5

GMKtec EVO-X5 Pro: Specs

CPU: AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 495, 16 cores/32 threads

GPU: AMD Radeon 8065S, 40 RDNA 3.5 compute units

NPU: AMD XDNA 2, 55 TOPS

RAM: 192GB LPDDR5X-8533 unified memory, non-upgradeable

Storage: 2TB or 4TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 SSD, three slots, up to 24TB total

Front Ports: 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2 x USB4, 3.5mm audio, P-Mode button, CMOS reset

Rear Ports: HDMI 2.1, 2 x USB4 v2 80Gbps, 2 x USB 2.0, 2 x 10GbE RJ-45 DASH, 3.5mm audio

Wireless: Wi-Fi 7

VESA Mount: No

Dimensions: 221 x 80 x 195mm

Weight: 2.5kg

Power: 54W–120W selectable power modes, external power adapter

Operating System: Windows 11 Pro

GMKtec EVO-X5 Pro: Design

The mini PC is getting bigger; although still compact, it sits somewhere between a small tower desktop and the more traditional mini PC size. The styling is also spot on, with the ability to lay the machine flat or upright depending on your desk space. It’s also nicely designed with an understated all-metal black finish, though GMKtec has included its usual feature: a green power button. This button features fingerprint recognition.

The size, while not large, comes in at 221 × 80 × 195 mm, and in this review it sat neatly beside the monitor in a vertical position, taking up little desktop space. The weight at 2.5kg is substantial for a mini PC, but still far less than most workstations, so in a studio space or if you do need to take a machine out on site, this is a great option.

The build quality is what you would expect at this price, with the all-metal black finish giving it a high-quality look and feel. Aesthetically, this is one of the best-looking mini PCs I’ve seen, while remaining quite understated. Another design point: while this machine can be used on its own, it's also designed to work alongside others, so its size and weight make it easy to connect to additional EVO-X5s if that’s what you or your business needs.

The front layout is minimalistic, with a few essentials across the front. These include the P-Mode button, CMOS reset, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, two USB4 ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and the power button. The P-Mode button is a physical button for switching between the power modes, which include silent, balanced and performance, with each adjusting the amount of power that the machine draws from 54W up to 120W, and as I went through the benchmark tests, I realised just how much difference this P-Mode button can make.

That power draw helps explain the power brick that comes with the mini PC, which isn't much smaller than those of many standard mini PCs, but, as ever, can be tucked out of sight behind the machine.

On the rear of the machine, there are plenty of ports, although again, as I’ve seen with these premium machines, the volume of connections is well balanced, with plenty of space given. Options include a 3.5mm audio out, HDMI 2.1, two USB4 v2, two USB 2.0, two 10GbE RJ45 DASH ports, power in and a Kensington lock slot. What interests me is that both RJ45 ports are 10GbE, enabling ultra-fast network speeds if your network can support them.

One of the major issues with these smaller machines is keeping everything cool, and inside there is a network of cooling technologies and systems, with the vent structure visible across the back and top of the machine. As the workload increases, this machine does make some noise, but compared with workstations and servers, that noise is well controlled.

Opening the box, the insides are neatly packed and much more complex in design than I would usually expect in a mini PC. However, the slots for the two additional M.2 sticks are relatively easy to access, with one being a standard M.2 2280 Key-M PCIe 4.0 x4 and the other being M.2 Key-M PCIe 4.0 x1. The RAM is unified, soldered to the motherboard, and not upgradable.

• Design: 4.5 / 5

GMKtec EVO-X5 Pro: Features

The big news on the feature front for the EVO-X5 is the new Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 495. While this only offers a slight uplift when it comes to the clock speed, the AI processing is where the real changes have been introduced, with the two headline points being the boost in the power of the integrated GPU and support for up to 196GB of RAM.

There are, of course, other updates and speed boosts, but for AI processing, the 196GB is the headline, letting the machine hold larger language models in memory. GMKtec claims the 55 TOPS NPU, backed by the RAM boost, should let you run 320B LLMs locally.

The integrated GPU also gets an upgrade to the Radeon 8065S, which retains the 40 RDNA 3.5 compute units but should boost gaming performance slightly. Likewise, the 196GB of RAM is a significant upgrade, especially since both the CPU and GPU share the memory. Again, as with the EVO-X3, the onboard memory is LPDDR5X but increases from 8000MT/s to 8533MT/s, boosting the bandwidth slightly for all that AI processing.

In the creative field, connectivity is always important, and two features that instantly piqued my interest were the dual USB4 v2 80Gbps ports and 10GbE network ports. USB4 v2 is also 80Gbps, but it differs from Thunderbolt 5, which is stricter on some parameters. However, the documentation says you can connect an eGPU if needed.

USB4 v2 also offers broad compatibility with external hard drives and SSDs, which are essential for storage, and it can even add two additional M.2 SSDs, boosting internal storage to 24TB. There are three M.2 2280 slots: two PCIe 4.0 x4 and one PCIe 4.0 x1.

The 10GbE networking meant that, during the test, I could simply link the machine into the wired 10GbE network to access the UGreen INX6100. The transfer rates over the 10GbE network are fast enough for network video editing, and you can access and download all files stored on the NAS locally. The other point here is that while one system is AMD and the other is Intel, with the right LLM commands and setup, you can get the two working together, making it an ideal workflow option for sorting and tagging images, for instance.

Alongside the impressive array of connection ports, there’s also Wi-Fi 7 to ensure fast internet connections. In testing, this also meant that when transferring files to the 3D printers, transfer rates for some of the larger files were exceptionally fast. When this speed was combined with the slicing speed within applications such as Bambu Studio, you can really start to see the machine’s potential.

Two features that are interesting but are beyond the scope of this review are AMD DASH and TPM. AMD DASH stands for Desktop and Mobile Architecture for System Hardware and enables remote access and management. TPM stands for Trusted Platform Module and handles security. These are both aimed at enterprise users.

GMKtec Claw and Herdsman come pre-installed and are both pretty decent. Herdsman is essentially along the same lines as LM Studio or Ollama, while GMKtec Claw features chat and the ability to set up automation tasks. They’re actually a great starting point, and both are evolving quickly, becoming more stable and making greater use of the full power of the machine, something that I noted with the EVO-X3 and the lack of connectivity to the NPU.

Many applications, including those from Adobe, still use the GPU heavily for AI processing, although other applications are starting to use the dedicated AI processor.

• Features: 4.5 / 5

GMKtec EVO-X5 Pro: Performance

The EVO-X5 comes with Windows 11 Pro installed, and as ever, the final steps of the installation were needed before I could get started with installing the benchmark and real-world software applications. What was interesting here, and in common with the EVO-X3, was that GMKClaw and Herdsman were both pre-installed.

Herdsman is essentially the local AI model management and inference platform. Essentially, it’s GMKtec’s option over LM Studio or Ollama, and offers plenty of options to download and manage LLMs locally. For most of the tests, I started with this option. Still, I switched to Lemonade, since I’m more familiar with the server and its ability to monitor token generation and use it for the local AI tests I wanted to run.

Starting the tests, I ran through the usual array of Windows applications, including Microsoft Office, with a focus as ever on Word, to write this review, Excel, to store and query the results from the benchmark tests, and PowerPoint, to put together a series of photography lectures that I have running in the next week. Testing these applications on a machine at this level produced the real-world results I expected. All applications ran at speed with no lag, and switching quickly between them and online formatting tools was fast, keeping up with my editing speed without me ever having to wait for the applications to speed up.

These real-world tests reflected the WEI score of 9.5, and again, that’s backed up by the PCMark score of 10,773, the highest score I’ve seen with any mini PC.

Lightroom and Photoshop, like the Microsoft Office apps, just ran without issue. They were fast and responsive, and with well over 100 images, batch processing in Lightroom ran surprisingly through without issue or pause. Likewise, opening a selection of RAW files from Bridge into ACR, making amendments, and saving was equally quick.

As I pushed the system with 4K video editing, it was clear that even without discrete graphics, performance was excellent. With the 2TB SSD, there was plenty of room to store and edit the footage locally, with the option to offload to the NAS once the edit was complete.

What impressed me here was not only the ability to edit 4K footage from the Canon EOS R5C without slowdown, but also the ability to store that footage on the IDX6011 NAS and utilise the 10GbE network for editing. This meant that there was no need for a desktop SSD, as the speed over the network and with a local cache file was more than fast enough for all the work that I do.

As the complexity of the edits increased, I noticed notable slowdowns when scrolling through the timeline and waiting for colour grade changes to render. However, it was still as fast as my workstation with discrete graphics. However, with the option to link in an eGPU, this would further boost video-editing potential, especially as you start to look at AI integrations with programs such as DaVinci Resolve.

I started using Herdsman and located the largest model I could download and test. This was the DeepSeek-V4-Flash-0731 at 155.7GB. This left little actual headroom for the machine. However, the model worked, though progress was slow; when results came through chat questions, the answers were impressive. Still, even on this machine, the speed was too slow to be truly useful. Switching to Qwen3 30B-A3B at 17.2GB, the difference was instantly noticeable, with swift answers and useful abilities.

However, I wanted to run a series of tests; first, I returned to Lemonade and the SDXL-Turbo model to create a 512 x 512 image of a dog on a beach. The image appeared almost instantly in just 2.5 seconds and was pretty decent. After experimenting a little more, I found the image generation speed and capability were the fastest I have seen so far. Although some images had slightly strange dog eyes, I switched models again and went with Z-Iage-Turbo. This larger 20GB model produced notably better results, though it took longer to render.

The next test, and one that produces all sorts of results, was the website creation task. Here, Qwen3-Coder-Next-GGUF produced the site in 92 seconds, generating 4063 tokens at 45 tokens per second. This was just to generate the code, not to save and organise the files. Still, this was far faster than the EVO-X3 running the same task with the same source files. What was markedly different here was the quality of the site generated. This actually looked like a site, albeit slightly simple, that you could actually use as a point to develop or rework with AI.

Looking through the results, the EVO-X5 clearly outperforms the EVO-X3. It’s not as large a step as I would have thought, but having that additional RAM does mean that larger and more complex models can be loaded, and their abilities are that much greater. However, many language models are designed to adapt to the hardware they’re running on. Still, running those same models on the EVO-X3 and EVO-X5 side by side shows that while everything but the RAM sees a small uplift, the EVO-X5 easily takes the edge in processing and result quality.

Once again, model selection and the LLM Manager are all-important, as is the default token limit your machine can produce. Once you’ve found the model and increased the tokens through the command prompt for that model, things become more impressive. As ever, you also need to look for models that make full use of the NPU, rather than just falling back on the CPU and GPU.

However, across the board, running local LLMs is more than possible, and while many of the speed differences between this and the older EVO-X3 seem small on paper, the real-world realisation of those speeds is marked in use. I found response times were generally faster, with slightly better responses, most notably in website creation. However, as ever, this partly comes down to the AI model's response at the time, and you will always get a different response from the same model on different systems.

That said, the extra RAM does seem to make a difference, letting you run more models in memory and reducing loading and unloading. It also means that you can comfortably run other applications and AI models together, such as Visual Studio or DaVinci Resolve, with some impressive results. This use of running an AI Model alongside Visual Studio or DaVinci Resolve is where the real power comes into play, and from this angle the step up from the EVO-X3 to the EVO-X5 is greater.

While this machine has AI potential, you can still use AI Managers and models to balance what you want the system to do.

The final part of the test was to run a few games, and here again, the power of that CPU and integrated GPU was impressive, with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle running at 1080p extremely well. Likewise, Cyberpunk 2077. If you do want to increase the resolution and effects, then a dedicated eGPU would be a good idea, but out of the box, the performance is still impressive.

At the end of this test, the machine more than proved its abilities and also enabled me to push testing and experimenting with local AI to a greater degree than I have been able to before. The main point for me that helps to balance the cost is the creative and admin potential. This machine rips through video, transcoding quickly when needed, and the auto video editing in DaVinci Resolve is incredibly impressive; however, as ever, there is a learning curve, as these features take time to set up.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

GMKtec EVO-X5 Pro: Final verdict

The EVO-X5 is an interesting machine and, without doubt, the most powerful AI-enhanced mini PC I have looked at so far. What surprises me is that the performance, while better in many respects than the EVO-X3, doesn’t feel much better to justify the current price difference. However, once you look at the current cost of RAM, that increase becomes apparent.

If you are running the EVO-X3, it's a powerful AI machine and will do pretty much everything the EVO-X5 will do, though the process will be slightly different because it doesn’t have as much headroom in RAM capacity.

I have also noted that newer local language models allocate resources better, so while many models thrive in this machine with that extra RAM, plenty of new-generation models are better adapted to memory allocation and seem to run as well on the EVO-X3 with its 128GB of RAM.

However, in use, there’s no doubting this compact machine's speed and abilities. For standard office work, it’s exceptional, and for creative work, it’s surprisingly agile; with a dedicated eGPU to boost graphics processing, it will be a formidable option for video and photo editing.

While this machine is decent for gaming, it’s not designed for it, so a quick dip into the gaming world after work is possible, and the gameplay quality is exceptional. However, if that is what you want the machine for, a dedicated gaming machine will be cheaper.

The new CPU and enhanced RAM deliver the headline performance upgrades, and you can run larger models, making it what it is supposed to be; at present, most of that cost comes from the RAM. So if you want to run larger language models, you will need to stretch to this latest model. However, the EVO-X3 is still an excellent, cheaper option, and at present is equally impressive if slightly less powerful.

Should I buy the GMKtec EVO-X5 Pro?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

For more professional-grade desktops, we've tested the best business computers.

GreenGeeks: Pricing & plans

Shared hosting is the main attraction, with WordPress and WooCommerce packages built on the same platform. Reseller hosting targets agencies, while VPS customers can choose four self-managed or three managed tiers. Dedicated servers start at $169 a month and are ordered through sales.

GreenGeeks shared hosting

Lite costs $2.95 a month for the first 12-month term, paid as $35.40 upfront, and renews at $13.95. It includes 25GB of storage, unmetered traffic, email, SSL, CDN, a first-year domain, migration, cPanel, Git, SSH, staging, and the AI builder. There is one unresolved problem: GreenGeeks' main pricing page currently advertises five websites, while its dedicated shared-hosting page and support table still say one. Buyers needing more than one site should confirm the limit before ordering.

Pro costs $4.95 a month initially and $18.95 on renewal, with unlimited websites, 50GB of storage, on-demand restores, priority support, and a WordPress repair tool. Premium rises from $8.95 to $30.95, increases storage to 100GB, and adds a dedicated IP, AlphaSSL, and Redis object caching. Renewal prices are around 3.5 to 4.7 times the introductory rates, making Pro the most balanced option but long-term value less convincing.

The 30-day money-back guarantee covers initial shared, reseller, and VPS hosting charges, but not domains, setup fees, add-ons, or renewals. In my sales chat, the agent twice confirmed that a $35.40 Lite purchase using an existing domain and no paid extras would be fully refundable if canceled within 30 days.

GreenGeeks WordPress hosting 

GreenGeeks' WordPress hosting uses the same Lite, Pro, and Premium prices and resources as shared hosting. All tiers include installation, migration, automatic updates, LiteSpeed Cache, WP-CLI, SSH, staging, and Git; Pro and Premium add priority support and the repair tool. These are useful conveniences, but this remains optimized shared hosting rather than a specialist managed WordPress platform with isolated resources or dedicated WordPress support.

GreenGeeks VPS hosting 

The four self-managed VPS plans start at $9.99 a month for 4GB of RAM, two vCPUs, 80GB of NVMe storage, and unmetered transfer, renewing at $19.99. The 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB tiers initially cost $19.99, $39.99, and $59.99, then renew at $39.99, $79.99, and $109.99. Customers handle the operating system, patches, software, and backups.

Managed VPS starts at $69.95 a month for four vCPUs, 4GB of RAM, and 75GB of SSD storage. The 8GB and 16GB plans cost $129.95 and $179.95. They include cPanel Solo, a dedicated IP, migration, DDoS protection, monitoring, operating-system updates, and security patching. GreenGeeks does not automatically back up VPS servers: self-managed customers arrange their own solution, while managed customers can configure cPanel backups if they have sufficient storage.

For more alternatives, see our guide to the best VPS hosting services.

GreenGeeks green hosting

GreenGeeks' environmental program is its best-in-class feature. It works with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation to purchase renewable energy certificates equal to three times the electricity included in its annual calculation. Electricity still comes from each data center's local grid, so this is an energy-matching program rather than a claim that every facility runs directly on renewables.

The company has been an EPA Green Power Partner since 2009 and works with One Tree Planted to plant a tree for each new hosting account; it reports more than 50,000 trees planted. Renewable certificates do not eliminate emissions, but the 300% match, long-running partnerships, and explanation of the local-grid limitation make this commitment more transparent than most green-hosting claims. See our guide to the best green web hosting.

GreenGeeks: Website builder

The AI WordPress builder is included at no extra cost. It asks about the site, goals, tone, and preferred structure, then generates pages, text, imagery, and design options that can be customized in WordPress.

In our hands-on testing it offered a quick, approachable starting point. It is not a standalone service: users select WordPress + AI during WordPress installation. It may not be the best website builder for a lot of sites, but it gets the job done easily enough.

GreenGeeks: eCommerce store

GreenGeeks has a WooCommerce hosting range which is very capable of building a top-quality web store (WooCommerce is one of the best ecommerce platforms around).

WooCommerce is available on every shared tier, but these packages use the same underlying platform and prices as regular shared hosting. Premium is the strongest store option because it adds a dedicated IP, AlphaSSL, 100GB of storage, and Redis.

GreenGeeks can install WooCommerce, but its support policy does not extend to developing or deeply debugging third-party applications, so the plans suit users comfortable managing the store itself.

GreenGeeks: Ease of use

Our hands-on testing found GreenGeeks straightforward to navigate. The custom dashboard keeps websites, plans, domains, billing, and support in a simple sidebar, while cPanel handles email, domains, databases, files, and advanced settings.

WordPress can be installed from the dashboard, and app installers handle more than 150 other applications. Beginners get a cleaner front end without depriving experienced users of cPanel.

GreenGeeks: Speed

Performance was the biggest weakness in our shared-hosting test. The WordPress benchmark returned an overall score of 4.7; database and several text operations were respectable, but file handling, persistent object caching, and some WordPress operations pulled the result down. These findings apply to the tested shared-hosting setup, not the VPS range.

The Siege test was more troubling. At five concurrent users, availability was 55.42%, average response time was 6.96 seconds, and 37 transactions failed. Availability fell to 31.48% at nine users and 12.31% at 15, with 74 and 114 failures respectively. That result remains a serious warning for traffic-sensitive shared-hosting projects, even though it should not be generalized to every GreenGeeks product.

GreenGeeks: Support

GreenGeeks offers 24/7 live chat, telephone, and support tickets, although VPS help and billing issues require tickets.

My pre-sales chat received a substantive human response in about a minute. The agent clearly confirmed the refund conditions, included AI builder, data center selection, and dashboard cancellation process. In this interaction, support was fast and specific.

The agent initially said backups were available for up to 48 hours, then corrected the answer and linked the policy. GreenGeeks aims to keep around 30 disaster-recovery sets for shared and reseller hosting, but does not guarantee a particular restore date. Pro and Premium customers have direct restore access; Lite users can request one free manual restore per month, with additional restores at $25.

User-generated cPanel and large Softaculous backups are normally removed after 48 hours, so important sites still need an independent copy.

GreenGeeks: Final verdict

GreenGeeks remains the clearest mainstream choice for buyers who put environmental commitments first. The 300% renewable-energy certificate match is unusually well explained, while cPanel, email, app installers, the AI builder, four data centers, and responsive support make the shared plans practical as well as green.

Steep renewals, inconsistent Lite information, and our poor load-test result prevent a stronger score. 3.5 stars remains appropriate: best-in-class environmental credentials, but an average overall hosting proposition.

GreenGeeks FAQs

The SteelSeries Rival Pro feels as if it's really pushing the boundaries of what a gaming mouse can do. Even when I glanced at the specs sheet, I was mightily impressed with the features on offer: interference-free ‘true’ 8K polling, hot-swappable batteries for endless play, and 42,000 DPI sensitivity.

But it’s one thing having a good set of specs, and another performing well in practice. So just how good is the SteelSeries Rival Pro? And is it worth its asking price of $179.99 / £169.99 (about AU$250)? Here’s my verdict after hours of testing.

First of all, this mouse feels incredibly comfortable to use — in fact, it's up there with some of the best mice as far as ergonomics are concerned.

It strikes a happy medium in terms of size, and it fits perfectly in my hand — though it's worth noting that this model is for right-handers only, whereas the ambidextrous form of the SteelSeries Sensei Pro is suited to lefties and righties alike. I use a palm grip style, but the model is also designed to suit those who prefer claw or fingertip as well. I also love how lightweight the Rival Pro is. At 1.9oz / 53g, making sharp movements and adjustments feels supremely swift.

The mouse has a lightly textured matte finish that feels, and indeed looks, pretty nice too. Sure, the matte black finish makes it a little prone to picking up fingerprints, but this is more of a nitpick, and this is likely to be less of an issue if you opt for the alternate white colorway.

And when it comes to performance, the SteelSeries Rival Pro is equally dazzling. I used it to play Cyberpunk 2077 with the LG UltraGear 25G590B 1000Hz gaming monitor, and was astonished by the sheer responsiveness and precision on offer. Aiming felt incredibly stable and accurate, turning the camera felt super-sharp and reactive, and the high-quality optical switches enabled me to let shots fly snappily and reliably. The mechanical scroll wheel also felt very tactile, with ridges offering great grip.

Said optical switches feel great to use for gaming or general productivity, and their mechanical, satisfying sound never felt grating or overzealous to me. Yes, they’re not the quietest switches, so if you prefer a more subdued sound then maybe look elsewhere, but their quality is undeniable — SteelSeries even claims that it tested them for 100 million clicks, so you’ll get plenty of mileage out of this mouse.

Feature-wise, this mouse has just about everything you could want. The GG app and web app open up all sorts of customization for binds, sensitivity, polling rate, and power management. I mainly used the web app, and found it incredibly easy to use and make small tweaks here and there.

Perhaps the real standout feature, though, is the ‘infinite power system’. You get two batteries with the Rival Pro: one that pops into the mouse itself, and another that you place onto the Ultra Wideband base station. The batteries are hot-swappable, and when your mouse runs flat, you can swiftly substitute in the battery from the base station (which charges while plugged in). As a result, you’ll quite literally never run out of battery — ideal for competitive gamers.

While the Rival Pro mouse lacks a USB port for wired play, this infinite power system means you’ll honestly never need it — totally removing any additional weight or awkwardness that comes with a cable connection.

With an 8K polling rate, SuperSync — which enables you to independently control tracking and clicking polling rates, and aim tools to boot, it truly feels like the perfect gaming mouse. But are there any real downsides?

Well, one thing could prove to put some gamers off: the Rival Pro’s price. At $179.99 / £169.99 (about AU$250), this model is certainly a premium product. Is it worth it? If you want peak performance and essentially endless battery life, then yes. But there are plenty of strong options for less than $100 / £100 out there.

All in all, though, the SteelSeries Rival Pro is an innovative, ergonomic gaming mouse with exceptional performance. If you’re looking to take your game up a notch, look no further than this model.

SteelSeries Rival Pro review: price & release date

• Priced at $179.99 / £169.99 (about AU$250)
• Released in October 2026

The SteelSeries Rival Pro was released in October 2026, alongside three other models: the SteelSeries Rival Pro Mini, as well as the SteelSeries Sensei Pro and Sensei Pro Mini. The Rival Pro is priced at $179.99 / £169.99 (about AU$250). That lands it firmly in the premium category, with rivals including the Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike and the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro.

SteelSeries Rival Pro review: specs

Should I buy the SteelSeries Rival Pro?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

SteelSeries Rival Pro review: also consider

How I tested the SteelSeries Rival Pro

• Tested intensively for hours
• Used for gaming and general productivity
• Made use of all features in the GG web app

I spent many hours testing the SteelSeries Rival Pro, during which time I used it for gaming and general productivity.

When gaming, I paired the mouse with the LG UltraGear 25G590B 1000Hz gaming monitor to get the best performance possible. I made sure to play a range of games, but mainly tested the mouse with the PC version of Cyberpunk 2077. On top of this, I made sure to try out all of the mouse’s features and customization options via the GG web app.

More generally, I’ve spent years testing gadgets here at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve reviewed everything from premium Dolby Atmos soundbars to gaming software, and have tested a number of mice, including the recently released Logitech Mobi Fold.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: October 2026

Wharfedale has been having a lovely old time with its range of ‘Heritage’ loudspeakers lately — revisiting, remixing and reworking some of its Greatest Hits. The new Denton 1S, though, is slightly different. It’s an update of a 1974 design that went all-out to present as modern and forward-thinking. And so this reinterpretation has a ‘modern retro’ vibe rather than the ‘antique’ feel of other Wharfedale ‘Heritage’ models.

The curvy cabinet with its recessed front baffle, the mildly dramatic coaxial driver arrangement (which sees the tweeter positioned in throat of the mid/bass driver) and the handily compact dimensions are all attractive — and the option of a fairly deep blue as a finish doesn’t do any harm in this respect either. The numbers, both in terms of frequency response and of sensitivity, are encouraging too.

And when they’re doing their thing, it’s immediately apparent that the Wharfedale Denton 1S are no mere pastiche — they are a profoundly competitive pair of loudspeakers on their own terms and yes, it's a good enough performance to make them some of the best stereo speakers on the market, right now.

The sound is, ultimately, slightly small-scale — but it’s organised, confident, entertaining, loaded with detail and has real unity and singularity to the way it’s presented. Yes, $999 / £649 spent elsewhere on a small pair of passive standmount speakers will buy you something different in sonic terms, certainly, but it’s very debatable indeed as to whether it can buy you anything better.

Wharfedale Denton 1S Review: Price and release date

• Launched May 31, 2026
• List price of $999 / £649 / AU$1,699

The Wharfedale Denton 1S speakers are available now, and in the United Kingdom a pair will set you back £649. In the United States this solution costs $999, while in Australia the going rate is AU$1,699 or thereabouts.

At this money, the just about cheaper Dali Sonik 1 might be their chief competition, at $900 / £449.99 / AU$849. And just to throw it out there, while many pricier options obviously exist, Cambridge Audio's Award-winning active L/R S can be yours for a little less, at $549 / £399 / AU$949. Something to consider, anyway.

Wharfedale Denton 1S review: Features

• Coaxial tweeter / mid/bass driver
• ‘Brilliance’ switch
• Rear-facing bass reflex port

Passive loudspeakers have purity of purpose and are, unless someone’s being bloodyminded, relatively simple devices. Their list of features is seldom exhaustive. It’s a sign of just how straightforward passive loudspeakers tend to be that the Denton 1S stands apart simply because of a small rocker switch on the rear of each cabinet.

Unlike 1974’s original Denton 1, the Denton 1S features a truly coaxial driver arrangement. Here a 25mm soft-dome tweeter sits in the acoustic centre of a 165mm mid/bass driver made from polypropylene. Here, as with any coaxial driver, the idea is to offer superior time-alignment and driver integration.

With the forward-firing drivers bolstered by a rear-facing bass reflex port, Wharfedale is quoting a frequency response of 50Hz — 20kHz and sensitivity of 88dB — that second figure strongly suggests this speaker will be in no way tricky to drive. Of course, the orientation of the reflex port means that low frequency presence is likely to increase the closer to a rear surface the speaker is positioned — and that’s where the little rocker switches come in.

It’s described as a ‘brilliance’ control, and its two positions are labelled ‘norm’ and ‘max’. The idea is that setting the switch to ‘max’ will give a 1.5dB boost to the 2 - 4kHz area, which should allow the upper frequencies to hold their own against the emboldened low end in the event that the reflex port is delivering a little too much of a good thing. Of course, it will take the listener roughly no time at all to establish whether or not they think the ‘max’ setting is a good idea or not.

• Features score: 5 / 5

Wharfedale Denton 1S review: Sound quality

• Detailed, energetic and rhythmically coherent sound
• Great imaging and stereo focus
• Ultimately sound fractionally small-scale

Owners of loft apartments, aircraft hangars and the like, look away now. There’s a huge amount to enjoy about the way the Wharfedale Denton 1S perform, but when it comes to outright scale, the ability to fill an authentically large space with sound, there are better options around that cost a similar amount of money.

Everyone else, though, should read on.

No matter the source of music, no matter if it’s as straightforward as Looped by Kiasmos or as relatively complex as Re-make/Re-model by Roxy Music, the Denton 1S get an immediate handle on it. They’re a generously entertaining listen, vigorous in a nicely controlled manner, and carry enough detail along with them to make sure you’re as informed as you are stimulated.

That coaxial driver arrangement works a treat inasmuch as the imaging and stereo focus the speakers are capable of is completely convincing. There’s a unity and a togetherness about the way the Wharfedale present recordings that’s never less than enjoyable and periodically absorbing. In combination with their spirited and enthusiastic attitude, it makes for a genuine sense of performance — even if you’re listening to a recording that was never a performance in the first place. And while the soundstage isn’t the largest, it’s properly defined and rigorously organised.

The tonal balance is, fractionally, on the warmer side of neutral — but as long as the system that’s powering the speakers isn’t overtly toasty then it really shouldn’t be an issue. Frequency response, too, is just slightly titled. There’s a tiny suggestion of emphasis on the lowest frequencies, but again this is only likely to be a concern if the speakers are powered by a bass-centric set-up. Anyway, low-end control is confident and the Wharfedale express rhythms with real coherence as a result.

Midrange resolution is impressive too, and there’s real eloquence to the way the Denton 1S handle voices. Detail retrieval, which is impressive across the board, really comes to the fore here — the character and attitude imbued in a vocal performance, as well as information regarding timbre and technique, are made apparent. And at the top of the frequency range, the Wharfedale attack with determination — but there’s plenty of substance, as well as brilliance, to treble sounds, and never any suggestion of edginess or hardness.

The attention to detail extends as far as the dynamic of harmonic variation, and there’s a fair amount of capacity where the broader dynamics of volume or intensity are concerned. When the charge into the last chorus or the massed orchestral crescendo kicks in, the Denton 1S track it faithfully — and they do so without altering their sonic characteristics in the slightest.

And you don’t need a brute of an amplifier to enjoy all of these admirable attributes. The Wharfedale are in no way tricky to drive; even a modestly priced amplifier with unremarkable power numbers should have no problem getting the best from these speakers. And ‘the best’ is, on a pound-for-pound basis, at least on a par with the very best around.

• Sound quality score: 4.5 / 5

Wharfedale Denton 1S review: Design

• 330 x 236 x 229mm (HxWxD)
• Magnetically attached grilles
• Choice of three finishes

The coaxial driver means the Denton 1S should be just as happy (and effective) positioned on its side as it is standing upright. And the fact that Wharfedale has provided an integrated fitting for a wall bracket suggests the company thinks the speaker will perform successfully if it’s wall-mounted too. Cabinet depth of 229mm (which obviously increases with the pair of speaker cable binding posts at the rear) doesn’t automatically shout ‘wall-mount!’ to me, though, I have to admit.

Mind you, no matter where you position the Wharfedale they look good. The cabinet features the same curves and the same recessed front baffle as the original Denton 1 — in white, especially, there’s more than a hint of that late-60s / early-70s futurism that started years previously with the likes of Dieter Rams and Stanley Kubrick. Unlike the original model, though, which was made from moulded polyurethane that looked and felt super-modern but was a bit of a disaster in acoustic terms, the Denton 1S is made from bonded and braced fibreboard. Less modern, more effective.

That recessed front baffle allows the magnetically attached grilles to almost sit within the cabinet, and they’re flush with the top, bottom and side panels when they’re in position. Both the grille and the front baffle features a quite assertive stylised ‘W’ logo that lets you know you’re in the presence of a ‘Heritage’ Wharfedale design.

The compulsory options of black and white are joined by a third finish — the deep-ish blue of my review sample. Each of the available finishes looks good, no two ways about it, but the dimensions and the shape of the Denton 1S could quite easily lend themselves to quite a few other colours. It works for Dali and Cambridge, and I see no reason why Wharfedale shouldn’t produce the Denton 1S in some livelier finishes than are currently on offer.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

Wharfedale Denton 1S review: Usability and setup

• Attach some speaker cable running from an amplifier
• Position the speakers to your satisfaction
• Experiment with grille and ‘brilliance’ switch

Just as with ‘features’, there’s really not too much to get your head around here. You’ll decide to position your speakers on dedicated stands, or on wall-brackets, or on a shelf… no matter where you want them, though, they’ll need to be connected to an amplifier via a couple of lengths of speaker cable.

After they’re positioned and running, you have just a couple of chances to have some input into the way they sound. The sonic difference between ‘grille on’ and ‘grille off’ is, quite honestly, less significant than the visual difference — but you will most definitely have a preference as to whether you prefer your ‘brilliance’ switch at ‘norm’ or ‘max’.

• Usability and setup score: 5 / 5

Wharfedale Denton 1S review: Value

It’s very hard indeed to argue against the notion that there’s great value for money on offer here. The Wharfedale Denton 1S are properly made, expertly finished, visually interesting (everything’s relative, after all), intriguing on a technological level and, most importantly of all, sound engaging and alert. Unless you crave absolutely as much sonic scale as this sort of money can buy, there’s an awful lot to enjoy and even admire here.

• Value score: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Wharfedale Denton 1S?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Wharfedale Denton 1S : Also consider

How I tested the Wharfedale Denton 1S

With the Wharfedale Denton 1S on a pair of Blok Axis stands, I connect them to my reference system: Cambridge Edge W power amplifier, Eversolo DAC-Z10 pre-amplifier, Technics SL1300G turntable (with Goldring 1022 cartridge and preamplified by a Chord Huei), Arcam ST25 network streamer and Rega Apollo CD player — so I was able to listen to music from many storage formats and at a wide variety of resolutions. And then in an effort to up the ‘retro’ credentials just a little, I replaced the pre- and power amplifier with an A&R Cambridge A60 integrated amplifier from 1976.

• First reviewed: October 2026
• Read TechRadar's review guarantee

Like the H2C, there’s the multi-tool functionality, but as you’ll see from the images, the system is all new, with dedicated tools in the Swaptek Tool Changer rather than the Vortek hotend-changing system, so something closer to the Bondtech INDX tool changers.

An interesting update is the ability to print with different-sized nozzles, so a fine 0.2 mm for fine detail, going to a 0.8 mm for infill and areas where speed is preferable to fine finishes. What I have discovered through the month that I’ve had the printer so far is that this is an evolution of the 3D printing process, refining the techniques and while this technology and its application are still being ironed out, the full potential is apparent.

Adding to the multi-diameter printing is the advanced TPU handling. This essentially enables you to print with thicker 2.85 mm filament using the PrintTool hotend. As the filament is thicker, it supports softer TPU, and again, there’s a learning process behind its use. It’s not quite as simple as popping it in and letting it go, but it is a step in the right direction.

Sitting on top of the machine is the new AMS 3H filament management system that holds up to nine filaments, with two slots enabling integrated drying and bypass feeds for specialist materials.

I’ll admit, as the boxes kept arriving and the H3C started to take shape on the workbench, the machine did seem to dominate the space. However, after squeezing in the H2C next to it, while the new AMS gives a visual impression of scale, the footprint of the two machines is much the same.

The big question for me at the start of this test was whether this new machine and design was a direct replacement for the H2C or something altogether new. It certainly initially looks far more complex, but then, as I became more familiar with the machine, the full tool changer design, once assembled, did seem, a little more simplistic and certainly more reliable as I pushed the print times and complexities.

One point to note is that throughout the test, while I had the machine and seemingly every accessory that I could need to go with it, the actual official machine specifications and final tweaking of the software were still to be released.

What Bambu did supply was a few test models and an extensive set of instructions about how to tackle each of the main new features. There was also a set of complex models that I used to start the test before deviating to some of my own, and then back to the supplied models to finish the test.

I’ll cover more of those tests in the performance section, but what interested me was using this printer for a real practical task. This is, after all, a business-class machine, although the price will put this just in range of the keen enthusiast as well.

The main project for this test was to print and build a set of speakers from Print Your Speakers, with the Supersonic MK3 kit fitting the bill for this test. Essentially, a solid PLA outer with TPU to add damping to the infill, and then a switch of nozzle sizes for the fine detail of the outer wall and a thicker nozzle for the inner walls.

This is where the learning curve of this machine and the Bambu Lab software really comes into play, and while that learning curve is steep.

As the test ran on, the potential of this machine started to grow. While multi-filament and tool changer machines now dominate and Bambu Lab’s lead in the field was quickly fading, especially with the Original Prusa CORE One INDX, of which the H3C’s new system bears more than a passing resemblance. But with support for 2.85 mm TPU and multiple other materials, it now pushes them back out in front and truly offers something unique, although there are still a few refinements needed.

Bambu Lab H3C: Price and availability

The H3C will be available to purchase from the Bambu Lab website from 3 November 2026, following the official launch. Unlike the H2C, there is just one configuration available at launch, with the AMS 3H and all nine PrintTools included.

• H3C AMS Combo: $2,499 / £2,199
• Combo + PLA Palette + TPU: $2,589 /£2,269
• Combo + PLA Palette + TPU + Bambu Station (Enclosed) + E1 Air Purifier:
• $3,049 / £2,699
• Combo + PLA Palette + TPU + Bambu Station (Open): $2,799 / £2,469

Bambu Lab H3C: Design

The Bambu Lab H3C is a 3D printer on another scale, and whilst it doesn’t look that much larger than the H2C initially, once you start to work with it and try to move it around the workshop, you suddenly realise that its colossal 36.28 kg weight and physical dimensions of 493 × 571 × 587 mm make it more of a two-person lift than something you’re able to handle on your own.

That would explain why Bambu Lab also sent a special trolley along with the machine, so it’s easy to access and move around the workshop. The issue at the moment is that there are so many 3D printers coming out that my workshop doesn’t have any space, so this will be something that I will manoeuvre the printer onto once I can find a pathway through the workshop to get the two sections to meet.

As it was, I decided to set this machine up in the photo area, and I’ve already manoeuvred the H2C next to it so that I can do a side-by-side comparison on size and scale, however, again this left little room as the the scale of these machine is rapidly increasing.

As I first lifted the H3C into position, the two machines looked roughly the same size, but as I started to add the huge new AMS 3H on top, I realised that this was an altogether different proposition.

As I unpacked the machine, it was obvious that Bambu Lab had taken a completely different direction to multi tool head printing compared with the H2C, and the H3C has something more akin to the INDX tool changer. You can definitely see the similarities. As I went through the initial setup, what was surprising here was just how easy and straightforward it was, and whilst the machine was large, the actual placing of the AMS on top and positioning all of the nozzles wasn’t at all difficult.

The only thing that you do need to make sure of is that there are nine tools included: eight with 0.4 mm PrintTools for 1.75 mm filament and one dedicated 0.4 mm PrintTool for 2.85 mm filament. Careful reference to the instructions as you’re setting up is essential to make sure that this nozzle goes in the right place.

Before taking a closer look at this new system, it’s worth pointing out that the AMS 3H is quite an evolution on the AMS 2, sitting on top of the machine and really integrating more closely with the design compared with the add-on box of the AMS 2. This, I know, will please a lot of print farms, which, whilst generally fans of the Bambu Lab machines, find the AMS 2 is often a weak point and the part that they have to replace most often. One point here is that, of those nine slots, there’s a separate section within the rack which enables just two of those nine slots to be actively dried.

As we’ve seen before, you can also add more AMS units, enabling up to 24-colour printing, up from the nine possible out of the box.

Once I got everything set up and installed, which, to be honest, didn’t take too long, it was then time to connect the machine to the local network via Wi-Fi 6. As ever, this was as straightforward and simple as with all other Bambu Lab machines. One of the surprises is that a machine of this size and scale, especially aimed at the professional market, doesn’t feature an Ethernet port.

The other point here is that as soon as it connected, it ran through a series of updates before then going through the calibration process. So, while the machine itself is really well designed and easy to set up, the software updating and full calibration process can take up to an hour, which is slightly infuriating when I was quite excited to see what this machine was capable of doing.

After the Wi-Fi connection, calibration and everything else had been run through, it was time to connect through the Bambu Studio software, and again, a few clicks through the beta release that we were given, enabled me to connect quickly to the printer.

However, as always, before running through my own prints and some of those others that had been supplied to fully test out this new machine’s abilities, I ran through the standard test prints on the machine. These are the usual 3D Benchy and variants, alongside scrapers and a few other bits and bobs, as expected. It ran through all of those prints flawlessly, and then it was time to cross over to Bambu Studio.

Bambu Lab actually supplied some very interesting test models, which I go into in the performance section, but before I went into these multi-filament, multicolour designs, I decided to test out some of my more standard prints. This just enabled me to double-check the calibration and also try out a few different materials.

There are two built-in 1080p cameras, with an optional Bird’s Eye camera available as well. The chamber heats up to 65°C, with a 120°C heated bed and a 350°C maximum nozzle temperature.

Leaving the machine just to run through those few prints, I was able to step back and take a proper look at the machine, and it is an evolution of what we’ve seen with the other H series printers, just slightly larger. Again, this is a steel chassis, which gives it structural support and also makes it insanely heavy to lift around the workshop.

The outer is plastic, with a grey and black exterior that looks stylish, just in the same vein as we’ve seen with the other Bambu Lab hardware. On the front, you’ve got a big viewing window so that you can see what’s going on with the print, and whilst the top-mounted AMS 3H does stop you from looking down into the machine, it's integrated rather than being a separate unit, which I personally really like.

As we’ve seen before, there’s a really nice 5-inch colour touchscreen, with an 854 × 480 display resolution, and this is very responsive, giving me full access to all the functions and settings. However, it is getting more complex, especially with those nine toolheads. It does take a little bit of extra time just to orientate yourself with all of those different settings.

Across the front is the main feature of this new 3D printer, obviously the new nine-toolhead rack, and what’s interesting here is that the rack raises and lowers, so if you do want to see what’s going on on the print bed, it’s far easier than with some of the other multiple systems of this style out there. At all times, however, you can see where the influence of the Prusa CORE One INDX version has influenced Bambu Lab’s slight change of direction, although they’ve taken that style of design in a slightly different direction.

The rack features nine individual PrintTool docking positions, and these all automatically dock with tool alignment and offset compensation. What’s interesting here is that there are dedicated filament paths for each PrintTool, meaning that each works completely independently, and there are integrated filament cutters within the PrintTools, again just to help speed things up. When it comes to the extruder and internal mechanisms, they all use hardened steel, with hardened-steel extruder gears and nozzles rated at HRC 55+.

As ever, we see a flexible steel build plate, and this is a decent size, with a 330 × 320 × 325 mm build volume enabling you to tackle all sorts of projects, especially with the huge material support this new printer offers.

Bambu Lab H3C: Features

It’s difficult to do a quick run-through of the features because, over the H2C, things have really progressed, and the new Swaptek nine-tool changing system is a real evolution of design. You can’t help feeling it’s heavily influenced by the INDX system that we’ve seen from Bondtech and featured on the latest Prusa CORE One machines.

However, over that system, there are plenty of changes, and it’s obviously got the Bambu Lab spin, with automatic tool changes that happen in under six seconds. There’s also active preheating that essentially anticipates the upcoming tool changes and heats the next nozzle in advance, making complex models slightly faster to print than on some of those other systems.

One of the features that I noticed early on, and one of the issues with other systems of this style, is that quite often the tool rack gets in the way of being able to see the print area. However, once that new tool is selected, the tool rack actually retracts upwards so that you get a good clear view of the print area, and it also helps to keep the filament tubes out of the way.

Feeding all of those nine new toolheads is the redesign of the AMS system, known as the AMS 3H, that manages the filaments in an integrated box that sits on top of the machine. Like the AMS 2, it's a sealed storage option and helps protect the filaments inside from moisture.

Again, as we’ve seen in the past, it has automatic filament loading and routing that works exceptionally well, and with RFID built in, as long as you’re using Bambu Lab’s own materials, they’ll be automatically recognised and synced with the software, making the whole process that much easier.

One of the surprises is that only two of those nine slots are actively dried, so if you do have filaments that are more prone to moisture than others, then they should sit in those two. There’s a cover that sits over the top, so it’s pretty easy to see which two those are.

As ever, there are also expansion options, so if you have other AMS systems and you want to plug them in, the H3C supports additional AMS units for up to 24-colour printing.

One of the new additions is the FlexFeed extruder that supports both 1.75 mm and 2.85 mm filament, and there’s also a dedicated 2.85 mm filament path for flexible materials such as TPU. While TPU for AMS can just be used directly on the machine, as I discovered when I printed speakers with files from Print Your Speakers, when it came to printing other softer TPU, you have to use one of the bypass feed ports and quickly change part of the installation and feed to the toolheads.

The first time you do it, it takes a little bit of time and working out, but essentially, the soft TPU needs to go into one of the slots that enables active drying. TPU is hygroscopic and collects water like a sponge, so ensuring that it’s nice and dry before it goes through the system is just going to improve and help with the quality of the print.

You then feed that through into the 2.85 mm supporting toolhead, but rather than running through the filament feed tube, you bypass the tube, cutting just a small length that goes into the toolhead and then directly into the extruder. This just helps with the smooth movement of the TPU filament through the system. This means that it can actually cope with TPU all the way down to 75A, perfect for some of the projects that Bambu Lab supplied.

Using TPU in the system is not uncommon, but you still have to reconfigure the system slightly. Bambu Lab has made that slightly easier, and of course, you also have the ability to print with multiple materials and multiple colours.

But what impressed me the most is that with the Bambu Lab PLA palette, which is a new range of filaments, you can print with CMYKW to enable colour mixing using cyan, magenta, yellow, black and white filaments. The end results, as you’re seeing in some of the sample pictures, are quite amazing, enabling far more colourful and complex prints than has previously been possible.

But it’s not just about multiple colour-mixing filaments. You can also use a huge amount of engineering materials because of the hardened nozzles and the actively heated chamber, so utilising ABS, ASA, PA, PC and carbon-filled composites is all perfectly possible.

Further supporting the flexibility over the way you print is that there are multiple nozzle sizes, including 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 mm. But what makes a difference here is that you can optimise it to work using those different nozzles in one print. That means you can speed up the printing of the interior support structure with, say, a 0.6 or 0.8 mm nozzle and get that fine-quality finish on the exterior with a 0.2 or 0.4 mm nozzle. This is something very new.

There’s also been a range of feature enhancements for speed, with a maximum toolhead speed of 1,400 mm/s and acceleration of 25,000 mm/s². To keep up with that high-speed printing, the hotend flow rate of 40 mm³/s is also impressive, although these run to Bambu Lab’s own test conditions rather than what you’re actually going to see in the real world.

Something which I haven’t really been able to look at in any depth is the CraftTool support, and we’re starting to see Bambu Lab not only promote their machines for 3D printing but for other craft uses. This is what really made the H2D such an interesting machine. Potentially, in the near future, the CraftTools will enable automatic switching between compatible printing and crafting tools, so there will be blade cutting, drawing and debossing, but I’ll bring you more on that when I’ve been able to look at it properly.

As I mentioned in the Design section, Bambu Lab and, actually, quite a few of the other manufacturers are starting to take filtration seriously, and here we’ve got the H11 HEPA filter, granulated coconut-shell activated-carbon filter and an integrated chamber exhaust and circulation system. Bambu Lab actually even provided an air filter with the machine, which has been very handy, especially in quite a crowded workshop.

When it comes to features, the H3C is one of the most feature-packed printers to have come onto the market yet, but with all of those features comes an added level of complexity that could cause issues in the long run, and the only way to discover those is to ensure that, over the month of having this machine, it has been running almost constantly.

Bambu Lab H3C: Performance

As these 3D printers get more complex and the models that they’re able to produce become increasingly more elaborate, mixing not only colours but materials, the time it takes to fully test one of these machines is rapidly increasing.

Thankfully, Bambu Lab recognises that whilst machines are speeding up, when it comes to fully testing some of those mixed-filament options, it doesn’t just take hours; it takes days for each print to be produced. In order for you to run through all of the test prints provided, including rerouting different filaments, that all takes a considerable amount of time.

But thankfully, I’ve had this printer for almost six weeks, and through that time, there have only been brief periods where it has remained dormant. Otherwise, filament after filament has gone through, producing everything from pinhole cameras out of carbon-filled filament through to some quite incredible desktop speakers, thanks to the guys at printyourspeakers.com, and of course, the extremely elaborate models that the guys at Bambu Lab provided to test out this printer.

Before I go into that, I’ll just quickly run through the setup process of the machine, as whilst this machine looks extremely complex, the actual setup process is typically Bambu. Essentially, with the machine arriving in two boxes, the machine and a separate box for the AMS, it only took about half an hour before the machine was sitting proudly on the workbench, looking ready to produce its first print.

The instructions are pretty clearly laid out, and as you’d expect, the large 5-inch touchscreen gives you all the information you need. Once everything is plugged in and connected, you then simply load the filament, and it’s pretty much set to go. However, as always, that complexity comes with a large extra step.

First, you download and install the firmware, which all ran through nice and quickly, but then it was on to the full setup calibration. Whilst it doesn’t actually take any involvement from yourself other than clicking a couple of buttons, it does take about an hour, and when you have a machine of this size and potential in front of you, that wait is slightly agonising but unfortunately essential.

Once the machine had run through its copious amount of checks and all the nozzles had been calibrated, it was time to run through the first set of prints, and here I had three different options. Firstly, those pre-installed on the machine in the 64 GB internal storage; the second was my usual test prints; and the third was the additional files that Bambu Lab had provided to fully test out the system.

I opted for the quick run of those prints in storage just to check whether the calibration had worked and everything was printing correctly, and sure enough, print after print came off the print bed without issue, mixing the colours beautifully into pretty good-quality standard prints. All of these that I started with initially were PLA and mainly ends of reels from previous reviews.

Then it was on to my own test prints, and again, the accuracy and precision of the printer really stood out, and I was also impressed with the relative speed. One of the big points here is that the tool-changing system, as I saw with the INDX, vastly increases print speeds when compared with the H2C, which is a machine that I actively always have set up and running.

The speeds with this new system are again slightly faster. A quick test of those print speeds on the H3C, printing the two-tone tree frog in large, took two hours and three minutes, with about eight minutes taken for the preparation time and the rest on the actual model printing. This compared with almost three hours on the H2C, and whilst it was far faster on the preparation and checks at just under six minutes, the print time was closer to two hours and 50 minutes. Finally, comparing it with the H2D, surprisingly, it put in a similar time to the H2C.

As I ran through the test, the speed of the machine was the first thing that really stood out, and with a relatively large print bed as well, I was able to print large projects with absolute ease. Support structures went in nice and easily, and I always use PLA support, although as I started to venture into Bambu Lab’s own models, I realised the standard PLA support was just not delicate enough for what was needed, and PVA support, which could be washed away, would have been a better option.

Through my own models, there were quite a few different projects that I wanted to really give a go. The first was a pinhole camera that I had designed for some lectures and was small. It's a good way to test out dimensional accuracy, as I had to drop in a brass-sheet pinhole lens that I had designed and make it tripod-mountable, with brass inserts used for the screw thread.

As the box also had to be lightproof, dimensional accuracy due to the fitting and removing of a lightproof back was also essential, and using a carbon-filled filament with solid infill just ensured that the whole box would stay lightproof. I also had to feature a sliding shutter mechanism that would cover the brass aperture, so again, quality of surface printing as well as dimensional accuracy was absolutely essential.

After running several iterations of the design, I came up with the final product and tested it in the studio with success, producing small prints onto photographic paper through a 0.3 mm aperture. The quality of the print and success of the project just highlighted the first bit of flexibility with this machine and its design.

The next was to call on somebody with a lot more experience with high-quality and precision engineering 3D design, and the guys at Print Your Speakers provided me with the Supersonic MK3 desktop speaker kit to give this new printer a go. There were several angles that I wanted to fully test that no other printer would be able to do.

The first was obviously to print speakers using PLA for the outer, but then rather than having PLA infill, I wanted it to be TPU in order to help absorb some of the sound. I also wanted to be able to swap between nozzle sizes, all of which took a little bit of experimentation, and at present this is an area of the systems use that I will have to come back to, as at the moment I haven't had any success. I then tested a straight PLA box against the PLA and TPU mixed box, and the difference in audio quality was apparent, with a far deeper sound from the more advanced material-mix option.

Having now tried a variety of different materials and options through the machine, I was pretty confident about setting off with some of Bambu Lab’s own models to fully test out its abilities. The first was the FROSTSPINE Dragon Bust 1015, which used a variety of materials and took a while to organise the different materials that were needed into the AMS and configure the system.

Printing this started to point out the big difference between the old Bambu Lab multi-filament AMS systems and this new iteration. It's far more complex, and along with the printing guides that helped guide you through the setup, there’s definitely a greater skill required to get the most out of this machine.

It took two or three initial attempts before that model rattled off the print bed, taking several days to complete. I then moved on to the hummingbird frame, which was a simple multi-filament PLA mix, and here I really started to see the full potential, being able to mix the colours to create colours that weren’t directly available from a single filament but only once they were blended together, and the results were spectacular.

The only thing was that I accidentally used PLA support rather than PVA support, so once the final model printed, which took several days, it was going to be a long process to break away all of that support. The intricacy and delicacy of many of the models that you’re now able to print on this machine far exceed what you’ve been able to do before.

Through this whole process, the one thing that became apparent was that this is a far more hands-on machine, and there is an obvious learning curve, especially working with all the different toolheads, nozzle sizes, bypass filament feeds and potentially additional CraftTools. This is a very feature-enhanced workshop machine at a price that will appeal to both enthusiasts and professionals.

Bambu Lab H3C: Final verdict

In those six weeks of testing, I feel like I’ve only just started to scrape the surface of what’s possible, but there are several key points that I’ve learnt through this test. The first is that if you just want to get straight into printing, then there are cheaper machines out there which will enable you to do that. So if you only print with up to four filaments, which most people do, then the complexity of this machine might be just a little bit above what you need.

But then, as you start to embrace all its options and capabilities, and if you’re willing to sit down and learn about how to mix materials, how to use those different nozzle sizes together and obviously all those different filament types, then you have a 3D printer that is really quite different from anything that’s come before and sets the tone for what’s coming up in the future.

Whilst there are more than passing similarities with the INDX system, what Bambu Lab has done here is to evolve what it had done with its previous multi-filament systems and, with this new option, create something that is far more advanced.

With that increasing complexity come its own issues, and through the process of this review, I did have occasions where I had to rerun the full calibration as one of the nozzles wasn’t quite sitting right. Then there’s the whole bypass reconfiguration of the filament feed, which does get quite complex, but once you’ve done it once, you basically allocate one toolhead to TPU, still leaving you with eight for all other filaments.

The options and possibilities for this machine are huge, and through this review, I’ve just been incredibly impressed with the overall quality. Each firmware update has fixed some of the issues that I was having early on, such as the RFID not recognising filament reels and, for some reason, the auto-feed system suddenly not auto-feeding. But after the update, those issues were fixed.

I also had, as you might be able to see on the speaker set, a slight issue with surface finish, but then that’s because I was experimenting with some of those more advanced features, and this was the first time that I had configured the whole process myself in the software. Later, small models printed with much better quality, but again, this is all part of that learning process. As it stands, this printer is a definite evolution of what’s possible and an exciting glimpse into the future of 3D printing.

Should I buy the Bambu Lab H3C 3D printer?

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It's been a long time coming, but Apple has finally addressed more than a few people's wish lists with its latest-generation iPad mini. Yes, it's still the smallest iPad in terms of display size, not price, but this upgrade is really about the sum of its parts.

The jump to OLED is the headline upgrade, and paired with a thinner, lighter build and plenty of performance under the hood, it makes a big, big difference. The 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR display is an absolute joy to use; whether I'm watching a film, playing a game, editing photos, or just scrolling through iPadOS, everything looks fantastic.

If you've been holding out for an OLED iPad mini, this is the upgrade you've been waiting for. It's a major improvement, even without ProMotion, and the improved refresh responsiveness makes everyday scrolling and swiping feel that much more seamless.

The design is another big part of the story. At just 5.33mm thick and 254g, the iPad mini is deceptively slim and light. The mini was already the iPad I find easiest to take pretty much anywhere, but this new model is even more comfortable to hold and use for longer stretches. And while it might look familiar, there are some meaningful changes beyond the thinner build. The new IP67 rating adds welcome water and dust resistance, giving the mini more durability for everyday use, and giving you peace of mind if you're sharing it with family members.

It also packs plenty of power. The A20 Pro chip makes multitasking, photo editing, gaming, and even some of Apple's newer AI features, which demand a fair bit of power, feel effortless. Battery life has been solid in my testing, too, getting close to Apple's 10-hour claim, while the N1 chip brings Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread connectivity. If you opt for the Cellular model, you also get Apple's C2 modem.

Of course, all of this comes at a price. The iPad mini starts at $699, so it's certainly not the cheapest iPad in Apple's lineup. The model I've been testing is the 512GB Wi-Fi and Cellular version with the optional nano-texture display, which comes in at $1,099. That's a considerable investment for a tablet this size, but the mini has never really been about offering the lowest entry price. It's for people who want this particular screen size and the portability that comes with it, and Apple has now managed to squeeze a whole lot more value into this little package.

There are still a couple of things I'd like to see, most notably ProMotion and a more exciting selection of colors. But those small issues don't take away from how much I enjoy using this iPad. The OLED display makes a world of difference, the slimmer build is even better, and the combination of performance, battery life, and added durability makes this a seriously capable little tablet. If you're already a fan of the iPad mini, you'll love a lot about this generation.

Apple iPad mini 8.5-inch (2026) review: Specs

Apple iPad mini 8.5-inch (2026) review: Pricing and availability

Apple's new iPad mini starts at $699 / £699 / AU$1,099 for the Wi-Fi model, or $849 / £849 / AU$1,349 if you want Wi-Fi and Cellular. Apple began taking preorders on October 28, ahead of the tablet's official launch on November 6, 2026.

You can configure your iPad mini with 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage. If you want Apple's nano-texture display, you'll need to choose either the 256GB or 512GB model, and that adds $100 / £100 / AU$200 to the price. Apple also includes a polishing cloth in the box with nano-texture models.

• Value score: 4 / 5

Apple iPad mini 8.5-inch (2026) review: Design

• Super light and thin
• This makes for more of an upgrade than you might expect from reading the specs
• Still the most portable iPad in the lineup

The new iPad mini is really, really thin — almost deceptively so — and won't weigh your hand down at all. At just 5.33mm thick and 254g, it's noticeably slimmer and lighter than the previous generation, which measured 6.35mm and weighed 295g.

The iPad mini has always been the most portable tablet in Apple's lineup, offering much of the full-size iPad experience in a much smaller package. That's still true here, but the latest model takes that portability even further. It's easy to hold in one hand while scrolling, throw into a bag for a trip to the cafe, and take pretty much anywhere. It's genuinely pocketable when you're wearing a jacket, and, interestingly, weighs less than an iPhone Duo.

The overall design hasn't changed dramatically, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. The slimmer build brings it even closer to offering that 'sheet-of-glass' look and feel, while also making it more comfortable to hold for longer viewing sessions. The display is larger, too, thanks to the slimmer bezels, so you're getting more screen without sacrificing that compact form factor.

On the front, Apple has moved the 12MP Center Stage camera so it's on the top edge when you're holding the mini in landscape orientation, aligning it with the rest of the iPad lineup. There's still no Face ID; Touch ID is built into the power button instead, and it works quickly to unlock the tablet and authorize purchases. The separate volume buttons sit nearby, with their orientation changing depending on how you're holding the iPad.

Flip it around and you'll find the centered Apple logo, rear camera, and Adaptive True Tone flash. The USB-C port is on the bottom when you're holding the mini in portrait mode, and a microphone sits near the Center Stage camera.

One thing you might notice is what's missing here: the speaker grilles. Apple has done away with those cutouts as part of its new Acoustic Audio system, which I'll get into more in the Audio section below. It makes for a much cleaner look, and the change also makes IP67 water and dust resistance possible — a first for the iPad mini, and a welcome addition. I've tested it with a little water, and the iPad stands up just fine; it's nice to know you can take it to the beach or use it in the rain. It's also some useful added durability for a tablet the whole family could easily use.

The one area where I'm a little less enthusiastic is the choice of colors. The A17 Pro iPad mini came in Blue and Purple, while here you can choose between Starlight and Midnight. I've been testing Midnight, which has a very dark blue look, but it does show fingerprints on the rear. Paired with Apple's new TechWoven Folio, though, it makes for a nice-looking setup.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

Apple iPad mini 8.5-inch (2026) review: Display

• OLED display is a terrific addition
• Content looks exceptionally great here, with rich blacks and vibrant colors
• Nano-texture pairs really well with OLED and lets you use the iPad mini in any light

It feels like we've been asking Apple to bring an OLED display to the iPad mini for years — it's certainly been a wish of mine — and Apple finally delivered this year. Whether you're coming from the previous-generation iPad mini or older model, this is pretty close to a night-and-day experience.

The 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR display is an absolute joy to use. It's OLED, so blacks are properly inky, colors really pop, and everything looks fantastic. It's a great tablet for running through some tasks, drawing with the Apple Pencil, FaceTiming with family and friends, and especially for watching content.

Admittedly, it's only 0.2 inches larger than the previous display, so you're not getting much extra usable space. But the visuals are much more vibrant, everything looks crisper, and it's a more immersive view. At this size, it's made a real difference in my iPad mini experience.

I found myself editing photos in Pixelmator Pro and Apple's Photos app, drawing in Procreate, and playing games like Mini Metro and Mini Motorways to see how quickly visuals render and how much colors can pop. Watching films like Toy Story 5 or Moana on Disney+ was a blast, too, and the same goes for catching up on Ted Lasso on Apple TV. HDR content, in particular, benefits from the OLED panel, with more pronounced contrast and colors that really jump off the screen. This is a fantastic little movie-watching tablet.

The new mini also gets a brightness boost, with peak brightness reaching 1,200 nits for HDR and 600 nits in everyday use, up from 500 nits on the previous generation. You'll notice that difference indoors and outdoors, especially when watching HDR content. And when you're using the iPad mini outside, that extra brightness paired with NanoTexture makes a big difference.

Which brings us to the optional nano-texture upgrade. Available on the 256GB and 512GB models, it costs an extra $100 / £100 / AU$200, and adds Apple's proprietary, etched coating over the Super Retina XDR display. It's incredibly effective at reducing glare from both natural and artificial light sources, as well as reflections on the screen. Apple has brought this technology to several other products, including the iPad Pro, MacBooks, iMacs, and Studio Displays, and there's also a slightly different implementation on the iPhone Duo.

I've found nano-texture particularly useful in direct sunlight. It effectively mutes reflections and cuts down glare, making the display much easier to see when you're out and about. It also gives the screen a more paper-like feel, which makes using either the Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil USB-C particularly nice. I've found myself bringing the iPad mini along to cafes and meetings to take notes, and its size makes it feel a little like carrying a classic Moleskine notebook.

It's not a cheap upgrade, and I haven't tested the standard glass and nano-texture versions side by side. But paired with a more portable iPad than the Air or Pro, and one that now has extra durability, it makes the mini even more enjoyable to use when you're out and about.

Another benefit of the move from LCD to OLED is better display responsiveness, even if the display here doesn't quite reach the 120Hz standard of ProMotion. Apple describes this as sub-pixel millisecond control, and in everyday use, scrolling and swiping feel a little more seamless than on the previous generation, and it does make the display feel that bit more fluid.

It's not, however, ProMotion. The iPad mini is still limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, rather than the super-smooth 120Hz you'll find on Apple's Pro models. As I've said in previous iPhone and iPad reviews, if you're not coming from a device with a higher refresh rate, you probably won't miss it. It's an odd omission here, especially at this starting price, but I've still found the iPad mini responsive in use, with no noticeable issues in everyday use.

All in all, the move to OLED makes a big difference. The new mini is a joy to watch content on, and even using iPadOS feels better on this display.

• Display score: 4.5 / 5

Apple iPad mini 8.5-inch (2026) review: Cameras

• A welcome move for the front-facing camera
• Still a 12MP main camera on the back

Like every other iPad in Apple's lineup, and most that came before it, the iPad mini has two cameras. Around the back is a 12MP wide camera paired with an Adaptive True Tone flash. It's nearly identical to the main camera on the previous-generation iPad mini, and if you do choose to take photos with the mini — and it's probably the most acceptable iPad for that — you'll get some good shots. I wouldn't expect it to rival an iPhone 18 Pro or even an iPhone Air, though.

The real upgrade is the camera built into the bezel around the front display. It's now a 12MP Center Stage camera, positioned centrally on the side of the iPad when you're using it in portrait mode, so that when you're holding it horizontally, it's in the right place for video calls. And when you pair the iPad mini with Apple's Folio Case or a third-party alternative, that's generally how you'll have it positioned when propped up.

Performance here is great for video calls, whether you're using Apple's own FaceTime or jumping into a Webex meeting, Slack huddle, or a Zoom or WhatsApp call. I looked clear and stayed in focus, but as someone who likes to walk and talk, I particularly appreciated Center Stage. As I moved around, the camera and onboard software worked together to keep me in the shot, using smart panning and zooming to follow my movements.

• Cameras score: 4 / 5

Apple iPad mini 8.5-inch (2026) review: Software

• Runs iPadOS 27 out of the box
• Full multitasking with windows is great on this form factor
• Support for two Apple Pencil models

The iPad mini is running iPadOS 27 out of the box, which certainly brings a lot more to the table than previous versions, particularly anything before iPadOS 26. For starters, the iPad mini supports the new Siri AI beta if you opt in and are in an eligible region. You also get the full windowed app experience that Apple introduced with iPadOS 26.

That means you can have several apps open at once, switch between them, and layer windows on top of each other. The mini's 8.5-inch display isn't the largest canvas for this kind of multitasking, but it feels surprisingly expansive, and can handle several apps at once.

Multitasking felt fast, and I often found myself using the iPad mini for more than just one thing at a time, ranging from streaming content or gaming to productivity tasks like emailing and web browsing. I also used it for creative pursuits, including journaling, drawing, and photo editing, as well as simply settling in with a good read.

What I really love about the size here is that, this iPad's name notwithstanding, this is not an especially small display. At 8.5 inches it's closer to the size of a classic notebook or book, so it actually feels pretty expansive, especially when you're working between different apps. Some days, though, I connected a keyboard and trackpad and plugged the iPad mini into an external display to give myself another window to work with.

That's a particularly welcome addition, because the mini is no longer limited to simply mirroring its display on an external monitor. You can also extend your workspace, which opens up even more possibilities for multitasking and getting things done.

I found myself pulling images and other assets from Photos, Files, and Messages, then dropping them straight into Pixelmator Pro. Moving between apps and juggling different windows felt effortless, and it's a good example of what the iPad mini can help you do beyond the usual browsing, streaming, and reading.

Of course, a lot of that comes down to the hardware under the hood. I'll touch on this more in the next section, but the iPad mini runs Apple's A20 Pro chip, from the same family of processors as those powering the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Duo. However, performance differs depending on which storage configuration you choose, so it's worth looking a little closer.

• Software score: 4 / 5

Apple iPad mini 8.5-inch (2026) review: Performance

• A20 Pro is very, very fast
• Plenty of a runway for demanding tasks
• You'll need to pay more for the best version of the chip

As I mentioned above, the iPad mini runs Apple's A20 Pro chip, but there's a tale of two chips here. I've been testing the 512GB model with Wi-Fi and Cellular, which gets the full-fat version of Apple's latest silicon.

If you opt for the 128GB or 256GB configurations, you get a five-core CPU (two super cores and three efficiency cores), a seven-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. The 512GB version, meanwhile, comes equipped with a six-core CPU (two super cores and four efficiency cores), the same seven-core GPU, and a Dual 16-core Neural Engine. That's the same chip configuration as in the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo, while the lower-storage models get a slightly more binned-down version.

I don't suspect those extra CPU cores will make a night-and-day difference for most everyday tasks. You might see more of a benefit with particularly processor-intensive workloads or when running more AI locally on-device, but for the vast majority of people even the lower-storage iPad minis should feel plenty fast.

This is the second generation of iPad mini to get a Pro chip option, and it enables the tablet to tackle higher-performance tasks with ease. In Geekbench 7, my review unit scored 3,998 in single-core tests and 11,485 for multi-core. In Geekbench 6, it scored 4,720 and 12,697, respectively. Those are very impressive results, particularly compared with the scores for the previous-generation iPad mini, which scored 2,829 in single-core and 6,938 in multi-core in Geekbench 6.

Those are impressive numbers on paper, and in real-world testing over the past seven days, the iPad mini has been a champ. Apps open incredibly quickly, photo edits happen without a hitch, and even more demanding tasks, like using the Super Resolution option in Pixelmator Pro, and other power-hungry image upscaling tools, felt effortless. Everything feels very, very responsive, and I haven't found myself waiting around for the iPad mini to catch up.

I also put the Apple Intelligence features through their paces, including Clean Up and Expand Images in Photos, alongside multimodal requests with the new Siri AI beta. I tried a few third-party apps with AI-powered features, too. These are the kinds of tasks where having Apple's latest silicon and Neural Engine come into play, and the iPad mini handled my testing without any noticeable slowdown.

• Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Apple iPad mini 8.5-inch (2026) review: Battery & connectivity

• A lot of mileage for a mini iPad
• Impressive results in our battery test
• Apple's C2 modem serves up faster connectivity

Apple continues to promise all-day battery life with the iPad mini: up to 10 hours of web browsing over Wi-Fi or video, and up to nine hours of web browsing over a cellular data connection. Inside is an 18.9-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery, and in my testing I've found it lasts close to 10 hours, depending on what I'm doing.

That's a pretty good result, especially considering the upgraded display. I suspect the OLED panel is more efficient, and paired with the A20 Pro, it makes for a nice combination. In Future PLC's lab battery test, the new iPad mini lasted an impressive 14 hours and 24 minutes. That's a substantial improvement over the previous generation, which managed 10 hours and 36 minutes in the same test.

Connectivity also gets a meaningful upgrade. The iPad mini features Apple's N1 chip, which supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. If you opt for the Cellular model you'll also get Apple's C2 modem, which the company says offers up to 50% faster speeds compared to its previous modem.

I've been testing the cellular connection on Verizon's network in the US, with access to 5G, and it's performed pretty well. Throughout New Jersey, I tracked download speeds ranging from 600 to 1,200Mbps, with upload speeds around 35 to 62Mbps. That's plenty for streaming, downloading files, browsing, and staying connected when I'm away from Wi-Fi.

• Battery and connectivity score: 4 / 5

Apple iPad mini 8.5-inch (2026) review: Should you buy it?

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Apple iPad mini 8.5-inch (2026) review: How I tested

I've been using iPads since the original launched, so I've seen Apple's smallest tablet evolve quite a bit over the years. I've been testing the 512GB Wi-Fi and Cellular version of the iPad mini (8th Generation with A20 Pro) in Midnight, with the optional NanoTexture finish, for the past seven days.

During that time, I've put it through its paces with a range of apps across entertainment, creative, and productivity, while also exploring many of the features in iPadOS 27. I've also used it with Apple's new TechWoven Folio, alongside both the Apple Pencil USB-C and Apple Pencil Pro, to get a feel for how well the mini works for everyday use, creativity, and getting things done.

First reviewed: November 2026

• Interested in Liquid Web? Check out the website here

Liquid Web: Plans and pricing

The entry Cloud VPS configuration quoted by Liquid Web's sales team uses one CPU core, 2GB of RAM, 60GB of SSD storage, and 2TB of bandwidth for $11 a month.

It is self-managed, with no control panel or backups, and the Amsterdam location costs the same as the US option. That is a reasonable raw-server price, but customers are responsible for the operating system, security, updates, and applications.

Pricing requires care. Liquid Web's public VPS page was still advertising a $5 1GB plan when I checked, but a sales agent said that plan was no longer available and directed me to the current $11 configuration.

A separate promotion reduced a 4GB, two-vCPU server from $17 to $8.50 for its first two months. The discounts are clearly labeled once found, but the mismatch between the landing page and the live sales information is unnecessarily confusing.

The low base price changes dramatically when Liquid Web's signature services are added. Sales confirmed that the 2GB server with full management and cPanel Admin Cloud 5 costs $86 a month in total. The least expensive Acronis option adds another $22 for 100GB, bringing that setup to $108 a month. Its default retention is seven daily, four weekly, and one monthly backup, and the schedule can be adjusted. Liquid Web's public managed VPS range starts at $72 a month for two vCPUs, 4GB of RAM, 80GB of SSD storage, and 3TB of bandwidth, before any separately priced options.

Managed WordPress is much cheaper. Spark Launch starts at $5 a month when billed annually and supports one site, 15GB of storage, and 2TB of bandwidth, with unlimited visits, daily backups retained for seven days, staging, Cloudflare Enterprise, DDoS protection, and a web application firewall. This is the more approachable choice for one WordPress site; VPS makes sense when the workload or need for server-level control justifies the extra complexity.

There is no free Cloud VPS trial, and sales confirmed that monthly Cloud VPS purchases are generally non-refundable. That is a material disadvantage when the useful managed configurations cost far more than their headline server price. Customers should finalize the location, management tier, panel, and backup requirements before ordering.

Liquid Web: Ease of use

Liquid Web's configurator provides unusually granular choices. Depending on the product, customers can select the server size, data center, operating system, self-managed, core managed, or fully managed support, and a control panel such as InterWorx, Plesk, or cPanel. Self-managed customers retain root access and handle administration themselves. Fully managed support adds operating system and control panel updates, security patches, monitoring, server-side troubleshooting, firewall configuration, and help with common software.

There is no demo account for exploring the customer portal before purchase. Even so, our hands-on VPS testing found the management interface clear and intuitive. Installing WordPress was straightforward, the AI site-building tool made it easy to create a starting point, and importing a prepared WordPress and WooCommerce site worked without the credential and database confusion encountered with InMotion Hosting.

Liquid Web also offers a dedicated migration team. On managed services, it can move website content, email, databases, and control panel accounts while coordinating the process to minimize downtime. That hands-on assistance is one reason to pay for management, particularly for agencies or businesses moving a revenue-generating site. Domain registration is not bundled with the server, and Liquid Web is not the natural choice for someone who wants a domain, email, site builder, and hosting in one inexpensive package.

Liquid Web: Speed and experience

Performance is where Liquid Web makes its strongest case. In our WordPress server benchmark, which measures CPU, memory, file operations, database performance, and network speed, Liquid Web produced an overall server score of 8.1 compared with InMotion Hosting's 6.1.

It scored 10 for small-file I/O, 9.66 for local file copying and access, 9.72 for simple database queries, 9.64 for complex database queries, and 9.53 in the network download test. Those are excellent results for a business-focused VPS and support its position as our best VPS host overall.

Our broader testing has been similarly positive. Liquid Web's main website earned an A and 100% performance score in GTmetrix, although its 6.8-second full load time showed why a single headline grade should not be read in isolation.

In a separate two-week UptimeRobot test of the same public site, we recorded no downtime and an average response time of around 107ms. These tests measure different aspects of performance, but both point to a fast and dependable platform.

Liquid Web backs its infrastructure with a 100% network uptime SLA. The wording matters: it guarantees that major routing devices in its network remain reachable from the global internet, rather than promising that every application will run without interruption. Even with that distinction, the guarantee is stronger than the 99.9% or 99.99% figures common among general-purpose hosts.

Liquid Web: Support

Support is available 24/7/365, with the scope depending on the chosen management tier. Self-managed customers receive network and hardware support, while core managed and fully managed plans progressively add operating system maintenance, monitoring, troubleshooting, panel support, and software assistance. The documentation is extensive, and customers can use live chat or open a support case from the portal.

My pre-sales check produced a human acknowledgment in 20 seconds, comfortably inside Liquid Web's advertised 59-second initial response target. The first substantive answer arrived after about four minutes. The agent clearly confirmed that the old $5 plan was unavailable, that Amsterdam carried no location surcharge, and that the $11 server included neither management, a control panel, nor backups.

After correcting a price typo, the agent confirmed the $86 total for the 2GB VPS with full management and cPanel, the $22 Acronis option, its retention schedule, and the lack of a standard refund. The answers were detailed rather than evasive, and the agent supplied configuration and policy links.

Sales also confirmed that Liquid Web still promotes a 59-second response target, although its current SLA describes initial chat and help-desk response times as goals rather than guarantees. I liked the directness of the exchange, even if the four-minute wait for a full answer shows that a fast initial response is not the same as an immediate resolution.

Liquid Web: The competition

ScalaHosting is the more approachable managed VPS alternative. Its SPanel ecosystem bundles many hosting-management tasks into a lower-cost package and suits users who want to avoid cPanel licensing fees.

In our direct WordPress benchmark comparison, ScalaHosting scored 8.3 against Liquid Web's 8.1, so performance was closely matched rather than a clear Liquid Web victory. Liquid Web offers deeper infrastructure choices and a broader high-end range, but the price difference becomes substantial once equivalent management, panel, and backup options are selected.

Cloudways takes a different approach by managing servers from infrastructure providers such as DigitalOcean, Vultr, AWS, and Google Cloud. It is easier to enter at a moderate monthly cost and is especially attractive for WordPress, but it does not offer cPanel and does not provide the same conventional managed-server relationship. Liquid Web is the stronger fit when infrastructure control, migration help, and an experienced server support team matter more than the lowest monthly bill.

Liquid Web: Final verdict

Liquid Web remains one of the best choices for businesses that need a serious VPS rather than a cheap hosting account. Its benchmark results are excellent, its server configurations are flexible, and its support team gives specific, technically useful answers. Those strengths justify its position as our best VPS host overall for demanding sites, agencies, and customers who value managed infrastructure.

It is not the best-value option for everyone. The $11 entry server is a bare self-managed configuration, the website still shows a discontinued $5 offer, Cloud VPS purchases are generally non-refundable, and a representative managed configuration can exceed $100 once cPanel and backups are included. Beginners with one modest WordPress site should consider the managed WordPress range or a conventional shared host instead.

Choose Liquid Web when performance, configuration freedom, migration assistance, and capable support are worth paying for. Choose ScalaHosting or Cloudways when easier entry pricing matters more. Liquid Web earns four stars because its premium experience is convincing, but its pricing needs to be read all the way through the configurator rather than judged by the headline figure.

I’ve spent just north of 30 hours with Tales of Eternia Remastered, playing through the main story, completing side quests, and exploring the realms of Inferia and Celestia.

So, how effectively does this remaster bring a JRPG classic into the modern era? And is it truly worth playing? Here’s my verdict.

Gimme a Boost!

I’ll speak about the core Tales of Eternia experience in good time, but it only seems right to discuss the new stuff that this remaster brings to the table first.

Arguably the main thing is the inclusion of Boost Function. This enables you to tailor your experience to your specific wants and needs, with highlights including a random encounter toggle, difficulty options, an increased item capacity setting, and an EXP gain adjuster.

My personal favorite feature was the option to restore TP (which you consume when using skills) when camping, which made grinding feel a lot more fluid and easier to manage.

The Boost Function suite is filled to the brim, and really helps to make the title more approachable for newcomers. My only real complaint here is that I would’ve loved the option to map a function — such as disabling enemy encounters — to one of the buttons on my Nintendo Switch 2. Having to open the main menu, go into the Customize Section, and then the Boost Function felt a touch clunky.

There’s a lot more to uncover, though. For instance, you can switch between remastered and original graphics and sound effects, which is sure to satisfy newcomers and long-time fans.

The visual enhancements are relatively light overall. This isn’t a transformative overhaul, and some environments still look a little rough around the edges. But still, the remaster does illuminate some previously obscured details. As you can see in the images below, detailing on the statues is far more intricate, and foliage looks sharper in the remastered graphics mode. And while some may prefer the original pixel sprites, I think the remaster does a good job of cleaning them up a bit while keeping them faithful to the original artwork.

While we’re on the topic of visuals, I unfortunately have a complaint to make: the cutscenes look pretty poor. They’ve been placed into widescreen, and it looks as if a filter has been applied; the results are underwhelming — characters and backgrounds lack clarity and definition, laying bare the limitations of the original material.

That’s a nitpick, of course, and most elements of this remaster still hit the spot. For example, the newly recorded English voice acting is great, and each character’s personality shines through perfectly. Skits are finally here in the West, too, providing plenty of humorous and emotional moments when camping or resting.

Objective icons are also introduced, which point you in the direction of the main story objective or side quests. I really appreciated this, especially as I didn’t want to miss out on side content, but if you want to figure everything out for yourself, you can swiftly switch it off in the Customize menu.

An underrated classic, reborn

So, while it’s not flawless, the remaster of this title is solid overall and successfully makes this classic more palatable for modern audiences. But just how fun is the core game in the big 2026?

I’ll lay my cards on the table: I had a spectacular time with Tales of Eternia Remastered. This was actually my first time playing the game — after all, I wasn’t even born when it was initially released. In spite of that, there was something so nostalgic about it, the warm, charming world and excellent cast totally captured my attention, and I found myself pouring countless hours into the game every single day.

Something that stood out for me was the writing. Yes, the main narrative is nothing special — the world is in danger, and a group of young heroes needs to defy the odds to save everybody. But it’s the characters that make this experience so special.

For the most part, you'll spend your time with four key heroes. Reid is a reluctant protagonist who seems to be dragged into the chaos at every turn, Farah is a contemplative, complex young woman learning herself as the story unfolds, Keele is a stuck-up academic type who delivers some hilarious moments, and Meredy is a caring and curious foreign stranger who the crew slowly begins to understand in their quest to prevent disaster.

The cast isn’t weighed down by the tired tropes and lazy writing that a lot of JRPGs faced at the time, and each party member is highly memorable.

But how about the actual gameplay? Well, the combat is pretty unique. It manifests in the form of a fighter-RPG hybrid, with a large focus on reactive action-based commands. While the combat certainly takes some getting used to and the movement can feel a little janky at times, battling your foes feels incredibly addictive. Chaining Artes together to deliver devastating combos and tinkering with formations or skills to get past tough boss battles is highly rewarding, and even random encounters gave me huge satisfaction.

The game is undoubtedly challenging, but delivering a finishing blow makes your struggle feel worth it. And if you do fall to your foes, a retry battle option is at hand to dive right back into the action.

There’s not too much grinding required, either. I kept random encounters on for the vast majority of my playthrough, and that gave me plenty of experience for big boss fights. If you do want to grab some extra experience, though, you can switch Auto mode on and have your team fight for you, helping you avoid same-y skirmishes.

Outside of battle, things are decent too. You can explore the world for items and treasure to bolster your stats, venture into shops to grab stronger gear, and even take on a few minigames. Exploration is highly gratifying as well, and you’ll often find weapons that come in handy for specific areas or recipes that restore your HP or TP when you’re running low.

A small complaint I have, though, is that movement feels clunky in the overworld. You need to be very precise if you want to move diagonally, and dragging items like statues could feel a bit awkward at times. This is still a relatively minor issue overall, but in tighter areas, the old-school movement did cause me some minor frustration.

I also have to say that the minigames, in general, are pretty bad. They typically control fine, but don’t feel very fun to play at all. Luckily, you can skip these if you’d prefer, which I often did. It was cool to see mouse mode integration for minigames on Nintendo Switch 2, though, which worked a treat in my experience.

Speaking of my experience on Switch 2, let’s take a moment to talk about performance. Tales of Eternia Remastered runs in 4K when playing docked and 1080p in handheld, with smooth 60fps across both modes — perhaps to be expected for a less demanding title like this. I didn’t notice any technical hiccups or frame drops during my whole playthrough, so Switch 2 is certainly a top-tier destination for this remaster.

So let’s address those questions I posed in the intro. Is Tales of Eternia Remastered a worthy modern take on this classic entry? For me, the answer is yes.

Some things could’ve been better: the visual enhancements are relatively light, cutscenes look a bit underwhelming, and I would’ve liked a shortcut button for disabling enemy encounters. But the Boost Function provides so much flexibility, the new English dub is great, and the ability to retry battles in an instant keeps the game's pace feeling fast and fluid.

And at a core level, this is a great game with a lot to offer, in spite of a few dated elements. The combat, while very much of its time, remains fun and surprisingly strategic; the cast is highly memorable, with skits adding some welcome depth, and exploration is rewarding too.

All in all, I had a blast with Tales of Eternia Remastered, and JRPG fanatics are sure to find a lot to love here.

Should you play Tales of Eternia Remastered?

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Accessibility features

There are a number of ways to customize your experience in Tales of Eternia Remastered. You can turn subtitles on or off, choose to auto-advance text, remap buttons to suit your preferences, and alter difficulty. While there’s no colorblind mode, in-game elements that previously required color-based identification have been redesigned around visual elements unrelated to color.

How I reviewed Tales of Eternia Remastered

I spent just over 30 hours with Tales of Eternia Remastered, during which time I played through the main story, completed a handful of side quests, and tried out all of the various Boost Function features.

For the most part, I played the game in docked mode, with my Nintendo Switch 2 hooked up to the Sky Glass Gen 2 TV and Marshall Heston 120 soundbar. However, I did dip into handheld mode from time to time, and used the Sennheiser CX 80U wired earbuds to enjoy in-game audio.

More generally, I’ve covered a huge array of games here at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve reviewed a number of JRPGs, including Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter and Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, as well as Switch 2 exclusives such as Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave and Nintendo Switch Sports Resort.

First reviewed October 2026