When it comes to the "silly money" category of lenses, they are typically those ridiculously long prime lenses that make your arms ache just by looking at them. They provide incredible image quality but lack the versatility of a zoom. Enter the Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM: With a constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the entire 100-300mm focal range, this lens is a serious contender for wildlife pros and sports photographers.

Of course, at an eye-watering $10,500, it's not for everyone. It's not even for "many people"; it's for a select few who either have serious money lying around or make serious money from photography, where a lens of this caliber would be a sensible investment. Still, we took it for a test drive to see just how much better the performance is compared to the more reasonably priced wildlife zoom lenses.

Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM: Design

• Weight is surprisingly manageable
• Internal zoom
• Solid and sturdy build quality

Although its weight is comparable to that of the much cheaper SIGMA 60-600mm Sport lens we tested recently, this lens from Canon is actually the lightest f/2.8 300mm lens on the market. And because the zoom is internal, the weight distribution feels much more manageable in the smaller package than it does on a lens that extends. (But that’s not to say our arms weren’t aching the following day).

It's also dust- and weather-resistant, which we’d expect on a lens that's this expensive. It's solid and sturdy with a plethora of lens coatings to eliminate glare and ghosting, and it feels every bit the professional-grade Canon L lens you would want.

It comes with plenty of buttons and switches on the barrel, including the standard AF/MF switch, focus limiter and IS on/off. It has another switch to choose between three stabilization modes (mode 1 for static subjects, mode 2 for panning and mode 3 for tracking erratic moving subjects).

The final switch is a focus preset button, which enables you to pre-focus on a certain spot where you expect the action to be, then switch back and forth as you're shooting. Alternatively, you can set this switch to L-Fn to utilize it as a programmable function button instead.

This lens isn't expensive because it introduces any revolutionary build features. It's expensive because Canon has combined every premium design element — internal zoom, magnesium construction, professional weather sealing, compact packaging and meticulous engineering into a lens that is designed to meet the needs of professional photographers.

Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM: Performance

• Outstanding image quality
• Basically no image defects
• Beautiful bokeh

Image quality is, unsurprisingly, absolutely beautiful. The shots we took are razor-sharp and clean with basically no defects whatsoever. There's a tiny bit of distortion, which is easily corrected in Lightroom (and wouldn't be detectable unless you were directly comparing the before/afters), but the images have no chromatic aberration or vignetting at all.

This lens shows every strand of fur or feather and effortlessly captures the moment perfectly every time. The bokeh is soft and creamy thanks to the constant f/2.8 aperture, which beautifully isolates the subject and blurs out distracting background elements.

We took images at f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8 and f/11 at 100mm, 200mm and 300mm to see how the lens performs across a variety of settings. Looking at the center portion of our test chart shots, the sharpest images are f/5.6 at 100mm, f/2.8 at 200mm and f/2.8 at 300mm. At 100mm, our f/2.8, f/4 and f/5.6 shots were all of similar quality in terms of central sharpness, but f/5.6 has the edge when it comes to contrast.

Those same three apertures were also very similar at 200mm, but in this instance, f/2.8 has the edge. At 300mm, there was a significant drop in contrast between f/2.8 and f/4, but both images were of similar sharpness. Unsurprisingly, the corners were sharpest towards the f/8 range, but wildlife photography rarely ever calls for sharpness across the entire frame, so the softer corners at f/2.8 - f/5.6 aren't a dealbreaker.

Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM: Functionality

• Constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the whole zoom range
• 5.5 stops of image stabilization
• Versatile focal length and teleconverter compatibility

A big selling point with this type of lens is the constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the entire focal range — and this is a common feature with many lenses at this price range. The wide aperture allows for faster shutter speeds, which is ideal for capturing sharp images of fast-moving wildlife or sports photography, and the wide aperture also increases light intake in low-light situations, like photographing animals at dawn or dusk or indoor sports.

Although the 100-300mm focal length wouldn't be the best choice for photographing small birds or distant subjects, it provides a good focal range to cover many other types of wildlife, like equine or safari photography, as well as a variety of indoor sports. While it's not the biggest zoom range on offer, it eliminates the need to switch between lenses while on a shoot.

This, in turn, means faster reactions to changing scenes, less chance of missing shots when the subject moves unexpectedly and better protection from dust and rain due to less swapping. Plus, when paired with the Canon 1.4x teleconverter, this lens becomes a 140-420mm f/4, and a 200-600mm f/5.6 with the 2x extender, opening up the possibilities even further.

With the lens's 5.5 stops of image stabilization (which increases to 6 stops when paired with EOS R cameras with IBIS), this lens has no trouble following fast-moving subjects smoothly and efficiently — which is useful for both image quality and viewfinder steadiness.

Should you buy the Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM?

It feels counterintuitive to give this lens 5 stars but say "no, don't buy it," and it's not that we're saying "don't buy it," but as good as this lens is, it's quite niche, and we are finding it hard to justify the price compared to other setups from Canon.

Currently, this lens is the only way to get 300mm at f/2.8 (unless you get a used EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM and an EF-EOS R adapter), so unless you really need to shoot between 200-300mm at f/2.8 and have the money to do so, there are more sensible options that either save money or give you more value.

For example, you could buy an R1 and a used EF 300mm f/2.8L lens with an adapter for around the same price as this 100-300mm lens. And if you find good deals, you could even add the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM to that lineup with a teleconverter. The only advantage the 100-300mm would then have is that you wouldn't need to change lenses — but is that worth such a steep price?

If this lens isn't for you

The Canon EOS R6 III is Canon's newest full-frame camera. We absolutely loved the R6 II when we reviewed it, and the Mark III's improved 32.5MP resolution, 7K video capability and CFexpress compatibility build on that strong foundation to take this camera from the beginner and enthusiast level straight into the serious intermediate camera category.

We primarily tested it for wildlife photography with Canon's 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM lens, but the R6 III is such an impressive all-rounder, it can easily turn its hand to astrophotography, sports or event photography, too.

Canon EOS R6 III: Design

• Comfortable grip to accommodate larger lenses
• Identical layout to previous model
• One SD card slot, one CFexpress card slot

Existing Canon users will feel right at home with the Canon EOS R6 III, as the build and button layout are nearly identical to the R6 II, and similar to many other R-series bodies. We tested the R6 III with the Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM lens and found it comfortable to get a good grip on, and it feels satisfying in the hand, especially when paired with bigger lenses.

The LCD screen and viewfinder are exactly the same as the Mark II, but there are a couple of small differences elsewhere in the design. The R6 III now has a CFexpress Type B card slot as well as an SD card slot, allowing for faster workflows and data transfer. However, considering this camera sits in the more intermediate level, we have to question whether two SD slots would be more useful for the majority of users, especially because CFexpress cards are more expensive. Plus, we used fast SD cards during our tests and encountered no problems at all with the write speed or buffer.

Canon EOS R6 III: Performance

• An absolute joy for wildlife photography
• 32.5MP sensor is a very welcome improvement over the Mark II
• Autofocus and subject detection are accurate and sticky

The Canon EOS R6 III features more advanced AI-powered autofocus, which enables it to track people, animals and vehicles more easily compared with the Mark II. When we were photographing animals at a zoo, the autofocus was generally very good, although there were a few occasions when the camera got confused. The focus jumped between the giraffe’s eyes, nostrils and ossicones, and the camera couldn’t quite figure out what to focus on, even when the animal was facing towards the camera with the eyes in view. There were also a few unfortunate occasions when the camera would find and track an "eye" on the — how do we put this — wrong end of the animal. Generally, though, it was fast and accurate.

In our review of the previous model, the Canon EOS R6 II, we said, "Considering it's the next step up from the Canon EOS R8, we'd hoped for a bump in resolution. Matching the 32.5MP resolution of the crop-sensor Canon R7 would have given the R6 II an even sweeter spot between the R8 and the 45MP powerhouse Canon EOS R5 II." It seems Canon was listening, as the 32.5MP sensor in the Canon EOS R6 III sits perfectly between the beginner and professional lineups. The images are clean, detailed and not too noisy, making this camera a compelling choice for photographic styles that require excellent resolution without excessive noise.

Canon EOS R6 III: Functionality

• Canon claims battery life allows for around 620 shots (CIPA) — we took around 6,000
• Blackout-free burst shooting up to 40FPS
• Pre-continuous shooting

For wildlife photography, blackout-free shooting enables you to follow the subject a lot easier as it's moving, to ensure you can keep the subject centered and maintain your composition. What's more, with the R6 III, you can shoot up to a massive 40 frames per second (FPS) blackout-free, which is perfect for fast-moving wildlife. (Keep in mind, this means you need to hone your timing to avoid the "spray and pray" method and end up with tons of photos of the exact same moment). This is one feature of a wildlife camera that makes a big difference.

The R6 III also features pre-continuous shooting, where it'll record up to 20 frames (approx 0.5 seconds) before the shutter is fully pressed — another useful feature for wildlife and sports photographers who need to capture fleeting moments.

The Mark III uses the upgraded LP-E6P battery, shared with the R5 II, which offers significantly more shots per charge than the LP-E6NH in the R6 II. That said, it means that if you're upgrading from a different Canon model, your current spare batteries won't work in the R6 III, so you'll need to invest in a few spares. However, we managed to get more than 6,000 photos without having to swap out the battery, so you won't need to worry about the battery running out unless you're shooting all day for multiple days.

Should you buy the Canon EOS R6 III?

We can confidently say: yes, you should buy it. It seems to tick all the boxes for a lot of shooting scenarios, whether it's your main wildlife camera or a backup body for weddings. The 32.5MP sensor produces beautiful images with minimal noise and accurate color reproduction; it's lightning fast with a 40FPS burst speed and can capture up to 7K 60p video. However, if you're looking for a more serious pro-level camera, perhaps opt for the R1 or R3 instead.

If this camera isn't for you

The best beginner telescopes need to strike the perfect balance between being user-friendly and affordable, yet still good enough to avoid being a waste of time, money and effort. There’s no point buying a cheap telescope only to end up using it once and then immediately wanting to upgrade, but with many "mega-cheap" unbranded scopes, that’s what tends to happen.

For new astronomers, keen youngsters and anyone on a budget, Celestron has some really great small telescopes that fit the bill perfectly. In this review, we’ll be looking at the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ — the smallest scope in the StarSense range.

It’s easy to set up, lightweight and portable, and we were impressed with the optics for such a small and affordable telescope. Its main party trick is the StarSense app integration, which is perfect for anyone who doesn’t have any prior knowledge of the night sky. The 70AZ is great for the moon, some planets and brighter targets, but needless to say, you’ll be needing one of the very best telescopes if you want to do any deep-sky viewing. Still, it makes a wonderful telescope for kids or anyone new to the hobby.

Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ: Design

• Easy to set up
• Good quality build
• Comes with two eyepieces and a Barlow lens

The Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ is the smallest telescope in the StarSense Explorer range, with a compact, lightweight construction that still feels like you’re peering through something substantial. The optical tube itself, alongside the tripod, accessory tray and accessories, are all excellent quality for an entry-level scope — especially compared to equivalent scopes in the PowerSeeker and AstroMaster ranges that we were testing alongside it. However, that’s not to say you won’t want to upgrade them in time.

The setup process is easy for new users to understand, especially with the printed instructions included in the package, and we were able to get it set up and start observing in no time. The aluminum tripod can extend up to 52 inches (including the mount), which we felt was a good height for most users, but we found it a little annoying that the eyepieces wouldn’t fit in the holes in the accessory tray while still in their protective cases. It’s a small detail, but we’d have liked to keep the eyepieces protected while we were using the scope.

It comes with a red-dot finderscope, an erect image diagonal, two eyepieces (10 mm and 25 mm) and a 2x Barlow lens, alongside the StarSense smartphone dock. To get the best views, we ended up using upgraded eyepieces from the Celestron eyepiece and filter kit, so if you want a simple and affordable way to improve the quality of the views, we’d recommend investing in some better eyepieces.

Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ: Performance

• Beautiful lunar views
• We spotted the bands on Jupiter and its moons
• Limited for deep-sky viewing

This isn’t a "see everything" telescope; it’s a "see the highlights clearly" telescope. By far the best thing to look at is the moon, particularly with the 10 mm eyepiece and 2x Barlow lens. We were easily able to observe the craters and shadows on the lunar surface, and we thoroughly enjoyed our sessions gazing at the moon.

We were also able to distinguish the bands on Jupiter — although they were quite faint — and we could easily spot three of the four Galilean moons (the fourth was hiding behind the gas giant). Saturn was too low in the sky for us to see before dark, but this telescope should be perfectly capable of showing its rings.

The Pleiades were stunning, as expected, and we were able to make out the Orion Nebula and Andromeda Galaxy — but realistically, at this aperture, you’re unlikely to see much further afield.

It covers a good magnification range for a beginner scope, with the 20 mm eyepiece giving you 28x power, upgradable to 70x with the 10 mm eyepiece — and even more with the Barlow, which takes you closer to the highest useful magnification of 165x power.

The manual tracking means objects drift out of view quickly, especially when using a high-power eyepiece. While the manual alt-azimuth mount is advantageous for its quick set-up and user-friendliness, this is where you see its drawbacks. We did notice some drooping, particularly when we were viewing Jupiter at a very high altitude, and there was some wobbling when focusing, but once it settled, the views were sharp and clear.

Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ: Functionality

• StarSense app guides you to specific objects
• No prior knowledge of the night sky needed
• Easy focusing of objects

The biggest selling point of the StarSense Explorer range is the StarSense app functionality. Once connected, you pick an object from "Tonight’s Best Objects," and you’ll see arrows on the screen guiding you to where the object is located.

This is an attractive feature for beginners and kids, as it takes away half the battle of knowing where certain objects are in the sky. We found it to be mostly accurate — it’s not perfect by any means, but it got us in the right area and we were easily able to locate the object from there. Once we located our subject with the 20 mm eyepiece, focusing was smooth and easy for us to then switch to the 10 mm for a closer look.

The app requires the latest version of iOS in order to download, so make sure you download it before you head out to use it (we found this out the hard way). It's also compatible with Android users. The app tells you which objects are best to view depending on your location, and it shows whether they are city-viewable, and the rising and setting times for each object. Further down, it shows "challenge" objects that you might see under dark sky conditions, which is a nice touch if you live close to a dark sky reserve (though it doesn’t say what Bortle class you’d need to be in).

There’s also a search function, where objects are separated into different categories depending on what type of object you want to view (planets, brightest stars, Messier objects and more). And the good thing is that you don’t have to use the app if you don’t want to — unlike more expensive smart telescopes.

The app tells you which objects are best to view depending on your location, and it shows whether they are city-viewable, and the rising and setting times for each object. Further down, it shows "challenge" objects that you might see under dark sky conditions, which is a nice touch if you live close to a dark sky reserve (though it doesn’t say what Bortle class you’d need to be in).

There’s also a search function, where objects are separated into different categories depending on what type of object you want to view (planets, brightest stars, Messier objects and more). And the good thing is that you don’t have to use the app if you don’t want to — unlike more expensive smart telescopes.

Should you buy the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ?

Overall, it’s a very user-friendly scope for beginners to sink their teeth into, and it doesn’t feel like the kind of telescope you’d only use a few times and then get bored with. We found it easy to locate objects and obtain a good focus, the views were impressive, and the whole experience felt very intuitive — which is exactly what you want from a beginner telescope.

It’s compact and lightweight, although you could still go a step further with this class of telescope. It’s at the top end of Celestron’s beginner range, being by far the best entry-level model of the three we tried. But if you are looking for a step-up from your existing telescope, we’d recommend going for one of the larger aperture models in the range for brighter views and to potentially see more deep-sky objects. Its limited deep-sky viewing isn’t a flaw, just a limitation of a telescope of this aperture. But for the price, you absolutely cannot go wrong with the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ.

If the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ isn't right for you

For Sony and Leica users wanting an affordable lens option for wildlife photography, SIGMA offers some attractive options. We spent some time with the SIGMA 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport lens for Sony E mount — their closest competitor to the native Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS in terms of focal length. You get 50mm more focal length on the wide end, and a slightly wider maximum aperture as a result, plus it’s cheaper than the native Sony lens — although you’ll still be paying over $1,500. That said, for a wildlife lens with such a big reach, that’s not bad at all.

It’s a compelling option for wildlife photography beginners looking to invest in their first big lens, so we put it through its paces to test its sharpness, handling and overall performance out in the field, to see whether it earns a spot among the best lenses for wildlife photography.

SIGMA 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport review

SIGMA 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport: Design

• Slightly lighter than the Sony equivalent
• Two custom buttons
• External zoom adds 100 mm to physical length

Getting the obvious out of the way — this is a big lens. It’s long and it’s heavy, but that’s par for the course with this type of super-telephoto lens. What is noteworthy, however, is that it’s actually a few grams lighter than the closest native Sony equivalent.

The SIGMA lens weighs 2,100 grams (approx 74.07 ounces) compared to the 2,115 g (74.60-ounce) Sony. Realistically, 15 g makes basically no difference at all in practice, but third-party lenses are typically substantially heavier (one of the trade-offs of being cheaper), so the similar weight is a point in the SIGMA’s favor.

It features many of the same buttons and design elements as the native Sony — an AF/MF switch, focus limiter, image stabilization switch with two modes and a custom stabilization switch, also with two modes. There are two custom buttons — one on the top and one on the side of the lens barrel (just one shy of Sony’s three) — and a zoom lock switch with options to lock the zoom completely, or set it to a Smooth (S) or Tight (T) level of friction.

One fairly big difference compared to the Sony lens is that the zoom on the SIGMA lens isn’t internal. Even though the SIGMA is fully weather-sealed, it still leaves room for dust or moisture to get inside the lens, not to mention the zoom adds another 100 mm onto the length of an already long lens.

SIGMA 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport: Performance

• Sharpest wide open (f/5) at 150mm, f/8 at 300mm and f/8 at 600mm
• Struggles with small subjects at 600mm
• Some colour fringing around tree branches

As we directly compared this lens with the Sony, we could easily see the performance drawbacks associated with the cheaper Sigma model. The overall image quality is great, although we found the images weren’t as sharp when we had to crop in on a small bird, even with a 61 MP camera that allowed for a harsh crop. We still got some great images with beautiful sharpness and detail, but our keep rate was a lot lower than when we were testing the Sony. When the subject fills the frame at 600mm, however, the image is a lot sharper.

There was some chromatic aberration around tree branches, and subjects that were photographed against a bright sky, which isn’t wholly surprising with a lens at this price point — but it’s worth noting that we didn’t see any of this with the native Sony lens. Still, the colors are vibrant and true to life, with only minor vignetting and distortion that can easily be corrected by enabling the lens profile corrections in Lightroom.

Looking at the test chart images, the sweet spot is around f/8 at 300mm and 600mm, whereas at 150mm, the sharpness and contrast look best when shooting wide open at f/5.6. Interestingly, the lens seems to perform best overall at f/8 at 300mm, and the sharpness and contrast drop significantly compared to the 600mm f/8 shot. In the test chart shots for the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens, we found it to be sharpest at 600mm. We still took some lovely images with this SIGMA lens at 600mm, but it’s worth knowing if you plan on spending most of your time at full zoom.

SIGMA 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport: Functionality

• Compatible with Sony E mount and Leica L mount
• Lock switch stops lens creep
• Not a low-light lens

As far as compatibility goes, this lens is somewhat limited. It’s only compatible with Sony E and Leica L mounts, which could be frustrating for Canon or Nikon shooters who might want to save money with a third-party lens. Still, we thought it fit well on our Sony camera, and although a lens of this size is naturally going to feel big, the weight distribution was well-balanced. It suffers from strong "lens creep" if you’re holding the lens vertically, but there’s a lock button to prevent it when you aren’t using the lens.

The f/5-6.3 aperture is actually not bad at all for a lens of this focal length at this price point, but it’s not going to be particularly strong at shooting at dawn or dusk, especially as you’ll likely be spending most of your time at the long end with an f/6.3 aperture. Plus, it’s unrealistic to expect a telephoto lens of this price to have a particularly fast aperture.

Should you buy the SIGMA 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport?

This lens is certainly good enough as a "first" dedicated super-telephoto lens for wildlife photography. The image quality is sharp, full of contrast and saturated colors, and it’s a great way to save a few hundred dollars if you don’t mind not having a native lens and don’t need to shoot at super-fast speeds.

If, however, you’re at the stage where you want to go pro, you’re going to need a lens with a faster aperture and better image quality than this lens affords. This is where you’re going to need to invest some serious money into a super-telephoto prime lens to take your wildlife images to the next level.

If this product isn't for you

The Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport is one of those lenses that instantly grabs your attention simply because of how ambitious it is. Covering everything from 60mm all the way up to 600mm with its powerful 10x zoom, it’s designed to handle wildlife, sports, aviation and even some landscape photography without needing to swap lenses.

On paper, that kind of flexibility makes it sound like a serious contender among the very best zoom lenses for wildlife photography, particularly for photographers who don’t want to carry multiple lenses out on shoots. But it has one major caveat: it’s insanely heavy.

We took it to a nature reserve to put it through its paces and test its performance in real-world conditions, and see for ourselves how that hefty weight feels in practice.

SIGMA 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport review

SIGMA 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport: Design

• Uncomfortably heavy
• Solid build quality
• Feels very sturdy

The Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport lens feels exactly like what you’d expect from Sigma’s sport series — big, solid and built like it could survive a few knocks. It’s definitely not a small or lightweight lens, though, and we found ourselves struggling to hold it for long during wildlife sessions, to the point where the 5.5-pound (2.4-kilogram) weight tipped it into "too heavy" territory and it became somewhat of a chore to shoot for long. The weight is especially cumbersome when tracking birds in flight, but the silver lining of the extra heft is that it feels incredibly sturdy as a result.

The zoom ring is smooth. We did notice a tiny bit of lens creep every now and then, but this was nowhere near as severe as it was when we tested the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS lens. There’s no shortage of physical controls, either. There’s an AF switch, stabilization controls and customizable buttons all around the barrel. The removable tripod foot is solid, too, and balances the lens nicely on a tripod.

SIGMA 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport: Performance

• Lovely image quality
• Good autofocus in reliable light
• Image stabilization helps when shooting handheld

Performance is impressively strong considering the massive zoom range this lens covers. The sharpness is excellent through most of the range, especially through the shorter and mid-range focal lengths, with plenty of detail and contrast straight out of the camera.

The autofocus performance was also better than we expected for such a large telephoto zoom. Paired with Sony’s autofocus and subject detection, the lens tracked birds and wildlife reliably in good light, and the focus was fast and sticky. The image stabilization is a huge help when shooting handheld, and we were able to get sharp shots even at 600mm.

We photographed some test charts to analyze the image quality, and shooting wide at 60mm gave the best result at the wider apertures. Going all the way up to f/11, the image becomes very soft in the center. Zooming in to 200mm improves things, where the image is sharpest with the best contrast at f/5.6. At 400mm, f/5.6 and f/8 are very similar, with f/5.6 having the edge slightly, whereas at full zoom at 600mm, f/8 produced the sharpest images — although the 600mm images were the softest overall.

However, it’s worth noting that although we made these assessments while pixel-peeping at the test chart images, the real-world images we took at a nature reserve were mostly all taken at 600mm, and the image quality is still beautiful, even after cropping.

SIGMA 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport: Functionality

• Very versatile focal length
• Good close focusing distance
• Overkill if you won’t use the wider focal lengths

In use, this lens’ biggest strength is its versatility. Having everything from 60mm all the way up to 600mm in a single lens makes it much easier to react quickly when subjects move. For wildlife photography especially, we found it useful when birds flew towards us, since we could zoom out instantly rather than miss the shot entirely.

That said, the huge zoom range can feel a little excessive, but this will depend on what style of photography you do. We found ourselves staying closer to the longer focal lengths for wildlife work, which is fine if you’re a dedicated wildlife shooter, but it does beg the question of whether a smaller, lighter telephoto zoom lens would be a more practical option for some photographers, particularly for those who stay at the wider end.

We also liked how close the lens can focus, particularly on the wide end. It’s not a macro lens, but being able to shoot closer to the subject without changing lenses adds even more flexibility when shooting outdoors.

Should you buy the SIGMA 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport?

The big questions you need to ask yourself here are: "Are you fine with a heavier lens?", "Are you bothered about having a shorter close focusing distance?" and "Do you shoot wide?". If you answered yes, then it makes sense to get this lens.

If, however, you want a slightly lighter lens and you don’t need the wider focal lengths, we’d suggest going for the native Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens instead. For us, the weight of the Sigma felt significantly heavier than the Sony, to the point where it would make us think twice about investing in it, particularly as the Sigma is the more expensive option.

If this product isn't for you

Originating in the late 1990s as Celestron's response to Meade's LX series, the NexStar SE line was designed as an affordable, user-friendly GoTo telescope. The 6SE features quality Schmidt-Cassegrain optics, a 6-inch aperture and a robust mount, earning a strong following among astronomers.

The Celestron NexStar 6SE is the middle child of the NexStar SE Schmidt-Cassegrain series, positioned between the 5- and 8-inch models, with a 4-inch Maksutov-Cassegrain also in the family. Its 6-inch aperture is big enough to provide meaningful, sharp views of both deep-sky and solar system objects while not being too large or expensive. Its portability and small size make it a fantastic beginner telescope if you have a healthy budget, but the larger 8SE still tops our list of the very best telescopes.

Celestron NexStar 6SE: Design

• 6-inch f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain optics, can be used at f/2 for imaging with Hyperstar or for visual/imaging with f/6.3 reducer (sold separately)
• GoTo mount with NexStar+ controller — cannot be aimed manually
• One eyepiece included (25mm yielding approximately 60x magnification)

The NexStar 6SE has been around since 2008, and it hasn’t changed much in that time apart from some minor software upgrades. The Celestron C6 XLT optical tube is sold by Celestron in other configurations such as the NexStar Evolution, and is a 6-inch f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain design. It can also be used at f/2 with a Starizona HyperStar reducer for imaging, or Celestron’s f/6.3 reducer, either of which is necessary for quality deep-sky imaging with the C6. The C6 is primarily designed for planetary viewing/imaging on account of its long focal length, but can be used for deep-sky work as well.

The 6SE has collimation adjustments at the front. Users probably do not need to adjust these, ever. The author has owned hundreds of Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes, and they usually arrive collimated from the manufacturer and stay that way. Swapping the collimation screws for thumb screws just leads to frequent misalignment that would otherwise not occur.

The 6SE’s mount is a simple alt-azimuth GoTo mount. It uses the position of two or three alignment stars to calculate where it is in the sky, and once aligned it can automatically point at over 40,000 objects in its internal database. Unfortunately, the technology in it is rather outdated. It cannot be aimed by hand at all, and attempting to do so will ruin the motorized pointing and tracking accuracy. You can replace the hand controller with Celestron’s SkyPortal WiFi adapter, however, and run it off an app like SkySafari, which is a little easier to learn to use. Regardless of which method you use to control it, it only takes around 5-10 minutes to set up and assemble the 6SE.

A 1.25-inch visual back and star diagonal are included with the NexStar 6SE. These are all you’ll need, as a 2-inch diagonal and eyepieces will vignette substantially and cause stability/balance issues with the mount. Celestron supplies a single 25mm E-Lux Plossl eyepiece yielding approximately 61x magnification and a true field of view of 0.9 degrees with this telescope. While it’s annoying to get only a single eyepiece with this telescope, there are endless third-party options to choose from to get the magnifications you want.

For a wider field of view, a 32mm Plossl or 0.63x reducer would come in handy. For higher power, we’d recommend a 9mm SVBONY "redline" (170x) or even a 6mm (254x) if you have fairly steady sky conditions.

Overall, the 6SE is quite sturdy and the whole telescope can easily be carried around in one trip. It breaks down small enough to fit in the author’s Mazda MX-5 Miata, and the tube is small enough to take on a plane as carry-on luggage.

Celestron NexStar 6SE: Performance

• Sharp planetary details
• Solid deep-sky views
• Good double-star splitting

The Celestron NexStar 6SE is typically optically superb, with quality units such as the review sample reaching ⅙ to ⅛ wave peak-to-valley accuracy at the wavefront (a typical standard commercial scope might be ¼ wave). This is critical when viewing the moon, planets and double stars up close. With only a 6-inch primary mirror, the common issues of image shift and mirror flop are of little concern with this telescope.

The NexStar 6SE delivers impressive performance for its size, excelling for both solar system and deep-sky observations. Within the solar system, it reveals Mercury and Venus phases, intricate lunar craters down to mile-sized features, Mars' ice caps and some dark markings when it’s close to Earth, Jupiter's cloud bands with the Great Red Spot and moon transits, Saturn's rings including the Cassini Division plus half a dozen moons, Uranus as a turquoise dot, and Neptune as a blue point with Triton perhaps faintly visible under dark skies.

Beyond the solar system, the 6SE handles open clusters like M35 and M11 well, though larger ones like the Pleiades are too big to fit in the field. Bright globulars such as M13 show partial resolution under decent skies, while emission nebulae like M42 and M8 are spectacular, especially under dark skies and/or with a filter. The brightest planetary nebulae display hints of color, and structures in bright galaxies (such as M82's dust lanes) begin to emerge under dark conditions — but for the best results, a larger telescope than the 6SE is necessary to reveal up-close details in these faint fuzzies.

The 6SE is also excellent for splitting double stars. The author was able to split Tau Coronae Borealis (2.2 arc seconds) easily with the 6SE and a 6mm eyepiece (254x).

Celestron NexStar 6SE: Functionality

• Quite a simple setup
• Two-Star Alignment mode is best
• Smooth focusing and quick acclimatisation

The NexStar 6SE is pretty simple to set up — just assemble the mount/tripod, take the caps off and power it on (either using AA batteries or a DC 12v extension cord). The controller then prompts the user to enter the time, date and location, and choose an alignment method. The recommended three-star alignment is unfortunately prone to errors, so it’s recommended you use the Auto Two-Star alignment mode instead.

Once aligned, the 6SE will automatically point at any object you choose in its catalog. Sometimes, accuracy can wane over the course of a night, but simply going to the main menu and selecting “sync” to add new alignment points usually fixes this. Focusing the 6SE is buttery smooth even at high magnifications, and the scope takes only a few minutes to cool down to chilly nighttime temperatures on account of its small size and the low-expansion glass used for the optics.

The author used the 6SE for imaging as well as visual observation by simply installing a camera at the back end where the diagonal inserts into the visual back. For planetary imaging, the author added a 2x Barlow lens.

Should you buy the Celestron NexStar 6SE?

This telescope offers a great entry into computerized astronomy with solid optics, portability and performance for visual observing of planets, the moon and brighter deep-sky objects. It's well-suited for those around a $1,000 budget who value automation over manual tracking, ranking highly among similar scopes. However, its mount's limitations for heavy accessories and lack of manual fallback make it less ideal for intensive use or imaging. Buy it if you prioritize ease and balance; skip if you are looking to do serious astrophotography or hunt down faint galaxies.

This is one of the best C6/SE units we’ve seen optically, with extremely sharp optics and very little image shift. Mechanically, the mount had an abnormal amount of backlash compared to previously tested units. This is seemingly a one-off issue, as other 6/8SE units tested previously by the author do not experience this issue.

Normally, one can take exposures as long as 10 seconds for deep-sky imaging with the 6SE, but this particular unit had a lot of backlash in the mount’s gears, so performance was somewhat restricted. The 6SE is best for planetary imaging, not deep-sky, unless you obtain a focal reducer and preferably a more sophisticated equatorial mount with better tracking.

If the Celestron NexStar 6SE isn't for you

How we tested the Celestron NexStar 6SE

The author has owned, as of the time of writing, five Celestron NexStar 6SE units, along with eight NexStar 8SEs, which utilize the same mount/tripod. A new 6SE was sent by Celestron to the author in February 2026 and tested under a variety of sky conditions between Bortle 6 and Bortle 2, at elevations between 2,000 and 7,000 feet. The author is located in Tucson, Arizona. The sky around Tucson is very conducive to amateur astronomy, thanks to widespread adoption of dark sky ordinances, high altitude, and extremely steady/transparent desert skies.

Babies and small children do not handle dry air as well as adults. Their skin and airways are still developing, which makes them more susceptible to nasal congestion, poor sleep and skin irritation. This is why many parents resort to using humidifiers — appliances that help increase relative humidity by releasing moisture into the air. When used correctly, humidifiers can transform the arid indoor air and help little ones breathe more easily. However, not every appliance is safe to use in nurseries or toddlers’ rooms.

By their very nature, humidifiers can cause dampness and contribute to mold growth if they are not cleaned and maintained correctly. They can also spread impurities if the water in the tank is not distilled or purified before being released back into the air. Moreover, many appliances generate warm mist or steam that can burn a child if they get too close. Not to mention, most humidifiers simply do not have the looks that would suit a child's room.

These are the issues the Levoit Sprout is trying to solve. Firstly, as an evaporative humidifier, it is less likely than ultrasonic and steam appliances to cause excessive condensation, and only releases mist-free moisture. Secondly, it features wick filters that help remove impurities from the humidified air. Plus, it boasts a curved, child-friendly design as well as a built-in night light and connected app.

We were keen to test the Levoit Sprout and see if it has the potential to land a spot in our guide to the best humidifiers.

Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier review

Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier: Design

• Easy to clean and refill
• Curved, child-friendly design
• Keeps the wick filter dry to prevent mold growth

The Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier looks eerily similar to the Levoit Sprout air purifier we tested last year. Both appliances are about the same size, weight and color, have a curve-shaped design and no sharp, protruding elements, and remind us of Olaf, the talking snowman from Disney's "Frozen" franchise. Perhaps unsurprisingly, they complement each other really well.

That said, these two appliances are vastly different when it comes to the assembly process. It took us less than a minute to put the air purifier together, as the process was smooth, intuitive and well-explained in the provided manual. The humidifier, on the other hand, left us scratching our heads.

It was relatively easy to disassemble the appliance and remove the plastic packaging from the filter, but then we struggled with putting the parts back together — they just would not fit. To make matters worse, the instructions were too vague to help us figure it out. We managed to put the Levoit Sprout together eventually, but this whole debacle did slightly put us off this appliance. Assembling a humidifier should not be this tricky, especially when it is designed primarily for sleep-deprived parents.

Assembly woes aside, the Levoit Sprout humidifier is easy to use and does not require a lot of maintenance. The water tank holds a gallon of water (3.8 liters), but it is small enough to fit under the faucet and easy to hold with both hands. Thanks to its top-fill design, it does not even have to be detached from the main unit to be refilled — you can just take the lid off and top it up straight from a bottle. We also liked that the tank was dishwasher-safe and translucent enough to allow us to monitor the water levels at a glance.

The Levoit Sprout humidifier can be controlled either with the buttons at the front of the unit or remotely via the VeSync app. You can also integrate it with Google Home and Apple HomeKit apps, and adjust its settings using voice commands. Given that most humidifiers lack such smart features, this is a considerable advantage.

Overall, the Levoit Sprout seems well-built and appropriately child-friendly. However, we are not convinced that its price is entirely justified. At $189.99, it is two to three times more expensive than most other humidifiers of similar size and capacity. That's not the full cost, either — the wick filters need to be regularly replaced and each replacement from Levoit costs $29.99. You can buy some dupe filters on Amazon and other major retailers, but they are roughly the same price anyway.

Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier: Features

• Standalone temperature and humidity sensor
• Auto-Dry mode keeps the filter dry to prevent mold growth
• Adjustable warm- or cool-toned night light

The Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier features two manual fan speeds and an Auto mode that adjusts the fan speed to maintain a preset humidity level, based on real-time temperature and humidity data from a provided standalone sensor (pictured below). This is a unique and convenient feature. Most appliances have built-in humidity meters, which means that their readings apply only to a very small area around the unit and may not reflect the overall humidity in the room. The Levoit Sprout, on the other hand, can monitor the air quality where it genuinely matters.

The Auto-Dry mode is another feature that scored highly in our books. The Levoit Sprout activates this mode once the humidification is switched off to keep the wick filter dry and therefore prevent mold growth. We did not have to worry about filter maintenance, as the appliance took care of it itself.

Another thing that adds to the Levoit Sprout's functionality is the built-in night light. We really liked this feature — the lamps underneath the water tank gave it a soft, warm-toned glow that genuinely lifted our mood. Night lights help children ease bedtime anxiety and fall asleep faster, but we can attest that adults may find them beneficial, too.

We also liked the VeSync app. Not only does it allow you to control the humidifier remotely and set schedules for when you are away, but it also provides a good amount of information on the humidity, remaining filter life and estimated drying time. We found the app useful, "clean" and easy to navigate.

Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier: Performance

• Quiet, with pleasant white noise
• No white dust or visible mist
• Gentle humidification without damp or condensation

The Levoit Sprout performed quite well in our at-home tests. While we are not parents and so can't say how this appliance might affect babies or toddlers, we can at least confirm that it does what it promises. This humidifier is quiet, reliable and relatively effective at increasing relative humidity without causing damp, condensation or even visible mist — as long as it is used in relatively small rooms, that is.

According to the manufacturer, the Levoit Sprout is suitable for spaces of up to 219 square feet (20 square meters). This is non-negotiable, though, and we would recommend using it in smaller rooms for best results. The reason lies in its humidification technology. Evaporative humidifiers work by blowing moist air through a wick filter, which creates friction that inevitably slows it down on the way out. Unlike in ultrasonic or steam appliances that can release jets of water vapor without facing similar obstacles, the range and power of their humidification capabilities are quite limited.

We measured the performance of the Levoit Sprout using the provided standalone humidity meter and an industry-grade Perfect Prime air particle counter. We placed the humidifier in a closed room measuring approximately 200 square feet, and then ran it for two hours in its highest output mode. After an hour, the relative humidity increased from 55% to 59%, and after two hours it rose by another 4%. These results may not sound like a huge difference, especially when we compare the Levoit Sprout to, for example, the PureGuardian H950AR (pictured below, this ultrasonic humidifier is of a similar size and range as the Levoit Sprout, but it raised the humidity twice as fast in a test conducted in the same room.) For a less powerful evaporative humidifier, however, we would still consider them acceptable.

This gentle humidification did make a tangible difference. The air felt considerably more pleasant and easier to breathe, and no condensation or wet patches formed around the unit. All in all, no complaints.

The Levoit Sprout also did a pretty good job of removing water impurities. We did not see any "white dust" or visible mist that can happen when humidifiers use undistilled water, and our Perfect Prime air particle monitor only recorded a very small increase in the levels of air particulates. Wick filters are not as effective as the HEPA filters commonly used in air purifiers, but they are still able to capture a good amount of impurities.

Lastly, the noise levels. The Levoit Sprout is whisper-quiet and if anything, it generates a soothing, unobtrusive hum that does not tend to disturb sleep or rest. When we measured its sound levels using a Sound Meter decibel-counting app, we did not register more than 42 dB on its highest setting — that’s equivalent to refrigerator sounds, and within the specifications provided by the manufacturer.

Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier: User reviews

At the time of writing this review, the Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier was rated 3.8 out of 5 stars at both Amazon and Levoit. Positive reviews tended to praise its ease of use, smart features and compact, aesthetically pleasing design. Negative remarks, on the other hand, often focused on its relatively low humidification power, high price and filter replacement costs. Some customers also complained about its relatively noisy fans and app connectivity issues.

One user said: "I took a risk and purchased this product before any reviews came out. I'm glad I did because it does everything it says. In my bedroom, I have noticed a significant difference in sleeping quality, and the air just feels nicer on the skin. The night light is incredibly relaxing and looks pleasing. The sensor is an awesome feature, and I've been able to control my Sprout from work, allowing me to dry the filter to easily prevent mold buildup. I will say, even though I live in an NYC apartment, the Sprout can only fill my smallest rooms. It's almost impossible to raise the humidity in a medium-sized room. This is a bummer because I wanted to combat radiator dryness."

Should you buy the Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier?

There is plenty to like about the Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier. It is quiet, smart-enabled and easy to use, and more importantly, it does a great job of moisturizing the air without creating damp or endangering the child's safety. However, this appliance is not big or powerful enough to suit large nurseries or deliver the best results in extremely arid climates.

✅ Buy it if: You are looking for a quiet, low-maintenance humidifier for small nurseries and toddlers’ rooms.

❌ Do not buy it if: You want something more powerful, versatile or budget-friendly.

Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier: How we tested

We tested the Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier for over a week, looking at its design, features, day-to-day performance, and ease of use and maintenance. We also tested its humidifying and water-purifying capabilities using the provided standalone humidity meter and an industry-grade Perfect Prime air particle counter.

We placed the Levoit Sprout in a closed room and ran it on the highest output setting for two hours, making note of changes to relative humidity and air quality. We also measured how loud this humidifier was with a Sound Meter decibel-counting app, as well as considering the cost and availability of its replacement filters.

We recently conducted a group test of beginner telescopes from Celestron, including the AstroMaster 70AZ and the StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ. Optically, these telescopes are very similar, but the AstroMaster 70AZ has the edge when it comes to viewing planets clearly, thanks to its longer focal length.

While the StarSense Explorer uses your smartphone to identify stars and point you towards objects, the AstroMaster adopts more of a "learn it yourself" approach. The AstroMaster keeps the set-up quick and simple and offers the more traditional astronomy experience of locating objects manually. Although it has a steeper learning curve, its simplicity makes it a fantastic telescope for beginners, and its compact and portable nature makes it suitable for kids and anyone looking for a small telescope.

Celestron AstroMaster LT 70AZ review

Celestron AstroMaster LT 70AZ Design

• Small and portable
• Easy to set up
• Build quality is acceptable for a beginner scope

The Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ is clearly designed with beginners in mind, and that shows pretty much straight away. It’s lightweight, simple to set up and not intimidating if you’ve never used a telescope before. The alt-azimuth mount moves up, down, left and right using a single handle, which feels somewhat like you’re using a camera tripod rather than anything super technical. That alone makes a big difference if you’re just starting out, or buying for a child.

Set-up is quick and easy and doesn’t require any tools, so you can get it outside and start using it without much effort. The adjustable tripod helps, too, especially if it’s being shared between multiple people. It’s not the most solid thing in the world, though — there can be a bit of wobble when you’re focusing or moving the scope, which is fairly typical at this price. Overall, it’s a straightforward, no-frills design that keeps things simple rather than trying to do too much.

Celestron AstroMaster LT 70AZ: Performance

• The moon is the standout view
• Solid performance for viewing planets
• Not the most suitable for deep-sky objects

In terms of its performance, it’s very much what you’d expect from a 70mm refractor. It’s good at the basics, but you do start to notice its limits fairly quickly. The moon is easily the highlight — it snaps into focus nicely and you can spend a good amount of time exploring the surface without feeling limited.

Jupiter and Saturn are visible too: we saw Jupiter’s moons and the bands on the gas giant itself, although the image itself stays fairly small and you don’t get too much in the way of finer details.It’s only when you start to move beyond that, that the Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ starts to feel a bit restricted. Brighter targets like Orion or the Pleiades show up nicely, but they’re faint and underwhelming if you’re expecting those big, colorful views you see online.

The optics themselves are decent for the price — and reasonably sharp in the center — but pushing the magnification too far exposes the limits. The bigger issue is that the mount can wobble when focusing, which makes it harder to keep things steady at a higher zoom. We also noticed a bit of drooping when we pointed the telescope at Jupiter at high altitude. Overall, it does what a beginner would need it to — just without much headroom.

Celestron AstroMaster LT 70AZ: Functionality

• No-frills telescope
• Everything is manual
• Mount can be fiddly

The AstroMaster 70AZ keeps things pretty simple, which is both a good and bad thing depending on what you expect. Everything is manual — there’s no tracking or electronics, and nothing guiding you to objects, so you’re fully in control of where the telescope is pointing. The upside of this is that it’s straightforward to understand. The downside is that finding things can take a bit of patience, especially if you’re new to the hobby.

The red dot finder helps, but it’s quite basic and you’ll need to spend a bit of time lining it up properly before it becomes useful. Once that’s sorted, it’s fine for aiming at the moon or bright objects, but less helpful when you’re trying to track down anything fainter.

The mount itself is easy to use, with a single handle for movement — but it’s not the smoothest. Small adjustments can sometimes feel a bit fiddly, particularly at higher magnifications where everything becomes more sensitive. There’s no slow motion control either, so keeping objects centered takes a bit of practice.

Should you buy the Celestron AstroMaster LT 70AZ?

The Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ is one of those telescopes that makes sense in certain situations, but it isn’t an obvious recommendation for everyone. It’s cheap, simple and genuinely capable of showing you the moon and planets without much fuss. For a beginner or teenager who just wants to try astronomy without spending too much, it does the job and doesn’t feel overly complicated. It’s all very no-frills — but that’s kind of the point. It gives you the basics without overcomplicating things, even if that means more effort on your part.

That said, it’s also easy to outgrow. The biggest issue isn’t the optics, but how manual everything is — finding objects can be frustrating, and the mount doesn’t always help. If you stick with it, you’ll learn a lot, but some users might find they lose patience.

If this product isn't for you

Most smart scales measure your weight, BMI (Body Mass Index) and basic body composition metrics, such as muscle mass and body fat percentage. More premium models can also assess more complex stats — for example, they calculate your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate, the minimum number of calories your body needs to perform life-sustaining functions, such as breathing and circulation) and biological age (how old your body appears to be rather than the number of years you have been alive). The best smart scales on the market can even perform segmental body analysis, meaning they use sensors in both a stand-on platform and a retractable handle to measure differences in tissue composition between different “segments” of the body. However, no single model can do what the Withings Body Scan can: provide you with insights into your cardiovascular health and nerve activity.

This foot-to-hand smart scale can measure your heart rate, ECG (the electrical signals in charge of your heartbeat), arterial stiffness (by measuring the speed at which the pressure wave from your heartbeat travels through your arteries), and Nerve Health Score (which is an assessment of peripheral nerve function, based on how well the skin in your feet conducts electricity). Put simply, the Withings Body Scan is more of an all-in-one health hub rather than merely a tool for tracking changes in your weight and body composition.

What is the catch, you may ask? Unsurprisingly, the premium price. At $499.95, the Withings Body Scan costs twice as much as most premium foot-to-hand models and nearly 15 times as much as basic platform-only devices. Is it actually worth it, though?

Withings Body Scan review

Withings Body Scan: How it works

The Withings Body Scan uses four technologies to take its measurements: bioelectrical impedance analysis (or bioimpedance, used for assessing body composition in almost all smart scales), impedance plethysmography and ballistocardiography (non-invasive methods that measure pulse wave velocity, which is an indicator of arterial stiffness) and electrochemical skin conductance (a non-invasive method for detecting activity in the small nerves in the skin).

All four are suitable for casual tracking at home, but none of them should be treated as diagnostic tools. They are simply not accurate or reliable enough to substitute for clinical tests done by a healthcare professional. The Withings Body Scan may be unusually expensive for a smart scale, true, but that does not mean we can expect results far superior to those obtained by cheaper devices — it is simply unfair. With that in mind, let's dive into the nitty-gritty of what and how this smart scale measures.

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), or bioimpedance: This non-invasive method measures body composition by sending low-voltage electricity through your body and detecting how much resistance your body puts up against it. The current will flow freely through tissues with high water content, such as your muscles, and slow down or stop completely in tissues with low water content (your bones or body fat, for example.) The smart scale then uses complex algorithms to convert these electrical data points into body composition metrics.

Bioimpedance is less accurate than Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) and other clinically validated methods of measuring body composition. It is also more prone to imprecise readings, and that is because they are affected by multiple factors, including your hydration level and skin temperature. Therefore, BIA smart scales are best used for identifying long-term trends rather than ad-hoc check-ins.

Pulse velocity measurement: Impedance plethysmography uses a low-voltage electrical current to measure blood volume changes in your arteries, while ballistocardiography measures the tiny mechanical vibrations of the body that are caused by the movements of blood within it. In simpler terms, the scale records when blood is ejected from your heart and when it reaches your feet. The longer this movement takes, the more flexible your arteries appear to be, and therefore the lower your risk of developing cardiovascular disease and hypertension, according to a 2024 review published in the journal Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine.

In clinical settings, pulse wave velocity is measured using applanation tonometry. Smart scales can produce measurements that closely match this gold standard, but they can't replicate it. Applanation tonometry is typically done when you are lying down and have two pressure sensors attached to two arterial sites, typically on your neck and groin. Smart scales, on the other hand, require you to stand up during the measurement and take the pulse wave velocity measurements from a different body site, according to a 2017 study published in the American Journal of Hypertension.

Nerve Health Score: This is a number from 0 to 100 that indicates the state of the tiny nerves in your feet's sweat glands by measuring how well they conduct a low-voltage electrical current. This technology is referred to as Electrochemical Skin Conductance (ESC). The nerves in your feet are highly sensitive to damage caused by multiple different factors, such as chemotherapy or chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome. A Nerve Health Score above 50 indicates normal nerve activity, while values below 50 signal potential neuropathy (nerve damage), according to a 2024 review published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroanatomy.

The current gold standard for assessing nerve health is through a biopsy, meaning it involves the invasive surgical removal of your nerve tissue. Smart scales that use ESC have proven reliable and are considered a promising non-invasive tool for detecting nerve damage in patients with metabolic conditions. They can also help those patients track the effects of specific treatment or lifestyle change on small nerve regeneration. However, ESC levels may vary by ethnicity, and they may not directly correspond to the state of nerves in different areas of the body, the review authors noted.

Withings Body Scan: Design

• Height- and weight-inclusive
• Durable and does not smudge easily
• Large surface area with a relatively small display

The Withings Body Scan is a solid, thoughtfully designed piece of kit. This smart scale is exceptionally height- and weight-inclusive: it has a relatively large platform and a long retractable handle, and its maximum user weight is 440 lbs (220 kg). To put that into perspective, most smart scales are limited to 396 lbs (180 kg). This is a big advantage: the Withings Body Scan can potentially better accommodate people with obesity and balance issues — two common comorbidities of metabolic conditions and diabetic neuropathy.

It also impressed us with its durability. We tested this smart scale for nearly two months — the Withings Body Scan sustained no scratches or any other damage, even though we accidentally dropped it on the hard tiles in our bathroom on at least two occasions. This smart scale has a clear premium feel to it, and this is not something we can say about most other bioimpedance devices we tested before.

The Withings Body Scan is not just tough, but it looks good, too. We liked its unusually tasteful, minimalistic design and the discreet 2.8-inch (70 mm) display at the top of the unit. Speaking of the display, it may be relatively small, but it is also colorful, easy to read and not over-cluttered with stats and numbers. More importantly, it presents the measurements in an easy-to-understand manner, using language that's body-positive, non-judgmental and considerate of people who may struggle with body dysmorphia and eating disorders.

We also appreciated that the glass platform did not smudge much. Of course, like most smart scales, the Withings Body Scan will inevitably collect some dust and stains — that's just the nature of devices you stand barefoot on. However, we found this smart scale slightly more resilient to sweat patches and easier to clean than most other models we tested before. One quick wipe was enough to make the glass platform look pristine again.

Withings Body Scan: Features

• Detailed body composition analysis
• Multiple weighing modes
• Confusing app layout

The Withings Body Scan is smart in the full sense of the word, especially when it comes to features. To start with, this device can automatically detect up to eight different users, meaning there is no need to log into the app first to connect your user profile before each weigh-in. Once you step onto the Withings Body Scan, it will automatically recognize you by your weight. This may be a small thing, but it makes this smart scale very user-friendly.

Moreover, all of the measured metrics can be tracked in the Withings app, and shared with several other fitness-related apps, such as Apple Health, Google Fit, MyFitnessPal and Samsung Health. This smart scale can also sync with the data obtained from other Withings devices (the Withings ScanWatch 2 hybrid smartwatch, for example) for a more holistic view of your health.

The weigh-ins are relatively quick and easy, and we have never had to redo our measurements due to inconclusive results (which happened quite a lot with some of the other smart scales we tested). The Withings Body Scan tracks most key body composition metrics, including weight, fat-free body mass, BMI, body fat percentage, bone mass, muscle mass, body water percentage and BMR.

It also provides segmental body analysis. Essentially, this smart scale can differentiate between muscle and fat mass in your trunk, arms and legs. This feature is particularly useful to those who want to track muscle development in different areas of their body — unlike most hand-to-foot models available on the market, the Withings Body Scan shows clear long-term trends in segmental body analysis, not just a snapshot of your body composition based entirely on the last reading taken with the device.

However, we would not consider this smart scale a particularly good fit for athletes and other advanced users. For example, the Withings Body Scan lacks some of the more advanced body composition stats, such as the difference between subcutaneous and visceral fat (fat under the skin and the fat that accumulates around internal organs). Also, its segmental body analysis does not differentiate between the right and left leg, or the right and left arm — this little omission could be a considerable disadvantage for bodybuilders and those recovering from one-sided injuries, for example.

Last, but not least, the weighing modes. The Withings Body Scan comes with Baby, Athlete, Pregnancy and Eyes-closed modes. We particularly like the last one — in the Eyes-closed mode, the scale will not show your body composition metrics on-screen during a weigh-in. Instead, it will display motivational messages or a smile emoji instead. Some users may appreciate that the Withings Body Scan allows them to track their weight without constantly seeing their daily numbers.

If there is anything we would complain about, it is the app layout. It is confusing and tricky to navigate, and it took us quite some time to learn where to find different stats. If you like clean, "clinical" apps overfilled with raw numbers, the Withings app may not be the best fit for you. If you are more focused on the overall trends and personalized lifestyle tips, however, we would still recommend it.

Withings Body Scan: Performance

• Relatively accurate body composition measurements
• Exceptionally long battery life
• Seamless app connectivity

The Withings Body Scan offers the longest battery life of all the smart scales we tested — according to the manufacturer, it lasts up to a year on a single charge. Understandably, we did not test our unit long enough to confirm whether that is indeed true. However, long-time online users of this smart scale generally praise it for its lasting performance, even with frequent weigh-ins.

In our tests, the Withings Body Scan displayed good tracking accuracy. We compared the body composition measurements taken with this smart scale to the data we obtained with a much bigger, more precise standalone FitQuest machine in our local gym. Both scales displayed the same body weight and we noted only small discrepancies in body composition analysis. The Withings Body Scan overestimated our body fat by about 2% and lean muscle by about 3%, while body water mass was 3% lower. Therefore, this smart scale proved to be slightly more accurate than the two other hand-to-feet models we tested before: the RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro and Renpho Morphoscan Nova. Both of these models overestimated our body fat percentage by approximately 5% and muscle mass percentage by 3%, and underestimated our body water reading by around 4%.

We also compared the cardiovascular measurements taken by this smart scale with the heart rate and ECG measurements obtained using our Withings ScanWatch 2. Both devices provided very similar readings — for example, there was only 2 bpm (beats per minute) difference in our resting heart rate. Unfortunately, we could not assess the Nerve Health Score as we did not have a reliable reference tool to compare the measurements with. Our score seemed largely accurate to us — but we do not have a diabetic food syndrome and live a relatively healthy lifestyle, so we may not be in the best position to give verdicts here.

Finally, the app connectivity. It scored high in our books: the Withings Body Scan instantly connected to our device and seamlessly transferred data between devices at all times. We have battled enough smart scales to know that good connectivity is not a given, so we truly appreciated the fact that our stats were always up to date.

Withings Body Scan: User reviews

At the time of writing this review, the Withings Body Scan was rated 4.1 out of 5 stars on Withings, 4.5 at Walmart, 3.8 at Best Buy, and 2.9 at Amazon. This smart scale was generally praised for its user-friendly design, long battery life and versatile tracking features.

As one user said: "The range of capabilities/metrics and the superb ease of use and integration with Apple Health make this a perfect support partner to keep on track with your health goals. I love how all Withings devices consolidate into the app for the holistic view of what’s going right now or what needs to be focused on health-wise."

The tracking accuracy and app connectivity, on the other hand, received mixed feedback. One buyer said: "Weight, fat, muscle, and visceral fat readings were inconsistent. Every time I stepped on the scale (and I did it a LOT last night when the scale arrived), I had a different reading. Weight fluctuated 8 lbs over 10 readings, in a span of less than 30 minutes. The scale has decided I am gaining fat and losing muscle (that’s completely wrong), and the app is now showing my BMI as stable, despite having lost 40 lbs in 3 months."

Negative reviews focused predominantly on individual faulty units and poor customer service from the company.

Should you buy the Withings Body Scan smart scale?

The Withings Body Scan is well built, easy to use and relatively accurate, but what truly makes this smart scale stand out among its competitors is its intense focus on long-term trends and a holistic analysis of your metrics. It is a great choice for those who want to improve their body composition while simultaneously monitoring their heart health and nerve activity in the feet — for example, people with type 2 diabetes, hypertension or metabolic syndrome.

For athlete-level fitness enthusiasts, however, the Withings Body Scan may lack the functionality to justify its high price.

✅ Buy it if: You want an all-in-one health station to monitor long-term changes in your body composition, cardiovascular function and nerve health.

❌ Do not buy it if: You are on a budget or looking for something more fitness-focused.

Withings Body Scan: How we tested

We spent nearly two months trying and testing the Withings Body Scan smart scale, looking into its design, features, ease of use, app connectivity and day-to-day performance. We also compared the heart rate and body composition measurements taken with this smart scale to the data we obtained with our Withings ScanWatch 2 and FitQuest machine (a bigger, more precise BIA scale used in our local gym). Finally, we gave our verdict on the general reliability and tracking performance of the Withings Body Scan.

The Celestron Outland X 10x25 roof prism binoculars are a tiny pair that you can fit in one hand or carry in a small pocket. They are rugged enough to throw in your hiking bag at the last minute, and would also be good to give to a nature-loving or skywatching child. They feel like they could handle a few accidental knocks and bumps.

We've reviewed several of the best compact binoculars, and we're reviewing the Outland X as they sit at a slightly higher price point than the child-friendly Occer 10x25, but well below the likes of the Olympus 8x25 WP II, which are currently our top pick in the compact binocular realm.

While compact models won't typically replace full-sized optics for serious wildlife observation or skywatching, they are always a great portable option to take hiking, camping or boating, especially if they are waterproof like this pair.

Used to reviewing all sorts of binoculars at different price points, we needed to remind ourselves throughout our review that this ultra-affordable pair retails for around $50.

Let's dive in…

Celestron Outland X 10x25 review

Celestron Outland X 10x25: Design

• Great build quality
• Simple design
• Waterproof and fog-proof

If taking a large pair of binoculars on a nature walk seems like overkill, but you don't want to miss an exciting opportunity for a more close-up view should the opportunity arise, the Celestron Outland X 10x25 could be a handy "just in case" companion.

They are small enough to fit in a coat pocket or thigh pocket, and at 10.9 ounces (310 g), they're probably lighter than your smartphone — you'll likely forget you're carrying them.

The protective rubber armor is pretty smooth and doesn't offer much in the way of texture (unlike, for example, the Hawke Endurance 8x25), but given that these binoculars are small enough to grip one-handed, there is no real reason to provide extra texture. A neck strap is supplied, as well as a case with a belt strap that you can utilize between sessions.

The focus wheel turns smoothly, but with enough resistance that it won't slip once you have focused your view. People with larger hands will probably find they can rest the binoculars on their thumbs and turn the wheel with their fingertips, rather than gripping them in their palms.

Celestron Outland X 10x25: Performance

• Best for daylight use to get closer to the action
• No need to wait when moving between temperatures
• Color accuracy is lacking

After spending a couple of weeks taking these binoculars on various excursions, we would deem their performance OK, or good for what they are — a relatively cheap pair of binoculars.

The view is clear enough to get closer to the action for daytime wildlife observation or sports and events, but the color is a bit lackluster. There is noticeable, distracting color fringing when viewing wildlife or objects against a bright backdrop (a bird sitting on a branch in front of blue sky, for example), which is surprising given the multi-coated lens coating that should help minimize this. Aside from this, we often felt the colors looked undersaturated. We needed to remind ourselves that these are a budget pair of binoculars and lower our expectations.

That said, there were occasions where we would have missed out on identifying swooping birds, spotting deer through trees in the woods or closely following the action at our local sports track had we not had the Outland X with us.

On clear nights, we were able to get a good look at a bright moon, including its craters, but they aren't really useful for skywatching beyond that and getting a slightly closer look at some of the brightest objects in the night sky. This isn't really a fault of these binoculars; it's just not what they are made for.

Celestron Outland X 10x25: Functionality

• Close focus could be shorter
• Very limited 9.1 mm eye relief
• Great for grab-and-go use

Surprisingly for a budget pair of binoculars, the Celestron Outland X 10x25 are waterproof and nitrogen-filled, so they can handle wet weather and changing temperatures. We took these binoculars out of our warm house and on walks on cold, frosty mornings without experiencing any adverse effects.

The twist-up eyecups only offer a tiny amount of eye relief adjustment, so we wouldn't recommend these binoculars for spectacle wearers: the eye relief is a mere 9.1 mm. For comfortable viewing, spectacle wearers should generally look for eye relief of 17 mm or more.

There were a couple of occasions when we wanted to do some backyard wildlife and birdwatching. Sadly, with only a small garden, we found the minimum focus of 19.7 feet (6 meters) to be too far away. Something like the Celestron Nature DX ED 8x42 with a 6.5 foot (2 meter) minimum focusing distance would be better for this.

Should you buy the Celestron Outland X 10x25?

Overall, the Celestron Outland X 10x25mm are fuss-free, functional binoculars for users who want something small and lightweight to take out and about, but still value a robust pair with decent glass and weatherproofing.

We can think of models we'd choose over this pair, but if you're not looking for the best and you can pick them up at a reasonable price, they might be just what you're looking for. Something you can sling in your rucksack on long hikes or camping weekends without having to worry about them getting wet or being left out in the cold — and that won't break the bank if you do have an accident with them.

If this product isn't for you:

Tired of bulky, rugged fitness trackers that weigh down your wrist and clash with your everyday outfits? Consider a hybrid smartwatch instead. These wearables combine smart technology with the timeless charm of a traditional, analog wristwatch, giving you the best of both worlds. They often feature physical hands and a non-digital face, as well as advanced sensors and tiny displays that help you track your health and fitness metrics discreetly.

The perfect example of a hybrid smartwatch is the Withings ScanWatch 2. This wearable does not have the top-class mapping features or workout-tracking tools typical of Garmin watches, nor will it help you prepare for a sporting event in the way that even some of the most budget-friendly fitness trackers can — but that is not what it is meant to do.

Instead, the Withings ScanWatch 2 focuses predominantly on your heart health, sleep and general well-being.

Most importantly, it features ECG (it can detect irregular heart rhythm and alert you to potential signs of arrhythmia and atrial fibrillation) and is one of the handful of wearables that offer full heart health reviews conducted by board-certified cardiologists. The Withings ScanWatch 2 also comes with advanced body temperature sensors and can sync with other Withings health trackers, such as smart scales and BeamO (a device that combines a thermometer, ECG, stethoscope and oximeter).

The cherry on top? This hybrid smartwatch lasts up to 35 days on a single charge and comes in a wide range of elegant designs. No wonder we did not think twice about taking up the offer to test it out.

Withings ScanWatch 2 review

Withings ScanWatch 2: Design

• Exceptionally elegant and discreet
• Featherlight and comfortable to wear
• Customizable design with detachable straps

Right off the bat, the Withings ScanWatch 2 scores a big point for its customizability. This hybrid smartwatch comes in two sizes, 1.5-inch (38 millimeters) and 1.65-inch (42 mm), with both models available in black, blue and pearl white, and the 1.5-inch version also available in sand. On top of that, we also have a wide range of detachable straps to choose from. Whether you are looking for a tasteful leather strap, a durable metal bracelet or a sporty silicone band, you can easily find something that suits your style.

Our testing unit was the 1.5-inch version, in the sand color with a white leather wristband — and we absolutely adored it. The Withings ScanWatch 2 is by far the most feminine and elegant smartwatch we have ever tested (and we have tested a lot). It is so discreet that it could easily pass for an analog watch, and so beautifully crafted that we had no qualms about wearing it to a family wedding and other formal occasions. We also liked how featherlight and comfortable it was to wear. Looks- and feel-wise, it scores 10 out of 10.

The Withings ScanWatch 2 may look rather delicate, but it is surprisingly well-built. This hybrid smartwatch is encased in durable stainless steel and covered with sapphire glass for added protection against bumps and scratches. In fact, it is almost as durable as some of the best outdoor-oriented watches from Garmin, Suunto and other leading brands.

This was a smart choice for Withings to make. The ScanWatch 2 is so small and compact that you barely even feel its presence on the wrist, and if you keep forgetting you are wearing it, you are more likely to expose it to various accidents. Take it from us — we must have bumped our testing unit against steel gym equipment at least a dozen times. The good news is that it did not sustain any visible damage.

Withings ScanWatch 2: Display

• 0.63-inch, two-tone OLED display
• Controlled via the rotating crown
• Can be difficult to read in direct sunlight

The 0.63-inch (16 mm) OLED display is both the best and the worst feature of the Withings ScanWatch 2. Starting with the positives, it makes this smartwatch look exceptionally discreet. When it is off, the display seamlessly blends in with the analog part of the watch face. It is also very quick and straightforward to control — simply press the crown to wake the screen, rotate it to scroll through the menu, and press again to select features.

Interestingly, the physical hands will never obscure this tiny display if it is in use (which could happen at around midday, for example). Once you press the crown, they will temporarily move to the sides, and after you finish setting the features, they instantly move back to where they were before. It is a clever design: refreshingly simple and very satisfying to use.

On the other hand, the display is also what can make the Withings ScanWatch 2 difficult to read. The menu captions are horrendously tiny and not particularly visible in direct sunlight. Even those with perfect eyesight may struggle to decipher them, never mind people with visual impairments.

The crown control can be a disadvantage, too. For example, it makes it easy to unintentionally mess with the watch settings. One time, we almost triggered a full factory reset simply because we did not notice that our gym glove was pressing and rotating the crown during a workout. This is made worse by the fact that it is not possible to temporarily disable the crown, to prevent things like that from happening in the first place.

Withings ScanWatch 2: Features

• Comprehensive, detailed health insights
• Basic workout tracking features
• Confusing app layout

Health-related features are where the Withings ScanWatch 2 shines the brightest. Not because there are so many of them (though that matters, too), but rather due to how they are displayed and interpreted in the Withings app.

Most fitness trackers focus on raw numbers, crunching stats and specific short-term outcomes, such as the training load from a particular workout or the effects of your sleep on the energy levels the following day. The ScanWatch 2, on the other hand, is more about holistic analysis and identifying long-term trends. The longer we used this smartwatch, the more it seemed to learn about us, and the better it got at connecting the dots between different metrics.

That said, most of these personalized health insights and in-depth analytic features are hidden behind a paywall. The Withings+ subscription is complimentary for the first month, then it switches to $9.95 per month or $99.95 per year. It is quite pricey, true, but we are inclined to say it is worth the expense. Not only does it help you make more sense of your stats, but it also provides you with access to a rich, well-written content library, guided programs and a lifetime warranty on active Withings devices.

Most importantly, a Withings+ subscription allows you to request personalized heart health assessments conducted by board-certified cardiologists. Every subscriber can do that up to four times a year at no extra cost. We fully approve of this feature and wish more brands would follow suit. Smartwatch ECGs are relatively accurate, but still not as precise as ECGs done in clinical settings. They also tend to be more finicky to take and therefore more prone to providing inconclusive results. Having a medical professional who can interpret this ECG data can offer some peace of mind to those who pay close attention to their cardiovascular health.

The Withings+ subscription is not necessary to benefit from the app's features, though. The Withings app is colorful and engaging, and it does a great job of explaining health metrics in an easy-to-understand way. We liked that it feels less “clinical” and data-heavy than Garmin Connect or Whoop, for example — this makes it very accessible to casual exercisers or those new to health tracking.

We have only one major issue with the Withings app — its layout feels quite confusing and tricky to navigate, and its features are arranged differently from most other smartwatch apps we have used. That’s partly because, as we mentioned before, the app emphasizes long-term trends and a holistic approach rather than raw stats and numbers. If you are used to regular fitness trackers, this approach may feel a bit alien and counterintuitive.

We were also slightly disappointed with the watch’s workout tracking capabilities. The Withings ScanWatch 2 can automatically detect and record your exercise sessions, but it does not collect nearly as many metrics as most other wearables. Moreover, there is no way to check your metrics in the app halfway through your workout (except for the real-time heart rate readings) — you can only access them after the session is finished. If you are focused on assessing and improving your exercise performance, the Withings ScanWatch 2 will surely fall short of your expectations.

Withings ScanWatch 2: Performance

• Up to 35 days of battery life
• Relatively accurate measurements of heart rate and temperature
• Seamless app connectivity

According to the manufacturer, the Withings ScanWatch 2 lasts up to 35 days on a single charge. This sounds about right — we wore our testing unit day and night for nearly two months, and we only had to charge it twice during that time. To put that into perspective, most ECG smartwatches offer around two weeks of battery life at best.

We were also satisfied with the tracking performance. The Withings ScanWatch 2 did a particularly good job of measuring body temperature and assessing the duration and quality of our sleep, which in turn led to reliable menstrual cycle predictions and on-point assessments of our energy levels. Breathing rate, ECG and blood oxygen assessments also looked relatively accurate.

Heart rate measurements, however, were a bit more volatile — but that appears to have more to do with the limitations of PPG optical sensors, rather than the quality of the Withings ScanWatch 2 itself. When we compared the readings taken by this smartwatch with the data we obtained using a more accurate Polar H9 chest-strap heart rate monitor, we noticed that the heart rate measurements tended to be more accurate during periods of rest and light exercise than during high-intensity activities. This is the same pattern we observed in pretty much every other PPG tracker we have ever tested.

We have no qualms about the app connectivity, either. We quickly connected the Withings ScanWatch 2 to our phone and did not experience any issues with data transfer. The software updates were prompt and did not interfere with our activities.

So, is the Withings ScanWatch 2 worth the money? We think so. While $369.95 may not be particularly budget-friendly, it is not unreasonable either, given the overall value of this smartwatch.

Withings ScanWatch 2: User reviews

At the time of writing this review, the Withings ScanWatch 2 was rated 4.4 out of 5 stars at Withings, 4.3 stars at Best Buy and 4 stars at Amazon. Positive reviews tended to praise this hybrid smartwatch for its stylish design, long battery life, good tracking accuracy and useful health insights. Sleep and step tracking, on the other hand, received mixed feedback.

One user said: "First of all, I love this watch for the simple and easy-to-navigate screen. One button is all you need. I’m also a sucker for analog faces. You can’t tell it’s a smartwatch at a glance. The auto sensor is nice when I can’t be bothered to input each workout mode and the readings are usually not too far off. [...] The battery life is great, too. I can go on vacation without needing to pack a charger. [...] I’m planning to train for a 70.3 Ironman next year and will probably be switching to a Garmin to suit my needs. If you enjoy running or cycling, this is still a great watch! Sturdy, aesthetically pleasing, low fuss and not too many bells and whistles to navigate and learn. It’s enough to track your activity and basic health stats."

Negative reviews tended to focus on individual faulty units and connectivity issues. A handful of users also reported poor customer service from the company.

One user said: "When I first got the watch and installed the Withings app on the phone, I could get the data from the watch to the phone, no problem. But for some reason, I could not get the data from the Withings app to sync with Health Connect. The Withings app could read my historical data and also upload it into the app which I really liked but I could only get partial data updated from the Withings app to Health Connect. It would get mileage, and activities loaded, but step count was left out completely."

Should you buy the Withings ScanWatch 2?

The Withings ScanWatch 2 is a beautifully crafted hybrid smartwatch that outperforms its competitors with advanced health insights and long battery life. While it is not well-suited for workout tracking and its app can be tricky to navigate, it is still an excellent alternative to flashy, rugged smartwatches.

✅ Buy it if: You want an ultra-stylish hybrid smartwatch that offers detailed insights into your sleep, stress and heart health.

❌ Do not buy it if: You are looking for an advanced workout tracker or need something with a bigger, more colorful screen.

Withings ScanWatch 2: Related products

It is tricky to find a wearable that closely matches the looks and functionality of the Withings ScanWatch 2. Something has to give, even when it comes to other hybrid smartwatches. For example, most models from TAG, Montblanc, Tissot and other leading brands are as stylish and durable, but they tend to lack advanced health-tracking features or a similarly versatile app ecosystem. Not to mention, they are often three to four times as expensive.

If timeless style and health metrics are your top priorities, consider one of the best smart rings instead. The Oura Ring Gen 4, for example, offers excellent sleep and stress tracking features, extensive customization and long battery life. Plus, it costs roughly the same as the Withings ScanWatch 2.

If you are more interested in fitness tracking, you may be better off investing in a relatively discreet screenless wearable, such as the Whoop MG, or one of the less bulky and “masculine” Garmin watches — the Garmin Vivomove Sport or Garmin Vivoactive 6, for example.

Withings ScanWatch 2: How we tested

We spent nearly two months testing the Withings ScanWatch 2, looking into its design, features, day-to-day performance and ease of use. We wore this smartwatch during the day, while sleeping and when doing a range of activities, from hiking outdoors to gym-based circuit classes.

Then, we compared the sleep, steps and heart rate measurements taken by the Withings ScanWatch 2 with the data we obtained using a Polar H9 chest-strap heart rate monitor, a Whoop MG screenless fitness tracker and an Oura Ring Gen 4 smart ring. Lastly, we gave our verdict on its overall functionality and value for money.

Keeping the house fur-free is a constant battle for many cat and dog owners. Air purifiers help remove some of that pesky hair, but even the most pet-friendly models will inevitably clog up and have you spend hours washing and vacuuming the filters. However, the era of such never-ending maintenance may finally be over. Meet the Dreame FP10 — the first-ever air purifier that uses a 360-degree self-cleaning roller to keep its filters free of fur, dust and other debris lingering in the indoor air.

The Dreame FP10 seems to tick all the boxes for owners of furry pets. Not only is it low-maintenance, but it also features bite-resistant cords and a little tabletop that your mischievous cats can climb without you having to worry about their safety. Most importantly, it promises to solve the most common air quality woes plaguing pet households. According to the manufacturer, the Dreame FP10 can remove up to 99.97% of airborne particles and 99.9% of stubborn pet odors, without making much noise or causing disruptive airflow.

To top it off, this air purifier comes with a dedicated app, voice control and real-time air quality monitoring — and it looks great, too. Needless to say, we were eager to put the Dreame FP10 through its paces and see whether it could earn a spot in our guide to the best air purifiers for pet owners.

Dreame FP10 Air Purifier review

Dreame FP10: Design

• Elegant, durable and pet-friendly
• Doubles as a small table
• Small control buttons and no on-body display

Air purifiers designed for use around pets tend to prioritize functionality over looks, but that is not the case with the Dreame FP10. With its elegant tower design, tastefully toned-down color palette and soft lighting illuminations, it is one of the nicest-looking air purifiers we have tested, more akin to a piece of furniture than a household appliance. It is discreet and unobtrusive, and should not look out of place even in the most stylish households. That's not to say the Dreame FP10's design lacks functionality, though — quite the opposite.

One of its defining features is a small detachable tabletop. We like the concept of an air purifier that doubles as a bedside table, because it gives us more space to store our books, magazines and other small trinkets. This design tweak is not just practical, but also exceptionally cat-friendly. As these four-legged creatures have a penchant for climbing on household appliances, it gives them somewhere to sit and explore their surroundings without getting in the way of air vents or accidentally stepping on the control buttons.

Interestingly, this detachable table can be swapped for an optional pet-weighing tray. This clever accessory (soon to be available on Dreame's website) records the weight and daily sleep routine of your furry friend every time they step on it, and can even automatically adjust the appliance's fan speed to shield them from excessive noise and sudden airflow changes. This data can then be viewed in the Dreamehome app, giving you a handy overview of your pet's well-being and daily habits.

The Dreame FP10 not only has a convenient space for your cat to sit on, but it is also built well enough to withstand their weight and sudden movements. This air purifier features an exceptionally sturdy base that keeps the whole unit from tipping over, and it feels sufficiently durable to, for example, survive a head-on collision with a racing dog. At the same time, we did not find the Dreame FP10 particularly difficult to move around the house. Yes, it is a relatively big and heavy appliance, but its tabletop is so securely attached that it can serve as a handle if needed.

All in all, the Dreame FP10 seems to be more thoughtfully designed than many of the pet-friendly air purifiers we have tested previously. If there is anything we would complain about here, it is the control panel. The buttons are tiny and not particularly visible in low light, and there is no on-body display showing current air quality readings or which settings are switched on. Given that most air purifiers these days come with a digital touchscreen, this feels like quite an oversight. This clunky control panel can also be a considerable disadvantage for people with poor eyesight, or those who simply do not fancy always having to use an app to control their appliances.

The price is another drawback. The Dreame FP10 costs $499.99, making it one of the most expensive pet-friendly air purifiers we have tested.

Dreame FP10: Features

• 10 manually adjusted fan speeds
• Auto mode
• Self-cleaning roller and a detachable hair collection chamber
• PM2.5, TVOC, temperature and humidity sensors

The Dreame FP10 features a four-stage purification system: a pre-filter for capturing hair, dust and other larger particles; a HEPA filter designed to remove tiny airborne allergens, such as pet dander, pollen and mold spores; an activated carbon filter which helps absorb odor-bearing particles; and a metal functional layer that breaks those odor-bearing particles down (and therefore helps remove them from circulation.) According to the brand, this system allows the Dreame FP10 to remove up to 99.9% of stubborn odors and 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. While these figures sound impressive, we could not find any independent studies that would verify these claims.

What we can confirm, however, is the Dreame FP10's impressive range of purification settings. This air purifier comes with 10 manually adjusted fan speeds — most commercially available models are limited to three or four. It also has an auto mode in which the fan speed changes automatically based on real-time air quality data, and a sleep mode in which the fan speed is reduced to a minimum to limit any nighttime disturbances. Moreover, the Dreame FP10 features a dedicated pet mode that works with the optional pet-weighing tray.

The star of the show, however, is the self-cleaning feature. The Dreame FP10 comes with a 360-degree roller that can brush around the pre-filter to remove any fur that has stuck to it. This cleaning process can be activated in the app, lasts approximately 30 seconds, and once it’s completed, the collected debris gets deposited in the detachable chamber.

When this chamber gets full, you can easily remove it from the unit and empty its contents into a bin. You do not have to worry about cross-contamination or bad odors here — the chamber is tightly sealed and the cleaning process does not seem to release any of the collected pollutants back into the air. In our opinion, this feature offers an excellent way to save time and prolong the filter life, and we would love to see it implemented in more pet-friendly air purifiers in the future.

The air quality measurements, on the other hand, were not as impressive. The Dreame FP10 measures only two types of airborne pollutants: PM2.5 (particles measuring less than 2.5 microns in diameter, such as pollen and pet dander) and much smaller TVOCs (volatile organic compounds, such as potentially harmful gases from paints and varnishes). While these two metrics may be sufficient for general air quality monitoring, they may not accurately represent air quality in pet households, because some of the most common pet-related pollutants are much larger than 2.5 microns. For example, fur strands and some pet dander flakes can measure more than 10 microns.

Dreame FP10: Performance

• Quiet and unobtrusive
• Excellent air-cleaning performance
• Efficiently removes dust, hair and bad odors

The Dreame FP10 may have some shortcomings in design and features, but its day-to-day performance is truly top-class. This air purifier did exactly what it promised — it made a tangible difference to the air quality in our home, quickly and efficiently removing odors, hair and various other airborne pollutants, and its built-in roller kept the pre-filter pristinely clean without us having to lift a finger. True, we are not pet owners and can't vouch for its performance around cats or dogs, but we have tested enough air purifiers to recognize the Dreame FP10's superior air-cleaning capabilities and are confident this air purifier has what it takes to deliver great results in challenging environments.

As long as it is used correctly, that is. According to the brand, the Dreame FP10 covers up to 1,346 square feet (125 square meters) and works best in rooms measuring up to 624 square feet (58 square meters). This claim is roughly in line with its CADR rating. This independent metric, measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM), indicates how quickly an appliance can clean the air in a given space. The Dreame FP10 is rated 206 CFM, which means it can clean the air once every 30 minutes in a space measuring the stated 624 square feet — and that is enough to make a significant difference to its overall air quality. Based on this CADR rating, however, the very best results (one air change per 15 minutes) are to be expected in rooms measuring up to 300 square feet (27.8 square meters). Incidentally, that’s around the size of the room where we conducted our air quality tests.

The first test we did assessed the Dreame FP10's air-cleaning capabilities in ambient conditions. We placed this air purifier in the room, locked the doors and windows, then used our trusted Perfect Prime air particle monitor (an industry-grade device that can detect airborne pollutants as small as 0.3 microns) before and after running this air purifier on its auto setting for 30 minutes. The Dreame FP10 removed 71% of particles measuring 0.3 microns and 75% of pollutants measuring 2.5 microns (no 10-micron particles were detected). This is a considerable drop, given that both the air purifier and air particle monitor indicated good air quality at the time of testing.

Then, we conducted the smoke tests. We started by burning a handful of matches, then running the Dreame FP10 for 30 minutes on its auto setting. The air purifier removed 98.5% of 0.3-micron particles, 99.7% of particles measuring 2.5 microns, and all the pollutants larger than 10 microns. When we repeated the match test on the highest fan speed setting, all of the smoke particles were hoovered up after 30 minutes, and when we repeated the procedure with a handful of incense sticks, we obtained similarly good results. All in all, the Dreame FP10 has demonstrated it can stand up to the task of keeping our indoor air free of pollutants.

The cherry on top? The Dreame FP10 is exceptionally quiet. Most of the time, we could barely hear it working. This air purifier is understandably much louder at the highest fan speed — when we measured it with the Sound Meter decibel-counting app, we noted around 60 dB, equivalent to the sounds of regular conversation or office environment — but even then, it is not particularly disturbing or unpleasant on the ears. The Dreame FP10 should not keep you up at night or cause excessive stress to your four-legged friends.

Dreame FP10: User reviews

At the time of writing this review, the Dreame FP10 was rated 4.8 out of 5 stars at both Amazon and Dreame. This air purifier was often praised for its quiet fans, ease of use, great air-cleaning performance and high build quality, and several users credited it with significant improvements to their allergy symptoms.

One happy customer said: "This has got to be one of the best air purifiers I have bought! I have four dogs, one of them is a husky, and I have gone through a lot of purifiers over the years. Even the ones that said they were for pets don't beat this one! [...] My allergies have been way better and the house just smells fresher."

Negative remarks, though few and far between, tended to focus on the Dreame FP10's control panel and air quality measurements. As one user said: "It has no visible air quality indicators, except for a little red light that comes on when air quality is low and is hard to see, as are all the controls on the main unit. Supposedly, the external lighting is supposed to get a warmer, yellowish hue when air quality is poor, however I have not seen it do this. If it is doing so, it is so subtle as to be useless. [...] The indoor temp readings have consistently been 4 to 5 degrees F too high. There is no way to calibrate or to enter an offset to correct for this. Hopefully, this and the air quality hue feature can be addressed with a firmware update and are not caused by something faulty."

Should you buy the Dreame FP10 air purifier?

The Dreame FP10 Air Purifier ticks all the main boxes for people with furry pet, from near-silent operation and cat-friendly design to effortless filter maintenance and excellent air-cleaning performance. It is well-built and looks great, too. However, as good as this air purifier is, it also comes with two major downsides: a high price point and a clunky control interface.

✅ Buy it if: You are a pet owner looking for a quiet, stylish air purifier that excels at removing fur and bad odors.

❌ Do not buy it if: You are on a budget, want something smaller or prefer air purifiers with an easy-to-read digital display.

If the Dreame FP10 air purifier is not for you

Looking for something more budget-friendly than the Dreame FP10? Consider the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier. It is exceptionally compact, ultra-quiet and easy to maintain, and more importantly, very efficient at removing pet hair and lingering odors — all for less than $90. That said, the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier lacks smart features and is not suitable for rooms bigger than 294 square feet (27.3 square meters).

Want something bigger and more powerful than the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier? Then you can't go wrong with the Levoit Vital 200S. It is our all-time favorite air purifier for pet owners and it costs less than half the price of the Dreame FP10. However, it is not particularly stylish or low-maintenance.

Need a multi-purpose appliance? The Switchbot Air Purifier Table is an excellent choice here — it is light, compact and smart-enabled, plus it comes with a built-in wireless phone charger, scent diffuser and ambient light. The best part? It is often on sale for less than $199 and can be easily integrated with other Switchbot appliances.

Dreame FP10: How we tested

We spent over a month trying and testing the Dreame FP10 air purifier. We carefully assessed its design, features, durability, day-to-day performance and ease of use. We also checked how loud it was using the Sound Meter decibel-counting app, and measured its air-cleaning capabilities using a Perfect Prime air particle monitor — an industry-grade device capable of detecting airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns.

We started with an ambient air quality test. We placed the Dreame FP10 in an enclosed room measuring approximately 200 square feet (18.5 square meters), then calculated the difference in airborne particles before and after running it for 15 and 30 minutes on different fan speed settings. Then, we followed up with more challenging smoke tests. We burned a handful of matches and incense sticks, then repeated the procedure on an auto mode and the highest fan speed.

After this testing protocol had been completed, we gave our final verdict on the Dreame FP10's overall functionality and value for money.

The Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS is a super-telephoto zoom built for wildlife and action photography, where reach, responsiveness and reliable autofocus are just as important as flexibility in the field. Covering 200-600mm, it’s designed for those moments when you can’t move closer, and the subject definitely isn’t coming to you.

It’s a popular choice with wildlife photographers, often paired with some of the best wildlife cameras for a long-range setup, and it sits comfortably among the best wildlife lenses for this kind of shooting. Despite its position in the super-telephoto category, it still represents strong value for photographers who need long reach without committing to the cost and limitations of prime lenses.

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS review

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS: Design

• Lens weighs a hefty 4.66 pounds (2.1 kg)
• Large 95mm filter thread
• Internal zoom keeps the size constant and protects it from the elements

This chunky lens weighs in at a whopping 4.66 pounds (2.1 kg) and has a fixed physical length of around 12.5 inches (318mm) — it’s a beast. Thankfully, the internal zoom means it doesn’t extend out any further unless you attach the lens hood, which adds another 4 inches (10 centimeters). But on the whole, we found the weight to be manageable enough, although we needed regular breaks to avoid arm and wrist strain.

On the lens barrel itself, you’ll find all the usual suspects that you’d expect on a super-telephoto lens. It has an AF/MF focus switch, a focus limiter, an OSS [Optical SteadyShot] on/off switch and a shake compensation switch (labelled as ‘Mode’) with three options. There are also three custom buttons, alongside a wide focus ring and even wider zoom ring. Though somewhat annoyingly, there’s no zoom lock, which meant we sometimes accidentally changed the zoom while shooting. If you want to use filters, the filter thread is a generous 95mm.

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS: Performance

• Fast and accurate autofocus
• Sharp and detailed images — sharpest at 600mm f/8
• Barely any optical defects

We used this lens to do a lot of bird photography, so the autofocus was really put through its paces with the fast, unpredictable movement of small birds. Considering the birds were small, far away and perched among distractions such as branches and leaves, we thought the lens coped pretty well overall. On less tricky subjects, the autofocus never let us down and easily kept up with moving animals.

We used a test chart to shoot at 200mm, 400mm and 600mm at the widest aperture (in this case, f/5.6 or f/6.3), f/8 and f/11, to test sharpness and contrast and look for any optical defects. At 200mm, central sharpness is best wide open at f/5.6, and while the sharpness is still good at f/8, the most notable difference is the loss of contrast. At 400mm, however, f/8 was noticeably sharper than its widest aperture of f/6.3. F/11 is softer again, but when it comes to contrast, there’s less of a difference between the three aperture settings.

Zooming all the way to 600mm, f/8 is still the sharpest and has around the same contrast as f/6.3. When comparing the two, we found the sharpness and contrast to be slightly better at 600mm f/8 as opposed to 400mm f/8, which is great news for users who want to photograph birds and distant wildlife.

At the corners, there isn’t much difference in sharpness between the three apertures at 200mm. What actually makes the most difference is the increased contrast at f/5.6. At 400mm and 600mm, f/8 performs best in the corners in terms of sharpness.

We noticed some vignetting when shooting wide open, which was improved when we stopped down to f/8, but what surprised us most was that there’s barely any chromatic aberration on any of the test shots we took, thanks to the five ED glass elements. We didn’t see any flare or ghosting during our field test shots, and there was only a tiny bit of distortion — and that was easily corrected in Lightroom. For a non-G-Master lens, this is impressive.

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS: Functionality

• 200-600mm focal length is excellent for sports and wildlife
• f/5.6-6.3 aperture relies on favorable light or good ISO handling
• Three OSS modes for shake correction

When it comes to Sony’s super-telephoto zoom lenses, the two main players will be the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS that we’re reviewing here, and the bigger (but slower) Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS. Although the extra reach up to 800mm might be tempting, particularly if you specialize in bird photography, the 200-600mm lens has a faster maximum aperture of f/5.6 compared to the longer lens’s f/6.3 — and keep in mind, that’s at the shorter end of the focal range. It may not seem like much, but at fast shutter speeds, you need as much light hitting the sensor as possible to keep your ISO down. We spent a lot of time shooting at 600mm — and therefore at a maximum aperture of f/6.3 — which meant we had to rely on good natural light or bump the ISO up.

But when it comes to the focal length on its own, we had no problems photographing general wildlife with 200-600mm. We also got some beautiful images of small birds outside our house, but in most cases, we did need to rely on cropping the final image — this is where having a good camera comes in.

The image stabilization is generally very good, and the OSS Mode switch on the lens barrel offers three different options to suit various photographic styles. Mode 1 suits general shooting of stationary subjects, mode 2 works best for panning and mode 3 “provides a more stable viewfinder image that makes tracking and framing easier,” according to Sony. We spent most of our time using mode 3 for tracking and shooting unpredictable birds in flight.

Should you buy the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS?

If your most important criteria are price and flexibility for wildlife and action photography, we think this is the best option to go for — particularly if this is your first dedicated wildlife lens. You get a lot of lens for the money, and although it’s never going to compare to the super-sharp prime lenses that the pros use, we were still impressed by its image quality. The versatile focal length allows for near and distant wildlife and sports action, and you could even do a bit of landscape photography at the wide 200mm end.

If this product isn't for you

The ZWO Seestar S30 Pro is the latest of a new generation of smart telescopes designed to remove much of the complexity traditionally associated with astrophotography. Instead of a separate telescope, camera, tracking mount and laptop, everything is contained in one compact unit and controlled entirely through a smartphone app.

For beginners, that automation makes astronomy much less daunting. After just a few minutes, the telescope automatically identifies the stars overhead, slews to a chosen target and begins capturing exposures. The resulting frames are stacked together in real time, gradually revealing galaxies, nebulae and star clusters regardless of urban light pollution.

However, it's what this smart telescope — an update to the ZWO Seestar S30 — does beyond that basic concept that makes it so impressive. By adding a new sensor that allows 8.3MP images and the ability to go into equatorial mode — a feature typically reserved for advanced astrophotography that puts a 'scope in sync with Earth's rotation — the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro becomes a product that can be explored in a lot more depth than the price tag suggests. The ability to deal in RAW image files will also appeal to advanced users.

One of the simplest but also one of the most impressive smart telescopes around, here’s everything you need to know about the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro.

ZWO Seestar S30 Pro review

ZWO Seestar S30 Pro: Design

• Compact and highly portable
• Simple minimalist controls
• Dual-camera system

At first glance, the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro hardly looks like a telescope at all. The entire device measures 8.25 x 5.5 x 3.15 inches (210 x 140 x 80 mm) and weighs just 3.6 lb (1.65 kg), making it small enough to fit inside most camera backpacks. It also comes with a good quality padded bag, complete with a shoulder strap. Unlike most astrophotography rigs, the Seestar can be carried in one hand.

The body is constructed from durable plastic with a simple, minimalist design. Aside from a power button and USB-C port, there are no physical controls on the telescope itself. All adjustments — including slewing, focusing and imaging — are performed through the Seestar smartphone app.

The telescope mounts onto a tabletop tripod (also in the box) using a standard 3/8-inch thread. However, in practice, we found it works best on a full-size photographic tripod: this will improve stability and provide a better view above nearby obstacles in the average backyard.

A key design feature of the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro is its dual-camera system. The main telephoto camera uses a Sony IMX585 sensor (a high-sensitivity sensor typically found in security/night-vision cameras) paired with the apochromatic refractor telescope at the core of this product for deep-sky imaging. Above it sits a wide-angle camera, with a massive 63-degree field of view, that is used for sky alignment, wide-field imaging and Milky Way photography. It's packing a Sony IMX586 sensor that's designed for low-light performance.

There’s also a built-in three-filter system to reduce light pollution and capture specific wavelengths of light to better reveal emission nebulae, but there's sadly no solar filter in the box.

ZWO Seestar S30 Pro: Performance

• Aligns and tracks automatically
• Live stacking reveals faint objects quickly
• EQ mode is easy to use

We tested the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro across multiple nights in February and March, with temperatures ranging between 36 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit (2 and 7 degrees Celsius), under Bortle 6 suburban skies, where light pollution typically makes using an optical telescope challenging.

Set-up was straightforward: mount the telescope on a tripod, power it on and connect to its Wi-Fi network through the Seestar app. There’s an NFC “tap” feature to make it even easier. Within roughly four minutes, we had chosen a target on the app's planetarium-style sky map, and the telescope had automatically plate-solved the stars overhead to determine its position in the sky as it locked onto the target.

Once a target is in the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro's crosshairs, it begins capturing 10-second exposures. These images are stacked together in real time, gradually increasing the signal-to-noise ratio and revealing faint detail. It's a process that's surprisingly satisfying to watch — though you can just as easily set it to stack and come back an hour or two later to check on its progress.

The first target we captured was the Orion Nebula (M42), one of the brightest deep-sky objects visible during March. Using the Seestar S30 Pro in standard alt-azimuth mode, we allowed the telescope to run for 20 minutes, with the resulting image showing strong color in the nebula’s hydrogen clouds. Next, we had the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro spend rather more time on Bode’s Galaxy and the Cigar Galaxy (M81 and M82), during which it revealed the faint spiral structure of M81.

We then returned to the galaxy pair a few nights later, putting the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro into EQ mode and letting it take up to 60-second exposures — instead of the regular 10-second ones — to see what kinds of improvements are possible. However, it’s important to note that using EQ mode requires an equatorial wedge, which Seestar sells as its TH10 Fluid Tripod Head.

It’s possible to export the stacked FITS file into stacking and post-processing software like Siril, PixInsight or Photoshop, but we relied solely on the Seestar app’s built-in editing.

ZWO Seestar S30 Pro: Functionality

• Intuitive smartphone app
• Automatic stacking
• Deep Sky Stack editing software

Much of the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro's appeal lies in its automation, with its excellent companion app adding impressive, enjoyable and easy-to-use advanced features. A great example is its sky atlas software, which shows the current night sky. It’s quick to use, easy to search and has plenty of recommended targets highlighted. Selecting one automatically slews the telescope into position — and it barely ever misses its target. After it’s auto-focused, captured exposures and stacked images, it applies some rudimentary processing. Sure, the only settings that can be adjusted are exposure time and gain, but that’s the point.

For those who like to experiment but are more interested in exploring after data collection, one option for advanced users is to export individual FITS frames for manual processing. However, most will use the app’s Deep Sky Stack editing software, which has several advantages. The most basic is the ability to stack images, being careful not to select those with satellite or airplane trails or other obstructions (such as overhead cables — it happens!). There’s also a built-in AI Denoise feature that cleans up images in about 20 seconds, and, together with a contrast tweak, produces clean-looking, deep-black images of deep-sky objects.

Should you buy the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro?

The ZWO Seestar S30 Pro is that rarest of products — one that is perfect for beginners, yet also offers enough core quality and advanced features to let users journey from easy to more advanced astrophotography. Within minutes of set-up, it can capture images of nebulae and galaxies that would normally require far more complex equipment, but there’s nevertheless enough here — chiefly 8.3MP resolution, EQ mode and the ability to export FITS files — for both instant gratification and sustained long-term interest. However, at its core, the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro’s ability to suppress light pollution does one thing above all — it makes deep-sky astronomy possible for urban skywatchers.

If this product isn't for you

The DwarfLab Dwarf Mini is a compact, beginner-friendly smart telescope that takes direct aim at competitors like the ZWO Seestar S30. It’s essentially a very small 1.2-inch/30 mm refractor telescope controlled by a smartphone, but instead of the user looking through an eyepiece, it takes images of the night sky.

It does that with an image sensor, using its onboard computer and software to first automatically align itself with the night sky to identify objects, and then capture short-exposure images which it stacks into a single, ever-improving image. Impressively, this enables it to capture star clusters, galaxies and even faint nebulae from the middle of a city — something no optical telescope will get you a view of in such a light-polluted environment.

The Dwarf Mini is smaller, lighter and more affordable than its competitors, so not surprisingly, it comes with one significant drawback: it produces only 2 MP images. But these are still plenty good enough for viewing on a smartphone and sharing online, and despite its basic resolution, it adds equatorial (EQ) tracking — an advanced mode, typically found in larger or pricier instruments, that allows the Dwarf Mini to follow Earth’s rotation during longer exposures, reducing star trails and enhancing images.

It may be mostly about the compact design and affordable price, but the Dwarf Mini is adaptable and future-proof enough to appeal to a wide range of amateur astronomers who are in search of a simple-to-use imaging tool.

DwarfLab Dwarf Mini review

DwarfLab Dwarf Mini: Design

• Pocket-sized form factor
• Optional EQ alignment for longer exposures
• Motorized internal filter wheel

Straight out of the box, the Dwarf Mini surprises with its scale. It's just 8 inches (204 mm) long and weighs a mere 1.8 lbs, (840 g), yet it feels just solid enough when in hand. The lens arm pivots smoothly through 225 degrees, while the base rotates a full 360 degrees, providing flexible sky coverage even when used on a tabletop. This wide range of movement is key to its functionality; the Dwarf Mini has no manual knobs or adjustments. Aiming and tracking are controlled through the DwarfLab app.

The internal optics include a 5.91-inch (150 mm) focal length (f/5 focal ratio) refractor lens and a Sony IMX662 CMOS sensor, the latter known for its strong low-light performance but low resolution. It's also got a motorized filter wheel offering dark-frame, astro (anti-light pollution) and dual-band (nebulae) filters that you can switch between depending on your target.

It’s also got two modes — a wide-angle mode, largely for orienting, and a zoom mode for taking images of deep-sky objects, the sun and the moon. However, the wide-angle imager can also capture constellations, and to some extent, the Milky Way (when it’s in season, which it wasn't during this test) as well as take a basic star trail image.

One standout design element for advanced users is the EQ mode. While not physically resembling an equatorial mount, the Dwarf Mini can simulate equatorial tracking once aligned with Polaris, the North Star (in the Northern Hemisphere), using a step-by-step guide in the app. It's a clever solution that makes it technically possible to capture superior images, particularly of faint objects, by enabling long exposures — though for that an equatorial wedge is required (DwarfLab sells its Mini Hydraulic Tripod Head for this purpose, but we didn’t have a chance to review it).

The included solar filter attaches magnetically, covering the lens securely for daytime imaging of sunspots (and the occasional partial or annular solar eclipse). A USB-C charging cable and a basic cleaning cloth are also included — but there is no tripod in the box.

DwarfLab Dwarf Mini: Performance

• Surprisingly capable deep-sky performance
• Real-time stacking works well in light-polluted cities
• Captures sunspots using included solar filter

The Dwarf Mini is ridiculously easy to use. Power on the scope, launch the app, connect your smartphone to its Wi-Fi and select a target from its built-in sky atlas. It then plate-solves the sky to align with the stars, self-correcting itself as it goes.

Used in standard alt-az mode, the Dwarf Mini performs well. When slewed to a faint deep-sky object — a galaxy, a nebula or a cluster of stars — it captures and stacks short exposures (typically 10-15 seconds) to gradually build up an image. If it’s bright, like the Orion Nebula (M42), you can get a decent image in a few minutes. However, the longer you wait, the better the image will be. With a fainter nebula, it’s necessary to wait a long time — an hour or so — before you get anything impressive. Usually, patience is rewarded (the exception being the sun and moon, which can be found and imaged in seconds).

That a device this small can capture the light from a faint nebula in light-polluted urban skies is highly impressive. Stacked images are saved in JPG, TIFF or FITS formats and look great on a phone screen. You can export the files for post-processing in tools like PixInsight or Photoshop, but the built-in Stellar Studio app will be good enough for most users. Its Star Correction tool, in particular, is highly effective, restacking the individual images to align perfectly to create a significantly sharper image.

The moon can be imaged easily, either by selecting it in the app or by using an onscreen virtual joystick. Ditto the sun, which requires the magnetic solar filter to be attached. Once pointing at the sun, the Dawf Mini takes 20 short exposures and stacks them into an image that shows sunspots on the solar surface. The Dwarf Mini also captures 1080p video and time-lapse footage, offering extra value for wildlife and landscape photographers.

DwarfLab Dwarf Mini: Functionality

• Fast and intuitive app-based control
• Real-time stacking with live preview
• Star Correction tool sharpens images

The DwarfLab app controls everything: target selection, exposure settings, alignment, stacking, file saving and more. Just tap your target and the scope centers, tracks and begins imaging.

The star atlas is a wonderful addition, but it does require a little foresight. It’s not uncommon for it to need a significant data download, so it’s recommended to check the app before attaching to the Dwarf Mini — and certainly before leaving for a remote dark area with no mobile data signal — to make sure it’s up to date.

Stellar Studio, while impressive and definitely worth getting to know well, is rather fiddly. You need to be connected to the Dwarf Mini — and to create an account — to use this simple image processing software, and tweaking images can take some time. It also involves a workflow that’s a little repetitive and attention-hungry. However it works well, with Star Correction mode in particular worth using.

Mega Stack is another useful option to have in the app. It allows the bundling of frames from multiple sessions to create an ever-evolving image. For example, you could shoot a faint nebula from your light-polluted backyard over several nights or short sessions, and combine the new and old frames at any time. For some really faint objects, you could arguably have the Dwarf Mini observe for hundreds of hours over a long period of time, or take it to a Dark Sky park to get the best data.

If that sounds tedious, note that the app comes with a scheduler, so you can pre-program what you want it to observe and, in theory, go to bed. However, note that its four-hour battery life means you should consider attaching it to a portable battery if you have grand ambitions during long, clear nights.

Should you buy the DwarfLab Dwarf Mini?

If you're looking for a compact scope that gets around the problem of light pollution and you want to try casual deep-sky astrophotography, the Dwarf Mini is a standout choice. Despite the small sensor size (2 MP), images appear sharp and vibrant on mobile devices.

Serious astrophotographers may hit the ceiling of what this tiny scope can deliver in terms of resolution and dynamic range, but that’s not the audience the Dwarf Mini primarily serves. Although it’s an ideal secondary imaging rig for those who want a compact, travel-friendly package for dark-sky locations, it’s primarily for anyone who wants consistent, enjoyable imaging from anywhere — including light-polluted backyards.

Whether you're an urban astronomer, an educator or simply someone looking for a convenient way to see and share the wonders of the night sky, the DwarfLab Dwarf Mini is a compelling choice — and a valuable addition to any astrophotography setup.

If this product isn't for you

When you think of a top running watch, certain brands like Garmin and Coros probably come to mind — but we can bet a top dollar that Amazfit is not one of them. This may be about to change, though. The Chinese brand has just launched its best running watch yet. The Amazfit Active 3 Premium is refreshingly sleek, surprisingly well-built and jam-packed with tracking features — all for $169.99.

This is a budget fitness tracker and is not advanced enough to satisfy the needs of professional runners, but then it is not meant to. The Amazfit Active 3 Premium was designed primarily for fitness beginners and casual exercisers "working towards their first clear goal," according to the brand. In other words, it is an entry-level device for those who prefer simple, actionable insights to the complex, data-heavy analysis favored by Garmin and other high-end brands.

That is not to say the Amazfit Active 3 Premium is not also suitable for more experienced runners. It is one of the toughest and best-looking smartwatches in its price range, and it comes with offline maps and up to 12 days of battery life, making it a worthy competitor to wearables that are two or three times the price. Needless to say, we were excited to put the Amazfit Active 3 Premium through its paces.

Amazfit Active 3 Premium review

Amazfit Active 3 Premium: Design

• Compact, elegant and comfortable to wear
• Durable stainless-steel bezel and scratch-resistant sapphire glass
• Vibrant 1.32-inch AMOLED display

At a glance, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium seems almost identical to the Amazfit Active Max we tested a couple of months ago. Both watches are pleasantly compact and unobtrusive, look great on the wrist, and come with detachable silicon straps and engraved-style tick markers on a round bezel. However, look closer, and you will spot some key differences.

To start with, the Active 3 Premium has a slightly smaller AMOLED display than the Active Max (1.32-inch vs 1.5-inch). This alone makes it look sleeker and more like a regular everyday smartwatch than a serious fitness tracker. Secondly, the Active 3 Premium features more buttons (four versus the Active Max's two) — a design tweak that makes it easier to control with sweaty hands or gloves halfway through a run.

The Amazfit Active 3 Premium is also significantly more durable than the Active Max. That is because its bezel is made of stainless steel, which is more resistant to shocks, corrosion and high temperatures than aluminium alloy. It also comes with scratch-resistant Sapphire glass on the screen, whereas the Active Max has no display protection at all. They share the same 5 ATM waterproof rating, though. Both can be safely used for surface-level swimming and shallow-water activities, but they are not waterproof enough to withstand deep dives and high-pressure water jets.

We really enjoyed our time with the Amazfit Active 3 Premium. This smartwatch is a joy to wear. We liked its elegant looks and how light and comfortable it was (so much so that we frequently forgot we were even wearing it), and that it looked just as good with our activewear as it did with more casual clothing. We would recommend the Amazfit Active 3 Premium to anyone tired of bulky, rugged wearables. That said, some people may find this smartwatch a bit too small to suit their style.

We had no issues with using or navigating the display. It is bright, vibrant and easily readable in direct sunlight, and it did not lag or freeze during power-intensive tasks. The only slight complaint is with excessive smudging — the Amazfit Active 3 Premium seems to collect more fingerprints than other running watches we have tested. However, it is not a deal-breaker, given that this smartwatch can be controlled entirely with the side buttons.

Amazfit Active 3 Premium: Features

• Robust workout tracking tools
• GPS, offline maps and turn-by-turn navigation
• Basic smartwatch capabilities

The Amazfit Active 3 Premium is a fitness tracker through and through. While it does come with an app ecosystem and a decent selection of smartwatch features, such as Bluetooth calls, music control, NFC payments via Zepp Pay and calendar notifications, for example, it is more focused on measuring and analyzing exercise performance than keeping up with day-to-day activities. Thanks to that, this smartwatch does not feel overloaded with pointless widgets and niche features.

The Amazfit Active 3 Premium tracks more than 170 different activities, but it is geared predominantly to runners and race walkers. It offers an impressive range of running metrics, many of which you are more likely to see in premium wearables for athletes rather than budget wearables. These include posture monitoring (detection of overstriding, hunching or improper head position during running), lactate threshold assessment (the exercise intensity at which lactate begins accumulating in the bloodstream faster than it can be removed), ground contact balance tracking (tracking the symmetry between left and right foot ground contact time) and running rhythm analysis (assessing whether your breathing, foot strikes and body movements are synchronized).

Despite offering all these stats, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium is still very beginner-friendly, featuring a multitude of running workouts and adaptive running plans (a key selling point for those new to this form of exercise). It does a relatively good job of explaining stats without relying on complex terminology or over-emphasising the need for constant progress — something that Garmin wearables get a lot of slack for.

Put simply, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium is like a pocket-sized running coach — ready to fine-tune your workouts, help shield you from potential injuries and share your achievements with others.

The Amazfit Active 3 Premium also comes with GPS and offline maps, as well as turn-by-turn navigation, automatic rerouting and point-to-point route planning. These features are not as detailed and advanced as those we have seen in Garmin and Suunto wearables, but they are good enough for basic navigation and phone-free outdoor workouts.

Amazfit Active 3 Premium: Performance

• Up to 12 days of battery life
• Single-band GPS not as accurate as dual-band GPS
• Relatively accurate heart rate measurements

According to the manufacturer, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium has up to 12 days of battery life with "typical use" or up to 7 days with "heavy use", which then drops to 24 hours in the continuous GPS mode. Based on our experience, that seems about right. Our usage was somewhere between "typical" and "heavy" — we wore the Amazfit Active 3 Premium during the day and at night, tracked at least four workouts per week, and occasionally used GPS when training outdoors. On average, our testing unit lasted around 10 days on a single charge.

Moving on to tracking performance, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium did a relatively good job outdoors. We tested its mapping capabilities during two day-long hikes in the dense Welsh woodlands and when running around the local park. The smartwatch estimated our location with enough accuracy to prove a reliable workout companion.

However, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium's tracking is not always very precise. It uses single-band GPS instead of dual-band GPS, so its signal may not be as strong in more dense, challenging environments. As such, professional trail runners and wilderness explorers may prefer a smartwatch with more advanced geolocation features.

We compared the smartwatch's heart rate measurements with the data we obtained using the Whoop MG screenless tracker, Oura Ring Gen 4 smart ring and Polar H9 chest strap heart rate monitor, and found that the heart rate readings accurately reflected the intensity and training load of our workouts. The tracking precision decreased during high-intensity activities (above 150 bpm), but that tends to be the case with most budget-friendly fitness trackers. Sleep and stress measurements were quite accurate, too.

On the other hand, some aspects of workout tracking could use some improvement. The Amazfit Active 3 Premium tended to underestimate our steps and upper-body movements (a stroke rate in indoor rowing, for example), and it did not seem to pick up certain strength exercises, either. However, this did not have a significant impact on our overall user experience, and it is not something that we would fret about in a wearable at this price range.

Should you buy the Amazfit Active 3 Premium?

The Amazfit Active 3 Premium is a great budget-friendly smartwatch for novice runners and casual exercisers. It is durable, relatively accurate and comfortable to wear, and offers comprehensive workout-tracking features and plenty of beginner-friendly training insights. It looks great, too. The Amazfit Active 3 Premium may not have the most advanced GPS or mapping features, and its screen smudges too easily, but that is not something we would expect at such an affordable price.

✅ Buy it if: You are a beginner or casual runner looking for a sleek, reliable smartwatch on a budget.

❌ Do not buy it if: You are a seasoned running pro looking for a premium wearable with advanced GPS and mapping capabilities.

If the Amazfit Active 3 Premium is not for you

The Amazfit Active Max is an excellent alternative to the Amazfit Active 3 Premium. Both watches cost around $169 and come with similar features, but the former has a larger display and longer battery life. However, it is also slightly less durable.

If you are not a fan of Amazfit, consider the Coros Pace 4 instead. This sleek and lightweight smartwatch boasts good tracking accuracy, advanced workout-tracking features and up to 19 days of battery life. However, it lacks offline maps and costs around $80 more than the Amazfit Active 3 Premium.

Looking for something more premium? Then you can't go wrong with the Garmin Forerunner 965. This smartwatch costs four times more than the Amazfit Active 3 Premium, but that step up in price is reflected in its specs. This flagship Garmin running watch comes with more advanced navigation tools, a richer app ecosystem and almost twice as long battery life.

Amazfit Active 3 Premium: How we tested

We spent nearly a month testing the Amazfit Active 3 Premium, looking into its design, durability, features, day-to-day performance and ease of use. We wore this smartwatch during the day and at night, when doing gym-based workouts and while hiking and running outdoors. We also compared the sleep, steps and heart rate measurements taken by our Amazfit Active 3 Premium with the data we obtained using the Whoop MG screenless tracker, Oura Ring Gen 4 smart ring and Polar H9 chest strap heart rate monitor.

The Laifen Wave Pro toothbrush is brand new to the market. Having recently reviewed the Soocas Neos II, we thought that would be pretty hard to beat in terms of convenience, and it quickly became our daily toothbrush/flosser of choice. On seeing the Laifen Wave Pro, though, its looks alone drew us in. It definitely has shelf appeal and the stylish stainless steel finish piqued our interest. It looks like a premium product, but compared with other electric toothbrushes, we were surprised by the relatively low price point, given all the functionality. We couldn't wait to try it out.

We've been using it for a little over two weeks now, at home and on weekends away. We're still on the first charge — the battery life is one of the first impressive points about it. Read on for the rest.

Laifen Wave Pro electric toothbrush review

Laifen Wave Pro: Design

• IPX8 waterproof rating — use it in the shower
• Minimalist and stylish
• Weighs just 6 ounces (171 grams)

Before receiving this toothbrush, we read about how some people thought if Apple made toothbrushes, they would be just like this. On receiving the package, we knew exactly what they meant. The white minimalist box resembles a toothbrush-sized Apple Mac box, and so do the small touches like the protective cover on the toothbrush and charging base.

The minimalist functionality extends to the one-button-operation brush handle. There are five indicator lights: white dots show you're in daily brushing mode, and orange dots show you're in deep cleaning mode. One, two or three of these dots light up, depending on the intensity setting you're using.

The other indicator light, in the shape of an aeroplane, tells you that the toothbrush is locked, so it won't accidentally start vibrating in your hand luggage. The final indicator light shows the battery level. It also turns blue if you are connected to your phone's Bluetooth when using the app.

Our sample Laifen Wave Pro was in the polished stainless steel configuration. We must say, it is a thing of beauty, and when standing next to other toothbrushes on a sink, it looks like the most premium one by far. We'll come on to the other visible features that make it stand out versus regular electric toothbrushes later.

All in all, design-wise, Laifen has got this spot-on. The size is ideal, it's minimalist so it will look the part in any bathroom, and it has a good weight to it. We were a little nervous, though, that if it fell into a ceramic or porcelain sink it would do some damage — so we made sure to place it either well away from the edge, or in a regular toothbrush pot where it couldn't fall.

One of this toothbrush's unique design features is that it is the "World's First Oscillation & Vibration Electric Toothbrush". It combines 60-degree oscillation with up to 66,000 vibrations per minute to cover more surface area with fewer hand movements.

The sleek Laifen Wave Pro has an IPX8 waterproofing rating, so you can use it in the shower to multi-task your way through your morning/evening routine if you want to.

Laifen Wave Pro: Features

• Travel/lock mode
• Two modes with three pressure modes each
• App functionality and customization
• Smart pressure sensor

Though this is a beautiful-looking toothbrush, there's way more to it beyond shelf appeal.

As regular travelers, we were impressed with the travel lock. Much like you would a flashlight or headlamp, you long-press the button until you hear a short melody and the plane logo illuminates. Do the same to turn it off. The toothbrush doesn't ship with a travel case, but thanks to the lock, it isn't necessary. The toothbrush heads come in their own little box, so you can transport the toothbrush head in this separately if you wish.

There is an accompanying app for the toothbrush, which, although optional, reveals more customization options than even the marketing blurb suggests.

Within each mode, you can alter the vibration strength, oscillation range and oscillation speed. We turned up the vibration strength slightly at lower intensity levels, as the factory settings were a little too mellow for us.

We were surprised to see the following hidden inside the Practical Features menu:

• There is a 30-second reminder vibration to prompt you to switch regions of your mouth, and a vibration indicator if you're pressing too hard.

• There's a 3-second power ramp-up function, giving you time to get the toothbrush into your mouth before it potentially shakes toothpaste onto your clothes or face. We found the 3-second ramp-up worked well and left this setting activated.

• Another function, the automatic oscillation when the brush touches your teeth function, we struggled to activate. This was potentially due to user error or some conflicting settings, as everything else works exactly how it should.

• There is a Quick Spin-Dry mode that automatically shakes the brush head when you point the toothbrush down at more than a 70-degree angle. This removes excess water to prevent drips and prevent bacterial growth.

• A quirky feature is Bristle Protection. After use, if you lay the tooth on a horizontal surface, it automatically turns the bristles skyward to avoid it touching surfaces. Similarly, if you stand it on a vertical surface, it will rotate the bristles to face the wall, for example, to avoid water splatters from people washing their hands in the sink.

• Finally, there is a Lift To Wake function, which does what it says on the tin. Pick the toothbrush up, the bristles return to position, and the lights show you which mode you're in, at what intensity and the battery level.

Laifen Wave Pro: Performance

• "Dental hygienist clean" feel
• Customizable to personal preference/sensitivity levels
• Outstanding battery life

We were at first a little put off by the proprietary charging base — it's just one more thing to remember to pack when you're traveling. That said, we understand the reasons for it (to maintain waterproofing) — and with more than 70 days of life on a single charge, you're not exactly having to charge it often.

We've taken it on long weekends away and haven't given a second thought to battery life. Our battery indicator is still green, meaning there is no need to charge it any time soon.

It took a bit of time getting used to using the button. It looks like it should be touch-sensitive, but it is actually a pressable button. Two presses change the intensity, three presses change the mode. A long press activates/deactivates the lock.

In the app, we set the brushing timer to 2.5 minutes, but could have chosen anything from 1 minute to 5 minutes. We tended to stay on the higher-intensity settings, but we appreciate that people with sensitive gums might find the stronger vibrations too intense. That is why it is handy to have so many customization options.

We were pleased with the quality of the cleaning, and found we could achieve that "dental hygienist clean" feeling. The brushing experience is nice, the weight in your hand makes the toothbrush feel premium, and the extra functionality makes brushing your teeth that little bit more enjoyable.

Laifen Wave Pro: User reviews

This is a fairly new product, so there aren't that many ratings on Amazon. In fact, there were only 10 at the time of writing this review. 9 out of 10 were 5-star reviews, with just one user rating the toothbrush 1-star because they could not turn it on. We can't know for sure, but perhaps it was in lock mode.

The positive reviews, like us, not only loved the look of the toothbrush, but the remarkable battery life and the satisfying deep clean.

Should you buy the Laifen Wave Pro toothbrush?

✅ Buy it if: You want a powerful, customizable, nice-looking toothbrush that has a heap of built-in and app functionality.

✅ Buy it if: You travel often and don't want to carry a charging cable. The battery life is immense.

❌ Don't buy it if: You aren't a fan of the bells and whistles. You would probably find this toothbrush over-engineered.

If the Laifen Wave Pro is not for you

If you need help to improve your dental hygiene, consider using the Oclean X Ultra S. This is the world's first talking toothbrush; it is also customizable to a wide range of brushing needs and has an impressive battery life. Randomly, it tells you the weather, too!

Another smart, nice-looking toothbrush we'd recommend is the Oclean X Pro Digital Sonic, which provides detailed feedback on brushing coverage. A great option for people with sensitive teeth.

We also love the Soocas NEOS II. This is unique in that it is both a toothbrush and a dental flosser in one. One device, two jobs, and it does both of them well. There is no app functionality, but there are two modes, Deep Clean and Quick Floss.

Laifen Wave Pro: How we tested

We spent over two weeks testing the Laiden Wave Pro toothbrush once to three times daily. We considered the design, brushing performance, battery life, functionality and value for money. We also tested its IPX8 waterproof rating by submerging the toothbrush under water for a full brushing cycle, as well as using it in the shower.

Amazfit has just released its priciest smartwatch yet, the T‑Rex Ultra 2. At $549, it is around $150 more expensive than the T-Rex 3 Pro, and more than twice the price of the T-Rex 3. Do not let that discourage you, though. Specs-wise, the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 is eerily similar to the ultra-premium Garmin Fenix 8 — a model that costs nearly a grand. By the looks of it, it could be the best-value outdoor smartwatch of 2026.

The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 is said to be "engineered for environments where gear can’t fail" — and it is hard to dispute that. This rugged smartwatch is made with super-strong titanium and scratch-resistant sapphire glass, and it is certified to stringent U.S. military standards for shock, humidity and temperature resistance. It also features highly accurate dual-band GPS and a host of outdoor-focused features, such as offline maps, a microphone and a built-in flashlight. Plus, the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 lasts up to 30 days on a single charge. No matter how you look at it, this rugged beast has all the potential to land in our guide to the best budget fitness trackers and rival many of the best Garmin watches.

We have not had the chance to put this smartwatch through its paces fully yet — at the time of writing this review, the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 has only been on the market for three weeks. However, our first impressions are largely positive.

Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 smartwatch review

Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2: Design

• Military-grade durability and rugged design
• Large and chunky, but surprisingly lightweight
• Waterproof and suitable for dives up to 45 meters below the surface

The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 does not even pretend to be your typical day-to-day wearable. With its large 1.5-inch (3.8-centimeter) AMOLED screen and thick, ultra-rugged casing, it is exceptionally “masculine” in how it looks and feels on the wrist. This smartwatch clearly trades the sleek, more universally appealing design for superior durability and resilience in harsh weather conditions. Design-wise, it is focused entirely on the needs of serious outdoor explorers. Casual hikers and gym-goers may still find the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 visually appealing, but only if they like such “beastly” designs.

And a beast it is — this smartwatch is exceptionally well-built for its price. Its body is made of grade 5 titanium, a material so strong and lightweight that it is often used in aerospace engineering, medical implants and marine equipment. The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 is certified to U.S. military standard MIL-STD-810H-2019, meaning it can withstand shocks, humidity, high altitudes and temperatures as low as minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit (– 30 degrees Celsius.)

To top it off, it is one of only a handful of smartwatches on the market that can be safely taken scuba diving. The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 is water-resistant up to 328 feet (100 meters and suitable for dives up to 147 feet (45 m) below the surface. You do not have to worry about scratches on the screen, either. The watch face is covered with highly durable sapphire crystal glass, a material that can easily shield against wear-and-tear damage caused by sharp rocks and sand.

Indeed, the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 is a tough cookie. But do these specs reflect its real-life performance? Well, we have only tested this smartwatch for the past two weeks, so we do not have a full picture here just yet. However, our first impressions are very positive. So far, our Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 has survived a smack from the barbell, a few drops from heights and exposure to freezing rainwater.

Given all this ruggedness, you would expect this smartwatch to feel extremely heavy — but that is not the case. The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 does not overload the wrist — no mean feat for such a large wearable.

Speaking of the size, it can indeed be a hindrance. This smartwatch feels unbearably bulky, so much so that we would not recommend it to anyone with a small wrist. The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 can be particularly obtrusive during sleep, so if you like to doze off with your hand close to your face, you may need to consider a different sleep tracker to keep track of your recovery stats.

We were not too keen on its silicone strap, either. It felt thick and rather rigid, and it slightly aggravated our skin after one or two intense workouts. Limited customization is another downside — the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 is only available in one size and color, and the only way to add a personal touch is by swapping its strap. However, this is not something that we would fret about in a device that prioritizes functionality over looks.

Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2: Features

• Advanced navigation and fitness tracking tools
• No solar charging
• Relatively basic app ecosystem

The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 is geared primarily towards outdoor fitness and that is fully reflected in its choice of features. This smartwatch comes with all the essentials necessary out in the wild, from detailed offline maps and advanced navigation tools to a built-in two-color flashlight and SOS signal mode. There is also a generous sprinkle of some more advanced features —- offline weather alerts, real-time rerouting and ski route maps, for example. The navigation specs of this smartwatch are decent, too. The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 locates you based on the highly accurate dual-band GPS and then combines this data with the information collected by its built-in compass, altimeter and barometer.

Unsurprisingly, this smartwatch is packed with outdoor-focused sports modes. These include the basics like cycling and strength training, as well as a good range of the more advanced ones, such as freediving, paragliding and parkour. The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 features 180 sports modes in total, most of which are relatively well-tracked and sufficiently detailed in how they collect data. For example, running modes on this smartwatch come with advanced metrics such as vertical amplitude (how high your body moves up and down with each stride) and ground contact time (the duration your foot spends on the ground during each running stride.)

That said, Amazfit is still a few steps behind Garmin and Apple when it comes to the app ecosystem and smartwatch capabilities. While the T-Rex Ultra 2 covers most of the basics here — it can sync with your calendar, pay for your groceries and send a message to your phone, for example — it does lack the premium smart frills for which the two aforementioned brands are so well known.

Another downside is the lack of solar charging. Since the T-Rex Ultra 2 is the priciest outdoor-focused smartwatch in the Amazfit line-up, we somewhat expected it to go all the way in and have that handy feature on hand. It is not a deal-breaker, though. The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 makes up for this inconvenience with its relatively long battery life.

All in all, this smartwatch offers a good selection of features for the price. The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 may not have the ultra-fancy mapping features typical of Suunto wearables or the advanced training insights known from the Garmin watches, but it does give you plenty of bang for your buck.

Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2: Performance

• Long battery life
• Largely accurate GPS and heart rate tracking
• Good app connectivity

One of the biggest selling points of the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 is its long battery life. According to the manufacturer, this smartwatch lasts up to 30 days when "in typical use" and up to 15 days when "in heavy use". Understandably, the lifespan drops when the GPS is switched on — anywhere from 30 hours in trail running mode up to around 90 hours with power-saving enabled.

While we have not tested the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 long enough to confirm or deny these claims, they do sound about right. After a week of heavy-ish use (all-day wear and multiple workouts tracked throughout the week), the battery in our smartwatch stood at 60%. One week later, it dropped to about 38%. Overall, no complaints.

The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 also seems to perform well when it comes to navigation and health tracking. The mapping and GPS tools were relatively accurate and sufficiently responsive, both when tested in a densely populated residential area and when put through their paces on a park running trail nearby. Of course, this may not have much bearing on how the GPS performs in the actual remote wilderness, but it does indicate a good degree of reliability in this regard.

The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 features a new-generation PPG sensor, and it shows. Heart rate tracking appeared relatively on point, and notably more accurate than in other Amazfit trackers we tested before. For example, the real-time workout readings appeared to be slightly less volatile and more resistant to sudden wrist movements.

This improved heart rate accuracy also had a knock-on effect on our stress, sleep and training load assessments. The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 seemed to have a very good grasp of our exertion levels and post-exercise recovery, and it did tend to offer us genuinely helpful training advice. While it is not as detailed and in-depth in that regard as the Garmin or Polar watches, for example, it is still useful enough for the more serious athletes.

Last, but not least, the app connectivity. The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 generally performs well in that regard — it does not disconnect, struggle with data transfer or mess with the updates. That said, we did notice some minor lags when switching between power-intensive tasks. We did not find them too disruptive, though.

Should you buy the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2?

The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 will not be a good fit for everyone, but then it is not meant to be. This beast of a smartwatch is made with serious outdoor explorers in mind, and that is where it delivers the most value. It is built like a tank, it helps keep you safe in the great outdoors, and it offers a good selection of fitness tracking features — all for a very reasonable price. For everyday training and general outdoor use, however, the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 will likely be a case of feature overkill.

✅ Buy it if: You want a reliable GPS smartwatch for epic outdoor adventures, but do not want to pay through the roof for the high-end models like the Garmin Fenix 8.

❌ Do not buy it if: You are looking for a general fitness tracker or smartwatch for everyday use, or have a very small wrist. The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 is a huge piece of machinery jam-packed with advanced tech, and you may find it too uncomfortable to wear.

Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2: Related products

Looking for something as durable and advanced as the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2? The Garmin Fenix 8 immediately springs to mind here. This premium smartwatch is tough, reliable and comes with everything you may ever need or want when perusing the great outdoors. However, it has one major downside — it costs roughly $999, making it one of the most expensive models on the market.

For those on a tight budget, we would recommend the Amazfit T-Rex 3. This smartwatch may be slightly less durable, waterproof and outdoor-focused than the T-Rex Ultra 2, but its day-to-day performance is no less impressive. Not to mention, it costs less than $300 and is frequently on sale.

If style is important to you, consider the Suunto Vertical 2. This smartwatch is a close match for the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 specs-wise, but it is sleeker and more suitable for all-day wear. Plus, both of these models cost roughly the same.

Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2: How we tested

We spent nearly two weeks trying and testing the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2, looking into its design, features, day-to-day performance and ease of use. We wore this smartwatch during the day, while sleeping, in the gym and when doing outdoor activities, such as running and hiking. Then, we compared the sleep, steps and heart rate measurements taken by the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 with the data we obtained using Whoop MG and Oura Ring Gen 4.

The Garmin Venu 4 is a fairly high-end fitness and running watch that does not have the same baggage as a Fenix or Forerunner. It looks less obviously like an athlete’s wearable, which will be appealing to some.

In this generation, though, you miss out on little substance compared to those marathon-botherer watches. As a result, the Garmin Venu 4 is potentially a significantly better run training partner than the Venu 3 ever was.

This added functionality comes at a price. The Garmin Venu 4 costs a chunk more than the previous generation, at $549/£469 or $599/£519 with a leather strap. This means it is priced roughly the same as the Forerunner 570 (or £10 more in the U.K.).

The Venu 4 is arguably a better-value watch, thanks to its bonus features like a flashlight and ECG readings, but few would argue the Forerunner 570 was a hot bargain in the first place. The key: make sure you want a more stripped-back style and touch-led operation, as the latter in particular can become quite annoying at times.

Garmin Venu 4 smartwatch review

Garmin Venu 4: Design

• Sleek, minimalistic design
• Light and comfortable to wear
• More touchscreen-led than most other Garmin watches

Venu is Garmin’s most smartwatch-like series. That means we get lower-profile buttons, and fewer of them, in the Garmin Venu 4 compared to a watch from, for example, the Forerunner series.

The Venu 4 comes in two sizes, 1.6 and 1.8 inches (41mm and 45mm) in diameter, and what you see here is the chunkier version with the “citron” strap. In either case, though, the Garmin Venu 4’s pricing and construction are the same.

We get a stainless steel bezel, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 screen projection and moderate 5ATM water resistance. It could have used Corning Victus glass or Sapphire, both of which are more scratch-resistant. Using titanium instead of steel might shave off even more weight. But Garmin only uses these materials in its most expensive watches.

Garmin also makes smart use of plastic in the casing, to avoid having to make cutouts for the LED flash and speaker. A Venu 4 does use more metal than the Venu 3, though.

Garmin is known more for making good watches rather than bargain watches. This stuff is the norm for the brand.

The Garmin Venu 4 watch feels light and comfortable, and there’s a slight brushed finish to the stainless steel outer that looks good. This watch weighs 1.4 oz (39 g) without its strap, or 1.9 oz (54 g) with. Alternatively, you could reduce that a little by buying a lighter nylon fabric one.

This is a more touchscreen-led watch than most other Garmins. The Venu 4’s upper button acts as “select”, the lower one is a “back” button, so you do need to start swiping to get around the interface, and using touch can feel a bit fiddly when tracking more intensive exercise sessions.

On a few occasions, we’d even go as far as to describe it as infuriating. The longest tracked sessions during my time with the Venu 4 was a six-hour hike across the U.K.’s North Downs, and the wet conditions meant the sleeve of my waterproof kept setting off the touchscreen, and making a podcast play on my phone.

This happened far more than a half dozen times before I fiddled with the screen lock settings to improve (although not entirely fix) the situation. We also find having to swipe to unlock the Venu 4 screen during runs quite annoying, compared to the button-led feel of the Forerunner series watches. Be prepared. Touch is not the default in “Garmin UI” land.

Garmin Venu 4: Features

• Packed with smart features
• No offline maps
• High-end fitness tracking

The Venu 4’s identity as Garmin’s premier smartwatch-style wearable is not just about design and interface. It’s also apparent in the feature set.

This watch has a speaker, a microphone and three key smart features that use them. Voice Command is perhaps the most interesting, a specialized Garmin voice assistant of sorts that you can ask to set timers, start activities, skip songs and other basic watch features. It’s not a life-changing feature and sometimes boots you out without your seemingly doing anything. But you can set a long-press of one of the buttons to access Voice Command if you like.

Voice Assistant, meanwhile, lets you use the Venu 4 as a portal to your phone’s voice assistant. There’s also a Voice Note recorder, which can have a GPS location tagged to it if you choose. However, there’s no quick access to record while actually tracking your location. As this feels like it could be a good fit for hiking, Voice Notes ends up feeling a little half-baked as of early 2026.

Smart features like these are not Garmin’s traditional wheelhouse. Whether you value them over what you get with the similarly-priced Forerunner 965 is a key question for Venu 4 buyers.

The biggie the Garmin Venu 4 lacks is maps. While the watch has 8 GB of storage, this is just for music and other audio —which can be streamed to wireless headphones or played (quietly) through the speaker.

During testing we plotted a half marathon route and sent it to the watch. While the Garmin Venu 4 guided us along the route just fine, all you see is a line and an indication of the next turn. It does not show roads or other features.

This does not mean the Garmin Venu 4 is not an enthusiast-level fitness tracker, though. Spend a moment customizing the interface and you can get a daily view on your Training Readiness and Running Performance, including VO2 Max. You get Running Dynamics and Performance Condition.

In fact, almost everything fitness-wise in Garmin’s more hardcore Forerunner watches is here, including Training Load. This is a much more nerdy exercise pal than you might guess under the surface, matching the Forerunner 570 in most respects.

The Garmin Venu 4 is also one of the few Garmin watches with ECG readings. This is where the electrical signals of your heart are analyzed rather than the watch simply “looking at” your wrist, which is how the standard heart rate reader hardware works.

There’s even a little adventuring thread in the Venu 4. It has a flashlight built into the top, with three white intensity levels and a red LED, too, for when you want minimal light output. Such a light only used to be found in the biggest and chunkiest of Garmin watches. A long press of the lower button toggles the torch too, making it extremely convenient.

Garmin Venu 4: Performance

• Very good location tracking
• Top-level stats tracking
• Decent battery life

Garmin says the Venu 4 can last up to 12 days of use from a charge, or 10 days for the 41 mm version. After 69 hours of use (just under three days), the watch had lost 43% of charge. This suggests it will last for a little under a week.

It’s a fair bit lower than the claim, but that did include upwards of 6 hours of GPS-tracked exercise. This is significantly more battery-sapping than normal use, as the screen stays lit the entire time during workouts by default.

Quoted battery life is slightly shorter than in the previous generation, down from 14 days, which could be down to increased screen brightness. It is much better stamina than you’d get from a Wear OS smartwatch, though.

As with all OLED Garmin watches, the Always-on display mode has a major hit on battery life. This shows the time when the Venu 4 is not actively in use, to make it a more useful device for telling the time. Like an actual watch.

In 28 hours, just over a day, it lost 32% charge. Again, this was with a couple of hours of more battery-sapping exercise tracking, but it suggests battery life of up to four days. As a result we mostly used the Venu 4 in its standard mode, with gesture and touch screen-waking.

Elsewhere, the Garmin Venu 4 gets a major generational upgrade in its GPS. It has dual-frequency location tracking, which can significantly improve tracking reliability in areas where signal tends to be compromised, like in dense forests or high-rise-packed cities. If you tend to run around typical suburban streets and open parks, you’re unlikely to notice much of a difference. But the GPS tracking all-round is excellent.

The Garmin Venu 4’s heart rate reader hardware is the same as the Venu 3’s. It’s also the same stuff seen in every top Garmin of the moment, so that’s no issue. We have reviewed many Garmins with it, and its performance is entirely familiar. The Venu 4’s heart rate accuracy during runs, and throughout the day, is great. A good HR chest strap will still do much better for non-cardio-based sessions where spikes are short, sharp and frequent. But Garmin’s performance remains much better than the majority of wrist-based heart rate reading wearables.

How about sleep tracking? As with any watch like this, you’ll find it sometimes — or often — misses wakeful moments, but impressions of tracked sleep days have largely aligned with our expectations. And as usual, if you have a few glasses of wine before bed, Garmin will always pick up on it .

Garmin is more interested in HRV (heart rate variability) than most. It’s one of the better stats for determining if your body is under stress, be that actual stress, illness or being run down. And while the actual overnight HRV score the Venu 4 spits out may seem opaque initially, it also feeds into sleep scores.

We’ve found this one of the best indicators of short-term health. When you’re getting run down or ill, the Venu 4 will pretty much always pick up on that in your HRV scores.

Should you buy the Garmin Venu 4?

The Garmin Venu 4 appears to be business as usual. It’s a fitness watch with a sleeker smartwatch style. But there are significant changes this time.

Garmin’s Venu 4 gets a big stats injection compared to the Venu 3. Training Load, Training Readiness and Running Dynamics make this a surprisingly hardcore coach, especially when matched with one of Garmin’s free training plans.

It’s surprisingly close to the Forerunner 570 in ability, and brings extras like ECG too. Just make sure you’re game for touchscreen-led use, as there are minimal buttons here and it can feel relatively fiddly after, and during, a workout.

✅Buy it if: You want a less nerdy-looking fitness and running watch that still has all the stats seen in high-end watches made for ultramarathon bores.

❌Do not buy it if: You don’t care about the smart features and slicker style, as a Forerunner generally feels more practical in day-to-day use.

Garmin Venu 4: Related products

If your main goal is a watch with smartwatch style that lasts far longer than an Apple Watch you have plenty of cheaper options, including the OnePlus Watch Lite and Motorola Moto Watch Fit. These are more affordable, although they provide generally rather less accurate stats and less depth.

Within the Garmin family, there are a couple of key alternatives. For similar money you can pick up the Forerunner 570, which has more buttons but lacks the ECG and flashlight while not adding any substantial stats. Or if you’re willing to pick an older model, the Forerunner 965 was a 2023 favourite, and has downloadable maps. But its screen is significantly dimmer, and it has an older version of Garmin’s interface.

Garmin Venu 4: How we tested

The Garmin Venu 4 was used as our primary wearable for 7 weeks ahead of this write-up. This included a little under 310 miles (500 km) of run tracking, including a full marathon distance session and a six-hour hike. But most workouts were far more ordinary: gym trips lasting around an hour and runs of a similar length.

We wore the watch overnight for most of the testing period, too, which is a key part of getting the most from Garmin’s training readiness and Body Battery stats.

Most amateur astronomers, and even people with only a casual interest in stargazing, have heard of smart telescopes or “smartscopes” — small-aperture robotic telescopes that take images of sky objects with little human intervention. Smartscope users view the astrophotos they capture on smart devices, phones or tablets; there is no eyepiece for visual observing.

The ZWO SeeStar S50 is a small, all-in-one smart telescope that aims to take the stress out of deep-sky astrophotography. Made by ZWO, it combines the optics, tracking mount and camera into a single, portable unit that's controlled through an app. Astrophotos only used to be made possible by mounting your astrophotography camera onto a telescope, but smart telescopes, like the SeeStar 50, make astrophotography easy and accessible for anyone.

ZWO SeeStar S50 review

ZWO SeeStar S50: Design

• A compact and lightweight package is ideal for travel
• Works in either alt-azimuth or equatorial mode
• Everything is controlled via the accompanying app

The SeeStar S50 smartscope is an apochromatic (color-free) refractor with an aperture of 50 mm and a focal length of 250 mm. The heart of the S50 is its built-in camera, which features a Sony IMX462 2.1-megapixel, 1920 x 1080 color sensor that is well-matched to the SeeStar’s 0.73 x 1.3-degree field of view. There is 64GB of internal memory for storing astrophotos. Like other smartscopes, the S50 takes multiple short exposures and stacks them into finished astrophotos.

The S50’s features include GoTo and tracking motors that can work in either altazimuth or equatorial mode, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support. It has a built-in light pollution reduction (LPR) filter for imaging from light-polluted locations. There’s even an internal dew heater to keep the optics clear on damp nights. All this comes in a compact, lightweight package weighing 5.5 pounds (2.5 kilograms) and measuring 5.6 x 5.1 x 10.1 inches (142.5 x 130 x 257 millimeters).

When a new owner opens the SeeStar box, the first item they'll encounter is a carrying case. Though it’s made of a Styrofoam-like material, it holds up well. Inside is the black, plastic-bodied S50, which looks more like a coffee maker than a telescope. Also in the case is a carbon fiber tabletop tripod. It only raises the telescope 14 inches (355 mm) off the ground, but is usable. Finally, there’s a USB charging cable, a press-in solar filter and a brief instruction pamphlet.

Unlike conventional computerized telescopes, the S50 has no hand control. Everything is done from a phone or tablet, so the first step in getting it ready to take astrophotos is downloading the free SeeStar app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. There is no PC version, but the app will run on newer Apple computers with M-type processors.

ZWO SeeStar S50: Performance

• App has easy-to-follow instructions
• "Tonight's Best" offers a simple way to locate objects
• Bright objects like M42 are easy to see with brief exposures

The S50 doesn’t need much in the way of a manual, because the app has step-by-step instructions and tutorials. Turn on the SeeStar by holding down the power button until the scope beeps twice, then release the button. When this talking scope announces, “Power on, ready to connect,” open the app and follow its instructions.

The SeeStar app offers several ways to select targets, including by selecting from a list of Tonight’s Best. An easy way to locate other objects is by using the built-in and comprehensive star atlas, which is accessed by tapping the SkyAtlas icon at the bottom of the home screen. To image the Orion Nebula, M42, for example, select “Object” and enter “M42” in the atlas search field.

After the nebula is on the atlas screen, pressing “go-to” sends the SeeStar to M42. When the telescope arrives at its destination, it takes images of the star field and compares them to charts in its memory (“plate-solving”) to ensure it’s on the correct spot. It is quite accurate.

Next, the app shifts to a “live” camera display and autofocuses. A bright object like M42 is easy to see in the brief exposures. After the telescope has focused, tapping the red “shutter” button at the bottom of the screen starts it taking 10-second exposures (the default). The target object will begin to “develop” as exposures are added together.

In less than a minute, the SeeStar can produce a color image of the Orion Nebula that shows far more detail than can be seen visually in large telescopes.

ZWO SeeStar S50: Functionality

• Connection via Bluetooth and WiFi
• App can feel overwhelming at first, but you soon learn the ropes
• Can be connected to your home network

The first time the S50 is used, it must be paired to your smart device with Bluetooth. Once Bluetooth is active, the scope will connect directly to the phone or tablet with Wi-Fi. The next time the SeeStar is used, Bluetooth will not be required.

At first, the SeeStar app seems overwhelming, with many selections and options in unintuitive places. However, with a little experience, the process of taking astrophotos becomes easier. It would help if ZWO didn’t keep changing the app to the point where it frequently needs to be relearned. However, the telescope’s outstanding pictures are worth a little practice. The SeeStar itself is remarkably problem-free for such a relatively inexpensive instrument.

This direct Wi-Fi connection works well and is handy for use at dark sites. At home, however, it’s best to use “Station Mode.” That allows the telescope to connect to a home network instead of directly to a phone or tablet. In Station Mode, your smart device can be used as normal and doesn’t need to remain close to the scope.

Should you buy the ZWO SeeStar S50?

Is ZWO’s SeeStar S50 perfect? Of course not, no telescope is; there are a few problems. The major one is that ZWO updates the SeeStar app so frequently. While adding new features is great, bugs — sometimes serious ones — are often introduced as well.

The SeeStar produces impressive out-of-the-box results in altazimuth mode, but 10-second exposures (the scope can expose for as long as 60 seconds) are practically mandatory. Going to 20 seconds, which produces less noisy pictures, results in dropped frames and trailed stars. There is a solution, however: equatorial or “EQ” mode.

In EQ mode, the SeeStar is tilted over so its body points roughly at the north (or south) celestial pole. The app includes a built-in routine that allows the S50 to be precisely polar-aligned. Using EQ mode requires the purchase of additional gear, however: either a full-sized camera tripod with a tiltable head, or one of the equatorial wedges sold for the SeeStar. Under most conditions, EQ mode produces markedly superior pictures.

Who is the SeeStar specifically not for? Those who are most interested in the moon and planets. While it can produce nice whole-disk images of the sun (with the included solar filter) and the moon, planets will look very small with only 250 mm of telescope focal length.

If this product isn't for you

For anyone who enjoys hiking, birdwatching or just exploring the great outdoors, finding the best compact binoculars can make all the difference between a fleeting glance and a truly immersive view. Compact models like the Hawke Endurance ED 8x25 are designed to be lightweight and portable, yet still provide the sharp, detailed images that larger binoculars are known for. While they won’t replace a full-size optic for extended wildlife observation, they hit the sweet spot for convenience, versatility and ease of use — and they’re excellent value for money.

Despite their small size, these binoculars can deliver surprisingly capable performance in everyday situations. Whether you’re scanning the treetops for birds, following fast-moving wildlife or simply taking in a scenic landscape, they show why a well-designed compact can be a serious contender when looking for the best binoculars. Lightweight, easy to carry and ready at a moment’s notice, they make it simple to enjoy nature without compromise.

Hawke Endurance ED 8x25 review

Hawke Endurance ED 8x25: Design

• Very lightweight
• Compact folding design
• Waterproof and fogproof

The Hawke Endurance ED 8x25 binoculars are clearly built with portability and convenience in mind. They use a compact dual-hinge system that folds down small enough to easily fit into a coat pocket, making them perfect to carry around on walks or day trips where full-size binoculars might feel like overkill.

At 10.9 ounces (310 grams), they’re light enough to forget you’re carrying them, but they still feel solid rather than toy-like, thanks to the magnesium alloy chassis. In the hand, they feel light but not flimsy, and the hinges have a decent amount of tension, so they stay in place once you’ve set the interpupillary distance.

The rubber armor gives the binoculars a slightly textured grip that feels secure, even with gloves or in damp conditions. The finish isn’t overly premium-looking, but it feels practical and tough enough for regular use. The focus wheel turns smoothly and sits centrally, although the compact body does mean your fingers could feel a little cramped if you have large hands.

The twist-up eyecups click into place firmly, with three viewing positions, which is helpful for glasses wearers, and the overall build feels sturdy considering the small size. They’re also waterproof and nitrogen-filled, so they can handle wet weather. Overall, the design feels well thought out — simple, functional and built for people who want something that’s lightweight without feeling disposable and cheap.

Hawke Endurance ED 8x25: Performance

• ED glass ensures minimal chromatic aberration
• Sharp views in the center of the frame
• 25 mm is not optimal for low-light viewing

In real-world use, the Hawke Endurance ED 8x25 delivers solid optical performance, especially for such a compact binocular, with a view that is bright enough for daytime wildlife observation, birdwatching and general outdoor use. In good light, images look sharp through most of the frame (though mainly in the center), with decent contrast and natural-looking colors that don’t feel overly saturated.

The ED glass helps keep color fringing under control, although you’ll still notice a little around branches or bright highlights if you’re paying close attention. We enjoyed viewing robins, goldfinches and blue tits in excellent detail, with any color fringing occurring mainly on the slim tree branches.

The image is generally clear and pleasing to the eye, but like most 25 mm compact binoculars, performance drops a little as light levels fall — which is to be expected. During overcast afternoons or in shaded woodland, the view isn’t as bright or forgiving as a larger 8x32 or 8x42 model, which is the trade-off for the smaller, more compact size. That said, detail remains good for casual birdwatching or scanning landscapes, and the 8x magnification feels steady enough to use without noticeable hand shake.

However, we were out with the binoculars after dark, and when we pointed them skywards, we were surprised by how capable they were for casual stargazing. The waxing gibbous moon looked crisp and detailed, and we could even pick out the Pleiades despite their close proximity to the glare from the moon. We couldn’t make out finer details like Saturn’s rings or Jupiter’s moons when we tested them, but that’s hardly surprising with a pair of 8x25s. They’re not going to replace a proper astro setup, but for something this compact, they’re still perfectly enjoyable under the stars.

The sharpness softens towards the edges of the frame, but not enough to distract during normal use. Overall, the optical quality is reliable and surprisingly good for a compact binocular. You can enjoy the view without being limited by the small size, which is exactly what you want from a compact model.

Hawke Endurance ED 8x25: Functionality

• Wide field of view for a compact binocular
• Limited 13 mm eye relief
• Excellent for grab-and-go use

In everyday use, the Hawke Endurance ED 8x25 feels straightforward and largely fuss-free. The 356 foot (119 m) field of view feels wide enough for a compact binocular, making it easy to track moving subjects without constant repositioning. Focus changes are quick, so shifting from nearby details to distant subjects doesn’t feel awkward, and the 6.6-foot (2 m)close focusing distance adds flexibility for viewing insects or plants at close range.

They use high-resolution phase-corrected prism coatings, which help maintain clarity and definition. Eye placement is fairly forgiving for a compact model, although the 3.1 mm exit pupil takes a moment to settle into the right viewing position when bringing the binoculars up quickly.

Eye relief is more of a compromise. At just 13 mm, it’s a little short for glasses wearers, so some users may struggle to see the full field of view without careful positioning. It’s workable for short observations, but not especially generous compared with larger models.

Overall, the functionality feels practical rather than feature-packed. Everything works as expected, with no fuss or fiddling involved, which suits the grab-and-go nature of a compact binocular designed for quick, casual use in the field.

Should you buy the Hawke Endurance ED 8x25?

If you’re after a truly portable pair of binoculars that you won’t mind carrying everywhere, the Hawke Endurance ED 8x25 is worth considering. It doesn’t deliver the absolute best optical performance you’ll find — especially once light levels drop — but in normal daylight, it gives clear, sharp views with a generous field of view that feels easy to live with on walks or short outings. The build and handling are practical rather than premium, yet the overall experience feels solid and dependable — we’d certainly invest in a pair.

That said, they’re not perfect. The 13 mm eye relief is a little short for anyone who wears glasses, and the limits of the smaller objective lenses will become apparent if you spend a lot of time observing at dawn, at dusk or in shaded woodland. For many users, though, those are acceptable compromises for a binocular this lightweight and easy to carry. If you value convenience and simplicity, and don’t need pro-level performance, this is a sensible compact option that won’t let you down.

If this product isn't for you

The last couple of years have seen a key trend emerge among fitness and running watches. Many more of them now use bright, colorful OLED screens, and the Coros Pace 4 marks the most affordable of Coros’s watches to get onboard.

Flashier display aside, the Pace 4 keeps all the key draws of the Coros Pace 3. It’s not hugely expensive, the battery lasts a good long while, it’s very comfortable and feature-wise it’s highly competitive with a comparable Garmin watch, like the Forerunner 165.

What’s missing or could be improved? The Coros Pace 4 does not have the glossiest-looking interface, and while sound its heart rate reliability isn’t quite top-tier, particularly when you stray away from the basics of running and hiking.

Coros Pace 4 smartwatch review

Coros Pace 4: Design and screen

• Light and relatively slender
• Has an OLED screen, a first for this series
• 5ATM water resistance can’t handle diving

The Coros Pace 4 represents a bunch of factors you may not think of immediately when shopping for a watch, but probably should. These are low weight, a slim form factor and — not unrelated — simple comfort.

This watch is slimmer than most runner’s watches and weighs just 40g. What it doesn’t have is a flashy design.

The Coros Pace 4’s body is plastic, as are the side buttons and the crown. There’s a sense of design deliberation in the subtle two-tone finish, but this is not a luxury watch. It’s a practical one. And the crown, the control dial, does look a bit toy-like, decked out in grey plastic.

Its screen uses an unspecified kind of mineral glass rather than a Corning type or Sapphire. But now weeks into testing, the casing still looks great and I am yet to scratch the screen. There’s no raised lip above the screen, though, which can help further avoid scrapes if you plan on giving your watch a load of punishment.

And like just about every good watch in this class, the Coros Pace 4 has 5ATM water resistance. It’s good enough for pool swimming but is “not for diving” as Coros highlights on its own spec sheet.

While the Pace 4’s crown looks a little cheap, it is also one part that makes the watch stand out. It turns smoothly, and is used to glide down menus. Coros has also given the watch surprisingly good haptics, with scrolling accompanied by little clicks.

The Coros Pace 4’s lead feature is its screen, though. It has an OLED display, where the Pace 3 and older models had boring-looking but practical MIP ones. We’re seeing the same trend here as Garmin has adopted. Now that AMOLED screens are pretty energy efficient, companies like Coros can give us a brighter, sharper, more colorful appearance without killing battery life.

It’s a good example of this kind of screen, too. It’s a 1.2-inch, 390 x 390 screen with peak brightness of an impressive 1,500 nits. Coros, ever a battery life fiend, is quite careful with how hard it pushes brightness so that power doesn’t leap off the display in the way that a Garmin Forerunner 570’s, for example, does. But the brightness is there for those super-bright environments where it’s really needed.

The Coros Pace 4 has an ambient light sensor, so can automatically adjust brightness to suit ambient conditions.

Coros Pace 4: Features

• Lets you take voice votes while out on a hike
• Has quite advanced fitness-focused stats
• No maps, only breadcrumb trail routes supported

You might assume a value-led watch like the Pace 4 is intended to do the basics only, but there’s a lot more here. Yes, it has GPS, sleep tracking, step counting and lots of exercise modes, and on top there’s both more hardcore and more trendy stuff.

The trendy part? Voice recordings. We’re in an era of microphones being jammed into fitness watches, and Coros’s concept is that you’ll use the Pace 4’s not to talk to Siri but to make voice recordings. These aren’t to send to friends over WhatsApp, but to document your outdoor adventures.

And Coros Pace 4 is the unusual watch that has a microphone but no speaker. We did find Coros’s application of Voice Notes a bit clunky, though. It requires a long press of a button, a flick of the crown then three additional button presses. We can imagine it going ignored by many, if not most, owners. Nice idea, though.

It does support music too, although in a way that may not be all that useful to some of you. The Pace 4 will stream music to wireless headphones — or a speaker — but has no streaming service support, so you need to supply your own digital audio files.

There are plenty of miscellaneous extras too, like a metronome, phone camera shutter control, timer and stopwatch. But that’s all fluff, kept sensibly off to the side.

At the Coros Pace 4’s center is a rock-solid roster of health and fitness modes and stats. When you scroll down from the watch screen using the crown, you’ll find things like your daily activity numbers, Running Fitness score (Coros’s own take on VO2 Max, although actual VO2 Max is shown in the app too), training load, training status and recovery, among many other bits of info.

Those last stats, which relate to the balance of your workout routine versus your body condition, are part of what separates a casual fitness tracker from an athlete’s watch. Getting them at this price? A big bonus. You can of course customize this feed, if you’d like a lighter array of stats.

One part you can’t customize much, though, is the Coros Pace 4’s interface. While the structure is very similar to Garmin’s, Garmin’s latest watches have more gloss and stylistic coherence than the Pace 4.

In the Coros versus Garmin debate, software plays a key role. For example, while the Pace 4’s Coros app gives you free access to loads of weeks-long plans to cover everything from a 5K to a marathon, you don’t get more casual daily suggestions that can adapt to your current condition. You do get those with a Garmin Forerunner 165 or 265.

It’s also worth noting what you get when you take a step up in the Coros line. You can send route files to the Pace 4, in order to be guided through walks, runs, hikes and so on without digging out a paper map and compass. The Pace 4 does not have on-watch maps, though, which are offered in the Coros Pace Pro or Apex 4. Instead you’ll see what’s called a breadcrumb trail, which is just a line showing where the route heads. It’s nearly as good for many, but is worth thinking about.

On the health side, the Pace 4 records all-day heart rate, tracks your sleep admirably, estimates your stress level throughout the day and has 39 activity tracking modes. You choose which of these end up on the watch menu in the phone app.

There are a few minor omissions. The Coros Pace 4 does not have ECG, whose main job is to look for signs of arrhythmia. And while the watch has a barometric altimeter, it’s not used to work out how many sets of stairs (or the equivalent thereof) you climb each day.

Coros Pace 4: Performance

• Very good GPS performance
• Reasonable HR accuracy
• Long battery life, if not using the always-on mode

The Coros Pace 4 puts in an impressive performance considering its price, and that’s at least in part down to fairly aggressive adoption of newer tech. This is one of the more affordable watches to use dual-frequency GPS, which can improve signal reliability in more challenging environments. We’re talking about spaces beyond low-rise residential sprawl, such as when running among skyscrapers or under a dense forest canopy.

Distance stats are extremely similar to those of a Garmin Forerunner 970 we used for comparison purposes. Even over a 15.5 mile (25 kilometer) distance, the disparity was a mere 0.2%. The discrepancy was not always quite that low, percentage-wise, but was never significant.

The Coros Pace 4’s mapped routes, which show up in the Coros phone app after each outdoor workout, are very sound too.

Heart rate accuracy is solid for the most part too, especially for running, if a rung below the best performers from Garmin and Apple. On long runs the Pace 4 will sometimes record a couple of too-high peaks, skewing the max heart rate readings in your logs.

However, these are typically not sustained and the Pace 4 largely avoids the old issue of fitness watches’ heart rate readings looking all-but fabricated for the first few minutes of a workout. As usual for a watch, gym workout results are not ideal, with some missed exertion peaks. But the Pace 3 isn’t miles behind a Garmin Forerunner in this respect.

And like other Coros watches, the Pace 4’s battery life is great. In our tests, it lasted just under two weeks with a fairly heavy amount of run tracking per week, with a few gym sessions thrown in the mix too. That’s lower than the 19-day battery claim, but close enough for that to be achievable with lighter use.

An hour of tracked running, using the most power-sapping dual-frequency GPS mode, takes 6% off the charge level.

Coros doesn’t go for the usual charging cable or wireless base, instead supplying a little plastic puck that can be plugged into any USB-C power source. And it takes up very little pocket space, although it is quite easy to misplace.

Should you buy the Coros Pace 4?

The Coros Pace 4 will be an ideal watch for many folks looking for their first serious runner’s watch. It’s not super-expensive, is not excessively large and has enough features to take you from a couch-to-5K program to a fast marathon. And long battery life means it’s easy to get along with, too.

✅ Buy it if: You want a well-priced running and general exercise-tracking watch with an OLED screen that also prioritizes the practical stuff over flashy extras.

❌ Don’t buy it if: You want a watch with a metal bezel, or one that can stream music from streaming services.

If the Coros Pace 4 is not for you

Over at Garmin, the Forerunner 165 is the Coros Pace 4’s closest price rival. Coros has the cost advantage, as it has dual-band GPS and you don’t have to pay a chunk more for music support. And the screen is brighter too. On the other hand, Garmin’s interface looks better and its training features are more expansive. For us the Forerunner has the higher “tilt” preference factor, but the Pace 4 has undeniable advantages.

From Polar, there’s the Pacer. It has older screen tech and is an all-round less desirable watch these days – but you can find some great deals online.

Suunto gets closer to the mark with the Run, a pretty similar watch with a metal bezel and Gorilla Glass screen. However, wedid have slightly more heart rate issues when using it, compared to the Coros.

Coros Pace 4: How we tested

We wore the Coros Pace 4 for roughly six weeks over a two-month period, including extended stretches of near-24/7 wear to give the most realistic impression of its battery life in real-world conditions. We used it to record several hundred kilometres of run training, including no fewer than three half marathons, numerous gym sessions and a couple of intense spin classes. We tested the watch in both its always-on and standard screen modes, but eventually settled on using the default mode to max-out one of the watch's key strengths.

Air purifiers can make a whole lot of difference to the air quality indoors and are particularly useful for those with seasonal allergies or certain respiratory conditions. There is only one problem — these appliances, as clever and functional as they are, are also a major source of plastic pollution and packaging waste. This is the issue that the IQAir Atem Earth is trying to solve. It is the most eco-friendly appliance we have ever tested, by a mile.

The IQAir Atem Earth is the first air purifier made with sustainably sourced beech wood and a paint-free finish, and unlike most, if not all, other appliances on the market, it is designed to last 25 years. To put that into perspective, most air purifiers come with just a two-year guarantee.

The IQAir Atem Earth is also Energy Star-certified. According to the brand, this air purifier can clean the air in rooms measuring up to 1,460 square feet (135 square meters) while using just 50 watts of power at the maximum fan speed. Again, most appliances of this size and power would use way more energy. The cherry on top? This air purifier is equipped with a HyperHEPA filtration system that "uses five times less plastic than conventional air purifiers."

These specs alone could earn the IQAir Atem Earth a spot in our guides to the best air purifiers and best air purifiers for allergies. But how does this innovative appliance perform in real-life circumstances? And is it worth the ultra-high price of $999? We were keen to find out for ourselves.

IQAir Atem Earth air purifier review

IQAir Atem Earth: Design

• Exceptionally elegant, sustainable design
• Designed to last 25 years
• Surprisingly light and portable

The first thing we noticed about the IQAir Atem Earth was its minimalist wooden design. This tower air purifier is exceptionally elegant, and would not look out of place in the office of the CEO of a million-dollar company. This is a big plus point for us. Most household appliances look like rectangular white boxes and can really clash with some of the more stylish interiors. The IQAir Atem Earth, on the other hand, is very easy on the eye.

The next thing we noticed was how surprisingly portable it was. This is quite a big appliance: it measures 24 inches (61 centimeters) in height and 13.5 inches (34 cm) in diameter, but it only weighs 17.2 pounds (7.8 kg) and comes with a big handle. We found it easy to move it around with just one hand.

That does not mean the IQAir Atem Earth is a fragile piece of kit — quite the opposite. Both the wooden body and the touchscreen control panel at the top of the unit feel quite durable and scratch-resistant. We did not see any wear-and-tear damage after a month of intense testing.

It is also worth noting that this air purifier is backed by a generous 10-year warranty and a 25-year maintenance and repairability guarantee. This is another big plus point for us. Most household appliances are designed, consciously or not, to be discarded within a few years of purchase. The IQAir Atem Earth, on the other hand, is meant to be maintained and repaired for more than two decades.

Specs-wise, the IQAir Atem Earth is equipped with a HyperHEPA filter capable of removing up to 99.5% of particles measuring as little as 0.003 microns, as well as an activated carbon filter that helps reduce unpleasant odors and VOCs (volatile organic compounds, such as potentially harmful gases from paints and varnishes). In contrast, a regular HEPA filter can “only” capture 0.3-micron particles at 99.97% efficiency. As these are premium filters, they unfortunately do come at a premium price. The replacement costs $99 — two to three times more than you would pay for a typical HEPA-carbon combo.

Overall, we liked the design of the IQAir Atem Earth, even despite the pricey filter replacements — with one small exception. We noticed that this air purifier produced a weird smell when we ran it for the first time. It was not too pungent or nauseating, true, but it was distracting nonetheless. In all fairness, though, this smell did dissipate completely after a few days.

IQAir Atem Earth: Features

• Six fan speeds and an auto mode
• Basic smart features
• Underwhelming air quality monitoring

The IQAir Atem Earth features six manually adjusted fan speeds and an auto mode in which the air purifier adjusts the fan speed based on its real-time air quality readings. These settings can be controlled either with the touchscreen buttons located at the top of the unit or remotely via the IQAir AirVisual app. The app is also where you can monitor air quality data, control fan speeds, set schedules and track filter life.

That is pretty much it when it comes to features. The IQAir Atem Earth can't be synced with smart home assistants or other household appliances, it does not respond to voice commands, nor does it have a “welcome home” mode so you can schedule it to turn on 15 minutes before you arrive home. This is pretty disappointing given that many air purifiers at much lower price points do offer such advanced smart features.

The IQAir Atem Earth’s air quality monitoring is also underwhelming. It measures just two metrics, the indoor/outdoor AQI (Air Quality Index, a general measure of air pollution) and PM2.5 (airborne particles that are 2.5 microns in diameter). True, both of these data points are meticulously tracked over time and you can see in the app how they drop and spike on neatly presented graphs, but we would expect much more from an air purifier that costs nearly a grand.

To put all this into perspective, the Molekule Air Pro — an air purifier that costs a whopping $1,014 — tracks not only AQI and PM2.5, but also PM1.0 (airborne particles that are 1 micron in diameter, such as certain microbes and tiny combustion particles), PM10 (airborne particles larger than 10 microns, such as dust and hair), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), relative humidity and carbon dioxide levels. Not only that, but it analyzes the trends over time and alerts you to the biggest air quality “offenders” in your home.

As such, the functionality of the IQAir Atem Earth is somewhat limited. For example, it may not be informative enough for people with certain allergies and respiratory conditions, or simply those who like to keep a close eye on the air pollution levels. Again, for an air purifier at such a premium price, this is a huge oversight.

IQAir Atem Earth: Performance

• Quiet and unobtrusive
• Excellent air-cleaning performance
• Relatively low energy consumption

The IQAir Atem Earth impressed us with its sensitive air quality sensors and great day-to-day performance. This air purifier swiftly kicked into action every time we used cleaning products, sprayed cosmetics or fried something on the stove, efficiently cleaning the air and removing odors.

What is more, it was not particularly noisy for an appliance of this size and power. We could barely hear the IQAir Atem Earth working when it operated at the lowest fan speed (which was most of the time). Understandably, it was much noisier at the highest fan setting — when we measured the sound levels using a Sound Meter decibel-counting app, we noted around 55 dB. That is equivalent to the sound of a normal conversation or music playing in the background. However, we did not find it disruptive or annoying as we did with some other large air purifiers we tested.

The IQAir Atem Earth did seem to work well for us, but it was up to our Perfect Prime air particle monitor to determine its overall air-cleaning performance. This industry-grade device is capable of detecting airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns — these include super-tiny irritants, such as dust mite allergens, tobacco smoke particles and certain bacteria, for example. We use this air particle monitor to test all of the air purifiers that land in our hands.

We started with an ambient air quality test. We placed the IQAir Atem Earth in our medium-sized living room, locked the doors and windows, then measured the air quality before and after running this air purifier on its auto settings for 30 minutes. The results were promising. It removed 69% of particles measuring 0.3 microns and 77% of pollutants measuring 2.5 microns (no 10-micron particles were detected), and since both the air purifier and air particle monitor already indicated good air quality at the time of testing, it is fair to say it was quite a significant drop.

Then, we moved on to the smoke tests. We began by burning a handful of matches, then running the IQAir Atem Earth for 30 minutes on its auto setting. The air purifier hoovered up 99.8% of 0.3-micron particles, 99.9% of particles measuring 2.5 microns, and all the pollutants larger than 10 microns. When we repeated the match test on the highest fan speed setting, the air quality after 30 minutes was better than when we started.

Next, we burned a handful of incense sticks and repeated the procedure. The IQAir Atem Earth removed nearly all particles after 30 minutes on auto mode, and just like in the match test, the air quality was better than our baseline readings after we cranked this air purifier up to the highest fan setting. All in all, we have no qualms about the air-cleaning performance of the IQAir Atem Earth.

Last, but not least, the energy use. This air purifier is Energy Star-certified and, according to the brand, it uses only 50 watts when at the maximum fan speed. This sounds about right — we did not notice any significant spikes in our electricity consumption during the testing period. For an appliance of this size and power, such energy efficiency is no mean feat.

IQAir Atem Earth: User reviews

At the time of writing this review, there were not enough online reviews available to give us a good sense of general user feedback (the IQAir Atem Earth had only been on the market for around four months and was exclusively available through the IQAir website). However, the few initial testimonials we saw were largely positive.

Should you buy the IQAir Atem Earth air purifier?

The IQAir Atem Earth hits the sweet spot with its exceptionally stylish design, excellent air-cleaning performance and novel take on appliance sustainability. We think this air purifier is a worthy addition to any medium to large living room or home office, and it will definitely keep its pride of place in ours. However, we just can't hide our disappointment at its basic functionality and underwhelming app features. We would expect way more from an air purifier at such a high price point.

✅ Buy it if: You are looking for a beautifully crafted, unobtrusive air purifier for a stylish living room or home office.

❌ Do not buy it if: You are an air quality data geek or want something smaller and less powerful.

If the IQAir Atem Earth air purifier is not for you

The IQAir Atem Earth is a class of its own and not many other air purifiers can fully match its combination of style, sustainability and purification power. However, some appliances make for better alternatives than others.

Take the Molekule Air Pro, for example. This air purifier may not be as eco-friendly as the IQAir Atem Earth is, but it is of a similar size, has comparable air-cleaning capabilities and costs roughly the same (around $1,014). It also offers a much better selection of app features and more in-depth air quality monitoring.

If you like the idea of an ultra-stylish air purifier but do not want to spend as much money, consider the RabbitAir A3 instead. This air purifier comes in 10 unique designs, can be mounted on the wall, and does a fabulous job of removing airborne pollutants without making much noise or sending your energy bill skyrocketing. All that, and it costs around $250 less than the IQAir Atem Earth.

Looking for something even more affordable? Then you can't go wrong with the Levoit Core 600S. We named it the best overall in our guides to the best air purifiers and best air purifiers for allergies, and it costs less than a third of the price of the IQAir Atem Earth.

IQAir Atem Earth: How we tested

We spent over a month trying and testing the IQAir Atem Earth air purifier. We looked into its design, eco credentials, features, day-to-day performance and ease of use. We also measured how loud it was using the Sound Meter decibel-counting app, and noted the cost and availability of its replacement filters.

Finally, we performed a series of air quality tests using a Perfect Prime air particle monitor, an industry-grade device capable of detecting airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. We placed the IQAir Atem Earth in an enclosed, medium-sized room, then measured the difference in airborne particles before and after running it for 15 and 30 minutes on different fan speed settings. We started with ambient air quality tests, then followed them up with more challenging match smoke and incense smoke tests.

After this testing protocol had been completed, we gave our final verdict on the IQAir Atem Earth's overall functionality and value for money.

Smart scales can be invaluable for stepping up your fitness routine. These clever devices not only measure your body weight and BMI (Body Mass Index) in the way that regular digital bathroom scales do, but they can also provide various body composition metrics, such as muscle mass, bone mass and body fat percentage. Some of the more premium models can also calculate your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate, the lowest amount of calories your body needs to stay alive and function properly), distinguish between visceral (abdominal) and subcutaneous (under the skin) body fat, or assess your biological age (an estimate of how old a person's body is based on their body composition stats). Put simply, smart scales can show your progress in excruciating detail and help identify areas for improvement.

The best smart scales on the market even go a step further — they conduct a segmental body analysis. In simpler terms, they can measure the differences in body fat, bone mass and muscle mass between different “segments” of the body. Usually, that would mean between the left arm, right arm, left leg, right leg and trunk.

The Renpho Morphoscan Nova is one of those advanced smart scales. Most commercially available models collect their measurements from a stand-on platform alone, but this device also gathers data from a handle. And, according to a 2022 review published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology, this kind of foot-to-hand technology tends to produce more accurate results.

We can attest to this — last year, we reviewed a similar foot-to-hand model and were impressed by how much it outperformed the more basic models. But can the Renpho Morphoscan Nova match its functionality and tracking accuracy? We took it for a spin to find out.

Renpho Morphoscan Nova smart scale review: Tried and tested

Renpho Morphoscan Nova: How it works

Most smart scales measure body composition using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), or bioimpedance. The Renpho Morphoscan Nova is no different. While this method may sound somewhat dangerous or overly technical, it is actually non-invasive and safe for most people (except for pregnant individuals and those with implanted electronic devices, such as pacemakers). It is also based on a relatively simple principle.

Here's how it works: When you stand on the platform with your bare feet and hold onto the handle with your bare hands, the Renpho Morphoscan Nova sends low-voltage electricity through your body. Then, it measures how much resistance your body puts up against this current. Muscles and other tissues with high water content will allow electricity to flow through freely, but tissues with low water content, such as your body fat, will either slow the passage of that current or completely stop it in its tracks. The smart scale then uses complex algorithms to convert these electrical data points into body composition metrics.

Bioimpedance can produce relatively accurate body composition measurements, but it is important to note that smart scales (even those as advanced as the Renpho Morphoscan Nova) should never be treated as diagnostic tools. Only Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) and other clinically validated methods of measuring body composition can be used for that purpose.

The validity of BIA readings also depends on multiple different factors — hydration level and skin temperature, to name but two. As such, smart scales are best used for casual check-ins and monitoring long-term trends.

Renpho Morphoscan Nova: Design

• Suitable for larger and taller individuals
• Light and portable for its size
• Easy to clean and relatively resistant to smudging

The Renpho Morphoscan Nova costs $219.99, which is about three to four times more than most stand-on smart scales we have tested before. It does look and feel quite premium, though. This device should easily fit in with most bathroom decors, even though it comes in just one style and color.

As mentioned, the Renpho Morphoscan Nova uses foot-to-hand technology, meaning it collects body composition measurements from both a stand-on platform and a retractable handle. Design-wise, it seems to strike a good balance between build quality and functionality. The glass platform feels quite sturdy but not particularly heavy, and it is large enough to accommodate individuals with big feet or a wide stance. The handle is quite wide and long, but we had no issue gripping it securely, and it did not tend to jam when being pulled out of the platform.

We also liked that the Renpho Morphoscan Nova comes with a relatively long retractable cable, as it makes this smart scale very height-inclusive. As tall folks ourselves, we appreciated the fact that we did not have to stoop over while having our measurements taken. Speaking of inclusivity, the Renpho Morphoscan Nova can accommodate individuals weighing up to 397 lbs (180 kg) — more than most smart scales available on the market.

We were also impressed with the 4.3-inch TFT-LCD handle display. It is bright, colorful and easy to read, and it presents your body composition metrics in an easy-to-understand format.

Overall, the Renpho Morphoscan Nova feels relatively user-friendly and well-designed. We are not too sure about its durability, though. This smart scale is light and easy to move around, but this also means it could be prone to accidental damage over time. In all fairness, though, our testing unit did not sustain any scratches or dents — and we are not particularly careful with our appliances.

Renpho Morphoscan Nova: Features

• 23 body composition stats and segmental body analysis
• Only two weighing modes available: Standard and Athlete
• Printable reports to share with fitness coaches or healthcare professionals

The Renpho Morphoscan Nova measures a wide range of body composition metrics, including weight, fat-free body mass, BMI, body fat percentage, bone mass, muscle mass, body water percentage, Basal Metabolic Rate, biological age and waist-to-hip ratio. Overall, we counted 23 different data points. Then there is the segmental body analysis — this smart scale can differentiate between muscle and fat mass in your trunk, left arm, right arm, left leg and right leg, giving you a good overview of your body composition.

All metrics can then be viewed on the handle display or tracked in the free Renpho Health app, or even turned into comprehensive printable reports that can be shared with your fitness coach or healthcare professional. Some of the metrics can also be shared with the Apple Health, Google Fit, MyFitnessPal and Samsung Health apps, and if you use the Renpho Lynx smart ring, also synced with the data collected by your fitness tracker.

Speaking of the Renpho Health app, it looks very "clean" and easy to navigate. All measured data points are laid out clearly and relatively well-explained. That said, some of these descriptions may lack the depth and nuance that could bring more clarity and understanding to those who have never used a smart scale before.

However, the Renpho Morphoscan Nova still feels relatively beginner-friendly, and that is thanks to its personalized insights and wide app functionality. If you set the goal to weight loss, for example, this smart scale will calculate how many calories per day you should consume to get to where you want to be, and then allow you to track your diet in a separate section of the Renpho Health app. Most smart scales focus on body composition only. The Renpho Morphoscan Nova, on the other hand, puts your body analysis in a slightly wider context.

Last, but not least, the weighing modes — we could only find two, Standard and Athlete. This means that you can't use the Renpho Morphoscan Nova for measuring pets, objects or during pregnancy (a mode in which the BIA capabilities are switched off). Given that even some of the most affordable smart scales offer at least three weighing modes, this feels like a big oversight.

Renpho Morphoscan Nova: Performance

• Relatively accurate body composition measurements
• Long battery life
• App connectivity can be patchy

We were also quite impressed with its tracking accuracy. We compared the body composition measurements taken with the Renpho Morphoscan Nova to the data we obtained with a FitQuest machine — a much bigger, more precise bioimpedance scale used in our local gym — and found only minor discrepancies. For example, the difference in body weight readings was a negligible 0.2 lbs (0.1 kg), while the body fat percentage and muscle mass were only slightly overestimated (by 5% and 2%, respectively). In terms of accuracy, the Renpho Morphoscan Nova is on par with the RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro (another foot-to-hand smart scale), and significantly more reliable than every stand-on smart scale we have reviewed before.

The app connectivity, on the other hand, leaves something to be desired. First, we struggled with connecting our Renpho Morphoscan Nova to the app. It took us three attempts and one app reset to get it set up. Then, the smart scale seemed to randomly cut off the connection for no reason. We are not sure whether these connectivity issues had something to do with our phone or the smart scale, and they were not frequent enough to cause us a massive headache — but they were annoying nonetheless. If you like your smart devices to connect flawlessly, you may need to take that into account.

All in all, the Renpho Morphoscan Nova performs relatively well. However, we are not convinced that the sky-high price of this smart scale is entirely justified. To put it into perspective, the RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro offers similar value and costs approximately $50 less.

Renpho Morphoscan Nova: User reviews

At the time of writing this review, the Renpho Morphoscan Nova was rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon, while the customer reviews on Renpho's own website placed it at a slightly higher, 4.88-star rating. This smart scale was generally praised for its portable design, comprehensive body composition stats and ease of use.

One user commented: "This is not your grandma's bathroom scale! It's so intelligent and sophisticated that I wonder if I will ever fully grasp all its features and intricacies. [...] Despite my lack of knowledge of or experience with devices such as this smart scale, I didn't have any difficulty installing and connecting the free fitness tracking app. If you or a loved one are truly serious about physical training, body transformation through fitness or other health-related factors, this smart scale would make an awesome addition to your bathroom or workout area."

On the other hand, the Renpho Morphoscan Nova also received a significant number of complaints regarding its poor tracking accuracy and app connectivity.

As one user pointed out: "The app is clunky and feels unfinished. After repeated attempts, the only measurement I could successfully capture was weight. The app constantly warned that it had not finished collecting data before the scale automatically powered off. It never provided a clear reason for the failure, only a long list of possible issues. At that point, the scale becomes nothing more than a basic weight scale. The handheld scanner is comfortable to hold, and the retracting mechanism is a nice design feature, but it does not seem to communicate properly with the app. Because of that, none of the advanced readings that are advertised ever worked for me. Overall, I cannot recommend this scale. It may look smart, but if the key features do not function correctly, it is simply not worth the money."

Should you buy the Renpho Morphoscan Nova?

The Renpho Morphoscan Nova is a great piece of kit for exercise beginners and fitness geeks alike. It is light, portable and easy to use, but more importantly, it delivers in-depth body composition analysis and useful weight management insights. That said, its temperamental app connectivity and limited weighing functionality can diminish your overall user experience.

✅ Buy it if: You want in-depth insights into your body composition stats, and do not mind occasional lapses in app connectivity.

❌ Do not buy it if: You are looking for something more budget-friendly.

If Renpho Morphoscan Nova is not for you

The RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro is a great alternative to the Renpho Morphoscan Nova. These smart scales are eerily similar in design, functionality and tracking performance, but the former costs approximately $50 less and is more frequently on sale.

If you are looking for something more affordable, consider these two stand-on smart scales instead: the Renpho Elis 1 (we named it the best overall in our guide to the best smart scales on the market) and the Wyze Scale X (a slightly more basic and cheaper model). While they are less technologically advanced and functional than the Renpho Morphoscan Nova, these stand-on smart scales do a relatively good job of measuring basic body composition stats and cost less than $50.

Renpho Morphoscan Nova: How we tested

We spent over a month testing the Renpho Morphoscan Nova, looking into its design, functionality, ease of use, app connectivity and value for money. Next, we compared the body composition measurements taken with this smart scale to the data we obtained with a FitQuest machine (a bigger, more precise BIA scale used in our local gym), and gave our verdict on the general reliability and tracking performance of the Renpho Morphoscan Nova.

Amazfit is the king of budget-friendly fitness trackers. This may be a very bold statement, true, but we are standing fully behind it — we have reviewed enough of the company’s wearables to know that they offer excellent value for money.

Take the Amazfit Active, for example. This unassuming smartwatch costs less than $90, but it has enough features to rival devices three times its price. In fact, we liked this model so much that we included it in our guides to both the best fitness trackers and the best budget fitness trackers. That said, the Amazfit Active may need to concede its position now that we have our hands on something even better — the Amazfit Active Max.

Design-wise, the Amazfit Active Max is a huge step up from the Active model — both in terms of its looks and its functionality. It is more durable, more customizable and richer in features, and can last up to 25 days on a single charge. Plus, it comes with a brighter 1.5-inch AMOLED display and over 170 workout modes.

All that, and it costs only $169.99. Needless to say, we were excited to put the Amazfit Active Max through its paces.

Amazfit Active Max smartwatch review

Amazfit Active Max: Design

• Relatively well built and scratch-resistant
• Comfortable to wear all day
• Removable silicone straps allow for customization

Design-wise, the Amazfit Active Max beats the Amazfit Active on all counts. It is beefier, more intuitive to use, arguably better-looking, and if our experience is anything to go by, more comfortable to wear. What's more, this smartwatch comes with detachable straps, meaning it is slightly more customizable than its older counterpart. We also liked that the Amazfit Active Max did not catch on clothing, aggravate the skin or overload our wrist in any way.

That's not to say this smartwatch is designed to perfection, but rather that any infractions are pretty minor. For example, this smartwatch is only available in black and with just one screen size. This means that individuals with petite wrists or very muscular arms (or simply those who fancy something more colorful) may not find the Amazfit Active Max a particularly good fit. However, we would not consider this a deal-breaker when talking about such an affordable fitness tracker.

Besides, you can still add a personal touch to your Amazfit Active Max. There are plenty of replacement straps available online, and they are far less expensive than similar accessories from more high-end brands. For example, you can get a simple silicone band for as little as $5, while some of the more stylish nylon or faux leather straps tend to cost under $20. To put this into perspective, Whoop can charge as much as $49 for one of its official replacement straps.

Build quality also scored highly in our books. We tested the Amazfit Active Max for over a month, during which time we frequently exposed it to harsh winter conditions and close contact with steel gym equipment. The result? Not a single scratch, nor any other wear-and-tear damage.

This is somewhat surprising, given that this smartwatch is crafted from aluminium alloy (a material that is far less robust and durable than titanium, for example) and has no Sapphire crystal or Gorilla glass for added protection on the screen. While the Amazfit Active Max may not be tough enough to withstand extremely harsh conditions, it should not fall apart at the earliest convenience, either.

This Amazfit Active Max also proved impervious to rain and sweat. This smartwatch is rated 5ATM for water resistance, meaning it can be safely taken swimming in shallow waters or worn in the shower. This does mean it is not waterproof enough for high-speed water sports or freediving, but again, this is not something we would complain about at such a budget-friendly price.

Amazfit Active Max: Display

• Bright 1.5-inch AMOLED screen
• Easy-to-read, responsive touchscreen
• Plenty of free watch faces in the Zepp app

The Amazfit Active Max features a bright 1.5-inch AMOLED display. It looks slightly more colorful and vibrant than the screen used in the older Active model, even though the specs of the two displays are not that far apart. We suspect that the improved screen visibility may have something to do with the differences in glass layer design between these two models. The one in the Active was overly thick and chunky, while the one in the Active Max is visibly sleeker and generally easier to read through.

All in all, we found this display easy to read and navigate. The touchscreen was responsive, but not overly so (rain droplets did not tend to activate it by accident, for example), and the smartwatch did not ever lag during complex tasks. True, the Amazfit Active Max does have a slight tendency to collect fingerprint marks, but that is something we frequently see in AMOLEDs anyway.

The extensive watch face customization deserves a special mention here. The Amazfit Active Max offers dozens of free “skins,” has countless more available to purchase and even allows you to create custom watch faces using your own pictures. We liked that — there is enough diversity to suit the aesthetic demands of most people, and there are far more options available than we would expect from a budget-friendly fitness tracker anyway.

Amazfit Active Max: Features

• Wide range of health and fitness stats
• Single-band GPS, compass and altimeter
• Basic smartwatch capabilities

The Amazfit Active Max genuinely surprised us with its wide range of features. This smartwatch offers way more than other wearables at this price point, and it is versatile enough to be worn practically everywhere. It can keep you company in the gym, on a running track and even while grocery shopping or camping.

Starting with the health stats, this smartwatch measures all the essentials, including heart rate, HRV (heart rate variability), sleep, stress, skin temperature, steps and movement. It also tracks some of the more advanced metrics — for example, training load, sleep apnea risk and PAI (Personal Activity Intelligence, a point-based measurement of one's level of physiological exertion). All collected data points are then available to view in the subscription-free Zepp app.

We have said it before, but we will say it again — we like the Zepp app. It may not have the depth and complexity of the Suunto or Garmin Connect apps, for example, but it is easy to understand and very accessible to beginners. All metrics are presented clearly and explained in sufficient detail, with no complex terminology or unnecessary bits of information that add no practical value to the user.

We also like that the Zepp app’s personalized lifestyle tips tend to hit the mark — they are typically very actionable and genuinely helpful, and could be especially beneficial for those new to exercise.

Speaking of beginner-friendly features, the Active Max is the first Amazfit wearable to introduce the BioCharge score. This novel metric replaces the traditional Readiness score, providing a more well-rounded assessment of one's "internal battery" based on sleep, HRV, stress and recorded activity levels. It may not be the most accurate or "science-y" method of depicting one's post-exercise recovery, but again, it is designed more to help casual exercisers make sense of their fitness stats than to guide a professional athlete.

Moving on to workout modes, the Amazfit Active Max comes with over 170 different activities, including the "classics" such as strength training, mountain biking and combat sports, as well as some of the more novel or niche activities — HYROX training or snow shoveling, for example. Eight activities can be detected automatically, and these include walking, running and swimming. From our experience, this automatic workout detection is not flawless (it hardly ever is in fitness trackers), but it is accurate enough to keep your activity logs in relative order.

One of the most interesting aspects of the Amazfit Active Max is its AI-driven Zepp Coach. If you are not sure what to do on any given day, this chat box can act as your pocket-sized personal trainer, providing you with lifestyle guidance and personalized workout plans — yet another feature that can benefit exercise beginners.

Moreover, the Amazfit Active Max comes with a good selection of outdoor-oriented features, such as built-in GPS, compass, altimeter and a large selection of offline maps, as well as most of the basic smartwatch capabilities. For example, it can do voice commands, reply to your text messages, connect to third-party devices (such as a camera, cadence meter or speedometer) and even pay for your shopping using the Zepp Pay app feature.

Amazfit Active Max: Performance

• Long battery life
• Fairly accurate heart rate measurements
• Some workout logs may not be entirely accurate

The Amazfit Active Max delivers solid performance through and through. While it is not the most accurate or longest-lasting smartwatch we have ever tested, it is reliable enough to suit most people's needs and preferences. Besides, it does seem to perform better than many other fitness trackers in this affordable price range anyway.

According to the manufacturer, the Amazfit Active Max lasts up to 25 days in smartwatch mode, 10 days with Always-on and 64 hours with continuous GPS usage — and we can confirm that this is largely true. While the GPS mode seemed to be draining the battery slightly faster than indicated, it was not by a particularly huge margin. All in all, this unassuming smartwatch is a real workhorse, making it a good option for long trips, camping and endurance sporting events.

The Amazfit Active Max also does a relatively good job with its tracking accuracy, particularly when it comes to heart rate measurements. During one workout, we wore both the smartwatch and a Polar H9 chest-strap heart rate monitor in order to compare the data collected by these two devices. The differences between the readings were not overly significant, and even when our heart rate reached around 150 bpm (the level at which most fitness trackers start struggling with accuracy), the Amazfit Active Max still managed to be relatively reliable — on average, only 10 bpm off what the Polar H9 detected.

The Amazfit Active Max’s sleep quality assessments, stress levels and training load measurements were also relatively accurate. Calories burned, on the other hand, seemed way off the mark — but then this measurement is notoriously difficult to calculate properly, and even some of the more expensive smartwatches tend to fail at capturing it properly.

Step count and certain workout logs (such as your stroke rate in indoor rowing, or sets and reps in strength training, for example) also seemed to be slightly imprecise. The Amazfit Active Max appeared to consistently underestimate or miscalculate our movements, albeit not to a huge extent. Still, it is something we would take into account if tracking workouts in precise, painstaking detail was our priority.

Finally, the GPS tracking. It is not bad, but it is not great either — and that is because it is only single-band. For general purposes, single-band GPS should work well for most people. If you want to be more precise with your distances and geo-tracking, however, you may be better off with a device equipped with dual- or multi-band GPS.

Amazfit Active Max: User reviews

At the time of writing this review, the Amazfit Active Max had been on the market for less than a month. As such, the user reviews for this model were still relatively sparse. The initial testimonials appeared to be largely positive, though — on Amazon, for example, this smartwatch was rated at a solid 4.6 out of 5 stars.

The Amazfit Active Max tended to be praised for its visually appealing design, long battery life, useful features and good value for money. As one customer commented: "Had a Garmin Fenix 6X Pro for 4 years and while it is a great watch, it was more than I needed. Decided to give Amazfit a chance and saw this new release. Honestly, I could not be happier with it. It does everything I need and more! Also, I like the app better than Garmin Connect. I would never have slept in my Fenix, it's a very heavy watch, I sleep with this one without any issue at all."

Negative reviews, though few and far between, focused predominantly on individual faulty units and a "cluttered" display. One user said: "They really need an overhaul on their user interface. It just looks cheap compared to Samsung. Also the free watch faces are a joke and the paid ones aren't much better. Wore it for a few days and returned it."

Should you buy the Amazfit Active Max smartwatch?

The Amazfit Active Max has nearly everything a casual exerciser may need or want, and is way more affordable than similarly designed smartwatches from more high-end brands. True, it does not have an ultra-durable design or sophisticated workout logs, but then this is not something we would expect from a fitness tracker at such a low price point.

✅ Buy it if: You are a casual exerciser looking for a good-quality, versatile smartwatch that does not cost a fortune.

❌ Do not buy it if: You want something sturdier, bigger and/or more geared towards outdoor activities in extreme environmental conditions.

Amazfit Active Max: Related products

The Garmin Vivoactive 6 is a great alternative to the Amazfit Active Max, especially for beginner and casual exercisers. Both of these smartwatches are relatively similar in design, functionality and tracking performance, but the former comes in a wider range of colors and is compatible with more third-party apps. That said, it is also nearly twice as expensive — the Garmin Vivoactive 6 costs approximately $299 and is rarely on sale.

If you are looking for something more durable and waterproof than the Amazfit Active Max or Garmin Vivoactive 6, consider the Amazfit T-Rex 3. This smartwatch can sustain the water pressure of up to 328 feet (100 meters), meaning it can easily withstand open-water swimming, snorkeling and high-speed water sports, plus it is certified for freediving up to 45 meters. The best part? It only costs $100 more than the Amazfit Active Max.

Want something even more budget-friendly? Then you can't go wrong with the Xiaomi Smart Band 10. For less than $50, this fitness tracker offers comprehensive tracking features, an exceptionally sleek design and up to a whopping 21 days of battery life. However, it is nowhere near as rugged and smartwatch-like as the Amazfit Active Max.

Amazfit Active Max: How we tested

We spent over a month trying and testing the Amazfit Active Max, looking into its design, features, day-to-day tracking performance, battery life, ease of use and value for money. We wore this smartwatch during the day, while sleeping and when doing a range of activities, from indoor rowing and high-intensity strength training to dancing and hiking outdoors. Finally, we compared the heart rate measurements taken by the Amazfit Active Max with the data we obtained using a Polar H9 chest-strap heart rate monitor.

Introducing the smallest and most affordable binoculars in the NL Pure range. The range currently consists of seven variations, including the birding-flavored 8x42, and the larger 10x52 and 14x52 that are better suited to stargazing, and they all come in a choice of green or burnt orange.

The Swarovski Optik NL Pure 8x32 combines portability with seriously good quality. With the “NL” in the name standing for “Nature Lovers”, it’s clear that these binoculars are built for the outdoors, and although you’ll need to pay a premium, it’s an investment that will last a lifetime.

With 8x magnification (ideal for birdwatching) and a 32mm objective lens diameter, keeping things lightweight, they’re the perfect travel companion without sacrificing optical power. They hit the sweet spot for birding and nature observation perfectly, and we’ll be sad when we have to send our loan sample back!

Swarovski NL Pure 8x32: Design

• Compact design with wasp waist for easier handling
• Premium packaging and accessories
• Diopter was a little fiddly

From the second you open the box, it’s clear that Swarovski Optik is not playing around and offers a premium experience with these binoculars. When a brand puts time, effort and money into making the packaging and accessories look and feel good, you know you’re getting a good product. From the artwork on the inside of the lid to the plush carry bag and even the included soap and brush to clean the housing, we were very impressed before we’d even started using the binoculars — it felt like we were opening a gift.

Being the smallest model in the NL Pure range, it’s no surprise that “compact and lightweight” is going to be an advantage, but the Pure 8x32 still offers a fantastic viewing experience despite its smaller size.

They feature a wasp waist design, which means the central body is significantly narrowed (like that of a wasp's body) for better handling and improved ergonomics. This meant we could wrap our hands around each barrel entirely, allowing for more comfortable viewing, even during longer sessions.

What we didn’t like so much was the diopter. It’s placed in the center of the binocular, just in front of the focus wheel, and it’s a thin (and quite stiff) wheel with only a small lip to move it. We’d have liked it to have a bit more grip or some texture, and it’s even harder to adjust if you have long nails.

That said, it’s not enough of a bugbear to put us off buying a pair, and there certainly wouldn’t be any danger of accidentally knocking it.

Swarovski NL Pure 8x32: Performance

• No chromatic aberration
• Sharp all the way to the edges
• Great color reproduction and contrast

These binoculars offer one of the best viewing experiences we’ve ever had. The image is sharp all the way to the edge due to the addition of field flattener lenses (they call it “Swarovision”), the contrast is excellent and the color is bright and true to life.

Plus, thanks to the ED glass, there’s basically no chromatic aberration at all. Even when we pointed them at a group of jackdaws high up in the trees against a white sky, there was hardly any color fringing — and we were looking hard for it. The optical performance is nothing short of astounding for birdwatching, and we could make out almost every detail.

The field of view is 164 yards (150 meters), making it easy to follow birds as they fly through the sky. WIth their compact design, they make an ideal travel companion for vacations and birding excursions at home or around the world. In fact, many serious birders opt for the portability of the 8x32 over the slightly larger 8x42.

Swarovski NL Pure 8x32: Functionality

• Loose focus wheel
• 32mm isn’t the best for low-light viewing
• Seven different eyecup placements

The 32mm objectives are best suited to daytime viewing, but the overall clarity and sharpness give you a little bit of a buffer once you lose light. We were still easily able to spot and identify small birds (sparrows, robins and blue tits) in the bush outside our reviewer’s home once the sun had set over the valley, but after the sun had actually set, it wasn’t long before the view was too dim. If you like to observe animals at dawn or dusk and don’t mind sacrificing the compact nature, consider upgrading to the 8x42 for better low-light viewing.

The focus wheel is fairly loose, which we personally prefer as it allows for increased speed of focusing between a bird in a tree in front of us and a bird in flight in the distance. There are also seven different eyecup positions to choose from, allowing up to a generous 18mm of eye relief, and we found them just as easy to use when wearing glasses as they were when we took them off.

They have a minimum focusing distance of 6.56 feet (2 m) for viewing insects or small animals closer to you, and they’re watertight up to 13 feet (4 m) and nitrogen-filled to prevent fogging — perfect for withstanding any weather conditions.

Should you buy the Swarovski NL Pure 8x32?

If money were no object, then it would be an easy yes from us, but sadly, money is a factor for many of us, and a purchase of this scale isn’t one we’d take lightly.

There’s no question that they’re worth the money, but casual birders might want to opt for something a bit cheaper if nature observation is just a hobby. Similarly, stargazers will want a different variant that is better suited for low-light observing, where portability isn’t necessarily the priority.

But if you have the money and want a pair of the best birding binoculars you can buy, you won’t be disappointed with the NL Pure 8x32.

If the Swarovski NL Pure 8x32 isn't for you

If you’re looking for a scientifically accurate star projector, the Mokoqi Star Projector Night Light is not it. Rather than being concerned with delivering realistic depictions of the night sky, this is designed to be a sleep aid for babies and young children. Its projections are bold and cartoonish, and they lack the sharpness of more expensive projectors. But considering that this is primarily a sleep aid, the calming atmosphere it creates is what matters the most.

From its simple buttons and plasticky build quality, it’s obvious that Mokoqi has designed this star projector with kids in mind. With no remote control, it’s fully operated from the unit itself via four face buttons. An LCD screen shows you what mode the projector is currently set to, and that’s about all there is to it.

Given the low price of the Mokoqi Star Projector (it’s typically available for around $20), it offers decent value for money, but if you’re looking for something with a modicum of scientific realism, you’re going to want to look elsewhere. For youngsters, though? It’s well worth considering.

Mokoqi Star Projector Night Light review: Design

• LCD is distracting
• Attractive shape
• Cheap construction quality

We really like the domed shape of the Mokoqi Star Projector. It’s an attractive design, and the translucent dome patterned with stars makes it immediately attractive to youngsters. It comes in different colorways, too: Our review unit was in black, but you can pick up white, pink, blue or purple models, which are no doubt even more appealing to kids.

One neat touch is the fact that the unit comes with a translucent cover for the dome, covering up the stars and essentially turning this projector into a soothing night-light. This gives the unit a handy dual function, although it does mean keeping the cover somewhere safe when it’s not in use.

It’s just a shame that its construction feels rather plasticky. It’s very lightweight and feels flimsy, giving the impression that it probably won’t withstand many knocks or bumps. God forbid it accidentally gets knocked off a desktop — but given the fact that this projector only costs around $20, this is not all that surprising.

By far the most annoying thing about the Mokoqi Star Projector, however, is the bizarre design decision to put a large red LCD on the front. This shows a countdown for the sleep timer, which is not only pointless but also distracting. In a dark room, it is far too bright and we can’t help feeling it will do the exact opposite of helping you fall asleep. It can’t be turned off, but it can at least be easily blocked with a strategically placed object.

Mokoqi Star Projector Night Light review: Performance

• Cartoonish projections
• Projections are blurry unless really close to a wall
• Wide coverage

In operation, the stars projected by the Mokoqi Star Projector Night Light are chunky and cartoonish. Aimed at the youngest children, it’s about as far removed from "scientifically accurate" as you can get. But helping children sleep and relax is clearly Mokoqi’s main goal here. If you’re looking for an educational tool, this isn’t it, but as a fun, colorful, easy-to-use projector? You could do a lot worse.

Simply plug in the projector using the supplied USB-C cable to power it up, and press one of the four buttons on the front of the projector to cycle through its available color schemes. Projections can appear white, blue, red or green, or you can cycle through all available colors.

The projector has an impressively wide reach, covering most of our walls and ceiling with bold, cartoonish star and moon shapes. Unfortunately, we found the projections to be blurry, with no way to adjust the focus. The only way we could fix this issue was by moving the projector very close to the wall or ceiling, but that obviously affects the reach of the projector. It’s an annoying issue, but is unlikely to affect a child’s enjoyment of the unit.

The Mokoqi Star Projector Night Light is equipped with a motor, which means the projections can rotate to create a soothing sense of motion. Unfortunately, the motor is quite loud and may be distracting if you’re using this as a sleep aid. Thankfully, though, the motor can be disabled and the unit will project a still image instead — and the projector itself is almost silent.

Mokoqi Star Projector Night Light review: Functionality

• No built-in speaker
• No remote control
• Runs on USB or battery power

The Mokoqi Star Projector Night Light is rather barebones in terms of functionality, but that’s part of the reason why this projector is so inexpensive. It doesn’t come with a remote control, and it doesn’t have a built-in Bluetooth speaker. It is first and foremost a basic projector, but it does at least boast dual functionality as a night-light.

Having no remote control means the unit is controlled entirely via the four buttons on its base. Another bizarre design choice is the fact that these buttons are labelled A, B, C and D rather than any meaningful symbol, so you have to press them and figure out what each one does.

It’s not a dealbreaker, though. The Mokoqi Star Projector does a decent job of creating a relaxing ambience to help young children fall asleep, which is what it was designed for. For that, no additional functionality is necessary.

Should you buy the Mokoqi Star Projector Night Light?

The Mokoqi Star Projector Night Light isn’t a great choice if you’re looking for a projector suitable for adults. It’s even less suitable if you’re wanting something with a degree of scientific accuracy. But if you just want a fun, easy-to-use star projector to help a little one drift off to sleep, this is a great choice.

If you just want a basic projector and you’re not expecting anything too fancy, the Mokoqi Star Projector is more than adequate. But if you do want something a little fancier, better options are out there.

The BlissLights Sky Lite Evolve projector offers relaxing light and color displays in a more premium package. But if you want something that can also be used as an educational tool, offering scientifically-accurate images, we’d recommend the Orzorz Galaxy Lite or the Sega Toys Homestar Flux. Both have interchangeable discs, offering up different views of the solar system, and although they’re more expensive than the Mokoqi Star Projector Night Light, they’re worlds away in terms of functionality.

With a price tag of $129.99, the LaView Galaxy Projector places itself among the most expensive star projectors on the market, meaning it competes directly with the much-loved Sega Toys Homestar Classic projector. But while there’s a lot to like about LaView’s offering, there are some features that make it feel like a cheap imitator, and we can’t help feeling it’s at least $50 too expensive.

It isn’t all bad, though. The LaView Galaxy Projector ships with multiple discs, all offering sharp, crisp images. Some of these are scientifically accurate views of space, others are more fun-loving, such as a giant T.rex that appears to be busting out of a wall, giving it plenty of variety and making it a great choice for kids. The projection quality is also great, and it’s packaged very well.

But some less-than-stellar features, such as its cheap laser stars and a disappointingly narrow reach, hold it back from greatness, and ultimately mean the LaView Galaxy Projector probably won’t earn a place on our round-up of the best star projectors currently available.

LaView Galaxy Projector review: Design

• Nicely packaged
• Great build quality
• Stylish, well-thought-out design

It may be made out of plastic, like practically all star projectors, but the LaView Galaxy Projector really feels like a step above most. It’s solid and premium-feeling, with a glossy finish that makes this look every bit the expensive piece of technology that it is. It’s in the build quality that you really feel like you’re getting value for money, considering the unit’s $129 MSRP.

Its functional design is great, too. This circular projector can rotate through 90 degrees, making it very easy to choose between projecting onto a wall or onto the ceiling. No matter where it’s pointed, the projector will remain steady on its purpose-built stand.

While the LaView Galaxy Projector comes with a remote control, it also has a limited number of buttons on the side of the unit, allowing for basic control.

It’s available in a choice of colors, too, which will doubtless appeal to children. The unit we reviewed was blue, but it’s also available in pink, black and white. The blue is certainly eye-catching, but if you want something a little more understated, you’d be better off opting for black or white.

LaView Galaxy Projector review: Performance

• Narrow projection coverage
• Clear, sharp images
• Laser stars cheapen the experience

One of the great things about the LaView Galaxy Projector is that, just like the Sega Toys Homestar range, it uses interchangeable discs. This makes it more versatile than most projectors. Even better, while the Homestar Classic only comes with a disc of the Northern Hemisphere, the LaView Galaxy Projector features several: Its own Northern Hemisphere, a close-up of the Earth and Moon, an underwater scene and even a T.rex, just for fun.

In terms of projection quality, the LaView Galaxy Projector is rather impressive. Its images are sharp, clear and bright, and when we compared its Northern Hemisphere projections to those from the HomeStar Classic, the results were very similar indeed.

Where the LaView falls down, however, is in the reach of the projector. Placing the unit roughly 5 feet (1.5 meters) away from a surface gives a relatively narrow projection, one that is noticeably smaller than most other units we’ve tested. Of course, if you’re able to place the projector farther away, you’ll get wider results — but the quality may suffer as a result.

Narrow projection field aside, the other thing that lets down the LaView Galaxy Projector is its use of laser stars. These cheapen the experience and, in our opinion, are completely unnecessary. Thankfully, they can be turned on and off independently from other projections — we’d recommend leaving them off.

LaView Galaxy Projector review: Functionality

• Comes with interchangeable discs
• No built-in speaker
• Has a sleep timer

The LaView Galaxy Projector has no built-in speaker: This unit is all about visuals. This isn’t a huge loss since most built-in Bluetooth speakers don’t have great sound quality anyway, and it’s easy enough to use a secondary speaker if you do want music or sound to accompany your projection experience.

There is a built-in sleep timer, however, which is one of the main functions that we often see in star projectors. This can come in handy if you intend to use the projector as a sleep aid — you don’t need to worry about it being switched on all night.

As we’ve mentioned before, the LaView Galaxy Projector comes with interchangeable discs. Four are included in the box, and more can be purchased separately, costing around $50 for a set of four. They’re quite pricey, and not all that easy to find, but having a selection available out of the box at least means there’s plenty of variety without necessarily needing to make an additional purchase.

Should you buy the LaView Galaxy Projector?

It’s a yes and a no. There’s no denying that this is a good projector: It’s sharp and clear, its use of interchangeable discs makes it very versatile, and the unit itself is sleek with good build quality. The LaView Galaxy Projector is let down, however, by its limited reach. This badly affects the sense of immersion it can create, particularly when gazing at something like the Northern Hemisphere.

If you were thinking of buying the LaView Galaxy Projector at MSRP ($129), you should perhaps look elsewhere. At that price, it’s competing with the Sega Toys Homestar Classic, which is a much better projector with a well-known brand behind it.

But we have quite frequently seen the LaView Galaxy Projector on offer — and if you get the chance to grab this for $50 or less, it’s a bit of a steal!

It's not often we can recommend a product that is designed for a specialist demographic but can actually be recommended for a broad span of users, but we're doing exactly that with the Canon 15x50 IS UD All weather binoculars.

Their extended 15x range (5x more than the generalist 10x) provide 50% more reach for small birds, mammals and distant nebulas and night sky objects. Low light observing is easy because the 50mm objective lenses drink in the dim light. And you can do it all without a tripod because the in-built image stabilization holds views stock-still without worry (even for those with tremors).

There are a few niggles though, which we will dive into in more detail below, but the real crux lies with the rubberized coating and battery compartment. However, this shouldn't dissuade you enough from buying a pair because the Ultra-low Dispersion glass, doublet field flattener and multi-coating prove commendable with sharp, bright, views across the entire image circle (meaning no more heavy vignetting or softening at the edges).

Canon 15x50 IS All Weather: Design

• Heavy but worth it for the quality
• Coating is slippery and marks easily
• Ideal location for straps

For wildlife enthusiasts, the green coating will allow you to blend into your surroundings, which we felt was a nice touch and a step away from the traditional black color you find most binoculars come in.

Sadly, the rubber coating was slippery and marked and dented easily. This was a disappointment as, ideally, you want a pair of binoculars to be hardy, especially if you're taking them with you for all different types of outdoor excursions. The slipperiness could easily be fixed with some additional grip or texture, so it was sad to see this was lacking.

Being bigger and heavier than a general 10x42 pair of binoculars may put some people off these as an option. The extra weight is due to the extra glass, image stabilization technology and the batteries required for it. However, what you gain in quality outweighs the extra weight you'd be carrying around — these are worth it.

The eyecups have only two options, either flap-up or flap-down, and while this type of eyepiece cup isn't our favorite, this is subjective and so some users may prefer this. But a limited option of two positions is inferior to many other designs, which feature a twisting eyecup that gives at least three positions for eye relief (useful for those who wear spectacles).

Most binoculars have the interpupillary distance controlled by having the lens barrel hinged at a central point. The Canon 15x50's do things a little differently — the hinge is built into the eyepieces. There are two reasons we liked this: it means the grip on the binos doesn't alter and there is no risk of the hinge becoming loose over time and not being able to sufficiently hold the interpupillary distance. A thought-out design choice that gets the thumbs up from us.

Another considered design choice is that of the location of the straps. The straps are built into the rotating eyepiece sections which helps the binoculars to sit central on your chest.

Canon 15x50 IS All Weather: Performance

• 15x magnification is ideal for bird spotting at a distance
• Diopter ring is sufficiently stiff but not lockable
• Image stabilization is easy to activate

The real beauty of these binoculars for bird spotting comes from their high magnification. 15x is ample for getting close to far-away songbirds, waders at the edges of water and larger birds of prey circling overhead. Canon's 18x50 IS gives just that extra touch of reach, but for the most part, we wouldn't recommend opting for those unless you desperately and regularly need the extra reach.

The 50mm objective lenses drink in the light, and we found them most useful when observing at twilight, giving an extra 20-30 minutes of use on average in the summer months when the days are longer. This meant that success in spying on crepuscular animals like owls, badgers and deer was better.

The multi-coated, Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) glass in these binoculars noticeably helped with image quality, with minimal aberration and only slight purple fringing around the edges of the image circle. Distortion was insignificant also, due to the doublet field flattener built into the binoculars. This gave pleasurable, bright and sharp views both day and night.

Canon 15x50 IS All Weather: Functionality

• Stabilization makes it as useful for wildlife as it does stargazing
• Lacking diopter locking mechanism
• Battery compartment tricky to access

All of the aforementioned, combined with the stabilization, line it up as an excellent astronomy binocular as well. The stabilization reduces the mandatory need for a tripod (something which is important at this magnification without stabilization) and steadies views for clearer viewing of detail in nebulas.

For the price of these binoculars, we were frustrated to not see a locking diopter ring. Saying that, the diopter ring was sufficiently stiff and didn't change when putting the binoculars in and out of the carry case.

Our testing unit warned us that the battery was tricky to access, as there were chew marks on the slot before we even tried ourselves. Long, strong fingernails, a coin or a flathead screwdriver are essential to get into this battery compartment. This is something to bear in mind for those with limited dexterity.

We should also note that of all the manuals and literature we could find, these 'all weather' binoculars (and the same is apparently also true of the 18x50 IS UD binoculars) these binoculars are not waterproof, only water-resistant. Weather-resistant is what Canon says in the marketing. This isn't to say that it's a bad thing, but slapping big red letters on the side of a binocular that say 'all weather' does make one more inclined to think they would be waterproof, compared with other binoculars that do not have this, but are waterproof. Confused? Yeah, us too!

Should I buy the Canon 15x50 IS All Weather binoculars?

Undoubtedly, we'd highly recommend the Canon 15x50 IS binoculars for wildlife observing and stargazing. The 15x magnification is enough to reach smaller subjects and night sky objects, but the stabilization holds things rock-steady for detailed viewing. The 50mm lenses, larger than the generalist 42mm, capture more light and, when combined with the multi-coating, doublet field flattener and Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) glass, make low light observing and stargazing incredibly accessible.

If this product isn't for you

There are only a small handful of reasons we would recommend you look elsewhere, that is, if these binoculars are out of your price range, are too large or heavy, or if the design (and the inevitable scratches on the rubberized coating) isn't to your liking.

In which case, for a compact pair but sticking with Canon, we'd recommend the Canon 8x20 IS, which still has stabilization and Canon's strong build quality but in a much smaller package.

Or you might feel that these are the right binoculars for you, but just want to get that extra bit more reach. In which case, we'd recommend you get the slightly larger version of these, the Canon 18x50 IS UD All weather binoculars.

User reviews

Online reviews of the 15x50 IS UD All weather binoculars are generally positive and in line with our experiences for this review. Some note that for those with tremors, the stabilization is incredibly useful for steady and clear observations, whereas others have noted the same issue we found with the coating, whereby it is easily scratched. However, generally, online reviews sit at an average between 4 to 4.4/5 stars, which is owed in part to the high-quality optics that Canon has truly prioritised in this model.

Despite its name, we probably wouldn’t categorize the Jiawen Galaxy Projector Light as a star/galaxy projector. It does project lights and colors onto your walls and ceiling, sure. But the projections generated by this lamp are more abstract and simply create a relaxing ambience rather than anything close to an accurate image of space.

So if you’re looking for a scientifically accurate star projector, you should probably look elsewhere. But if a great quality lamp that creates a wonderful atmosphere is what you’re looking for, the Jiawen Galaxy Projector Light is an excellent choice.

This cube-shaped lamp looks fantastic and can be used as a standard bedside light. Switch on its projections, and your ceiling and walls will be awash with a sea of colors. Mostly abstract waves of color, you could just about describe the projections as galaxy-like if you opt for the purple/blue color option. But regardless of the color you set the lamp to, you’re guaranteed to create a relaxing environment — ideal for unwinding before bedtime.

While we’re not sure the Jiawen Galaxy Projector Light offers enough actual galaxy-projecting functionality to earn a place on our list of best star projectors, it is an excellent budget star projector, costing less than $20. Its build quality is surprisingly good, it looks very stylish, and its usefulness as an actual bedside lamp should not be understated.

Jiawen Galaxy Projector Light review: Design

• Attractive design
• Great build quality
• No buttons on the unit itself

An understated cube-shaped light, the Jiawen Galaxy Projector Light isn’t going to look out of place on any bedside cabinet. It’s made up of a translucent acrylic cover that resembles frosted glass, attached to a light wooden base. It’s understated and fashionable, and it’s probably that aesthetic that appeals most to us, looking unlike any other galaxy projector on the market.

Its build quality is surprisingly good, too, particularly given its sub-$20 price point. The acrylic cover, which hides the bulb and projection unit, feels substantial and high quality, and the wooden base adds a touch of class. Size-wise, the Jiawen Galaxy Projector Light measures roughly 5.5-inches (14 centimeters) on each side, so it’s substantial enough to make a statement without requiring too much space.

You won’t find any buttons on the lamp itself: all functions are controlled via an included remote control. It keeps the lamp looking unstated and stylish, but not having a simple on/off switch can be frustrating, particularly if you end up misplacing the very small remote.

Jiawen Galaxy Projector Light review: Performance

• Bright light, useful for a bedside lamp
• Lots of color effects
• No laser stars

As we’ve already stated, the Jiawen Galaxy Projector Light isn’t a star projector. There’s no functionality here to display stars on your wall or ceiling, not even those annoying green laser stars that other cheap star projectors often have. It could be called a "galaxy projector" at a push, given its ever-so-slightly aurora-like projections. But really, unless you absolutely need a scientifically accurate projector, that doesn’t matter.

In fact, the lack of laser stars isn’t a bad thing at all, as they rarely look good. The projections themselves might not look much like the night sky — their ripples and waves more often resemble the movement of water — but they are relaxing and attractive, and a joy to look at.

What we particularly like is that the Jiawen Galaxy Projector Light can be used as a normal lamp. There are 16 RGB colours to choose from, but if you opt for white, it provides a pleasant natural light, which we’ve found bright enough to read under without straining our eyes. And of course, you get the added benefit of having pretty ripples of light cast across your ceiling.

It’s a rather wide-reaching projector, too. We’ve been testing it in an average-sized bedroom, big enough to house a double bed, bedside cabinets, wardrobes and a bookshelf. With the Jiawen Galaxy Projector Light tucked away in a corner, the projections cover most of the ceiling and walls.

Jiawen Galaxy Projector Light review: Functionality

• Requires a remote control
• Powered by USB
• No sleep timer or speaker

There are no advanced functions included with the Jiawen Galaxy Projector Light. There’s no Bluetooth speaker, and there’s no built-in sleep timer. The former isn’t too much of a problem: those built-in speakers are never the best quality anyway. But it would have been nice to set a timer and have the lamp power itself off after a set amount of time.

As we’ve already mentioned, every function of the light needs to be controlled via the remote control. From here, you can choose one of 16 colors or set a gentle cycle that automatically changes between each color. There’s also a Flash mode, which quickly switches between colors — perhaps ideal if you want to use it to mimic a disco light.

To use the Jiawen Galaxy Projector Light, you’ll need to connect it to a USB power source. It’s ideal if you already have USB power outlets in your home; if not, you might need to buy an adapter. The light ships with a USB-C to USB-A cable, but no plug is included — as is pretty standard practice.

Should you buy the Jiawen Galaxy Projector Light?

We love the Jiawen Galaxy Projector Light. We’ve been won over by its outstanding build quality, and the fact that it looks so stylish on our bedside cabinet. It’s also surprisingly cheap, costing around $20 (or sometimes less). But if you’re looking for something that offers scientifically accurate projectors, or you want laser stars, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

We’d recommend checking out one of Sega Toys’ projectors for realistic galaxy projections, such as the Homestar Flux. This offers up absolutely stunning starscapes of the Northern Hemisphere — although you can expect to pay significantly more.

For something a little more budget-friendly, take a look at the Orzorz Galaxy Lite.

Pets are a joy to be around, but it is hard to deny that they can have a profound impact on our respiratory health and the quality of the air we breathe at home. Cats, dogs and other furry creatures are a major source of hair, unpleasant odors and pet dander — microscopic skin flakes that cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

The good news is that investing in a good-quality air purifier can help solve at least some of those pesky issues. Some appliances are even designed specifically for pet owners — such as the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier, for example.

Most general-purpose air purifiers come with a single air inlet and one set of air filters. This appliance, on the other hand, features dual air inlets and two sets of H13 HEPA and activated carbon filters, as well as a large grille to improve airflow. This design tweak helps it capture more dust and pet hair and absorb more unpleasant odors.

Moreover, the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier comes with a washable pre-filter and a handy cleaning brush for a quick removal of excess hair. The best part? It typically costs just $89.99 — cheaper than most other pet-friendly appliances we have tested before.

The Oneisall Pet Air Purifier has the potential to land in our guide to the best air purifiers for pet owners, so we were more than excited to put it through its paces.

Oneisall Pet Air Purifier (PP02) review

Oneisall Pet Air Purifier (PP02): Design

• Two air inlets with cat-shaped cutouts
• Light, compact and portable
• Easy to use and clean

Looks-wise, the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier does not stray far from the boring industry standard — it is a white rectangular box with a control panel at the top of the unit. It will not win any style awards, but then it does not have to. This appliance was designed primarily to withstand the demands of pet owners, not to be pondered over in your artfully decorated living room. This is where its biggest strength is, even though it may not look like it at first glance. Let us explain.

The Oneisall Pet Air Purifier is a relatively small and light appliance — it measures only 15.47 inches (39 centimeters) in height and 12.2 inches (30 cm) in width, and weighs just 8.81 lbs (4 kg). It is easy to move around the house, but at the same time, its chunky design makes it surprisingly stable and difficult to knock over by accident. We reckon it can easily withstand contact with a curious cat or playful pup.

Moreover, the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier comes with two cat-shaped cut-outs in its air filter covers. This design solution, while not particularly visually appealing (though some may find it quite cute), makes it easy to monitor how much hair and dust have been collected on the air filters. Plus, these cut-outs are small enough to disincentivize any curious paws from investigating what's behind them and potentially ripping the pre-filter. That is a big plus point for any pet owner out there.

Lastly, the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier is relatively durable. This appliance may be made predominantly of plastic, but it feels thick and surprisingly scratch-resistant. We also found it very easy to clean and dust off.

If there is anything to complain about, then it’s the hinges that keep the air filter covers in place — they feel quite flimsy and delicate. Given that most pet owners will likely take the covers out regularly to clean the filters of hair and other airborne debris, they could be prone to wear-and-tear damage over time. However, it is not something that we would consider a deal-breaker in an air purifier at this budget-friendly price.

Speaking of filters, the replacements are relatively affordable, too. The two-pack costs approximately $32.99 — half what you would typically pay for similar replacements from Levoit and other leading air purifier brands.

Oneisall Pet Air Purifier (PP02): Features

• Auto mode and four manually adjusted fan speeds
• No smart features
• Control buttons can't be muted

The Oneisall Pet Air Purifier is a relatively simple appliance. It does not have a dedicated app, voice commands or any other smart features, and its air quality measurements are limited to 2.5-micron particles and TVOC (Total Volatile Organic Compounds, gaseous chemicals emitted by many common household products as well as certain natural sources such as animal waste). Notwithstanding, it does have all the essential features that make an air purifier a good fit for an animal-loving household.

Most importantly, the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier has an Auto mode, meaning it can automatically adjust its fan speed to match the levels of air pollution. You can switch it on and leave it to do its job while you go about your day. If you prefer to have more control over the purification settings, the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier also comes with four manually adjusted fan speeds. Moreover, it features a timer and a handy Pet Lock to help keep curious paws from messing with the appliance, as well as an option to dim the lights on the control panel for an undisturbed sleep.

Speaking of the control panel, it is well-marked and relatively easy to use. There is only one issue — the buttons can't be muted. Every time you want to change the settings on the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier, you will have to put up with some high-pitched beeping. If your pet is sensitive to such noise, this may not be the best option for you.

Oneisall Pet Air Purifier (PP02): Performance

• Catches lots of dust and hair
• Efficient odor removal
• Air quality sensors can be inaccurate

The Oneisall Pet Air Purifier truly impressed us with its day-to-day performance. We had tested plenty of carbon-filtered appliances before, but none seemed to have such powerful odor-busting properties as this one. Within minutes of switching it on, this air purifier made the air in our house smell notably cleaner and fresher. Admittedly, we do not own any pets and can't say how it would perform when challenged with pungent animal smells, but we are willing to bet it would do a good job of it.

We also liked how quiet this air purifier was. At the lowest fan speed, we could not hear a thing, and we even had to double-check several times that our Oneisall Pet Air Purifier was actually switched on. The highest fan speed is understandably noisier, but not to the point of creating a nuisance. When we measured its noise levels with the Sound Meter decibel-counting app, we did not get a reading higher than 55 decibels (dB). That is equivalent to refrigerator sounds or a quiet conversation.

Moreover, the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier appears exceptionally effective against dust and hair — much more so than you would expect from an appliance of this size. After three weeks of running this air purifier in our bedroom, we took its cover off to assess how much airborne junk it had managed to collect in that time. As you can see in the picture below, the pre-filter was covered top to bottom with debris.

In addition, the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier seemed to be very energy-efficient. According to the brand, this appliance uses about 1 kWh per week — to put that into perspective, most air purifiers of this size tend to use three to five times more — and that checked out with the amount of electricity it used during our testing period. While the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier is not Energy Star-certified, it is not likely to make a huge dent in your utility bills, either.

Let's move on to the specs now. According to the manufacturer, the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier is best suited for rooms measuring up to 294 square feet (27.3 square meters). While it can be technically used for larger spaces — it is often advertised as suitable for spaces up to 1,400 square feet (130 sq m) — it will take much longer to clean the air in these circumstances, therefore reducing its overall effectiveness.

That is because its Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) rating is 188 CFM, which means it does not purify more than 188 cubic feet of air per minute (more about CADR ratings can be found in our guide on how to choose an air purifier) For best results, we would recommend using the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier in medium-sized rooms. That said, we would not look at this spec as a disadvantage. The CADR rating for this appliance is still impressive, and if our at-home tests are anything to go by, also conducive to great air-cleaning performance in general.

To fully assess the capabilities of the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier, we conducted a series of performance tests using a Perfect Prime air particle monitor, a professional device capable of detecting airborne pollutants as small as 0.3 microns. First, we performed an ambient air quality test: We put this air purifier in an enclosed medium-sized room, measured baseline air quality and then ran it on auto mode for 30 minutes. It hoovered up 82.8% of 0.3-micron particles, 90% of particles measuring 2.5 microns and all pollutants larger than 10 microns. Those are some really good results for an air purifier at such an affordable price point.

Next, we challenged the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier to a series of smoke tests. We burned matches and incense sticks to create different types of heavy pollution, then measured the changes in air quality before and after running the air purifier for 30 minutes. We conducted several tests on the maximum fan speed and auto settings, and on average, the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier achieved an 87% reduction in 0.3-micron particles, a 99% reduction in 2.5-micron particles, and a 99.9% decrease in particles measuring 10 microns or more (it is worth noting here that most pet dander particles measure between 2.5 and 10 microns). Again, these results are truly impressive given how affordable it is.

There is only one major downside to the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier — its air quality sensors. These can be slow to react at times, and they do not tend to show accurate levels of air pollution (at least when compared to our Perfect Prime air particle monitor). This did not seem to have a major impact on the overall performance of the air purifier, but if you are keen to keep an eye on air pollution, you may be better off with a different appliance.

Oneisall Pet Air Purifier (PP02): User reviews

At the time of writing this review, the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier was rated a full five stars at the Oneisall U.S. website. Amazon's customer reviews, on the other hand, gave it a slightly lower rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. This air purifier received a lot of positive feedback for its air-cleaning performance, functional design and ease of use. A significant number of testers also praised its ability to reduce unpleasant smells and ease their allergy symptoms.

One user commented, "This air purifier was literally a godsend. For context, my cat ate a string, so he got a few enemas and lots of laxatives. I bought the purifier a few days before this happened, so to my amazement, it came right after the incident. By the incident, I mean, there was poop EVERYWHERE. On EVERY surface. After scrubbing everything twice, my room still smelled strongly of poop. I ended up receiving the air purifier later that day and it did its job. A few hours later, my room smelled clean."

Negative remarks, though few and far between, tended to revolve around its inaccurate air quality sensors and hard-to-press control buttons. A couple of reviewers also criticised the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier for being too loud on the highest fan speed setting.

One user said, "I wanted to use it for fur specifically, but the highest fan speed (which is made to trap hair) is quite loud. The lowest fan speed is really quiet and not even noticeable, but once you get to stage three and four, it is a loud white background noise. Furthermore, I am not sure how good the air sensor is. It shows a 5, no matter how much my cat blows up his litter box — which is right next to it."

Should you buy the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier?

The Oneisall Pet Air Purifier is a great no-frills appliance for animal lovers. It may not have dedicated apps, in-depth air quality monitoring or stylish looks, but it does a great job of reducing dust, hair and unpleasant odors, all without making excessive noise or draining your wallet.

✅ Buy it if: You are a cat or dog owner looking for an affordable air purifier for small to medium spaces.

❌ Do not buy it if: You want a smart-enabled air purifier, or need something bigger and more powerful.

If the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier is not for you

Looking for something similar in price, size and functionality? Then you can't go wrong with the Morento MR5866. Just like the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier, it comes with two air inlets, a compact design and coverage of up to 1,290 square feet (120 square meters). On top of that, it features a dedicated app and can be connected to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant — and it costs less than $100.

If you are looking for something bigger, consider the Levoit Vital 200S. We are big fans of this appliance — it is exceptionally quiet, smart-enabled and powerful enough to cover spaces of up to 1,900 square feet, plus it comes with a host of pet-friendly features. That said, it also costs twice as much as the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier.

Want something more cat-friendly? How about a table/purifier combo? The SwitchBot Air Purifier Table cleans the air of airborne pollutants while providing a convenient vantage point for your furry friend. That's not all — it also comes with an essential oil diffuser, mood lights and a built-in wireless phone charger. Great value for less than $200.

Oneisall Pet Air Purifier (PP02): How we tested

We spent three weeks testing the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier. We looked into its design, day-to-day performance, ease of use and value for money, paying particular attention to how it handled hair, dust and lingering odors. We also checked the cost and availability of its replacement filters and measured how loud it was using a Sound Meter decibel-counting app.

Next, we performed a series of air quality tests using a Perfect Prime air particle monitor, an industry-grade device capable of detecting airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. We started with an ambient air quality test: we placed the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier in an enclosed, aired-out bedroom and ran it on auto mode for 30 minutes, taking air quality measurements every 15 minutes.

Then, we conducted several smoke tests. We burned a handful of matches and incense sticks to expose this air purifier to different types of heavy pollution, then measured the changes in air quality before and after running it for 30 minutes — first on auto mode, then at the highest fan speed setting.

It’s not always easy to tell what Garmin’s series names are about. What separates a Fenix from a Forerunner, from an Epix? But with the Garmin Enduro 3, you may be able to guess! The Enduro family is all about class-leading stamina. And as a high-end range, you also get most of the key features of a watch like the Fenix 8.

Friendly smartwatch fluff is what the Enduro 3 lacks. There’s no mic and speaker combo, no OLED screen option. However, this might just be the best buy of all Garmin’s watches for the veteran Garmin fan. It’s a chunk cheaper than either the last Enduro or the new Fenix 8, with only fairly minor concessions involved.

Garmin Enduro 3 smartwatch review

Garmin Enduro 3: Price and availability

The Garmin Enduro 3 launched alongside the Fenix 8 in August 2024. In an unusual move for a Garmin watch, the Enduro 3 actually costs less than its predecessor. But it’s still not exactly cheap.

A Garmin Enduro 3 costs $899/£769 — down from $1,099/£929 in the previous generation. This makes it slightly more affordable than the Fenix 8, the 51mm version of which costs £1,039.

Garmin Enduro 3: Design and screen

• Surprisingly light and comfortable to wear
• Lackluster transflective screen
• No option for an AMOLED screen

The Garmin Enduro 3 is a big watch. It has a 51mm face and is a wrist-dominator. This will, and should, put off some potential buyers. It’s big because it needs a big battery, and there is no smaller option here.

For such a giant watch, though, the Enduro 3 will seem surprisingly light. It weighs 2 ounces (57 grams) case-only, which is also lighter than the Enduro 2 (2.25 oz/ 64 g).

Is it a watch to wear to bed? Probably not, but it avoids the sense the Enduro 3 is trying to escape from your wrist during runs, which can happen with heavier watches.

This low weight is no mystery. The Enduro 3 casing is largely made from Garmin’s ultra-hard plastic resin, with a titanium bezel on top. There are no stainless steel plates to dramatically bump up the weight. We also lose the titanium back panel of the Enduro 2, which may be a cost-saving measure. But it makes no real difference when this part sits on your wrist all day anyway.

In the flesh, the Enduro 3 doesn’t seem like a huge stylistic or build downgrade from a Fenix 8. There’s no option of an AMOLED screen here, though. The Garmin Enduro 3 is a classic transflective screen watch. This means it requires ambient light to be seen, or the basic front light, like an old digital watch.

These displays barely use any power, feeding into the Enduro 3’s “long-lasting” angle. But they don’t look as sharp, as colorful or anywhere near as bright as a rival AMOLED.

Unlike an AMOLED watch, though, the Enduro 3 displays its clock face all day as standard. If you value smartwatch sheen over a purely practical approach, you probably don’t want this watch.

The screen hides a special skill, though: an invisible solar-charging panel. In earlier generations, Garmin’s solar panels had a slight grey-red appearance, but there’s zero sign of it here — it’s hidden in the black screen surround.

It’s also reportedly far more effective, and doesn’t affect the reflectivity of the screen like some older iterations. We can’t give a full account of how well the solar charging works as the Enduro 3 was reviewed mostly in a not-all-that-sunny London. But we can confirm it’s fun to check out how many “K Lux” the watch recorded on those sunny days — you can see a graph throughout the day on the watch itself.

Garmin Enduro 3: Battery life

• Approximately a month of battery life in smartwatch mode
• Approximately 60 hours of battery life in the multi-band GPS mode
• Up to 90 days of battery life in solar-charging mode

Now seems a good time to talk about how long the Enduro 3 really lasts. In a word: ages.

The figure quoted by Garmin is 36 days of general use, which can be upped to 90 days with sufficient sunlight exposure. In 16 days, the watch lost 61% of its battery, suggesting a total usage time of around 26 days based on our experiences.

Sure, that’s not quite Garmin’s figure. But then reviewing a watch generally involves fiddling about with it more than you might ordinarily. It’s this, where you actually ask the Enduro 3 to do some work, that will make an Enduro 3 fall away from its maximum potential stamina a bit.

Battery loss from GPS-tracked runs is quite significant, too. I saw a 4% loss from an hour of running, which is more than you might expect going by Garmin’s own numbers, which suggest 60 hours of use even when using the most demanding Multi-Band mode.

This wasn’t a one-off either. One of my last long runs was a three-hour effort, or 3.5 hours including time spent doing some shopping mid-way through. That saw the battery drop from 27% to 13% — again, at least a 4% per hour loss of charge. Those training for an ultramarathon should take note to avoid disappointment.

But almost a full month of use between charges? It’s still strong. And this is still a top pick for the ultramarathon crowd.

Like other Garmins, the Enduro 3 uses a four-pin physical socket to charge. Nothing new there.

Garmin Enduro 3: Features

• Comprehensive tracking features
• 10ATM water resistance

One of the key questions for prospective Enduro 3 owners is what this watch lacks that the non-OLED screen Fenix 8 has?

The answer amounts to a handful of “cherries on top.” The Enduro 3 has 10ATM water resistance but is not dive-ready like the Fenix. You shouldn’t submit it to more than ordinary swimming.

There’s no speaker or microphone, meaning it can’t play music without being connected to wireless headphones and it can’t interact with a digital assistant. That’s largely useful for setting kitchen timers, though, so it's not the greatest loss.

The Enduro 3’s actual fitness feature chops are, like other top-end Garmins, impeccable and encyclopedic. And the attention to detail in the various activity modes is an order of magnitude greater than that of cheap fitness watches that boast of their 100+ modes.

For example, the Climbing mode lets you set the grading system and difficulty for each session. And, of course, it has an altimeter for judging altitude and, in lighter style, how many flights of stairs you climb each day.

At the hardcore end, you can download countries’ worth of map data (for free) and use the Garmin Connect app to calculate a decent run route of whatever distance you like. And on the lighter side, the Enduro 3 has loads of workouts built in, including little animations to remind you of the moves.

This is a hardcore exercise watch, but it’s not just about the hardcore stuff. You can use it like a personal trainer, too. As well as offering daily suggested workouts for running and cycling, you can let Garmin make a dedicated training plan, including one based on an event like a marathon, on a specific date. It will also fiddle with the plan based on how well-rested the Enduro 3 thinks you are.

All of this is included with a top-tier Garmin watch. Sure, it doesn’t come with hundreds of presenter-led workouts, but it is still extremely valuable.

The Garmin Enduro 3 is a solid watch for general wellness, too. Its sleep tracking is solid, and measures heart rate variability as well as classic sleep stages (light, REM, deep, awake). You get to see this data each morning as part of your Morning Report — a multi-page pop-up of vitals. And if you want to lean on your Enduro 3 even more, the Sleep Coach in the Garmin Connect app suggests how much sleep it thinks you need each night.

Garmin has been quite late to a health feature seen in other watch series, like the Samsung Galaxy Watch, though — ECG. The Enduro 3 does support the ECG app, but it’s only available in the U.S. and a handful of other countries, thanks to the way these features need to be assessed by the relevant health authority. Those in the UK and Europe are out of luck, for now.

Garmin Enduro 3: Performance

• Accurate heart rate measurements
• Reliable GPS tracking

The Garmin Enduro 3 shares its core fitness-tracking tech with the other flagship Garmin models, including the Fenix 8.

This means an Elevate 5 heart rate array and a Multi-Band GPS. The Elevate 5 was introduced in the Fenix 7 Pro generation, and has four additional green LEDs that fire up during tracked exercise to improve accuracy.

The only significant issues I had were when wearing, for the first time of the season, a long-sleeved base layer that kept trying to work its way under the watch body. It's otherwise reliable enough for stat fiends to be able to seriously consider retiring their chest strap HR monitors.

As in the Fenix 8, it was a little less hot at the only moderate, but frequent, spikes of gym workouts, but heart rate data is arguably less interesting in that context anyway.

GPS reliability is great, and as ever, the Garmin Enduro 3 has an auto mode that switches up to the most effective (but most battery-sapping) Multi-Band mode automatically when needed. This can really help out when in tricky environments like skyscraper-packed cities, under dense, soaked tree canopies, or steep valleys.

As with the Fenix 8, I found triangulating GPS takes longer than some watches of the previous generation. This does seem to have calmed down a bit with software updates, though, and at last check took just over 10 seconds to do the job. It could be faster, but it is not a deal-breaker.

Should you buy the Garmin Enduro 3 smartwatch?

The Garmin Enduro 3 is one of the ultimate low-maintenance fitness watches. You can use it for around a month before needing a charge, and possibly a while longer if you live somewhere nice and sunny.

Like other high-end Garmin watches, the Enduro 3 is positively feature-packed. And unlike most, the Enduro series actually became cheaper this year.

Watches with transflective MIP screens like this one are getting less appealing to many, though, as rivals like the Forerunner 965 and Fenix 8 prove you don’t necessarily lose that much by opting for the glossier style. But some will prefer the low-key screen of the Enduro 3, especially given its battery life benefits — at least when not actively tracking outdoor exercise.

✅ Buy it if: You need a sports watch with ultra-long battery life and excellent tracking accuracy.

❌ Don't buy it if: You want something glossier or more budget-friendly.

Garmin Enduro 3: Related products

If you like the basic Enduro 3 premise but want to spend less, consider the Garmin Forerunner 955. It has shorter battery life and no solar charging, but similar features, including downloadable maps.

Or you can strip back some of the higher-end stuff and get up to “unlimited” battery life with the Garmin Instinct 2X Solar.

Alternatively, take a look at the Coros range. Its top-end Vertix 2S watch offers stellar battery life of up to 38 days. It’s significantly cheaper, too, although we find Garmin’s latest designs tend to provide better stat accuracy than Coros’s best.

Garmin Enduro 3: How we tested

The Garmin Enduro 3 was worn for several months, almost constantly for much of that time. It was mostly used as our primary watch and employed extensively for fitness tracking.

This mostly consisted of running, hiking, indoor cycling and gym workouts. We used the suggested workouts on and off, and also used the Enduro 3 for sleep tracking, if not every single day (as mentioned earlier, many folks will find it a little bulky for 24/7 wear).

The Hawke Frontier ED X 8x42 are aimed at those who actually spend time using binoculars, not just comparing the specs on paper. This model sits in the midrange of the market, promising sharp, color-accurate views and solid build quality at a very reasonable price. With ED glass, an 8x42 format that suits long sessions out in a nature reserve or bird hide and a magnesium body designed to handle a few bumps, they look like a fantastic recipe for birding and general wildlife observation.

We put them through their paces in typical field conditions: tracking birds, scanning landscapes and testing low-light performance. They are consistently voted one of the best birding binoculars under $500/£500, so let’s break down their performance to see if we agree.

Hawke Frontier ED X 8x42: Design

• Premium build on all components and accessories
• Comfortable neck strap and clever carry bag
• Solid in the hand and pleasant to use for long periods

The Hawke Frontier ED X 8x42 has a solid and premium feel all over. The magnesium alloy chassis offers rugged and durable handling that, although we wouldn’t want to drop them, makes us feel like they could definitely withstand a knock or two. The textured rubber grip gave us a secure hold on them, and the stylish design accents and silver accents on the body are a nice touch.

The replaceable twist-up eyecups offer three viewing positions, and the interpupillary distance of 56-74mm suits a range of face sizes and eye placements. The focus wheel and diopter are reassuringly sticky, although our reviewer tended to favor the slightly looser focus wheel on the Olympus 10x42 Pro pair we were testing alongside them. They also feature a tripod filter thread to allow for sturdier observations, like nighttime astronomy or if you’re focusing in on a bird nest or feeding station for a long period of time.

Weighing 25.6 oz (725 grams), they’re lightweight but feel solid in the hand, and we found them comfortable to use for long birdwatching sessions. The included neckstrap is wide and padded, and probably one of the most comfortable we’ve ever used. It also includes a cleverly designed carry case, which looks and feels somewhere between a bag and a box or hard case with a zip and magnetic closure. There are mesh panels on the inside to keep the binoculars from falling out, which means you don’t have to zip the bag up; you can just undo the magnetic closure and access the binoculars quickly and easily when out in the field. There is a pocket on the back, but it’s so tight you can’t actually get anything in it — it would’ve been the perfect place to slip a smartphone into.

Hawke Frontier ED X 8x42: Performance

• Barely any chromatic aberration thanks to ED glass
• Excellent for tracking birds with a wide field of view
• Sharp, colorful views — slight softness at the edges

Looking through the Hawke Frontier ED X 8x42s feels like you’re practically sitting in the trees with the birds. The immersive view is crystal clear, with incredibly sharp views in the center, and we were impressed with the color reproduction and contrast. The ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) glass eliminates pretty much all chromatic aberration, although we were still able to spot a tiny sliver around highly contrasted subjects — but it won’t be noticeable unless you’re specifically looking for it (like we were).

We noticed some veiling glare at the bottom of the image circle due to the reflection of the sky, but this went away when we moved the binoculars up or down and the scene was evenly lit. The image is a little soft at the edges of the frame, but as we tend to center our subjects when observing wildlife, this was never too much of an issue.

While 42mm isn’t the largest objective lens diameter for stargazing, we were still able to see a lot of stars. We could identify the Andromeda Galaxy and the Orion Nebula, but we couldn’t see any of Jupiter’s Galilean moons — you’d need higher magnification for that. Although the Hawke Endurance ED 10x50 we were testing alongside this pair was noticeably better for low-light observations, the Frontier ED X 8x42 would still be good for sweeping across the sky in your backyard or on a camping trip.

Hawke Frontier ED X 8x42: Functionality

• Dielectric prism coatings for enhanced light transmission
• 6.6-feet (2 meter) close focusing distance
• Waterproof IPX7 and fogproof

The 8x magnification is often referred to as the sweet spot for birdwatching, being powerful enough to give a good view without becoming too shaky. The wide 426-feet (130 m) field of view gave us plenty of space to follow birds through the sky, which we found much easier to do than with a 10x pair we were also testing. We spotted a ton of birds from our front doorstep, including goldfinches, red kites, different types of tit and even a bullfinch.

Outdoor binoculars need to handle the elements, and the Frontier ED X 8x42 are nitrogen-purged to prevent fogging when moving between warm and cold temperatures, and the multi-coated lenses have a hydrophobic coating to repel water — plus, they’re waterproof to an IPX7 level.

The BaK-4 prisms have dielectric coating for enhanced light transmission, which works in tandem with the 42mm objective lenses to produce clear, bright views. The 18mm eye relief is generous, and we had no problems getting a perfect view when we used them either with or without glasses.

With a 6.6-feet (2 m) close focusing distance, they’re also great for getting a closer look at large insects and flowers. That’s not quite close enough for the ED X 8x42 to be suitable for true macro viewing or bugwatching — but then, they don’t claim to be.

Should you buy the Hawke Frontier ED X 8x42?

Based on their build quality, comfortable handling, excellent optical quality and being tailor-made for outdoor use, it’s hard not to recommend these binoculars — particularly for the price. They’re an ideal birding companion that’s built to last, and their specs are versatile enough to lend themselves to other activities like casual stargazing.

They fit the bill very nicely if a good quality birding binocular is what you’re looking for, but they’ll miss the mark if you’re looking for a small, pocketable compact binocular or a large pair of astronomy binoculars.

If the Hawke Frontier ED X 8x42 isn't for you

Renpho is widely known for its affordable massage guns, body measuring tapes and smart scales, many of which have landed in our round-ups of the best health and fitness products we have tested. This company has been a global powerhouse in the wellness industry for nearly a decade now, and has amassed legions of loyal fans worldwide. And now

Renpho has ventured into the highly competitive world of fitness trackers with the release of its first-ever smart ring — the Renpho Lynx.

At a glance, this tiny wearable has plenty to offer. The Renpho Lynx is available in two color options and eight different sizes, and unlike most (if not all) smart rings out there, it comes with a portable charger case and up to 12 days of battery life. It tracks heart rate, sleep, stress and many more fitness stats as well as 30 different activities, such as swimming, weightlifting and basketball.

All that, and it is reasonably priced for a smart ring ($229) and does not require a subscription. On paper, the Renpho Lynx looks like it could make its way into our guide to the best smart rings — but can it live up to our expectations and deliver on performance? We were keen to find out.

Renpho Lynx smart ring review

Renpho Lynx: Design

• Light, but clunky and uncomfortable to wear
• Utilitarian looks may not appeal to everyone
• Durable and difficult to scratch

The Renpho Lynx comes in two color options, black carbon and silver titanium, and is available in eight sizes (6 - 13). If you are unsure about the correct fit, you can request a sizing kit before purchase — this costs around $2 to $4 (depending on the retailer), which can then be later deducted from the price of the ring. The range of customization here may not sweep you off your feet, but there are enough options to suit a relatively wide range of potential users.

Our testing unit came in silver titanium, size 12. We have mixed feelings about its design, to say the least.

On the plus side, the Renpho Lynx feels very light yet surprisingly durable. We tested it for about three weeks, exposing it to harsh winter conditions and a range of different workouts, and it has not sustained a single scratch. That's impressive, given that most smart rings we tested showed signs of wear-and-tear in the first few weeks of testing. The Renpho Lynx is very practical in its design, making it a good pick for those who do contact sports or a lot of manual handling throughout the day.

That's where the good things end, though.

Most importantly, we did not warm to the rather “masculine” and utilitarian looks of our Renpho Lynx. When it comes to smart rings, style and appearance do matter a lot — they are still a piece of jewellery at the end of the day. Many people wear them when they need something sleeker and more elegant than a chunky fitness watch, and often to complement work attire or formal clothing. The Renpho Lynx, however, looks unappealingly basic and, dare we say, cheap.

We did not find it particularly comfortable to wear, either. Though light, this smart ring felt clunky and unpleasantly uneven on the inside. Even after three weeks of wearing it, we still can't get used to its presence on our finger. The Renpho Lynx is also relatively thick — it measures around 3.04 mm in width. To put that into perspective, the Oura Ring Gen 4 is approximately 2.88 mm wide, while the width of the Ultrahuman Ring AIR can measure as little as 2.45 mm.

Renpho Lynx: Features

• The app is basic, but it does not require a subscription
• Tracks heart rate, sleep, stress, steps, calories and more
• Comes with a portable charger case

The Renpho Lynx has no display, so as is the case with all screenless wearables, it can only work when it is connected to the app first. Unlike many others, however, it does not require a subscription to do so.

The Renpho Health app is entirely free of charge and is available to both iOS and Android users. This is where you can access all of the stats collected by the smart ring, such as your step count, calories burned, sleep length and quality, heart rate and HRV (heart rate variability), stress levels, SpO2 (blood oxygen) and menstrual cycle predictions.

Each morning, the Renpho Lynx will then use these data points to calculate your Health Index — a daily assessment of your health and fitness status, measured in percentage points. While this sort of a green light/red light system may not be overly scientific, it is simple and easy to understand — not to mention helpful for fitness beginners who may not yet have a good understanding when to push on with intense exercise and when to take a much-needed rest.

That said, we are not big fans of the Renpho Health app. Yes, it feels "clean" and easy to navigate, but it lacks nuance or any genuinely useful lifestyle guidance. We were particularly dismayed by the daily tip section that accompanies your Health Index — it is usually short, overly general and devoid of any practical application ("Good effort! Try to find things that make you feel good"). As such, the Renpho Lynx may not be a good option for fitness beginners or those who require a deep understanding of their health indicators and post-exercise recovery.

It is not all doom and gloom with the Renpho Lynx, though. One feature that scored highly in our books is its portable charger case, which turned out to be an absolute lifesaver for storing and charging the ring on the go. It is compact and portable, but not so small that it’s likely to get lost in the backpack somewhere or fall out of your pocket by accident. We would love to see more smart ring brands follow suit in that regard.

Renpho Lynx: Performance

• 7 to 12 days of battery life
• Inconsistent tracking accuracy
• No major app connectivity issues

According to Renpho, the Lynx comes with approximately 7 to 12 days of battery life, and the charging case can add another seven days on top of that. That claim rings largely true. Our testing unit would last approximately eight to nine days on a single charge, with at least three hour-long training sessions recorded per week. Since real-time workout tracking can be very energy-intensive, it is fair to assume that the Renpho Lynx would probably last much longer without it.

That said, there is no option to add workout logs retrospectively, as is the case with most other smart ring models. The Renpho Lynx also does not have an automatic workout detection. This is a big oversight — the elevated heart rate from exercise can then be easily misconstrued as a sign of stress, and disrupt your overall readings in the process.

Next, the tracking accuracy. This is where the Renpho Lynx suffered a particularly bad blow in our tests. However, this needs to be viewed in the context of how we measured it. Smart rings, the Renpho Lynx included, usually do not produce continuous heart rate measurements in the way fitness watches do. Therefore, it is not fair to validate them using our "go-to" method for testing wrist-worn wearables, which is to wear them alongside a highly precise chest-strap heart rate monitor and then compare the two sets of data.

Instead, we resorted to comparing our Renpho Lynx to the medically-graded Whoop MG band and the premium Oura Ring Gen 4 smart ring. Both of these two screenless fitness trackers have shown us a good degree of accuracy in the past, but again, we can't vouch for them being correct 100% of the time.

Even so, the discrepancies were just too big to brush off. The Renpho Lynx did produce relatively accurate heart rate measurements during periods of rest or low-intensity, steady-state cardio exercise, true, but anything else would easily throw them off the mark. With High Intensity Interval Training, the heart rate measurements were downright unreliable.

The sleep quality assessments did not impress with their accuracy, either. The Renpho Lynx was generally good at picking up when we fell asleep, but it seemed to have a hard time detecting when we woke up. One time, we were lying awake and motionless in the morning, and that was somehow enough to trick our smart ring into thinking that we were asleep. Not just that, but we were also supposedly in the deep sleep stage. This is not the norm, either — both the Oura Ring Gen 4 and Whoop MG marked that period as us being awake.

Lastly, the Renpho Lynx seemed to have a slight tendency to overestimate our step count and calories burned. In all fairness, though, that seems to be the case with most smart rings.

The app connectivity, on the other hand, works exceptionally well. We have tested enough smart rings to know that they can be very temperamental in that regard, either by disconnecting from the app or struggling to sync the data for no apparent reason. This smart ring, however, did not cause us a single connectivity issue.

True, it took us a good few seconds each morning to establish the app connection, but again, that's something to be expected from a device this small.

Renpho Lynx: User reviews

At the time of writing this review, both Renpho's and Amazon's customer reviews placed the Renpho Lynx at a 4.4 out of 5 stars rating. This smart ring tended to be praised for its long battery life, subscription-free app and integration with other Renpho products. Tracking accuracy and size options, on the other hand, received rather mixed feedback, while some users also reported that the battery life is shorter than advertised.

One happy user commented: "I have tried several smart rings, [...] but this one from Renpho is the best! I paid about $187, there is no monthly subscription fee, it is very accurate and it connects to the app on my phone with NO ISSUES. I didn't order the ring sizer. I just ordered the same size as all of the other rings I previously purchased and it was a perfect fit. The absolutely best thing about it is that the battery life lasts 9 - 10 days between recharging."

Negative reviews tended to mention poor sleep quality assessments and low heart rate tracking accuracy during intense workouts, as well as temperamental app connectivity and issues with Renpho's customer service.

One disappointed user said: "While it's comfortable and I love the battery life, it's useless for tracking activity. It consistently gives me anywhere from about 35% to 50% too many steps. [...] Then, the battery seems to be very touch and go, sometimes a day will run you 7-8% and some other days it will run 15% no idea why. If the battery is below 30% exercise mode cannot be run at all. I understand it is a measure to protect the battery/device, but it really makes no sense to me to limit functionality at such a high threshold."

Should you buy the Renpho Lynx smart ring?

The Renpho Lynx does not live up to its promise. It has some strong points, such as its relatively long battery life, durable and lightweight build, and a subscription-free app. However, it comes with too many performance hiccups and design shortcomings to fully justify its price — unless you really need something tough and long-lasting. But if you prioritize tracking accuracy and in-depth personalized health insights, the Renpho Lynx may not be the best option.

✅ Buy it if: You want a utilitarian, durable smart ring that provides basic fitness stats.

❌ Do not buy it if: You are a fitness beginner looking for your first smart ring, or a serious exerciser looking for complex deep dives into their sleep patterns and post-exercise recovery.

If the Renpho Lynx smart ring is not for you

The Amazfit Helio is an excellent alternative to the Renpho Lynx. It offers similar build quality and a comparable set of tracking features, but it comes with more personalized health insights and notably better tracking accuracy. Not to mention, it costs just $199 and is frequently on sale for as little as $109. However, it also comes with far fewer size and color options.

If you have access, consider the Ultrahuman Ring AIR. While it is currently banned from being sold or imported into the United States due to a patent infringement ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission (in favor of rival Oura), this neat smart ring is still available in the U.K., E.U. and Australia, second-hand or from third-party sellers. It is subscription-free, stylish, ultra-comfortable to wear and jam-packed with useful features.

Looking for something more premium (and do not mind spending over $349)? Then you can't go wrong with the Oura Ring Gen 4. It has been our "go-to" smart ring for the past year or so, and for a good reason. It is exceptionally accurate and well-designed, and it continually impresses us with its durable build and genuinely useful assessments of sleep and post-exercise recovery. The biggest downfall? The Oura Ring Gen 4 requires a monthly subscription.

Renpho Lynx: How we tested

We spent two weeks testing the Renpho Lynx, assessing its design, battery life, features, ease of use, app connectivity and value for money. We wore this smart ring during the day, while sleeping and when hiking, rowing indoors or performing low-intensity strength workouts. We also checked online user reviews for any mentions of potential performance issues.

Finally, we assessed the tracking accuracy of our Renpho Lynx by comparing its steps, sleep and heart rate measurements with the data we obtained using two relatively precise screenless fitness trackers: the Whoop MG band and the Oura Ring Gen 4 smart ring.

There are two things we recommend looking for when eyeing up your next pair of the best binoculars for stargazing: large magnification to bring the cosmos closer and wide objective lenses to drink all that distant starlight in. Can things get better for astronomy binoculars? Yes, they can; the Canon 18x50 IS UD proves that adding image stabilization to the two aforementioned prerequisites takes things to a whole new level.

Part of the trouble with high magnification (12x and up) binoculars is that it’s hard to keep them steady when handholding. Most of the time, you have to fix them to a tripod through an adapter in order to keep them steady enough to observe your favorite constellations or favorite wildlife subjects. But, with the inclusion of image stabilization in the 18x50 IS UD’s, that requirement (though still possible with the 1/4-inch tripod thread) is now more of an option, rather than a necessity, as it balances unsteady views from hand and body movements. We think these binoculars are fantastic and may be considered as one of the best binoculars. If you’re happy to put up with the size and weight, those who love stargazing and wildlife spotting should seriously consider these as your next buy.

Canon 18x50 IS UD binocular: Design

• Great enhanced optics
• Not strictly all-weather as they're not fully waterproof or fogproof
• Good grip even in light showers

A porro prism design makes these binoculars larger and wider than a comparable pair of roof prism design, but that also means they benefit from the improved optical characteristics inherent from this style of binoculars.

Advertised (and slapped on the side of the binoculars in giant red letters) as all-weather and marketed as “comfortable view in harsh conditions or marine environments", potential buyers should know going in that they are not fully waterproof and, from the literature we could find, are not fogproof, either. They are, however, water-resistant (JIS-4, a Japanese rating system for waterproofness, which means they can be splashed from any direction) and there are optional anti-fog eyepieces (AE-B1) to prevent fogging externally.

The eyepieces can be adjusted to provide up to 15mm of eye relief, which is perfect for those who wear eyeglasses or even when wearing sunglasses, if out in sunny conditions. Overall, the binoculars are enveloped in a rubberized armor that protects them from knocks and bumps. We found it easy to grip them even during occasional rain showers, especially with the additional indented texture on the hand placement areas of the binoculars.

Canon 18x50 IS UD binocular: Performance

• Ultra-low Dispersion lens element with Super Spectra coating gives vivid views
• Image stabilization helps when viewing stars and reduces need for a tripod
• Field of view allowed us to feel like we were in the binos looking out

Having big pieces of glass in these mammoth binoculars, one would expect some kind of corrective lenses to help provide clear, sharp views that are color fringe-free and that’s exactly what Canon has done with the inclusion of an Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) lens element. Combine that with its proprietary Super Spectra lens coating and we could see realistic, vivid colors bringing birds, mammals and even stars and planets to life.

Image stabilization is really what makes these big binoculars sing. Even during normal, daytime use, engaging image stabilization (IS) was useful for almost every single observation. Without them, they were usable, too, so if you find yourself having used up the two AA batteries that power this feature (like I did) you need not worry. But with 18x magnification, it does make it hard to keep the stars steady at night without the use of a tripod.

Field of view (60.3-degrees, apparent) was plentiful and it almost felt like stepping inside the binoculars and looking out, instead of the occluded feeling binos sometimes give us when observing. They felt ‘just right’ and did not seem to drop any brightness thanks to superior light transmission, owed in-part to the Super Spectra coating.

Canon 18x50 IS UD binocular: Functionality

• Rubber eyepieces are comfortable and block sufficient light at night for stargazing
• Image stabilization is easy to engage with a single button press
• No locking diopter ring

We've never been a huge fan of the flip-up and flip-down covers on binocular eyepieces because it restricts the amount of adjustable options for eyeglasses wearers, so we won’t hold that against Canon for featuring them in these ‘all-weather’ binoculars. However, the rubber eyepiece covers on these binoculars are comfortable because they are soft on the skin. They also do a good job of shielding the eyes from distracting glare from sunlight and light pollution, especially when stargazing near urban areas.

Operating the image stabilization (IS) is nice and simple; a single button press engages the IS and this is denoting with the illumination of the green LED lamp on the top of the binoculars, right next to the button. That lamp is a real battery-saver when you’re in a wildlife hide or at night when flitting between binos and telescopes.

The diopter adjustment on the right eyepiece is easy to use and provides a good amount of friction without being too stiff. A simple twisting motion of the rubberized eyepiece brings sharpness into view without a problem. However, if the binoculars had a locking diopter, then it would be the ultimate in feature-rich astronomy binoculars (in lieu of some kind of ‘smart’ Augmented Reality inclusion).

The neck strap is padded and felt comfortable around our neck for extended periods, plus it attaches to points underneath the eyepieces, similarly found on other image-stabilized Canon binoculars. This meant that, even though the porro prism design kept the overall shape of the binoculars quite wide and bulky, they sat nicely and flat on our chest when using the neck strap, making it all look quite neat and tucked away.

User reviews

Online the Canon 18x50 IS UD all-weather binoculars are regarded as a good pair of image stabilized binoculars with star ratings sitting from 4.2 out of 5 to 4.5 out of 5. They are largely praised for their optical quality and clarity and are an excellent choice when weight is not an issue. But users also acknowledge that they are not the ideal option if you are looking for a smaller, more portable pair.

How we tested the Canon 18x50 IS UD all-weather binoculars

Over a series of weeks, we used the binoculars to observe wildlife both from the land and the sea on small ferries and also larger ships. On land, the image stabilization helped to spot detail on birds that were further away and also spy small animals much further afield that would otherwise be lost to hand shake with traditional binoculars.

Stargazing took place under predominantly urban skies with Bortle Class 3-6. The weather was mixed and some nights had good seeing with night sky objects like M42, the Orion nebula, visible with averted vision even from the rim of a large town with lots of on-street lighting. They got a list misting of rain at times, but were never taken out during heavy rainfall because they are not waterproof.

Should I buy the Canon 18x50 IS UD binoculars?

If you are into wildlife observing or stargazing these are fantastic binoculars with strong magnification and bright, sharp views. They are ideal for those who have the budget and want to get some serious detail in their constellations and wildlife. We could see the fainter nebulas (M42) and galaxies (M31) even in urban areas with ease and without a tripod. When birdspotting, we could see details in and around the eyes and wing feathers that we hadn’t seen before, especially on waterfowl that we spotted whilst in a wildlife hide.

If this product isn't for you

These binoculars are good quality but come at a premium price which some beginners, and those only interested in occasional observing, might not want to budget for. They are also large and bulky so those who want to travel unencumbered might prefer a smaller, lighter pair. In which case, we would recommend either sticking with Canon and opting for the Canon 10x20 IS which are Canon’s second-lightest image stabilized binoculars. They still produce decent wide-field views for stargazers, and are more affordable. Or, the Nikon 12x25 S image stabilized binoculars which are about $30-40 more, depending on the retailer, but give sharp views with outstandingly stable performance and are even smaller and lighter again.

When you hear the name "Sega," you probably think of Sonic The Hedgehog. But it turns out the Japanese entertainment company does a lot more than create video games: it’s also one of the leading manufacturers of realistic star projectors.

The Sega Toys Homestar Classic is one of three in Sega Toys’ lineup, sitting alongside the Homestar Flux and the Homestar Matataki. All three models are similar, but this is the least expensive of the trio. The Flux offers a more powerful projector, and the Matataki has a built-in speaker. The Homestar Classic is a little more barebones, but it’s still one of the most powerful projectors on the market, particularly if you’re looking for a realistic projection of the night sky.

This is a quality product, delivered in attractive packaging that feels every bit as premium as its price tag suggests. It ships with two discs: the Northern Hemisphere and the Northern Hemisphere with constellations, but more discs are available (costing around $20 each), making this one of the most versatile projectors on the market, provided you don’t mind spending a little more.

The other Sega Toys Homestar projectors have earned themselves a place on our guide to the best star projectors, and we think the Homestar Classic deserves a place right alongside them. Read on to our full review to find out why.

Sega Toys Homestar Classic: Design

• Easy to use
• Premium build quality
• Uses mains power

There’s something wonderful about the design of the Sega Toys Homestar Classic. It feels suitably space-age, thanks to its orb-like shape. It’s not over the top or too flashy, either. Compared to some star projectors, it feels minimalist and understated — particularly if you opt for the black or white colorway. The Homestar Classic is also available in red or blue, which we think are perhaps more suited to a kid’s bedroom, though perhaps you just prefer bolder colors.

Whichever color you opt for, the Sega Toys Homestar Classic of course functions exactly the same. There is no remote control, with all actions taking place on the unit itself. There’s an on/off switch, and three buttons which turn on or off shooting stars, movement and a sleep timer.

The projector ships with an AC adapter, which means you’ll need to place it near a power outlet. It’s something to bear in mind, especially considering many other projectors are USB-C powered or even have a rechargeable battery.

The Homestar Classic has a great build quality that doesn’t feel cheap or plasticky. Thanks to a metal stand, it feels very sturdy and it’s easy to adjust. No matter what position you have the projector in, you should feel confident that it isn’t going to move.

Sega Toys Homestar Classic: Performance

• Whisper-quiet
• Projections are beautiful and realistic
• Requires total darkness to really shine

If you appreciate silence, the Sega Toys Homestar Classic is a great choice. It’s whisper-quiet in operation, which is a boon to those who are looking for a projector to fall asleep to. That’s largely because, unlike some other projectors, the Homestar Classic doesn’t have a noisy rotation motor inside. Instead, projections can gently and slowly pan. Personally, we prefer this: it’s subtle, calming and more realistic.

The projections provided here are simply stunning. According to the official Sega Toys website, you’re seeing up to 60,000 twinkling stars when the projector is turned on. We have of course not counted, but we can believe it: you’ll want to project the Homestar Classic onto a large wall or ceiling to really get the most out of it. It’s immersive and striking, thanks to how sharp and detailed it is.

Perhaps the only downside is that you’ll want your room to be fully dark to truly appreciate the Sega Toys Homestar Classic’s projections. With only 3 watts of power (compared to the Flux’s 5 watts), it’s a little dull if you still have a light source in your room. Wait until dark, pull the curtains, and you’ll truly appreciate how gorgeous the projections are. If it’s still light, it can be a little underwhelming.

Sega Toys Homestar Classic: Functionality

• A variety of discs are available
• Has a built-in sleep timer
• Focus wheel can be a little fiddly

Since this is the cheapest projector offered by Sega Toys, it doesn’t have quite the full suite of bells and whistles you’ll find on the company’s other projectors. The Flux boasts improved visual quality, for example, and a brighter projector. And the Matataki has a built-in speaker with a built-in library of natural sounds. Those features come with a higher price tag, though, and if you’re just wanting a realistic projector, the Sega Toys Homestar Classic packs in all the features you’ll want or need.

While it doesn’t have full rotation, you can turn on a gentle movement, which some users will prefer. You can also enable or disable shooting stars, which add a welcome sense of motion to projections. Finally, there’s a sleep timer, which can be set to 15, 30 or 60 minutes, after which time the projector will power itself off. It’s ideal if you’d like to use it to fall asleep to, so you can be confident it won’t stay on all night.

To focus the Sega Toys Homestar Classic, you’ll need to turn the focus wheel manually, which is located around the outside of the projector lens itself. We initially had a little difficulty in getting the projector clearly in focus; the focus wheel feels a little loose, and you may need to turn it for a long time before you notice any difference. Once it’s in focus, however, it should stay there — so as long as you keep the projector in the same position, you should not need to refocus.

Placing the projector somewhere between 59 and 90 inches (150 and 230 centimeters) away from the flat surface you’re projecting onto is the ideal distance. If you’re struggling to find a clear focus point, it may be that the projector is too close or too far away, so try placing it elsewhere.

Should I buy the Sega Toys Homestar Classic?

The short answer is yes, you should buy the Sega Toys Homestar Classic. The long answer ultimately depends on your budget. At $150, this is among the most expensive star projectors on the market, despite being the cheapest model offered by Sega Toys. But if you’re looking for a realistic, believable projection, you won’t find much better than this.

If you’re simply looking for a pretty light show to help you relax before bed, we’d recommend finding a cheaper projector elsewhere. But for an accurate, scientific display of the night sky, this really is one of the best star projectors on the market.

If the Sega Toys Homestar Classic isn’t for you

If you want the very best, we’d recommend taking a look at the Sega Toys Homestar Flux. This offers similar functionality to the Classic, but with even better projection quality, a brighter bulb, and a larger choice of projection discs available. It carries a higher price tag, of course, but that’s to be expected given its additional features.

There are, of course, cheaper projectors that offer similar functionality. We’ve previously called the Orzorz Galaxy Lite the best star projector on the market: it has a lower price tag and still offers realistic displays with interchangeable discs.

And if you’re really on a budget, the Blisslights Sky Lite Evolve is worth considering: it doesn’t offer scientific projections, but it’s an impressive display nonetheless, and thanks to app functionality, there’s plenty you can do with it.

If you’re looking for an excellent star projector that offers crisp, sharp HD projections, interchangeable discs with a range of images and a reasonable price tag, look no further than the Hommkiety Galaxy Projector. Costing less than $40, this star projector can boast image quality rivaling products that cost twice as much, and we simply cannot sing its praises enough.

One of the best star projectors you can buy, the Hommkiety Galaxy Projector ships with 10 interchangeable discs, all offering different views of the night sky. You’ll find the solar system, the moon, a spiral galaxy, a wormhole and more, and even some more "fun" projections, like a sea filled with jellyfish.

It might not be as realistic as the likes of Sega Toys’ range of projectors (including the excellent Homestar Classic), which provide an incredibly detailed recreation of the Northern Hemisphere’s night sky. But the majority of images here are scientific in their nature, providing gorgeous close-up views of planets, superclusters and more that we wouldn’t be able to see with the naked eye.

There’s one thing to keep in mind, however. Like the much-loved Astronaut Starry Sky projector, there are other projectors listed on Amazon from different manufacturers that look identical and promise similar performance to the Hommkiety Galaxy Projector. We cannot speak of other brands; they may be as good as this one, or they may not. If you want to be sure you’re getting the projector we’ve reviewed, choose the Hommkiety model.

Hommkiety Galaxy Projector review: Design

• Excellent build quality
• Design mimics a scientific instrument
• Easy to operate

The worst thing you could do is dismiss the Hommkiety Galaxy Projector simply because it comes from a no-name brand. Take it out of the box and you’ll find a very well constructed projector with a fun but relevant design — it looks more like a scientific instrument than a toy.

The projector itself is connected to a base via a hinge that can be adjusted up to 180 degrees. It’s easy to adjust and feels sturdy regardless of the angle you opt for, which means you can project onto a wall or a ceiling, and change between them, with ease.

It’s worth noting that the Hommkiety Galaxy Projector doesn’t come with a remote control, so you’ll need to operate the projector with the buttons on the unit itself. You can power it on and off, set a sleep timer, and turn a night light on and off. Buttons are clearly labeled and easy to use.

Hommkiety Galaxy Projector review: Performance

• Beautiful HD projections
• Bright and colorful
• Easy to focus

Make no bones about it: the Hommkiety Galaxy Projector is simply stunning in operation. Regardless of which disc you put in, you’ll be greeted by bright, vivid colors and sharp imagery. You won’t even need a fully dark room to appreciate it — but with blackout curtains and the lights fully out, you’ll get to appreciate a true spectacle.

The projector comes with a disc of the moon and stars pre-installed, which is nothing short of stunning. It’s a relaxing, mesmerizing experience, but so are the other projections you can switch out. The galaxies, the solar system and the Virgo supercluster discs in particular are beautifully colorful; it’s hard to observe them without thinking "wow."

Before you can fully enjoy the Hommkiety Galaxy Projector, you’ll need to focus it by using the focus ring found on the outer of the projector light. It’s very easy to find the focal point, and we only had to turn it a few times before our image was perfectly sharp.

Your own focus point will of course depend on how far away the projector is from the wall or ceiling you’re projecting onto — the manufacturer recommends a distance from 6.5 to 9.8 feet (2 to 3 meters) for an optimal image.

Hommkiety Galaxy Projector review: Functionality

• 10 interchangeable discs
• Built-in sleep timer and night light
• No speaker functionality

One of the biggest selling points of the Hommkiety Galaxy Projector is that it comes with 10 interchangeable projection discs. This is a huge boon, particularly compared to the (much more expensive) Sega Toys Homestar Classic, which only comes with two.

The downside, though, is that while extra discs for the Homestar can easily be obtained, we can’t find any that are clearly compatible with the Hommkiety. It’s likely that other no-name brands share the same discs, but we cannot confirm that for sure.

But even without purchasing any additional discs, the 10 included in the box offer enough variety to keep you and the whole family entertained. Chances are, you’ll have your favorites and want to see the same images time and time again anyway.

There’s a built-in sleep timer on the Hommkiety Galaxy Projector, which means you can put it on to fall asleep to without worrying it will be running all night. There’s also a night light which can be operated via the main unit, but that’s it in terms of extra bells and whistles. There’s no built-in speaker here, for example, so if you’re looking for a projector to use for relaxation along with built-in sounds, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

In terms of power, the Hommkiety Galaxy Projector requires a USB-C connection. A cable is included in the box, but we found our phone charger powered it just fine, which is handy. It doesn’t have a rechargeable battery, so it’ll need to remain connected whenever it’s in use.

Should I buy the Hommkiety Galaxy Projector?

This is a very easy question to answer: Yes, you absolutely should buy the Hommkiety Galaxy Projector. It’s one of the best galaxy projectors you can currently buy, thanks to its budget price, its gorgeous projection quality and its 10 included discs. Whether you want something pretty to relax with, or a more scientific image to inspire kids and adults alike, it’s a great choice.

After using the Hommkiety Galaxy Projector for a while, it really feels like it’s worth more than its $39.99 asking price. It’s an impressive bit of technology, and unless you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful light show filled with laser stars, you aren’t going to be disappointed with this.

If the Hommkiety Galaxy Projector isn’t for you

The only thing the Hommkiety Galaxy Projector can’t do is speckle your ceiling with thousands of stars. That’s something the Starry Sky Astronaut Projector can do for less than $20, or if you want a more realistic recreation of the night sky, there’s the Sega Toys Homestar Flux.

If you’d like a projector that has a built-in speaker, you could consider the Dinosaur Egg Galaxy Star Projector. It’s a fun projector that’s great for relaxing with, but you won’t get realistic or scientific images with it.

Suunto is slowly carving a formidable niche in the world of outdoor and multisport smartwatches. We can attest to that — last year, we tested the running-focused Suunto Race 2 and Suunto Run. While we had some minor quibbles with them, we were generally impressed by their stylish design, advanced workout-tracking features and long battery life. This year, we got our hands on something even better — the Suunto Vertical 2. This high-end adventure smartwatch has eerily similar specs and functionality to the ultra-premium Garmin Fenix 8, but costs around $300 less ($599 to $699, depending on the model).

The Suunto Vertical 2 boasts a durable design, up to 20 days’ battery life and multiple advanced navigation tools and workout-tracking features. It is a tough cookie, built for those who frequently venture off into the great outdoors and do not want to skimp on safety and reliability. Plus, it looks unusually stylish for an adventure watch.

We were keen to put the Suunto Vertical 2 through its paces and see whether it can make its way into our round-up of the best fitness trackers on the market.

Suunto Vertical 2 smartwatch review

Suunto Vertical 2: Design

• Heavy, rugged build
• Stylish and fairly comfortable to wear
• 10ATM water resistance

Right off the bat, the Suunto Vertical 2 scores highly for its customizability. This adventure watch is available in two options, with a stainless steel finish or a more durable and heat-resistant titanium finish, and it comes with a range of removable silicon straps in gorgeous earthy colors. Should you wish to shake things up even more, plenty of other leather and nylon straps can be found at Amazon and other third-party retailers. There is something for everyone here.

Our testing unit came in stainless steel and with a Pine Green strap. First impression upon unboxing? Having tested multiple clunky smartwatches in the past (we are looking at you, TicWatch Atlas), the Suunto Vertical 2 feels like a welcome change. It is rugged in the full sense of the word, but at the same time, it manages to stay exceptionally sleek and, dare we say, stylish. While this smartwatch is designed primarily for outdoor explorations, it will not look too out of place in more mundane circumstances.

That is not to say that the Suunto Vertical 2 is a great option for 24/7 wear. Weighing a solid 3.07 oz (87 g), it is still a formidable piece of machinery, and you can definitely feel its presence on your wrist. To put that into perspective, the Fenix 8 weighs "only" about 2.82 oz or 80 g. We found it quite cumbersome, too. While we did not mind wearing it in bed, some people may find the sheer size of this smartwatch to be too disruptive for comfortable sleep-tracking. However, we got used to wearing the Suunto Vertical 2 pretty quickly, as it is actually quite comfortable to wear, or at least more comfortable than many other models that sat on our wrist before.

The Suunto Vertical 2 also feels well built. This smartwatch did not sustain any scratches or wear-and-tear damage after two months of testing, nor was it ever fazed by being exposed to freezing January temperatures and cold water. Even occasional bumps from a steel barbell did not cause us any issues. Given how durable this smartwatch is, you can easily forgive its heaviness.

Lastly, the silicone strap. It deserves a special mention here — it is pleasantly soft and flexible, has a beautiful green shade to it, and has never caused any skin irritation.

Suunto Vertical 2: Display

• 1.5-inch AMOLED display
• Relatively easy to read and navigate
• Responsive to the touch, even in cold temperatures

The Suunto Vertical 2 features a big, colorful 1.5-inch AMOLED display. There are upsides and downsides to this. AMOLED screens are vibrant and pixel-dense, but they also tend to drain the battery much faster than, for example, the transflective MIP displays employed in many other adventure watches. When this type of screen is employed in a model whose functionality is rooted in long battery life, it needs built-in dimming features that preserve its energy use — and the Suunto Vertical 2 is no different. While its AMOLED display is by no means difficult to read, it can still feel uncomfortably dark and lacklustre at times.

Look past this, however, and you should not feel disappointed. The touchscreen display in the Suunto Vertical 2 is responsive (but not nearly as prone to accidental swipes as was the case with the Suunto Race 2) and, in our experience at least, seemingly immune to lags and other performance issues caused by exposure to cold temperatures. The interface looks good, too. It is loaded with stats and widgets, but still easy to read and navigate — even though it could take annoyingly long to scroll to the sports mode we wanted.

Suunto Vertical 2: Features

• Advanced navigation and mapping capabilities
• Over 115 sports modes
• No contactless payments, music storage or voice commands

The Suunto Vertical 2 is a full-on fitness and adventure watch, with its features centered around outdoor explorations and smashing workout PBs. Unlike the Fenix 8, for example, it can't be used for more "mundane" activities such as paying for your groceries or storing your favorite tunes. It also does not have a built-in microphone and voice recognition, nor can it answer a call from your mobile phone.

It is not a deal-breaker, though. The Suunto Vertical 2 has almost everything you may need or want on a hiking trail or running course, and its lack of advanced smart features does not overshadow these impressive capabilities.

To start with, the Suunto Vertical 2 comes with a comprehensive set of navigation tools, from a built-in LED flashlight to detailed offline maps and reliable dual-band GPS that supports all major satellite systems. Features like breadcrumb tracking, route planning and “find back” (a GPS navigation tool that retraces your steps and guides you back to your starting point — a lifesaver when you have gone off-trail or the weather obscures your path) make this smartwatch a particularly good companion for off-grid adventures.

Its range of workout-tracking tools is also impressive. The Suunto Vertical 2 comes with over 115 sport modes and an in-depth set of fitness stats for each of those activities, as well as continuous heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen sensing, sleep quality assessments and many more useful measurements.

As fitness buffs ourselves, we thoroughly enjoyed diving into our health and fitness stats after each workout. Exercise beginners, however, may feel a bit overwhelmed by the Suunto app. It does not offer the same level of holistic wellness coaching or AI-powered trend analysis as some of its competitors, and it could be information overload for those unfamiliar with complex fitness terms.

Suunto Vertical 2: Performance

• Up to 20 days of battery life in smartwatch mode
• Relatively accurate measurements
• Good app connectivity

According to the brand, the Suunto Vertical 2 can last up to 20 days in smartwatch mode, 65 hours in Performance mode (default multi-band GPS mode, with highly accurate navigation), 75 hours in Endurance mode (all-systems single-band GPS, less accurate), 110 hours in Ultra mode (all-systems single-band GPS, disabled heart rate measurements) and 250 hours in Tour mode (lowest GPS accuracy). Understandably, we could not thoroughly test every one of these modes and can't say for sure, but these claims seem pretty accurate. The battery life on the Suunto Vertical 2 is staggering, and we have barely had to charge this smartwatch at all.

Accuracy-wise, the Suunto Vertical 2 is a big step up from the Suunto Race 2 and a particularly solid performer for navigation, sleep and heart rate measurements. During one workout, for example, we wore it alongside a more precise Polar H9 chest-strap heart rate monitor. We found that both of these devices produced similar measurements, especially during periods of rest and steady state cardio. True, the accuracy did tail off slightly during high-intensity activities, but that is something we have observed in nearly every wearable we tested.

It is also worth noting that some of its tracking can be inconsistent at times. For example, the Suunto Vertical 2 appears to frequently overcount steps and overestimate the calories burned. However, these issues are rather minor and do not have a major impact on the overall user experience.

Lastly, the app connectivity seems very good. We had no issues with connecting our Suunto Vertical 2 or syncing the data between the devices. Again, that's not something we can confidently say about other smartwatches we tested before.

Suunto Vertical 2: User reviews

At the time of writing this review, Amazon's customer reviews placed the Suunto Vertical 2 at a solid 4.4 out of 5 stars. Buyers at the Suunto US website, on the other hand, rated it at a slightly higher 4.78 stars. This smartwatch was generally praised for its rugged build, extensive and accurate navigation features, and a handy built-in flashlight.

One happy user said: "I previously had the Suunto Peak Pro and this has been a very enjoyable upgrade. The screen brightness and readability alone are fantastic. I have put the watch through the paces with multi-sport and strength training, as well as on a recent 48-hour ski tour hut trip, on which maybe 15% of the battery life was used from start to finish. Though bigger than the Peak Pro, the weight and size are hardly noticeable. Heart rate and GPS access and navigation are well within standards."

However, the tracking accuracy receives mixed feedback, and some users also complained about its confusing interface and basic sleep-tracking features.

Should you buy the Suunto Vertical 2 smartwatch?

The Suunto Vertical 2 is an excellent no-nonsense smartwatch for outdoor enthusiasts and fitness pros. It offers a combination of outdoor-focused features, reliable tracking performance and rugged design, all at an approachable price and without pricey subscriptions. Plus, it is unusually stylish and customizable. This smartwatch may have skimped on smart features and extra frills, but it does a good job of the essentials.

✅ Buy it if: You are a keen explorer or outdoor fitness enthusiast looking for a reliable adventure watch, especially if you often venture on multi-day hiking or camping trips.

❌ Do not buy it if: You seek a day-to-day smartwatch with contactless payments, music storage and an extensive app ecosystem, or do not tend to spend much time in the great outdoors.

Suunto Vertical 2: Related products

The Coros Vertix 2 is one of the most suitable alternatives to the Suunto Vertical 2. Both of these smartwatches offer roughly the same features at a very similar price, but the former comes with slightly longer battery life and a more straightforward interface.

Looking for something more premium and do not mind splashing the cash? Then you can't go wrong with the Garmin Fenix 8. The direct and most formidable competitor to the Suunto Vertical 2, this high-end smartwatch offers similar ruggedness and tracking features, but it also throws in a bunch of smart features, a rich app ecosystem and the ability to use more advanced dive modes. It costs anywhere between $799 and $1,199 (depending on the model), but it is well worth the money if you are not willing to cut any corners.

On a budget? Consider the Amazfit T-Rex 3 or its more advanced sibling, the T-Rex 3 Pro. While this smartwatch does not have as advanced and comprehensive mapping and fitness-tracking features, it offers excellent battery life, durable design and good accuracy — and it costs "only" $279.99.

Suunto Vertical 2: How we tested

We spent over two months trying and testing the Suunto Vertical 2, assessing its design, features, tracking performance, battery life, app connectivity and ease of use. We wore this smartwatch during the day, while sleeping, and when doing a range of activities, from hiking outdoors to indoor rowing and high-intensity strength training. Then, we compared the sleep, steps and heart rate measurements taken by the Suunto Vertical 2 with the data we obtained using a Polar H9 chest-strap heart rate monitor and our Whoop MG screenless fitness tracker. Lastly, we gave our verdict on its overall functionality and value for money.

The HP Omen Max 16 is last year's follow-up to 2023's Omen, packing in more powerful parts to turn this machine into a true heavyweight. It really is heavy, tipping the pre-fight scales at 5.4 pounds (2.4 kilograms), while the price has also climbed a few bands, now coming in at around $2,500 thanks to the inclusion of an Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 series GPU. But do these changes pack a big enough punch to knock out its competitors?

While it has some quirks, the Omen Max overall offers premium performance and excels in tasks that give its high-end components a workout. In particular, the machine is built for gaming and can handle the latest AAA titles with ease — with its lightning-fast screen helping competitive players gain an edge. That means it's also primed to handle photo and video editing, and could potentially be a useful fixture on your desk at home.

HP Omen Max 16 (2025): Design

The HP Omen Max 16 leans into a typical "gamer" aesthetic, with RGB lighting underneath and the keyboard glowing vibrantly in a range of colors. The software lets you customize colors, patterns and transitions, which is a neat touch — though it's probably expected at this price point. The machine's looks are likely to be divisive, however, and it's definitely not a "professional" machine — but if lights and colors are your thing, the overall design is neat if unremarkable.

The layout and looks have been tweaked since the 2023 model, expanding the keyboard to include a number pad and adding more lighting. The keys are all backlit and look excellent in dimly lit rooms, although the touchpad isn't lit and is positioned slightly left-of-center, which can make reaching for it a bit awkward at first.

The matte black adds a stylish, understated finish to the chassis, and the Omen logo on the outside and "016" written on the inside are subtle enough to not disrupt the appearance. The screen has some flex, which is a bit disconcerting and adds to a slightly less-than-premium feel to the Omen Max 16. It is also easy to leave fingerprints and marks around the case, due to the color and material — but these are easy to wipe away.

We found the lights and overall aesthetic struck a good balance between fun and understated, with the RGB lighting tasteful and not too over the top. They can, however, be deactivated if you find them more garish than appealing.

HP Omen Max 16 (2025): Display

The display is generally good on the Omen Max 16, partly thanks to its 400-nit brightness that we verified in testing with a display calibrator. This is not market-leading but is still brighter than average, making it clear even in well-lit rooms. The 97.4% coverage of the sRGB gamut is also perfectly acceptable for most use cases. Additional testing rendered 71.8% and 76.7% coverage of the Adobe and DCI P3 spectra, respectively; the results aren't bad, and just shy of what you need for professional usage — but these days, you tend to find many laptops with displays that can hit above 90%.

For a non-OLED screen, and to a casual eye, the colors generally pack a punch, except for a slightly washed-out black level, which scored an underwhelming 0.5 nits in our tests. This also feeds into a contrast ratio of 797:1:1, which is relatively disappointing.

Where this screen really excels is its lightning-fast refresh rate of 250 Hz — making using it a pleasure. Movement across the screen is fluid and silky, while it is also quick to respond to inputs. The machine is first-and-foremost designed with gamers in mind, so this is evidently what HP has put its efforts into when it comes to the screen — and in this area, it doesn't disappoint.

HP Omen Max 16 (2025): Keyboard and touchpad

The keyboard layout is good overall, although the small Enter key and the slender up and down arrows take a bit of getting used to. In a departure from the 2023 model, the design is gapless, although the keys have enough space between them for comfortable touch typing. Each keystroke is springy with a pleasing level of key travel and haptic feedback, while not requiring too much effort to push down, striking a perfect balance.

The backlighting on the keys is customizable, with several fun presets ranging from a pulsing glow to a rippling effect from each keystroke, like a stone dropped in a pool of water. A number pad adds more functionality over the previous Omen Max.

We do, however, question how durable this keyboard is. During testing, a cat decided to try the keys and managed to prise several out — something she has not been able to do with other keyboards, notably the surprisingly tough MacBook Air 2022. The keys, which are slim and a little flimsy, quickly click back into place (at least on this occasion), but it raises doubts over how much casual wear and tear it can stand.

The touchpad is large, smooth and responsive. But it's positioned awkwardly and we often activate the right-click by accident; any left clicks require an irritating amount of leaning over to activate. This is something frequent use will fix, as you adjust to the machine, but it initially feels unnatural.

HP Omen Max 16 (2025): Performance and Battery

Let's start with the good — performance is excellent. The HP Omen Max 16 is built with power in mind, especially when it comes to gaming, and it performed excellently, handling the latest AAA titles, such as Black Ops 7, with ease on Ultra settings. Our review unit boasted an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU paired with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (12 cores) CPU, 32 GB DDR5 SDRAM, and a 1TB SSD. And these mostly top-tier components duly stand and deliver.

Some games put up a fight, however, with the frames per second (FPS) on "Senua's Saga: Hellblade II" dropping into the 40s and occasionally even the 30s on maximum settings (although the game looks incredible).

A propensity to handle high-end gaming meant we were excited for what it meant for users looking to work with graphics-based tasks. The machine excelled when performing other video and photo editing, with its superior performance also playing out across benchmark tests — with the GPU registering an eye-watering score of 181,959 in our OpenCL test with Geekbench 6. This blows anything else we've tested completely out of the atmosphere.

The CPU was also excellent in benchmarking. It registered a fantastic 2,967 for single-core and 15,420 for multi-core performance, putting it far ahead of the 2023 model and plenty of other recent Windows machines.

One drawback of this power is how noisy the fans are in order to keep the machine cool. When pushing the Omen Max to its limits, they run so loudly to blast out hot air in various directions that you'll probably need to wear headphones to hear any sound. It's enough to annoy anybody unfortunate enough to be near you, let alone yourself.

Meanwhile, as we all know by now, with great power usually comes terrible battery life, and the Omen Max 16 is no exception. In our standard looped video playback battery test, the Omen Max 16 lasted for just 7 hours and 31 minutes. The only thing we've ever tested that performed worse was the 2023 HP Omen 16, which survived for a pitiful 4 hours and 53 minutes. So while the 2025 model shows an improvement, it's still not good when you consider that plenty of high-end and premium Windows machines can last well above 10 hours. But poor battery performance is typical for gaming machines like this.

HP Omen Max 16 (2025): Ports and Features

The HP Omen Max 16 is quite chunky — standing 1 inch (25.4 millimeters) tall — but chunkiness means room for plenty of ports. The machine therefore has space to fit in two USB-A ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, a headphone jack,an Ethernet port and two USB-C ports. They are laid out logically and are easy to reach.

Feature-wise, it comes with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 wireless connectivity, and a 1080p webcam that captures you well enough. The machine also comes with HP's Omen Gaming Hub software, which lets you better monitor and manage gaming performance.

HP Omen Max 16 (2025): Should I buy it?

The HP Omen Max 16 is really quite excellent at handling graphics-heavy workloads, such as video editing or gaming. However, its screen isn't quite accurate enough for most photographers and videographers, and its noise and weight are also offputting for those tasks if you need to be using it out and about — not to mention the lacklustre battery life. Ultimately, this machine is built for gamers and gaming, and that is who it should primarily appeal to.

Choosing from the best fitness trackers available can feel overwhelming at times — how can you differentiate them? How do you know if they have all the features you're looking for? This is why we spend weeks testing fitness trackers, to help gather the information you need to make an informed decision.

When it comes to the Motorola Moto Watch Fit, there was a lot to like and only a few things that turned us off. However, when you consider the price of this fitness tracker, there isn't much to grumble about. We loved the amount of yoga types you could select from, the personalized workout screen that took minutes, if not seconds, to sort, the Velcro-adjustable strap, the battery life, the sleep tracking and the durability of the Gorilla Glass screen.

While the accuracy of the stress monitor was questionable, and the tracker was unable to determine when all workouts were paused or finished, there was still a lot to like about this budget fitness watch. So much so that we wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to newbies to the fitness tracking world, keen yogis or those looking to make tracking their fitness as easy as possible.

It's in tough competition with the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 in our eyes. The Smart Band 10 shines with an extra week of battery life compared to the Motorola Moto Watch Fit, but otherwise, these fitness trackers are very similar. So how did the Motorola Moto Watch Fit perform during our testing period? Read on to find out.

Motorola Moto Watch Fit review

Motorola Moto Watch Fit : Design

• The Velcro strap is a nice touch
• Screen is a great size, durable and resistant
• Lots of personalization features

There is a lot to like about the Motorola Moto Watch Fit, especially as it seems to be a fitness watch with numerous personalization features, which make this watch more compatible with you than you first realize.

For example, there is the standard personalization of the watch faces, with a huge amount to select from. However, beyond this, the Velcro strap design, while initially appearing somewhat cheap-looking, is actually a blessing in disguise. It allows you to get this watch to fit your exact wrist size, reducing the number of times it may slip down your wrist during exercise. While the silicone straps on other fitness watches are good, they tend to leave you with only a few options for sizing. The whole of the band on the Motorola Moto Watch Fit is available to use as a Velcro band, meaning even those with smaller wrists can get this watch to fit snugly.

While we love the Velcro strap, we aren't too keen on the color. Currently, it appears this watch is only available with this color strap, a dark green with a yellow race stripe down the center, which is a little disappointing. Motorola does note you can swap this band out with any other compatible 0.86-inch (22 mm) band, although it appears these need to be sourced elsewhere than Motorola.

The personalization feature we feel it's important to note is the fact that you can add and remove workouts on the workout screen with a simple touch of the Add and Remove buttons. Even the most uninterested person in tech could easily adapt their workout screen within seconds. This means that hitting go on a workout involves the minimal amount of faff possible — a real godsend compared to wading through tons of workouts until you find the one you want (and then that one appearing again on your workout screen for future reference).

Furthermore, there is a wide range of workouts available to choose from, including differentiation of yoga types. This gives this watch massive appeal to yogis who can now distinguish between their Ashtanga practice and their restorative or Yin Yoga. It might not seem like a big deal to non-yogis, but different types of yoga require different levels of energy, with some being more dynamic and others more slow and steady, meaning stats per yoga session can vary widely. With the Motorola Moto Watch Fit, you can now capture your yoga sessions far more accurately.

Another great feature of this watch is the screen, with a 1.9-in OLED display that's a good size without being too bulky. The visibility is great in all light conditions, and we found it to be sufficiently durable and resistant to dust and other particles for a budget fitness tracker. After two weeks of continuous daily testing, there wasn't a mark or scratch to be found on the screen, which is possibly thanks to its Gorilla Glass.

The screen itself feels quite slender on your wrist, and there are minimal external buttons, meaning this watch isn't prone to getting stuck on clothing while working out (one of our bugbears!) There is one button on the side that can be used to turn the screen on (if you don't have always-on mode activated) and to pause workouts. Other than that, most operations are handled by swiping or touching the screen.

Motorola Moto Watch Fit: Performance

• Outstanding battery life for a budget fitness tracker
• Sleep and heart rate monitoring are largely accurate
• The stress monitor appears to be inaccurate

For a budget fitness tracker, the Motorola Moto Watch Fit performed well. It logged most of our workouts accurately, including the length of time we were exercising for, the length of the walks we took and our heart rate. It also has exceptional battery life, offering two weeks on a single charge, and we can attest this was the case for our testing period. We never needed to charge it during our two-week testing period and still had 32% of battery life at the time of writing this review. However, we should note that we had the "always-on" feature turned off during this period, as a personal preference. Having this feature on would certainly drain the battery faster.

While walking outdoors, with the watch using its own built-in GPS, the watch automatically acknowledges when you have paused and when you start walking again. This is a great feature that allows you to stay present in your surroundings, rather than having to constantly stop and start your workout whenever you pause to look at something on your walk. You also have the option to pause workouts by tapping the screen or pressing the button on the side, which is perfect for indoor workouts when automatic acknowledgement of a pause in a workout doesn't work.

Although overall we were impressed with this watch's performance, we did notice a few nuances in its accuracy functions. The Motorola Moto Watch Fit can't recognize when you have finished a workout, so it's important to remember to finish your workout manually. To do so, it's a simple swipe to the right when on the workout screen and a press of the Finish button. Unlike other budget watches we've reviewed, such as the Xiaomi Smart Band 10, you only need to tap the Finish button rather than hold it down to end a workout. This made ending workouts quick, which we liked.

The reason we say to end your workouts promptly is that, when doing a yoga class, we forgot to end our workout and realized an hour later, after having sat down for lunch. The watch had continued monitoring our "workout" and couldn't distinguish between us doing yoga and eating lunch! This was slightly disappointing, but as this is a budget fitness watch, it was understandable.

Another feature that left us unsatisfied was the stress monitor. The stress monitor appears to use your heart rate as a monitor for your stress. Currently being six months pregnant means our heart rate is always higher than average, with a resting BPM of somewhere between 90-100bpm. This put us in the Medium category for stress; however, we did not experience any level of stress during our testing period, as we were on holiday. Consequently, we found this measurement unreliable and void, which was a shame.

However, being pregnant also meant that we could tell the heart rate monitoring on the Motorola Moto Watch Fit was largely accurate. Capturing our resting BPM often in the 90s, and our exercising BPM reaching a maximum of 142 when doing light exercise, we felt happy that this aligned with our current heart rate due to the pregnancy.

While we found the heart rate monitoring to be impressively accurate for a budget fitness tracker, we were also surprisingly happy with the sleep monitoring function. Again, being six months pregnant, we are often up in the night for toilet trips. The watch accurately captured our awake windows, including how long we were actually awake for. Not only this, but we found the sleep data to be interesting to look at the following day, with it capturing the length of our sleep, the time spent in deep sleep, light sleep and REM, our awake periods and sleep heart rate. The data also gives you an idea of the quality of your sleep.

Motorola Moto Watch Fit: Functionality

• Simple interface is ideal for beginners
• Lack of smart features
• Additional useful features

Overall, we felt the Motorola Moto Watch Fit did a great job, especially for a budget fitness tracker. The combination of the design, including many personalization options, and strong performance allows us to confidently give this fitness watch 4.5 stars out of 5. We would happily have given it five stars if some of the features provided more accurate stats.

However, we can't fault the interface of this fitness watch. There are only six actions required to get what you want from this watch. These are:
• pressing the button on the side to activate the screen
• tapping the screen to wake it up
• swiping right to access the main menu (including workout features)
• swiping left to access your daily activity goals
• swiping up for any notifications
• swiping down for the quick menu, including water lock, torch and sleep mode.

It really is as simple as that — once you've spent a few minutes familiarizing yourself with these actions, you can confidently move around the watch. We think it's a good option for beginners to fitness tracking.

As far as we can make out, the Motorola Moto Watch Fit is primarily a fitness tracker, as it lacks smart features such as NFC payments. While we didn't personally miss these features, those looking for a fitness tracker-cum-smartwatch may want to look elsewhere. This is a "basic" fitness watch — as you'd expect at this price.

While the primary function of this fitness watch is to track your workouts, there are some additional features that are handy to have. These include breathing exercises, a torch and 5ATM water resistance. There is sadly only one breathing exercise, but you can increase how long you want to practice it for by increasing the number of minutes. For those looking for more of a rounded approach to their health and fitness, the inclusion of breathing exercises is a nice touch that can help people destress and unwind — especially as health isn't just about the workouts we do.

The 5ATM water resistance and water lock function mean you can wear this fitness tracker while swimming. It also has its own "Pool swimming" workout mode — great news for those who prefer working out in water rather than on land.

Previously, we haven't felt the need to use the additional features, such as a torch, when reviewing fitness trackers. However, due to our pregnancy and many trips to the loo each night, we can say that having a torch on your wrist is actually a worthwhile thing! It's bright enough to light up a room and safely walk in the dark — we only used it indoors, but this feature might also prove useful when rooting around in the car or trunk when returning home in the dark from the shops, for example. It unfortunately won't suffice for using outside while exercising, as it turns off after a few minutes.

Overall, we feel the Motorola Moto Watch Fit is a fantastic budget fitness tracker that feels more premium than it is. Some of its features are outstanding, and only a few could be a tad better.

Should you buy the Motorola Moto Watch Fit?

The Motorola Moto Watch Fit has some impressive features, such as its personalization abilities, multiple yoga workout options, 5ATM water resistance, built-in GPS, user-friendly interface, extensive battery life and useful additional features, to name a few. We found the benefits and ease of use of this watch far outweighed the few things we noted as disappointments. It's also worth remembering that this is a budget fitness tracker, and as such, it can't be directly compared to the likes of Garmin watches, which are renowned for their accuracy but cost considerably more.

Saying that, there are a few groups of people who would particularly like this tracker. Beginners to fitness trackers will find the interface accessible, while the accompanying app is also a breeze to look through and understand — there is nothing overly complex in the data that could overwhelm those new to the world of fitness tracking.

Keen yogis will also be delighted with the ability to choose more than just "Yoga" on their workouts. The variety of yoga types means yogis can accurately capture their workout and look back at their data knowing exactly the type of yoga they practised at the time. This is useful as not all yoga requires the same amount of energy and thus calories burned and heart rate measurements may look quite different depending on the style being practiced.

Finally, this watch will appeal to anyone looking to make fitness tracking easy. With the ability to personalize your workout menu and set the strap to your exact wrist size, all the faff is removed, and it literally takes a second to start and end your workout.

If this product isn't for you

While we think the Motorola Moto Watch Fit is a great budget fitness tracker, it may not suit your needs. If you're looking for a slender fitness watch, the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 is a good option, receiving 4.5 out of 5 stars in our review and featuring as the best budget fitness tracker in our best fitness trackers guide. We complimented its slender design, which allowed it to be unobtrusive, both during workouts and to wear at night, and it features over 150 workout modes. Plus, the battery life is around 21 days — a tad better than the Motorola Moto Watch Fit.

If you have more money to spend but are new to fitness tracking, consider the Garmin Vivoactive 6. With a similar battery life of 11 days, accurate fitness tracking and exercise animations, the Vivoactive 6 is a great introduction to Garmin's fitness tracking technology without feeling overwhelmed.

Depending on your needs and budget, you might want to try the Garmin Fenix 8 if you're looking for a reliable fitness watch to track your workouts — we rate it as the best fitness tracker for tracking workouts. However, this might be a bit too expensive for some, especially if you're new to the fitness tracking world.

If you're a keen runner, we rate the Garmin Forerunner 965 as the best running watch. But the TicWatch Atlas is a great competitor to some of the more expensive models available, and may suit anyone looking for a great Garmin alternative.

‘Content creator’ has been the buzz phrase for a while. And so, in an age of falling or flatlining camera sales, it’s no surprise that photo manufacturers might pivot from their traditional user base to enable those who want to start a podcast, vlog or YouTube channel. A case in point is the Canon EOS R50 V — though it can deliver 24 megapixel stills, most of the modes on its shooting dial are for video, with up to 4K 60FPS clips offered. That might be why its boxy build more closely resembles a Cinema EOS camera from the same manufacturer, rather than one of its classic DSLR or mirrorless cameras, despite including tech from both.

Close competitors include Sony’s blogger-oriented ‘ZV’ series of compact digital cameras with their flip-out, selfie-enabling rear screens. We get an angle-adjustable LCD on Canon’s EOS R50 V, too, which is also a touchscreen. Unfortunately, because of this, Canon hasn’t bothered to include our personal favorite feature of an eye-level viewfinder as an alternative means of composition and review.

An angle-adjustable screen has uses beyond the purely narcissistic, of course. It’s great for helping us achieve those otherwise awkward high or low angle shots, while including features accessible via a tap of the screen negates the need for a body crammed with buttons, wheels and dials — even if we do enjoy the tactile nature of such features.

So, how does the R50 V acquit itself in practice, especially when it comes to satisfying the needs of beginner photographers, not just videographers?

Canon EOS R50 V review

Design & comfort

• Vari-angle touch panel LCD allows for easy shot composition from awkward angles
• Handgrip is more slender and slippery than we’d like for handheld shooting, especially when a lens is attached
• Boxy dimensions resemble something from Canon’s EOS Cinema range rather than the EOS R series

Resembling a child’s drawing of a camera — essentially a box with a sensor and a lens mount — the EOS R50 V is far from the flashiest mirrorless model we’ve seen. Especially in the age of retro-styled gems like the OM System OM-3, Fujifilm X100V / VI and the Nikon Zf and Zfc. In fact, as mentioned above, Canon’s styling is closer to the functional appearance of its pro-targeted Cinema EOS range rather than the rest of its R series lineup.

That said, it’s not quite so self-consciously wacky as Canon’s PowerShot V10, a video-first attempt with a vertically styled wide-angle lens. While that model had its cigarette packet-sized point-and-shoot charm, the fact that we can use a broad range of EOS R system lenses and accessories with the R50 V extends the creative possibilities much further. Although available at a price to entice consumers, it feels like there is serious intent here, too.

In terms of ergonomic design, the paucity of buttons here means everything falls readily to hand. The EOS R50 V’s raised shutter release is encircled via a zoom lever, something we’d more commonly expect to find on a point-and-shoot digital digicam, rather than an interchangeable lens model. This works in tandem with Canon’s motorized RF-S 14-30mm f/4-6.3 IS STM PZ or ‘Power Zoom’ lens that arrived with our review sample. Alternatively, the zoom can be more conventionally controlled via a manual twist of its lens barrel. The foreshortened lens design allows for a slimmer, more compact profile when the optic and camera are combined.

Also encircled, this time by a command/control dial, is the camera’s on/off power lever. A familiar top plate shooting mode dial features just the one dedicated stills setting rather than individual P, A, S, M settings — the selection of which brings up shooting mode options on-screen — alongside a fistful of further video options. Joined by no fewer than three custom settings is a ‘Slow and Fast’ video option. As it suggests, this gifts videographers control over the speed of capture and playback, either speeding up or slowing down footage.

Weighing just 370 g with battery and card, if we’ve one grumble it’s that we found the magnesium and aluminum alloy built camera felt a bit insubstantial when held in the palm, although adding the 14-30mm compact lens lends it marginally more heft. At least it’s comfortably portable — helpful as we’ll be taking a tripod out with us for astrophotography and potentially also for wildlife photography. That said, the camera body alone is still too wide to fit in most pockets, at dimensions of 119.3 x 73.7 x 45.2 mm.

Electronic viewfinder & LCD screen

• No EVF, but it does have 1.04 million dot resolution 3-inch vari-angle capacitive touchscreen LCD instead
• LCD offers 100% frame coverage with a 150-degree vertical and horizontal viewing angle
• AF point is selectable with a screen tap while in still and video modes, with touch shutter accessible in still photo shooting mode only

Anyone viewing investment in the Canon EOS R50 V as a step up from their smartphone for creating videos or shooting stills may not immediately register the fact that an eye-level viewfinder, as found on most dedicated digital cameras in this price bracket, is omitted here. For those of us who love distraction-free image composition via an optical finder or EVF, it’s a real shame. That said, those composing video in the main can probably live with that, as the 3-inch LCD’s aspect ratio is closer to that of a desktop PC monitor, or TV set.

Still, it’s just as well that the monitor here is endlessly flexible, capable of being flipped out from the body to the full 180 degrees and turned to face the subject in front of the lens. We can hold the camera above our heads and tilt the screen down so we can see what the camera’s lens is seeing. Or hold it low to the ground and tilt the screen upwards to avoid us having to get down on our knees. At times like those, we found ourselves missing an eye-level viewfinder just that little bit less. The fact that we can tap the screen and take the picture once we’ve got the subject framed, just as we want it, is a further boon that adds to the camera’s overall intuitiveness.

Outwardly resembling a baby version of its maker’s Cinema EOS cameras, we found its angle-adjustable LCD screen essential for low-angle wildlife shots and night sky images alike, especially as there is no eye-level viewfinder to add interest to its boxy design. Because said panel is touch sensitive, helpfully, the manual functions required for astrophotography are placed at our fingertips and are easier to locate in the dark than the camera’s tiny black buttons.

Image quality & dynamic range

• Choice of JPEG, HEIF and RAW formats
• ISO 1600 or ISO 3200 proves the sweet spot during long exposures for night sky shoots
• 4K resolution video clips at up to a cinematic 60FPS, selectable for videographers and content creators of every description

The APS-C sensor offers 24 megapixel stills for the photographers and up to 4K 60FPS video clips for the filmmakers. What this camera does miss when it comes to still image capture, although obviously irrelevant for video, is a built-in flash bulb. There is a hot shoe atop this model for accessory attachment, however.

As we might assume, given the camera’s compositional LCD screen is presented in 3:2 aspect ratio, the default setting when it comes to image capture is 3:2, which will deliver maximum resolution shots. Lower resolution alternatives include the more standard 4:3, a widescreen 16:9, plus 1:1.

The tone of images produced can be affected in camera via its digital filter effects, selected from Canon’s familiar Picture Style options. On top of settings optimized for portraiture and landscapes, various color filter effects can provide subtle blue, green and magenta washes to images, should we feel that enhances them in any way. As we felt the warm yet naturalistic images produced by the camera as a default were punchy enough, we tended to steer clear of these and opt for the ‘Standard’ Picture Style setting as our chosen default. Clear, sharp and moreover consistent results are what this camera delivers, as we’d fully expect from Canon. Anyone getting started with this model is going to appreciate such consistency, taking both their photography and videography a step further.

Autofocus & subject detection

• Auto Focus capable of being determined down to -5EV
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF II system offers eye and face detection
• AF tracking covers the most common subjects of people, animals and vehicles and delivers a consistent performance

The Canon EOS R50 V features its manufacturer’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF II system, offering the ability to automatically determine focus down to -5EV. The camera’s AF system also offers eye and face detection along with tracking AF for people, animals and vehicles. The animals option proves useful for wildlife and results in a higher proportion of sharp images than we’d achieve without it. We also found that if a duck were to turn its head so that we only saw the tuft at the back, the camera would still stay locked on. We wouldn't necessarily consider it one of the best cameras for wildlife photography, but it does a pretty good job.

While aimed at keen amateurs rather than pros, this mirrorless compact is as swift in its responses as we’d expect a consumer-level DSLR to be. Pressing down halfway on its shutter release button prompts the camera to acquire focus as quickly as we can blink. As the back screen is also a touchscreen, we can tap on an area of the panel to redirect the auto focus if it hasn’t alighted on the portion of the frame or the subject we originally intended. For night sky photography, we found it helpful to press left on the camera’s rear plate control dial to switch from auto to manual focus, allowing us to fine-tune the camera’s response and make sure the stars were as sharply rendered as possible.

Astro & low light performance

• Core light sensitivity range expandable from ISO 32,000 up to ISO 51,200 if required
• Screw thread for tripod mounting is provided at the base
• Digital image stabilization in lieu of the sensor shift variety, though optical image stabilization can be provided if choosing an IS-equipped lens

We got our best results when attempting astrophotography by switching to manual focus rather than purely relying on the camera’s AF to try and focus on the constellations. If there is a tree line or illuminated road in the frame, the camera will obviously try and focus on that rather than more ethereal heavenly objects. It certainly helps that we can use the camera’s touchscreen to make changes and select settings in real time rather than having to otherwise rely on its tiny backplate buttons. We found the latter — black buttons against a black background — almost impossible to locate in the pitch black.

Burst rate, buffer & battery life

• Battery delivers approximately 480 shots
• Up to 15FPS with electronic shutter or 12FPS with mechanical shutter
• Maximum burst sizes of up to 95 images are possible

The R50 V’s rechargeable lithium battery is claimed to be good for up to 480 shots from a full charge. That sort of performance is respectable for this beginner class of camera and indeed better than average for its consumer class. Image bursts can be captured up to a maximum of 95 shots. In terms of shooting sports, action photography or capturing wildlife, buffer capacity is such that we’ve got the option here to capture up to 12FPS bursts with mechanical shutter, speed maintained for approximately 42 JPEGs or 7 RAW images. If that’s not quite enough for the purpose, alternatively, we can switch things up to 15FPS if opting for the electronic shutter for 28 JPEGs, or again, 7 RAW files.

Verdict

The EOS R50 V may look boxy and unassuming from the outside, but the focus here is on functionality rather than form. While the build for us felt more insubstantial than we’d like, at least this aids portability. It does, however, miss a well-rounded grip that would be a further aid to shooting handheld, especially for those vloggers who may like to make ‘walk and talk’ type recordings to the camera. However, it’s not such an issue for astrophotography, whereby we’ll need to have the camera tripod-mounted and set the self-timer for firing the shutter release, so the process of otherwise pressing it ourselves doesn’t jog the camera.

As the operation is built around the touch panel LCD, inevitably, there is more to this camera than its pared-back physical control layout may suggest. This leaves room for those just getting started to grow their skill set, as greater familiarity ensures arriving quickly at the settings we want and it becoming second nature. However, if we’re more into shooting stills than video, it would make sense to look elsewhere at the multitude of alternatives, not least the likes of the OM System OM-3, which not only looks much more attractive in terms of design but also features a dedicated Starry Sky AF setting for astrophotographers.

If the Canon EOS R50 V isn't for you

If you’re seeking out a hybrid camera that’s just as, if not more than, focused on video as stills, then also check out the Panasonic S1R II, which resembles more of a conventionally classic camera build, as well as its updated range toppers in the S1 II and the S1 IIE. These share some of the earlier S1R II’s technological DNA, plus near-identical outer construction. Closer alternatives to the Canon EOS R50 V still come via the Sony ZV range of content creator-targeted compacts, of which there is a growing creative arsenal.

How we tested the Canon EOS R50 V

We recorded video clips at both 4K and Full HD settings, with little difference between them visible when watched back on our desktop PC. When recording outdoors and being reliant on the built-in microphones, we experienced issues with wind noise that could be much improved/avoided with the use of an accessory microphone with a windshield. Naturally, we tested the EOS R50 V out during the daytime as well as at night, with resultant images well saturated, color-rich and detailed yet naturalistic with it despite being slightly on the warm side, which is what we’d expect of a Canon.

In terms of night sky photography, we were shooting wide open at the lens’ maximum f/4 setting and trying out manually selected exposure durations of 15 and 10 seconds, down to five or four seconds, coupling this with selected ISO settings of ISO 1600 and ISO 3200. At all times, we had the camera mounted on a tripod, focusing manually and then using the model’s self-timer to remotely trigger the shutter.

The SIGMA 14mm DG DN f/1.4 lens caused shockwaves upon its initial release. Never before had a lens been coupled with apertures such as f/1.4, and at 14mm. As the latest in cutting-edge technology, it would prove to be an overall game-changer for astrophotography, allowing more light into our cameras and revolutionizing complex compositions of night sky images, coupling landscapes with starry skies above.

With astrophotography, we need to let as much light into our cameras as possible, in order to resolve the finer details in our night-scape images. With lenses previously at the threshold of f/2.8–f/1.4, light gathering was acceptable, but resulted in adjustment of other camera settings — including shutter speed and ISO values — to generate a low-light image. Now, with f/1.4, it is possible to execute sharper, more defined images than ever before, and it has certainly proved to be a lens worthy of a place in any photographer’s camera bag.

Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN review

Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN: Design

• Heavier lens
• Excellent lens build
• Weather-sealed design

With a weight of 41.3 ounces (1,170 grams), this lens is much heavier than many of its rivals. Therefore, it is best used while supported on a static tripod. It can be used handheld, but the weight can restrict usage time.

Sigma goes a step above and beyond to produce quality optics of a professional grade. From machining to material choice and brand representation, each lens is like an art form of its own, and attests to a quality lens choice.

There are a series of buttons and switches on the 14mm DG DN, including Focus Mode (to switch between Manual and AutoFocus), Manual Focus Lock (to disable the focus ring), AFL (a button that can be customised based on camera body operation) and Aperture Click (to disable aperture click when adjusting this figure on the barrel of the lens),

Filters can be used in different ways, from an adapter attached to the front of the lens (for the use of glass filters directly in front of the lens) to the built-in rear filter holder. Filters (which are approximately the size of an SD card) can be positioned between the camera and lens, and the supplied lens cap has compartments to house up to two filters.

This 14mm lens has been designed with weather resistance in mind. Featuring a dust- and splash-resistant construction, it suitable for use in rugged environments and inclement weather. However, the lens is not fully waterproof, and direct contact with water is not advised.

The lens comes with a one-size, detachable L-mount that can be used to house the lens if attached to a static tripod. The mount comes with a universal 0.25 inch (6.3 mm) screw thread to accept the majority of universal tripod attachments.

Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN: Performance

• Excellent light-gathering capability
• Sharp results at the corner of the frame
• Chromatic aberration corrected from previous model

This test image captures a field of sunflowers under the arms of the Milky Way — taken at varying apertures of f/1.4 to f/4. Taken at a hyperfocal distance of 4.67 meters, the majority of the scene is in focus, except for a few subjects closer than half the hyperfocal distance, for which focus stacking was necessary when shooting at this aperture. Sharpness is excellent as enough light can enter the camera to perform an accurate focus on the stars in-frame — we used the LCD monitor to digitally zoom in on a star and fine-tune the focus.

At f/1.4, vignetting is more evident; however, this is the nature of shooting at such a wide aperture. This can be corrected in photo-editing software such as Lightroom, where the lens profile can be applied, or you can perform manual adjustments. As you decrease the aperture, vignetting becomes less apparent; however, adjustments need to be made for your other camera settings, resulting in introduced artefacts, such as noise.

Compared to its predecessor, the Sigma 14mm F/1.8 DG HSM, chromatic aberration has been significantly improved. Stars are more round and sharp at both corners and edges of the frame, and there's no loss in detail through varying apertures.

Color reproduction is very good. Not only do the lens's immaculate light-gathering capabilities reveal fainter structure and detail within the Milky Way, other atmospheric phenomena such as airglow can sometimes be apparent in images — even though the effect may not have been visible to the eye during a night shoot.

Within the context of landscape photography, flaring is not so apparent. Only when directly centering the sun (for the context of sunset photography) is flaring somewhat introduced, depending on how you frame and angle the lens in relation to a bright light source.

Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN: Functionality

• Good autofocus capability for daytime subjects
• Improved signal-to-noise ratio
• f/1.4 at 14mm is a game-changer for astrophotography

The excellent light-gathering capability at f/1.4 at 14mm is a game-changer for astrophotography. Not only does this extra stop let in even more light to your camera, but exposures can also be utilized to increase the signal-to-noise ratio in images. Using much higher ISOs, it is even possible to acquire images of the Milky Way handheld — although standard practice is to utilize a static tripod (or a star tracker for longer exposures).

The lens can also identify deep-sky objects within images at this scale. Images of the moon are identified on a smaller imaging scale and composite images can be deployed to acquire the full visual effect of the lens, for instance as the moon moves throughout the night.

Because this lens gathers much more light, a digital magnifier built into your camera’s LCD monitor can be used to zoom in on a bright star and perform subtle fine-tune focusing. Rocking the focus wheel back and forth will identify pinpoint sources of light.

Autofocus accuracy is good. Working within the camera’s focusing area (we used the Sony A7S II), the images have crisp focus across the frame, with limited chromatic aberration in the corners of the frame.

One notable (and understandable) scenario is that the lens struggles in more light-directed environments. In an example of sunset photography, the lens does not respond well when attempting to identify the subject matter. For this reason, manual focus is highly advised. Overall, autofocus is good within well-lit environments but struggles more in low light, with subjects more challenging to detect.

Even with f/1.4 capability, manual focus is still advised for low-light environments. Even when using an amplified ISO, subject matter can be much harder to detect, or the focus may be somewhat soft. Manual focus, taking advantage of greater light-gathering capability, will provide greater control.

The focus wheel turns very smoothly to obtain critical focus, especially if focus stacking is utilized. This smooth operation makes it possible to obtain crisp images in low-light environments, especially in the context of landscape astrophotography.

Should you buy the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN?

If you're looking for a quality lens at the very top of its game, with superior light-gathering and revolutionary technology, then this is the lens for you. Yes, it's a more expensive choice, but it is well worth the investment.

14mm is a suitable choice of lens for versatility across a number of photographic genres. The incredible light-gathering capability at f/1.4 adds an element of artistic flair, and so we would vouch for this lens as a must-have in any photographer’s camera bag.

If the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN isn't for you

It’s no secret that the best lenses for wildlife photography are among the most expensive lenses you can buy. Finding a versatile, good-quality lens with the reach and prowess needed for photographing distant animals is a tough feat if you don’t have a huge budget, but the Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM lens could be just what you’re looking for. With one of the widest focal ranges out there, it’s a wildlife photographer's dream — and, provided you’re shooting in favorable conditions, no animal will be out of reach.

We’ve taken it to a nature reserve, photographed birds from our window and zoomed in on the moon to assess its performance in all-light conditions for static and moving subjects, emulating real-world shooting conditions to test its mettle.

Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM review

Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM: Design

• Big and heavy
• Annoying amount of lens creep
• Solid and well-built
• Custom buttons difficult to access

There’s no beating around the bush here — this lens is big, and it’s heavy. Weighing about 4.5 lbs (just over 2 kilograms), this thing makes itself known both in your camera bag and out in the field. Needless to say, it got quite heavy after a while, even when resting in a hide, but it feels solid and well-built and is dust- and weather-resistant, although we never got caught out in the rain to fully test this.

We found it frustrating that it didn’t have a zoom lock, as it had an annoying amount of lens creep when we held the lens vertically, which meant we couldn’t carry the camera around our neck (as if its weight didn’t already see to that). We found the zoom ring a little on the stiff side, and, to be picky, the lens actually looked quite ugly when it was zoomed all the way in on a subject.

In addition, it has a control ring, AF/MF switch, image stabilizer switch and two custom buttons, although we found these buttons hard to press as they aren’t within easy reach when holding the camera’s hefty weight. When we took our hand away to try to press either of the buttons, it threw the entire weight distribution off.

It has a nice big lens hood, although we’d have liked this to have a door in order to utilize a polarizer, particularly when we were photographing waterfowl.

Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM: Performance

• Struggles in the dark with f/6.3 aperture
• Good autofocus performance
• Excellent image quality

For wildlife photography in generally favorable conditions, this lens performed very well overall. Its obvious downfall is the limited maximum aperture — f/6.3 performs just fine during the daytime, but as the light levels fell at dusk, or even when we went into a heavily wooded area, we had to push the ISO up higher than we’d have wanted.

Luckily, we were shooting with the Canon EOS R6 II, which has excellent noise handling, so we were able to save a lot of our images. But if you often shoot at dawn or dusk, we’d recommend investing in a wider telephoto lens so you won’t need to rely on denoise software.

The autofocus was also good, but at higher focal lengths, it’s at the mercy of how steady your hand is. It generally performed very well, but it suffered when we were shooting in harsh conditions, or if there were distractions or foliage in front of our subject.

Overall, though, its performance is very good for the price. Images are sharp and it captures color very nicely — certainly more than well enough for wildlife or moon photography.

Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM: Functionality

• 5.5 stops of image stabilization is crucial
• Versatile focal length
• 2.6 ft (0.8 meter) close focusing distance at 200mm is great for insects

As much as it suffers from a fairly wide maximum aperture, the 200-800mm focal length offers versatility that many other lenses don’t. There’s a Sony super-telephoto with a 400-800mm range, but you’d be stuck if a subject came too close to you — with the Canon, you’d be able to zoom out easily. We never found ourselves wishing we had multiple lenses, as the 200-800mm can cover a lot of subjects, near or far.

Plus, although it doesn’t have the close focusing capabilities of a true macro lens, it can focus as close as 2.6 feet (0.8 meters) at 200mm, which is great for photographing butterflies and insects at a fairly close range.

The 5.5 stops of image stabilization were a lifesaver, and pretty crucial for such a long focal length. Even just for compositional purposes, we still struggled to follow subjects on occasion at the full 800mm, and if there had been no image stabilization, we’d have had no chance.

Should you buy the Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM?

Overall, this lens provides excellent value for money. You get a lot of lens for the price, and although it’s not a low-light champion, it still produces beautifully sharp, contrast-y images, while the versatility of the focal length is hard to beat.

Considering the very best wildlife lenses are telephoto primes costing upwards of $10,000, it’s one of the best you can buy for most wildlife photographers — that is, for anyone who’s not a serious pro.

If the Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM isn't for you

The Soocas NEOS II, released in October 2024, isn't just another electric toothbrush. It is a sleek, all-in-one oral care upgrade designed for people who value simplicity and efficiency and want something that looks the part, too.

Rather than cluttering your bathroom with multiple gadgets, this clever device combines high-frequency sonic brushing and powerful water flossing into a single unit. The result is a system that looks good and performs well.

We've been using this sonic toothbrush meets water flosser for around a month, and we've already given our separate flosser away — no, really. Our last water flosser was a novel idea at first, but in reality, after a couple of days' use it was sent to the cupboard — probably when the battery first died — where it stayed gathering dust, bar the odd occasion when we remembered we had one! With the Soocas NEOS II, we found it much easier to maintain a consistent routine.

For us, it replaced the electric toothbrush and separate water-flossing combo, and now the NEOS II sits proudly on the sink, always charged and ready to go. There are some drawbacks but overall, we were pleasantly surprised by this unique bit of kit.

Soocas NEOS II 2-in-1 toothbrush review

Soocas NEOS II 2-in-1 toothbrush review: Design

• IPX8 Waterproof rating
• Available in two colorways
• Packaged in recycled sugarcane

The first thing we'll acknowledge is the packaging, which is made from recycled sugarcane — something we hope to see more of across the board. Sugarcane husk is an existing waste product: it's the dry, fibrous pulp left over after sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract their juice. A natural, plant-based material, it doesn't require extra land or deforestation, requires less energy than paper and cardboard made from wood pulp, and biodegrades in around 90 days.

A great first impression, even though the toothbrush itself isn't made from recyclable materials (as the SURI is, for example).

The Soocas NEOS II looks like a normal, albeit chunky, electric toothbrush. That's because a 50 ml water tank built into the handle feeds the flosser. Sure, this isn't as compact as having a "regular-sized" electric toothbrush, but it certainly beats having a separate brusher, flosser and a different charger for each.

The only thing we will say about the water tank is that we wish it were accessible from the front. A couple of times, we loaded up our toothbrush with toothpaste, forgetting to fill up with water. You can guess what happened when we turned the toothbrush upside down to fill the tank.

We tested the Deep Violet version of this toothbrush, though we'd consider it more like a navy blue. It also comes in Pearl White. Both designs are discreet and would blend with any decor, but the noticeably large handle does make it stand out; you'll likely get questions from house guests who haven't seen one before.

Soocas decided to build the NEOS II to IPX8 waterproofing, meaning it can be submerged to a depth of 6.5 feet (2 meters). So if you really want to multitask your way through your morning routine, you can safely use it while showering.

Soocas NEOS II: Features

• Built-in water flosser
• Two modes with three pressure modes each
• No smart features

Obviously, the main feature of this 2-in-1 water flosser is that it combines a sonic toothbrush and a water flosser. One handheld device that does both jobs, so you only need one charger and one step in your teeth-cleaning routine.

There isn't an accompanying app or any particular smart features, but there are two programs.

The first, Quick Floss, is described as a 60-second "brush and flush" cycle with a fixed intensity, and is recommended for quick refreshes after mealtimes or snacks. The other mode is Deep Clean, which provides two minutes of brushing time, followed by a one-minute brush and flush. You can adjust the intensity of this mode from one to three. It is recommended that new users start on the gentle setting and gradually build up to the most intense setting as their gums adjust to the new routine.

The best way to use this toothbrush is to let it do all the hard work. Move it slowly along your teeth. Vibration reminders remind you when to move to a different part of your mouth, then a more intense vibration reminder alerts you when the flosser is about to start. You can pause the program by quickly pressing any button, then press it again to restart, or you can long-press any button to turn the toothbrush off.

The standard Soocas NEOS II ships with a water tank cleaner, two brush heads (so you can share immediately if you wish) and a magnetic charger. There is no plug adapter (the bit that goes into the wall), but we didn't mind — we have plenty around the house. There is also an "Ultimate" set that ships with two extra heads and a handy travel case. Replacement heads cost around $30 for a pack of two, and it is recommended that you replace them every three months.

We were quite happy with the functionality of this toothbrush, and we felt it did a good job – without needing an app to tell us exactly where we've brushed and flossed and where we might have missed, though perhaps some users would like this functionality. We typically brushed for as long as each program lasts (three minutes or one minute), so there's no need to use a separate timer.

Soocas NEOS II: Performance

• More than 30 days of battery life
• No brush-only mode
• Noticeable results after a short amount of use

The Socas NEOS II has a built-in, rechargeable 2600mAh lithium-ion battery that lasts more than 30 days. At around 28 days in, we're still using it on its first charge, and the battery indicator is still showing a breathing green light, which means there's still somewhere between 30% and 100% charge.

When it changes to a breathing red light, we know there is less than 30%. A constant flashing red light means there's less than 10%, and we need to plug it in. It takes about 8 hours to fully charge, so it's best to do this overnight, ready for the morning.

We were very happy with the Soocas NEOS II's brushing performance, and noticed a change in the feel of our teeth after just a few days. Remember, we went from not flossing very often, or only when we remembered, to flossing every time we brush thanks to the convenience.

There is no brush-only mode. Instead, you have to stop the deep clean program partway through, before the flosser kicks in. Sometimes you just want to give your teeth a good old-fashioned scrub, so it might be worth keeping a manual toothbrush aside for these occasions, but overall, your teeth will definitely feel like they're getting extra care and attention, and they will feel and look cleaner in the gaps, too!

Sooca NEOS II toothbrush: User reviews

There were 688 global ratings on Amazon at the time of writing, and the NEOS II scored an admirable 4.5 out of 5, with over 74% of users awarding it 5 stars.

The worst ratings weren't particularly helpful, with one being "rubbish that's all I can say" and someone else saying they "didn't feel like it does a good job at cleaning or flossing."

On the other hand, there were plenty of reviews raving about the toothbrush. One user said: "This 2-in-1 toothbrush is a game-changer for oral hygiene." Another claimed, "It’s perfect for my busy lifestyle," while a third said, "The built-in water-flosser makes my teeth feel extra clean without needing a separate device."

Should you buy the Soocas NEOS II toothbrush?

✅ Buy it if: You want to improve your dental hygiene routine but keep things simple. With one device to brush and floss, there's no excuse for skipping flossing, as we often did before.

❌ Don't buy it if: You want something with app functionality. Some users want visual feedback from an accompanying app, but you won't get that with the NEOS II.

If this product is not for you

If you want a toothbrush with smart features, the Oclean X Pro Digital Sonic gives you detailed feedback on brushing coverage. During our review, we were impressed by its brushing efficiency and by how immaculately clean our teeth were, which is ultimately what we strive for in any toothbrush.

If you'd prefer visual and vocal feedback over using an app, consider the Oclean X Ultra S. The world's first talking toothbrush, it is also customizable to a wide range of brushing needs and offers an impressive 40-day battery life.

For a great value-for-money option, have a look at the Bitvae R2. This oscillating toothbrush costs just $34.99 and is often further discounted during sales events like Prime Day and Black Friday. It comes with seven spare brush heads, features five cleaning modes and includes a pressure sensor, a feature usually only found on more expensive models.

Soocas NEOS II Toothbrush: How we tested

We spent almost a month testing the Soocas Neos II toothbrush daily. We wanted to see how easy it would slot into or change our morning routine, and considered the design, brushing performance, battery life, functionality and value for money. We also tested its IPX8 waterproof rating by submerging the toothbrush for the full three-minute deep clean cycle.

If you're looking to get back into exercising, or are just starting out, the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 may be the best fitness tracker for you. This fitness tracker does a great job of tracking your workouts and summarizing the data in an easy-to-understand format, without overcomplicating anything. The interface is user-friendly, and even those who aren't into tech should be able to navigate around this smartwatch in no time at all.

While this is a budget fitness tracker, that doesn't mean it's lacking in features. You can do more than just track your workouts with this smart band: you can also track your sleep, stress levels, heart rate and so much more. There's also no shortage of sports modes — with 150+ to choose from, you're bound to find the workout you want on this watch.

While the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 has a few features the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 doesn't, such as underwater real-time heart rate monitoring, running courses and a larger screen, there are also plenty of similarities between the two. Both offer three weeks of battery life, and neither has its own built-in GPS, for a start. But how does the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 perform compared to its predecessor, which we placed in our best budget fitness trackers guide?

Xiaomi Smart Band 10 fitness tracker review

Xiaomi Smart Band 10 fitness tracker: Design

• Strap is difficult to put on alone
• Charger is USB-A – we'd prefer USB-C
• Comfortable to wear, day and night

The Xiaomi Smart Band 10 is a small yet surprisingly well designed fitness tracker. Unlike other smartwatches, with huge watch faces that protrude from your wrist, the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 is nice and sleek. With a face that measures only 1.72 inches (44 millimeters) diagonally, ultra-thin bezels of just 0.07 inches (2 mm) and a weight of 0.56 ounces (15.95 grams), this fitness tracker is barely noticeable when it's being worn.

The screen is an AMOLED display and performs well in direct sunlight — not once did we struggle to see the details on the screen in any light. But while the slender screen is a welcome relief from bulkier fitness trackers, we did find the strap rather annoying to put on alone.

Our sample was the Midnight Rose variation and came with a light pink TPU strap, where you need to press the button into the strap. However, due to the strap's flexibility, it's hard to tighten the strap and push the button in without losing tightness, and we found it easier to have someone help us. After a while, we managed it alone, but this was frustrating at first.

Saying that, you can change the strap if you find this irritating. There's a quick-release button on the back, which you can press with a fingernail and release the strap with no fuss. There are many alternative options, including leather, metal and silk knitted straps, as well as the option to turn it into a pendant.

We liked how many watch faces there are for you to download for free on the Mi Fitness App, and there are even more if you are happy to pay a little. This means you can personalize your watch and change things up if, like us, you get bored with the same image as your watch background.