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EcoFlow’s Rapid power bank is the fastest yet
Product Reviews

EcoFlow’s Rapid power bank is the fastest yet

by admin


It’s now possible to charge a large 99Wh (27,650mAh) power bank — the largest you can easily take on an airplane — from zero to 80 percent in about 20 minutes. But only if you own EcoFlow’s new power bank and desktop charger combo, launching in the US today.

The $179.99 / €169.99 Rapid Pro Power Bank 27k can take a powerful 320W charge when placed onto the pogo-pin connector on top of the company’s $199.99 / €159.99 Rapid Pro Desktop Charger. Both devices can simultaneously charge two power-hungry laptops at up to 140W each over USB-C, and you can plug two 140W USB-C PD 3.1 chargers into the power bank to charge its battery from zero to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes.

You can even monitor progress over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth from the EcoFlow app on your phone while packing for the airport, and the portable battery should be suitably charged by the time your Uber arrives.

I’ve been testing the power bank and desktop charger for the last few weeks to verify EcoFlow’s claims, and to see how well the two products function at home and on the go, together and apart.

Fast bidirectional charging is the standout feature of this bulky workhorse of a power bank, followed closely by its built-in retractable USB-C cable that can handle 140W of input or output. When stacked onto the desktop charger you get nine USB ports and a staggering 600W of total output for your laptops, phones, drones, headphones, Starlink… you name it, as we enter the golden age of USB-C connectivity.

$180

The Good

  • Recharges (briefly) at an incredibly fast 320W
  • Simultaneous 140W USB-C PD 3.1 in/out on two ports
  • Built-in retractable USB-C cable
  • Remote monitoring

The Bad

  • Expensive and bulky for 99Wh
  • 320W possible when battery cool using proprietary connector
  • Display easily scratches, unreadable in sunlight
  • Nobody needs a screensaver on their battery

$200

The Good

  • Charges Rapid Power Bank at 320W
  • Charges two USB-C PD 3.1 laptops at 140W simultaneously
  • Large display with dial to monitor individual ports
  • Remote monitoring and control

The Bad

  • 320W output uses proprietary pogo-pin connector
  • Dim display can be scratched

The ultra-fast 320W charge is delivered over proprietary spring-loaded pogo-pin connectors on the bottom of the power bank and top of the desktop charger, with magnets to help keep them aligned. EcoFlow claims an “industry fastest recharging speed” from the combo, which seems to check out.

The closest competitor we can find is Anker’s $179.99 Prime Power Bank, which tops out briefly at 170W when connecting its 99Wh battery to two 140W USB-C chargers simultaneously.

I managed to charge EcoFlow’s Rapid Pro Power Bank at a maximum of 320.5W when stacked on top of the desktop charger, or 232W when simultaneously connected to both a 100W USB-C charger and the only 140W PD 3.1 charger I own. I’m unable to validate the 280W claim — though I have no reason to doubt it.

In both scenarios, EcoFlow’s power bank followed a typical charging curve for a lithium-ion battery that’s meant to preserve its health and prevent overheating. With dual USB-C inputs, the power bank maintained its max charge rate when the battery was between 10 to 50 percent full in my testing, but the pogo-pin connector was only pulling its max input when between 10 to 25 percent. However, on a mild day when the battery was warm due to excessive benchmarking, I never saw the power bank pull more than 250W when placed on the desktop charger — well below the 320W max advertised. The Rapid Pro Power Bank grew warm to the touch in my testing, but never hot.

The Rapid Pro Power Bank has four USB-C ports: 2x 140W input/output and 2x 65W output. It can simultaneously charge two power-hungry USB-C devices — like a high-end MacBook and gaming laptop — at 140W each for a max total output of 280W when both ports are active. It maxes out at 300W when either three or all four ports are active. Three of the charger’s ports also support 63W Universal Fast Charging Specification (UFCS) favored by Chinese device makers.

Notably, one of the power bank’s bidirectional 140W USB-C jacks is at the end of a flat 2-foot (60cm) cable that stays flush with the case when retracted with help from magnets. It’s incredibly convenient to have the appropriately spec’d USB-C cable with you at all times. I also like that EcoFlow labels every port with its maximum power rating and whether it’s suitable for input, output, or both. Nice.

In addition to the pogo-pin connector on top, EcoFlow’s Rapid Pro Desktop Charger features one 30W USB-A port and four USB-C ports: 2x 140W, 1x 65W, 1x 30W. It also supports a mix of 30W and 63W UFS charging. Max total output from the GaN charger is 280W when two USB ports are active, 310W for three, 295W for four, and 289W for five.

And yes, you can stack the power bank on top of the desktop charger for a total of nine active ports while the Power Bank charges through the pogo pins.

Good: magnetic pogo-pin connector for ultra-fast 320W charging. Bad: screensavers on your desktop charger and power bank. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge

The 140W USB-C in/out retractable cable fully extended. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge

The EcoFlow app lets you remotely monitor the power bank and monitor and control ports on the desktop charger. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge

Charges up to nine devices simultaneously while the power bank charges. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge

I tested the Rapid Pro Power Bank’s output capacity with my iPhone 15 Pro while it was on and being lightly used in temperatures between 20 and 35 degrees Celsius (68 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit). The power bank charged my phone from zero to full nearly four times — the last charge peaked at 87 percent before the power bank showed empty. Mathematically, you’d think EcoFlow’s 27,650mAh (99.54Wh @ 3.6V) power bank could charge the iPhone 15 Pro’s 3,274mAh battery more than eight times. Afterall, 27,650 divided by 3,274 equals 8.4. But that’s not how power banks work.

A power bank’s available capacity is much less than the advertised capacity due to the process of converting that stored chemical energy into power for attached USB devices. To charge my iPhone, the power bank has to continuously boost the internal cell voltage of 3.6V to between 5V and 9V. Energy is also lost to inefficiencies in the charging circuit, heat, cable resistance, and battery health which degrades over time.

A generic 99Wh power bank on the left shows just how bulky EcoFlow’s model is.

Placing the depleted power bank on top of the desktop charger returned the battery to 50 percent in just 10 minutes, 80 percent in 22 minutes, and 100 percent in 33 minutes. When the power bank was about 10 percent charged, it started pulling between 315W and 320W from the desktop charger until it reached 25 percent. The majority of the time, it was charging at around 250W before falling to 150W late in the cycle. This charging curve explains why the 99.54Wh battery doesn’t charge from zero to 100 percent in 18.7 minutes (99.54Wh divided by 320W x 60 min).

The power bank’s lithium-ion (ternary) battery is good for about 300 cycles before capacity drops to 80 percent, says EcoFlow. You can prolong the battery’s health by setting charging limits within the EcoFlow app to keep it within the recommended 20 to 80 percent range.

The desktop charger, like the power bank, feels solid and well built. The dial on the side is plastic but suitably tactile and clicky as it rotates. It lets you scroll through the status of each port — a push on the dial reveals voltage and amperage. I like it. The EcoFlow app gives you similar visibility and lets you remotely turn ports on and off individually. My only real complaint is the stiff power cable on the back that prevents the desktop charger from sitting flush against the wall.

The Rapid Pro Power Bank is bulky compared to a cheaper 99Wh / 140W model I purchased from a random Amazon brand last year, and the plastic display already has a long scuff mark across it. That EcoFlow display is unreadable in sunlight and barely readable in shadow. The desktop charger seems to use the same screen but visibility is better indoors. I wish EcoFlow’s portable battery had a “find device” feature like Anker’s power bank that plays a sound when triggered from the app.

1/12Powering a Starlink Mini, MacBook Pro, Apple Watch Ultra, and AirPods Pro.

The EcoFlow power bank and desktop charger compare favorably to Anker’s remarkably similar Prime series of devices. The Prime Power Bank I mentioned earlier can even be purchased as part of a $269.99 Prime Power Bank and Charging Base bundle that offers only 100W of charge over its pogo-pin connector. Anker sells a $169.99 Prime Charger without the pogo-pins and six outputs, but it maxes out at 140W on any single port or 250W total.

That makes EcoFlow’s Rapid Pro Power Bank and Rapid Pro Desktop Charger — available in a $360 bundle — the clear winners in terms of raw power and bidirectional charging speeds for anyone willing to spend a bit more. At least until we see what Anker and others have up their sleeves next week at the big IFA tech show.

Photography by Thomas Ricker / The Verge

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Smeg milk frother
Product Reviews

Smeg Mini Milk Frother review: a stylish addition to your coffee-making corner

by admin



Why you can trust TechRadar


We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Smeg Mini Milk Frother: two-minute review

The Smeg Mini Milk Frother is extremely easy to use, and would be a great choice for anyone who finds a steam wand tricky to use, or those who want to prepare cold drinks

It has three modes: Hot Milk Foam, Hot Milk, and Cold Milk Foam. As with all other Smeg devices I’ve tested to date, its controls are refreshingly straightforward. There’s a single button on the front, which you press once, twice, or three times to choose a setting. There’s no need to confirm your selection – just wait a few seconds and the frother will start.

The Smeg Mini Milk Frother has a single button, which you press once, twice, or three times to choose a mode (Image credit: Future)

The Smeg Mini Milk Frother’s 500W motor is remarkably quiet, and during my tests it was barely audible, registering only 40dB on my sound meter, with the occasional soft tick from the heating element on the hot foam mode. It was about the same volume as my fridge, and much quieter than texturizing milk with a steam wand. When your milk is ready, the Mini Milk Frother will beep to let you know.

The Smeg Mini Milk Frother is intended to be used with chilled full-fat dairy milk. In tests, hot foam was super thick, and best suited to topping a cappuccino or an espresso macchiato. It wouldn’t be suitable for a caffe latte, which requires milk to have a similar texture to emulsion paint. Unlike the Dreo Baristamaker or Smeg Multi Milk Frother, there’s no choice of foam textures.

Whether prepared hot or cold, full-fat dairy milk produced a thick foam suitable for cappuccinos, but not for pouring latte art (Image credit: Future)

The Cold Milk setting also made very thick and stable foam, which would work well for an iced cappuccino, while the Hot Milk program produced sweet milk ideal for night time, or for pouring onto hot chocolate powder.

When using the Hot Foam or Hot Milk mode, milk is heated to a consistent temperature of 140F / 60C, which is optimal for coffee – hot enough to keep the milk sweet without scalding it and denaturing its proteins.

The frother heated milk to a consistent temperature of 140F / 60C, which is optimal for coffee (Image credit: Future)

The instructions don’t mention plant milk, and unlike some other milk frothers, the Smeg Mini Milk Frother has no separate modes for non-dairy drinks. I did test it with oat and almond milk for comparison with frothers such as the Dreo Baristamaker, but since these aren’t explicitly recommended by Smeg, I didn’t factor its performance with plant milks into my final score.

In these tests, barista-style oat milk turned out very well – perhaps more so than dairy – producing a smooth, glossy foam. As is often the case, almond milk produced quite a stiff, dry foam, but it was very stable whether prepared hot or cold.

Image 1 of 2

Smeg only recommends using the Mini Milk Frother with full-fat dairy milk, but oat milk turned out thick and glossy foam using the Hot Foam setting(Image credit: Future)Almond milk produce a more stiff, dry foam(Image credit: Future)

The carafe has a non-stick lining that helps your foamed milk slide out easily, and that makes washing it up a breeze. Just bear in mind that it’s not suitable for use with metal utensils; if you need a tool to remove any foam, use something like a soft silicone spatula to avoid scratches.

The lid and whisk can be washed in the top drawer of a dishwasher, but the carafe and its base should only be cleaned carefully by hand using a cloth, and not immersed in water.

The Smeg Mini Milk Frother isn’t recommended for making drinks such as shakes or hot chocolate (there’s no mention of that in the manual), so I stuck with milk alone. If you’d like a quick and easy way to make frothy hot chocolate or other drinks, the Smeg Multi Milk Frother would be a better choice.

Smeg Mini Milk Frother: price and availability

  • List price £99.95 (about $140 / AU$210)
  • Not currently available in US or Australia
  • Costs much less than the Smeg Multi Milk Frother

The Smeg Mini Milk Frother has a list price of £99.95 (about $140 / AU$210), but at the time of writing it’s not available in the US or Australia.

For comparison, the Smeg Multi Milk Frother, which has six functions and is also suitable for making drinks like hot chocolate, costs $249.95 / £179.95 / $299 and is available globally. The Dreo Baristamaker, which I reviewed last year and has dedicated modes for plant-based milks, is $99 / £119.99 (about AU$150).

Today’s best Smeg Mini Milk Frother deals

Smeg Mini Milk Frother: specifications

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Dimensions (H x W x D)

7.9 x 3.7 x 3.7 inches / 200 x 93 x 93mm

Minimum capacity

2oz / 60ml

Maximum capacity

6oz / 180ml for hot foam or 4oz / 120ml for cold foam

Motor

500W

Modes

3

Noise

40dB

Smeg Mini Milk Frother: design

  • Minimalist 1950s-inspired design
  • Available in six colors
  • Non-stick lining for easy cleaning

The Mini Milk Frother is one of Smeg’s 1950s-inspired kitchen appliances, with a minimalist design and clean lines. It comes in six colors (black, cream, pastel green, pastel blue, red, and white), and has a glossy finish.

Image 1 of 3

The Smeg Mini Milk Frother has a carafe with non-stick lining and transparent lid, a power base, and a magnetic whisk(Image credit: Future)The base uses induction to power the Mini Milk Frother(Image credit: Future)The whisk is attached to the bottom of the carafe and rotated magnetically(Image credit: Future)

It comprises a carafe (which is shaped like a squared-off cylinder with rounded corners), a transparent plastic lid, a removable whisk that’s held in place magnetically, and a base that powers the frother using induction, similar to an electric toothbrush. Note that there’s no rechargeable battery, so you can’t use the frother when it’s not on its base.

The carafe has a non-stick ceramic lining, with raised markings on the inside showing the maximum and minimum fill levels. These are quite far down, and are a little difficult to see unless the light is just right.

The markings inside the Smeg Mini Milk Frother can be tricky to see unless the lighting is just right (Image credit: Future)

Each corner of the carafe can serve as a pouring spout – a smart choice that makes it easy to decant your prepared milk. It doesn’t have a fine pouring spout, so you won’t be able to use it to create latte art; but in tests, the hot milk foam was rather thick for that.

Should you buy the Smeg Mini Milk Frother

Buy it if

Don’t buy it if

Smeg Mini Milk Frother: also consider

If you’re not sure whether the Smeg Mini Milk Frother is the right device for you, here are two alternatives to bear in mind.

How I tested the Smeg Mini Milk Frother

I tested each of the Smeg Mini Milk Frother’s modes using fresh, chilled whole milk in accordance with Smeg’s instructions.

I also tried it with chilled oat and almond milk , since these are both popular choices for making coffee at home. However, I only tried this for the sake of comparison. I didn’t factor the frother’s performance with plant-based milks into my scores, since such milk alternatives aren’t explicitly recommended by Smeg.

I cleaned the non-stick carafe using a damp cloth as directed by the manual, and washed the whisk and lid by hand using warm water and dish soap.

Read more about how TechRadar tests, reviews, and rates products.

First reviewed August 2025

Smeg Mini Milk Frother: Price Comparison



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A photo portrait of Yves Guillemot.
Product Reviews

Ubisoft CEO summoned to appear before French court in relation to harassment trial, as the publisher says it will ‘continue to cooperate with the justice system in this matter’

by admin



Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has been summoned to appear before a French court, following a trial in which three former executives were found guilty of workplace harassment in June.

In that trial, Serge Hascoët, Tommy François, and Guillaume Patrux were all given fines and suspended sentences ranging between twelve months and three years, after being convicted based on accusations including sexual misconduct, bullying and systemic racism. All three either resigned or were dismissed from Ubisoft following reports of their conduct in 2020.

Now, the trade union Solidaires Informatique and four other individuals, who were all involved in that original trial, have filed a subpoena instructing Guillemot to appear before the Brobigny District Court on October 1. As reported by French news network BFM TV (via VGC), the summons is in relation to that trial.


Related articles

In a statement to VGC, Ubisoft confirmed it had received summons from the union and related parties to appear before the court, specifying that “these are the same civil parties and this summons is based on the same facts as those in the case judged by the court this past June, following an investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.”

Ubisoft added that “After that investigation, and contrary to the civil parties’ requests, the Public Prosecutor’s Office decided that there were no grounds to initiate criminal proceedings against Ubisoft or its management, a decision it confirmed during its closing arguments at the hearing last June.”

Ubisoft concluded by saying it would “continue to cooperate with the justice system in this matter, as it has done over the past five years in the review of the facts related to this case.”

Hascoët, formerly Ubisoft’s chief creative officer, received an 18-month suspended sentence and a fine of €40,000/$47,190, after being found guilty of “psychological harassment and complicity in sexual harassment.” According to both court testimony and an internal Ubisoft investigation, employees under Hascoët were subjected to racial slurs and Islamophobic pranks.

François, meanwhile, was convicted on charges of sexual misconduct and attempted sexual assault, accused of trying to forcibly kiss an employee who was restrained during a holiday party. The former vice president of editorial and creative services received a heavier suspended sentence of three-years and a fine of €30,000/$35,340. Former game director Patrux received a 12-month suspended term and a €10,000/$11,800 fine. His sentencing described his bullying as “smaller scale” but “particularly intense”.

In May, it was reported that Guillemot and Ubisoft’s human resources director Marie Derain would be summoned to testify in the original trial. But Ubisoft denied this report, stating that “Neither Ubisoft, Yves, nor anyone from our HR team are parties to these proceedings.”

In addition to its statement responding to the summons, Ubisoft’s executive vice president Cecile Russeil said “Our top priority is to ensure the absolute protection of the physical and moral integrity of its employees, through a policy of prevention and zero tolerance with regard to sexual or moral harassment, sexist behaviour, assault, insult, or discrimination of any kind.”



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Ewan McGregor Thinks 'Obi-Wan' Season 2 Is an Inevitability
Product Reviews

Ewan McGregor Thinks ‘Obi-Wan’ Season 2 Is an Inevitability

by admin


Damien Leone teases Terrifier 4‘s take on the secret origins of Art the Clown. Cast and crew discuss football horrors in a new look at Him. Plus get a tense new look at a brutal clip from The Long Walk. Spoilers get!

Terrifier 4

During a recent interview with Collider, director Damien Leone stated Terrifier 4 will reveal the secret origin of Art the Clown in a “Lynchian” manner.

Once I wrote Part 2, I decided to really start telling the story. I wanted to tell it almost in a Lynchian way. I could never be on the same level as David Lynch. He’s one of my heroes. But I love the way he tells stories, and they’re very abstract. He doesn’t give you answers. If he ever tried to articulate, it would trivialize and diminish the beauty of what he’s done as an artist. His voice is his work. He’s not supposed to just tell you what he did.

You’re still going to have that Lynchian vibe with the next one, for sure.

Silent Night, Deadly Night

Meanwhile, director Mike P. Nelson told Screen Rant his Silent Night, Deadly Night remake contains “a lot of heart in it.”

I don’t want to just do a rehash of the original, because that doesn’t serve anyone. As much as people want to see like, “What is his version of the original?” that’s not what’s interesting to me.

But for Silent Night, it was finding that balance of, “How can I bring enough nods, winks, and feeling of what that original movie did, but give it my own twist?” I have to give it my own story, and that’s what excited the producers.

It’s something fresh, it’s something fun and new, and there’s a lot of heart in it, and a lot of axe murder, which is, you know, what we’re all hoping to see. So, yeah, I think it was just finding that balance of what the original made me feel, but “How do I tell a story [of] my own that kind of embodies that?”

Him

The cast and crew of Him discuss football-horror in a new featurette.

The Long Walk

Elsewhere, a charley horse leads to a grim revelation for the walkers in a new clip from Stephen King’s dystopian walkathon movie, The Long Walk.

 

Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi

During his recent appearance at Fan Expo Canada (via Daily Cosmic Marvel), Ewan McGregor stated he’s “sure” a second season of Obi-Wan Kenobi will get off the ground “at some point.”

Star Trek

Finally, during a recent interview with TV Insider, Paul Wesley stated he’d “love nothing more” than to follow up Strange New Worlds with his own, dedicated Captain Kirk series.

It’s not up to me, but I have expressed my desire, probably all too often, to the showrunners and whomever else asks. I would love nothing more than to do a Kirk series along with our beloved characters in TOS and introduce the characters that we have yet to introduce in TOS, Chekov and Sulu, and, I mean, you name it. And I think it would be fantastic.

Speaking as a little kid who wants to play in a series, I think there’s so much room to explore, and I think you can go into the TOS sort of time. You can explore time between episodes, you can explore time before the first episode. There’s just so much story to be mined here, and I would love nothing more than to play in that series.

Ethan Peck echoed his statements, adding:

I think it would be really wonderful. I will stay playing this character for as long as I’m invited, for the most part, because I just think it’s such an amazing thing to be a part of. The messaging is so incredible, and this character has so much integrity. He’s such a noble person, so I love portraying him.

 

 

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.



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LG S95AR Review: A Hassle-Free Dolby Atmos Soundbar
Product Reviews

LG S95AR Review: A Hassle-Free Dolby Atmos Soundbar

by admin


There aren’t many all-in-one soundbar solutions that give you as much sonic immersion for your money as LG’s S95. Many modern soundbar brands prefer to sell high-priced single bars, with add-on speakers available for an additional fee. LG provides a subwoofer, dual surrounds, and LG’s unique mix of five (not four) height channels to put you in the center of the action for 3D sound formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X from the get-go.

The latest-model S95AR offers a modest upgrade over last year’s S95TR (8/10, WIRED Recommends), including a revamped subwoofer and a $200 price hike to go with it. It’s perhaps no coincidence that the S95’s biggest rival, Samsung’s 11.1.4-channel Q990, has also raised its price in recent years, keeping LG’s slightly less elaborate 9.1.5-channel setup the more affordable option at full price.

I still prefer Samsung’s warmer, more musical sound signature, but the S95AR is a thrilling performer that offers similar (if not better) value, along with exclusive features for owners of newer LG TVs. If you’re looking for a one-stop setup that gets you close to a multi-component home theater solution, but with much less hassle, the S95AR is among the best soundbars around.

Battered but Brisk

Photograph: Ryan Waniata

For the second time in two products from LG, the S95AR landed on my doorstep in a somewhat abused state, with notable dents to its metallic acoustic grille. The system seemed otherwise no worse for wear, and while its 50-inch width pushes to the edges of midsize consoles, its height of less than 3 inches fits neatly below most TVs. Setup was mostly uneventful, allowing me to get it connected and spinning sound through the four-piece system in short order.

I say mostly uneventful because, as was the case with the last LG soundbar I reviewed, the S95AR requires you to plug in its components in a certain order: subwoofer first, then surrounds, then the bar. I did not do this, and the left rear surround wouldn’t connect. Unplugging everything and reconnecting it in order fixed things (or perhaps it was just the power cycling), and I had no other connection issues over several weeks.

LG’s ThinQ app has grown up over the years, now standing as a capable and mostly stable control center for all software setup and settings. The app found the bar nearly instantly and made it easy to connect to my network, futz with speaker channel levels, and perform LG’s AI Calibration that tunes the soundbar to your space. You can easily change inputs or sound modes and “Effects” from Music and Cinema modes to Night mode for softening the bass when the kids (or neighbors) are tucked in.

There’s also a separate remote for many of these controls, but due to the bar’s lack of any real visual display, using it for anything more than a quick volume adjustment or input switch is a hassle, as you’re relying on voice cues. That could be helpful for those with accessibility issues, but otherwise, the app is your interface.

Fully Stocked

Photograph: Ryan Waniata

Nestled within the main bar are front, left, and center channels that handle the majority of your music and TV content, dual side-firing drivers to bounce sound off your walls, and a trio of “height” channels to bounce effects off your ceiling, including LG’s unique center height channel for enhanced immersion with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X mixes. You’ll get three more channels in each football-sized surround speaker, including front, side, and height channels, and an 8-inch side-firing subwoofer.



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Product Reviews

The 16 best portable Bluetooth speakers for 2025

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Portable Bluetooth speakers are an easy way to bring your music anywhere without worrying about cables or power outlets. Whether you want something compact for relaxing at home, a tough waterproof model for the beach or a party speaker that fills the room, there’s an option for every need. The best portable speakers give you solid battery life, simple pairing and reliable sound no matter where you are.

Some models focus on balanced audio for the casual listener while others aim for the best sound possible to please an audiophile. You can find speakers with extra bass for outdoor gatherings, built-in lights for an added vibe or rugged designs that can handle rough conditions.

With so many choices available, it helps to know what features matter most for your listening style. Here’s a look at some of the top picks worth considering right now.

Quick Overview

See 11 more

Table of contents

Best portable Bluetooth speakers: $50 to $200

Soundcore

Features: Built-in carrying loop | Battery life: Up to 20 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 9.3 ounces | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IP67)

If you’re looking to spend as little as possible and get a speaker that will free you from using your smartphone to blast out tunes, the Soundcore Select 4 Go is a good option. It has decent sound quality for a speaker its size, and it’s loud enough to fill a standard-sized living room, bedroom or desk area outside. You can even pair two of them together to get bigger sound, too. It’s IP67 water- and dustproof, and it’s designed to float so it can handle an accidental dunk in the pool without any issue. And with a battery life of 20 hours, it’ll provide music for the entirety of your next party without breaking a sweat. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor

$35 at Amazon

JBL

Features: Built-in carrying loop | Battery life: Up to 7 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 0.4 pound | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IP67)

JBL made a handy, convenient little speaker in the Go 4. It gets decently loud and doesn’t sound too distorted at those higher volumes. Will it stand up to more expensive speakers on this list in terms of sound quality? No, but it sound good for its size, which is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Made in part with recycled materials, the Go 4 is IP67 water- and dustproof, and you can pair two of these speakers together to get an even wider sounstage. — V.P.

$45 at Amazon

Photo by Jon Turi / Engadget

Features: Built-in power bank to charge other devices | Battery life: Up to 12 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 1 pound | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IP67)

If you’re just looking for a small Bluetooth speaker that can kick out some decent volume, the Tribit StormBox Micro 2 fits the bill. The audio quality here is fine; it doesn’t stand out in terms of fidelity, but the volume you get from this affordable little speaker is what makes it a good choice. If you’re bopping about outdoors on your bike or chilling in the park, it’s usually more about portability and volume anyway. The rubbery rear strap works well on relatively thin things like belts, backpacks and bike handlebars.

While it’s small and affordable, this mini speaker features a USB-C charging port for your devices in a pinch and you can wirelessly connect two of them for party mode or stereo sound. It also supports voice assistants for both iOS and Android users, and if you want to take calls on your phone via speakerphone, that’s easy to do as well.

$59 at Amazon

Soundcore

Features: IPX7 waterproof, custom EQ settings using companion app | Battery life: Up to 13 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 1.9 pounds | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IPX7)

Soundcore has been releasing some very able speakers lately and one of its newest is a quality personal portable. The Motion 300 is of the pint-sized variety, but offers 30-watts of punchy and bright output. It’s IPX7 rated so it can handle a bit of water, and it works with the Anker Soundcore app that allows a fair amount of customization from EQ settings to button brightness. It also supports hi-res audio using the LDAC codec for Android users with a compatible device.

The Motion 300’s size and frequency range don’t quite allow for a ton of bass, but it’s relatively loud and thumpy, especially when it has surfaces to reflect off of. Soundcore has even extended its high-frequency range to 40kHz, and while its utility is debatable, the Motion 300 does sound crisp in the high-end spectrum. You can also enable adaptive audio, which helps optimize its sound delivery depending on the speaker orientation (on its back, standing up or hanging from its removable button-fastened strap).

The speaker’s design merges a funky style with office-machine chic, from the playfully speckled soft touch exterior to the metallic, logo-emblazoned grille. Its 1.7-pound weight and clutch-purse size makes it better as a handheld or stowed in your bag rather than hanging from a backpack or bike handlebars. Ultimately, you get great sound in a small package with features you can tweak to your liking, all at an approachable $80 price tag.

$80 at Amazon

Ultimate Ears

Features: IP67-rated design, support for stereo pairing | Battery life: Up to 14 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 1.2 pounds | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IP67)

The latest version of a previous pick (the Wonderboom 3), the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is a tiny yet powerful portable that can deliver big sound. It’s still a cute, barrel-shaped small speaker with a nubby little strap that probably needs a carabiner to help attach it to most things. It offers up to 14 hours on a single change, and underneath, you can easily access the protected USB-C port whenever you need to refill. With an IP67 rating on top of the company’s five-foot drop test durability, it can go with you almost anywhere and survive to tell the tale.

Although there’s no app support or connectivity with the rest of the Ultimate Ears speaker lineup, you can easily pair it with other UE speakers for stereo sound. There’s also an outdoor mode button on the bottom that boosts the mid and high range to help the audio carry over a greater distance — perfect for when you need a compact party speaker that still delivers the best sound possible in its class.

$80 at Amazon

Photo by Jon Turi / Engadget

Features: IPX7 waterproof, custom EQ settings using companion app | Battery life: Up to 12 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 2.3 pounds | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IPX7)

This nondescript wedge of a wireless speaker could easily slip under your radar, but it’s worth a listen. It has a bright and bassy output, which is helped along by Qualcomm aptX support for hi-res audio. This Anker Soundcore device has a solid, slightly heavy build with a metal front speaker grille, a soft-touch rubberized exterior (that loves your greasy fingerprints) and IPX7 water resistance. While it’s not the lightest or most portable, it has good sound, especially for the price. Plus the app offers EQ customization, so you can fine tune to your liking.

There’s also a 3.5mm aux input for wired connections. You can use it as a speakerphone when taking calls as well, or easily play music from your devices. That’s fortuitous, as we found that this small speaker works well as a mini soundbar alternative and the wired input offers a foolproof connection. Aside from that, you can easily charge the Motion+ thanks to its standard USB-C charging port and it should last up to 12 hours on a single charge.

$90 at Amazon

JBL

Features: IP68-rated design, support for stereo pairing | Battery life: Up to 16 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 1.2 pounds | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IP68)

We considered the JBL Flip 6 the best JBL speaker for most people (you can still find it available online), and the JBL Flip 7 only improves upon the previous model. Sound quality is solid from lows to highs, even with the volume up at high registers. The cylindrical shape works well on its side or even standing on its end to save desk space. It has a capable carrying (or hanging) strap and raised buttons you can discern in the dark.

The JBL Portable app gives you a 3-band EQ to customize the sound profile if desired and if you have two Flip 7 speakers, you can run them as a stereo pair. If you happen to have a mix-and-match assortment of different PartyBoost-enabled JBL devices, you can connect multiple speakers for a bigger sound. And with a USB-C charging port, it’s a versatile device that’s easy to take with you on the move.

$130 at Macy’s

Bose

Features: Built-in mic for assistant support and phone calls, IP67-rated design | Battery life: Up to 12 hours | Assistant support: Google Assistant, Siri | Weight: 1.3 pounds | Wireless range: 30 feet | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IP67)

While the $119 Bose SoundLink Micro is half the size, we found that it’s definitely worth the extra $30 if you trade up to the SoundLink Flex. While it’s still not a room filler, the speaker offers some bright, dynamic finesse to your tunes, along with a significant amount of bass for its size. It’s similar to the scale of a small clutch bag, with a very small strap for carabiner-type hanging. Much of the exterior is sheathed in soft-touch silicone, except for the powder-coated steel speaker grilles. Like others in this range, the speaker is IP67 rated so it can handle the elements and sound good doing it.

Setup and connecting to the speaker should be done from within the aptly named Bose Connect app. You can also turn off voice prompts (which can become annoying) and pair with similar speakers for either party mode or stereo.

$129 at Adorama

Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget

Read our full Beats Pill review

Features: IP67 waterproof, lossless audio over USB-C | Battery life: Up to 24 hours | Assistant support: Yes | Weight: 1.5 pounds | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IP67)

The new Pill has impressive bass performance due to the company’s decision to increase the size of the woofer rather than keep its previous arrangement that included two smaller ones. The speaker struggles at its loudest volumes, but it’s plenty loud enough well below that. The IP67 rating is more rugged than the Pill+ and over 24 hours of battery life will keep the tunes going for a long time. Plus, there’s lossless audio over USB-C and the ability to top off your phone or earbuds with the speaker’s battery.

This is a solid choice for anyone seeking crisp clarity with true low-end thump if a track demands it. The addition of lossless is also nice for times you’d like a little more quality in your tunes. And you can also put two Pills together for bigger sound or use them as a stereo pair. — Billy Steele, Senior Reporter

$100 at Amazon

Marshall

Features: IP67-rated design, support for stereo pairing | Battery life: Up to 30 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 0.26 pounds | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: No

The Emberton III Bluetooth portable from Marshall continues to iterate on a design we’ve loved for a while. This clutchable rectangular slab has a max output of 20 watts to deliver the brand’s signature sound. It may not be the loudest in its size range, but it focuses more on balanced output than raw power. There’s still 360 sound as well, making it a good companion for small get togethers.

The latest model has more than 32 hours of battery life and a rugged IP67 rating. There’s also a built-in microphone, so you can use it to take calls while you’re getting ready for the day or chilling out in the backyard.

$150 at Amazon

JBL

Features: Built-in power bank to charge other devices, IP68-rated design, support for stereo pairing | Battery life: Up to 28 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 2.2 pounds | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IP68)

If you’re willing to spend a little more for bigger sound and more hours of battery life, the midrange JBL Charge 6 is a great upgrade over the Flip 6 or Flip 7. It has the same bright output and capable low end, but in a slightly larger package. If you’re looking for a smallish portable speaker, but something capable enough to entertain a few guests, this works.

$180 at Target

Best portable Bluetooth speakers: $200 to $450

Ultimate Ears

Read our full UE Everboom review

Features: Waterproof, 360-degree audio, Outdoor Boost | Battery life: 20 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 2.11 pounds | USB-C charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IP67)

The Everboom is a decent mid-range option in the Ultimate Ears lineup. The best features are its high durability and Outdoor Boost for better sound outside. You’ll get loud, 360-degree audio, but like a lot of UE speakers, there’s a lack of overall fidelity due to subdued mid-range tone. There’s plenty to like here, especially if you’re looking for something to take on an adventure that won’t weigh you down too much. The price is, however, a bit on the high side with the limited suite of features. But, all of the basics, and slightly more, are covered. Plus, it floats! — B.S.

$270 at Amazon

Photo by Jon Turi / Engadget

Features: IP67-rated design, support for stereo pairing | Battery life: Up to 20 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 3.9 pounds | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: No

Marshall launched the Middleton in January 2023 and positioned it as the new flagship for its portable Bluetooth speaker line. It’s the largest of the company’s IP67 rugged portables (measuring 4.3 x 9 x 3.75 inches) and offers a significantly louder output, with 50-watts of 360-degree sound. There are dual woofers and tweeters for the front and back, with passive radiators along each side. It also offers Stack Mode, which lets you pair with any other Middleton, Emberton II or Willen speakers nearby to expand your listening experience.

The Middleton can be managed through the Marshall Bluetooth app, but it also includes most of those same controls on the top. There’s a Bluetooth button (which doubles as the Stack Mode control) and a multi-use joystick for power on/off, volume control and track selection (forward or back). You also get bass and treble controls, which are a welcome addition and a first for one of Marshall’s speakers without physical knobs.

It has that traditional Marshall look, made with a soft-touch exterior composed of 55-percent post-consumer recycled plastic and is 100-percent PVC free. It also has a carry strap you can easily fit your hand through. Any dust, dirt or prints on the outside can be scrubbed off with a damp cloth, and even the exposed USB-C and 3.5mm input port components are waterproofed. That USB-C port can be used to recharge the speaker, or power up your other devices with its 9,600mAh battery.

Of course audio purists should know that it only supports SBC, but the sound quality is still top notch for most people. And while Marshall devices are usually priced at a slight premium, the good sound quality and decent low-end capability definitely makes this model worth checking out.

$249 at Amazon

JBL

Features: IP67-rated design| Battery life: Up to 24 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 4.6 pounds | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IP67)

If you’ve enjoyed any of the smaller JBL speakers out there and are willing to spend a bit more, the Xtreme 4 is a good all-around choice. It’s big enough to warrant a shoulder strap, but still only about the size of a football. When we tested the previous version, the Xtreme 3, we found it to have pleasant dynamic sound, with hefty lows and a lively high end that seems slightly better balanced at this size than the smaller options from JBL in this range.

This is easily a favorite if you want something under $400 with a little more gusto than your average portable, but still being IP67 weatherproof. It has enough output to breathe life into a small soiree or backyard hang, although while it’s quite loud, it’s best when it’s close by or indoors where the bass can resonate to its fullest.

$380 at Amazon

Best portable Bluetooth speakers: $450 and higher

Photo by Jon Turi / Engadget

Features: IPX2-rated design, support for multi-host functionality | Battery life: Up to 20 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 10.8 pounds | USB charging: No | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IPX2)

If you didn’t know about Marshall’s history in amplifiers and rock music, the design should clue you in. The Tufton is the largest portable Bluetooth speaker from the company, looking much like an amp itself (as do most of them). It has physical knobs at the top and a carry strap to help move it about. While it may appear as rugged as concert gear, it’s less impervious to the elements as some with just an IPX2 rating, so it’s protected from light splashes from above.

Whether or not you’re a fan of the brand, the rich and distinctly thumping output may make you one. We felt pulled into the sound while listening to the Tufton, a bit more than most other speakers we tested at this scale. It’s dynamic, warm and, dare we say, analog in its audio presence. It’s also multi-directional with a supplemental driver on the back along with a bass port.

There’s no app to adjust the EQ, just the physical controls including a Bluetooth connect button, a power/volume knob and two for bass and treble. Once powered on, you can use the volume knob to set a max headroom and adjust volume on the fly from your source. The bass and treble knobs help you choose the tone of your adventure, from a purely flat soundscape to an enhanced one. We just wish you could see the dial indicators in the dark. Other features include aptX support and quick-charge capabilities that provide four hours of listening time in just 20 minutes, plus great standby battery life.

$472 at Amazon

Photo by Jon Turi / Engadget

Features: IPX4-rated design, support for multi-host functionality | Battery life: Up to 24 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 13 pounds | USB charging: No | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IPX2)

The UE Hyperboom is an all-arounder with good looks, portability, plenty of connectivity options and a loud and punchy (albeit compressed) output. The technical fabric exterior (which now includes a white option) lets it live among your furniture without screaming “party box,” while the optical input offers a possible TV speaker alternative. The large capacitive buttons on top let anyone adjust the volume, pause or play the music and select from two concurrent Bluetooth connections or a hardwired input (3.5mm or optical). On the edge with the silicone carrying handle there are the wired ports, plus one for charging USB devices and another for power. You can expect to get up to 24 hours of battery life, and the Hyperboom is good at holding a charge on standby.

This capable and loud (roughly 100dB) speaker will please most people as long as the party is of primary concern over fidelity. The ability to remotely power your device on or off using the UE app is also a welcome feature. Plus you can easily expand the sound to other Ultimate Ears Boom speakers (except Wonderboom) using the PartyUp feature. The IPX4 rating means a few spilled drinks won’t hassle it, but it’s not the best Bluetooth speaker choice for all-weather adventures.

$300 at Amazon

Factors to consider in a portable Bluetooth speaker

Weather-proofing

IP ratings (Ingress Protection) are the alphanumeric indicators you often see in a product’s spec sheet that define water and dust resistance. It’s usually a combo of two numbers with the first indicating solid object ingress and the second being water. The former goes from 0 (no protection) to 6 (dustproof). The water-resistance rating goes from 0 (no protection) to 9 (protected against immersion and high pressure jets). When an X is used instead of a number, that means the product wasn’t tested for resistance. If it’s a waterproof speaker, it may have some innate resistance to solids, but there’s no guarantee.

IP67 is a common rating these days indicating highly resistant and potentially rugged speakers often featured in audio products like outdoor speakers. These are safe for quick dunks in the pool or tub and should be more than OK in the rain or in the shower. They’re also good options for the beach, playground and other rough environs.

Additionally, speakers with ports and a high rating will often include a tight-fitting cover over the charging or auxiliary ports. If you plan on using the ports, that may limit the product’s rated ability to fend off the elements.

When looking for the best portable Bluetooth speaker, consider the IP rating and also how you plan to use your Bluetooth speaker when making your decision. It may be worth splurging on a better sounding model with a lower IP rating if you’ll mostly be using it indoors, for instance.

Battery life

The focus of this guide is on the best portable speakers, and while “portable” can be a relative term, these devices are generally for people who are likely to find themselves far from a power outlet. These days, around 12 hours of playtime seems to be the baseline but obviously, the more battery life you can get out of a speaker, the better, especially if you plan to listen to podcasts or music on the go.

That said, be careful when looking at battery specs, as they frequently list a maximum runtime (“up to” x amount of hours). This usually means they tested at a low to mid volume. If you like your tunes loud with punchy bass, it can often end up cutting the expected usage time in half or more. Luckily, some manufacturers also list the expected hours of battery life when used at full volume and that transparency is appreciated. Bear in mind, however, that not all of the best Bluetooth speakers use the same charging port. Some support USB-C charging, while others use micro-USB, and some may even come with an adapter for added convenience.

Additionally, if your audio system or mini Bluetooth speaker also happens to have Wi-Fi connectivity, they’re usually designed for always-on functionality. Unlike normal Bluetooth speakers that go to sleep after a short period without use, these will usually stay awake (to listen for your commands) and slowly run down the battery. If you’re out and about, you’ll want to remember to turn these speakers off manually when not in use to maximize battery life.

Range

Bluetooth 5 offers better range and more reliable connectivity than its predecessors, making it a great feature to look for in the best Bluetooth speaker. That said, Bluetooth range can still be tricky. Some companies list their product’s longest possible range, usually outdoors and in an unobstructed line-of-sight test environment. Other companies stick with a 30-foot range on the spec sheet and leave it at that, even though they may be running Bluetooth 4.x or 5.x. That’s likely underselling the speaker’s potential, but unpredictable environments can affect range and there’s little point in promising the moon only to get complaints.

I’ve seen signal drop issues when crouching down, with my phone in the front pocket of my jeans, and barely 30 feet away from a speaker inside my apartment. I ran into this issue across several devices regardless of their listed Bluetooth connectivity range.

If you’re hosting a patio party and duck inside, it’s wise to keep any wireless Bluetooth speakers relatively close by just in case. It’s hard to gauge what aspects of any environment may interfere with a Bluetooth signal. In general, take range specs around 100 feet or more as a perfect-world scenario.

Latency

This is a minor mention for those out there who use a speaker for their computer output, or as a mini Bluetooth soundbar solution for setups like a monitor and streaming box. It’s annoying to find that your speaker’s latency isn’t low enough to avoid lip sync issues. Luckily, it seems that most speakers these days don’t often have these problems. Only a handful of the few dozen speakers I tried had persistent, noticeable lip-sync issues. Aside from occasional blips, all of our picks worked well in this regard.

If you plan to frequently use a speaker for video playback, look for devices with the most recent Bluetooth 5 technology and lower latency codecs like aptX. Also make sure the speaker is close to the source device as distance can be a factor. To avoid the issue altogether, though, consider getting one with a wired auxiliary input.

Extra features

Some speakers don’t just play music — they bring the party to life with built-in LED light effects and a full-on light show that syncs to your music. If you love a bit of visual flair with your tunes, it’s worth checking out models that offer LED light customization options.

Sound quality also plays a huge role in picking the right speaker. The best Bluetooth speaker should deliver a balanced mix of punchy bass, clear highs and strong vocals. Many models also include customizable sound modes that let you tweak the EQ to better suit different genres — whether you’re blasting EDM, listening to a podcast, or just want a more immersive experience that would impress even an audiophile.

If aesthetics matter, many models come in a tiny size that makes them extra portable, with plenty of color options to match your personal style. Whether you want a sleek black speaker or a vibrant eye-catching design, there are plenty of choices to fit your vibe.

Other portable Bluetooth speakers we tested

Sonos Roam

While there’s a lot to like about the Sonos Roam, there are plenty of other Bluetooth speakers with more features and better battery life. In our review, we gave the Roam a score of 87, praising it for its good sound quality, durable waterproof design and ability to work well within an existing Sonos speaker ecosystem. But the price is just fine at $180, and we found Bluetooth speakers that offer more at lower price points. Plus, the Roam taps out at 10 hours of battery life, and all of our top picks can run for longer than that on a single charge.

Monoprice Soundstage3

The Monoprice Soundstage3 offers relatively big sound at a midrange $250 price, with a variety of inputs rarely found on a portable Bluetooth speaker. The boxy, minimalist design is no nonsense, even if it’s more of a less-rugged, bookshelf-styled homebody. While the speaker puts out crisp highs alongside booming lows, we found the bass can overpower the rest of the output, so it’s not for everyone. And after using the speaker for many months, we also found the low-slung, poorly labeled button panel along the top can be a bit annoying to use. If you want a speaker for road trips, favor mids and highs, and plan on using physical buttons for volume control and input selections, there are better options out there.

JBL Boombox 3

Fans of JBL’s bluetooth speaker sound profile who want to crank up the volume, but also want a rugged and portable option, may enjoy the JBL Boombox 3. It’s a decent grab-and-go speaker with a very loud output, although it’s not as good as some of the loud-speaker styled options for long-throw sound and big outdoor areas. However, the price for this speaker line remains prohibitively expensive compared to other options with big sound that cover a bit more ground. If the JBL brand is your thing and you like the rugged, portable form factor, we recommend looking for discounts, or shopping around and exploring the available options including the (less portable) JBL PartyBox series.

Soundcore Motion X500

Soundcore speakers have generally been good and often reasonably priced. The Motion X500 loosely falls into that category. It has a tall, metallic lunchbox vibe with a fixed handle and pumps out a respectable 40 watts of crisp, clear sound for its size. It can get pretty loud and serves up a good dose of bass, although its primarily a front-facing speaker.

There’s LDAC hi-res audio support for Android users, but the main selling point on this is spatial audio. This is done through an EQ change and the activation of a small, up-firing driver. There’s a slight benefit from this if you’re up close and directly in front of it, but it’s not a total game changer for your listening experience. The original pre-order price of $130 made it a decent option in terms of bang for your buck. But it went up to $170 at launch, making it less appealing even if it’s still a good middle-of-the-road option if you want small-ish, clear and loud. If you can find one on sale for the lower price, it’s definitely worth considering. There’s also the larger and louder X600 ($200) if the overall concept is working for you.

Portable Bluetooth speaker FAQs

How does a Bluetooth speaker work?

Bluetooth technology lets devices connect and exchange data over short distances using ultra high frequency (UHF) radio waves. It’s the frequency range that’s carved out for industrial, scientific and medical purposes, called the 2.4GHz ISM spectrum band. This range is available worldwide, making it easy for companies to use with devices for global markets.

Bluetooth speakers include this tech, which lets them communicate with source devices like smartphones, tablets or computers in order to exchange data. The two devices pair by sharing a unique code and will work within the proscribed range for the device and Bluetooth version.

Ever since Bluetooth 4.0 was released over a decade ago, new iterations usually improve on range, use less power and offer expanded connectivity with features like multipoint (allowing more than one device to be connected at the same time, for instance).

Who should buy a Portable Bluetooth speaker?

If you want to play music while you’re out-and-about on something other than headphones, a portable Bluetooth speaker is probably what you want. There’s a broad range of devices for all types of circumstances. Many adventurous people will want a relatively lightweight portable that’s rugged enough to handle the elements while also packing enough charge to play for hours on end. Others may simply need a speaker they can move around the house or use in the backyard. In this case, you can choose larger less rugged models that may offer better sound.



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Product Reviews

Panasonic Z95B review: a flagship OLED TV that combines refined pictures with powerful sound

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We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Panasonic Z95B: Two-minute review

The Panasonic Z95B is the latest flagship TV to enter what is turning out to be a very competitive OLED TV market in 2025. Whereas some of those models – specifically those from Samsung and LG – are making a bet on high brightness to distinguish themselves among the best TVs, Panasonic is pushing accuracy with the Z95B, and the effort can be seen in its refined, natural, and finely detailed picture.

For the Panasonic Z95B, the company opted to use the same Primary RGB Tandem panel OLED display found in the LG G5. This new panel tech has a ‘four-stack’ structure, with separate red and green OLED layers sandwiched between two blue layers, and it accounts for the Z95B’s rich color display and high brightness capability – I recorded brightness measurements as high as 2,107 nits, though brightness is considerably more limited in several of the TV’s picture presets such as Filmmaker Mode, which is a quirk I’ll dig into later in the review.

The Z95B’s predecessor, the Panasonic Z95A, distinguished itself as one of the best TVs for sound with its powerful 5.1.2-channel built-in speaker array. This same ‘360 Soundscape Pro tuned by Technics’ system carries over to the Z95B, though Panasonic has made improvements to the speaker drivers, speaker layout, and woofer output. The result is one of the best built-in TV speaker systems you can buy, with sound that’s clear, powerful, and immersive enough that you could easily get away with not using an external soundbar.

Those speakers on the Z95B are concealed behind a gray mesh fabric that runs along the TV’s top, bottom, and sides, and gives it a solid, dignified appearance. A pedestal stand that swivels in either direction to accommodate a range of seating positions is a bonus, though the included, basic remote control seems at odds with the TV’s premium design.

Panasonic uses Amazon Fire TV as its smart TV system, and it’s a serviceable, but ad-driven platform that really would like you to be a Prime Video subscriber and devotee of other Amazon services and products. Fire TV’s Live TV portal is particularly friendly to users of the best indoor antennas, though, and the Z95B supports ATSC 3.0 broadcasts for viewers in the US.

Gaming is well supported on the Z95B, with 4K at 144Hz, Dolby Vision gaming, and variable refresh rate, including AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync, all accounted for. HDMI 2.1 ports supporting those features are limited to two, rather than the four HDMI 2.1 ports we look for on the best gaming TVs, but the Z95B’s powerful built-in speaker system makes that less of an issue than it normally would be.

Panasonic OLED TVs are typically priced higher than their Samsung and LG counterparts, particularly in the UK, but the Z95B was priced around the same as its competition at launch, and has already seen discounts. Given its impressive picture and sound quality, it’s one of 2025’s best OLED TVs, and a very good overall value among premium TVs.

  • Panasonic Z95B 4K OLED TV at Amazon for $2,399.99

Panasonic Z95B review: Price and release date

The Fire TV Ambient Experience lets you choose images and artworks to display when the TV is in standby mode (Image credit: Future)

  • Release date: June 2025
  • 55-inch: $2,599 / £2,499
  • 65-inch: $3,399 / £2,999
  • 77-inch: $4,699 / £3,999

The Panasonic Z95B is available in 55-, 65-, and 77-inch screen sizes, with that last option an expansion on last year’s Z95A series, which was only available in 55- and 65-inch sizes. Prices for all Z95B series TVs have dropped since launch, with all screen sizes now selling for several hundred less in both the US and the UK.

At the reduced price, the Z95B series is now priced in line with its premium OLED competition from LG, Samsung, and Sony. For example, the 65-inch Panasonic is now selling for around $3,000 in the US. In that same screen size, you’ll find both the LG G5 and the Sony Bravia 8 II priced around $3,000, and the Samsung S95F at $3,299.

Panasonic Z95B review: Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Screen type:

Primary Tandem RGB OLED

Refresh rate:

144Hz

HDR support:

Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG

Audio support:

Dolby Atmos

Smart TV:

Fire TV

HDMI ports:

4 (2x HDMI 2.1)

Built-in tuner:

ATSC 3.0 (US)

Panasonic Z95B review: Benchmark results

Panasonic Z95B review: Features

The Z95B’s four HDMI ports, including two inputs with 4K 144Hz support (Image credit: Future)

  • Primary RGB Tandem panel OLED display
  • Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support
  • 360 Soundscape Pro tuned by Technics speaker array

The Panasonic Z95B uses a new Primary RGB Tandem panel OLED display with a notably higher brightness capability than the Master OLED Ultimate panel with micro lens array tech used in its Panasonic Z95A predecessor. Panasonic additionally uses a ThermalFlow aerodynamic cooling system that helps to maximize peak brightness by improving airflow through the TV.

Panasonic has carried over the same HCX Pro AI Processor MK II from the Z95A to the Z95B. This advanced picture processor uses dynamic 3D LUTs (Look-Up Tables) to ensure accurate colors across a range of picture brightness levels and provides 4K Fine Remaster and Smooth Motion Drive Pro features to improve detail and motion handling.

Panasonic models continue to be the only OLED TVs in the US to support both the Dolby Vision and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats (Philips OLEDs in the UK have the same capability), and in the Z95B, that’s supplemented by Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive for automatic picture brightness adjustments across a range of lighting conditions. Picture presets include Filmmaker Mode and Panasonic’s True Cinema and True Game modes, along with Netflix and Prime Video Calibrated modes for automatic picture optimization when streaming from those services.

The Panasonic Z95A quickly earned a spot as the best option for built-in sound quality in multiple TechRadar best TVs lists, and the new Z95B also features a ‘360 Soundscape Pro tuned by Technics’ built-in 5.1.2-channel 160W speaker system – this time with redesigned speaker drivers and speaker layout, and higher bass output. This differs from the built-in speaker arrays found on most other TVs in providing a dedicated center channel speaker, along with side-firing and upfiring speaker drivers for enhanced immersion.

As with picture settings, the Z95B features a wide range of sound settings. Key among these is Space Tune, for automatically tuning the TV’s sound output using the remote control’s built-in mic, and Sound Focus, which lets you adjust the directionality of the TV’s sound using beam-forming to accommodate off-center seating positions.

Panasonic switched to the Amazon Fire TV smart TV interface back in 2024, and Fire TV on the Z95B features optimized voice control features for content discovery and navigation, a hands-free control option, and an interface that can be personalized for multiple users. Live TV channels, including ones pulled in by the TV’s ATSC 3.0 tuner, can be integrated into the smart interface for browsing and also customized for a ‘personalized Live-TV Experience.’

Gaming features on the Z95B include a True Game mode with latency reduction, a Game sound mode, and a Game Board onscreen menu for making quick adjustments while gaming. Two of the TV’s four HDMI ports also support HDMI 2.1 features such as 4K 144Hz and VRR, including AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync.

Panasonic Z95B review: Picture quality

Ambient Experience options include full-motion and AI-generated images plus information widgets (Image credit: Future)

  • High brightness capability for an OLED TV
  • Brightness is limited in Filmmaker and other picture modes
  • Rich color and excellent detail

The first thing to say about the Panasonic Z95B’s picture is that, while the TV is capable of high brightness, it’s not as bright as its premium OLED TV competition when its most accurate picture presets – Filmmaker Mode, True Cinema, and Cinema – are used and left at their default settings.

That’s because Panasonic is prioritizing picture accuracy over brightness here, and those modes limit peak brightness based on the maximum mastered brightness level of the source – typically 1,000 nits for most content.

Correspondingly, I measured Z95B’s peak HDR brightness in Filmmaker Mode at 992 nits, while its fullscreen brightness in that mode was 347 nits. After bumping up the luminance level of my test pattern source, peak HDR brightness in Filmmaker Mode jumped to 2,107 nits, and the TV’s EOTF (the equivalent gamma for HDR) also remained accurate at that brightness level.

Viewers not wanting to deal with any brightness limitations could instead opt for the Standard picture preset, which had a measured peak HDR brightness of 1,835 nits, and 327 nits fullscreen brightness. Panasonic also provides settings in the TV’s HDR submenu that let you manually set HDR tonemapping and luminance clipping levels, and these can be used to help optimize brightness. Needless to say, this is great news for tweakers, but a potential source of annoyance for others who don’t like to sift through menu settings.

As for other numbers, the Z95B’s coverage of the UHDA-P3 and BT.2020 color spaces in Filmmaker Mode measured 99.9% and 79.1%, respectively – both impressive results. The average Delta-E value (the margin of error between the test pattern source and what’s shown on-screen, with a result lower than 3 being undetectable by the human eye) for color point accuracy was 2.6, and it was 3.2 for grayscale accuracy.

The Z95B has high peak brightness capability, but brightness is limited by default in specific picture modes, such as Filmmaker Mode (Image credit: Future)

For most of my Z95B evaluation, I viewed it in dimmed lighting, and such conditions allowed the Panasonic’s picture to fully shine. The set does use an anti-reflection screen, and while this works to a degree, I could still see mirror-like reflections from lamps and overhead lights, and picture contrast was also lessened with my room lights on.

After watching the recent movie Weapons in the theater, I was motivated to stream the director’s earlier movie, Barbarian (on Netflix in 4K), and the Z95B did an excellent job of displaying the deep black of the house’s basement and fleshing out shadows in the corridors of the creepy, dungeon-like space. For this movie, I used Netflix Calibrated Mode, which by default made it too dark, but the TV’s multiple black level adjustments allowed me to tweak the picture for a more balanced look.

Wild Robot was up next, and I streamed it in 4K with Dolby Vision using the TV’s Dolby Vision Dark preset – one that I’m happy to report turned off motion smoothing by default. The jungle and creatures in this animated movie were displayed with rich, vivid color. The picture also looked fantastically detailed and clean, with the textures in the computer-generated images giving the picture a near-3D quality.

I like to use the Netflix series Ripley in TV evaluations because of its sumptuous cinematography (by frequent Paul Thomas Anderson collaborator Robert Elswit). The Z95B certainly did not disappoint here, displaying the wide range of fine gray tones in the black and white images of Italian villages and villas with an impressive level of subtlety.

Dolby Vision Dark mode proved to be a good match for Ripley, but in this case, when I switched to Netflix Calibrated mode, the picture retained both its subtle grayscale and contrast punch.

No Time to Die is one of my go-to reference 4K Blu-rays, and when I watched the scene where James Bond walks across a craggy hillside cemetery, the Z95B’s picture looked impressively solid, with only a minimal level of judder. I often find myself applying some level of motion adjustment to TVs after checking this scene, but the Z95B’s motion handling was good enough that I didn’t feel any need to.

  • Picture quality score: 5 / 5

Panasonic Z95B review: Sound quality

The Z95B features a rear-mounted subwoofer with dual passive radiators (Image credit: Future)

  • 5.1.2-channel, 160W speaker array
  • 360 Soundscape Pro tuned by Technics
  • Sound Focus feature adjusts for off-center seating

The Z95B features a built-in 5.1.2-channel, 160W speaker array, with the front-facing left, center, and right-channel speakers contained in a soundbar-like enclosure at the screen’s bottom. Along with these, there are newly designed line-array speakers positioned at the sides and top surface of the TV, along with a subwoofer and dual passive bass radiators located around the back.

This ‘360 Soundscape Pro tuned by Technics’ Dolby Atmos sound system is more elaborate than what you’ll find on most TVs, and its performance is good enough that you can easily use it in place of one of the best soundbars. Panasonic has also introduced enhanced two-channel and 5.1-channel upmixing on the Z95B which it says can “deliver immersive rear sound without rear speakers,” though the TV’s virtual processing comes short of delivering on that claim.

As with the picture, there are extensive sound presets on the Z95B, along with settings for customizing the sound. After using Space Tune, a feature that uses the remote control’s built-in mic to calibrate the TV’s sound output for your viewing environment, I found that many of the presets sounded too bright for my taste and opted for the User preset, which provides Sound Field and Bass Boost settings to customize the sound, along with an eight-band EQ adjustment.

Once adjusted, dialogue projected clearly and sounded natural, and even music sounded good, as I confirmed when watching Queens of the Stone Age Alive in the Catacombs, an acoustic performance by the band recorded in the catacombs beneath Paris. The sound effects in action movies like Mad Max: Fury Road had a high level of spatial precision, and the TV’s powerful speaker array delivered a strong impact on engine roars and crashes during the movie’s many vehicle chase scenes.

Another key Z95B feature is Sound Focus, which uses beam-forming processing to change the direction of the speaker output to accommodate off-center seating positions. You can choose Pinpoint, Area, Spot, or Ambient settings, each of which provides a different level of soundfield width. Testing this, I used the Pinpoint setting to aim the sound at the far end of my sofa, and the TV’s soundstage clearly shifted 30 degrees off from center.

  • Sound quality score: 5 / 5

Panasonic Z95B review: Design

Image 1 of 2

The Z95B’s swiveling pedestal stand(Image credit: Future)The mesh fabric grille covering the TV’s top- and side-mounted speakers(Image credit: Future)

  • Swiveling stand
  • Wide range of input and control ports
  • Flimsy remote control

With its two-inch depth, the Z95B, while slimmer than its Z95A predecessor, is still on the bulky side for an OLED TV. That girth is a necessity given the TV’s substantial built-in speakers, however, and the Z95B still manages to maintain a sleek look when viewed straight on.

An attractive dark gray fabric mesh covers both the front-facing and side- and top-firing speakers, and the TV’s sturdy aluminum pedestal stand can be swiveled – a useful feature to accommodate a range of viewing positions.

The Z95B’s extensive connections include four HDMI ports (with two HDMI 2.1) and both optical digital audio and a 3.5mm headphone output that can also be configured for connecting an external subwoofer. An ATSC 3.0 tuner connection can be used for viewing ‘NextGen’ digital TV broadcasts in the US, and there are also powered USB and Ethernet ports, and an IR blaster output.

Panasonic hasn’t changed the flimsy remote control that previously shipped with the Z95A for the Z95B. And while that’s disappointing given this TV’s premium price, it mostly does the job and features a built-in mic for Alexa voice commands.

There’s no input select button on the US remote for changing inputs – one of my pet peeves with TV remotes – but you can configure one of the controls to switch to a specific input on the TV, along with a range of other options such as selecting a specific streaming app.

Panasonic Z95B review: Smart TV and menus

Image 1 of 2

The main Fire TV home screen(Image credit: Future)The Live TV guide screen on Fire TV(Image credit: Future)

  • Amazon Fire TV smart TV platform
  • Live program grid with broadcast channels customization
  • Extensive array of picture and sound adjustments

Panasonic TVs use Amazon Fire TV for a smart TV system, and the version you’ll see on the Z95B is essentially the same as what’s found on Amazon’s own Fire TV lineup. The top half is occupied by ads, many for Amazon streaming and VOD offerings, while a horizontal bar cutting across the center contains input selection, My Stuff, search, and Live TV tabs, along with a customizable row of streaming apps and a gear icon for advanced menus.

The bottom section contains a grid of recommended program options culled from free TV and subscription apps, and if you scroll down, you’ll see a seemingly endless range of these, with everything from political news to the latest cooking videos.

Fire TV’s Live TV portal features a grid guide option that lets you browse channels grouped in a range of categories such as Antenna Channels, Sports, News by Fire TV, and more. Digital broadcast stations can be arranged into lists, with the option to favorite your regularly watched channels, and to hide ones like home shopping networks that you’d prefer to shut out.

Fire TV provides a greater range of customization for browsing both free broadcast and streamed TV channels than most other smart interfaces, so it’s a good option for antenna users.

The Fire TV Ambient Experience provides a wide assortment of still and motion images that can be displayed when the TV is in standby mode. (It can also be accessed at any time by pressing and holding the power on/off button on the remote.) Along with the supplied content library, you can access personal photos (you’ll first need to upload these using the Amazon Photos app on your phone).

You can also use Alexa voice commands to create AI-generated images for your Ambient Experience library, though, as I found when experimenting with this feature, political content is not permitted.

Panasonic provides a much wider range of picture and sound adjustment options in the setup menus than most other TVs. I hit the high points for sound in the Sound Quality section above, but the Z95B’s picture menus include an almost over-the-top array of advanced adjustments.

To list just a few, the Brightness menu has multiple advanced settings for configuring black levels, and there’s an HDR submenu that lets you set EOTF type, HDR tonemapping, and luminance clipping levels. For color, you can switch between Rec. 2020, DCI-P3, Adobe, and Rec. 709 color gamuts.

The reason for all these adjustments is that Panasonic’s OLED TVs are used in post-production facilities as reference monitors, but in the majority of instances, you’ll want to leave things set to Auto.

  • Smart TV & menus score: 4 / 5

Panasonic Z95B review: Gaming

The Z95B’s Game Bar menu overlay (Image credit: Future)

  • Two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support
  • FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync VRR
  • 12.7ms input lag is average

The Z95B’s gaming features include two HDMI ports with 4K at 144Hz, FreeSync Premium, and Nvidia G-Sync VRR support, and Dolby Vision gaming. There’s a True Game picture and a Game sound mode, and Panasonic’s Game Board onscreen menu can be called up to make quick and easy adjustments to parameters like dark visibility, sound mode, and variable refresh rate.

Input lag measured with a Bodnar 4K meter was 12.7ms, which is an average level for a TV. The best gaming TVs can hit the 9ms range, but the Z95B’s input lag is minimal enough that the vast majority of gamers will find it more than acceptable.

Panasonic Z95B review: Value

The Z95B’s remote control is flimsy and lacks backlighting and an input select button (Image credit: Future)

  • Priced the same as top OLED competition
  • Built-in sound enhances value
  • Less extensive gaming features than competition

The Panasonic Z95B is currently priced on par with, or even less than, its premium OLED competition from LG, Samsung, and Sony. Choosing between this year’s top OLED TVs is tougher than ever, but I can’t imagine anyone being disappointed with the Z95B’s picture, though the Samsung S95F and LG G5 may be better options for those wanting to view in bright rooms.

One thing that enhances the Z95B’s value is its powerful sound. For that reason, you could consider using this TV without a soundbar, though the built-in speakers aren’t necessarily a match for the best Dolby Atmos soundbar systems with separate rear-channel speakers and a subwoofer.

An argument could be made that the Z95B is a lesser gaming TV than the Samsung S95F and LG G5, both of which feature four HDMI 2.1 ports, lower input lag, and cloud-based gaming from apps including Xbox. But the Z95B’s lower HDMI 2.1 port count won’t be an issue if you’re using its built-in speakers, and as a Fire TV, there is Amazon’s Luna cloud gaming app, which features popular games like Fortnite.

Should I buy the Panasonic Z95B?

(Image credit: Future)Swipe to scroll horizontallyPanasonic Z95B

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

A fine selection of features led by sound processing modes for room tuning and off-center seating accommodation

4.5 / 5

Picture quality

Capable of high brightness for an OLED, but many of the TV’s preset picture modes favor a more subtle, balanced, and accurate images

5 / 5

Sound quality

Powerful built-in 5.1.2-channel speakers distinguish the Z95B from other TVs and is good enough that a soundbar isn’t exactly needed

5 / 5

Design

A slightly bulky form factor due to its built-in speakers, but otherwise a sleek design with a swiveling pedestal stand. Remote control could use work

4 / 5

Smart TV and menus

Amazon Fire TV isn’t the best smart TV platform, but it does the job for streaming and Amazon subscribers and Alexa users will find it useful

4 / 5

Gaming

A good set of gaming features and solid overall gaming performance

4 / 5

Value

A very good value compared to other premium OLED TVs, and its value is enhanced by its excellent built-in sound

4.5 / 5

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Panasonic Z95B: Also consider…

Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0

Panasonic Z95B

LG G5

Samsung S95F

Sony Bravia 8 II

List price (65-inch)

$3,399 / £2,999

$3,399 / £3,299 / AU$5,299

$2,699 / £2,699 / AU$4,299

$3,499 / £2,999 / AU$4,999

Screen type

Primary Tandem RGB OLED

Primary Tandem RGB OLED

QD-OLED

QD-OLED

Refresh rate

144Hz

165Hz

165Hz

120Hz

HDR support

Dolby Vision/HDR10+/HLG

Dolby Vision/HDR10/HLG

HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

DolbyVision/HDR10/HLG

Smart TV

Fire TV

webOS

Tizen

Google TV

HDMI ports

4 (2 x HDMI 2.1)

4x HDMI 2.1

4 x HDMI 2.1

4 (2x HDMI 2.1)

How I tested the Panasonic Z95B

Measuring a 10% HDR white window pattern during testing (Image credit: Future)

  • I spent about 15 viewing hours in total, measuring and evaluating
  • Measurements were made using Calman color calibration software
  • A full calibration was made before proceeding with subjective tests

When I test TVs, I first spend a few days or even weeks using it for casual viewing to assess the out-of-the-box picture presets and get familiar with its smart TV menu and picture adjustments. I next select the most accurate preset (usually Filmmaker Mode, Movie or Cinema) and measure grayscale and color accuracy using Portrait Displays’ Calman color calibration software. The resulting measurements provide Delta-E values (the margin of error between the test pattern source and what’s shown on-screen) for each category, and allow for an assessment of the TV’s overall accuracy.

Along with those tests, I make measurements of peak and fullscreen light output (recorded in nits) for both standard high-definition and 4K high dynamic range using 10% and 100% white window patterns. Coverage of UHDA-P3 and BT.2020 color space is also measured, with the results providing a sense of how faithfully the TV can render the extended color range in ultra high-definition sources.

For the Panasonic Z95B, I used the Calman ISF workflow, along with the TV’s advanced picture menu settings, to calibrate the image for best accuracy. I also watched a range of reference scenes on 4K Blu-ray discs to assess the TV’s performance, along with 4K HDR shows streamed from HBO Max, Netflix, Apple TV+, and other services.



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Hacker
Product Reviews

Disgruntled coder who admitted to deploying a malware ‘kill switch’ to get back at his bosses sentenced to 4 years in prison

by admin



After a total wait even longer than his prison sentence and being convicted in March, former software developer Davis Lu has finally been sentenced for a malware kill switch scheme he deployed in 2019.

Lu will have to serve four years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. It’s the end to a long saga that began with a frustration many are all too familiar with: a demotion. In 2018, the company Lu worked for as a senior software developer, Eaton Corporation, went through a corporate realignment.

As a result, Lu was demoted. He stayed at the company until September 9, 2019, when he was finally put on leave and asked to return his company laptop. Lu had apparently been planning for this. When he was demoted, he “began sabotaging his employer’s systems,” according to the Department of Justice.


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Lu’s havoc on his former employer included malicious code that sparked system crashes, blocked logins, deleted files, and ultimately ended with a “kill switch” that, according to the DoJ, locked out all users if Lu’s credentials were ever disabled. Lu even named the kill switch “IsDLEnabledinAD,” short for “Is Davis Lu enabled in Active Directory.”

When Lu was put on leave, that kill switch automatically triggered. The kill switch and Lu’s other malicious code resulted in “hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses” for his former employer. Now, it has also resulted in jail time for Lu, who was convicted in March. That conviction is not surprising since he straight up admitted to sabotaging his former employer all the way in October 2019.

However, Lu didn’t plead guilty and even reportedly designed his malicious code to make it look like it was coming from co-workers who took over his duties. Lu also deleted encrypted data from his company laptop before handing it over. But that clearly wasn’t enough to stop the FBI from tying the cyber sabotage back to Lu.



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Huang and Wei joke around
Product Reviews

‘Still, you’re paying for dinner,’ Nvidia CEO shoots back after TSMC CEO jokes about his $4 trillion NT net worth

by admin



Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is back in Taiwan for weighty negotiations with contract chipmaker TSMC. The talks are thought to be related to the new China-specific B30 chips using the Blackwell architecture. No matter the gravity of the talks, though, the Nvidia head enjoys a very cordial relationship with CC Wei, the CEO of TSMC. Their warm relationship is made clearly apparent in a video showing the two billionaires joking about who will pay the bill for dinner.

But first, some trillion-dollar chip company CEO humor.TSMC CEO C.C. Wei: We have the honor for $4 trillion guy to be my guest. More than $4 trillion, huh?Jensen: Still, you’re paying for dinnerC.C. Wei: No problem, if you agree with my wafer pricing pic.twitter.com/Y3iBtoVhqyAugust 23, 2025

(click ‘see more’ to watch the video of the tech titan pals)

With these incredibly serious negotiations probably still some way to go, the two tech leaders enjoyed dinner in Taipei. In the video, you can see them standing closely with Huang’s arm around Wei’s shoulders.


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After Huang’s introduction, and explanation that he has been in meetings with “TSMC’s world-class leaders,” earlier in the day, Wei took his turn to speak. “Let me say that we have the honor to have this four trillion NT guy to be my guest.” The sum of four trillion NT Dollars is about USD $130 billion, and is obviously a reference to Huang’s fortune.

Then, Wei started to ruminate about the precise value of his fellow CEO’s wealth, only to be told by Huang to “stop that!” And, as a quick retort to hide his embarrassment, the Nvidia CEO shot back “Still, you’re paying for dinner!”

We get a sense, next, that negotiations are not yet finalized. Wei responded to the dinner bill tease by saying that he was “not bothered [about the bill], as long as you agree with my wafer price.” The video segment ends with the Nvidia CEO laughing, “I agree with your wafer price.”

Image subtitle “I agree with your price” (machine translation) (Image credit: Unique Business News (UBN) Taiwan)

Huang flew into Taipei on Friday on a private jet and is quoted by a Reuters report as stating, “My main purpose coming here is to visit TSMC.” That report shares some insight regarding the underlying purpose of this visit. It is hinted that it might be related to China’s caution about buying more H20 chips, and Nvidia’s plans to tailor a new AI chip for China – the purported B30.

Also, according to Reuters, Huang was in Taiwan to thank TSMC for the successful tape out of six brand-new chips, including a GPU and a photonics processor for Rubin-architecture supercomputers. Every one of those chips is “new and revolutionary,” claimed the Nvidia CEO.

Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.





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A Waymo robotaxi.
Product Reviews

Waymo Gets First Driverless Car Permit in NYC

by admin


Waymo has become the first autonomous vehicle operator to secure a permit to test self-driving cars on the streets of New York City, the state’s department of transportation said in announcing the news.

The New York City Department of Motor Vehicles approved Waymo’s application, allowing the company to conduct limited testing of its autonomous vehicles within certain city zones.

The permit comes after years of regulatory negotiations and signals a potential shift toward broader deployment of driverless cars in applications such as ride-hailing and delivery services in the city’s complex traffic environment.

Waymo says it has completed over 10 million rides in 1,500 cars spread out across the United states, and the company has had high-profile self-driving car debuts in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Austin.

The move marks a significant milestone for the industry in the United States’ most densely populated urban environment and is a new salvo in the battle for dominance of the domestic driverless car market.

So what can Waymo do in NYC?

As part of its test program in NYC, the city mayor’s office said that Waymo will be allowed to test eight cars across Brooklyn and Manhattan, and must regularly check in with the Department of Transportation about data and safety.

“We’re a tech-friendly administration and we’re always looking for innovative ways to safely move our city forward,” Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement. “New York City is proud to welcome Waymo to test this new technology in Manhattan and Brooklyn, as we know this testing is only the first step in moving our city further into the 21st century.”

Waymo is required to have a trained, specialist driver in the cars at all times.

Why does Waymo’s NYC permit matter?

Waymo’s permit is a landmark development for a sector that has faced skepticism from people who live and work where self-driving technology has been tested.

With the backing of five large American cities where it is testing its cars, Waymo’s NYC plan could help accelerate the pace of adoption in urban centers across the U.S., if it can show it is safe and easy to use.

With safety protocols and regulatory frameworks continuing to evolve nationwide, a seamless launch and test period would go a long way toward convincing local riders and regulators that driverless technology is safe, MSNBC reports.

The move is part of a broader trend of U.S. cities and states gradually opening their roads to autonomous vehicles, balancing safety concerns with the potential benefits of reduced traffic congestion and improved mobility options.



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