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illustration of rally car making jump with blue sky and golden gate bridge in background.
Product Reviews

Real-life rally racing is dying and triple-A rally games are dead, but the sport’s gotten a second life thanks to these excellent indie racers

by admin



The sport of rally racing is simple and accessible: you take a cheap city car, give it some all-terrain tires, and throw it down a hair-raising man-versus-nature gauntlet of winding dirt roads with a copilot shouting directions in your ear.

There are no laps, no other drivers, and no pit stops. Unfortunately for fans, there’s also no more interest in the sport—or at least, not much. Manufacturer participation and viewership have both been in freefall for decades.

Parking Garage Rally Circuit Official Gameplay Trailer – YouTube

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So it’s kind of baffling that we’re living in a golden age of rally video games—at least if you look at the indie scene. Smash hits abound, from 2020’s highly stylized Art of Rally to 2022’s gritty PlayStation 2-vibed Rush Rally 3 and 2024’s white-knuckle ode to public infrastructure Parking Garage Rally Circuit.


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Not only do these games bring the thrill of off-track racing back to life; every single one also comes charged with its own flavor nostalgia for a bygone era, a pre-Y2K time that many of the genre’s core fans, and even some of its developers⁠, are too young to have experienced firsthand.

Meanwhile, in the triple-A space, EA recently announced that its subsidiary developer, Codemasters, is pulling out of rally racing after an iconic quarter-century run of games based on the sport.

The motorsport is in an all-time slump, and an enthusiast car market once saturated with homologation specials⁠—that is to say, race-ready cars you can buy directly from the manufacturer⁠—now has basically zero road-legal rally cars for sale.

If rally is a dying art, then why are there so many indie racers to choose from? Formula 1 racing has utterly exploded in popularity over the last half-decade. But despite that motorsport’s fanbase nearing 1 billion people, sales of indie track-style racing games patterned after F1 and the like don’t show a similar success (though I do have to shout out New Star GP).

Pick up and play

(Image credit: Brownmonster Limited)

Part of the magic with all these indie rally games is, like with the broader indie renaissance, you can run any of them on a cheap PC from the early 2010s or similarly low-spec device. I logged all of my Art of Rally hours on a three-year-old phone, and #Drive Rally (my most recent obsession) runs buttery smooth most of the time on my MacBook Air.

And even if you’ve never driven a car in your life, there’s something addictive about sliding your car through a snowy Finnish wood in Rush Rally 3, around a rainy Japanese mountain switchback in Art of Rally, or down a sandy American desert valley in #Drive Rally.

Like a tight platforming roguelite or an Elden Ring speedrun, the appeal of rally is incredibly simple: one tiny mistake and your brilliantly executed run is over. There is very little grip, and the roads are little more than a car-length wide. Every jump is heart-stopping, every turn is a coin-flip where you either face heartbreak or experience the thrill of an e-brake drift you didn’t know you had in you.

Each game brings a different pleasure. Art of Rally is a well-curated, sepia-toned love letter to the classic era of the sport (the 1960s-’80s); Rush Rally brings a Gran Turismo level of car tuning, customization, and sim-like handling; and Parking Garage Rally Circuit takes tight, colorful ’90s arcade racing (and music, and vibes) to a whole new level.

Each game, while fundamentally designed around similar mechanics, is its own unique portal to a different world—maybe one you grew up in, or maybe one you missed out on.

Car culture

(Image credit: Funselektor Labs)

Rally the sport carries a similar ethos and anarchic spirit to PC gaming. If a new Ferrari is a flashy 5-figure prebuilt with a custom RTX 5090, a rallied-out 200k-mile Subaru Impreza RS2.5 with a back seat delete is a DIY people’s champion running a secondhand GTX 1060 and a 7th-gen core i3 found in your local e-waste bin.

Art of Rally’s car details highlight this—they start off with descriptions like “originally designed to fit more grocery bags than the competition” and “the French take on the 4-door family car.” That’s what makes rally cars special: They were nearly all based on cheap econoboxes—that is, entry-level, no-frills hatchbacks and sedans—like the iconic Ford Escort Cosworth.

In a word, rally is accessible. I don’t mean that becoming a rally racer is super-easy and approachable—although there was a rallied-out Impreza that used to frequent my local cars and coffee meetup⁠—but rather, the culture of rally is accessible.

Rally appeals to me because it is a very pure expression of ‘you and your machine vs the terrain’ without the other cars to contend with.

Tim “Walaber” FitzRandolph

Average people like you and I cannot buy an F1 car and drive it to work. But we live in a world where we could buy a rally car for $25,000 online or at a local dealership. That fantasy can become a reality.

Art of Rally creator Dune Casu, who has actually attended rally races in-person, shows that this cultural approachability dovetails with indie rally games’ simple mechanics: “Art of Rally has found a sweet spot where it seems to be a way for people who play the sim rally games to relax and play more casually.”

I think it also gives people who’ve never played a rally game a chance to experience the joy of the genre without a deep dive into the technical skills and equipment that sim racing requires.

Casu shared a perspective that resonates with me, that the “zeitgeist” of rally “stems from the rally footage from the early days,” with “iconic cars”—seriously, I encourage you to search Group B Rally Cars on your nearest search engine—and “drivers that were more akin to fighter pilots.”

Another level

(Image credit: Walaber Entertainment LLC)

What’s more, developing a rally game is also much more accessible for your average enthusiast. I asked Tim “Walaber” FitzRandolph, Parking Garage Rally Circuit’s creator, for his thoughts on the recent explosion of indie rally racers. He originally came up with the idea for PGRC in a Ludum Dare game jam.

“Retro rally is a nice indie-friendly game type because of the simple focus on car handling and terrain without needing the large scope to compete with AAA games,” explained FitzRandolph.

Dune Casu shared a similar perspective, one that’s become a bit of a refrain in an era of triple-A mediocrity and thrilling independent development: “Indie rally games aren’t bound by the same rules and are usually made with lower budgets and smaller teams, which means we can take more risks.”

“I’m not an avid racing fan,” PGRC creator FitzRandolph revealed when I asked what separates rally from other motorsports. “Rally appeals to me because it is a very pure expression of ‘you and your machine vs the terrain’ without the other cars to contend with.

“In a way, I think it’s similar to Horror and Roguelikes in that it’s a genre that provides lots of replayability without needing tons of production cost to develop, has an audience, and is not competing against AAA, which is the sweet spot for indies!”

But I think there’s something even deeper than this accessibility to the digital rally revival. The rise of everyman rally racing games captures this memory, partly real or fully imagined, that we have of better days—of raw, unrefined, unpretentious fun. Retro cars, like early gaming consoles, film cameras, vinyl records, and my personal favorite audio medium, cassette tapes, all carry the soul of a semi-mythical simpler time.

Art of Rally deftly captures this sunset glow of nostalgia, radiant on its off-brand Lancia Stratos and Audi Sport Quattro. The rush of Rush Rally 3’s motion-blur, throwback graphics, and sim-like handling give 9/10ths of the same hit as Gran Turismo 3’s dirt stages. Parking Garage Rally Circuit’s Ska bangers, blocky polygons, and bright colors would make any grown-up car enthusiast feel like they’re back in the ’90s. Real-world rally may be fading, but long live the indie rally racer.



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Earfun Wave Life over-ear noise-cancelling headphones on a wooden surface
Product Reviews

Earfun Wave Life review: mostly excellent, comfortable over-ears deliver at an enticing price

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.

Earfun Wave Life: two-minute review

To misquote Futurama’s robotic delinquent Bender, you’re in for “Earfun on a bun” if you take the plunge on the Chinese brand’s latest budget cans. Assuming I still have a job to take this review any further [only just – Ed.], I’ve been taken aback by the quality of the Earfun Wave Life. Seeing as they only cost around $50 / £50, these over-ear headphones are far better than I was expecting.

The Earfun Wave Life pack in enough features and sufficiently robust audio performance to make them absolutely worth considering if you’re on the hunt for a new pair of cheap over-ear cans. Sturdily built, extremely easy on the ears thanks to their lush foam cups and sporting an app that’s both intuitive and comprehensive with its EQ options, there’s a lot to like about these competitively priced noise cancelling headphones.

It’s a pity the Wave Life’s ANC features don’t fully convince. For the price Earfun are selling them, I was never expecting these over-ears to rival the best noise-cancelling headphones out there. Still, when it comes to snuffing out distracting ambient noise, ANC performance with these cheap cans is almost aggressively average.


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On the flipside, if you’re lucky enough not to have to endure regular noisy commutes, the Earfun Wave Life have more than enough plus points to make them worth recommending if you’re on a tight budget.

Bolstered by stellar software, a dedicated game mode and 40mm drivers that hand in convincingly deep bass levels, Earfun’s affordable headphones are thoroughly enjoyable. They might be cheap, but they certainly don’t feel it.

Not only are the Wave Life some of the most comfortable cheap cans I’ve ever worn, they’re also great for hands-free voice calls. During one of my least glamorous chats in recent memory – one that involved asking a plumber pal of mine about a broken toilet seat – I was reassured my voice was clear during the entire abode-centric chinwag despite me being in a different room than my phone during the call. Thank you very much, Bluetooth 5.4.

Will these cans’ soundscape blow you away (even after you tweak frequency settings with Earfun’s fantastic EQ software)? Probably not. Yet for the price, these supremely comfortable headphones, which also boast staying power of up to 60 hours if you switch ANC off, deliver more than they disappoint even they may not quite make it into the best over-ear headphones available.

If you want a pair of budget over-ears that will be comfortable on your cranium while (mostly) delivering satisfying sounds, you could do a whole lot worse than the Earfun Wave Life.

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

  • EarFun Wave Life (Black) at Amazon for $59.99

Earfun Wave Life review: Price and release date

  • Release date: February, 2025
  • Price: $59.99 / £49.99 / AU$105 (approx.)

The Earfun Wave Life are priced super-aggressively at just $59.99 / £49.99 / AU$105 (approx.). They can often be found even cheaper than their official retail price courtesy of Amazon sales, too.

Though they’re obviously not as premium as the $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$167 (where sold) Earfun Wave Pro that impressed us big style early last year, they still deliver a satisfying sonic experience.

Sure, they’re not going to make audiophiles’ socks roll up and down. Yet considering their budget price point, I reckon most folks will be pleasantly surprised by these over-ear headphones’ pleasingly deep bass and relatively convincing trebles. The Earfun Wave Life are also far more comfy than I was expecting from such an affordable pair of cans.

In terms of alternative options, if you’re looking for some of the best cheap headphones for under $/£100, you’ll struggle to do better than the superb 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 (catchy moniker, right?). The Sony WH-CH520 are another great option if you’re in the market for a budget pair of noise-cancelling cans.

Earfun Wave Life review: Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Weight:

264g

Drivers:

40mm Composite

Battery life:

37 hours (ANC on); up to 60 hours (ANC off)

Control:

app; physical/touch; voice

Connectivity:

Bluetooth 5.4; USB-C

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

Earfun Wave Life review: Features

  • Up to 60 hours’ battery life
  • Intuitive app improves sound quality
  • Two devices can be paired simultaneously

Aside from their stellar battery life – more on which shortly – the Earfun Wave Life feature that impresses me most is their excellent software. The Earfun Audio app is available on both Android and iOS, and I’d consider it an essential download if you want to squeeze the best sound out of these cheap over-ear cans.

Easy to use, sporting an uncluttered design and with intuitive custom EQ calibration tools, the Earfun app can significantly improve the Wave Life’s already decent out-of-the-box audio.

I’m a big fan of the software’s custom equalizer that allows you to adjust the headphones’ soundscape across a variety of frequencies via a set of sliders. It’s a doddle to use, as you simply tweak each frequency until the app’s repeating ‘drip’ sound fades away.

After a couple of minutes of adjustments, I found the customized results to be significantly more satisfying than any of the 30 preset EQ profiles Earfun’s software offers. These span various musical genres, while various bass and treble boost presets are also provided.

The wide variety of profiles the firm serves up may be impressive, but I found the majority to be a little too quiet. And not to be overly nitpicking, but flicking between these presets on both my iPhone 14 Pro and iPad Pro (2024) is painfully sloooooow.

Earfun’s app also lets you switch between the Wave Life’s four ANC modes. First up, there’s ‘normal’, which somewhat confusingly turns noise cancelling off. There’s then ‘ambient sound’, ‘wind noise cancellation’ and ‘noise cancelling’; with the latter two options snuffing out sounds most effectively.

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

Sadly, Earfun hasn’t really cracked the ANC code with its cheap cans and I could still easily make out passing traffic when going out for strolls. Next to my Apple AirPods Max, noise cancelling on the Wave Life isn’t up to scratch. That said, comparing $60 headphones to Crew Cupertino’s $500 over-ear cans is like pitting a Morris Minor against a Lamborghini Aventador in a drag race.

Another selling point of the Earfun Wave Life that thankfully proves more effective is their multi-phone connectivity that lets you pair two devices simultaneously. During my testing it proved largely reliable, with the headphones syncing to my tablet and smartphone with little hassle. The only slight hitch I’ve encountered is when I enter the app on my duo of Apple devices, which often requires me to unpair one gizmo before I can tweak software settings on the other.

The Earfun Wave Life are battery beasts. On a full charge, they’ll last for 60 hours, with that number dropping to a still-impressive 37 hours with ANC enabled. During my fortnight of testing these cans, I only had to charge them twice, which is super-commendable considering how kind these headphones are on your change purse.

However, there’s no getting around the fact the bundled-in USB-C charging cable is comically short. I’m talking Smurf short. Still, I’m not going to grumble too much when I can get the Wafe Life to 100% juice in less than 30 minutes on my GaN charger.

As mentioned in the two-minute review, the four-mic, AI-assisted algorithm also makes hands-free calling a breeze. With a 49ft range, you don’t have to worry about being cut off when wandering around your apartment/house, either.

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

Earfun Wave Life review: Design

  • Incredibly comfy to wear
  • Easy-to-reach on-cup controls
  • Materials feel premium for budget cans

No-frills is the name of the ultra-plain game when it comes to the Earfun Wave Life. With an inoffensive yet entirely forgettable design, these cans won’t keep you from hitting the hay and dreaming about how alluring they look.

Crucially, though, they don’t feel cheap. The quality of the plastics used in the construction of these over-ears feels far more premium than I’d expect from $60 headphones. I also appreciate the brushed metal that appears when you extend the Wave Life’s headband.

In terms of comfort, Earfun has absolutely nailed it with its latest budget cans. I wore them on a three-hour walk with my husky on an uncommonly warm Scottish afternoon recently and never once did they cause me any discomfort. That’s mainly due to their super-comfy foam cups which rotate 90 degrees, making them both easy to fold up and an absolute pleasure to wear.

The Earfun Wave Life weigh a relatively breezy 264g, which also means you don’t have to worry about neck strain or earache. Every time I put these cans on, it feels like giving my lobes a big fuzzy hug. I’ll take comfort over style all the livelong day.

The on-cup controls are also enjoyable to interact with. A soft plastic power button is wedged between equally squishy and easy-to-locate volume up/down controls, while I also had no problems switching between noise-cancelling controls thanks to the dedicated ANC button. My only slight beef? You have to hold down the power button a little too long for my liking.

There’s also a USB-C slot for both wired play and charging. As I stated previously, the cable that comes in the box is way too short, so you’d be better off investing in a longer third-party one if you want to go down the wired listening route.

As for colors, you’re limited to a single shade of black. If you like your headphones to be unfussy and not make you stand out on, say, a crowded train or bus, the Wave Life’s bog-standard noir won’t bother you. Personally, I like both white and colored cans, so I would have appreciated more than one hue.

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

Earfun Wave Life review: Sound quality

  • A touch quiet without app tweaks
  • Software EQ adjustments save the day
  • Well-judged bass levels

Considering how affordable the Wave Life are, I don’t want to overly dunk on their sound shortcomings, and there are few glaring weaknesses with these cheap cans’ audio quality. There are, though, some that warrant mentioning.

My biggest bugbear is the default sound profile when you first unbox these over-ears. This is subjective, but the Wave Life were a tad too quiet when I first clamped them around my skull. Although initially underwhelmed by their audio, I calibrated a custom EQ via the Earfun Audio app to produce a listening experience that felt far more well-balanced and punchy.

Without software tweaks, vocals during my favorite tunes and dialogue on some of the best Netflix movies on my iPad felt muted and flat, so I definitely recommend downloading Earfun’s app. Considering the firm’s software is both robust yet never feels daunting to interact with, it would be uncharitable to slam the Wave Life’s default soundscape when it’s so simple and quick to make it appreciably better through minor app adjustments.

Within minutes of fiddling about with its frequency sliders, I landed on a custom profile that delivered a soundscape with decently weighty bass that dovetailed well with the treble levels I settled on. Yes, mids on the Wave Life get lost in the sonic shuffle somewhat, but overall, I’ve had far more enjoyable audio sessions with these cans than disappointing ones.

When testing headphones for the first time, I’ve got a small clutch of go-to bangers I always fire up. The almost hymn-like electronic stylings of Death in Vegas’ Girls sounds way more impactful than I was expecting from sub-$100 cans, while the pulsating trance beats of F*ck Buttons nine-minute The Lisbon Maru delivered all the bass my eardrums craved – thank you, Wave Life.

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

I was less taken with my favorite live performance ever when listening to The Verve’s astonishing rendition of Sonnet from their spellbinding 1998 home concert from Wigan’s Haigh Hall, though. This classic Cool Britannia tune sounds amazing on my Sony Inzone H9 – surprising, considering it’s a gaming headset first and foremost. But on the Wave Life, Richard Ashcroft’s normally haunting vocals lack the audio oomph my Inzone cans drum up.

Speaking of which, Earfun’s budget over-ears come with a low-latency Game Mode that automatically kicks in if you fire up a title on either your Android or iOS device. Not that I actually noticed much difference when I disabled the feature when playing some of the best iPad games.

That’s not to say the Wave Life don’t do a more than passable job at being a decent gaming headset. Even though gamers aren’t Earfun’s target market, their latest over-ears’ ability to pick out subtle sounds during gameplay is admirable. I was particularly impressed (and oh so flustered) by how effectively they conveyed the constant nearby Xenomorph screeches in the nerve-shredding Alien Isolation. The Resident Evil 4 remake’s undead-slaughtering gun battles also popped in an impactful way I wasn’t expecting from such cheap cans.

It’s best to go in with low expectations regarding the Wave Life’s noise cancelling, though. Even the most effective of its modes isn’t great at kiboshing ambient sounds, so if quality ANC is important to you, look elsewhere.

  • Sound quality score: 3.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

Earfun Wave Life review: Value

  • Great value for money, given the features
  • Sound quality expectations met for the price
  • No carry case

Considering the amount of features and general build quality, there’s zero doubt the Earfun Wave Life represent fantastic value for money.

Overall sound quality also surpasses the expectations I’d generally go in with when it comes to reviewing such a cheap set of headphones. Unless you’re a real elitist audiophile, you’ll be pretty smitten with what your $60 / £50 / AU$105 (approx.) outlay serves up sound-wise.

While a carry case would have been appreciated, that’s a bit too much to ask for such affordable cans. Earfun deserves a lot of credit for selling its Wave Life over-ears at such an attractive price point.

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

Should I buy the Earfun Wave Life?

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Section

Notes

Score

Features

Bluetooth 5.4; excellent 60-hour battery life; simultaneous device pairing

4 / 5

Design

Incredibly comfy; easy-to-reach on-cup controls; another color would be nice

4 / 5

Sound quality

Optional app essential to overcome limited EQ presets; a touch quiet; ANC could be far better

3.5 / 5

Value

Fantastic value for money; sound quality to be expected at the price point

4.5 / 5

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

Earfun Wave Life review: Also consider

Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0

Earfun Wave Life

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51

Sony WH-CH520

Drivers:

40mm composite

40mm dynamic

30mm

Active noise cancellation:

Yes

Yes

No

Battery life:

60 hours (37 hours ANC on)

100 hours (65 hours ANC on)

50 hours

Weight:

264g

246g

137g

Connectivity:

Bluetooth 5.4; USB-C

Bluetooth 5.2; 3.5mm

Bluetooth 5.2

Waterproofing:

N/A

N/A

N/A

How I tested Earfun Wave Life

  • Tested for nearly three weeks
  • Tested at home, on long walks and in ride shares

I tested the Earfun Wave Pro in a variety of conditions spanning songs, streaming content and video games over roughly a three-week period. This gave me the chance to get to know how versatile these over-ears can be.

Most of my time with these budget headphones was spent listening to music and podcasts on my iPhone 14 Pro. Away from revisiting my favourite tunes, I also used the Earfun Wave Life for Netflix and Disney Plus streaming, plus playing several games on my iPad Pro.

While most of my background centres around covering the best TVs and almost 20 years writing about video games, I’ve owned an absurd amount of headphones and earbuds in my life – from $500 Apple Airpods Max to budget buds from brands you’ve probably never heard of.

Currently, I have more sets of cans in my apartment than I do meals in my fridge. I should perhaps adjust my priorities in life, but hey, what can I say? I really love the best headphones.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: June 2025

EarFun Wave Life: Price Comparison



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Fantastic Four Newhed
Product Reviews

First Steps’ Theme Is Expectedly Excellent

by admin


The Fantastic Four: First Steps doesn’t just look unlike any other mainstream superhero movie in recent years, it’s also got an unusual sound to match. Following tickets going on sale for the movie, Marvel released the full track for the film’s main theme, created by longtime film composer Michael Giacchino.

There’ve been snippets of the theme present in trailers and the IMAX pre-roll for Thunderbolts*, so we already knew it would sound as 1960s as the world the heroes live in. But hearing the full thing really underlines the importance of a composer that vibes with the material and wants to make a score that’s exciting and memorable music. For the most part, this is something Marvel’s not really done well at, save for works composed by Alan Silvestri or Ludwig Göransson or Son Lux’s more recent work on Thunderbolts*.

But having memorable music is what Giacchino’s always been good at—his scores for the most recent Star Trek movies are still sublime, and his Fantastic Four: First Steps work sounds like some of his best for Marvel specifically. (Starting with the first Doctor Strange, he’s composed for the MCU Spider-Man trilogy, Thor: Love & Thunder, and Werewolf by Night, the latter of which he also directed.) Like everything else from this movie, the score is sounding promising, and we can’t wait to hear all of it, ditto seeing the punny titles Giacchino has undoubtedly come up with for each track.

Fantastic Four: First Steps comes to theaters July 25.

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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Gwent co-creator and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners showrunner's new deckbuilder has an excellent tortoise
Game Updates

Gwent co-creator and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners showrunner’s new deckbuilder has an excellent tortoise

by admin


I haven’t yet decided whether the loot tortoise in roguelike deckbuilder Dice Legends looks satisfied or exhausted. Both make sense to me. “He’s grown used to this, but still isn’t thrilled about it,” offered my sister. I would not be thrilled either. Imagine being aware of Pratchett’s world turtle and knowing you’re a glorified ATM by comparison.

“A roguelike deckbuilder, Nic?”, you exclaim with mock interest. “Well, kick me down a well and break out the Vimto we’ve had mouldering in the cellar since the nineties, the last decade in which anyone consumed or thought about Vimto. Haven’t had one of those since the time I went to collect the post forty five seconds ago. Also, the post was two flyers, each advertising a roguelike deckbuilder”. I will not argue with your sage industry analysis, friend, although this one does have a couple of notables that may make the Steam demo an intriguing prospect.

Watch on YouTube

It’s got lovely pixel art, for one, although thoughtful art direction isn’t too surprising. Dice Legends is the latest project from CD Project alum Rafał Jaki, co-creator of The Witcher 3’s Gwent minigame and showrunner on Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.

It’s also got a tabletop twist on traditional card flinging. Each of the three playable heroes uses a different type of dice (D6, D8, or the haughty D12 – also known in some circles as ‘the shape bastard’), and you’ll use these to roll a dice pool to activate cards. Some cards need a number within a certain range but will still have the same effect. Others scale up with your dice results. Otherwise, it’s Slay The Spire at its very core. Attack, build up shield to defend against telegraphed damage, apply debuffs, and conquer nodes on an overworld map.

Additionally, the soundtrack is pure Bardcore. It is certified jaunty up in here. Is Dice Legends a ‘fifth page on the Nintendo Eshop sale’-ass name for a game? Yes. But I think it’s good time nonetheless. This one’s out in the third quarter of the year, to use the language of my most hated enemies, the year quarterers.



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Final VR3000 Wireless on desk with pink background
Product Reviews

Final VR3000 Wireless review: an excellent sounding pair of gaming earbuds, but the ANC is nonexistent

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.

Final VR3000 Wireless: two-minute review

The VR3000 Wireless are gaming earbuds compatible with multiple platforms, thanks to their Bluetooth and 2.4GHz support. They can be customized using the Final Connect mobile app, featuring options to toggle the touch controls and ANC modes, as well as providing a 10-band equalizer to tinker with, offering plenty of scope to sculpt the sound profile as you see fit. It’s a shame there’s only one profile slot to save your settings to, though.

They cut a refined figure, with their small, slender profile and premium feel. They also look smart with their minimal and functional design. I found the VR3000 Wireless quite comfortable to wear, and they’re light enough to feel inconspicuous, while offering a snug and secure fit at the same time. However, I did experience some aching after about an hour, owing to the lack of any soft material around the drivers.

The overall sound they produce is excellent, rivaling the best wireless gaming headsets: it’s well-balanced, although the bass, while plenty full, lacks a little punch. The binaural qualities are also great, as Final is keen to point out in marketing the VR3000 Wireless.


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The microphone renders voices with enough clarity so that it’s usable for chats, although it’s hardly the best in class, given its slightly lower fidelity compared to rivals, with inputs sounding a little muffled.

The ANC function, however, is even more disappointing, appearing only to curb certain frequencies rather than attempting to block all external noise. As a result, it fails to block out environmental sounds to any noticeable degree.

Battery life, on the other hand, did seem to live up to expectations. After several days of use, the VR3000 Wireless still had plenty of charge left both in themselves and in the case.

Connectivity is similarly reliable, although there were occasions when I had to unplug and replug the 2.4GHz dongle to reestablish connection with my PS5, which was inconvenient.

However, considering their multiple wireless options and support for a variety of platforms – not to mention the build quality, features, and excellent sound – the VR3000 Wireless represent good value. They rival costlier alternatives on many of these fronts, such as the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds and the Sony Inzone Buds. All of this means that the VR3000 Wireless are definitely worth shortlisting if you’re after gaming earbuds with plenty of quality in a small package.

(Image credit: Future)

Final VR3000 Wireless review: price and availability

  • $129 / £129 (about AU$200)
  • Available now
  • Cheaper than rivals

The VR3000 Wireless cost $129 / £129 (about AU$200) and are available now. They come with a charging case and five silicone tips in various sizes. A USB-C dongle for 2.4GHz connections is also included, but unfortunately, there’s no USB-A adapter for it.

This is a good price for a pair of high-quality wireless earbuds. They’re cheaper than the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds, for instance, which are our current pick as the best gaming earbuds around.

They’re also less expensive than the Sony Inzone Buds, some of the best PS5 earbuds around. These had a less than impressive bass response than the VR3000 Wireless, though, but do feature much improved noise cancellation.

Final VR3000 Wireless review: specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Price

$129 / £129 (about AU$200)

Weight

0.17oz / 4.8g (each bud)

Compatibility

Android, iOS, PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch

Connection type

Wireless (Bluetooth, ultra low latency wireless dongle)

Battery life

Up to 11 hours on earbuds + 38 hours from case

Features

ANC, dual MEMS microphones, touch controls, IPX5

Software

Final Connect app (mobile)

(Image credit: Future)

Final VR3000 Wireless review: design and features

  • Well-made and premium feeling
  • Small profile
  • Useful mobile app

The VR3000 Wireless make an excellent first impression, with both the buds themselves and the case adopting a sleek and premium design. Both are pleasingly small as well, which makes them a great choice for those who like to game on the go.

The buds feature vertical stems typical of many earbuds, although they’re shorter than usual. They also have a more lateral fit, with the main bulk of the drivers running parallel with your inner ear, rather than protruding outwards, which gives them a lower profile.

However, one gripe I have is that taking the VR3000 Wireless out of their case can be an awkward process. The fit is extremely snug, and the magnetic hold is strong; this at least makes them secure, and I couldn’t even shake them out by hanging the case upside down.

There’s no real dimple or gap to get any purchase, and the buds only poke out marginally, so there’s not much surface area to grab a hold of. The only real place to grab them is at either end, which is problematic since you can easily trigger the touch controls when grabbing the rear portion.

(Image credit: Future)

The VR3000 Wireless can be customized using the Final Connect mobile app, available for both iOS and Android. This functions well and offers some useful features, including battery life readouts for each earbud, and the ability to toggle the touch controls on or off, or just disable the touch control for powering on and off the buds. Speaking of which, the touch controls are responsive and easy to use, and thankfully, some functions are accompanied by a voiceover, which is clear and informative.

You also toggle the ANC, which also features an Ambient mode that plays a constant white noise in the background. There’s a 10-band EQ to tinker with as well, although unfortunately, it only allows you to save one custom profile.

Still, this equalizer provides a lot of scope, allowing you to boost and cut frequencies between 31Hz and 16KHz by 6db. However, I found the sliders for adjusting these a little awkward to use, given their small size and how close all 10 are to each other on screen.

(Image credit: Future)

Final VR3000 Wireless review: Performance

  • Excellent sound
  • Poor ANC
  • Some connectivity issues

The sound produced by the Final VR3000 Wireless is excellent. The clarity and fidelity are superb, and the frequencies are expertly balanced; the mids and highs are especially good, with next no distortion.

In fact, the overall sound even comes close to rivalling the best earbuds designed for audio playback. Bass frequencies are deep and full, although they perhaps lack the punch of the beefiest earbuds around.

The spatial representation of the VR3000 Wireless is also quite commendable, accurately tracking the location of nearby footsteps in Counter-Strike 2 and cars in Gran Turismo 7.

However, I found the ANC quite poor, providing no discernible buffer between internal and external noise. It seemed merely to reduce the low-end frequencies of my immediate environment, not render them any less prominent. If anything, it sometimes made them more apparent, which is obviously disastrous for an ANC mode.

The microphone quality is sufficient for voices to come through clearly, although unsurprisingly, the fidelity isn’t a match for what large mics equipped on the best gaming headsets produce. There’s a slightly muffled effect to captured inputs, but thankfully, this isn’t egregious enough to ruin chats.

I also found the VR3000 Wireless uncomfortable for long sessions. There’s no silicone rim around the chassis to offer any cushioning, so the hard plastic is in contact with your inner ear the whole time.

(Image credit: Future)

This meant that after more than an hour or so, I would start to experience aching. However, for sessions shorter than this, I generally didn’t have an issue, and I appreciated their snug fit and low weight. Sometimes, I even forgot I was wearing them.

Unfortunately, I experienced a few connectivity issues during my time with the VR3000 Wireless. When connected to my PS5 via the USB 2.4GHz dongle, there were times when it wouldn’t reconnect. The only solution was to unplug and replug the dongle, which is, of course, quite inconvenient, and not an issue you’d experience with the best PS5 gaming headsets.

Thankfully, I had no issues with Bluetooth, as the VR3000 Wireless connected to my Android phone instantly. However, I did find the volume quite loud, requiring me to turn down the system volume to well below halfway for an acceptable volume.

Switching back and forth between mobile and PC (that is, between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz) also proved quick and easy, just like it is with the best PC gaming headsets. Again, though, I experienced the same volume jump on Windows, so beware that the VR3000 Wireless are a loud pair of earbuds.

The battery life of the VR3000 Wireless seems very good as well, with both buds appearing to have retained close to full battery after a few days of varied use. The case dropped one bar of charge in this same timeframe, indicating it had between 51% and 75% left, which is also respectable.

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Final VR3000 Wireless?

Buy them if…

Don’t buy it if…

Final VR3000 Wireless review: also consider

Swipe to scroll horizontallyRow 0 – Cell 0

Final VR3000 Wireless

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds

Sony Inzone Buds

Price

$129 / £129 (about AU$200)

$159.99 / £159.99 / AU$359

$199.99 / £179.99 / AU$249.95

Weight

0.17oz / 4.8g (each bud)

0.19oz / 5.3g (each bud); 1.7oz / 48.7g (case)

0.23oz / 6.5g (each bud)

Compatibility

Android, iOS, PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch

GameBuds for PlayStation: PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Meta Quest 2/3, mobile; GameBuds for Xbox: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Meta Quest 2/3

Android, PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch

Connection type

Wireless (Bluetooth, ultra low latency wireless dongle)

2.4Ghz (via USB-C), Bluetooth 5.3 (mobile)

2.4GHz (via USB-C), Bluetooth 5.3

Battery life

Up to 11 hours on earbuds + 38 hours from case

Up to 40 hours (buds 10 hours; case 30 hours)

Up to 48 hours (buds 18 hours; case 30 hours)

Features

ANC, dual MEMS microphones, touch controls, IPX5

360° Spatial Audio, Qi Wireless Charging Case, 6mm neodymium drivers, four-mic ANC, transparency mode, in-ear detection/sensor, IP55 rating, fast charge, companion app with more than 100 presets

360° Spatial Audio, IPX4 equivalent, Quick Attention, touch controls

Software

Final Connect app (mobile)

Arctis Companion App (mobile), SteelSeries Sonar (PC)

Sony Headphones Connect app (mobile), Izone Hub (PC)

How I tested the Final VR3000 Wireless

  • Tested for several days
  • Used for gaming and music playback
  • Gaming and headset experience

I tested the VR3000 Wireless for several days, during which time I used them for gaming, as well as for listening to podcasts and music.

I tested them on various platforms, including PC, PS5, and Android. I connected to these devices via Bluetooth and the 2.4GHz USB dongle.

I have been gaming for over two decades, and during that time, I’ve used a plethora of headsets and earphones. I have also reviewed a number of them made by various brands and with a range of price points, designs, and feature sets.

Final VR3000 Wireless: Price Comparison



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DXRacer Craft with plant, desk, and pink wall in background
Product Reviews

DXRacer Craft review: a firm yet comfortable gaming chair with an excellent headrest but weak arms

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.

DXRacer Craft gaming chair: One-minute review

The new DXRacer Craft is the latest upgrade in the brand’s line of high-end gaming chairs, promising supreme comfort and ergonomic features. In terms of looks, the Craft shows DXRacer has matured from its previous outings, omitting the typical gamer aesthetic that can plague chairs in this class. It’s even smart enough to furnish workspaces.

The build quality seems to match its sleek appearance. The leatherette upholstery on my unit was taut and neatly stitched, as well as feeling quite durable, although it’s not the most breathable material.

Sitting in the Craft is a comfortable experience for the most part. The seat is on the firmer side compared to what the best gaming chairs have to offer, but I still found it offered sufficient cushioning. It’s also quite wide and deep, which helps to get a comfortable position. What’s more, it adjusts well for height, especially at the lower end.


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The backrest is more plush and is easy to sink into. It has built-in lumbar support, which, while easy to adjust for prominence, lacks height adjustment, which isn’t ideal. However, it proved comfortable enough for my back, although I wish it were positioned a tad lower down.

The magnetic head pillow, though, is a standout feature of the Craft. Again, it’s firmer than other head pillows I’ve tried, but it’s still comfortable, while its side bolsters provide additional support when leaning your head to one side.

Assembly was easier than other gaming chairs I’ve put together, thanks to a few convenient touches. These include a slot in the bracket for the backrest, which made one of the most laborious aspects of building a gaming chair a lot less hassle.

For the price, the Craft represents great value for those in the UK, but not so much for those in the US. Still, it’s cheaper than some other big-name rivals, including the all-conquering Secretlab Titan Evo 2022, to which it comes close to matching in terms of quality, comfort, and adjustability. If you can handle a firmer seat and don’t mind the armrests, you could do a lot worse than the Craft.

(Image credit: Future)

  • DXRacer Craft at DXRacer for $479

DXRacer Craft gaming chair review: Price and availability

  • $499 / £368 / AU$759.99
  • Different size options and finishes
  • Well-priced compared to rivals

The Craft costs $499 / £368 / AU$759.99 and is available now. It comes in regular and plus sizes and two upholstery options: EPU leatherette and woven fabric. There’s only one stock color to choose from, but there are various collaboration editions with more extravagant finishes.

The price places the Craft at the higher end of the gaming chair market, although those in the UK get a much better deal. Regardless of territory, though, it’s still less than the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022, which we think is still the best gaming chair around. It has better arms than the Craft, and it might just edge ahead in terms of overall build quality, but the Craft comes admirably close.

In the UK, the Craft is priced similarly to the Boulies Elite, which is comparable in many aspects, although that chair does have height-adjustable lumbar support. However, this and its other adjustments are awkward and clunky, which certainly isn’t the case with the Craft.

DXRacer Craft gaming chair review: Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Price

$499 / £368 / AU$759.99

Dimensions

52.4 x 27.6 x 22.1in / 133 x 70 x 56cm

Max user weight

275lbs / 125kg

Min seat height

18.5in / 47cm

Seat width

22.2in / 56cm

Recline angle

135 degrees

Warranty

3 years

Material

Leatherette, fabric

DXRacer Craft gaming chair: Design and aesthetics

  • Great overall build quality
  • Leatherette not the most breathable
  • Less than solid arm rests

The Craft adopts the usual gaming chair silhouette, although thankfully, its design is more pared down than DXRacer’s of old. The all-black colorway of my unit imparts a level of elegance and makes for a more professional appearance, so it wouldn’t look out of place in an office environment.

The overall build quality of the Craft is commendable, with a solid frame that is mercifully lighter than you might expect. There are also some neat touches, such as magnetically attachable covers for the backrest brackets.

The upholstery is similarly premium. The stitching is neat and strong, and the EPU leatherette material on my unit appeared hard-wearing and durable. It also lacks the suede accents you often find on other PU gaming chairs, which I find rather pointless anyway. However, the leatherette finish might prove a little too thick to be breathable for those in hotter climes.

The arms, however, aren’t as solid as you might expect. There’s a fair amount of wobble to them, although this isn’t really noticeable unless you move around quite vigorously, but it’s worth mentioning still.

The castors offer a fairly smooth roll, although they do tend to grab somewhat on carpet, but not to a frustrating degree. I was more thankful for the rounded ends of the wheel base spokes, which means less pain if you happen to clip your heels or stub your toe on them, as I’m personally liable to do.

(Image credit: Future)

DXRacer Craft gaming chair review: Comfort and Adjustability

  • Firm but comfortable seat
  • Built-in lumbar, but not height adjustable
  • Excellent head pillow

The Craft is a comfortable chair to sit in. The seat is quite firm, which may deter some users, and may cause fatigue after really long sessions, but I personally found it provided enough cushioning.

It also offers plenty of depth, which is something I welcome and is considered a benefit from an ergonomic perspective. It’s quite wide too, which adds to its comfort levels, and the bolstering is largely flat so as not to intrude or encumber various seating positions.

I was pleased with the height range of the Craft as well. It lowered enough for my feet to comfortably touch the ground, which is rare in the various gaming chairs I’ve experienced. The tilt mechanism allows for gentle rocking and locks in place securely when desired.

The 4D armrests are comfortable enough, largely thanks to their width and adjustability. However, the padding is quite hard, which might be a dealbreaker for some gamers, and they don’t move inwards as much as I would like them to. What’s more, some of the adjustments are very stiff and don’t feel as well engineered as those on some other upmarket gaming chairs.

The backrest is very comfortable and offers more cushioning than the seat. It’s also reasonably wide, and the side bolsters curve well out of the way of your arms, so you’re not likely to hit them with your elbow.

(Image credit: Future)

All of these factors help to make the Craft an easy chair to sink into. It doesn’t recline to a full 180 degrees, though, but it still goes back quite far, and the lever to operate it is smooth yet secure.

It also features built-in lumbar support, although oddly, the adjustment dial is labelled as “Resistance”. Regardless, it’s relatively easy to use, and there aren’t too many twists between the two extremes of its range, as I’ve found with other gaming chairs.

Unfortunately, though, this lumbar support isn’t height adjustable, which will be a shame for those who don’t meet its set position. Personally, it was a touch too high for my liking, but it at least covers a wide area, which helps to even out the pressure it exerts on your back. There’s also plenty of adjustment when it comes to its prominence.

Surprisingly, the included magnetic head pillow is one of the highlights of the Craft –rivaling the most comfortable gaming chairs in this regard – with its firm yield offering cushioning and support in equal measure, while its contours fit the back of my head perfectly. I was also fond of its wingbacked design, which offers support for those who like to drift off in their chair.

DXRacer Craft gaming chair review: Assembly

The Craft proved easier to build than other gaming chairs. The instructions were clear, and the box contents were neatly packaged, which helped speed up the process. The chair’s relatively light construction made assembly less onerous than it would’ve been, and a few considerate touches, such as the preinstalled armrests and long double-sided Allen wrench, illustrate DXRacer’s commitment to improving convenience.

Best of all, there’s a slot on the right backrest bracket, which means you can easily slide in and align the backrest before you screw in the bolts. This is a real time-saver, and a feature I wish every gaming chair would adopt.

However, I should mention that the plastic cover for the recline mechanism arrived broken in the box. DXRacer was quick to send a replacement part, but the international shipping (from Europe to the UK) made the dispatch slower than it probably would’ve been domestically.

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the DXRacer Craft gaming chair?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it…

DXRacer Craft gaming chair: Also consider

Here are some alternatives to the DXRacer Craft if it doesn’t sound like your kind of gaming chair.

Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0

DXRacer Craft

Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 (Regular)

Boulies Elite

Price

$499 / £368 / AU$759.99

$549 / £469 / AU$799

$399 / £339 / AU$594

Dimensions

52.4 x 27.6 x 22.1in / 133 x 70 x 56cm

51.2 x 27.6 x 19.3in / 130 x 70 x 49cm

50.4 x 28 x 18.9in / 128 x 71 x 48cm

Max user weight

275lbs / 125kg

285lbs / 130kg

243lbs / 110kg

Min seat height

18.5in / 47cm

17.7in / 45cm

18.1in / 46cm

Seat width

22.2in / 56cm

18.5in / 47cm

20.9in / 53cm

Recline angle

135 degrees

165 degrees

165 degrees

Warranty

3 years

3 years

2 years

Material

Leatherette, fabric

Leatherette, fabric

Leatherette, fabric

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the DXRacer Craft gaming chair

  • Tested for full day
  • Used for gaming and productivity
  • Plentiful gaming chair experience

I tested the Craft for a full day, during which time I used it for gaming and for working. I made sure to try out all of its various adjustments.

I have been gaming for decades, and during that time, I’ve experienced numerous chairs, from gaming models to those designed for office and productivity. I have also reviewed a number of them previously.

DXRacer Craft: Price Comparison



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Zluri
Product Reviews

I tested Zluri and found it delivers complete SaaS management, with excellent discovery tools, security, and cost-saving features

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.

Zluri provides a comprehensive software asset management platform that helps IT teams see and control their SaaS applications from start to finish. We found it great for discovering apps across the organization, even the most elusive shadow IT. During our tests, Zluri’s easy-to-use dashboard helped us track usage, manage licenses, and optimize spending on a range of business software.

The platform’s main strength is its discovery engine. It uses 9 different methods to ensure 100% SaaS discoverability. We were impressed by how quickly Zluri connected with existing systems like SSO, financial tools, and browser extensions. The automated workflows for onboarding and offboarding employees can save your IT team a lot of time. It automatically manages access based on employee status changes, too.

Cost optimization is another area where Zluri excels. It helps you spot underused subscriptions and duplicate apps. We liked the renewal monitoring feature, which tracks end dates and sends reminders. This prevents missed renewals and opens up chances for negotiation. AI-powered license forecasting helps with budgeting, allowing your team to make informed decisions about software.


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Setting up Zluri needs some initial time, but the responsive customer support team makes it easier than you might expect. We found the multi-level access certification workflows very helpful for compliance. They ensure no access issues are missed. While the platform could use more detailed documentation and more integrations for niche apps, Zluri’s ongoing improvements suggest these issues will be resolved in future updates.

(Image credit: Zluri)

Zluri: Plans and pricing

Zluri has a flexible pricing model based on employee count. Plans start at about $4-8 per user each month for their core SaaS management platform. The pricing includes Standard, Professional, and Enterprise options. Higher tiers come with extra features like advanced automation, custom integrations, and dedicated support.

In our testing, the Professional plan stood out for mid-sized organizations. It strikes a good balance of features and value. This plan gives access to key tools such as application discovery, license management, and basic workflow automation.

Zluri also offers a free trial. This lets organizations test the platform before subscribing. We liked the clear pricing model — there were no hidden fees or surprises during our evaluation. For larger enterprises, Zluri offers custom pricing. This can be tailored to include specific modules or integration options based on needs.

(Image credit: Zluri)

Zluri: Features

Zluri’s complete SaaS management platform has many strong features. During testing, we found it great for spotting shadow IT and improving workflows for IT admins. Here are the key features that stood out during our evaluation:

Application discovery and management

Zluri’s discovery engine was very effective at finding SaaS apps used in our testing, even those not approved by IT. We were impressed by how the platform connected with our financial systems, SSO providers, and browser agents to build a complete app inventory. The central dashboard simplified categorizing apps, tracking usage metrics, and spotting security risks. This gave us clear visibility into the whole SaaS landscape.

Automated workflows

The workflow automation features reduce admin work by simplifying onboarding, offboarding, and access management. The pre-built workflows were easy to customize, allowing us to automate license assignments and access revocations.

Another great thing is that the platform integrates with HR software systems, so employee status changes automatically trigger updates to software access. This reduces security risks and keeps you compliant with internal policies.

License optimization

Zluri’s license management features uncovered major cost-saving opportunities in our sample portfolio. The platform’s analytics showed us underused licenses, duplicate subscriptions, and chances to consolidate or downgrade. We especially liked the renewal calendar, which gave alerts for upcoming renewals. This could help the procurement team negotiate better and avoid unwanted auto-renewals.

Compliance safeguards

The security and compliance features give lots of useful insights into vulnerabilities in a software ecosystem. We found the risk assessment dashboard particularly helpful for spotting applications with poor security practices or compliance issues. The access certification workflows make it easy to review user permissions, so that regulatory requirements can be met even with less administrative work.

(Image credit: Zluri)

Zluri: Analytics

Zluri’s analytics offer deep insights via data visualization into SaaS usage, spending, and security. The easy-to-use dashboards provide both broad overviews and detailed views. This helps IT admins spot trends, anomalies, and chances for optimization quickly. We found the spend analytics especially useful. They clearly visualized costs by department, application category, and time period. This helped us find ways to combine redundant tools and renegotiate contracts.

User-level analytics give clear insights into application adoption and engagement across the organization. We were able to track inactive users, find power users, and monitor license usage. This data could help you make smart choices about resource allocation. The customizable reports also generate specific insights for different stakeholders, making it easier to get to the issues you care about.

(Image credit: Zluri)

Zluri: Ease of use

Zluri’s user interface balances strong functionality with an easy-to-use design. This makes it friendly for teams new to SaaS management. The dashboard is clean and organized, showing key metrics at a glance. You can navigate it easily to get detailed views for specific applications, departments, or users. During testing, we were able to master the interface quickly, after only a brief orientation. Contextual help features also offer useful guidance for complex tasks.

The platform’s workflow automation cuts down the learning curve even more by simplifying common tasks that usually need several steps. We liked the smart design of the application discovery process, which can integrate with various data sources without coding. Some of the advanced features, like custom integrations and complex workflows, need technical skills however. Still, Zluri offers templates and wizards to make these features easier to access.

(Image credit: Zluri)

Zluri: Support

Zluri provides different support options based on pricing plans. All customers can access email support, knowledge base resources, and regular webinars. In our evaluation, we found the support team to be both responsive and knowledgeable. They usually reply to inquiries within a few hours and offer clear, actionable solutions. The platform’s implementation specialists are especially helpful during setup. They give personalized guidance for integrating with your systems and customizing workflows to meet your needs.

(Image credit: Zluri)

Zluri: Security

Zluri shows a strong commitment to security. It has SOC 2 Type II certification, regular penetration testing, and robust data encryption for data both in transit and at rest. The platform’s handling of user permissions is also pretty robust. It offers granular role-based access controls, letting organizations define what team members can see and change in the system based on their jobs.

Zluri’s clear security documentation was another highlight during our research. But it doesn’t just commit to these security standards for its own platform. Zluri can proactively spot security risks in your existing SaaS ecosystem. This includes applications without proper security certifications or those storing sensitive data.

Zluri: The Competition

Zluri has many competitors, including BetterCloud, Torii, and Productiv. Each has its strengths and focus areas.

BetterCloud excels in workflow automation and has been around longer. However, Zluri’s discovery engine is better at spotting shadow IT. Its interface is also more user-friendly for daily tasks.

Torii offers similar core features, focusing on automated workflows and a sleek interface. Still, Zluri stands out with stronger financial optimization and vendor management.

Productiv is all about application engagement analytics and benchmarking. This appeals to organizations that value adoption metrics and ROI analysis. For enterprises using ServiceNow, Productiv’s SaaS Operations Management module provides integration benefits. However, it lacks the same depth and specialization as Zluri.

While each competitor has unique strengths, Zluri provides the best mix of discovery, cost optimization, workflow automation, and ease of use.

Zluri: Final Verdict

Zluri delivers on its promise of great SaaS management. It offers strong discovery features, an easy-to-use interface, and useful cost optimization tools.

During our evaluation, we found the platform excels at finding shadow IT, improving workflows, and giving insights to optimize software spending.

The initial setup does take time and resources. Some advanced features can be harder to learn. Still, Zluri’s ongoing improvements and helpful support team make it a strong option for organizations with a complex tech stack.

We’ve listed the best IT documentation tool.



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