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I’m an Anime Collector. 3 AI Phone Features I Used While Visiting Tokyo

by admin June 18, 2025

I love collecting Japanese anime merch. I’m also a tech creator and an educator who loves using technology to make my life easier. On a recent trip to Tokyo, I decided to use AI features on my phone to help me navigate the city.

I’ve visited Japan six times in recent years, and as an avid fan and consumer of Japanese anime and pop culture, I fully intend to visit many more times for general tourism, pop-up events, specialty museums and parks. But my earliest visits to Tokyo were overwhelming and confusing. I had a basic understanding of the language, but this was a time before AI and Street View in Google Maps. I carried a Japanese dictionary with me, downloaded offline walking directions and read tutorials online about how to buy a train ticket. It was… OK.

With the recent popularity of AI, I am allowing myself to visit countries with a little less pre-planning and a little more serendipity. Instead of planning my itinerary based on previous trips, I can use my phone as a personal assistant to help me discover new and less-touristy spots along the way, opening up an opportunity to experience my favorite city again for the first time and keep my trips refreshing and new. And since I’m a collector, AI has also given me the ability to learn about vintage goods I find in overseas stores without wasting time or cash.

Here are three handy AI features that I recently tested in a real-world scenario.

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Circle to Search

One of my favorite things to do in Tokyo is wander around all the small vintage toy shops. It’s kind of like a treasure hunt, and whenever I find something I don’t have in my collection, I get excited. The problem is that there are thousands of anime products, I don’t have them all memorized, and there’s a language barrier.

This happened to me in Akihabara, one of Tokyo’s electronics and anime centers. I found this box that featured a character I recognized, but I didn’t know what the product was. So, I opened the camera app on my Samsung Galaxy and held down on the bottom line to open Circle to Search.

The author drew a circle around the product to initiate an image search.

Shannon Morse

Circle to Search is an AI-powered tool built by Google that uses the image on your screen to find matching results. In my case, I circled a Sailor Moon R box. Google then searched for a match. The results showed me several images of the character, which would have been helpful if I didn’t already know who she was.

I then wandered to another vintage anime retailer. This time, I used Circle to Search specifically to check the price. The item was priced around $300 after conversion, but was that a good deal? Circle to Search identified the product and pulled up matching listings from eBay. In general, the price at the shop was $200 to $300 less than the listings I found in the US.

Instant Translate

This was an awesome price for a vintage Sailor Moon toy. But since it’s electronic, I wondered if anything was wrong with it. The condition is listed on the product label, but I’m not very good at translating by memory, so I used Google’s Instant Translate feature within Circle to Search. The nice thing about using this tool for translations is that I don’t even have to circle anything. I can just hit the translation button at the bottom of the screen, and it translates everything it sees for me.

The author used Instant Translate from their phone camera. AI detected the source language as Japanese, saving an input step.

Shannon Morse

I don’t even have to tell Instant Translate what language I’m trying to translate. It detects the written language for me and automatically translates it. I learned that the toy had been opened and slightly damaged. While the translation was mostly correct, it wasn’t perfect. And the label didn’t give me all the information I wanted.

Conversation Mode

I wanted more context, so I asked a store associate for more information using Google Translate’s Conversation Mode. Using AI, Google Translate automatically detects the spoken language and translates it into the opposite language.

In our conversation, I asked for help, then asked if the item worked. The store rep looked up the item number to confirm that it worked and had been tested. Previously, I’d have to translate each phrase separately by hitting a mic button every time someone spoke. But with these enhanced AI features, the mic stays open and uses live information to keep the conversation flowing.

When I use Conversation Mode, I try to keep my sentences very simple to prevent mistranslations, which can absolutely happen. Several words in the Japanese language sound very similar but can mean totally different things — kowai and kawaii (scary and cute) are a good example. I studied the language, but I still have much to learn, so I didn’t want to be misunderstood.

This live translation also detected my word “battery” as “batari,” and luckily, the employee understood that I was talking about batteries that power the device. In normal conversations, this would usually be translated as “denchi” in Japanese.

Conversation Mode works in real time, without having to press another button every time you ask a question.

Shannon Morse

I thanked the employee for helping me and didn’t buy this piece of merch either, choosing instead to buy a vintage but completely new item to add to my collection. By using Circle to Search, AI Overview and Conversation Mode, I saved myself money. I didn’t make any purchasing decisions based just on a fear of missing out, and I was able to ask for more context.

These AI-powered tools are fairly new, and they aren’t without their faults. But when it comes to breaking down a language barrier or helping me be smarter with my personal hobbies, I can truly take advantage of them. It’s an exciting time to be an anime collector, a worldwide traveler or both.

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June 18, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

Forget iOS 26, Jump on These 6 Apple Intelligence Features Right Now

by admin June 17, 2025

Apple didn’t have a lot to say about Apple Intelligence at last week’s Worldwide Developers Conference, focusing instead on iOS 26 and the new Liquid Display interface that will extend to the iPhone and all of its devices. But even if it had, we’d still be waiting for the new operating systems to be released in the fall to take advantage of them (unless you want to live on the edge and install the first developer betas now).

CNET

I sat down to figure out just which of the current Apple Intelligence features I actually use. They aren’t necessarily the showy ones, like Image Playground, but ones that help in small, significant ways. Admittedly, Apple Intelligence has gotten off to a rocky start, from misleading message summaries to delayed Siri improvements, but the AI tech is far from being a bust.

If you have a compatible iPhone — an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16E, iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro (or their Plus and Max variants) — I want to share six features that I’m turning to nearly every day.

More features will be added as time goes on — and keep in mind that Apple Intelligence is still officially beta software — but this is where Apple is starting its AI age.

On the other hand, maybe you’re not impressed with Apple Intelligence, or want to wait until the tools evolve more before using them? You can easily turn off Apple Intelligence entirely or use a smaller subset of features.

Get alerted to priority notifications

This feature arrived only recently, but it’s become one of my favorites. When a notification arrives that seems like it could be more important than others, Prioritize Notifications pops it to the top of the notification list on the lock screen (with a colorful Apple Intelligence shimmer, of course). In my experience so far, those include weather alerts, texts from people I regularly communicate with and email messages that contain calls to action or impending deadlines.

To enable it, go to Settings > Notifications > Prioritize Notifications and then turn the option on. You can also enable or disable priority alerts from individual apps from the same screen. You’re relying on the AI algorithms to decide what gets elevated to a priority — but it seems to be off to a good start.

Apple Intelligence can prioritize notifications to grab your attention.

Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET

Summaries bring TL;DR to your correspondence

In an era with so many demands on our attention and seemingly less time to dig into longer topics … Sorry, what was I saying?

Oh, right: How often have you wanted a “too long; didn’t read” version of not just long emails but the fire hose of communication that blasts your way? The ability to summarize notifications, Mail messages and web pages is perhaps the most pervasive and least intrusive feature of Apple Intelligence so far.

When a notification arrives, such as a text from a friend or group in Messages, the iPhone creates a short, single-sentence summary.

Apple Intelligence summarized two text messages.

Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET

Sometimes summaries are vague and sometimes they’re unintentionally funny but so far I’ve found them to be more helpful than not. Summaries can also be generated from alerts by third-party apps like news or social media apps — although I suspect that my outdoor security camera is picking up multiple passersby over time and not telling me that 10 people are stacked by the door.

Nobody told me there’s a party at my house.

Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET

That said, Apple Intelligence definitely doesn’t understand sarcasm or colloquialisms — you can turn summaries off if you prefer.

You can also generate a longer summary of emails in the Mail app: Tap the Summarize button at the top of a message to view a rundown of the contents in a few dozen words.

In Safari, when viewing a page where the Reader feature is available, tap the Page Menu button in the address bar, tap Show Reader and then tap the Summary button at the top of the page.

Summarize long articles in Safari in the Reader interface.

Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET

Siri gets a glow-up and better interaction

I was amused during the iOS 18 and the iPhone 16 releases that the main visual indicator of Apple Intelligence — the full-screen, color-at-the-edges Siri animation — was noticeably missing. Apple even lit up the edges of the massive glass cube of its Apple Fifth Avenue Store in New York City like a Siri search.

Instead, iOS 18 used the same-old Siri sphere. Now, the modern Siri look has arrived as of iOS 18.1, but only on devices that support Apple Intelligence. If you’re wondering why you’re still seeing the old interface, I can recommend some steps to turn on the new experience.

Siri under Apple Intelligence looks like a multicolor halo around the edges.

James Martin/CNET

With the new look are a few Siri interaction improvements: It’s more forgiving if you stumble through a query, like saying the wrong word or interrupting yourself mid-thought. It’s also better about listening after delivering results, so you can ask related followup questions.

However, the ability to personalize answers based on what Apple Intelligence knows about you is still down the road. What did appear, as of iOS 18.2, was integration of ChatGPT, which you can now use as an alternate source of information. For some queries, if Siri doesn’t have the answer right away, you’re asked if you’d like to use ChatGPT instead. You don’t need a ChatGPT account to take advantage of this (but if you do have one, you can sign in).

Invoke Siri silently without triggering everyone else’s devices

Perhaps my favorite new Siri feature is the ability to bring up the assistant without saying the words “Hey Siri” out loud. In my house, where I have HomePods and my family members use their own iPhones and iPads, I never know which device is going to answer my call (even though they’re supposed to be smart enough to work it out).

Plus, honestly, even after all this time I’m not always comfortable talking to my phone — especially in public. It’s annoying enough when people carry on phone conversations on speaker, I don’t want to add to the hubbub by making Siri requests.

Instead, I turn to a new feature called Tap to Siri. Double-tap the bottom edge of the screen on the iPhone or iPad to bring up the Siri search bar and the onscreen keyboard.

Double-tap the bar at the bottom of the screen to bring up a voice-free Siri search.

Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET

On a Mac, go to System Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and choose a key combination under Keyboard shortcut, such as Press Either Command Key Twice.

Yes, this involves more typing work than just speaking conversationally, but I can enter more specific queries and not wonder if my robot friend is understanding what I’m saying.

Remove distractions from your pictures using Clean Up in the Photos app

Until iOS 18.1, the Photos app on the iPhone and iPad lacked a simple retouch feature. Dust on the camera lens? Litter on the ground? Sorry, you need to deal with those and other distractions in the Photos app on MacOS or using a third-party app.

Now Apple Intelligence includes Clean Up, an AI-enhanced removal tool, in the Photos app. When you edit an image and tap the Clean Up button, the iPhone analyzes the photo and suggests potential items to remove by highlighting them. Tap one or draw a circle around an area — the app erases those areas and uses generative AI to fill in plausible pixels.

Remove distractions in the Photos app using Clean Up.

Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET

In this first incarnation, Clean Up isn’t perfect and you’ll often get better results in other dedicated image editors. But for quickly removing annoyances from photos, it’s fine.

Stay on task with the AI-boosted Reduce Interruptions Focus mode

Focus modes on the iPhone can be enormously helpful, such as turning on Do Not Disturb to insulate yourself from outside distractions. You can also create personalized Focus modes. For example, my Podcast Recording mode blocks outside notifications except from a handful of people during scheduled recording times.

With Apple Intelligence enabled, a new Reduce Interruptions Focus mode is available. When active, it becomes a smarter filter for what gets past the wall holding back superfluous notifications. Even things that are not specified in your criteria for allowed notifications, such as specific people, might pop up. On my iPhone, for instance, that can include weather alerts or texts from my bank when a large purchase or funds transfer has occurred.

To enable it, open Control Center, tap the Focus button and choose Reduce Interruptions.

The Reduce Interruptions Focus mode (left) intelligently filters possible distractions. Turn it on in Control Center (middle). When something comes in that might need your attention, it shows up as a notification marked Maybe Important (right).

Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET

For more on Apple Intelligence features, check out how to create Genmoji, how to use Image Wand and, if you want to scale things back, how to disable select Apple Intelligence features.

Watch this: Apple Intelligence Impressions: Don’t Expect Radical Change

09:05

Your iPhone Wants These 11 Essential Accessories in the New Year

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June 17, 2025 0 comments

The Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan is pictured in a pink living space.

Product Reviews

Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan review: prompt particle detection and satisfying airflow helped me overlook the disappointing lack of smart features

by admin June 16, 2025

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Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan: two-minute review

The Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan is a tower fan and air purifier combo that helps you beat the heat while improving the quality of the surrounding air.

Available in the US, UK, and Australia, you can find the Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan with a list price of $429.99 / £449.99 / AU$799 at Dyson or third-party retailers. As I write this, there are discounts available at Dyson US and Amazon UK, reducing the price to $299.99 / £349.99, so it’s worth checking if there are savings to be made before you buy.

With its bladeless loop amplifier, glossy plastic, and metallic finishes, the Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan has the modern, clean aesthetic we’ve come to expect from the brand. Generally, it’s available in a white and nickel colorway, but there’s a bonus option of black and nickel over in the US.

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(Image credit: Future)

Unlike most of the best fans and best air purifiers, the Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan lacks onboard controls and app compatibility, and can only be controlled with the included remote control. While this in itself isn’t an issue, as the remote works well and has a magnetic, curved design that makes it easy to store on the top of the loop amplifier, it does mean that you’d be a bit scuppered if you happened to lose the remote. Not to mention that, at this price point, it’s verging on stingy that Dyson hasn’t given the TP10 the app compatibility that’s included with their more expensive products.

Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan (White) at Newegg for $429.99

In terms of the fan performance, I got the results I expected when testing the TP10 Purifying Fan; namely that it produced a smooth and cooling flow of air, the strength of which was particularly impressive when running at top speed, as I could still feel the cooling effects 14ft / 4.3m away.

As the Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan’s sensors can only detect particulate matter and not VOCs (volatile organic compounds), it won’t automatically react to all airborne nasties, but it’s still capable of filtering them thanks to the HEPA H13 and activated carbon filter. The LCD screen displays the real-time levels of PM2.5 and PM10 in micrograms per cubic meter, with color coding making it clear how this translates to air quality, ranging from good to very poor. There’s also a 24-hour graph, which offers a basic indication of the changes in air quality over time.

(Image credit: Future)

I was happy with the speedy detection and prompt air clearing I recorded during my time testing the TP10 Purifying Fan, with it detecting and clearing contamination from dry shampoo within a minute of me spraying it, and automatically upping its power when my two fluffy cats paid a visit. It didn’t make a noticeable impact on food odors or the dry shampoo fragrance, however.

The noise levels were also commendable, with the Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan giving whisper-quiet readings as low as 26dB and 33dB in auto mode and on fan speed one, and the highest reading on fan speed ten being just 52dB, which is equivalent to light traffic.

Despite my frustrations around the lack of app support, I’d still recommend the Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan, thanks to the overall good performance from both elements. If you’ve not got your heart set on a Dyson, or don’t want to have a tower fan running in the colder months, I recommend teaming up the Blueair Blue Pure 411i Max with the Shark TurboBlade. Both performed well in our testing, and thanks to regular deals, the two together often work out cheaper than the Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 alone.

Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan review: price & availability

List price: $429.99 / £449.99 / AU$799
Available now in the US, UK, and Australia

Available from Dyson and other retailers, the Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 purifying fan has a list price of $429.99 / £449.99 / AU$799. It’s available in white and silver, with an additional option of black and nickel for shoppers in the US. It’s worth keeping a lookout for potential savings, as at the time of writing, there’s a generous $130 saving on the white model at Dyson US, bringing the cost down to $299.99. Meanwhile, in the UK, there’s a 22% discount in effect, lowering the price to £349.99.

According to Dyson, the 360 Combi Glass HEPA + Carbon air purifier filter used in the TP10 could last around 12 months of 12-hour use. Replacement filters have a list price of $79.99 / £75 / AU$99, so it’s worth considering whether you’re happy to commit to paying this out on a fairly regular basis before making a purchase.

I initially considered the Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan a little overpriced, largely due to the lack of app support for the cost, but the TP10 won me over with its strong airflow, prompt particulate detection, and quick reaction times. Could you get a separate tower fan and air purifier that would do the job just as well for less money? Probably, but if you’re a Dyson fan who wants a Dyson fan, plus an air purifier, I’d recommend this combo.

Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan review: specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Type

Purifying tower fan

Fan speeds

Oscillation

45, 90, 180, 350 degrees

Timer

Yes

CADR (Clean air delivery rate)

Requested

Filter

HEPA H13 and activated carbon

Particle sizes detected

PM2.5, PM10

Dimensions

8.7 x 8.7 x 41.3 inches / 22 x 22 x 105cm

Weight

10.4 lb / 4.7kg

Control

Onboard power button and remote control

Timer

Only in sleep mode

Additional modes

Sleep mode

Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan review: design and features

Offers real-time, color-coded PM2.5 and PM10 readings
No smart features or app compatibility
HEPA H13 filters are easy to access and replace

Featuring the classic Dyson aesthetic with its bladeless fan and smooth curves, this is a purifying fan I didn’t mind having out on display. That being said, I did find the glossy white plastic was a bit of a dust and lint magnet. The metallic nickel-color plastic was too, but it was barely noticeable compared to the white.

A useful combo for the summer months, the Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 consists of a bladeless tower fan that sits on a purifying unit. This purifying unit houses a HEPA H13 filter, with H13 being considered to be within the highest tier of HEPA air filtration, and is understood to capture 99.95% of particles as small as 0.2 microns. The filter comes in two halves, with one half clipping into the front of the purifying unit, the other at the back. Both halves are easy to get to thanks to the push-down catches on either side of the unit.

(Image credit: Future)

There are ten fan speeds to cycle through, as well as an auto mode, which uses the sensors on the TP10 Purifying Fan to detect and react to the presence of particulate matter with a diameter of up to ten micrometers. It can’t detect VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which can be emitted by paint and cleaning chemicals, among other sources, but the carbon element of the 360 Combi Glass HEPA and Carbon air purifier filter means it’s still capable of clearing them from the air.

One thing that frustrates me with some Dyson devices is the lack of smart features and app compatibility. Considering this functionality is available with the more expensive Dyson products, and far cheaper brands offer remote control and air quality data via their apps, it seems a little unfair for Dyson to hold this feature back unless customers are willing to pay an even higher premium.

Aside from the power button, there’s a distinct lack of onboard controls on the TP10. This isn’t an outright issue, as I’d have used the included remote control nine times out of ten anyway, but with no app compatibility, it does mean I’d find myself in a bit of a pickle if I managed to lose the remote. As with all of the Dyson remotes I’ve used, the one for the TP10 is curved and magnetized, meaning it can be kept on the top of the fan.

(Image credit: Future)

The round LCD screen on the front of the TP10 is bright and large enough to read easily. It was easy to cycle through the multiple different displays using the information button on the remote control. The information I was most interested in was the particle readings, and I was happy to find there were dedicated screens showing the ambient levels of both PM2.5 and PM10. Both readings are independently communicated in numerals and color rating, making them simple to understand. The TP10 has been programmed to classify readings below 35 micrograms per cubic meter as good air quality, with higher readings colored either yellow for fair air quality, orange for poor, or red for very poor.

While the lack of a companion app means it’s not possible to view historical data, or real-time data when away from home, there’s a 24-hour graph on one of the display screens, so I could at least see if there’d been any spikes in contamination throughout the day – though that was as detailed as it got. It’s worth noting that the continuous monitoring needed to support this function isn’t enabled by default, but it’s a simple case of holding the auto button on the remote for five seconds to enable it.

Design score: 3.5 out of 5

Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan review: performance

Returned air quality to an acceptable level within a minute of air contamination
Didn’t reduce or eliminate odors from cooking or fragrances
Quickly reacted to the presence of cat fluff and dander

All of the fan functions performed as expected during my time testing the Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan. It was good to have a wide range of oscillation options, with four choices from 45 to 350 degrees, and I appreciated that, unlike the Dyson Cool CF1 desk fan, the TP10 remembered the last oscillation setting I’d used, so I didn’t have to cycle through the options each time. I find it curious that the timer on the TP10 Purifying Fan is only available in sleep mode, which dims the display, so I had to use the remote to wake the display if I wanted to view the current air quality reading whenever I used the timer.

The airflow felt smooth, but seemed to fluctuate a little at times. In terms of fan strength, I found I could feel a noticeable, cool breeze around 4ft / 1.2m away from the TP10 Purifying Fan on setting one, 7ft / 2m on setting five, and 14ft / 4.3m on speed 10, which is admirable considering it doesn’t run very loud.

(Image credit: Future)

To test the PM2.5 detection while the fan was on auto mode, I sprayed some dry shampoo around two feet away from the front of the TP10. The sensors picked up the presence of the dry shampoo particles in about 16 seconds, and I saw the levels of PM2.5 per cubic meter rapidly climbing on the LDC screen.

It was interesting to see a numerical representation of the speed at which the Dyson TP10 cleared the air, as not all air purifiers offer this level of data. In this case, the contamination dropped from 89 micrograms per cubic meter to 35 micrograms per cubic meter, which was back within the green range, within a minute of me spraying the dry shampoo. While it made quick work of clearing the particulates in the air, it didn’t have any effect on the odor from the dry shampoo or from the food smells from the minestrone soup I had on my lunch break.

It’s very easy to tell whether the larger-particle sensors on an air purifier are doing their job once I get my two very fluffy cats involved in the testing process, after evicting them from my living room for the initial stages of my testing, so that I can set a baseline. It was clear the particle sensors on the TP10 were sensitive to pet-related particles like fur and dander after both kitties came to investigate, as both the PM2.5 and PM10 readings rose by around eight micrograms, and the fan speed increased slightly to compensate. It stayed at roughly this level, with the occasional ramp-up in speed, for the entire time they were in the room. Once they’d wandered off, it took less than ten minutes for the purifier to bring the reading back down to its usual level.

(Image credit: Future)

The Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan operated really quietly, considering its size, with a lower than whisper-quiet reading of just 26dB when idling on auto mode, rising to 33dB on fan speed one, 38dB on speed 5, and just 52dB on speed ten, which is comparable to light traffic or background music. This is particularly positive when compared to the readings I got from the Molekule Air Pro, which gave an output of 38dB at the lowest fan speed, 51dB on speed three, and a pretty shouty 78dB at speed six, though admittedly the TP10 doesn’t have any where near as many bells and whistles.

As an added testament to the quiet functioning of the TP10 Purifying Fan, my very timid female cat spooks at most things, but was comfortable enough to touch her nose on the display even when the purifier was ramping up in response to her presence. It’s also worth mentioning that it was quiet enough to fall asleep next to, and I could happily watch TV with the TP10 running at level five fan speed nearby.

The quick detection, reaction, and purifying times meant I was pleased with the performance of the Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan overall, though I didn’t find it made the air feel quite as fresh as the GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite.

Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should I buy the Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan?

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Section

Notes

Score

Value for money

The TP10’s premium design, pleasant cooling, and powerful purifying performance mean you won’t be disappointed, but you could save money by ditching Dyson and combining a well-performing fan and purifier instead.

4/5

Design & Features

The smooth curves, bladeless design, and nice material finish make the TP10 an attractive purifying solution. It detects and communicates the ambient levels of particulate matter before they’re captured by the HEPA H13 filter. It’s just a shame there’s no smart features.

3.5/5

Performance

I appreciated the satisfyingly strong airflow and prompt purifying performance, with the TP10’s sensors making quick work of detecting and removing particles from the air. Its quiet operation meant it wasn’t disruptive, so much so that it didn’t phase my flighty feline.

4.5/5

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan review: Also consider

Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0

Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10

Blueair Blue Pure 411i Max / Blue Max 3250i

Shark TurboBlade

Type

Purifying tower fan

Air purifier

Multi-directional tower fan

Price

$429.99 / £449.99 / AU$799

$169.99 / £169

$299.99 / £249.99

Fan speeds

Additional modes

Auto, sleep mode

Auto, night mode

Natural Breeze, Sleep Mode, BreezeBoost

Oscillation

Up to 350 degrees

N/A

Up to 180 degrees

Filter

HEPA H13 and activated carbon

HEPASilent and activated carbon

N/A

App support

Yes

Dimensions

8.7 x 8.7 x 41.3 inches / 220 x 220 x 1,050mm

18.9 x 10.6 x 10.6″ / 481 x 269 x 269 mm

11.8 x 31.6 x 44.8″ / 300 x 800 x 1,120mm (max)

Weight

10.4 lb / 4.7kg

7.5 lbs / 3.4 kg

15lb / 8.8kg

How I tested the Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan

I used the TP10 purifying fan in the office and at home
I observed its detection and purification skills
I evaluated the strength of the airflow and the sound levels

I used the Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan in our photo studio, my home office, and my bedroom for one week. I evaluated how easy it was to operate, along with the build quality and aesthetics, and explored the available functions and features.

I tested the strength of the airflow by determining at what distance I could still feel a cooling breeze. I also observed the TP10 Purifying Fan’s detection and purification skills, both passively and during standardized testing.

I used a decibel meter app on my iPhone to record the noise levels, taking readings from around 2ft / 600mm away, ensuring the fan wasn’t blowing directly into the microphone.

I checked the timer worked as expected, and tested out the sleep mode to see whether the TP10 Purifying Fan was quiet enough for me to be able to sleep well with it running overnight.

Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 Purifying Fan: Price Comparison

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June 16, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Out of Words features one of the cutest videogame characters I’ve ever seen, but there’s a tinge of Kafkaesque darkness to it, too

by admin June 13, 2025

(Image credit: Kong Orange, WiredFly)

After yapping about nothing but videogames for three days at Summer Game Fest, I tried my best to talk about anything else, but I just couldn’t stop bringing up Out of Words.

It’s a sidescrolling tale of young love brought to life by a charming handicraft world and striking stop-motion animation. Being the type of person who’s always experimenting with amateur arts and crafts and playing Jim Henson’s Labyrinth on repeat must make me the perfect target for this, but the creations here benefit from a team of real artisans.

When it launches, you’ll be able to play Out of Words with a friend on the couch or connect with them online, regardless of platform. In my demo, I played with game director Johan Oettinger, while game design lead Jeff Sparks joined us for a chat. It’s a strictly co-op adventure, and how its protagonists play will change throughout the journey to reflect the emotions and story connecting the kids, Karla and Kurt.

An “Alice in Wonderland” moment happens almost immediately, dropping the friends into an unfamiliar and troubled world that hinders their ability to speak. It’s also when you meet Aleph—the darling manta-like creature that’s a manifestation of their friendship and feelings for each other.

(Image credit: Kong Orange, WiredFly)

The Out of Words duo are cute as a button, but screenshot stills don’t do Aleph justice. The bubbly blue baby purrs, coos, and squeaks while twirling about to lighten the mood. It makes perfect sense Aleph is born from good feelings between kind, gentle people. It’s gotta be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen, and it’s not just a me thing, either. Characters in later scenes seem drawn to its warmth in a way I suspect will have some special meaning for the big picture.

When the demo skips ahead, it takes Kurt, Karla, and the painfully precious Aleph underneath the City of Nouns, aptly named Nounberg. To navigate the dangers of the catacombs, the friends toss Aleph back and forth, juggling its magic to avoid obstacles.

The player holding Aleph floats along the ceiling, while the other runs along the ground like normal. Oettinger never dropped me, but I did let him go tumbling once or twice before finding our pace as a team. If you can learn to give up a little control and trust your partner, the mechanic turns into a comfortable dance. It’s not difficult, but it’s quite satisfying.

“There’s enough of a challenge to feel like you’re overcoming, but we really want to keep it modest,” Sparks said. “So that you can play it with your child, a non-gamer partner or parent. Someone who’s a little less versed in videogames. We really want to make this as approachable as possible.”

Despite Kurt and Karla’s predicament, the introduction to the catacombs feels surprisingly calm, almost meditative. Character puppets, blades of grass, and books—everything in the world of Vokabulantis is a real object that was made by hand and filled to the brim with tiny details. Set pieces are individually placed, while scenes are lit with actual studio lighting.

The whole presentation felt like a diorama I could reach out and touch. It’s no small feat, but Oettinger tells me he’s been fabricating crafts like these for over twenty years as the founder of his animation studio, WiredFly.

Immediately, the studio’s approach makes me think of Ghibli, but not in the exclusively cute and cozy way popularly associated with the studio today. Out of Words is dark, beautiful, and comforting. I didn’t see anything quite as terrifying as Princess Mononoke’s headless Forest Spirit, but I did encounter strange creatures and unease more familiar in films like Spirited Away. Oettinger notes Hayao Miyazaki is among the artists who inspire him, along with Franz Kafka, Michael Ende, and David Bowie.

(Image credit: Kong Orange, WiredFly)

There’s a point when Kurt and Karla’s own anxieties and miscommunication manifest, and the darker side of those influences emerge. Whatever happens triggers a new low in their friendship, and the two become an abomination of something called Primordial Clay. It’s a divine substance that makes up much of the life in the strange world, and seems to sense how the duo feels.

I was a little taken aback by how monstrous their insecurities take shape. Karla and Kurt are stuck together, the darling little Aleph sandwiched somewhere in the middle. Their movements no longer complement each other; instead, they move together as a messy, bumbling skull-like creature with two arms—one for each player to control.

It destroys pieces of the city as it tears through alleyways and shops, desperate to catch a frightened clay citizen who may have more answers about how to help them find their words again. The rhythm of controlling their embodied ugliness came slower, but I found my groove with time. That’s intentional, too. Sparks explained the transition demonstrates “just how dramatic the gameplay changes are between sequences.”

Out of Words is a coming-of-age story, but the complexities of communication are a lifelong challenge, even in old age. My first trailer impression misread the game, and I assumed the only communication happening would take place through actions, but I was wrong. There’s plenty of direct language involved, and it brings the same artistry from the art style to the names of places and people thanks to poet Morten Søndergaard.

My only disappointment came when the demo ended—I miss Karla, Kurt, and Aleph already. There’s so much craftsmanship in the words, in the interactions, and in the placement of trinkets; it’s a real showcase of specialist talent. While my demo experience wasn’t very long, only some 40 or so minutes, I can’t help but walk away feeling like Out of Words could be one of those games that endears me to the medium all over again.

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June 13, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

The Top New Features in Apple WatchOS 26

by admin June 10, 2025

This year at WWDC 2025, Apple introduced a rather drastic change to its naming conventions. What should be the upcoming WatchOS 12 will now be WatchOS 26 when it launches in the fall, since the company decided to stop labeling its operating systems sequentially and instead name them according to the fiscal year they are released. Every OS now also has a new, overhauled display aesthetic called Liquid Glass, which makes certain apps, icons, buttons, and pop-ups look like frosted glass and other features look like raindrops.

Other than that, anticipated new Apple Intelligence features to most of the company’s product lineup were small and measured rather than big and sweeping—but for Apple Watch fans, the fact that there is now Apple Intelligence on your wrist at all might be enough. Here, we walk through some of the new tips and tricks that you will start seeing on your Apple Watch this year.

Is Your Apple Watch Compatible?

WatchOS 26 will be available for Apple Watches starting from the Series 6 or later. This includes the second-gen Apple Watch SE and all Apple Watch Ultra models. You must also have an iPhone 11 or later that can run the upcoming iOS 26. If you want the Apple Intelligence features, you need to have an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone, which includes the iPhone 15, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models.

When Will WatchOS 26 Be Available?

You can download WatchOS 26 as a developer beta today, but don’t expect it to be perfect. A public beta will roll out next month at beta.apple.com and WatchOS 26 will be available as a free software update to compatible Watch models this fall.

The Top WatchOS 26 Features

Liquid Glass

Courtesy of Apple

Unfortunately, most of the Liquid Glass redesigns have been optimized for the bigger screens of the Mac, iPhone, and iPad. But hey, look, the numerals on the clock face now have a translucent frost! You can also see slight specular highlights around the edges of the buttons when you look closely. Smart Stack—Apple’s layered widget system—will also utilize Liquid Glass so as not to obscure the screen.

Workout Buddy

Workout Buddy uses all the exercise data accumulated by the Apple Watch—heart rate, pace, distance, etc.—and uses it to offer personalized, upbeat encouragement (“you crushed it!”) during your exercise session. Apple Intelligence analyzes your data to provide these insights and to use voice encouragement derived from Fitness+ trainers. It can also mark key moments, like running a mile particularly fast. It’s available for just a few exercises, like indoor and outdoor walking or running, outdoor cycling, functional and traditional strength training, and HIIT—and yes, you can turn it off if the idea of a cheerleader in your ear is hell for you too.

The Workout app itself has also undergone a redesign, with four buttons in the four corners of the watch face to make it easier to tap on each feature. Users can set up music and podcasts within the Workout app, and Apple Music can either select music or provide suggestions for an appropriate playlist.

Smart Stack

Courtesy of Apple

Smart Stack will now incorporate more contextual data, like location and the user’s routine, to provide more helpful tips. For example, if you arrive at the gym at your usual time, your Apple Watch may mark your location and slide a workout routine to the top of your Smart Stack.

Messages and Notifications

Courtesy of Apple

If you own a Watch Series 9, Watch Series 10, or Apple Watch Ultra 2, you will now be able to use a new wrist-flick gesture (much like Double Tap) to dismiss notifications or incoming calls, silence timers, and return to the clock face. A machine-learning model uses data from the accelerometer and gyroscope to catch the user’s wrist movement.

The Watch now also supports Live Translation in Messages (again, you will need an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone). If your language is set to English, the watch will offer prompts in Messages, like suggesting Apple Cash if the user is asked for a donation. Call Screening and Hold Assist will also come to the phone app on the watch, letting users decide whether to take or decline calls or ask for more information.

As usual, there are new clock faces to choose from. And you will finally be able to use the Notes app on the watch, which may be more important to some of us than others.

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June 10, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

Roku adds more premium features to its own line of midrange TVs

by admin June 10, 2025

It’s been two years since Roku first introduced its in-house TVs to the market and the streaming-device-turned-TV-maker isn’t slowing down. For 2025, Roku refreshed its entire TV lineup and added more features to its midrange Roku Plus models that were previously reserved for its higher-end TVs.

The latest Roku Plus Series TV gets Smart Picture Max, a feature that automatically adjusts your TV’s picture settings on a scene-by-scene basis and was exclusive to the company’s Pro Series TVs. To make the Plus Series an even better deal, Roku added mini-LED backlighting for better picture quality, a remote finder button on the back of the TV and an integrated cable management system, which are all features also pulled from Roku’s Pro models. To round out the Plus Series, Roku added a built-in subwoofer and a new processor for faster navigation throughout the interface.

To ensure the Pro Series TVs still feel pro, Roku upgraded them with the next generation of its Smart Picture Max. The latest software improves motion clarity, corrects compression artifacts, and automatically selects the best picture mode based on what you’re watching. Roku is also claiming a 75 percent increase in dynamic contrast thanks to its re-engineered mini-LED backlighting for its most expensive models. Roku is introducing hands-free voice controls without a remote with the Pro Series TVs, but they also come with the updated and rechargeable Roku Voice Remote Pro that has backlit buttons and customizable shortcuts. The most affordable models, Roku’s Select Series, are mostly getting software upgrades that are available across the lineup, but now have size options going up to 85 inches. However, all of Roku’s refreshed TVs can support its Bluetooth Headphone Mode and Dolby Audio.

Roku’s expanded Select Series offerings are available in sizes ranging between 24 and 85 inches, starting at $130, while the Plus and Pro Series still only have the 55-, 65- and 75-inch options. The upgraded Roku TVs are out now at retail partners including Best Buy, Walmart, Target and Amazon.

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June 10, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

Apple Tones Down AI Hype While Showcasing Next iPhone, Mac Features

by admin June 10, 2025

In brief

Apple unveiled major updates across its platforms at WWDC 2025, led by a new visual system called Liquid Glass.
The company emphasized privacy-focused enhancements using Apple Intelligence.
Updates include new messaging features, real-time translation, improved developer tools, and OS upgrades for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Watch, and Vision Pro.

Apple wrapped its WWDC 2025 keynote on Monday with sweeping updates to its device operating systems and a striking new design. But for all the refinements across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro, one question lingered: What happened to Apple Intelligence?

When Apple’s big push into AI was introduced at WWDC 2024, CEO Tim Cook described it as a “new chapter” for the company—one that combined Apple’s hardware with the growing momentum of generative AI. Apple Intelligence was meant to place the company in the same league as OpenAI, Nvidia, Google, and Microsoft.

A year later, that promise remains largely unfulfilled, and has drawn industry-wide criticism as well as corporate upheaval.

Indeed, its most significant impact on the AI landscape might be a research paper titled “The Illusion of Thinking” last week, in which the company outlined the limitations of large language models and warned against overestimating their reasoning capabilities. The paper emphasized that while LLMs may appear intelligent, they mainly rely on pattern recognition.

Nonetheless, today’s conference opened with Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi heralding its AI integration: “We’re making the generative models that power Apple Intelligence more capable and more efficient, and we’re continuing to tap into Apple Intelligence in more places across our ecosystem,” he said.

Federighi announced that Apple is opening its AI infrastructure to developers through a new “Foundation Models Framework” that allows apps to tap directly into the same on-device intelligence that powers Apple’s own software. Updates to Xcode introduce generative tools for developers, including integration with ChatGPT, predictive code completion, and conversational programming via Swift Assist.

Perhaps Apple was under-promising in the hopes of over-delivering after the debacle of the Apple Intelligence rollout.

Instead, the presentation today devoted more attention to a sweeping visual redesign of OS X and iOS, bringing more UX conformity across Apple’s entire product suite. The redesign features “Liquid Glass”—a responsive, context-aware design element that adapts to touch, content, and context across devices. The redesign affects everything from the lock screen to system icons, aiming to make transitions between Apple devices more seamless.

Other updates unveiled at WWDC include enhancements to Messages, which now support polls, custom backgrounds, typing indicators, group payments, and improved spam filtering. Live translation enables real-time language translation in Messages, FaceTime, and phone calls using AI.

The Phone app is receiving upgrades, including Hold Assist—a way to retaliate against being put on hold via a standby mode that alerts you when the person you’re trying to reach finally answers—and Call Screening, which prompts callers to identify themselves before connecting. That feature, it’s worth noting, came with Google Voice when it rolled out in 2009.

Other updates include:

iPadOS 26: A new windowing system, an upgraded Files app, and professional-grade audio/video workflows.
VisionOS 26: Spatial computing improvements and support for third-party accessories, including the PlayStation VR2 Sense Controller.
WatchOS 26: A chatty “Workout Buddy” will give you encouragement during your routines.

Apple said the updates will be available in a public beta in July, with full releases coming in the fall.

Generally Intelligent Newsletter

A weekly AI journey narrated by Gen, a generative AI model.

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June 10, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Thermaltake’s new AIO liquid cooler features a 3.95-inch LCD display and swappable reverse-blade fans

by admin June 3, 2025

After showcasing its updated range of PC cases at this year’s Computex trade expo, Thermaltake has come up with a new AIO liquid cooler. The latest MagFlow Ultra ARGB Sync series will be available in 360 mm and 420 mm sizes, while highlight features include a three-sided borderless square display and ARGB fans that you can reverse by simply swapping.

The new AIO will come in Black and Snow (white) color options and includes a standard 27 mm thick radiator with a 20 mm copper chamber. It is also said to feature a new low-noise pump for quieter operations and compatibility with the latest Intel LGA 1851 and AMD AM5 sockets.

The LCD display sits on top of the pump block and measures 3.95 inches diagonally, offering a resolution of 480×480 pixels. Using Thermaltake’s TT RGB Plus software, the LCD can be used to showcase real-time system data (CPU or GPU usage, temperature, frequency), animated GIFs, and custom images or videos. While there’s nothing unique about that, Thermaltake has taken it further. Thanks to the companion TT PlayLink mobile app, one can use their smartphone to manage and upload content on the LCD.

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(Image credit: Thermaltake)

The pre-installed Swafan EX ARGB Sync fans offer swappable fan blades (standard and reverse) that allow you to quickly change the airflow direction for intake or exhaust. This is quite useful as you don’t need to remove and mount the fans in reverse, which usually ends up sacrificing your aesthetics and lighting effects. Depending on the AIO size, these fans will be available in 120 mm (EX12) and 140 mm (EX14) form factors, which can reach fan speeds of up to 2,000 RPM.

(Image credit: Thermaltake)

As an added bonus, the ability to remove the fan blades offers ease of cleaning with either a simple cleaning brush or a microfiber cloth. Thermaltake says that you can even rinse them with water, although you will need to dry them properly and use the included bearing lubricant to ensure proper operation.

Like the Toughfan EX12 Pro and EX14 Pro fans that the company launched earlier this year, the Swafan EX ARGB Sync fans also support the MagForce 2.0 magnetic connectors. As per Thermaltake, the fans now use larger pogo-pin contacts for a more stable connection and potentially fewer alignment issues. It also allows for daisy-chaining multiple fans together using just a single cable instead of wiring each fan individually.

Thermaltake has not revealed official pricing or release dates for the MagFlow Ultra ARGB Sync series. However, given the range of thoughtful features, the new AIO is expected to carry a premium price tag.

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June 3, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Path of Exile 2 director says GGG is learning from its mistakes while supporting 2 games at once: ‘If you want to lock the date, you can’t lock the features’

by admin May 31, 2025

When Grinding Gear Games first announced Path of Exile 2, it made a promise: PoE1 wasn’t going anywhere, and development on both titles would continue in parallel. Ten months after the last Path of Exile league, it’s clear that the studio bit off a bit more than it can chew, but game director Jonathan Rogers was optimistic in a new interview with YouTuber Talkative Tri this week that things are close to being back on track.

One of the main problems, as he sees it, was that GGG veered from a development philosophy it’d had for a long time.

“If you want to lock the features, you can’t lock the date,” he said. “And if you want to lock the date, you can’t lock the features. In the past, we were always locking dates, but then as we had PoE2 in development, we got to the point where we were locking features instead and I think honestly that wasn’t the best.”

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Path of Exile 2’s most recent update was called Dawn of the Hunt, and it’s clear that the focus was squarely on a new class, the Huntress. This painted GGG into a bit of a corner—you can’t really have a hunt dawning without, you know, someone to do the hunting. They couldn’t make announcements about it until they were sure that she was ready, let alone start talking about anything they had cooking with PoE1. As a result, the update felt rushed, and personally I think that was a big contributor to its cool reception.

Moving forward, Rogers said, this uncertainty will be a thing of the past. “We’re doing four months, it’s going to be consistent, it’s always going to be the case. We don’t wanna have this kind of uncertainty around this any more,” he declared, to the resounding cheers of grinders everywhere. With the new 3.26 league coming June 13 for PoE1, this puts us squarely on the release cadence initially promised.

(Image credit: Grinding Gear Games)

A new league or major patch every two months sounds like a dream come true for a PoE sicko like myself, but after over 300 days of radio silence on PoE1’s 3.26 update I think you’d forgive me for being just a touch skeptical. I’m thinking we might see that number stretch a little bit, particularly at first.

Rogers was adamant, though: “With the new development model, like the date is fixed and the content is not, that might mean that the class we’re planning to add might not make it. Now I think it will, but if it had to not make it in order to make it so all the other classes we already have are good, then we will do that tradeoff and that is not the mindset we were in for 0.2.0.”

He added that their primary focus for PoE2’s 0.3 update was making sure that existing classes felt good to play, and if that came at the expense of the new one, so be it. The willingness to make cuts in the name of deadlines tells me that GGG is serious about sticking to the schedule, which is something the community’s been clamoring for since the usual release window for PoE1 came and went half a year ago.

(Image credit: Grinding Gear Games)

We’ll have to see how things shake out with the schedule, but for now at least the content is heading in the right direction. There have been a number of patches to Path of Exile 2 even in this interstitial time between major updates, improving some of the loot issues and other problems that Dawn of the Hunt had. Patch 0.2.1 should be dropping any second now, which has further loot improvements, a whole-ass Expedition revamp, and new chase uniques. It also fixes some major issues—I knew Hidden Grotto was a pain, but did you know that it was 37.5% of all maps on the atlas? And apparently the chaos flowers in Ritual were responsible for fifty percent of player deaths in the endgame? Yeesh.

GGG is hosting a livestream with details for the new PoE1 league on June 5, where we’ll learn more about the patch.

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May 31, 2025 0 comments

Split image showing Ring Outdoor Camera Plus and footage recorded on the device

Product Reviews

Ring Outdoor Camera Plus review: tough and versatile, but its most advanced features cost extra

by admin May 30, 2025

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Ring Outdoor Camera Plus: two-minute review

Keeping an eye on your property remotely has become an obsession for many of us. No matter where you are in the world you can see exactly who is in your house and who has come to the front door. You can even use your camera to monitor the miserable weather back home while you are abroad enjoying sunshine.

Now owned by retailing behemoth Amazon, Ring was originally set up by US entrepreneur Jamie Siminoff as ‘Doorbot’ in 2013, but has since gone on to become one of the biggest names in the home security industry. As the name suggests, the Outdoor Cameras (previously known as Stick-Up Cameras) are designed for outdoor use, though there is no reason why you couldn’t use it indoors too – it can be just as easily placed on a table or desk as on the wall outside.

(Image credit: Chris Price)

The Outdoor Camera Plus is certainly a versatile model with several mounting options, including a wall bracket (with wall plugs) as well as a rechargeable battery pack if a power cable isn’t feasible (this wasn’t provided). Plastic covers stop water getting into the USB-C power port and the model is ‘weather-resistant’, not waterproof, so shouldn’t be submerged in water!

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As with most home security cameras, set up is straightforward. Simply download the Ring app and scan the QR code with your phone’s camera to add the device to the app (several Ring devices can be viewed within the app, including cameras, video doorbells, chimes and alarms). You will then be taken through a set of voice-based instructions for syncing the camera to your home’s Wi-Fi, naming the device and updating its firmware. Usefully this new model features dual-band support so you can add it to either your 2.4GHz or 5GHz network as well as Amazon Alexa compatibility. For added security, two-factor authentication is also now provided.

When it comes to features, the Ring Outdoor Camera Plus doesn’t disappoint. You can set motion detection zones to avoid the camera capturing footage from, say, the swaying of tree branches. And it’s also possible to set up privacy zones that allow you to block out certain areas of the frame, even in ‘live view’. Instead, all you see on the screen is a black rectangle. It’s an unusual feature but one which is quite useful if you have neighbours concerned your camera can view/capture recordings from their property.

(Image credit: Chris Price)

Another unusual feature in the menu is Smart Responses. This enables you to send out a warning message to people to tell them they are being recorded. However, it isn’t live on this device – at least yet. Other more conventional features include motion sensitivity for adjusting the amount of footage you capture (useful if you want to preserve battery life) and motion schedules for setting the times of day you want to record movement.

But that’s not all. For those who subscribe to Ring’s monthly subscription plans, other functions are available too. These include ‘smart alerts’ which filter different types of motion into categories – ie parcel, person and vehicles. Providing you pay for the £15.99 per month Ring Premium service, there’s also an AI-driven smart video search tool that can identify certain objects in your device’s recorded motion events.

(Image credit: Chris Price)

For example, just enter ‘dog’ into the search bar you can see all the times your dog has been captured by the camera while ‘red top’ will bring up footage of anyone wearing a red top in the recorded events. Particularly useful is that you can log into your Ring account on the web so you can view footage of all your cameras while working on your laptop, something which isn’t possible with more basic models.

Ring Outdoor Camera Plus: price and availability

Prices start at $69 / £69 / AU$179
Additional solar panel costs extra
Launched March 2025

Ring security cameras certainly aren’t expensive to buy compared to some of the best home security cameras. At the time of writing, you can pick up the Ring Outdoor Cam Plus for £69 / $69 / $179 (considerably cheaper than the launch price). However, just like printer companies make their money from selling expensive printer cartridges, home security companies make theirs from selling costly subscriptions.

Ring’s Home Basic plan is $4.99 / £4.99 / AU$4.95 per month, but if you want all the bells and whistles, such as the Smart Video Search outlined earlier, it will set you back a hefty $19.99 / £15.99 per month (and this top-tier subscription isn’t available in Australia).

In my opinion that’s simply far too much money, unless you are using the Ring for professional purposes such as monitoring, say, high street shops (in which case there are more advanced video surveillance systems available). Far better if you need to keep the recordings is to choose a security camera which provides the option of recording footage locally on a USB stick or MicroSD card.

Ring Outdoor Camera Plus: subscription options

Ring Home Basic:

$4.99 / £4.99 / AU$4.95 per month

$49.99 / £49.99 / AU$49.95 per year

Subscription for a single device. Includes up to 180 days of video event history, person and package alerts, video preview alerts, and 10% off Ring.com purchases.

Ring Home Standard:

$9.99 / £7.99 / AU$14.95 per month

$99.99 / £79.99 / AU$149.95 per year

Includes everything in Basic, plus all devices at one location, doorbell calls, extended live view, alarm cellular backup, and daily event summary.

Ring Premium:

$19.99 / £15.99 per month

$199.99 / £159.99 per year

Not currently available in Australia. Includes everything in Standard, plus 24/7 recording, continuous live view, and smart video search.

Ring Outdoor Camera Plus: design

Upgraded from Ring Stick Up Camera
Versatile mounting
Flexible power options

With the Outdoor Camera Plus, Ring has made a few improvements over its predecessor, the third generation Ring Stick Up Camera (now called the Outdoor Camera). Most notable is its improved design, particularly the versatile mounting options. The Ring Outdoor Cam Plus can be mounted on a desktop/table, on a wall or roof eave using the screws and wall plugs provided. It can be mounted on the ceiling with an additional accessory (not provided as standard) and easily angled for optimum use.

(Image credit: Chris Price)

Power is provided via the USB-C connector in the middle of the camera (a power cable wasn’t provided with our sample). Alternatively, you can take the Lithium-Ion battery out by swivelling the base to the unlock icon and removing it (ensuring you remove the card covering the charging points). You can then charge it via the orange Micro-USB cable provided until it’s ready for installation. Spare batteries are also available to buy online at Amazon of course.

(Image credit: Chris Price)

Available in black or white, the Outdoor Cam Plus features a lens on the front which provides a 160-degree diagonal, 140-degree horizontal, and 80-degree vertical field of view. Underneath is a speaker while above there’s a small microphone for two-way conversations with visitors. When movement is recorded a solid blue light is displayed at the top of the unit while during set up this flashes blue.

Ring Outdoor Camera Plus: performance

2K image quality
Stable video connection
Overly sensitive camera

Ring claims the Outdoor Camera Plus offers ‘brilliant 2K video quality’ but in all honesty there’s not a massive leap in quality between this model and its predecessor, the Ring Stick Up Camera. Whereas the previous model offered 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, this one boasts 2,560 x 1,440 (2K). In other words, an increase of 360 horizontal pixels and 640 vertical pixels – enough to see the difference when you zoom in to an image, but probably not otherwise.

(Image credit: Chris Price)

That said, I didn’t have any complaints about picture quality at all. Images are sharp even at night thanks to the ‘low-light sight’ feature (although colour is limited in low light) and the field of vision is also quite wide: 140-degree horizontal compared to 115 degrees on the Ring Stick Up Camera.

Another benefit is having dual-band Wi-Fi support (2.4GHz and 5GHz) which ensured images recorded on the camera and viewed in Live View were extremely stable even though the camera was mostly located in the back garden, a significant distance from my broadband router.

(Image credit: Chris Price)

One thing worth noting is that the Ring Outdoor Camera Plus isn’t as sensitive as some models which record every bit of motion detected, even moving branches. Instead, you will probably need to turn the motion sensitivity option up a little bit just to capture all the footage you want. This will in turn use up more battery power so it’s worth considering either using the mains or a solar panel as a power supplement.

After nearly two weeks our sample model was already down to 50% so you will probably have to take the battery pack out for charging once a month – not the worst we’ve ever tested, but not the best either.

Should you buy the Ring Outdoor Camera Plus?

Swipe to scroll horizontallyRing Outdoor Camera Plus score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

While the actual camera itself is relatively cheap, the subscription which gives you most of the added functionality is very expensive.

3/5

Design

Available in black or white, the Ring Outdoor Cam Plus looks OK and is both compact and reasonably well designed. Suitable for a number of locations (indoors or outdoors) it can be powered by mains, battery or even solar power.

4/5

Performance

Offering 2K video quality, the Ring Outdoor Camera Plus provides stable, good quality, images in record mode and live view. However, battery life isn’t the best and the motion sensor isn’t particularly sensitive.

4/5

Overall

A decent home security camera, but the Ring Outdoor Camera Plus loses points for its expensive subscription packages and so-so battery life. Performance isn’t that much better than its predecessor, the Ring Stick Up Cam

3.5/5

Buy it if

Don’t buy it if

How I tested the Ring Outdoor Camera Plus

I used the camera both indoors and outdoors
I installed it myself
The camera was integrated into my home system with other Ring cameras

Like most manufacturers, Ring makes adding new cameras to its app very simple indeed. Because I already had several Ring security cameras and doorbells connected to my existing app, I simply added another using the QR code at the back of the device. However, starting from scratch would have been just as straightforward.

I started off using the device mostly indoors to get the feel of it and then moved it to my garden where I mounted it on top of the shed focused on the back door. There it has remained ever since (about 12 days at the time of writing), capturing people and pets who go out into the garden. Ring provides a 30-day trial for all the advanced features, such as smart video search and person/package/video alerts, but after this runs out you will need to subscribe online at Ring.com (you can’t do this via the app).

First reviewed May 2025

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May 30, 2025 0 comments