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Aura Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max portable monitor review: 43 inches of real estate spread across three displays

by admin August 20, 2025

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We’ve covered the best portable monitors here on Tom’s Hardware for a while, and it’s hard not to be impressed with the gains that’ve been made in a few short years regarding availability, quality, and pricing. We’ve seen an explosion in low-cost monitors, with many now available for under $100 (and even under $50). The overall build quality and image quality of currently available monitors are remarkable.

With so many products vying for your attention, it’s hard to stand out from the pack. However, the Aura is bringing out the big guns with its Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max. We’ve reviewed several portable monitors that include “triple” in their name, but those products featured two external displays and counted your laptop’s internal display as panel number three. However, Aura includes three 15.6-inch 1080p panels, which unfurl to combine for 43 inches of total horizontal screen real estate.

Design of the Aura Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max

The immense size of the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max was evident from the moment I took possession of the shipping box. Not only was it the size of a box that would fit a large 17-inch gaming laptop, but it also weighs about the same. I opened the box to find a well-cushioned Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max folded up as tight as a bug in a rug.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

Before attempting to unfold the device, I consulted the user manual (something I don’t often do, because I’m stubborn) to learn how to complete the process correctly. Upon consulting the document, the process was relatively straightforward. I unlocked two tabs that secure the supporting arms for the central display. I next lifted the side arms into the third detent on the bottom of the chassis rails, which positions the central display in the highest position above your desk (9.8 inches). I used the second (middle) indent without issue, putting the central display at 8.2 inches, but the first detent was unusable (3.9-inch height). The weight of the black aluminum frame and three displays caused the supporting arms to slip out of the first detent. When that happens, the entire unit collapses. However, I found that the first detent would have been too low for my tastes anyway, so I didn’t force the issue.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

With that said, with the supporting arms locked into the third detent, I swiveled the central display up from its stowed position so that it was facing me. I then unfolded the two flanking displays to provide the full 43 inches of screen real estate. When unfolded, the central display can be tilted forward or back, while the flanking displays can swing inward and outward.

The entire apparatus is surprisingly tight and sturdy, which is a welcome feature. The tightness refers to the large amount of force required to pivot the central display to your preferred viewing angle. The sturdiness is afforded by the all-metal construction, which contributed to the considerable weight of the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max (7 pounds). The only disappointment was the issue with the collapsing arm while using the first detent.

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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

With the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max in its fully workable position, I was able to observe its other intricacies. There are four physical buttons: power, up, down, and menu/exit. There are also three mini-HDMI ports, one USB-C port for video, and another USB-C port for powering the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max. A 65-watt power adapter with two USB-C and one USB-A port is included in the box, and the monitor supports 60-watt power pass-through. The Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max also includes two 2-watt speakers.

Aura Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max Specifications

Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0

Aura Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max

KYY X90D

KYY X90A

Limink LK14

Panel Type / Backlight

IPS / WLED

Number of Panels

Screen Size / Aspect Ratio

15.6 inches / 16:9

Max Resolution & Refresh Rate (Per Panel)

1920 x 1080 @ 60Hz

Max Brightness

350 nits

300 nits

400 nits

Contrast

1,200:1

1,000:1

1,500:1

Ports

2x USB-C, 3x Mini-HDMI

2x USB-C

Dimensions

14.1 x 16.5 x 1.1 inches

11.9 x 17.3 x 3.74 inches

13 x 7.83 x 1.4

Weight

7 pounds

3.2 pounds

3.3 pounds

Price

$599

$239

$179

$299

Connecting and Using the Aura Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max

Before I connected the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max to my laptop, I once again consulted the included instruction manual to determine the required steps. At this point, I noticed that the company’s website is misspelled on both the front and back of the manual. The website is listed as aura-dislays.com instead of aura-displays.com. That’s a bit tacky, but getting the correct website pulled up in my browser wasn’t exactly rocket science.

The next issue I encountered was with the drivers necessary to get this three-panel monitor to function correctly. The manual pointed me to a link to Silicon Motion’s website to download drivers for the SM76x chipset. However, typing the URL into my browser gave me a 404 error. So, I instead typed “SM76x drivers” into my search bar, which took me right to the correct download page. Since I’m testing on an Apple MacBook Pro, I downloaded the appropriate software for macOS.

In this case, the software package installed Silicon Motion’s Instant View, allowing you to easily mirror or extend multiple displays on a Mac (or Windows) system. With Instant View installed, I next began plugging in the assortment of cables.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

I first used the included 65-watt wall adapter to run power to the USB-C input on the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max. I then ran a cable from the second USB-C port on the monitor to my MacBook Pro (M3 Pro). With this setup, only the left and central displays are activated. The right panel remained blank. So, I took the included mini-HDMI cable and plugged one end into the monitor and the other into my MacBook Pro. At that point, all three displays (four, including my MacBook Pro’s 14-inch panel) were alive.

When I first saw the overabundance of screens in front of me, I was initially overwhelmed, but quickly began my tests. The first step was to configure the displays in macOS settings to match their appearance in the real world. That meant my laptop’s internal display at the bottom, and the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max’s three displays positioned above. I then verified that all three displays were outputting at the specified 1920 x 1080 resolution at 60 Hz.

OSD on the Aura Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max

The Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max has a rather interesting on-screen display (OSD). Some multi-display portable monitors have no control buttons and no OSD, while others give you physical controls for each display panel (KYY X90D). However, the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max takes a different approach.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

The monitor uses a single set of OSD buttons that control all three panels. Pressing the menu button once presents the OSD to control the left panel. Press the menu again, and it switches to the middle panel. Pressing it again moves to the right panel. Not only does this arrangement provide individual control for each display panel, but it also saves on manufacturing costs by not requiring two additional sets of redundant buttons.

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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

You have basic brightness, contrast, sharpness, and color controls here that you can configure per-monitor. You can also switch input sources, enable the low blue light filter, and adjust ECO modes. There’s nothing fancy about the OSD or the features it presents, but it’s wholly sufficient for the productivity-focused mission of the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max.

Aura Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max Display Performance

The Aura Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max has three displays, as its name suggests. Each one is identical, offering a 15.6-inch IPS panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution and a 60 Hz refresh rate. While some portable monitors can run at up to 360 Hz, this is a productivity-focused monitor where 60 Hz is adequate. Each display panel is also covered with an anti-reflective coating to minimize glare.

Aura talks a big game with its claimed specifications, but our testing showed some discrepancies, at least regarding maximum brightness. Aura lists the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max as having a maximum brightness rating of 350 nits, but our light meter measured 244 nits with brightness set to 100 percent in the OSD, which represents a 30 percent shortfall. We ran the tests multiple times and tried every combination of available picture settings to rectify the brightness issue to no avail. That’s not a good start for a portable monitor that retails for $599.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

With that said, in my home environment, the brightness available with the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max is sufficient. I first tested the monitor downstairs in my living room, which has an overhead LED light in the ceiling fan, a couple of end table lamps, and natural light coming in from my back windows. The monitor was plenty bright in this scenario. I next moved the monitor to my home office, which is overly bright due to ten 75-watt (equivalent) LED lamps mounted on tracks. This is my typical work environment, and again, I had no complaints about the brightness.

Color performance put the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max near the top of the class for multi-screen portable monitors. The monitor covered 85.4% of the DCI-P3 color space and 120.6% of the sRGB color space. Those figures put it just slightly ahead of the dual-screen Limink LK14 and well ahead of the KYY K90A and K90D.

I used the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max for a wide variety of content, including web browsers (Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Apple Safari), image editing apps (Pixelmator Pro), and productivity apps (Microsoft Word and Excel). I also spent a reasonable amount of time playing movies and TV shows on the panels, given that there’s plenty of screen real estate to go around when you’re dealing with four total displays (when counting my MacBook Pro’s internal display).

I rewatched a couple of second-season episodes of Star Wars: Andor and even watched the entirety of the classic action flick Predator on each of the three panels. The colors looked rich and accurate, as I peeked at the vibrant dresses and cloaks worn by the guests, including Mon Mothma, who danced with reckless abandon at her daughter’s wedding.

Likewise, Predator is a nearly 40-year-old movie that I enjoy watching repeatedly. I zeroed in particularly on the final battle sequence between Dutch and the Predator, which takes place at night. While the blacks didn’t look as deep as you’d find on a Mini LED or OLED panel, the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max performed admirably for an IPS panel during dark scenes. I watched every bone-breaking punch, with gushes of blood shooting from Dutch’s mouth as he got pummeled. I also enjoy the reds, purples, greens, and blues that appear on screen when we get the Predator’s infrared thermal vision viewpoint as he gains the upper hand.

Although it’s easy to overlook when the displays take center stage with the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max, it also has two 2-watt speakers. As is the case with most speakers on portable monitors, they’re good enough for playing back OS sounds or taking the occasional Google Meet/Teams/Zoom call, but they are subpar for music and movie playback. Bass is non-existent, and the overall sound output is relatively muted despite the massive footprint of the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max.

Bottom Line

The Aura Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max is an impressive piece of hardware. It’s by far the largest “portable” monitor I’ve tested, given its 43-inch wingspan. That’s to be expected, as it’s also the first triple-monitor setup that has graced our labs, as we typically see dual-panel units.

The Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max impressed with its aluminum construction, colorful panels, and a variety of ports to accommodate various laptop configurations. However, its size and weight will make many think twice about transporting this device regularly for travel purposes. While it is manageable to carry to different meeting rooms in your office, carrying this 7-pound portable monitor in addition to your laptop on a work trip is quite a burden.

There are also some performance issues, such as the shortfalls in the stated maximum brightness and what we measured in the real world. And there’s an actual physical issue with attempting to use the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max in its lowest height position (it doesn’t work).

With a price tag of $599, we expect near-perfection from a portable monitor, but the Triple Aero 15.6 Pro Max falls a bit short due to its flaws. However, if you absolutely must have a triple-panel option that can be stowed when not in use, it’s worth considering if you can stomach the lofty price tag. If three additional monitors is overkill for you, consider the Limink LK14 at $299 or the KYY X90D at $239.

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August 20, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

This new AMD Ryzen AI MAX laptop calls itself a workstation, yet looks, sounds, and acts exactly like a gaming system

by admin August 19, 2025

Emdoor EM-959-NM16ASH-1 Ryzen AI MAX chip promises strong workstation power
Display refresh reaching up to 180Hz seems excessive for workstation needs, leaning toward gaming territory
At 2.45 kilograms, this laptop feels more like a desktop replacement than a mobile workstation

Emdoor, a company that has mostly kept a low profile since 2023, is now releasing another system that it calls a “high-end PC workstation with next-gen AI chip.”

The device, listed under the code “EM-959-NM16ASH-1,” comes with AMD’s Ryzen AI MAX processors, also known as Strix Halo.

The Emdoor EM-959-NM16ASH-1 features soldered LPDDR5X-8000 memory on a 256-bit bus, giving high bandwidth but preventing upgrades.

A workstation or gaming laptop?

Although the memory is limited to a maximum of 128GB at purchase, the storage is more flexible with two PCIe 4.0×4 M.2 slots supporting up to 8TB.

The display is a 16-inch panel at 2560×1600 resolution, with refresh options of either 165Hz or 180Hz.

Such specifications may attract users looking for a video editing laptop, but they also blur the line between workstation and gaming hardware.

That impression is further reinforced by leaked internal file names tied to the design, which included the term “GAMES.”

At 2.45kg, the system is heavier than many of its rivals, with the likes of Sixunited’s XN77-160M-CS and HP’s ZBook Ultra G1a weighing less than 1.8kg.

Although bulkier construction may have been chosen to handle the 45–120W thermal design of Strix Halo, this weight might be acceptable only for a stationary workstation, as buyers seeking a business laptop may not find this design appealing.

It also includes a 99Wh battery that is claimed to last eight hours, but without independent testing, such claims remain promises.

Cooling is handled by a dual-fan setup coupled with triple heat pipes and a quad-exhaust system.

The company markets this system as a workstation, but the aesthetics, refresh rates, and naming history suggest gaming roots.

Since Emdoor acts as an original design manufacturer, the same model could easily appear under another brand marketed as a gaming system.

Whether this laptop becomes a reliable tool for professionals or fades into obscurity, as some of the firm’s past projects have, will only be clear once it reaches the market and real-world feedback emerges.

Currently, only a limited number of PCs feature the Strix Halo chip, with examples including the Asus ROG Flow Z13 (13.4″), the HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a, and a handful of others.

In terms of pricing, these devices cost well over $2,000, and considering the specifications of the Emdoor EM-959-NM16ASH-1, it will likely cost more.

Via Videocardz

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August 19, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Cars have had real-life DLC for a while, but now Volkswagen’s gone full pay to win, locking a car’s max horsepower behind a subscription

by admin August 17, 2025

Some of the execs at Volkswagen must like Gacha games⁠—so much so that, as reported by Auto Express, you now have to “subscribe” to get your car’s full horsepower output with one of its new models.

VW’s proposition is this: buy a new ID.3—the brand’s “entry level” (I remember when that used to mean <£20,000, not over £30k) electric hatchback—in some of the mid-level trims, and you get a somewhat piddling 201 horsepower. But if you’re feeling frisky, you can tack on a £16.50/mo subscription, or a one-time £649 fee, to break the paywall and unleash an extra 27hp. Sound familiar? Even to a novice gamer, this business model is probably old hat.

I’m no stranger to aftermarket car modifications “unlocking” more power. There’s more of a special DIY feeling there, like overclocking your RTX 5080 or modding Skyrim to make elderly people graphically coherent. But when features of your car are built in, and then the marque upcharges you to access them? That’s where you lose me.

Back in my day, you bought Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 for the Nintendo GameCube, and that was it. You got the full game. But over the last two decades, as triple-A publishers learned to master the art of consumer exploitation via DLC and subscription models, buying a game these days can feel like buying a work in progress. Trust me, I play Paradox grand strategy games.

Auto manufacturers, a notoriously conservative bunch, were much slower to adopt this particular technique of wringing their buyers dry. But subscription features did start slowly creeping in in the late 2010s, as cars became integral parts of the “internet of things,” or the increasing number of formerly analogue objects and appliances that now have internet connectivity for some reason.

BMW gained particular infamy for locking Apple CarPlay and heated seats (seriously, you can’t make this up) behind a paywall. Luckily, consumers reacted so poorly that the company reversed course on both. But as any survival game expert will tell you, the horde of zombies outside your shelter don’t go away just because they failed to break down your door the first time.

I play 98% of my PC games on Steam—including some pretty darn old releases. But recently I’ve been wondering, what happens if/when Valve goes under, or computer hardware advances to a point where my previous purchases are no longer compatible, or my library loses support in some other way? I bought my games on Steam, but do I really own them? When cars debut in early access, with paywall-locked features and live-service models, what happens when your trusty jalopy bricks while driving down the road? Oh wait; we already know.

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August 17, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

BTC to $2,200,000? Max Keiser Bitcoin Price Prediction 2025 Revealed

by admin August 17, 2025

Max Keiser is one of those figures in the crypto industry who doesn’t limit himself neither in predictions nor in brutality when it comes to expressing opinions. And it’s not like such a manner did not work for him as he is one of those who was calling for Bitcoin supremacy when the leading cryptocurrency was worth as much as $1.

Now, Keiser is back with another huge number for BTC, and this time the target is set at $2,200,000. Literally, x10 from his long-standing trademark $220,000 BTC prediction.

Bitcoin versus data

According to new data, the U.S. has already burned through $1 trillion in interest payments over just the first 10 months of the fiscal year 2025. That is the highest level ever seen for this point in the year and puts the country on pace to finish above $1.2 trillion in annual interest expense for the first time in history.

The slope of the chart for 2025 tells the story in a way words barely need to: A red-dashed line running ahead of every previous year, pulling away from the pack in a steep climb. For Keiser, the consequence is straightforward.

He believes that policymakers will eventually be forced to cut rates to allow for more borrowing. In doing so, they will create the kind of monetary expansion that Bitcoin was designed to protect against. That’s why, according to Keiser, every increase in the debt bill is an argument for Bitcoin’s limited supply.

AirPods Max vs. Picun F8 Pro: testing the knockoffs vs. the real thing

by admin June 25, 2025

As a rule, you should never believe anything you see on social media. And you should really never believe anything someone says in a video with a TikTok Shop link, because they are nakedly trying to sell you something. From candy to headphones to supplements to power tools, TikTok has built a remarkable system: creators post videos promoting or reviewing products, TikTok blasts them onto For You pages everywhere, and when viewers click the link and buy the product, both the creators and TikTok get a cut. Everything’s for sale and everyone’s on commission.

I know all this to be true. So the first time I saw a video of an influencer hawking Picun F8 Pro headphones, which I immediately clocked as a convincing AirPods Max knockoff, I scrolled past it. But after weeks of video after video after video raving about how great these headphones are, I caved.

I kept hearing that Picun headphones were roughly as good as the AirPods Max for a fraction of the price. A few TikToks I saw argue that you’re not the problem if you buy knockoffs — you’re the problem if you’re spending $500 more just to get a brand name. Some videos purport to perform scientific noise-canceling tests; others just hold up a pair of AirPods Max and then a pair of Picuns, as if the side-by-side proves the point.

All the sales-creators made it clear that I needed to buy these headphones now. Some videos spread a rumor that Apple was suing Picun over the design, so they might be off the market soon. (This is not the case, as far as I know — Apple didn’t respond to a request for comment.) Others continuously claim that the headphones are about to be taken off the TikTok Shop; I’ve been seeing that for weeks, and they’re still for sale.

I don’t believe any of it! And yet, after a few taps I barely even remember, I’d spent $63.58 to get a pair shipped to my door. I also ran to the Apple Store and dropped $581.94 on blue AirPods Max. I had testing to do.

They look alike… until you really look. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

I’ve been using both for the past several weeks, and I’ve come to a conclusion I didn’t expect. The Picun F8 Pros sound a smidge worse than the AirPods Max, but in a few ways, I actually prefer them, and given the price I’d easily pick Picun. The bass in the F8s is a little more pronounced than I like, and can be a little muddy on extra-thumpy songs. They were crisper on the high notes in a song like “Welcome to the Black Parade,” though, and for the most part both brands sound pretty similar.

The limiting factor for headphones, I suspect, is not the headphones themselves but the context. Buy all the great gear you want, but if you’re still streaming Spotify playlists over Bluetooth, there’s only so much fidelity available. Yes, the AirPods Max now support lossless audio over a wired connection, but that’s not how most people listen to music. Most listen on loud subways, in the gym, or while walking the dog; unless you’re in a dedicated listening environment, I’d wager that good-enough sound is usually good enough. Especially for the price.

But then there’s everything else. All the little things, and a few big ones, that make headphones not just sound good but work well. And in that respect, Apple destroys Picun, and the best brands usually beat the knockoffs.

The headphones may look similar on my TikTok feed, but there’s no mistaking the two in person. The AirPods Max are more impressive the second you take them out of the box. They come with a case, which the F8s don’t have. The mesh in the Max headband is actual, breathable mesh, while the F8 is just a slightly textured (and very sweaty) fabric. Apple’s cushions pop off with a satisfying magnetic thunk, but you have to yank the F8s’ cushions off with true force. Which is ironic, because I think I could pry the F8s themselves apart with two fingernails.

Turns out there’s more to good headphones than good sound. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

I’ve never found the noise canceling in the AirPods Max to be particularly impressive (though my smarter colleagues might disagree). But it’s better than the F8s, which cut some noise, but let noticeably more through. You can hear the ongoing processing in a pretty ugly way, too: Sounds are compressed and reduced a little too slowly, so some things sound like crappy sound effects rather than real noise. Apple takes an even bigger win with Transparency mode: the AirPods Max have the best transparency of any headphones I’ve tried, while the F8s are… trash. They actually make noises louder and more annoying in transparency mode, while Apple realistically pipes external sounds through. I’d rate the mics about equal in good conditions, but the Max are far better in noisy spots.

From the F8s’ strange startup sound — a woman breathily announcing “Power on!” — to Picun’s unusable companion app, you can tell the company cares far more about manufacturing than design. The Max are far more pleasant to use. There are also uniquely Apple-y things that only first-party devices can do, such as simple cross-device pairing and hands-free Siri. This isn’t a function of price so much as company policy, but it’s still a win for the Max.

There are, to be fair, a couple of places I actually appreciate Picun taking the easy way out. The F8s are 100 grams lighter than the Max — a full Magic Mouse of weight difference! — and feel more comfortable on my head. The F8s definitely pass the “can I wear them on an entire cross-country flight” test. The F8s have an actual power button, meaning you can actually turn them off instead of dealing with Apple’s dumb guesses as to whether you’re wearing them. The battery life is ridiculous: Picun says you can get 60 hours of listening with noise cancellation on a single charge, and I’m charging my headphones once every two weeks at most. The AirPods Max only last a third as long.

Put it all together, and are the F8 Pros as good as the AirPods Max? No. They do the most important thing pretty well, but fall varying levels of short in almost everything else. The big question is, how much is all that worth? Are all the details worth nine times the price? The big brands better hope so, because now, thanks to things like the TikTok Shop, knockoffs are seemingly as accessible as the brand names. They’re available at impulse-buy prices, and at impulse-buy speed. I don’t have to go to AliExpress or hunt through Amazon or Temu. I just click a link in a video that is being shown to me every sixth scroll.

In this social future of shopping, where ads and content are utterly indistinguishable and reviews are nearly impossible to trust, it feels harder than ever to figure out what’s good and what isn’t. Given that, picking the cheaper option often seems like the safer option. And it’s not clear how big brands will compete. A few months ago, Bose announced its headphones are available on the TikTok Shop — and the sales numbers look pretty dismal. You definitely can’t buy real-thing AirPods Max on the platform, and I’m not sure I’d believe the listing if I saw one. For now, I’m happy with my F8 Pros — I returned the Max, and turned my knockoffs into my yard-working and dog-walking headphones. They’re not great, but they’re cheap. And I hear they’re going out of stock any minute now.

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June 25, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Rokid Max 2 review: good AR smart glasses thata ren’t quite great

by admin June 22, 2025

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.

Rokid Max 2: One-minute review

The Rokid Max 2 AR glasses are a solid pair of smart specs that are ideal for entertainment – watching films, and playing games – if you’re a fan of the big-screen experience, and especially if you’d like to take that experience on the go.

They boast a comfortable design which you can wear for hours, and while they’re generally very similar to rival smart glasses they do boast built-in myopia adjustment. Using a dial above each lens you can adjust the screens to suit a prescription in the 0.00D to -6.00D range without the need for add-on lenses.

This factor alone will be enough to win over some who have been frustrated by the difficulty of getting prescription lenses for other smart glasses.

Rokid Max 2: Price and availability

Available in the US and UK for $529 / £399
They can often be found discounted

The Rokid Max 2 AR glasses are available in the US and UK priced at $529 / £399, though you can often find them discounted for $429 / £319 at sites including Rokid’s own store.

If you get them for full price you’re probably overpaying compared to some of their rivals (at least in the US), but at a discounted price the Rokid Max 2 AR glasses are a very competitive option.

You can turn the glasses into a more standalone device by picking up the Rokid Station – an Android TV puck for the specs – for an additional $199 / £159 (though we’ve often seen this discounted to $139 / £109)

Rokid Max 2: Design

Lightweight and comfortable design
Myopia adjustments between 0.00D and -6.00D
Polarized outer lens and cover to cut out background distractions

We’ve been here before. These Rokid Max 2 smart glasses, like others of their kind, look a lot like sunglasses, albeit with thicker frames, and a few details which become noticeable on closer inspection.

There’s a USB-C port at the end of the left arm for connecting them to compatible devices via their USB-C to USB-C cable. There are control switches on the right arm for volume and screen brightness, and replaceable nose clips, so you can find the best fit for your face.

They’re comfortable to wear – at 2.65oz / 75g they’re very lightweight, and can be easily worn for hours at a time.

Plus, to help the glasses’ image stand out while you’re using them, you have two backdrop options.

The more open choice are the glasses’ polarized lenses. These cut out background distractions but still allow some light in – perfect for keeping an eye on your surroundings while you watch a show.

(Image credit: Future / Hamish)

You can also outfit the specs with their lens cover to block out all light and enjoy an improved (but more closed off) visual experience. There’s much less background light to compete with the image, giving it a sharper look and brighter colors, though you will have to be okay with being cut off from the outside world.

I’ve become quite used to electrochromic dimming tech in these sort of glasses, which has its advantages – chiefly it’s easier to swap between full immersion and full passthrough in a pinch – but the Rokid Max 2’s approach has proved itself as the next best thing in my testing thanks to its simplicity yet effectiveness.

Something the Rokid specs bring to the table which is fairly unique is built-in myopia adjustment. A dial above each lens allows you to adjust the screen in real-time from 0.00D to -6.00D.

This won’t be ideal for every user, but it’s certainly a handy upgrade that will mean fewer people will need to buy an optional lens upgrade to make the smart glasses usable.

Rokid Max 2: Performance

Uses Sony micro-OLED panels
120Hz refresh rate, 600-nit brightness, full-HD image
Mediocre audio

(Image credit: Rokid)

With Sony micro-OLED panels – which in conjunction with the optical setup boast a 120Hz refresh rate, 600-nit brightness, and 100,000:1 contrast ratio – the full-HD image these glasses can produce is really good.

That’s especially the case when you use the lens cover as a backdrop. With a complete lack of background light the image can seriously pop, with good contrast and bright colors, that, combined with a 50-degree field of view that leaves space for a giant virtual screen, create an immersive private cinema experience.

I used the Rokid Max 2 glasses to watch several shows and films including Captain America: Brave New World and Dandadan, and played games by connecting the specs to my PS5 – using them, among other things, to collect the last few Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 trophies I was missing.

Audio-wise the glasses aren’t bad, but they’re nothing to write home about either.

Their performance is passable if you’re in a quiet space, but they can feel a little lacking at times, with dialogue and music coming through the built-in speakers feeling as if it’s been hollowed out. My advice: pick up a pair of the best Bluetooth headphones along with these specs (if you don’t already have some) if you want to get the best experience.

Not only will this improve the sound, it’ll help you to minimize ambient noise if you wear the smart glasses while traveling on a plane or train, which are the best places to use these kinds of AR specs.

(Image credit: Future / Hamish)

The only let-down performance-wise is that the optical system the glasses use can mean the image is disrupted by reflections.

The glasses use lenses to reflect the OLED screen’s image into your eyes, but that same lens can also reflect your chest into your view as well. In darker environments it’s less noticeable, and unless you’re wearing something very loud it’s generally not too distracting, but since testing the Xreal One Pros which use a different (and better) lens setup I’ve found the issue is much more pronounced on other glasses, and that’s certainly the case here.

That said, the Xreal One Pros cost considerably more, and if you haven’t tried those specs and been spoiled by their new approach to AR optics, which minimizes issues with reflections, you shouldn’t find too many reasons to get frustrated by the Rokid Max 2 and other glasses with the older style of lenses.

Should you buy the Rokid Max 2 glasses?

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Attribute

Notes

Score

Performance

Performance-wise the Rokid Max 2 glasses are, in a word, fine. We’ve seen and heard worse, we’ve seen and heard better.

3.5/5

Design

The myopia adjustment helps elevate the Rokid Max 2 experience for prescription-glasses users, but they’re not quite flawless in other areas.

4.5/5

Value

If you can pick up the Rokid for a discounted price it’s much better value; at its list price it’s a less appealing option compared to the competition.

3.5/5

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

Also consider

How I tested the Rokid Max 2 AR glasses

To review the Rokid Max 2 glasses I tested them over a two-week period, using them in a variety of environments including at home, on a plane, and on the train.

I mostly used the glasses with my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 to watch movies and shows, but using an HDMI-to-USB-C cable I was also able to use the Rokid Max 2 to enjoy some gaming through my PS5, which allowed me to test their refresh rate and input delay, and see if the specs helped or hindered my gaming abilities.

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June 22, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners hits Max this summer

by admin June 21, 2025

Ryan Coogler’s vampiric box office hit Sinners is coming home to Max this summer. The film, starring Michael B. Jordan and Hailee Steinfeld, will make its streaming debut on July 4.

The Black Panther and Creed director reunited with Jordan for Sinners, in which he plays identical twin gangsters Smoke and Stack. Set in 1932, the movie follows the brothers as they return home to Mississippi with the goal of using their ill-gotten money and booze to open a juke joint. But more is waiting for them than old flames and the Ku Klux Klan; their blues music attracts the attention of dark creatures, and the partygoers have to fight to survive until dawn.

Sinners also stars Miles Caton, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, and Delroy Lindo. The movie bowed in theaters on April 18.

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June 21, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

The best streaming deals: Disney Plus, HBO Max, Netflix, and more

by admin June 18, 2025

So far, 2025 has been a great year for watching new, must-see TV shows and movies on subscription services. But if you, like many of us, have more concurrent subscriptions than you care to admit, you’ll agree that keeping up with the latest each month is expensive. They may not cost as much as most of the tech we cover, but it adds up.

If you’re trying to cut down on your expenses, you might be able to do so while holding onto your precious subscriptions. Attempting to cancel your service is a good way to see if you’ll be offered a cheaper monthly rate to stick around. Outside of that, several services offer ongoing promos, some of which are even available to new and returning subscribers alike. Below, we’ve curated some of the best deals going on right now, so you can enjoy streaming your favorite show or movie for less than it would typically cost you.

Note: keep an eye out for free trials and student discounts

Most streaming services offer free trials that typically last from a week to a month, whether you sign up for an annual membership or just a monthly subscription. However, you will likely have to provide your credit card information in advance, and you will be charged once your trial is over, so make a note in your calendar if you don’t want to be charged.

Some streaming platforms offer student discounts. These include Hulu, Paramount Plus, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime, and more. You’ll have to prove your student eligibility through a sign-up form and typically be enrolled in an accredited Title IV college or university to take advantage of these deals.

Peacock is NBCUniversal’s streaming service, one that offers next-day programming from NBC (and Bravo). The platform also provides access to live sports programming, including Sunday Night Football and WWE, as well as movies and shows like The Wild Robot, Conclave, Wicked, Oppenheimer, Yellowstone, Teacup, The Office, Saturday Night Live, Rian Johnson’s Poker Face, and the forthcoming The Office spinoff, The Paper.

The platform currently offers two plans: an ad-supported Peacock Premium tier for $7.99 a month (or $79.99 a year) or the ad-free Peacock Premium Plus tier for $13.99 a month (or $139.99 a year). Only the latter lets you download content for offline viewing.

In terms of deals, things are pretty dry right now. You can grab a complimentary subscription when you sign up for a year of Instacart Plus ($99 annually or $9.99 a month). You can also get free access if you’re an Xfinity Internet customer with gigabit speeds or a Diamond or Platinum Rewards member. If you’re a first responder or a medical professional (and are alright with your credentials being verified by SheerID), you can get Peacock’s monthly plan for $3.99 per month, which is a nice perk.

The best Disney Plus deals

$11

This bundle comes with ads and grants access to all of the shows and movies available in Hulu’s and Disney Plus’ library.

With Disney Plus, you can stream a wide range of shows and movies, including Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Deadpool & Wolverine, Andor, X-Men ‘97, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, and Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour film. A monthly subscription currently costs $9.99 a month with ads or $15.99 a month without (or $159.99 annually). The $15.99 per month service includes Dolby Atmos sound, as well as the ability to download TV shows and movies on up to 10 devices.

For just a dollar more, Disney offers an ad-supported, $10.99-a-month Duo Basic subscription that brings together Disney Plus and Hulu. To enjoy an ad-free experience across both services, the cost is $19.99 per month.

There’s also the $16.99-a-month Disney Bundle Trio Basic bundle, which includes the ad-supported Hulu and ESPN Plus (paying $26.99 a month nets you the ad-free version of Hulu and Disney Plus, though ESPN will still have ads). That’s cheaper than subscribing to all three streaming services individually, and is the wisest route to take if you want all three.

That being said, there are other ways to save, particularly with carrier promos. Those currently on one of Verizon’s Unlimited plans, for instance, can get Disney Plus Trio Basic with ads for $10 a month instead of $16.99. If you already subscribe to Verizon’s existing Legacy bundle, you can also continue to enjoy ad-free Disney Plus, as well as ad-supported ESPN Plus and Hulu, for $15 per month ($6 off).

$10

Hulu grants access to originals like The Handmaid’s Tale, as well as non-Hulu content like Shogun, The Bear, Futurama, Say Nothing, and Alien: Romulus. T-Mobile also offering complementary access to the Hulu-ad supported plan when you maintain a qualifying Go5G Next line.

Hulu offers both ad-supported and ad-free plans. No matter which you buy, you’ll be able to access all of Hulu’s TV shows and movies on multiple devices, including originals like The Handmaid’s Tale and Sand Land, as well as other content, like Shogun, The Bear, Futurama, and The Veil. It’s also where you’ll be able to watch the King of the Hill revival when it lands on August 4th. The service also allows two people to stream simultaneously, and you can have up to six user profiles. However, subscribing to the ad-free plan means you won’t have to deal with commercials; You’ll also be able to watch downloads offline.

The ad-supported plan currently costs $9.99 per month, while the ad-free plan costs $18.99 a month. Hulu also sells ad-free and ad-supported bundles that include Disney Plus and / or ESPN Plus, which are cheaper than subscribing to each service individually. With the Hulu with Live TV, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus bundle, you’ll be able to access more than 90 live sports, news, and entertainment channels, as well as content from each of the streaming services. You’ll also be able to record live shows with unlimited DVR storage and take advantage of the same features the standard, ad-free, and ad-supported Hulu plans offer. The ad-supported Hulu with Live TV subscription is $82.99 a month, while the ad-free tier is $95.99 a month (though, it’s worth noting that, of the three services included, ESPN Plus will still have ads, even at this tier). Complicated, right?

However, if you just want Hulu and don’t need the live TV version, you can subscribe to the ad-supported Disney Bundle Duo Basic, which includes Disney Plus, for $10.99 a month. You can also add ESPN Plus for $16.99 per month, or get rid of ads and add live sports for $26.99 a month.

In terms of deals, students can subscribe to the ad-supported version for $1.99 a month or a bundle that combines Spotify Premium, Showtime, and ad-supported Hulu for $5.99 a month. Some wireless carriers are also offering customers discounts when they buy premium phone plans. As mentioned previously, those currently on one of Verizon’s Unlimited plans can get the Disney Plus Trio Basic with ads for $10 per month instead of $16.99. If you already subscribe to Verizon’s Legacy bundle, you can also continue to stream ad-free Disney Plus and ad-supported ESPN Plus / Hulu for $15 a month ($6 off). T-Mobile, meanwhile, is offers complimentary access to Hulu’s ad-supported tier when you maintain a qualifying Go5G Next line.

$23

Sling TV is a live TV streaming service featuring live and on-demand TV channels like CNN, Fox, NBC, Comedy Central, Cartoon Network, and more. It’s half off for your first month, if you aren’t already a subscriber.

Sling TV is a streaming service that functions as a more affordable alternative to YouTube TV and Hulu with Live TV. With it, you can watch a range of streaming services as well as live and on-demand channels — including ESPN, CNN, Fox, NBC, Comedy Central, and Cartoon Network — on multiple devices.

Sling offers an ad-supported free tier — Sling Freestream — which provides access to more than 500 live channels as well as more than 40,000 on-demand movies and TV shows. The platform also offers three paid plans, all of which come with 50 hours of DVR storage: Sling Blue ($50.99 a month); Sling Orange ($45.99 a month); and Sling Orange and Blue ($65.99 a month). Sling also lets you subscribe to Max as a Blue-tier add-on for a discount (totaling $57.97 per month), or you can buy an ad-free subscription to Max as a standalone service for $16.99 a month. For a limited time, Sling is including a one-month trial to AMC Plus with subscriptions — perfect if you’ve never seen Halt and Catch Fire.

If you’re into sports, you may want to opt for Sling Orange over Blue as it grants access to ESPN channels — but only on one device. Sling Blue, however, offers a number of channels Sling Orange lacks, including Fox News, MSNBC, E!, Discovery, Bravo, and local NBC or Fox affiliates. You can also subscribe to a bundle that includes both Sling Orange and Sling Blue, which offers all the channels featured in the first two plans.

Sling is currently offering new customers a 50 percent discount on their first month of Sling Orange, meaning you’ll pay $23 instead of $45.99. The promo also applies to Sling Blue, although it’s slightly more expensive at $25.50, down from $50.99. You can also get one month of Sling Orange and Sling Blue combined for $33 per month instead of $65.99. In addition to 50 percent off your first month, Sling is also offering free unlimited DVR during that period, along with a $5 discount on Paramount Plus with Showtime, AMC Plus, or Starz.

The best Apple TV Plus deals

$10

Apple’s streaming service has a variety of original programming, including live MLB games and standouts like Severance, Ted Lasso, Silo, and Coda. A subscription normally runs $9.99 per month with a seven-day free trial.

Apple TV Plus is a service operated by Apple that offers original shows and movies in 4K HDR, including Ted Lasso, The Studio, The Morning Show, Silo, Severance, Finch, Coda, For All Mankind, and Napoleon. The platform is also the streaming home to Major League Soccer, and currently costs $9.99 a month. There are no ads whatsoever on Apple TV Plus, except some skippable pre-roll advertisements for other Apple TV Plus content.

There are a couple of promos to make note of when it comes to Apple TV Plus. The service currently offers a weeklong free trial for new subscribers, after which you’ll be charged $9.99 a month. You can also get a free three-month subscription when you buy an Apple device, though you’ll have to redeem the offer within 90 days of purchase.

Apple TV Plus is also included in the larger Apple One suite of apps. The all-in-one service lets you bundle four other Apple services for a single monthly subscription starting at $19.95 a month. New subscribers will get a free month of Apple TV Plus if they include it as part of their Apple One membership. In addition, eligible individuals who sign up for the student Apple Music subscription, which starts at $5.99 per month, can get Apple Music for 50 percent off with a free Apple TV Plus subscription.

As far as carrier deals go, T-Mobile offers discounts on Apple TV Plus, as well as other streaming services. For instance, the wireless carrier is currently offering customers in the US complimentary access to Apple TV Plus when they subscribe to a qualifying Go5G Next line. For Verizon Unlimited customers, the option exists to get Apple One (which includes Apple TV Plus) for $10 per month ($9.95 off) for an individual plan, or $20 for a family plan ($5.95 off).

$17

Max provides access to shows like Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Dune: Prophecy, The Last of Us, The Penguin, — as well as films like Barbie and Dune — starting at $9.99 a month. AT&T offers complimentary access to the ad-free Max tier when you subscribe to a select AT&T Unlimited Choice or Plus plan, which starts at $60 per month.

Max, which will soon be rebranded as HBO Max this summer, is home to Game of Thrones and its spinoff, House of the Dragon, along with shows and movies like Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Dune: Prophecy, The Last of Us, Wonka, Euphoria, Hacks, Scavenger’s Reign, The Batman, Succession, and even content from Discovery Plus.

The platform offers an ad-supported tier that costs $9.99 a month and two ad-free plans that start at $16.99 a month. Unlike the ad-supported plan, the standard ad-free tier also lets you download 30 shows or movies for offline viewing. Max also offers a $20.99-a-month Premium plan, which allows you to stream in 4K and supports Dolby Atmos with select content. The latter plan also lets you stream on four devices simultaneously and download a maximum of 100 shows or movies to watch on the go.

Max offers an annual subscription and various bundles, both of which are cheaper than subscribing on a monthly basis. The ad-supported plan normally costs $99.99 a year, saving you a modest $19 over the course of 12 months, while subscribing to the annual ad-free base plan for $169.99 saves you $33. You can also save about $41 by subscribing to the annual 4K Premium ad-free plan for $209.99. Lastly, you can opt for the ad-supported bundle — which includes Max, Disney Plus, and Hulu — for $16.99 a month, or pay $13 extra to go ad-free. The total cost is cheaper than subscribing to each of the three individually, saving you money in the long run. A basic plan exists, with ads, for $9.99 per month.

Multiple wireless carriers are offering deals. You can, for instance, get a year of Netflix and Max when you purchase a 5G Home Plus, LTE Home Plus, Fios 1 Gig, or the Fios 2 Gig Verizon Home Internet (VHI) plan. Alternatively, Verizon is offering those with an Unlimited plan the ability to get Netflix and Max (with ads) for $10 a month (about $7 off).

AT&T also includes complimentary access to ad-free Max when you subscribe to select AT&T Unlimited Choice or Plus plans, which start at $60 a month. If you opt for Cricket’s Unlimited Plus 15GB Mobile Hotspot phone plan, which starts at $60 a month, you’ll also be able to get the ad-supported version of Max for free. Finally, you can get two months of Max free with DirectTV Stream or Satellite TV services.

The well-known streaming service offers individual subscriptions starting at $7.99 a month as well as more premium tiers that allow for 4K resolution and additional users. T-Mobile is offering the ad-supported plan for free those on qualifying Go5G Next, Go5G Plus, and Magenta Max lines. This deal is also available to those on two or more qualifying Go56 and Magenta lines.

A Netflix subscription grants you access to thousands of movies and TV shows, as well as a limited number of mobile games. Notable shows and movies include Squid Game, Dan Da Dan, Baby Reindeer, The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, Cobra Kai, Stranger Things, The Killer, and Arcane, among countless others.

The well-known streaming service currently offers three plans: Standard with ads ($7.99 per month), Standard without ads ($17.99 per month), and Premium ($24.99 per month). The premium tier allows for higher resolution, lets multiple users watch content on four devices at the same time as opposed to just two, and lets you download on six devices at a time as opposed to just two. It’s also the only plan that supports 4K HDR content, as well as spatial audio.

Netflix isn’t currently offering a discount, but T-Mobile is offering the ad-supported plan for free to those on qualifying Go5G Next and Go5G Plus lines. This deal is also available to those on qualifying Magenta Max lines, or for those who sign up to two or more Go56 and Magenta lines. As mentioned previously, you can also get a year of both Netflix and Max when you purchase one of the following Verizon Home internet plans: a 5G Home Plus, LTE Home Plus, Fios 1 Gig, or the Fios 2 Gig Verizon Home Internet (VHI) plan. Alternatively, Verizon is offering those with an Unlimited plan the ability to get Netflix and Max (with ads) for $10 per month ($6.98 off).

The best YouTube TV deals

YouTube TV grants subscribers access to live sports and a number of major news and entertainment channels, including PBS, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, NBC, ABC, Fox, CNN, and more. It also comes with unlimited recording for a maximum of six accounts, all for $82.99 per month. You can buy optional add-ons as well, which range between $2 and $65 a month and include access to services like Max, Starz, and NBA League Pass. The service also offers a separate Spanish-only plan.

Now through July 31st, new subscribers can sign up for the YouTube TV Base Plan for $59.99 ($23 off) a month for the first two months. It’ll be free for 21 days as a trial.

The best Paramount Plus and Showtime deals

The ad-supported Paramount Plus Essential plan provides access to a wide variety of shows and films, including Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the entire Yellowstone catalog, Top Gun: Maverick, and Bob Marley: One Love. Walmart Plus members can currently get it for free as a part of their plan.

Paramount Plus and Showtime provides access to live sports and 24/7 live news with CBS News. It also grants access to the entire Paramount Plus catalog, including shows like Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Yellowstone spinoff 1923, as well as films like Gladiator II and Top Gun: Maverick. You’ll also get access to Showtime’s library, which includes originals like Billions, Dexter: Resurrection, and Yellowjackets, as well as movies like Talk To Me and Past Lives.

If you want to subscribe to both Paramount Plus and Showtime, you can sign up for the ad-free Paramount Plus with Showtime package for $12.99 a month (it comes with a one-week trial). Alternatively, if you’re willing to pay upfront, you can save about $36 over the course of a year when you subscribe to the annual plan for $119.99 per year.

Alternatively, you can subscribe to Paramount Plus as a standalone service when you pay for Paramount Plus’ ad-supported Essential plan, which costs $7.99 per month (it, too, comes with a one-week trial for new subscribers). The annual plan, meanwhile, costs $59.99 per year, saving you $36 over the course of 12 months if you’re willing to pay upfront. Just bear in mind this plan offers fewer live sporting events than the Paramount Plus with Showtime package, and won’t let you download content for offline viewing.

In terms of deals, Walmart Plus subscribers can currently get the Essential plan for free as part of their subscription. College students can also subscribe to the Essential plan for $5.99 ($2 off) a month, while seniors with an AARP membership can get a 10 percent discount on the Essential plan or Paramount Plus with Showtime plan. Lastly, military members can get a 50 percent discount on a year of the Essential or Paramount Plus with Showtime plans.

$18

With Starz, you can stream movies like Asteroid City and Jurassic Park, as well as original shows like Outlander. Currently, the platform only offers one ad-free plan, which typically costs $10.99 a month.

With Starz, you can stream a variety of shows and movies, including John Wick: Chapter 4, M3GAN, and Asteroid City, as well as originals like Outlander and Sweetpea. The platform offers a single ad-free plan for $10.99 per month, which allows you to stream on up to four devices simultaneously and download content for offline viewing. Right now, however, new subscribers can get three months of Starz for $4.99 per month. Alternatively, you can sign up for a six-month plan for $17.99, a savings of $28.

The best Amazon Prime Video deals

Amazon Prime members can take advantage of faster delivery as well as an assortment of other benefits. This includes Amazon Prime Video, which encompasses a wide range of movies, some live content, and shows like The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Customers of Metro By T-Mobile’s unlimited plan can get a free Amazon Prime membership, which provides access to Prime Video for free.

Amazon Prime Video is an on-demand streaming service owned by Amazon. Its library includes a range of movies, some live content, and shows like Fallout, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Boys, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and more. Through the service, you can watch certain titles in 4K and take advantage of deals on rentals and purchases not included in the subscription. There’s also an option to add extra channels with Prime Video channels, or go ad-free for an additional $2.99 a month.

Amazon Prime Video is included with an Amazon Prime membership, though you can sign up for the service without a membership for $8.99 a month with ads or $11.98 without. Right now, customers of Metro By T-Mobile’s unlimited plan can also get a free Amazon Prime membership, which provides access to Prime Video and other benefits, for free.

Update, June 18th: Adjusted relevant pricing details, and added new, more relevant links within each service’s section.

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June 18, 2025 0 comments

Keychron V6 Max mechanical keyboard during our review

Product Reviews

Keychron V6 Max customizable mechanical keyboard review

by admin June 18, 2025

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In my twenty years as a professional writer, I don’t think I’ve ever looked forward to using a keyboard before. Some are good, some are bad, some, like the ones on modern ThinkPads, are easily the best you can get on a laptop and offer very comfortable typing experiences.

In fact, I’ve always hated changing to a new keyboard, with the inevitable typos and finger-slips as muscle memory goes right out the window and the brain tries to relearn the new key placement.

But never, ever, have I wanted to find excuses to type something, anything on a keyboard, or just pressed a few keys as I passed the desk for the thrill of it all.

Keychron V6 Max: Price & availability

This is no budget keyboard – but that’s expected with this sort of design and the features packed in here. It’s a definite ‘investment’ product for those who will be using it day in and day out.

It’s available via the official US Keychron site for $120, while at time of review, it’s currently discounted from £124 to £112 over on the Keychron UK site. In Australia, it’s priced at AU$159 via Keychron.

You can also pick up from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk and other online retailers, where it’s going for the RRP.

Keychron V6 Max: Design

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(Image credit: Keychron)(Image credit: Keychron)(Image credit: Keychron)(Image credit: Keychron)

This little beast is beautifully designed, with its carbon black frame and light and dark blue keys. To me, it really looks the business, eye-catching but professional.

Unlike some Keychron keyboards, like the Q6 Max we reviewed, this model is built from a hardened ABS plastic rather than dense aluminum. It’s still pretty heavy, though, and not suited to portability. On the other hand, the weight also made it very stable, refusing to whizz across the desk under the slightest provocation while I used it. So, pros and cons.

The V6 Max comes in a range of configurations – first off, you can select between a barebones version and one that’s fully assembled.

In the US, you’ll get the double-shot OSA PBT keycaps, while in the UK, you can choose between PBT and ABS keys, with the latter allowing the backlight to shine through.

You can also choose between a few different mechanical switches (Gateron Jupiter Red, Brown, and Yellow), which will subtly adjust your experience (you can see the full differences between each by clicking here). In this review, I’m looking at the PBT version with Gateron Jupiter Red linear switches.

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(Image credit: Keychron)(Image credit: Keychron)(Image credit: Keychron)(Image credit: Keychron)

Along the top row, nestled between F12 and Print Screen, is a sturdy volume knob that can be clicked to mute/unmute. It’s really useful if you want easy access to volume controls, and easily ignored if you don’t.

Around the back are two switches for changing compatibility between Windows, Mac, and Android devices, and alternating connectivity (2.4GHz, cable, and Bluetooth). Over to the right is a nub which houses both the USB and USB-C receivers.

In the box, you’ll also find a wealth of tools – a charging cable, keycap and switch puller, screwdriver, screws, hex (Allen) key, extension adapter for the receiver, and eleven replacement keys.

Keychron V6 Max: App

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(Image credit: Keychron )(Image credit: Keychron )(Image credit: Keychron )

One of the big highlights of the Keychron V6 Max is its near-total customizability, both physically and while using the app at launcher.keychron.com. You’ll need to run Chrome, Edge, or Opera, and connect the keyboard with the wire. I found the app found the keyboard pretty quickly – not instant, but quick enough. And I was pleasantly surprised by the host of options on offer here.

Arguably the most useful here is the keymap, where you can alter what each key does when pressed. It’s very straightforward to use. Then, alongside this, there’s a key test to make sure everything’s running smoothly, an option to create macros, which will be essential for coders, firmware updates and bug reporting, and backlight selection.

To my mind, this backlight tab is where every user should head first. To manually change the keyboard’s backlight, you’ll need to turn it on with Fn + Tab, then cycle through each option using Fn + Q. There’s loads of presets here, but let me tell you, it takes ages to find the one that’s right for you – and one wrong press and you’ll need to cycle through them all over again. In the app, on the other hand, you can quickly find your preferred style, and adjust the color using the palette. Job done.

All in all, I thought the app was a nice extra that gives you much more control over layout and style to fit how you want the keyboard to perform.

Keychron V6 Max: In use

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(Image credit: Keychron)(Image credit: Keychron)(Image credit: Keychron)(Image credit: Keychron)(Image credit: Keychron)

This keyboard is an absolute delight to use. Typing feels natural, comfortable, I used it for hours and hours at a time and never once had any issues. Every keystroke registered quickly and accurately, and there’s a pleasing softness to each one. What more could you want from a mechanical keyboard?

Of course, it helps that it’s incredibly customizable to suit your work, and the desk boasts a gasket mount design with sound-proofing foam under the hood. Saying that, it’s in no way silent during use. As a mechanical keyboard, it has a muted clack that will remind readers of a certain age of busy offices and typist pools.

Personally, I quite enjoy the sound it makes when in full writing flow- it’s somehow soothing. However, it won’t be ideal for those looking for a super low-profile keyboard, where a scissor-switch or rubber-dome keyboard will offer a quieter experience.

Keychron also claims the V6 Max has a polling rate of 1000Hz, which has a theoretical latency of 1ms. So, while it should easily handle competitive gaming, it isn’t strictly designed for this.

For me, it’s one of the best keyboards around, perfectly positioned for productivity-minded professionals, students, programmers – effectively anyone who’s going to be spending a lot of time at their desk. On that score, it delivers an awesome experience.

Should I buy the Keychron V6 Max?

Buy it if…

✅ You want comfort when typing
I can’t fault the overall performance of the V6 Max when it comes to general typing, even at speed.

✅ You want to customize your set-up
This keyboard can basically be configured any way you want, from switching out keycaps to redefining the key map using the app.

Don’t buy it if…

❌ You don’t type much
For the price and the specs here, it’s going to be overkill for sending the occasional email or replying on Teams – although it’ll feel good while you’re doing so, at least.

❌ You want a silent keyboard
As a mechanical keyboard, this isn’t exactly quiet in use, which you may want in shared workspaces.

Keychron V6 Max: Price Comparison

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June 18, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Cyberpunk 2077’s flying car modder has removed the game’s max speed limit and I may soon be involved in a 1222mph mid-air fender bender

by admin June 18, 2025

If you’re reading this, it may be too late. The mysterious genius behind Cyberpunk 2077’s most popular flying car mod has just released its first update in a good while, alongside a fresh work that removes the speed limits the game applies to all of its vehicles.

It looks like the perfect recipe for my next trip to Night City ending with an shattered engine block wedged halfway up a skyscraper, and Keanny Reevhand standing next to it tutting.

If you’re not familiar with Let There Be Flight by modder Jack Humbert, it arrived in September 2022, swapped the wheels of Cyberpunk’s cars for working thrusters, and left plenty of folks wondering why dystopian futures are ever allowed to omit flying cars. After all, when the world’s gone down the corporate tubes, surely you need to balance that out by letting people dream of drifting a futuristic VW golf ten thousand feet above the pavement?

I digress. Humbert’s just updated Let There Be Flight for the first time since June 2023, which is welcome news since folks have reported issues getting it to run with the game’s more recent patches.

“I’ve been rewriting some parts of LTBF to better use in-game systems, and this has allowed for better state control of flight and input contexts, enabling native vehicle combat (handheld and vehicle-mounted) while flying,” he wrote, “This should also make it more compatible with other vehicle-based mods (in theory), but I have yet to try things out on a wide scale…I have lots of ideas that I’d like to see implemented, and will try to get them finished to a point that you can at least try them out here.”

Nice, but here’s the kicker, alongside this update Humbert’s uploaded his first new mod since 2022. It’s Vehicle Speed Unlimiter and gets rid of the automatic limits the game puts on car movement speed – as far as I can tell, the ones you’d bang your head against even if you modded or file tweaked a car to go beyond its base top speed value.

The mod’s description says speeds above 400mph will be possible, and to make clear what that’s done, a user with the handle Oranje3 has said they’ve already used it to get a modded car up to 1222mph, and posted a screenshot to back that assertion up.

Needless to say, I now have a new mission in life. I’ll have to find the time to get my Cyberpunk load order back to working order since I’ve not done a playthrough in a little bit, but if I do soon, I’ll definitely be trying to better that speed. In a flying car too, assuming that doesn’t prove a barrier to engaging warp speed.

If you want to try Vehicle Speed Unlimiter, you’ll need to grab RED4ext, while Let There Be Flight requires that plus ArchiveXL, Input Loader, Mod Settings, Redscript, and TweakXL.

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June 18, 2025 0 comments

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