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Front panel of Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII wireless speakers on a white background
Product Reviews

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: WiiM addition fixes the wireless speakers’ only minor issue

by admin September 19, 2025



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Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII: Two -minute review

Update September 19, 2025: WiiM and Audio Pro have contacted TechRadar to clarify that contrary to the initial September 4 announcement about a big Audio Pro WiiM-powered wireless speaker rollout, Audio Pro’s new range of speakers aside from the C10 you’re reading about here and the new A10 should no longer be described as “powered by WiiM” and instead “powered by LinkPlay”, which is the parent company of WiiM. Audio Pro’s new speaker range does not integrate with the WiiM ecosystem, and does not have direct WiiM support.

The release states: “For further clarity, the only Audio Pro speakers that are powered by WiiM and integrated with the WiiM Home app are the A10 and C10, WiiM Edition speakers, available exclusively via WiiM’s Amazon storefront.”

To explore how WiiM compares to Sonos as a multi-room option, read this guide to the current state of both platforms. The rest of this review remains as written.

The Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII is a predictably good-looking wireless speaker with plenty going for it purely in design terms (as long as you’re OK with monochrome). It’s lost its handle and its Amazon Alexa voice control compared with the original model, but it’s gained a swanky new streaming platform (thanks, WiiM!) which offers an absolute stack of options where music sources and system flexibility are concerned.

Best of all, it’s a fine-sounding speaker that is able to extract an absolute stack of information from a recording and put it into convincing context. It’s punchy when it needs to be, it’s insightful, and it sounds a heck of a lot bigger than it looks. Deft control of the low frequencies, plenty of midrange articulacy and a winning way with dynamic variations all add to its sonic charm. If it was just a little more vibrant and exciting when the music demanded it, the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII would be absolutely ideal, but it is nevertheless worthy of a place among the best wireless speakers out there.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

  • Audio Pro Addon C10 MKII (White) at Amazon for $359.10

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Price and release date

  • Cost $360 / £259 / AU$699 (approx.)
  • Launched in 2021

When the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII first launched back in 2021, it cost $450 / £329 / AU$749 (approx.).

Fast-forward to today, and not only has this product become even more compelling thanks to upgrades in its streaming support and smart features, but it’s also routinely available for $360 / £259 / AU$699 (approx.). It looks like rather than becoming outdated, the C10 MkII has matured and evolved…

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Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Features

  • 80 watts of power
  • Dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2
  • Numerous streaming options

It’s fair to say that Bluetooth 4.2 with SBC and AAC codec compatibility is not the most inspiring specification for a wireless speaker in 2025. But what the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII lacks in cutting-edge Bluetooth chops, it more than makes up for in its wireless network abilities.

The exemplary control app, which is now bolted to WiiM’s extremely well-regarded streaming platform, allows you to integrate a lot of music streaming services – and I mean a lot: Amazon and Apple Music, Deezer and Spotify, Qobuz and Tidal, QQ Music, iHeart Radio and vTuner, and plenty more besides. The C10 MkII is compatible with Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast, and the app allows the speaker to be half of a stereo pair or part of a multi-room system without any fuss whatsoever. It’s an extremely flexible device.

Once aboard, digital audio information is processed by a 24bit/96kHz DAC and then is breathed on by 80 watts of Class D amplification. A pair of 19mm tweeters get 20 watts of power each, and in between them there’s a 133mm midrange driver that receives the other 40 watts. This bigger driver is supported by a rear-facing vertical bass reflex port.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

  • Open, detailed and well-controlled sound
  • Great tonal balance and frequency response
  • Could sound a little more exciting

Yes, by the standards for $350-ish wireless speakers the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII is quite large. But be assured the sound it creates is plenty larger than the cabinet it’s coming from.

The sort of scale the Audio Pro can invest in a FLAC file of Hookworms’ Negative Space is straightforwardly impressive. It can open the recording out and offer a proper sense of space at the same time, even though the point-source of sound is always obvious. The amount of dynamic headroom that’s available allows the speaker to track the ever-increasing intensity of the recording convincingly, and the control of the lowest frequencies is such that rhythmic expression is confident and naturalistic, too.

And as well as being controlled with real authority, the bottom end – like the rest of the frequency range – is loaded with detail and variation. The C10 MkII is no thumper – it hits good and hard at the low end, but is textured and tonally varied. The same is true at the opposite end, where treble sounds are bright and substantial, with plenty of information available regarding tone, attack and decay. Through the midrange, the Audio Pro is about as explicit and as eloquent as any device of its type and price I’ve heard. It communicates in absolute torrents.

The tonal balance is nicely judged – it’s not absolutely neutral, but the tiny suggestion of warmth (especially towards the bottom end) is almost certainly sensible in the context of the circumstances the C10 MkII will probably be used in. The evenness of the frequency response is splendid, too, giving measured and appropriate weighting to every part of the tonal range, without underplaying or overstating any particular area.

Really, about the only area of mild concern where the sound of this speaker is concerned has little to do with the specifics of performance – it’s more about attitude. For all of its undoubted dynamic potency and ability to paint a full and nicely detailed picture, the Audio Pro is not the most demonstrative listen.

It sounds quite like it looks: sophisticated, understated and in unarguable good taste. This, where audio quality is concerned, can be considered shorthand for ‘slight lack of excitement’. No one is interested in a feral loudspeaker, of course, but at those moments when a recording demands vigor and attack, I get the strong impression the C10 MkII thinks this kind of behavior is a little beneath it.

  • Sound quality score: 4.5 / 5

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Design

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

  • 165 x 320 x 185mm (HxWxD)
  • Black, white or gray matte finishes
  • Magnetically attached grille

The Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII is, by the standards of a ‘rectangular box’ wireless speaker, very nicely finished and actually quite elegant in an understated sort of way.

This is just as well – given the 165 x 320 x 185mm (HxWxD) dimensions, it could have very easily ended up looking a bit bulky. As it is, though, the standard of construction and finish, along with the unapologetically monotone options of black, gray or white matte colours, make for a very harmonious look. The magnetically attached grille helps with the clean look, too.

It’s a fairly sizeable proposition on the average desk, though, and the lack of a handle makes transporting its 4.3kg weight rather less easy than it might be. I can’t deny I’ve used the bass reflex port as a handle, but I can’t imagine Audio Pro would recommend it as an option…

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Usability and setup

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

  • Great control app, extensive physical controls
  • No voice control
  • Can easily be part of a multi-room set-up

Unlike the previous generation of C10, there’s no Amazon Alexa voice control here – there’s no voice control at all, in fact. You may count this as a negative, you may not, but there’s no denying that your other control options are very nicely realized indeed.

That WiiM-powered control app, as already mentioned, is stable, logical and slick in operation. As well as the ability to integrate a generous number of music streaming services and internet radio providers, it’s also where you can form a stereo pair or establish a multi-room system. There’s bass and treble adjustment, the ability to establish as many as half a dozen presets, input selection, the ability to check for firmware updates and various timer and alarm-clock functions.

The top surface of the cabinet features a selection of controls, too, embedded in a tactile steel plate. Power, volume, playback control and Bluetooth pairing are all available here, and access to the six presets you’ve defined in the control app are also available. There’s also a little LED giving confirmation of the selected input.

  • Usability and setup score: 4.5 / 5

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Value

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

  • Excellent standard of finish
  • Versatile streaming platform and app
  • Extras add up to value for money

Consider the standard of build and finish, and then consider the out-and-out sound quality. Take into account the great new WiiM-powered streaming platform and all its possibilities, from forming a true stereo pair to easily creating a multi-room system.

And then look around at what this kind of money can buy you from alternative brands. Yes, the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII is very good value for money indeed.

Should you buy the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII?

Swipe to scroll horizontallyAudio Pro Addon C10 MkII score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth (albeit 4.2 with SBC and AAC codec) and WiiM’s excellent streaming platform.

4.5 / 5

Sound quality

Open, detailed and well-controlled, but could be a little more exciting.

4.5 / 5

Design

Three possible matte finishes, sizeable with carry handle removed, magnetically attached grille.

5 / 5

Usability and setup

Great control app, extensive physical controls, can be part of a multi-room set-up.

4.5 / 5

Value

Not cheap, but extras provide added value to make the expense more than worth it.

4.5 / 5

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII: Also consider

How I tested the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII

Because the C10 MkII is mains-powered rather than battery-powered, I listened to it exclusively in my home. It’s a bit big for a desktop speaker, but nevertheless I gave it a go – it was much more at home on a shelf in the lounge, though.

I listened to music from Tidal and Qobuz via the excellent control app, of many types and quite a few different file sizes. And I listened both critically and with the Audio Pro functioning simply as a ‘background’ device – and there were never less than thoroughly enjoyable.

  • First reviewed: July 2025

Audio Pro Addon C10 MKII: Price Comparison



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September 19, 2025 0 comments
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Here’s how to buy the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and Air
Gaming Gear

Here’s how to buy the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and Air

by admin September 19, 2025


Apple’s iPhone 17, the 17 Pro, the 17 Pro Max, and the thin iPhone Air are now available in stores and online.

Beyond the Air’s shockingly slim design, Apple’s latest iPhone lineup features a number of notable updates worth upgrading for, especially if you have a phone that’s a few generations old. The standard iPhone 17 — which is a shockingly good value, by the way — now features a larger 6.3-inch display with ProMotion and an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Meanwhile, the Pro model has returned to an aluminum build while adding the biggest battery of any iPhone yet. The iPhone Air and Pro models have a lot in common, including having a raised “plateau” bump on the back, which contains not just cameras but some internal components, too, leaving some extra room in the phones for larger batteries.

The iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and Air start at $799, $1,099, $1,199, and $999, respectively, and each model starts with 256GB of storage. Below, you’ll find more information about each new device, along with where you can pick them up.

Where to buy the iPhone Air

The iPhone Air finally made its debut after months of rumors. It’s Apple’s thinnest iPhone ever at 5.6mm thick, and it features a 6.5-inch ProMotion display and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Apple says the design is its “most durable” yet, with a ceramic shield that encloses a titanium frame on both sides (also found in the iPhone 17 Pro). The device also sports a single 48-megapixel fusion camera on the back, an 18-megapixel Center Stage selfie cam on its front, along with an A19 Pro processor and Apple’s in-house C1X modem. Despite its thinner design, Apple says the Air features “all-day battery life,” with up to 27 hours of video playback, or 40 hours when the $99 iPhone Air MagSafe battery is attached.

The iPhone Air is available at Apple, Best Buy, and Walmart starting at $999 for 256GB of storage and going up to $1,399 for the 1TB model.

$999

The iPhone Air is Apple’s thinnest iPhone yet at 5.6mm, featuring a 6.5-inch ProMotion display, a 48MP fusion camera, and an 18MP front camera with Center Stage support. But its single rear camera and “meh” battery life mean it’s not for everyone.

Read More

Where to buy the iPhone 17

The iPhone 17 is Apple’s latest entry-level smartphone, and it’s the one to get this year. Notably, it includes a larger 6.3-inch 120Hz ProMotion display — ripped straight from the iPhone 17 Pro. The device also features a new A19 processor, and a dual 48-megapixel fusion camera system that has a main camera and an ultrawide camera. A new 18-megapixel Center Stage front camera features a square sensor, allowing users to take high-quality landscape-mode selfies without having to rotate their phone.

The phone is available in five colors (black, lavender, mist blue, sage, and white) and features a starting storage of 256GB. The iPhone 17 is now available at Apple, Best Buy, and Walmart starting at $799.

$799

The standard iPhone 17 has a 6.3-inch ProMotion display that can reach 3,000 nits of peak brightness, an A19 chip, and a 48MP dual camera system. It also features an 18MP Center Stage selfie camera with a square sensor, allowing users to take landscape selfies while holding the device vertically.

Read More

Where to buy the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max

The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max look different than previous Pro models. While they keep the same 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays, respectively, Apple has made a few tweaks to the design. One of the first things you’ll probably notice is the plateau camera bump on the back, which houses a trio of 48-megapixel fusion cameras. Both devices also boast an upgraded 18-megapixel selfie camera with support for Center Stage, and a more powerful A19 Pro processor inside. The Pro models feature larger batteries than before, too, with the 17 Pro Max delivering the best battery life ever in an iPhone, according to Apple.

The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are now available alongside Apple’s other models. The smaller Pro starts at $1,099 for 256GB of storage, while the 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199 for 256GB of storage. For the first time ever, Apple is offering a 2TB configuration of the 17 Pro Max for $1,999. You can nab the 17 Pro from Apple, Best Buy, and Walmart; the 17 Pro Max is also available at Apple, Best Buy, and Walmart.

$1099

The iPhone 17 Pro features a 6.3-inch OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, and it’s powered by an A19 Pro chip. It features a 48MP triple camera system, plus a new “plateau” bar on the back, which Apple says creates additional space for internal components, including a larger battery.

Read More

$1199

The larger iPhone 17 Pro Max sports a 6.9-inch OLED screen and the best battery life ever in an iPhone. It has most of the same features as the smaller iPhone 17 Pro, though, but offers storage up to 2TB — a first in the iPhone line.

Read More

US carrier deals and incentives

Rather than pay all at once for your phone of choice, several US carriers are offering deals if you purchase or upgrade through them. Just keep in mind that taking advantage of a carrier deal will lock your phone to that network for a period of time, and likely mean you’ll break up the total price into payments that may increase your monthly bill.

  • Verizon is offering new and existing customers who trade-in an eligible device up to $1,099 toward an iPhone 17 Pro with a new or upgraded smartphone line on an Unlimited Ultimate plan (minimum $90 per month with autopay, plus taxes and fees for 36 months); the trade-in / promo credit is applied over 36 months. Meanwhile, Verizon is offering new and existing customers who trade in an eligible device up to $1,100 off the iPhone 17 Pro Max with a new or upgraded smartphone line on an Unlimited Ultimate plan, with the trade-in / promo credit applied over 36 months. For upgrades, phones that are traded in must be active on an account for 60 days prior to purchasing a new device.
  • T-Mobile is offering up to $1,100 off any 2025 iPhone in 24 monthly bill credits with an eligible trade-in and qualifying service ($100+ per month with auto pay, plus taxes and fees). Meanwhile, you can get up to $830 (no trade-in required) via 24 monthly bill credits when you switch to T-Mobile and add a line on one of its Experience plans.
  • AT&T is offering new and existing customers up to $1,100 off an iPhone 17 Pro or 17 Pro Max, and up to $830 off an iPhone 17 or iPhone Air, with the credit being applied over 36 months. The offer is available for new and existing customers with an eligible trade-in in any condition, and activation of a new line or an upgrade of an existing line. For new customers, AT&T says the offer requires a postpaid unlimited voice and data plan starting at $75.99 before the discounts.

Update, September 19th: Updated to note the new 2025 iPhone models are now available in stores and online.

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aj mana side-by-side with raja jackson's syko stu attack
Esports

Raja Jackson arrested nearly a month after allegedly assaulting pro wrestler live on Kick stream

by admin September 19, 2025



Police have taken Kick streamer Raja Jackson, the son of UFC legend Rampage Jackson, into custody after he attacked a pro wrestler during a live event, sending the victim to the hospital.

According to TMZ, Jackson was arrested on September 18, almost a full month after the altercation. The outlet reports that Raja was booked on a felony charge and is still behind bars on a $50,000 bond.

On August 23, Jackson stormed into the ring at KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy while streaming on Kick and repeatedly punched wrestler Syko Stu, real name Stewart Smith.

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The clash stemmed from an earlier run-in where Stu believed Jackson’s appearance was part of the show. Although the two seemed to reconcile, promoters reportedly tried to spin it into a storyline. But when Jackson entered the ring, he unleashed real punches.

Kick: Raja JacksonSyko Stu is alive and stable after the brutal attack from Raja Jackson.

According to wrestler Douglas Malo, Stu suffered serious facial injuries, including multiple broken bones and broken teeth.

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At the time, LAPD confirmed they received a 9 p.m. call reporting an attempted murder, but Jackson fled before officers arrived.

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Before the brawl, Jackson told viewers it was his “dream to f**k up a pro wrestler” and warned he was “really going to hit him.”

KnokX Pro condemned the attack as “a selfish, irresponsible act of violence.” Once affiliated with WWE’s Independent Development program, the academy has since been quietly distanced from the company.

A GoFundMe launched in support of Stu has raised thousands, including a $10,000 donation from YouTuber MrBeast.

Stu regained consciousness days after the attack, but was still suffering from “very serious” injuries to his face.

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Rampage Jackson expressed hope of shaking Stu’s hand one day and asked for forgiveness, further admitting that his son “went too far.”



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Apple iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max review
Product Reviews

Apple iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max review

by admin September 19, 2025


It’s a tricky year to review the iPhone Pro. It’s long been the go-to choice for anyone who wants an iPhone with the nicest screen, longest battery, and great cameras. But the display is no longer unique to the Pro, cameras have largely gotten “good enough” on most phones, and Apple has a new model, the Air, which might be even more compelling.

This is the first time the iPhone Pro feels like it’s truly targeted at creators — people who need the longest battery life and the best cameras to record video and photos. I’m not a creator, but I’ve always bought the Pro Max for its bigger, higher-refresh-rate screen as much as for its beefy battery. But now I don’t have to for the former, and neither do you, because, also for the first time, the regular iPhone 17 has the same bright, smooth, always-on screen as the Pro (and Air). And it starts at $799, compared to the $1,099 starting price of the iPhone 17 Pro and $1,199 for the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

The iPhone 17 is the new iPhone for most people, and the iPhone Air is the most exciting new iPhone, at least given its totally new ultra-thin design. So the iPhone 17 Pro is for people who really want more camera options, even longer battery life, slightly faster charging, and… orange.

$1099

The Good

  • Solid battery life
  • Brighter screen outdoors
  • Center Stage camera
  • Faster charging
  • Doesn’t get blazing hot
  • Orange

The Bad

  • What’s up with Siri?
  • Heavier than last year.

$1199

The Good

  • Solid battery life
  • Brighter screen outdoors
  • Center Stage camera
  • Faster charging
  • Doesn’t get blazing hot
  • Orange

The Bad

  • What’s up with Siri?
  • Heavier than last year.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max in orange really pops.

I like the new look of the iPhone 17 Pro. It has rounded edges again, which we haven’t seen since the iPhone 11 Pro. I prefer them to the sharp sides on the other models. And I dig the contrast between the lighter orange of the ceramic-and-glass square panel and the darker orange of the aluminum body. The color difference is also a bit of a guide. It screams “This is where the accessories go,” as if to tell the user, “Plop the MagSafe charger here.” Or “Stick the magnetic wallet on me.” (The wallet covers the rectangle perfectly on the iPhone 17 Pro.) The orange is bold, arguably more so than any other color Apple has launched on a Pro phone. I love it, but there are navy or white versions for folks who don’t. (Perhaps coincidentally, navy blue and orange are the colors of Auburn University, where Apple CEO Tim Cook went for undergrad.)

The camera bar (or “plateau,” as Apple calls it) replaces the small camera island on the earlier Pro models. It houses the three 48-megapixel cameras: main, wide-angle, and telephoto, the last of which is an upgrade from the 12-megapixel sensor in last year’s phones. The cameras sit above Apple’s new “Ceramic Shield” back, which is more resistant to cracks if you drop the phone. The front glass is also more scratch-resistant.

The Pro and Pro Max are also available in blue, but there isn’t a black option.

Quick anecdote: The iPhone 17 Pro Max fell out of my pocket and face down onto a rocky trail during a camping trip with my son and was fine. My 16 Pro Max probably would have been, too. And not to belabor the orange, but it was easy to spot on the ground. During a hike, I couldn’t see a big difference in the new max peak brightness compared to my iPhone 16 Pro Max. No huge surprise there; we’re quickly approaching the darker days of autumn, and that high brightness is reserved for the brightest of days. Regardless, most phone screens look OK in direct sunlight now, unless the brightness is being throttled from overheating while you’re on the beach.

I don’t like that the Pro Max is slightly heavier, at 8.2 ounces, right between the 8-ounce titanium iPhone 16 Pro Max and the 8.4-ounce steel iPhone 14 Pro Max. After touting titanium’s strength for two years, Apple switched to an aluminum body for the Pro, paired with the new vapor chamber, to help keep it cooler during processor-intensive tasks, like rendering videos or gaming.

That seems to have paid off. The phone was warm when I loaded up Destiny: Rising and when I played about 45 minutes of War Thunder, but didn’t feel sizzly right over the processor, an area that can get uncomfortably hot on my iPhone 16 Pro Max when I’m playing games or running any form of local AI.

Speaking of power-intensive tasks, let’s talk about the battery. Apple hollowed out a block of aluminum to fit the biggest battery possible inside the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max — promising up to 39 hours of battery life on the larger model versus 33 for the iPhone 16 Pro Max while watching video. Video playback time is a bizarre battery stat for a phone, but it’s one Apple sticks to.

On my first full day with the 17 Pro Max, the phone went a full day of regular use, not video playback, from 7:23AM to midnight, and still had 16 percent battery left. That was a light day of use, with only five hours and 15 minutes of screen-on time, though it may have still been syncing all of my saved data to the review unit.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max’s screen gets brighter than ever.

Battery life improved by the second full day. I took it off the charger at 7:32AM and hit 50 percent battery at 8:43PM, with five hours and 11 minutes of screen-on time. I’d mainly used it for my regular stuff: Slack, text messages, Safari, browsing Amazon, taking photos, and chatting with friends. I usually charge my iPhone 16 Pro Max around 8PM, but I still had half a battery left on the 17 Pro Max. It seems like a significant improvement so far. Your mileage is going to vary depending on what you do, and it’s too early to render an overall verdict.

The Pro Max has the biggest battery you’re going to get from any iPhone this year. There are also some upgrades to help it charge faster. The Pro models, like the regular, support 40-watt wired charging, which juices the battery to 50 percent in 20 minutes. And MagSafe charging is slightly faster, too. If you have a 30-watt charger, the Pro 17, like the regular iPhone 17, can juice with MagSafe up to 50 percent in 30 minutes versus 35 minutes on last year’s phone (the Air can do the same with a 20-watt charger, but has a smaller battery).

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are aluminum again this year.

Both phones are a hair thicker but have larger batteries than last year.

The rear panel has a Ceramic Shield that’s more resistant to cracks. It’s that area around the Apple logo.

The cameras are the reason many people buy Apple’s iPhone Pros. They’re the phones that offer telephoto lenses, have better image stabilization, record sharper video, and include ProRes support. This year, Apple added several additional “Pro” features, like Genlock support, which lets videographers sync up timecodes across multiple cameras, and support for ProRes RAW recording — though you’ll need an external drive for that one.

Pro stuff aside, Center Stage is the best new camera feature, and it’s available on all iPhone 17 models. You’ve probably heard of it. On Macs and iPads, it allows the camera to follow your head — or your whole body — as you talk to someone on a video call. That’s on the iPhone now in the 18-megapixel selfie camera, where it goes one step further, thanks to a new square sensor. Center Stage can automatically detect if there are more people inside a frame and expand to a landscape photo to fit everyone in (you can also switch to landscape mode manually). That means you don’t have to juggle your phone and try to turn it sideways for a landscape photo; you can just hold it in portrait mode. It’s awesome, it works well, and it’s a unique solution to a problem I’d never really thought about.

Choose from .5x, 1x, 4x or 8x.

The front-facing cameras on all iPhone 17 models allow you to capture from the front and back cameras at the same time while recording, which is neat if you want to record a video of yourself showing somebody where you are, or how to do something, though it’s not a feature I see myself using.

Now to the main cameras. All three rear sensors are now 48 megapixels, including the telephoto. Apple has said this is like having eight different lenses. My colleague Antonio already took issue with the phrasing. On a purely surface level, though, I dig the options, and it’s one reason why I’d maybe choose this over the iPhone Air or iPhone 17, which don’t give you as many choices. The ultrawide, 1x, and 4x let you shoot in full 48-megapixel resolution with RAW or HEIC, while the others capture 12-megapixel pictures. Antonio did a better breakdown of how this works, but it’s a mixture of marketing, cropping, and computational photography.

The telephoto camera got a resolution bump, but it also downshifted from a 5x zoom on the 16 Pro models to 4x, making it a 100mm-equivalent lens, compared to roughly 120mm on the previous models. The 5x lens often felt slightly too long for head-and-shoulders portraits; 100mm feels just right. And with the higher-resolution sensor, there’s now a 2x crop zoom mode available to the telephoto lens for an 8x zoom (200mm equivalent). That’s just long enough to ensure that your photo of Alcatraz taken from the Marina Green in San Francisco doesn’t look like an unrecognizable speck, and the quality is more than enough for a social media post.

PreviousNext

1/2Taken with iPhone 17 Pro using 4x telephoto setting.

The shift to 48 megapixels also improves digital zoom quality; you can even get slightly more detailed 5x digital zoom photos from the 17 Pro compared to the optical 5x on the 16 Pro, since more pixels will generally do that if all else is equal. Altogether a smart update for this year’s telephoto.

That 2x crop zoom on the main camera remains a reliable option for environmental portraits and just a little extra reach when you need it. This year, Apple updated some of its processing on the 2x mode to bring out better detail in things like fabric; it’s subtle, but you can see the difference in a couple of side-by-side shots viewed at 100 percent. It’s not a big thing, but 2x images are just a little cleaner — kind of a nice bonus feature.

The 2x crop zoom on the iPhone 17 Pro (right) is just a little more detailed than on the 16 Pro (left). You can see the difference in the texture of the microfiber cloth, particularly in the shadows.

There’s one thing I still can’t really get off my mind, though, and that’s just how far behind Apple is in generative AI. Not long ago, when I talked to people about gadgets or tech, everyone wanted to know what was new with Apple. Now, everyone just wants to talk about AI and how I’m using it or how it’s going to replace or not replace jobs. And it’s being baked into every other piece of hardware on the market from every other big player, like Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon.

While Apple has launched some of the Apple Intelligence features it announced last year, we still don’t have a fully upgraded Siri that you can talk to like Google Gemini. And, sure, you can load the Gemini or ChatGPT apps, or make Siri pull from ChatGPT on the iPhone, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I recently bought a Pixel 10 Pro — it’s an excellent phone — and I love the way it integrates AI at a system level. Google’s Magic Cue, which runs on-device, can scan your inbox and calendar and prompt you to insert important dates and places right into your text messages when it sees you talking about a specific topic. Pixel Screenshots, which launched last year, can remind you of music or books you’ve saved when you open Spotify. And Gemini, which you can pull up by voice or by holding the power button, is just infinitely smarter and more useful than Siri.

I don’t think people are buying phones for these features yet, but the industry is moving awfully fast, and millions of people are using AI every day. It should be a highlight feature on the iPhone, front and center, but it is relegated to the background for things like translation and photos, and in other places where Google also uses it. It just feels like a giant void.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max and the iPhone Air. A tough choice.

The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max offer a lot of compelling features. Despite a redesign that might otherwise suggest a considerable upgrade, most of the changes are modest. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are the best iPhones if you’re after the longest battery life, best cameras, and the most power from Apple’s 2025 lineup. They’re also the top options if you want orange. However, most people should consider the more affordable iPhone 17. It features the same screen and will do everything most people need. Or, check out the Air if, like me, you’re just curious what it’s like to use a very thin iPhone. Worst-case scenario: return it and get the Pro. In orange.

Agree to continue: Apple iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air

Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. It’s impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But we’re going to start counting exactly how many times you have to hit “agree” to use devices when we review them since these are agreements most people don’t read and definitely can’t negotiate.

To use any of the iPhone 17 (and iPhone Air) models, you have to agree to:

  • The iOS terms and conditions, which you can have sent to you by email
  • Apple’s warranty agreement, which you can have sent to you by email

These agreements are nonnegotiable, and you can’t use the phone at all if you don’t agree to them.

The iPhone also prompts you to set up Apple Cash and Apple Pay at setup, which further means you have to agree to:

  • The Apple Cash agreement, which specifies that services are actually provided by Green Dot Bank and Apple Payments Inc. and further consists of the following agreements:
  • The Apple Cash terms and conditions
  • The electronic communications agreement
  • The Green Dot Bank privacy policy
  • Direct payments terms and conditions
  • Direct payments privacy notice
  • Apple Payments Inc. license

If you add a credit card to Apple Pay, you have to agree to:

  • The terms from your credit card provider, which do not have an option to be emailed

Final tally: two mandatory agreements, seven optional agreements for Apple Cash, and one optional agreement for Apple Pay.

Correction: The iPhone 14 Pro had a steel frame, not aluminum. The iPhone 17, not the Air, charges to 50% in 20 minutes.

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Product Reviews

The verdict on AirPods Pro 3

by admin September 16, 2025


Apple’s third-gen pro earbuds make a very strong case for upgrading. Alongside all those iPhones and Watches, Apple revealed the AirPods Pro 3, packing in major new features, like live translation and heart-rate sensing, all while tangibly boosting active noise cancellation (ANC).

Those ANC upgrades? Ultra-low-noise microphones combine with advanced computational audio to silence even more noise, while new foam-infused ear tips play a major role here too, since they offer increased passive noise isolation. Apple says these buds cancel twice as much noise as the AirPods Pro 2 and four times more than the original AirPods Pro.

Then there’s the heart-rate sensors. While the tech debuted on the Powerbeats Pro 2, it’s got a more mainstream home in the AirPods Pro 3. Heart-rate data from the AirPods can be accessed by Apple’s own Fitness app and other workout apps, like Nike Run Club and Peloton. In fact, during his review, Billy Steele found they delivered just as much heart-rate data as his Apple Watch.

There are some minor caveats: Battery life is less than previous models and the new shape of AirPod could take some time getting used to. Still, the newest AirPods garnered a score of 90 in our review. We like them. A lot.

— Mat Smith

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The news you might have missed

An event is happening on September 30.

Amazon has a big event coming up and Panos Panay, who leads the company’s Devices & Services team, will be on hand. This strongly suggests Amazon will announce some new hardware. The press invite also included a composite image of various Amazon devices. These appear to include a Kindle ereader, a Fire TV of some kind and an Echo speaker. Those are three of the company’s biggest product categories.

Continue reading.

Mario, Metroid, Virtual Boy and more.

It was a jam-packed Nintendo Direct last Friday. First up, September 13 is the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. in Japan, which is a big reason this Direct took place on a Friday. The company revealed the title for the next Mario movie. It’s called The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and it’s coming to cinemas in the US on April 3. Also, the Virtual Boy is coming back! There was plenty more too.

Continue reading.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said unnamed parties reached an agreement.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the United States and China have reached a framework deal on TikTok. Speaking to reporters in Madrid after two days of talks with his Chinese counterparts, Bessent said, “It’s between two private parties, but the commercial terms have been agreed upon.” President Trump said in a Truth Social post that he will be speaking with Xi Jinping this Friday regarding the potential deal, among other things.

Continue reading.



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How to Shop Like a Pro During Amazon Prime Day (2025)
Product Reviews

How to Shop Like a Pro During Amazon Prime Day (2025)

by admin September 16, 2025



Ask Alexa’s Echo Dot for the time and weather, and to play music. Also, a pro tip: You can use it in the kitchen as a timer while cooking.

How Do I Know Whether a Deal Is Good?

ABC: Always be checking (prices, that is). Researching an item’s price is the most important aspect of determining the quality of a discount. Don’t fall prey to deceptive marketing language and inflated MSRP prices—our tips only take a few moments. The easiest step is to take a second to Google the items you’re considering so you can see the price across multiple stores.

One tool we like to use is Camelcamelcamel, which tracks Amazon’s prices over time. Paste the Amazon link or ASIN (found in the Product Information section on the Amazon product page) into Camelcamelcamel’s search bar and you’ll be able to see an item’s lowest recorded price, its average price, and how frequently the price fluctuates. Some deals, such as Lightning Deals, are excluded from the pricing history, but it’s useful to see what an item has sold for in the past. We also like Keepa, which has an extension (available for multiple browsers) that shows the recent price history for products directly on the Amazon page so you don’t have to open a new tab.

Keep in mind that these services may not work all the time. But being able to see how much a product costs right before the sale starts (and whether the MSRP happened to increase) can be helpful. Putting these tools together can help you deduce whether a deal is worth your money.

WIRED always fact-checks deals to determine their quality. You can check out our ongoing deals coverage to find roundups of the best discounts available—during Prime Day and year-round.

Amazon’s Kindles are the best e-readers around. Also, waterproof!

What’s a Lightning Deal?

Lightning Deals are limited-time deals that Amazon runs for only a few hours. They’re not restricted to Prime Day, but they’re especially prevalent during big sales events. Once an item sells out, you may be able to join a waiting list, but not always.

Put bluntly, the Lightning Deals selection is often full of impulse buys, like makeup and skin-care products or toys. Prime members can browse upcoming deals on Amazon’s website and in the mobile app. The app can also alert you before a Lightning Deal begins. We’ll share some of our favorite Lightning Deals in a live blog during the event this year.

How Does the Invite-Only Deals System Work?

The best deals sometimes sell out quickly. To get around this, Amazon launched an invite-only deals program during Prime Day. Prime members can request an invitation to purchase items that are expected to sell out. This feature is only available on select products, but it’s spread across a wide range of price points and categories—including kitchen, electronics, fashion, and beauty.

On the page, you’ll see a Request Invite button on the right-hand side. Click it to get a chance to buy it at the sale price, but there’s no guarantee you’ll be invited. According to an Amazon spokesperson, the company removes “botlike submissions” from the list of requests and selects from the remaining customers. However, it’s not clear how Amazon chooses from the remaining list of interested buyers.



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AirPods Pro 3 review: tripling down on a good thing
Product Reviews

AirPods Pro 3 review: tripling down on a good thing

by admin September 15, 2025


The AirPods Pro are about as ubiquitous as earbuds can get. Step outside your door, and you’re almost certain to see people wearing them. For good reason, too. Their active noise cancelling (ANC) is excellent for the price, sound quality is great, and they’re comfortable and convenient. If it ain’t broke, why fix it? After all, messing with a winning formula just for the sake of change often ends up in disappointment.

That’s not the case with the $249.99 AirPods Pro 3. Of all the shiny new gadgets Apple launched last week, this is the sole no-brainer upgrade. Everything you liked about the AirPods Pro just got better — and so did everything you didn’t.

$249

The Good

  • Improved ANC and sound
  • Longer battery
  • Standalone workout tracking
  • Live translation
  • Same price
  • IP57
  • Better fit
  • Camera remote control is handy!

The Bad

  • If you’re hoping for traditional foam ear tips, this isn’t that

The second-gen Pro was more or less about refining the software and sound; the overall design didn’t change. But while the AirPods Pro 3 look familiar at a glance, pop them in your ear and you’ll feel the difference. The new buds and tips are more angled, so they slot more naturally into your ear canal. You can twist them in for a more secure fit, whereas the last AirPods Pro would pop out unless you put them in just right.

Another plus: Apple now includes five ear tip sizes, adding an XXS size so you have a better chance of finding a comfy fit. That said, I would temper any expectations regarding the “foam-infused” tips. These aren’t your traditional foam tips, which expand to fit your ear more securely. What Apple’s done here is more of a hybrid approach. The front portion has some foam that subtly expands, but the majority of the tip is silicone for comfort and easier cleaning.

You can see the difference between the AirPods Pro 3 (top) versus the AirPods Pro 2.

And the other side.

The third-gen buds have a new shape to better fit ears.

Fit has always been one of the biggest complaints with AirPods, regardless of model. Whenever I come across AirPods haters, the usual reasons are either that the buds are too uncomfortable or they simply slip out. My spouse has bought multiple pairs over the years because the buds are always falling out of their ears. Nary a day goes by that I don’t find them crouching next to the bed or sofa, phone flashlight out, searching underneath for a missing AirPod. With these, they immediately declared, “They fit so much better!” and proceeded to pre-order their own pair. I’ve heard similar reactions from fellow reviewers who also had issues with the fit on prior AirPods Pro.

Still, that’s not a huge sample size, and everyone’s ear shape is unique. While I think the Pro 3 will fit more people, I still recommend trying a pair before committing if you’ve had issues in the past. But as someone who hasn’t, these fit me better too.

At Apple’s keynote last week, Apple executives kept saying these things had the “world’s best ANC” for wireless in-ear headphones. The claim is that the active noise cancellation in the third-gen buds is twice as good as the second gen, and four times better than the originals. The sound quality is also purportedly better due to a redesigned internal architecture that Apple says improves airflow for better bass.

Now, I’m not an audio engineer, but I did put the AirPods Pro 3’s ANC through a series of real-life tests alongside my personal pair of AirPods Pro 2. It’s pretty damn good.

The first test was a six-and-a-half hour flight from San Francisco to New York. Both pairs of buds performed well, but the third-gen were noticeably better. The dull hum of the plane was completely eliminated, though I could still hear announcements if I didn’t have audio playing. (That’s typical for any ANC headphones, however, especially earbuds.)

The case for the AirPods Pro 3 also has stronger Find My capabilities this year.

My second test was sitting in my kitchen while my spouse and in-laws were fixing our broken garbage disposal and running the laundry. Again, the second and third-gen buds were comparable, but the latter were notably better at dampening higher frequencies like voices and my cats yowling for kibble. If I put my tunes on, I couldn’t hear anything.

I also tested the active noise cancellation at a Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson concert against the Loop Experience 2 and EarPeace Music passive earplugs, which reduce noise by 17db and 20db respectively. The third-gen buds outperformed the Loop Experience 2, and were roughly on par with the Earpeace Music. I normally wouldn’t use AirPods in lieu of earplugs at a concert, but it’s nice to know that they’ll do in a pinch.

As for sound quality, the improvement is subtle but definitely there. I noticed it most while listening to the K-Pop Demon Hunters soundtrack. Multi-part vocal harmonies in songs like “Golden,” “Your Idol,” and “What It Sounds Like” are more audible, while the bass lines are punchier. Despite listening to this album on repeat since June with the AirPods Pro 2, I noticed new elements in the sound production, like faint bubble-popping effects in the catchy “Soda Pop.” I had a similar experience listening to old favorites. And while I still think spatial audio is gimmicky outside of a Vision Pro, I can appreciate that sound quality has been subtly improved on Dolby Atmos tracks as well. Ultimately, you’ll notice a richer overall listening experience regardless of whether you’re listening to music or watching an immersive movie.

Sensors: Dual beamforming microphones, inward-facing microphone, skin-detecting sensor, motion-detecting accelerometer, speech-detecting accelerometer, heart rate sensor, touch control.

Chips: H2 headphone chip, U2 chip in charging case

Dust and water resistance: IP57

Battery: Estimated 8 hours of listening time with ANC, 7.5 hours with Spatial Audio and Head tracking enabled. 6.5 hours with heart rate sensing during workouts. 10 hours in Transparency mode. 24 hours with the case.

Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3

Calls sound “generically good,” according to a friend I called while walking along a windy highway full of bustling cars. They weren’t able to hear any of the wind or environmental noise, even though the ANC wasn’t able to wipe them out entirely for me.

ANC is power-intensive, but I was pleased to see the third-gen buds have improved battery life. I wore them with ANC enabled for five hours of my flight, plus a 10-minute wait at baggage claim and a 40-minute Uber ride home. I still had 27 percent battery left by the time I got home. Altogether, my usage roughly tracks with Apple’s eight-hour estimate for ANC listening time on a single charge.

Hands-free fitness tracking

Perhaps the biggest hardware update for the AirPods Pro 3 is the addition of a heart rate sensor, enabling fitness tracking without an Apple Watch. It’s not a huge surprise, given that Apple added heart rate sensors to the Powerbeats Pro 2 earlier this year. But the AirPods Pro do a lot more with the feature.

For starters, you can track your heart rate during 50 types of workouts directly from the native iOS Fitness app. On the Powerbeats, this was limited to a handful of partner apps at launch. This is great news for folks with wrist tattoos, which get in the way of smartwatch sensors, or those who’d rather not wear smart rings, chest straps, or smartwatches for sports like boxing or weight lifting. It’s also a boon for anyone who routinely forgets their Apple Watch while on walks.

You can choose to track workouts with the Apple Watch or with just the AirPods Pro 3.

Apple’s Fitness Plus app can display heart rate data from the AirPods Pro 3 — a strange omission from the Powerbeats at launch. Crucially, the AirPods can also act as a secondary heart rate data stream when used with the Apple Watch. Previously, apps always deferred to the Apple Watch over the Powerbeats. Now, Apple’s introduced an algorithm that will analyze which of the two heart rate data streams has a stronger signal in a given activity, and prefer that one. Some good news: Apple isn’t gatekeeping these improvements to the AirPods. It’s since announced these updates will also come to the Powerbeats in iOS 26.

I tried Pro 3-only tracking for two outdoor walks and found that the heart rate tracking was comparable to a chest strap, within roughly 5 to 10 beats per minute. Accuracy will heavily depend on a secure fit, but I never had issues getting readings, even when I got sweaty. Some more good news on that front: the buds now have IP57 sweat and water resistance. I wouldn’t dunk my head in a pool while wearing them, but they might stand a better chance of surviving the wash or a sudden downpour.

As part of Apple Intelligence, the AirPods Pro 3 (along with the Pro 2 and AirPods 4) will support live translations for a handful of languages. I’ve always wanted the Babel fish from Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy to be real, so I was stoked to try this out. Compared to phones or smartwatches, earbuds feel like a more natural choice for live translation tech.

Sorry to burst any bubbles. This live translation feature is no Babel fish, though I can see it being useful in a handful of scenarios.

The feature was impressive in a live demo Apple gave me where a Spanish speaker gave a short speech. I activated Live Translation via the iPhone’s Action Button and voilá. (You can also activate by pinching both AirPods’ stems). The speaker’s voice was dampened and after a short, intentional delay, Apple Intelligence crisply translated what was being said on-device. You and your conversation partner can either both use AirPods for translation, or if they don’t have a pair, you can also view a transcript of the translated conversation on your iPhone. And if it worked like this every single time, I’d cry tears of joy.

You can view a transcript of a conversation via the iPhone

You can also start a live translation session from the phone…

Or via touch controls. You just have to press the stems of each earbud.

But real-life conversations are a bit different. They’re not always calm. They’re full of ums and uhs, and I doubt there’s any child of immigrants who hasn’t heard an auntie rattle off at the speed of light. So I called up my cousin’s spouse, who is a fluent German speaker, to see how this feature would handle translation without guardrails. To both of our surprise, it actually worked quite well for conversational German. It was even able to accurately translate when he spoke in German slang in an Austrian accent — something he said might be hard for a native German speaker. (He likened it to hearing someone with a thick Scottish accent.) It only stumbled when he would occasionally switch back to English to comment on accuracy.

The feature isn’t limited to in-person conversations only, however. It works with any audio you’re hearing in person, meaning you should be able to use it for public announcements while traveling, video calls, or foreign-language media. To test this, I watched a scene from the German film Der Untergang featuring an epic meltdown from Hitler in the last days of his dictatorship. I chose this scene precisely because the actor speaks quickly and with emotion, changing thoughts mid-sentence, and there’s cross-talk from other characters. (And because I could compare the translation with the official subtitles.)

1/3You can get the gist even if it’s not quite right.

The translation feature performed admirably, but struggled to recognize character names or account for abrupt pauses in dialogue. Sometimes it identified the words correctly but used the wrong meaning for the context. For example, a line that Live Translation presented as “Steiner could not massage enough forces for an attack” is translated in the movie’s subtitles as “Steiner didn’t have enough force to attack.” A more literal translation would be “Steiner couldn’t amass enough forces for the attack.” There are multiple ways you can translate the word that became “massage,” but Live Translation picked the wrong one.

This isn’t an Apple limitation; I’ve seen it across all AI translation tech. But while live translation works well enough to convey broad meaning, it’s hard to say whether people will use this as intended. I’ve lived abroad and have a multilingual family. To me, using AirPods makes most sense in trying to translate announcements, museum tours where multilingual options aren’t available, or media that may not yet have subtitles. In face-to-face human interaction, most people are happy to gesture or point to a translation app on their phones. And in business meetings where the absolute correct meaning is crucial, it’s hard to beat seasoned interpreters. I’ll be curious to try this out during an upcoming trip to Italy, but I have the sense that doing so will also come with a healthy dose of anxiety and self-consciousness.

Now that I’ve used the AirPods Pro 3, I can’t go back.

Let me preface this by saying you shouldn’t run out and buy these if your AirPods Pro 2 are working perfectly fine. There’s no reason to throw out a good pair of earbuds. Ideally, I’d ask that everyone exercise restraint and only upgrade when their current AirPods finally crap out or are genuinely in need of replacement. (If you’re coming from the original AirPods Pro, you’ve got a much better case for upgrading.)

But I also know how gadget nerd brains work. If you’re going to ignore me, yes this is a worthy upgrade. I wrote ahead of last week’s event that Apple should lean into giving people what they want, and they’ve done that with the AirPods Pro 3. I have next to no complaints, and the only downside I can think of is perhaps the improved fit still won’t work for everyone. The price is the same, the new additions are smart, and most importantly, the sound quality and ANC are top-notch for earbuds.

I’m happy with my AirPods Pro 2, but I won’t lie. Now that I’ve experienced the AirPods Pro 3, I can’t go back. I’ll be ordering a pair for myself once I return this review unit.

Agree to continue: AirPods Pro 3

Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. It’s impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But we’re going to start counting exactly how many times you have to hit “agree” to use devices when we review them since these are agreements most people don’t read and definitely can’t negotiate.

Like any other Bluetooth earbuds, the AirPods Pro can technically be set up and used without you agreeing to anything in software. With the new heart rate tracking feature, however, you may optionally be asked to agree to third-party privacy policies and terms of service if you agree to share that data (i.e., Ladder, Runna, etc.)

Final tally is one mandatory agreement.

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The Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL is lit up in green, pink, blue, and orange.
Product Reviews

Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL review: a vividly colorful smart light with musical talent

by admin September 15, 2025



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Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL review

The Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL is a smart lamp and Bluetooth speaker combo that enables you to switch up the vibe in moments.

Available to purchase directly from the Govee website or at Amazon, the Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL has a list price of $179.99 / £169.99. While the price is certainly on the steep side, if you’re already a big Govee fan and want to save space by incorporating a speaker into your smart light setup, this would be a good way to go about it.

Having said that, the Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL already been subject to a $20 / £20 discount in the Govee Fall sale, which sweetens the deal a little. That’s despite the fact that it has only been available in the US for around 11 weeks, and less than a week in the UK, at the time of writing.

(Image credit: Future)

Being so used to the Govee Table Lamp 2, which I happen to have two of, the Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL looks a little on the chonky side. This is understandable, considering it’s packing a speaker and a 5,200mAh rechargeable battery, which can provide up to four and a half hours of playback if the volume and brightness are set to fifty percent.

  • Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL at Amazon for $179.99

There’s a notable difference between the US and UK models when it comes to the power cable. The connector is set at a 90-degree angle in both cases, as the power port is located on the bottom of the lamp, but the US uses a small DC connector, and the UK uses USB-C.

More importantly, the cable for the US model is moulded to a US plug, so you can just plug and play; but in the UK, a USB-C cable is all that’s included, so I needed to source an adapter with a minimum of 35W for it to run efficiently. The first adapter I had to hand turned out to be too low-powered, and the lamp was clearly unimpressed.

(Image credit: Future)

Getting the Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL synced with the app and with the WiFi networks in the office and at home was a quick and simple process. There are two separate Bluetooth connections, one for the lamp itself and one for the speaker. I found this a little inconvenient at times, as it seemed I needed to reconnect the speaker in my phone’s Bluetooth settings whenever I’d been out of the room. But overall, it makes sense that it’s set up this way, as one may want to listen to music on their headphones while still enjoying the features of the lamp.

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(Image credit: Future)

There are two elements of the Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL’s design that provide eye-catching lighting effects. These are the main body of the lamp, as you’d expect, but also the base, thanks to its clever reflective design. Both elements can be used independently or together, so you can have your lighting effects as stand-out or as subtle as you’d like.

The control panel on the top of the Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL was simple to use, with a push power button and four touch buttons for the speakers’ volume controls, playing and pausing, and a button for cycling through nine customizable presets.

(Image credit: Future)

My favorite way to control the Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL – and all the Govee products I’ve tested, actually – is by taking advantage of the voice control via my Echo Dot (5th Gen) or hopping onto the feature-packed Govee Home app.

If you’ve already read some of my other product reviews, such as the highly rated Govee Neon Rope Light 2, you’ll already have some idea of how fond I am of the Govee Home app.

Along with the run-of-the-mill power, brightness, and volume controls, it also boasts over 100 preset scenes, with themes ranging from the ocean to the universe. The Govee Home app offers opportunities to get creative with lighting effects, too, with a finger sketch feature that allows you to decorate the canvas with random colors or drawings before choosing a motion setting and speed, as well as an AI effect generator.

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)

One small niggle I have stems from the preset audio that plays by default when some of the scenes are selected. I found some of them to be somewhat irritating, especially if they caught me by surprise when cycling through the default presets using the onboard controls. Fortunately, they can be disabled in the app, but only one at a time, so I had to go through and turn them off for all of my favorite scenes that were afflicted.

(Image credit: Future)

The audio quality was as I expected from a JBL speaker, by which I mean it was a solid performer. The treble sounds clean, and I could hear a good level of definition in the high-pitched percussion in the background of Sunny Days by Kolter. The bass lacks some impact, but it still has a good weight to it and isn’t bad going, considering the price. Unless you happen to be an audiophile, you’ll probably be perfectly happy with the audio quality on offer here.

The Dynamic Music feature added some fun when listening to music, especially the Gridding and Ripple effects, and was enjoyed by everyone in my office. I did notice they can struggle to hit the right notes if the track has a lot of different elements, but it’s nonetheless a fun dynamic effect, especially when paired with bass-heavy tracks.

(Image credit: Future)

Overall, the Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL offers eye-catching and day-brightening lighting effects and a satisfying-sounding speaker for the price. So, if you love the look of the Govee Table Lamp 2 and want a solid speaker to listen to tunes, podcasts, or audiobooks, then you’ll be happy wth the Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL.

If you’re in the mood to check out more ambience-altering lighting, then why not take a look at our pick of the best smart lights?

Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL review: Price and specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Price

$179.99 / £169.99

Model

H6020

Colors

Lamp Body: RGBICWW, Base: RGBIC

Lumens

600

Dimensions

6.1 x 6.1 x 10.1 inches / 18.9 x 18.9 x 34cm

Connectivity

2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

App

Yes

Control methods

Alexa, Google Home, Matter, IFTTT, Apple Watch, Razer

Speaker

Sound by JBL 2.5-inch 500cc full-range speaker

Additional features

Rechargeable battery

Should I buy the Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL review: Also consider

How I tested the Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL

  • I tested the Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL for a couple of weeks
  • I tested the different features and customizable settings
  • I observed its performance as a smart light and as a speaker

I used the Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL on my desk and next to my bed for a couple of weeks.

I followed the setup process on the Govee Home app and explored its features, testing how different scenes looked, and used the creative features to create my own.

I tested the audio quality by listening to different genres of music and bumping up the volume to assess the output at higher levels.

Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL: Price Comparison



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September 15, 2025 0 comments
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Razer BlackShark V3 Pro Review: High-End Gaming Audio
Product Reviews

Razer BlackShark V3 Pro Review: High-End Gaming Audio

by admin September 14, 2025


Despite including Bluetooth and ANC, I don’t think of this at the type of do-everything headset you might replace noise-canceling headphones with, and not just because the person next to you will wonder if you’re secretly talking to the pilots. These are so bulky and obviously for gaming that you probably don’t want to wear them outside the house. You’d certainly get some weird looks walking the dog or working from your local coffee shop.

Comfort and Fit

Photograph: Brad Bourque

In order to fit all those features inside, the BlackShark 3 are noticeably heavier than some of the other headsets I’ve tested recently. The Pro version with ANC comes in at 367 grams, a full 100-plus grams heavier than the Arctis Nova 3 at 260 grams. If you opt for the non-Pro model without ANC, it’s much closer to the SteelSeries at just 270 g, which is very appealing if you mostly game alone at home instead of in front of a crowd of adoring fans.

That weight doesn’t make them uncomfortable, at least for a few hours at a time, largely thanks to the ear cups, which have a pleasant mesh exterior and squishy interior padding. Razer says there’s a layer of pleather underneath to help the noise canceling, but I couldn’t tell it was there, which is a good thing, because I hate how hot pleather can get.

Still, I miss the ski-goggle band found on most SteelSeries headsets, which distributes weight more evenly across the top of the headband. Especially during long sessions, and on bigger craniums, it can help a lot with comfort. Even the similarly heavy Arctis Nova Pro, my previous upgrade pick, has a softer top-of-head feel.

Extra weight also means a bigger battery. I measured close to 50 hours with the active noise canceling on, and right around 60 with the feature turned off. In practice, I only had to plug in the BlackShark V3 Pro once a week or so to keep them topped up. The one time they got low in the middle of a WoW raid night, I was able to charge them up on our 8-minute break from about 4 percent to 11 percent, which was more than enough for the rest of the evening. They got a little confused if I plugged them into the computer just to charge, but an external charger worked just fine while playing.

The Best Microphone

Photograph: Brad Bourque

I rotate through a lot of gaming headsets, and most of the time I have to ask for feedback on my microphone quality. Some are better than others, but most are just gaming headset microphones, with a recognizable, slightly tinny vibe. The moment I sat down for my weekly Dungeons and Dragons game, my party members noticed how sharp and clear I sounded.



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September 14, 2025 0 comments
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Hypershell Pro X Series Review: An Exoskeleton You Can Actually Buy
Gaming Gear

Hypershell Pro X Series Review: An Exoskeleton You Can Actually Buy

by admin September 14, 2025


WIRED Editor Amit Katwala has traveled far and wide for a hands-on look at the future of robotic artificial limbs, and the technological progress he witnessed is beyond impressive. But in truth, his quest to become Superhuman is still stuck in the prototype phase. I, on the other hand, have been galavanting around the English countryside wearing the Hypershell Pro X, the first readily available leg-boosting, mile-eating, powered exoskeleton.

As a broader product category, exoskeletons have the potential to enhance mobility for those with disabilities, helping them regain independence and improve their quality of life. They can also reduce physical strain in the workplace, minimizing the chances of injury and boosting productivity. But the likes of Hypershell produces nonmedical, wearable exoskeletons that promise muscle-boosting power for us average Joes.

The majority of these designs, however, seem to be permanently on preorder, or ambitiously chasing the big bucks on Kickstarter, so it’s refreshing to be able to test something that’s available on Amazon.

Last year I reviewed a prelaunch version of the similar DNSYS X1 (WIRED 5/10) and found it to be glitchy, heavy, and generally disappointing, but it did show promise. It remains stuck in preorder however, as does the much-publicized pair of $5,000 Arc’teryx MO/GO powered pants.

So can Hypershell do it better? There are currently three versions of the Hypershell exoskeleton: the basic 400-watt, $900 Hypershell Go X, the $1,199 Pro X which has a 800-watt output, 10.8-mile range, and enhanced capabilities for running and even cycling assistance. And then there’s the Hypershell Carbon X, which uses a titanium alloy instead of carbon fiber and costs $1,500.

The Go X offers 7.5 miles per hour maximum speed assistance while the Pro X’s 800-watt motor can help up to speeds of 12.4 miles per hour. Each model collapses down to 16.9 × 10.2 × 4.9 inches, and the Go and Pro X weigh 4.41 pounds, while the Carbon version is 7 ounces lighter.

My Hypershell Pro X sample has a 5000-mAh 72-Wh battery, with quoted assisted range of 10.8 miles (17.5 kilometers) and 10 modes, including up and down stairs, down and uphill, cycling, running, race walking, and regular walking. I’ve been wearing the exoskeleton for the past few months while testing various outdoor gear, including hiking boots and rain jackets, and within seconds of turning it on I knew it was significantly more useful than the DNSYS X1, giving my legs a nice power-up on trails. Did I feel like a fool wearing it in public? Absolutely. Did my wife ask me “Why are you walking like Woody from Toy Story?” Yes. But for many people in need, the benefit of the assistance should outweigh the mild embarrassment.

Fit and Features

Photograph: Chris Haslam

Strapping myself in for the first time, I’m impressed by the build quality, the ergonomic fit, and adjustability. The lower back and hip cushioning is particularly good. I’m 5′ 11′′ tall, and most adults—Hypershell estimates 80 percent—will have no fitting issues. The excellent app takes you through the whole process, with step-by-step video instructions on adjusting to fit, and then once you’re corseted in, it demos the various power modes and controls. When you first power on, the inert machine springs to life and tightens up, and once you’ve chosen a power mode, it instantly starts to work as you walk.



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September 14, 2025 0 comments
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