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Street Fighter 6 cosplayer Crisuki dressed up as JP stands across from pro BlindWarriorSven.
Esports

Street Fighter 6 pro MenaRD is so good at the game his country gave him an award

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Street Fighter 6 pro MenaRD has been recognized by his home country of the Dominican Republic, which presented him with an award to honor his fighting game achievements.

Saul Leonardo ‘MenaRD’ Mena II is a professional fighting game player from the Dominican Republic. While he’s been competing since the days of Street Fighter IV, he first rose to fame after Street Fighter V’s release in 2016.

Back then, the Dominican Republic wasn’t a region known for fighting game prowess — but he put his country on the map by winning Capcom Cup in 2017 and went on to become one of the greatest players in SFV’s lifetime.

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In fact, Mena is the first and only two-time Capcom Cup champion, having also taken the tournament for SFV in 2023. On top of this, he’s also a three-time Evo champion, having won Evo Japan in 2024 and 2025, as well as winning Evo Las Vegas in 2025.

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Mena’s achievements have cemented him as one of the greatest Street Fighter players of all time, bringing him generational wealth that he used to impact his local fighting game scene. For instance, the ‘dojo’ where players would practice Street Fighter was a small, cramped venue that was highly secretive and suffered from frequent power outages.

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After winning a staggering $250K from Capcom Cup 2017, he created a new place for them to play, sponsored other competitor’s trips to tournaments around the globe, and even started his own esports team, the Santo Domingo Tigers.

Mena is now a household name in the Dominican Republic, and to thank him for his positive impact, the country presented him with the Pride of Dominican Culture award on August 28, 2025 — the same day as his 26th birthday.

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In an interview on the red carpet, Mena spoke about what it was like being recognized for such an achievement and what the award meant to him.

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“In a crazy way, starting this gaming journey and experiencing what I’m experiencing right now, having so much success — that’s what it is, that’s what one works for, and what the community would like me to do,” he said.

MenaRD has helped both his family and his community come a long way since rising to fame, both of which he credits for helping him rise to the top.

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“I feel that I am who I am because of my community,” he told me in an interview back in 2018. “Since they helped me have a better life, I will do my best to build a better community so the future generation can have it easier in the path of being a pro gamer. It’s my second family. [They have] always been super supportive when I represent, and super competitive when playing locally. I love my community.”



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Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra
Gaming Gear

Samsung Is Announcing a New iPad Pro Killer at IFA Next Week

by admin


September, which starts *checks calendar* next week, is going to be a jam-packed month for new gadget announcements. In case you thought Apple’s “Awe Dropping” event on Sept. 9 where it’ll announce the iPhone 17 family of phones, new Apple Watches, and possibly AirPods Pro 3, was the only big tech extravaganza, let me remind you that IFA is happening right after Labor Day next week. IFA is like CES, but smaller and in Berlin instead of Las Vegas. Coinciding with IFA, Samsung is doing yet another virtual Unpacked event to announce a new tablet.

Live streaming on Sept. 4 at 5:30 a.m. ET (a dead giveaway that it’s IFA-related, since it’ll be 1:30 a.m. Berlin time) on Samsung.com, Samsung’s YouTube channel, and Samsung’s Newsroom, the virtual Unpacked will take the wraps off the “next evolution of Galaxy Tab.” In typical Samsung fashion, the company has already put up a reservation page with a limited time offer to receive $50 “Samsung Credit” for use toward other Samsung products, as well as up to $800 toward the next Android tablet with an eligible device trade-in. The reservation needs to be made by Sept. 3 and the Galaxy Tab has to be purchased between Sept. 4 and Oct. 5 in order to get the $50 credit.

© Samsung

Samsung sent Gizmodo the above event “invite.” Do you guys see anything in there? If I were a betting man, I’d say those stars inside the box hint at Galaxy AI stuffed into the new Samsung Galaxy Tab.

Galaxy Tab S11?

As for the Galaxy Tab itself, we’ll likely see successors to the Galaxy S10+ and S10 Ultra that were released last year. Do tablets—including iPad Pros—need to be on an annual refresh? No, but that’s not how capitalism works. Like any consumer tech maker, Samsung’s looking at its portfolio and wondering how to sell new versions of existing things to boost its quarterly earnings. The new tablets would presumably follow the same naming convention, so it wouldn’t surprise us if Samsung calls them the Galaxy Tab S11+ and Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra.

© Artem Golub / Gizmodo

What I’ll be watching out for next week is whether any tablet(s) will feature the Tab S10 Ultra’s gargantuan 14.6-inch screen or potentially an even larger one. How big a display is too big for a tablet? These things are friggin’ dinner trays at this point, stupidly thin dinner trays—sorry, tablets—that you could comfortably eat off.

Samsung’s next Unpacked is a virtual one, so we won’t be live-blogging it like we did at the event for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, and Galaxy Watch 8/8 Classic in July. But stay tuned; Gizmodo will be covering all the news that’s worth checking out from IFA 2025, which officially starts on Sept. 5 and runs through Sept. 9. Press days fall on Sept. 3 and 4, so expect a torrent of product announcements to drop then.



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Google Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL Review
Product Reviews

Google Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL Review

by admin



Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

However, Camera Coach—which launches in a preview (sort of like a beta)—has a Get Inspired button that uses generative AI to deliver some photos it thinks you might like to try and mimic. These photos are often quite a bit different from the originally scanned image, and I found these less helpful. I think Camera Coach is a great way to teach someone about their phone’s camera capabilities, because most people barely scratch the surface, but I don’t think this generative add-on was really necessary.

Then there’s Pro Res Zoom, which is conflicting. On the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL, you can digitally zoom in anywhere from 30X to 100X, and the phone runs through more than 200 frames, blending images, and using generative AI to fill in the details. The results are spectacular. Take a look at the image of the Chrysler building in Manhattan, which I captured from Greenpoint, Brooklyn, across the water at 100X zoom. I’ve compared the image with real photos of the Chrysler building, and the results match up. It still leaves a weird taste in my mouth. The composition is mine, but a part of me feels like it isn’t my photo. (Note: Google says it’s not designed to work on people.)

Pro Res Zoom (100X) on Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Camera Coach on Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Lastly, there’s video capture. Google has made strides over the years in improving the video output of its phones, but it has largely started relying on Video Boost. Once enabled, this sends your footage to the cloud for processing, making the clips brighter, sharper, more colorful, and better stabilized. (It’s exclusive to the Pro models.)

The videos I’ve shot in the past week do genuinely look great once they’ve been put through the Video Boost ringer, but I still find the iPhone delivers better native footage, with better stabilization. You also have to account for the fact that some of these boosted videoclips arrived the next day for me (though you still have access to the original). It’s a smart solution, but I’d like to see Google improve the native video capture. Case in point: The Galaxy S25’s video footage was brighter, less grainy, and better stabilized than the Pixel 10’s.

The AI Assist

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Finally, on to the software. It’s probably not a coincidence, but both Google and Apple redesigned their operating systems this year, and I think Google’s Material 3 Expressive design language came out on top. It’s bubbly, colorful, fun, and playful. Apple’s Liquid Glass feels a bit more stale to me.



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Google Pixel 10 Pro review: AI, Qi2, and a spec bump too
Product Reviews

Google Pixel 10 Pro review: AI, Qi2, and a spec bump too

by admin


Last year, Google proved it could make a phone that looks and feels like a true flagship, despite the software feeling like an AI jumble. This year, the Pixel 10 Pro starts to put AI features together in a way that actually makes sense — and it manages to upgrade the hardware a bit, too.

Google has finally locked in a high-end finish and feature set for this phone, and it feels more polished than ever. There’s Android’s version of MagSafe, a flagship-worthy processor, and an excellent camera. All the stuff you’d want from a phone that starts at $999.

$999

The Good

  • Qi2 with magnets!
  • Some legitimately handy AI features
  • Great camera with upgraded portrait mode

The Bad

  • Battery life is just okay
  • Some AI features still feel like gimmicks
  • For real, what is a photo?

The 10 Pro also represents a baby step from AI’s party trick era to becoming genuinely useful on a mobile device. Magic Cue, which aims to surface information from your email and calendar contextually, lives up to its name for the most part — like the time it offered to put a coffee meetup with a friend on my calendar as we were hashing out the details over text. But alongside great features like Magic Cue, you’ll still find some that feel more like they’re there to satisfy an internal mandate to put AI into every available nook and cranny.

Between the hardware upgrades and a slightly more cohesive software experience, there’s something pretty special here. The Pixel 10 Pro is a phone with solid upgrades, though it doesn’t quite feel like a must-upgrade as long as your current device is working fine. It’s a glimpse of the future, with all the messiness of now mixed in there, too.

AI gets more useful on the Pixel 10.

From the outside, the Pixel 10 Pro is very hard to tell apart from its predecessor. That’s just fine; this is a good template to keep working from. Inside is another story, and that story begins with Tensor G5.

I get the sense that Google’s fifth custom chipset is the one that the company has been waiting on. Tensor G5 is the first made by TSMC, and it seems to be the key to unlocking a lot of on-device AI. Magic Cue, for example, runs in the background on device. A camera feature we’ll get to later runs a diffusion model on device. Same with the phone call translator that mimics the sound of your voice. It’s more than just an impressive list; running these entirely on the phone means your data is much more private than if it had taken a trip to the cloud.

Running these features entirely on the phone means your data is much more private than if it had taken a trip to the cloud

Just like last year, the Pro variant of the Pixel 10 comes in two sizes. Both the Pro and Pro XL come with 16GB of RAM, and variants with 256GB or more storage use faster UFS 4.0 memory. They all have the new chip, and while I can’t say I found previous Pixels to be laggy, this one seems snappy. It stutters a bit with dense, media-heavy web pages like character builds on Icy Veins. Android Authority has a good rundown on the nuts and bolts of Tensor G5, and confirms that there’s no ray tracing support. For what it’s worth, Diablo Immortal runs just fine on the 10 Pro. The phone also doesn’t seem to heat up quite as much or as quickly as previous Tensor-powered Pixels either, which have a reputation for running hot. I used the 10 Pro as a hotspot outside on a warm morning without a problem — something I’ve had less success with on previous Pixel phones.

The 10 Pro’s battery capacity is a little bigger this time around: 4870mAh versus 4700mAh, likewise 5200mAh compared to 5060mAh on the XL. Maybe it’s all that on-device AI, but battery life seemed a little worse than usual despite the slightly upgraded capacity. I tested it with the always-on display enabled and the highest screen resolution available. On a lighter day with the 10 Pro, I found the battery running down to around 50 percent by bedtime; a heavier day with a decent chunk of hotspot use brought it down into the 30s by night. That’s fine, and within the realm of a modern flagship phone, but not exactly stellar.

The Pixel 10 Pro doubles as a clock on Google’s Qi2 charging stand with this screen saver enabled.

I’m still testing the 10 Pro XL’s battery stamina. Given all of the resource-intensive, personalized AI features on board, a week just wasn’t enough to draw solid conclusions about battery life on two different phones. I’ll be updating this review soon (with the help of my colleague Dominic Preston who’s also testing the XL model).

There’s not a lot to say about the Pixel 10’s other marquee addition, Qi2 support with built-in magnets, other than it’s great and I’m glad it’s here. On the 10, 10 Pro, and 10 Pro Fold, you get 15W wireless charging, and on the Pro XL up to 25W with the Qi2.2 standard. I throw my phone on a wireless charger at the end of the day so slower charging never bothers me, but the magnets sure are nice to have. I never put a case on my phone either, for better and worse (mostly worse), so I’m thrilled I can reap the benefits of what is essentially MagSafe on an Android phone without having to use a case like you do with Samsung’s latest flagships. Hardware is hard, and it took Google a minute to get here, but this year’s Pixel phones stand out in a way that has eluded their predecessors.

That’s just a good-looking phone.

But let’s not get too carried away; Google isn’t exactly reinventing the wheel by adding magnets and an updated processor. Some of the AI features on board the 10 Pro are new and actually useful, though — starting with Magic Cue. This is the context-aware AI that’s designed to deliver helpful information when you need it, without you having to go look for it. That might sound vague and unserious, but it’s the kind of thing we’ve been promised ever since companies started talking about AI on our phones. And it actually does work. Was it magic? Hardly, but what I’ve seen so far makes me more optimistic about AI than anything else I’ve seen it do on phones.

Magic Cue is, by its nature, just kind of floating around in the background while you do stuff on your phone. It runs completely on device — it’s not offloading anything to the cloud — and only works in a handful of Google apps. But they’re important ones, including Gmail, Messages, Calendar, and the phone app as well as last year’s addition: Screenshots. If someone messages you and asks for information about a date or reservation, Magic Cue will check your calendar or your inbox and you’ll see the details pop up above the keyboard as a suggestion. You can long press to check where Magic Cue got the information or just tap to drop it into the conversation. I tried it out in a quick staged-but-plausible test with my colleague Vee Song by having her ask about a concert I’d already put on my calendar and it was honestly cool as heck.

PreviousNext

1/2The Magic Cue suggestion pops up at the bottom of our conversation.

Magic Cue is also supposed to help you search for stuff. It does this by paying attention to what’s on your screen, detecting the kind of app you’re opening up — it knows Amazon is a shopping app, for example — and suggesting text might want to paste into the search bar, like the name of a product you were just looking at in Chrome. Not quite as exciting as saving me a trip to my calendar, but I can see it being something I’d get used to using. Is the idea that my phone is monitoring what’s on my screen a little weird? For sure. But the fact that this information doesn’t leave the device makes me feel better, or at least as good as I can feel, knowing that Google knows everything about me anyway.

I saw Magic Cue most often offer to save calendar events based on my conversations. As I was figuring out a time to meet for coffee, Magic Cue offered a link to check the appropriate day on my calendar. When we landed on a time, it let me add the event with a tap. None of this is life-changing, and “magic” seems like a strong descriptor, though I’ll allow it. Mostly, this seems like a really handy feature that will take just a little bit of the friction out of using your phone. Remember the first time you saw your phone autofill a one-time 2FA code from a text? It’s like that. Ultimately, I think that’s what AI on our phones will become. Something that just happens, saving us a little time here and there, that fades into the background once you get used to it. I guess there is a little magic to that.

I heard the translations in English — and in a voice that kind of sounded like Vee

The on-device AI extends all the way to the phone app where it provides real-time voice translations on calls — a familiar feature, this time with a twist: it mimics the voice of the speaker. I once again called on my colleague Vee Song (literally) who was also using a Pixel 10. She enabled voice translations on her side and spoke in Japanese. I heard the translations in English — and in a voice that kind of sounded like Vee. According to Vee, the feature’s translation of my English into Japanese was pretty good, though it struggled a bit with what she calls her textbook Japanese. It got the point across, and I guess it was nicer than listening to a neutral-sounding robot.

But as Vee observed, this feature would likely work best for a tourist in a foreign country trying to make a dinner reservation, not for family members trying to catch up. And if that’s the case, the personalization of the spoken voice feels kind of unnecessary. It makes for a cool party trick, though.

If voice translation is halfway between a helpful feature and a gimmick, then Daily Hub leans even further into gimmick territory. It’s a lot like the Now Brief Samsung introduced on its S25 phones, and it’s supposed to act as a quick digest for your day as well as a place to find some inspiration based on your recent activity. It does the first part of that job just fine; it’s maybe a more longwinded version of Google’s At a Glance widget, which gives you a heads up on the weather and upcoming calendar events. But it also misconstrued some of my recent Google search history in puzzling and hilarious ways. I looked up the schedule for our recycling service, provided by Waste Management, and it took that to mean that I’m interested in learning more about waste management generally. Uh, not quite.

Thanks Daily Hub, but I’m all good on embracing tech-fueled adventures.

I had a similar experience with the new Journal app, which uses on-device AI to generate prompts and reflections based on what you write. In one entry I mentioned that my kid was sad because it was his friend’s last day at school. The app reassured me that it was okay to feel sad about her passing. To be clear, she was just moving to another school.

Maybe knowing that you’re going to get some kind of feedback at the end is motivation for people to journal when they wouldn’t have otherwise? And I guess I did make a point to write an entry every night before bed, which is not a habit I’m in currently. But aside from that, I can’t say I found the prompts or bits of reflection helpful.

AI shows up in yet another place: the camera app. And not just as a tool for adding wild stuff to your photos — it’s in the actual camera. On the 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL, there’s a new feature called Pro Res Zoom that aims to make digitally zoomed photos look a little less like garbage. Once you get past 30x zoom and up to the maximum of 100x, Pro Res Zoom will kick in and use a diffusion model to try and clean up your image.

This happens after the fact; the original image is retained, and it all runs on your device. It also doesn’t attempt to enhance any people it identifies in an image, which is for the better. The results depend a lot on your subject, the conditions, and how far you’re pushing the zoom range. With enough light, a predictable subject, and moderate zoom, the results can be really good.

Before Pro Res Zoom (left) and after (right). You gotta admit that Gen AI does a pretty good job.

Pro Res Zoom has a harder time with writing. If you take a picture of a sign in the distance, you’ll see the telltale signs of generative AI — something similar to real writing that’s actually an alien language when you look closer. And all the way at 100x zoom there’s only so much even AI can do to give you a usable photo.

In a shot I took of a crane wading in a pond, it didn’t know what to do with the leaves and bits of debris on the surface of the water and turned them into little white points, like dozens of tiny sailboats. Kind of poetic but not what I had in mind. And this goes without saying, but Pro Res Zoom isn’t going to give you anything that looks as good as an optical zoom lens. Trust me. I lugged around a Nikon Coolpix P1100 with a 3000mm equivalent lens just to be sure.

1/3Taken with Pixel 10 Pro at 100x zoom before Pro Res Zoom processing

Pro Res Zoom photos are tagged with C2PA metadata that identifies them as captured with a camera and edited using generative AI. In fact, all photos taken with the Pixel 10 are tagged to reflect whether or not AI was involved, which might seem like overkill but feels increasingly necessary in a world with accessible, capable gen AI editing tools.

Does it still creep me out a little? Yeah. Is a picture I took with Pro Res Zoom still a photo, or is it something else? I’m not so sure. But I don’t think this is the last we’ll hear of diffusion models in phone cameras, so we’re all going to have to find our own levels of comfort with this kind of thing.

Elsewhere in the camera there’s some good news: portrait mode is much improved. The Pixel camera had some catching up to do here, and it’s not perfect, but subject isolation is a lot better on the Pixel 10 series than on the 9. Reynolds tells me that this revamped portrait mode pays “particular attention to hair,” which is great news for me, personally, because my kid’s hair is ungovernable. In photos taken with the 10 Pro, I can see where the camera retained individual strands of hair rather than just blurring them into the background the way the 9 Pro tends to. It goes a long way to making that photo look more convincing.

A good tool for the job.

The Pixel is in kind of a funny spot, especially in the US. Year after year its market share is comparatively small in our iPhone and Galaxy-dominated landscape. In fact, Counterpoint Research counts its percentage of the market in the single digits and lumps Google into the “others” category, far behind Apple, Samsung, and Motorola. But what Google is doing on Pixel phones matters more than its sales figures suggest. The Pixel is a showcase for the Android ecosystem, particularly in the last few years as Google has pushed it into proper flagship territory. The 10 Pro feels like that symbol of what’s possible on Android more than ever.

The Pixel 10 series represents the first phones from a major OEM to get full Qi2 support. They’re the first phones to put C2PA content credentials on photos taken with the camera. They offer a glimpse of what AI can actually do to save us some time and effort tapping around on our phones. It still feels like AI is being shoved into corners of the device where it doesn’t really need to be, but for the first time it feels like there’s a kind of connective tissue between the useful bits.

There was a time, particularly in the Tensor era, where using a Pixel phone felt a little bit like being an early adopter, and not in a good way. The prices were lower, but the hardware felt cheaper, software bugs persisted, and the chipsets ran hot. But the Pixel series has evolved into something better, something worthy of the title “flagship.” If the 10 Pro represents the best of what Android can do, then there’s a lot for Android fans to look forward to — whether it’s on a Pixel or not.

Photography by Allison Johnson / The Verge

Agree to Continue: Google Pixel 10 Pro

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 started 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 a Pixel 10 series phone, you must agree to:

The following agreements are optional:

  • Provide anonymous location data for Google’s services
  • “Allow apps and services to scan for Wi-Fi networks and nearby devices at any time, even when Wi-Fi or Bluetooth is off.”
  • Send usage and diagnostic data to Google
  • Talk to Google hands-free: “If you agree, Google Assistant will wait in standby mode to detect ‘Hey Google’ and certain quick phrases.”
  • Allow Assistant on lock screen

Additionally, if you want to use Google Assistant, you must agree to let Google collect app info and contact info from your devices. Other features like Google Wallet may require additional agreements.

Final tally: five mandatory agreements and at least five optional agreements

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Product Reviews

The best iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro cases for 2025

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The best iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro cases do more than just guard against drops — they can add MagSafe compatibility, extra grip, built-in stands or even a touch of luxury. Whether you’re after slim and stylish, rugged and shockproof or something that adds a bit of personality, there’s a case to match every need. With so many options to choose from, finding the best iPhone case overall depends on how you use your phone day to day. Maybe you need something minimal for pockets, or maybe you’re after serious protection for travel and outdoor use. Either way, we’ve rounded up the best picks for both the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, so you don’t have to waste time scrolling through endless listings.

Best iPhone 16 cases for 2025

Spigen

Features: MagSafe | Material: Polycarbonate, TPU | Availability: iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro cases out now

If you want a basic, protective case for your Apple iPhone that comes at an affordable price, Spigen has you covered with some of the best iPhone 16 cases. The company’s Ultra Hybrid MagFit clear cases and MagSafe cases show off the color of your iPhone and we like their raised bezels that protect the rear camera. The cases also have tactical buttons on the side that make it easy to feel around and adjust your phone’s volume without even looking at it. The overall slim profile of the polycarbonate case allows it to snap to your iPhone without adding too much bulk, and it’s MagSafe compatible as well so wireless charging is easy. Spigen offers a range of Apple cases, including iPad cases, plus screen protectors for all-around protection. Also, the Ultra Hybrid case was one of the most secure we tried – to the point where it was almost difficult to extricate the iPhone when we needed to test out a new phone cover.

$15 at Amazon

ESR

Features: MagSafe | Material: Acrylic, TPU | Availability: iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro cases out now

ESR’s Classic Pro MagSafe iPhone cases are another option similar to Spigen’s if you want a decent amount of protection in a slim, attractive and affordable package. They have reinforced corners plus raised edges to protect the screen and the iPhone’s camera bumps, and the magnetic hold is one of the strongest I’ve tried. There are a number of different colors and finishes to choose from, and you get interchangeable “easy-press” buttons that can be swapped out with the default ones on the case to give you more tactile feedback when you press the volume, power and action buttons. It’s also convenient that this pack-up includes a tempered-glass screen protector, so you don’t have to purchase that separately.

$13 at Amazon

Casetify

Features: MagSafe | Material: Synthetic leather | Availability: iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro cases out now

It doesn’t get much better than Casetify for those that care about getting their phone to match their personality as closely as possible. The brand has an impressive number of prints, patterns, graphics and designs available on its iPhone cases, including multiple influencer collaborations, so you’re likely to find something that fits even the most niche requirements. The Impact series in particular fits the bill as some of the best iPhone 16 cases — it’s a good option for everyday protection since these cases won’t add too much bulk to your iPhone, but will still protect it from drops up to 8.2 feet. With drop tests and a 4x MIL-STD-810G standard, these cases can also withstand harsh environments, so your iPhone will be protected, whatever the weather. You’ll find Impact cases for iPhone models going back to the iPhone 13, and many of them are MagSafe compatible, too.

$88 at Casetify

Smartish

Features: MagSafe, Waterproof | Material: Polycarbonate, TPU | Availability: iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro cases out now

We’ve recommended Smartish cases in the past for their artistic designs, but we particularly like the Gripmunk series as a best iPhone 16 case. These thin cases are a bit rougher around the edges than Spigen’s cases, literally – Gripmunk covers have textured edges that make them easier to grip and less likely to slip out of your hands, while the backs of the cases show off cute patterns and designs like floral arrays, cosmic scenes and more. There are a few solid-color options too, if you want to go the True Basic route (no shame), and these are all MagSafe cases as well, so they’ll be compatible with your favorite MagSafe chargers. If you’re a minimalist and don’t like to carry a lot on your person, you could ditch your billfold and spring for Smartish’s Wallet Slayer, a cardholder case that has similarly textured edges along with a sleeve on the back. This wallet case can hold up to three credit cards and a few notes of cash.

$20 at Amazon

Engadget

Features: N/A | Material: Flax shive, biopolymer | Availability: iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro cases out now

Without a doubt, our favorite eco-friendly phone cases are those made by Pela. We absolutely love their colors and designs, plus the fact that the entire line is 100 percent plant-based and compostable. The case material is called “Flaxstic,” which the company says is made from flax straw and compostable bioplastic elastomer. Importantly, it’s also free of BPA, phthalates, cadmium and lead. If you ever decide to get rid of it, you can indeed just chuck in a compost bin and it’ll be completely biodegradable.

What’s more, Pela cases are available for a wide array of handsets. They can accommodate Apple iPhones (from iPhone 5 onwards), including Pro Max cases, Samsung Galaxies (Galaxy S10 and newer), Google Pixels (from the Pixel 4a on) and even some OnePlus and Huawei models.

For iPhone users, we should note that Pela cases are not MagSafe-compatible by default, but you can purchase a $12 MagSafe module separately. Applying it to my phone was pretty straightforward, so that’s not a big concern, but it’s something to keep in mind. — Nicole Lee, Former Commerce Writer

$50+ at Pela

CYRILL

Features: MagSafe | Material: Faux leather, polycarbonate, TPU | Availability: iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro cases out now

Cyrill makes a number of sleek and elegant cases and the Kajuk Mag is no exception. It’s one of the thinnest and lightest cases we tried, but it does have four layers of protection: a soft-touch microfiber lining, a sturdy PC back, TPU bumpers and a vegan leather exterior. Since the company doesn’t boast a certain level of drop protection, this slim case is a good option for those that care more about aesthetics and case design, but also want a simple, protective layer standing between their iPhone and hard concrete. As the name suggests, you can use the Kajuk Mag with MagSafe accessories, and it even has an accessory hole built in, for those that want to attach charms, straps and other things.

$14 at Amazon

Peak Design

Features: MagSafe | Material: Recycled nylon canvas | Availability: iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro cases out now

Peak Design’s Everyday Case not only looks attractive, but it turns your phone into a bunch of different things when you pair it with any of the accessories in the company’s mobile ecosystem. We like its protective rubberized bumper and nylon shell, and its SlimLink connector sits in the middle of the case’s back, waiting for whichever gadgets you need that day. The company’s mobile tripod is one of our favorites for taking better photos with your phone, but also propping it up any which way you need. Commuters can opt for the dashboard mount to keep their phone within reach while driving, or the bike mount when you need to read directions on its screen. If you use your phone for everything and want a case that can support all of that functionality, this one is a good option.

$50 at Peak Design

Case-Mate

Features: MagSafe | Material: Polymer | Availability: iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro cases available now

If you’re looking for a bold, eye-catching case that has tons of personality, Case-Mate has a ton of great options to consider. Its iPhone 15 series has glittery cases, prismatic covers and everything in between, but the one that stuck out most to me is the Blox line. These cases have squared-off corners that give your iPhone a modern, blocky look. Combine that with their bright neon colors and you’ll likely never have to ask your friends where your phone is again – you won’t miss it. I also appreciate that the Blox cases are fingerprint-resistant, provide protection against 10-foot drops and have built-in magnetics for MagSafe accessory compatibility.

$30 at Amazon

Tizag

Features: N/A | Material: Plastic | Availability: iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro cases available now

If you’re intrigued by the display tech in ereaders and wonder what else it can do (or if you just want a cool pic on the back of your phone), Tizag’s iPhone case is worth checking out. The case back houses a credit card-sized, electrophoretic display (EPD), similar to what most ereaders use. The advantage is that no power is required to maintain an image — it only draws power when you change up the image. You can display whatever is in your photos library, including things like QR codes to get into venues or maybe a shopping list you want to keep on hand. Swapping the picture is easy through the Tizag app and watching the image “develop” on the display is fun. Black and white images look true to life, but color photos are muted and almost sepia-toned — as is the way with color e-paper — but the effect is attractive.

The case itself kept my phone safe through a month’s worth of drops and bumps, and the raised edges protected the screen and camera lenses from scratches. The only downside is that you won’t be able to use MagSafe charging or accessories, as the case blocks those connections. But for some, an updatable personalized case could be worth the trade-off. — Amy Skorheim, Reporter

$60 at Amazon

Best iPhone 16 case FAQs

What is the most protective brand of phone cases?

There is no one “most protective” brand of phone cases, but rather there are many that tout extra security for your handset. Some of the most protective phone cases we’ve tried come from Otterbox; most of the brand’s cases have a bit more protection than your standard phone case, even the ones that are designed to be on the slim side. Otterbox also makes a wide variety of phone cases, so there’s a good chance you’ll find one that suits your style and provides the level of protection you’re looking for. Otterbox’s Defender series is one of the best you can get if you care first and foremost about making sure your phone survives all kinds of accidents (save for a dunk in a pool).

Silicone vs hard case: Which one is better?

Neither silicone nor hard cases are better than the other. Silicone cases tend to be thinner and feel soft to the touch, and they’re often easier to put on and take off of phones. Hard cases can be on the thicker side, but they provide a bit more drop protection than silicone cases. Which type of case is best for you depends on the type of experience you want from your phone. It’s also worth nothing that both silicone cases and hard cases come in a variety of colors, designs and styles, so you have plenty of choose from to match your personality on both sides.

Does an iPhone 16 need a screen protector?

The iPhone 16 features Apple’s tough Ceramic Shield front, which is definitely more durable than standard glass — but it’s not invincible. If you want to avoid scratches from keys, drops onto pavement or just the wear and tear of daily use, a screen protector is still a smart move. It adds an extra layer of defense without getting in the way of touch sensitivity or Face ID. So, while it’s not absolutely essential, using one is a good idea if you want to keep your screen looking flawless for the long haul.

Is the iPhone 16 drop-proof?

The iPhone 16 is built to be tough, with Ceramic Shield on the front and a sturdy aluminum or titanium frame (depending on the model), but it’s not completely drop-proof. It can handle the occasional bump or short fall, especially if it lands on a flat surface — but drops on concrete or at awkward angles can still cause cracks or damage. If you’re prone to butterfingers, pairing your iPhone 16 with a durable case and maybe even a screen protector is the best way to play it safe.

Georgie Peru contributed to this report.



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Hands-on with the Level Lock Pro: sleeker, smarter, still very expensive
Product Reviews

Hands-on with the Level Lock Pro: sleeker, smarter, still very expensive

by admin


Smart locks are among my favorite pieces of smart home tech, offering convenience and peace of mind; I haven’t used a key in years. But most of them are big, clunky, and unmistakably “techy.” Keypads, bulky battery housings, and fingerprint readers mean they really stick out, on both sides of your door. If you want the convenience of a smart lock without the look of a smart lock, there’s really only one option: Level Lock. And now Level has launched its latest model, the Level Lock Pro.

For nearly a decade, Level has been making smart locks that look like regular deadbolts, with all the smarts hidden inside the footprint of a traditional lock. The Pro keeps that discreet exterior, but the interior has been totally rebuilt.

The $349 Level Lock Pro launches today and adds a faster dual-core Bluetooth/Thread chip, a built-in door sensor, a passive infrared sensor for presence detection, and double the battery life of the Level Lock Plus. It can be controlled with a regular key, Apple’s Home Key, a key fob, an optional keypad ($80), and with an app using Bluetooth or Matter connectivity.

The Level Lock Pro feels like the most complete realization of Level’s minimalist smart lock vision so far

Matter support means the Pro works with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings, among other options — a significant expansion from Level’s earlier Bluetooth-only locks, which were limited to Apple Home and Ring out of the box.

“The lock’s firmware platform is entirely new and built around Matter,” Ken Goto, Level’s founder and CTO, told The Verge in an interview. “This makes it faster and more responsive today, and moving forward, gives us a platform for creating new features and functionality.” He said the company is actively working on support for ultra-wideband (UWB) hands-free unlocking and the upcoming Aliro smart lock standard, which should standardize how smart locks use UWB and bring NFC tap-to-unlock to Android phones.

As with all Level Locks, the Pro is powered by a single CR2 battery that fits inside the bolt.

I have been testing the Pro for a few days, and it’s significantly faster than the Level Lock Plus I tested previously. The hardware remains almost identical; there are just a few subtle updates, including a color-matched strike/bolt plate and key cylinder and glass on the outer bezel hiding a new PIR sensor that’s designed to extend battery life.

  • Price: $349
  • Lock type: Full replacement
  • Finishes: Matte black, silver nickel
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth, Matter-over-Thread (with Matter Controller / Thread Border Router), Wi-Fi (with Level Connect Wi-Fi Bridge)
  • Access options: Key, Apple Home Key, app, voice, auto-unlock, optional keypad
  • Battery type: 1 CR2
  • Battery life: 12 months
  • Guest Keys: Yes (app, NFC tags or codes)
  • Security rating: BHMA AAA
  • Waterproofing: IP54
  • Works with: Matter (including Apple Home), Amazon Alexa, and Google Home
  • Warranty: 24 months

I didn’t install the lock on my front door; my past testing has shown that Level Locks can have alignment issues on older doors like mine. Instead, I used a custom mini test door provided by Level. While the locks can work on older doors, Goto confirmed that they work best with factory-cut doors from the last 10 years.

The most notable feature upgrade compared to prior models is the built-in door sensor, which Level locks lacked until now. This tells you via an app if the door is open or closed, not just whether it’s locked or unlocked — so you don’t think you’ve locked it remotely when it’s actually wide open. Unlike other smart locks that require a chunky sensor stuck to your door frame, Level’s is completely hidden inside the lock.

Because of varied support across Matter platforms for notifications from door locks, the door sense works best with Level’s Connect Wi-Fi bridge, a $79 plug-in device that connects the lock to Wi-Fi and can also add cloud-to-cloud integrations with Google Home and Amazon Alexa (Ring is no longer supported).

Alongside notifications for door open/closed status, the Connect also adds alerts for who unlocked or locked it and battery life, not all of which are available yet in Matter.

1/3The Level app shows door status via Bluetooth when you’re in range, or when connected to a Level Connect Wi-Fi bridge.

The door sense feature works in some Matter platforms, but not all. I tested it with Apple Home and only got basic locked/unlocked alerts, no open/close status. When connected to Google Home, I could see the door status. This patchwork of features across platforms is one of Matter’s current frustrations. Other than that, however, the lock worked flawlessly over Matter, responding instantly and sending notifications promptly.

The Pro is Level’s first Matter-native smart lock (its Level Bolt and Level Lock Plus can be firmware-upgraded as they have a Thread-capable radio). You can add it directly to any Matter platform by scanning the code and get out-of-home control, voice control, and the option to add the lock to smart home routines and automations. Plus, you can still connect it to the Level app over Bluetooth for features like auto-unlock and controlling it with your phone locally if the power is out.

The auto-unlock feature worked fine, but sometimes took a few seconds to unlock after I was at the door. Auto-unlock uses your phone’s location, based on geofencing, and its Bluetooth connection to determine when you’re near the door and unlock.

Weak GPS at my house is partly to blame for the sluggishness. I have this problem with auto-unlock on most smart locks. That’s why I’m looking forward to UWB hands-free unlocking, which uses direct radio-to-radio communication, so it should be more reliable. Goto told me that processor-wise, the Pro is capable of supporting UWB, but as the Aliro standard isn’t final, he couldn’t commit to a timeline.

The Pro works with Apple Home Key using your iPhone. Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge

You can also use an Apple Watch. Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge

In practice, I found Apple Home Key the most reliable way of unlocking the Pro. If auto-unlock didn’t trigger fast enough, a quick tap with my iPhone or Apple Watch unlocked it promptly.

Level has a touch-to-unlock mode, similar to auto-unlock, which also uses your phone’s Bluetooth for authentication along with GPS. The main advantage here is that it ensures your door only unlocks when you touch the capacitive area on the lock, as opposed to auto-unlock, which opens as you approach. You can’t have auto-unlock and touch-to-unlock enabled at the same time.

I only tested the lock for a couple of days, so I can’t comment on battery life, but Level claims up to a year on one CR2. The Level Lock Plus, the other lock in the lineup with an NFC radio for Home Key and key fobs, has a 6-month battery life, so the Pro doubles that. The new chip with built-in Matter-over-Thread support and the new PIR sensor to reduce false wakeups of the onboard radios are the major changes helping extend battery life.

The rear of the Level Lock Pro is as slimline as a standard thumbturn, no bulky battery housing in sight.

The Level Lock Pro feels like the most complete realization of Level’s minimalist smart lock vision so far. It’s faster, smarter, and now adds door sensing without compromising its sleek design. Native Matter support finally addresses the connectivity headaches that have plagued prior models, making setup closer to plug-and-play.

But you may struggle with the Level if your door isn’t perfectly aligned, and inconsistent platform support means you’ll want the $80 Level Connect bridge for the full experience, pushing this already pricey lock into very expensive territory.

Photos by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge

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Ssd 9100 Pro Samsung
Game Reviews

This Samsung 9100 Pro 4TB SSD Hits a New All-Time Low, Amazon Clears Out Stock for Labor Day

by admin


Amazon’s Labor Day sales have officially launched and some of the best offers are not on everyday essentials but on real tech upgrades. That’s exactly the case with the Samsung 9100 Pro 4TB SSD, which only went on sale a few months prior for $550. Now it has dropped to as little as $372 (37% off) which is an all time low for a brand new item. Samsung’s smaller 1TB and 2TB versions are seeing price drops as well right now but they come with less dramatic dives.

See at Amazon

4.8 Out of 5 Stars Rating

This is a PCIe 5.0 drive which means you’re effectively stepping into the latest generation of storage technology. On paper, it can push sequential read speeds up to 14,800 MB/s and write speeds of around 13,400 MB/s (double the Samsung’s legendary 990 Pro). Launching games, opening massive video projects or crunching through workloads tied to AI applications and content creation happens almost instantly.

What’s equally impressive are the random read and write numbers as it can reach up to 2,200K and 2,600K IOPS. Sounds like computer lingo, but what it really translates to is seamless multitasking with a whole lot less waiting. Edit 4K or 8K footage, train AI models or load intense workstation applications: this drive maintains your system responsiveness even at high load. Gamers benefit too with incredibly fast in-game loading and virtually zero stutter while streaming assets in-game.

There’s a fresh 5nm controller inside which cuts power consumption by nearly 50% compared to the 990 Pro and that’s gigantic for laptops that sit through long sessions and desktops trying to keep temperatures under control. There’s integrated advanced thermal management which prevents overheating and throttling even when you’re hammering the drive with constant workloads.

On the software side, Samsung continues to support its drives with its Magician software suite which updates firmware automatically, contains helpful drive health monitoring and offers extra layers of encryption for workstations that deal with sensitive information.

If you’ve been waiting for a reason to jump into PCIe 5.0 speed, this Labor Day is the perfect time.

See at Amazon



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Jake and Logan Paul sat on porch talking to camera in white and grey t-shirts
Esports

WWE cuts ties with KnokX Pro Wrestling after Raja Jackson sends wrestler to hospital

by admin



WWE has quietly cut ties with KnokX Pro Wrestling following an incident involving Raja Jackson, the son of UFC legend Rampage Jackson, who allegedly attacked a wrestler during a live event streamed on Kick.

On August 23, footage of Raja storming into the ring and punching wrestler Syko Stu multiple times went viral across social media.

The altercation began when Stu smashed a drink over Raja’s head during a KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy show. Raja, who was filming the night with a camera crew, had been streaming the confrontation, and Stu reportedly believed it was part of a storyline. Promoters even encouraged Raja to head into the ring later on to play up the moment.

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Instead of performing a scripted move, Raja launched into a flurry of real punches, forcing other wrestlers to intervene. Wrestler Douglas Malo, who was ringside, later claimed that Stu “lost a lot of teeth” and was “choking on his own blood.”

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Raja Jackson

Prior to the incident, Raja told viewers, “it’s always been my dream to f**k up a pro wrestler” and that he was “really going to hit him.”

YouTube icon MrBeast has even stepped in and offered to help out with the wrestler’s medical bills.

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WWE removes KnokX Pro from recruitment page

WWE has since removed all references to KnokX Pro Wrestling from its official Talent Recruitment website. The academy, previously endorsed as part of WWE’s ID (Independent Development) program, was still listed on August 24 but disappeared by August 25, coinciding with the start of a police investigation.

As reported by Ringside News, the WWE ID social media accounts also unfollowed KnokX Pro, as well as trainers Rikishi and The Black Pearl. In response, KnokX Pro quietly stripped WWE logos and references from its own branding.

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The academy issued a statement criticizing Raja’s behavior, writing: “What was supposed to be a planned and agreed upon wrestling spot, turned into a selfish, irresponsible act of violence.”

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Seriously

They STILL PINNED Syko Stu after Raja Jackson assaulted him?

This is fucking DEPLORABLE.

Get these people out of professional wrestling pic.twitter.com/LLgdUhDqG8

— “Filthy” Tom Lawlor (@FilthyTomLawlor) August 25, 2025

However, KnokX has also been slammed for its handling of the incident. Viral clips show the referee making a pinfall count while Stu was clearly injured and in need of medical care.

The LAPD is reportedly investigating the alleged assault, but no arrests have been made yet.

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WWE has not responded to Dexerto’s request for comment.





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VTOMAN
Product Reviews

Vtoman FlashSpeed Pro 3600 portable power station review

by admin



Why you can trust TechRadar


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

The Vtoman FlashSpeed Pro 3600 is hefty. There is no way around that. This is not a power station that you’ll want to be toting around, though it is technically still portable.

See, unlike many of the best portable power station units I’ve reviewed, the Pro 3600 is more designed for long-term backup or for use with enormous power demands, not just to charge your smartphone (though it could).

So, for that reason, this unit is hefty in both size and specs, yet it is still something that can be used in real-world applications with ease.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

VTOMAN FlashSpeed Pro 3600: Pricing & Availability

The Vtoman FlashSpeed Pro 3600 starts around $1499 right now, on sale from $2,299. They do offer bundles at the point of purchase that include solar panels that can stretch up to $2,700, too, all with a two-year warranty.

Also worth mentioning is that the unreleased battery expansion is expected sometime in 2025. Outside of that, the other pieces are available.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

VTOMAN FlashSpeed Pro 3600: Unboxing & first impressions

The FlashSpeed Pro 3600 Portable Power Station is a fluorescent yellow and black power station that made me sigh when I picked it up; it was so heavy. Keep in mind, I pick up and move power stations, chairs, desks, and more. This one shocked me.

Thankfully, this unit has wheels and a handle with two height settings to accommodate those with varying heights and those who can’t quite reach the same physical height.

From the first moment I turned this unit on, I loved the screen. The readout is excellent; it’s easy to understand, shows all the information I want, and feels premium in quality.

Taking another pass, I noticed the lightbar that can shine white or even red light. I saw a small storage bay in the back of the unit, perhaps for the charging cable, and I noticed that the port layout is super helpful.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

VTOMAN FlashSpeed Pro 3600: Design & build quality

Specs

Battery Capacity: 3,096 Wh
Continuous Output: 3,600 W AC (6,000 W surge)
Outputs: 4× AC, 2× 100 W USB‑C, 2× DC, 4× USB‑A, 2× Cigarette port
Features: UPS (switch‑over <20 ms), LCD screen, wheels, IP65-rated shell
Dimensions / Weight: 378×418×581 mm / 38 kg
Warranty: 2-year global

The whole unit feels like a hefty suitcase. I wish that suitcases or luggage in general rolled as easily as this machine does. I’d even be happy if shopping carts rolled as smoothly as this setup does. Moving on, the ports are covered with a flap, enhancing their water resistance. And the entire case around the power station feels rugged and ready to take anywhere. The wheels I mentioned briefly above are not easily damaged. They are large with a decent grip, and super easy to maneuver the power station with.

The ports are organized and easily accessible, and clearly labeled. All things that make using a power station super helpful. If you are in an emergency and need power quickly, the last thing you want to have to do is slow down to try to figure out where ports are, which are which, and how to turn your power supply on. It’s easy to know what is what, and with the integrated light bar, you can light up your scenario to make getting things plugged in and backed up even easier.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

VTOMAN FlashSpeed Pro 3600: In use

I’ve used a lot of power stations, and while I don’t usually note or have the recharge time stand out to me, in the VTOMAN FlashSpeed Pro 3600’s case, it stands out as one of the most significant benefits to this unit. Now, rather than feeling like you need to have this always charged, if you know a storm is coming, you have time to recharge it quickly, whether from zero to full or from partial charge to full charge.

Additionally, you are more likely to use this power station for portable power where there isn’t shore power or a grid power system. In that case, you can plan to go, quickly plug this in, get everything else ready and squared away, and only two hours later (zero to full), you can have a fully charged power station prepared to tackle your construction project, off-grid camping, or whatever else you may be powering.

I don’t currently have this power station plugged into my house, but I have had it power my garage while working on projects, running saws, air compressors, shop vacs, and battery chargers. I’ve also had this recharge my EGO Electric mower, my Eufy E18 Robot Mower, my Lectric XPedition2 E-Bike, and more, to see if it can – and it did without any issue.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

If you live on some land and are looking for more ways to recharge, rather than using the grid, you could also add a solar panel to recharge using the sun, which also recharges incredibly fast.

The unit also boasts Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS), and for good reason. If you have networking gear, computers, or other devices, you don’t want to have any downtime in a power outage, the UPS will flip over before your devices even realize that the grid lost power.

Overall, this is a great power station. It is pretty heavy, so the wheels are essential for moving it around. However, I suggest only relocating it when necessary. It’s best to place it in a location where you’ll use it frequently and leave it there for a while.

VTOMAN FlashSpeed Pro 3600: Final verdict

The FlashSpeed Pro 3600 is a power station for the (semi) portable pros. This is a great hub to place and use as an added power source wherever you may need it, whether that is a job site, an off-grid setup, or a backup unit. It’s got incredible speeds, high capacity, a fantastic port layout, a built-in light bar, and wheels to help move it around.

If you’re in the market for a power station, especially one with a fast recharge and multiple ports, this power station is a great one to consider. IF you’re wanting something ultra portable, or if you don’t need 3000Wh capacity, though, this may be too much of a unit for your use case.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Rugged, hefty design

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ease of use

Easy to use

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Practicality

For those who need massive power

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Price

Decent price for what it is

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Vtoman FlashSpeed Pro 3600: Price Comparison



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Casabrews 5418 Pro coffee maker on kitchen counter with coffee cups, milk pitcher, and plant
Product Reviews

Casabrews 5418 Pro review: a budget-friendly espresso machine, but one that cuts a few too many corners

by admin



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

Casabrews 5418 Pro: one-minute review

The Casabrews 5418 Pro espresso machine is compact, lightweight, and easy to operate via physical buttons and a simple lever to control all its functions. A pressure meter on the machine’s face helps guide extraction; but the pressure can be inconsistent, leading to under-extracted espresso.

This inconsistency may well be down to the boiler, but it’s further hindered by the lightweight plastic tamper, which makes it difficult to exert much pressure on the coffee puck. The portafilter also feels rather flimsy, and with no clip to keep it in place, the filter basket had a tendency to fall out when I was knocking out used grounds.

The Casabrews 5418 Pro can work well, but it sometimes struggles to achieve the necessary pressure for well-extracted espresso (Image credit: Future)

On the positive side, the 5418 Pro heats up quickly, and the shot volume can be manually configured to compensate for any drips once the pump has finished. The steam wand is also a highlight, with a good range of movement and a cool-touch silicone handle. The machine can also dispense hot water for tea, which is handy.

  • Casabrews 5418 Pro at Amazon for $159.99

My first impressions were overwhelmingly positive, but the more I used this machine, the more it became apparent where corners had been cut to keep the price so low.

Casabrews 5418 Pro: price and availability

  • Launching late August 2025
  • List price $299.99 (about £220 / AU$460)
  • About the same price as Breville/Sage Bambino

At the time of writing, the Casabrews 5418 Pro has yet to be officially launched. It will go on sale on August 26, 2025, with a list price of $299.99 (about £220 / AU$460). However, there will be a $120 launch coupon, bringing that price down to just $179.99 (about £130 / AU$280) – and, ahead of its launch date, Casabrews is offering pre-orders for an early bird price of $159.99 (about £120 / AU$250) at Amazon.

The Breville Bambino (known as the Sage Bambino in the UK) is a compact espresso machine sporting roughly the same specifications, and has a similar list price at $299.95 / £329.95 / AU$449.95. The Bambino has been around for several years, and can usually be found steeply discounted on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Check out our full Sage Bambino review for more details.

Today’s best Casabrews 5418 Pro deals

Casabrews 5418 Pro: specifications

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Name

Casabrews 5418 Pro

Type

Semi-automatic espresso machine

Dimensions

12 x 5 x 11 inches / 30.5 x 13.5 x 28cm

Weight

7.2lbs / 3.27kg

Water reservoir capacity

34oz / 1 liter

Steam wand

Manual

Max pressure

20 bars

User profiles

N/A

Casabrews 5418 Pro: design

  • Very compact and lightweight
  • Physical buttons rather than touchscreen
  • Accessories feel somewhat flimsy

The Casabrews 5418 Pro is extremely compact, and very light, making it ideal for small kitchens; you can easily tuck it in a corner and move it around, if necessary. It measures just 12 inches / 30.5cm tall, 5 inches / 13.5cm wide, and 11 inches / 28cm deep. That’s tiny enough to fit on my kitchen scale, which confirmed that it weighs around 7.2lbs / 3.27kg including its power cable and plug.

I was testing the North American version. The UK model, when it launches, will be slightly heavier as a result of the bigger fused plug.

Image 1 of 2

The tank is easy to lift off the back of the machine(Image credit: Future)The water tank has a robust handle (Image credit: Future)

The water tank lifts easily out of the back of the machine, and has a robust handle that makes it easy to carry to and from the sink. There’s no water filter provided, but I wouldn’t expect that for such an affordable espresso machine. Casabrews doesn’t currently appear to sell filters for this machine, but you could fill it with filtered water, if you like. Just don’t use distilled water; it’s not good for any coffee machine, and can cause problems with the water-level sensors.

There’s no touchscreen here; instead, all the controls are in the form of physical buttons arranged along the front of the 5418 Pro: power, single shot, double shot, and steam. The steam wand is operated using a lever on the right-hand side of the machine, which feels a little lightweight in the hand, but works perfectly well. The wand itself has a good range of motion, and a heat-resistant silicone grip, so you can adjust it safely without burning yourself.

The steam wand is a breeze to use, although the machine doesn’t come with a milk pitcher (Image credit: Future)

On the front of the machine you’ll see a pressure meter, which is a helpful guide to help you see whether your espresso shot is likely to be extracted correctly. The pressure goes up to 20 bars, but you’re aiming to be around nine when pulling a shot. It’s worth noting that this is the pressure at the boiler, and will likely be higher than the pressure at the group (where the hot water is forced through your coffee grounds).

The Casabrews 5418 Pro comes with just a handful of accessories: the portafilter handle, a pressurized double-shot filter basket, and a plastic scoop with a tamper on the end. According to the instruction manual there should also be a single-shot pressurized filter basket, but this wasn’t present with my review sample.

The machine comes with pressurized filter baskets, but no single-walled units (Image credit: Future)

The portafilter is different to any I’ve used before, because it doesn’t have a spring clip to hold the basket in place. Instead, you place the basket in the handle and rotate it to fasten it in place. This was presumably a design decision made to keep costs down.

The tamper is super light, and you may find it tricky to tamp your coffee grounds hard enough – although it helps that the portafilter handle has silicone ridges on the base that help stabilize it on your countertop. I have my own wood and metal tamper, which I would have tried for comparison, but it’s too large for the 51mm basket.

The portafilter handle has no clip, so the basket has a tendency to fall out when you’re knocking out used grounds (Image credit: Future)

There’s no milk pitcher provided with the machine, so you’ll need to buy one separately. Look for one with a fine spout if you want to try your hand at latte art.

According to its Amazon listing, the 5418 Pro will be available in two colorways (Silver and Metallic Gray); but at the time of writing, only the latter is available to pre-order.

Casabrews 5418 Pro: performance

  • Heats up very quickly
  • Initial results were promising
  • Inconsistent extraction (sometimes under-extracted)
  • Lots of dripping after pouring a shot

I wanted to love the Casabrews 5418 Pro, and my initial impressions were very positive. My first attempt at brewing a shot with the 5418 Pro turned out well, and I was pleasantly surprised at how well the espresso was extracted. Foaming milk was a piece of cake, and within a couple of minutes I was enjoying a very pleasant latte.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t always the case, and the 5418 Pro sometimes struggled to reach the optimal nine bars of pressure, leaving me with under-extracted espresso, even when I set my Sage Dose Control Pro grinder to its finest setting. I’m quite sure from experience that my grinder wasn’t the limiting factor, so it may have been the pump, or it may have been due to me struggling to apply sufficient pressure consistently using the plastic tamper. If you choose to pick up this machine, I’d recommend investing in something sturdier.

The machine sometimes managed to reach the correct pressure for extracting espresso, but it wasn’t consistent, even after dialling in the grinder (Image credit: Future)

I also didn’t love the clipless portafilter, since the basket tended to fall out when I was trying to knock out the used puck. Fishing a hot filter basket out of a food waste bin is nobody’s idea of a good time.

On the plus side, Casabrews’ claims that the machine can reach temperature in just a few seconds proved accurate. The 5418 Pro comes with a sticker warning you to pre-heat the groupset by running hot water through it without the portafilter attached, and another note to the same effect in the instruction manual – but this is good practice with any espresso machine. I certainly didn’t experience any problems with cold espresso during my testing.

The pressurized basket means there’s no shortage of crema (Image credit: Future)

The double-shot pressurized basket certainly creates lots (and I mean lots) of crema, but I’d be curious to use the single-shot basket as well.

Like the Breville/Sage Bambino, the 5418 Pro tends to dribble coffee after the pump has stopped, presumably for the same reason – the lack of a three-way solenoid valve. If you own the Bambino, you can get around this problem by using the manual shot button. This lets you choose how long the pump runs, and you can stop it early so you don’t end up with too much espresso.

There’s no such button on the Casabrews machine, but if you’re finding yourself with too much espresso, you can configure the shot volume manually. To do this, press and hold either the single or double espresso shot button for three seconds (depending on which one you want to customize), then press it once to start the pump. Once you’ve reached the desired amount of espresso, press the button again to stop the flow. The machine will then remember this setting and re-use it next time.

You can also use the Casabrews 5418 Pro to dispense hot water for tea, which is a nice feature that you won’t find on all espresso machines.

My only other criticism is that the 5418 Pro’s beeps sound somewhat tinny, which is perhaps a strange thing to complain about, but it does add to the overall impression that this is an espresso machine made to a strict budget.

Should you buy the Casabrews 5418 Pro

Swipe to scroll horizontallyCasabrews 5418 Pro score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

One of the most affordable home espresso machines I’ve tested, with early bird discounts available too.

5/5

Design

Compact and light, but some unsatisfying design decisions have been made to keep the cost down.

3.5/5

Performance

Initially performed well, but proved inconsistent with continued use.

3/5

Buy it if

Don’t buy it if

Casabrews 5418 Pro: also consider

If you’re not sure whether the Casabrews 5418 Pro is the right espresso machine for you, here are two alternatives to consider.

How I tested the Casabrews 5418 Pro

I used the Casabrews 5418 Pro for two weeks in place of my usual coffee machine, and brewed coffee using a blend of freshly roasted Brazilian and Colombian arabica beans. When my shot wasn’t properly extracted, I adjusted the grind size of my Sage Dose Control Pro grinder to compensate. I used the tamper provided with the machine to tamp the coffee. I tested the steam wand with fresh, full-fat dairy milk and oat milk.

I flushed the machine with hot water before and after brewing (to preheat and cool it respectively). I purged the steam wand and wiped it with a damp cloth after making each drink.

For more information, see how we test, rate, and review products at TechRadar.

First tested August 2025

Casabrews 5418 Pro: Price Comparison



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