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Ballerina review: A violent, worthy entry to the John Wick universe

by admin June 4, 2025

No one asked for a John Wick movie (mostly) without John Wick. And yet, Ballerina makes a strong case for why this universe might just survive without Keanu Reeves’ terse, suit-clad poster boy.

Spinoffs are tricky, especially when they orbit a character as singular as John Wick. Since 2014, the franchise has built an entire mythology around Reeves’ grief-stricken Baba Yaga, a man of few words and many, many weapons.

But with Chapter 5 potentially closing the book on his blood-soaked journey, the focus has shifted to expanding the world he’ll leave behind – a world where violence is art and vengeance is ritual.

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Enter Eve, Ana de Armas’ ballerina assassin raised by the same Ruska Roma syndicate that molded Wick himself. While the new movie doesn’t quite match the story of its predecessors, when the blades are flying and the bullets are dancing, it delivers exactly what it promises: beautiful, balletic carnage.

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What is Ballerina about?

Set between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4, Ballerina follows Eve (Armas), a graduate of the Ruska Roma’s brutal ballerina-assassin training program, on a revenge mission tied to her tragic past.

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When she recognizes a mark on a target’s wrist – the same one seen on those who murdered her father – she spirals into a bloody pursuit involving cults, bounty hunters, and a whole town full of killers.

While Eve is the main star here, the OG gang make an appearance in one way or another; Reeves’ Baba Yaga, Ian McShane’s Winston, and even Lance Reddick’s Charon in a posthumous appearance.

But the action is the star here – and it’s tremendous. Epic flamethrower showdowns, wince-inducing ice skate blows, and more stabs and shots than you can shake a bloodied fist at, the kills are as creative as they are absurd.

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From the John Wick school of violence

Lionsgate

With its prolific, elaborate fight sequences, Ballerina fits squarely into the John Wick universe, and in some instances, it takes things even further – one notable death is so violent, it edges into Quentin Tarantino territory (you’ll know it when you see it).

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Although Chad Stahelski steps back from the director’s chair, serving as producer this time around, his influence is undeniable. The fluid action that defines the franchise is alive and well, sharpened further by director Len Wiseman’s flair for high-concept spectacle.

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The choreography is where it all comes together. Together with the 87Eleven team – long-time architects of the franchise’s most memorable fights – they craft set-pieces that are both vicious and graceful, with Armas not missing one beat.

This isn’t the only way Ballerina lets you know it’s a John Wick film. Visually, it mirrors the stylized aesthetic of its predecessors. The camera moves with kinetic purpose, while stark, contrasting lighting and a purple-pink palette nods to the criminal underworld in which it’s set.

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The story loses its balance

Lionsgate

What Ballerina lacks, however, is a story that can keep up with its choreography. Despite the film’s non-stop momentum, the plot feels both too busy and too boring, with a lot of moving parts that never quite click.

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The John Wick films are outlandish, yes, but they’re grounded in simple, effective motivations – John’s dog, his grief, his rules. Ballerina tries to echo this with Eve’s vendetta, but races through exposition and side characters too quickly to build real connections.

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John Wick: Chapter 3’s Continental siege, for instance, worked not just for its action, but because it carried the weight of three films’ worth of alliances and lore. Ballerina doesn’t have that foundation – its fights look great, but without deeper context, even the most outrageous moments can start to blur together.

This hurts the characters, too. Catalina Sandino Moreno’s Lena and Norman Reedus’ Pine are intriguing but underdeveloped. Gabriel Byrne’s Chancellor is a strong villain, but again, his presence is more of an idea than a fully fleshed-out threat.

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Then you’ve got all the others to think about: Winston, the Director (Anjelica Huston), Charon, and, of course, John Wick himself. There are simply too many characters jostling for screen time.

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One Wick, many strong performances

Lionsgate

As for Reeves’ brief appearance as Wick, here’s the kicker: it essentially highlights what’s missing from the film. Not every assassin can command the screen like the Boogeyman. There are countless Eves, but there’s only one John Wick.

That’s not to totally discredit the character. It’s refreshing to see a female assassin written with such complexity. Eve isn’t hyper-sexualised or glibly “strong” – she’s broken yet resilient.

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Armas sells every moment, both in combat and in quieter, emotional beats. She’s an action star through and through, slicing through stunt sequences with complete conviction.

Byrne brings the same simmering menace he had in End of Days and The Usual Suspects, Reedus does well with what he’s given, and while McShane can play Winston in his sleep at this point, his dry charm is always welcome.

Finally, a heartfelt nod to Reddick, whose posthumous appearance as Charon is handled with real care. Fans disappointed by his abrupt exit in John Wick 4 will be pleased to know he gets a far more fitting send-off here.

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These performances elevate the movie, alongside its killer fight sequences and visual style. If what you’re after is action – and lots of it – Ballerina delivers. It may stumble when it comes to story, but damn if it isn’t fun to watch.

Ballerina review score: 3/5 – Good

There’s no mistaking Ballerina for anything but a John Wick movie. From the neon-drenched lighting to the bone-crunching, blood-splattered fight sequences, this spinoff makes itself at home in the franchise.

It’s slick, violent, and stylish – sometimes excessively so. The narrative may lack focus, and the ensemble might be overstuffed, but there’s no denying the film’s technical craft. The action scenes are many, and they’re masterfully choreographed.

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Ballerina may not have the soul of the John Wick saga, but it sure knows how to pirouette through chaos.

Ballerina arrives in cinemas on June 6, 2025. You can also read everything we know about John Wick 5, why Baby Yaga isn’t actually dead, and other new movies to watch this month.

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For more information on how we score TV shows and movies, check out our scoring guidelines here.

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June 4, 2025 0 comments

Microsoft Surface Pro 12 tablet on wooden table in relaxed cafe

Product Reviews

Microsoft Surface Pro 12 (2025) review

by admin June 4, 2025

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Microsoft Surface Pro 12 (2025): Two-minute review

The new Microsoft Surface Pro 12 (2025) comes at an interesting time for the Surface family of devices. Once upon a time, Surface products were pitched as flagship devices that were showcases for the latest and greatest Windows features, while also allowing Microsoft to directly compete with its arch nemesis Apple and its MacBook and iPad devices.

Surface devices were also often quite innovative, with unusual form factors that would again be used to showcase various Windows features, and they were championed by Panos Paney, an enthusiastic spokesperson for Surface devices. This meant that despite Surface devices never gaining the kind of mainstream success that Apple’s devices enjoyed, it was always interesting to see what new products the Surface team were working on.

But times change. Panay left for Amazon, and a lot of the enthusiasm and excitement about Surface devices seemed to leave Microsoft with him. The company simplified the Surface lineup, dropping some of the more experimental models, and focused more on commercial customers. The Surface Pro 12 (2025) is seemingly out to prove that Microsoft hasn’t abandoned its consumers, nor has it forgotten about its Surface lineup – I just worry if it’s a case of too little, too late.

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(Image credit: Future)

The trimming down of the Surface product line means there’s going to be no more Surface Go devices (I asked Microsoft about this directly), which were affordable versions of the usual premium Surface devices. While I appreciated the aim of Surface Go devices – it’s always nice to see a company make more affordable versions of its expensive devices – they never quite hit the mark in my view, with a few too many compromises being made to lower the price at the expense of performance.

Thankfully, that doesn’t mean that people on a budget won’t be able to afford a Surface device, as the base model of the new Surface Pro 12-inch (2025) is now considered the entry level model. Starting at $799.99 / £799 / AU$1,499, it is now the cheapest Surface Pro model, and is a fair bit less expensive than last year’s Surface Pro 11, which started at $999.99 /£1,049.99 / AU$1,899.99.

It’s also a lot less expensive than its biggest competitor, the iPad Pro 13-inch (2024), which launched at a rather staggering $1,299 / £1,299 / $2,199.

While at first glance this seems like a great deal – a newer model for a lot less than the previous model – there are a number of differences between the Surface Pro 12 and Surface Pro 11 that show that Microsoft has still made certain sacrifices to lower the price of the new model. I certainly wouldn’t think of it as an upgrade, rather a more affordable alternative to last year’s model. That’s not a bad thing, of course, but it’s worth pointing out so you know what you’re getting if you buy the new Surface Pro 12 (2025).

Let’s start with the screen: rather confusingly, the number in the Surface Pro 11’s name refers to the fact that it is the 11th edition of the Surface Pro.

Meanwhile, the Surface Pro 12 is named after its screen-size. So, the Surface Pro 11 actually has a larger screen – and a higher resolution as well.

The Surface Pro 12 comes with a 12-inch screen with a 2196 x 1464 resolution and refresh rate of up to 90Hz. The Surface Pro 11, meanwhile, comes with a 13-inch screen with a 2880 x 1920 resolution and up to 120Hz refresh rate. It can also be configured to come with an OLED panel.

Other changes are that the Surface Pro 12 comes with just one memory configuration: 16GB, whereas last year’s model can be configured up to 32GB. The Surface Pro 12 comes with a single processor choice – the Arm-based, eight-core Snapdragon X Plus, a more affordable, yet less powerful, version of the 10-core X Plus that comes in the Surface Pro 11. That model can also be configured with the even more powerful 12-core Snapdragon X Elite chip.

The Surface Pro 12 also drops support for 5G data connections (though it still features cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 technology), and the two USB-C ports in this model are USB 3.2, rather than the faster USB4 connections in last year’s model.

These are quite substantial differences, and while some people might consider them a downgrade compared to the Surface Pro 11, it’s important to note that Microsoft continues to sell that model alongside the Surface Pro 12, so if you’re looking for a flagship experience, you’ll want the (slightly) older model. This could, of course, confuse people who assume the latest model is also the most powerful, or that the only difference between them are the screen sizes. But, you know: Microsoft and confusing product names – name a more iconic duo.

As with previous Surface Pro devices, the Surface Pro 12 is a Windows 11 tablet, and Microsoft is one of the few companies continuing to release them. The dominance of iPads running iPadOS and Android tablets has seemingly turned off many manufacturers from making Windows tablets.

In a way that’s a shame, as while Windows 11 isn’t an operating system primarily designed for touchscreen devices, unlike iPadOS or Android, the touchscreen experience has come a long way, and you can comfortably find your way around Windows 11 and run most tasks and actions via the touchscreen thanks to large, easy-to-hit, icons and buttons. However, there are still times when Windows 11’s origins as an operating system designed for desktop PCs are apparent, such as when a menu or dialogue box appears that feels clumsy when prodded by a finger and requires a mouse and keyboard for the best experience.

(Image credit: Future)

On the other hand, by running Windows 11, you can install full desktop versions of applications, such as Microsoft Word or Adobe Photoshop, rather than the more limited tablet apps. This is the one area I feel Microsoft has the advantage over Apple’s iPad Pro, which, despite featuring the powerful M4 chip found in the best MacBooks and Macs, still uses iPadOS, which means it’s limited to the same basic apps that the iPad mini and iPad Air can run. This makes it feel like a lot of that power is wasted, and it’s something that the Surface Pro 12 avoids by being able to run almost any full desktop program. Plus, the Surface Pro 12 (2025) is nowhere near as powerful, or as expensive, as the iPad Pro, meaning you won’t be quite as concerned about paying for performance you’re not using.

I say ‘almost’ every Windows 11 app because it’s important to note that the Surface Pro 12 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip, which is based on Arm architecture. Without getting too caught up in the weeds of tech mumbo-jumbo, in the past most consumer laptops and PCs used x86-based chips, primarily from Intel and AMD, and that meant that the majority of Windows applications were coded for x86 hardware, so Windows devices using Arm hardware couldn’t run them – instead you had to hope that the app makers would take the time to make an Arm-compatible version, and because sales of Windows on Arm hardware was so small compared to x86, very few developers thought it was worth doing.

Thankfully that’s changed a lot, mainly because the recent generation of Windows 11 laptops using Arm hardware (specifically the Snapdragon X), pushed by Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC branding, have been very popular (and deservedly so, just check out our Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 review and Dell XPS 13 (2024) review for two recent examples of why Snapdragon X laptops are so good).

Microsoft has also released its Prism tool, which is essentially an emulator that allows x86 apps to run on Arm hardware with minimal impact to performance. This, combined with a growing library of native Arm apps for Windows 11 means that most of your favorite apps will run on the Surface Pro 12 – though there might still be cases where an app you often use can’t run.

The Surface Pro 12 (2025) can also be fitted with the Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard, which offers a tactile, comfortable-to-use, full-size keyboard and trackpad, while also doubling as a protective cover for the screen. This turns the Surface Pro 12 into a 2-in-1 device that can be used as both a tablet and a keyboard, and for pretty much any task where you need to write reams of text, it’s an essential add-on.

Sadly, you have to buy it separately, which adds a further $149.99 / £149.99 / AU$274.95 – a not insubstantial extra expense that I feel most people will need to pay for to get the most out of the Surface Pro 12.

The Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard snaps on easily thanks to a proprietary magnetic connection, but because of the new screen size, it means you can’t use keyboards from older Surface devices. You can, at least, use a standard Bluetooth or wired keyboard, but that means you miss out on the portability.

Surface Pro 12 (2025): Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

How much does it cost? Starts at of $799.99 / £799 / AU$1,499
When is it available? On sale now
Where can you get it? You can get it in the US, UK, and Australia

With the affordable Surface Go lineup seemingly chucked in the trash, the Surface Pro 12 (2025) is now the most affordable way to get a new Surface Pro, with a starting price of $799.99 / £799 / AU$1,499, which is a fair bit cheaper than 2024’s Surface Pro 11 which starts at $999.99 /£1,049.99 / AU$1,899.99. Microsoft is continuing to sell the Surface Pro 11 alongside the Surface Pro 12, pitching the older model as the premium, flagship device, while the Surface Pro 12 takes the place of the Surface Go as the entry-level.

For that starting price, you get a Snapdragon X Plus 8-core CPU, 16GB RAM, and 256GB of storage. You can also configure it to come with 512GB of SSD storage for an extra $100 / £100 / AU$200. Apart from that, you’re unable to configure any other aspect of the hardware, though you can choose different colors (more of that in a moment).

The starting price is certainly competitive, especially considering the iPad Pro 13-inch starts at $1,299 / £1,299 / $2,199. Meanwhile, the latest iPad Air 13-inch starts at a similar $799 / £799 / AU$1,299 price, but comes with less storage and memory, and lacks Wi-Fi 7 support.

As a reasonably powerful tablet, then, the price is very good, though there are budget Android tablets out there for a lot less.

What’s not included in the price is a wall charger. The Surface Pro 12 no longer uses the proprietary Surface Connect port to charge – instead, any USB-C charger will work, so the lack of an included charger probably won’t be a huge deal for a lot of people, and at least helps keep the price down and reduce waste. If you need a charger, then you can buy an official one for $69.99 / £49.99 / AU$89.95, but because any USB-C power supply above 27W will work, there are plenty of cheaper options.

However, to get the most out of the Surface Pro 12 (and Windows 11, the operating system it runs), you’ll need the Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard, which turns it into a 2-in-1 device that can be used as either a tablet or a laptop.

The Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard is sold separately and will set you back $149.99 / £149.99 / AU$274.95, so unless you just want to use the Surface Pro 12 as a tablet, you should factor that into the price.

You can also get the 12-inch Keyboard with the Slim Pen stylus in a bundle for $249.99 / £249.99 / $454.95.

In the US and Australia, you can also buy the Surface Slim Pen on its own for $129.99 / AU$229.5. While the stylus is less essential to the overall experience, this does show that from the reasonable starting price, the Surface Pro 12 can quickly jump in cost when you start configuring it.

Today’s best Microsoft Surface 12 deals

Microsoft Surface Pro 12: Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0

Microsoft Surface Pro 12 (base model)

Microsoft Surface Pro 12 (highest specs)

Microsoft Surface Pro 11

Price

$799.99 / £799 / AU$1,499

$899.99 / £899.99 / AU$1,699

Starting at $999.99 /£1,049.99 / AU$1,899.99

CPU

8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus

10-core Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus

GPU

Qualcomm Adreno

NPU

Qualcomm Hexagon (45 TOPS)

RAM

16GB

Storage

256GB

512GB

256GB, 512GB

Display

12 inches LCD (2196 x 1464)

13 inches LCD (2880 x 1920)

Ports

2x USB-C (3.2)

2x Thunderbolt 4

Connectivity

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Size

10.8 x 7.47 x 0.30 ins | 274 x 190 x 7.8mm

11.3 x 8.2 x 0.37 ins | 287 x 209 x 9.3mm

Weight

1.5 lbs | 686g

1.97 lbs | 895g

Microsoft Surface Pro 12 (2025): Design

(Image credit: Future)

New screen size
Thinnest Copilot+ PC
New color options

If you’ve ever seen a Surface Pro device in the wild, then you’ll pretty much know what to expect with the Surface Pro 12 (2025). On its own it looks like a pretty standard tablet, though I have to say that the thick bezels around the screen does make it feel a little outdated compared to some of its rivals (and even the older Surface Pro 11 has thinner bezels on two of the sides of the screen).

As with previous models, the back has an embossed Windows logo, and the bottom half can be pulled out to make a kick stand, a nice feature that the likes of the iPad don’t have. In the center of the bottom side, there’s also a magnetic port that you use to affix the Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard to – though if you have an existing Surface Keyboard or Type Cover it won’t work due to the new size.

There are some subtle – and mostly welcome – changes introduced to the design of the Surface Pro 12, however. The proprietary Surface Connect port has been ditched – thankfully – and instead you charge the Surface Pro 12 (2025) via one of the two USB-C ports. While this change has been mainly introduced to comply with a European Union (EU) directive that states that all new electronic devices sold in the EU must support USB-C charging, it’s a positive one for consumers I feel, and does mean that for many of us that already have plenty of USB-C chargers we’re not getting yet another charger that will just be wasted.

(Image credit: Future)

Because of the new, smaller, screen, the Surface Pro 12 feels more comfortable to hold in the hand than the larger 13-inch Surface Pro from 2024 (I have both). The Surface Pro 12’s dimensions of 10.8 x 7.47 x 0.30 inches (274mm x 190mm x 7.8mm) are noticeably more compact than the Surface Pro 11’s dimensions of 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.37 inches (287mm x 208.6mm x 9.3mm), and the weight difference (1.5 pounds (686g) for the Surface Pro 12 vs 1.97 pounds (0.89kg) for the Pro 11) means if portability is a priority for you (and if you’re planning on using it as a tablet, then it should be), the Surface Pro 12 could, on paper, be the device to get.

However, it’s not just the screensize that’s different, and you should be aware of some of the changes Microsoft has made to keep the price of the Surface Pro 12 down.

For a start, there’s no OLED model, and the refresh rate is capped at 90Hz (rather than 120Hz of the Surface Pro 11).

The Surface Pro 12 also has a lower resolution of 2196 x 1464 vs 2880 x 1920 of the Pro 11, and that also means a lower pixel density of 220 PPI (pixels per inch) compared to the 267 PPI of the Pro 11. This means the image quality isn’t as sharp on the Pro 12.

The Surface Pro 12 also lacks the easily accessed NVMe port of the Surface Pro 11, which was located on the older model behind the kickstand, and was a nice addition that allowed you to quickly upgrade the storage space of the Pro 11.

(Image credit: Future)

On the back of the Surface Pro 12 is a new indent which is where you magnetically attach the Slim Pen stylus (sold separately). Microsoft sent me one to review along with the Surface Pro 12, and I was impressed with how secure the Slim Pen felt when it was magnetically attached – I certainly didn’t worry that the stylus would drop off the tablet.

The Slim Pen also wirelessly charges when attached, which is a nice touch. Despite the indent, however, having the Slim Pen attached does mean that the Surface Pro 12 doesn’t sit flush when placed back-down on a table or desk.

(Image credit: Future)

Connecting the Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard (also sold separately, and supplied by Microsoft for this review) is also quick and easy thanks to a magnetic connection. It adds a bit more weight and bulk, but when closed will protect the screen. It also allows you to use the Surface Pro 12 as a laptop-like device, and I think it’s worth getting. You’ll need to use the kickstand to support the Surface Pro 12 when it’s used as a screen, which isn’t the most comfortable if you’re using it on your lap, but it does work. However, you can’t really adjust the angle of the screen, unlike Apple’s Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro.

The Surface Pro 12’s USB-C ports are also limited to USB 3.2, rather than USB4, which is supported by the Surface Pro 11. You’ll still be able to plug in the same peripherals, but data transfer will be slower.

(Image credit: Future)

A more positive design tweak are the two new color schemes, Violet and Ocean, along with the same Platinum color that previous Surface Pros came in. I’ve seen the new Surface Laptop in Violet, and it looks lovely. However, the base model of the new Surface Pro, which I have, only comes in Platinum – you’ll need to pay extra for more storage if you want the Surface Pro 12 in either Violet or Ocean.

Overall, the design of the Surface Pro 12 is solid, though not that excited, especially if you get it in Platinum. Compared to the iPad Air (2025), which has a weight of 460g and dimensions of 247.6mm x 178.5mm x 6.1mm for the 11-inch model, it feels chunkier and cheaper than Apple’s tablet. If you’re used to iPad tablets, you will likely much prefer Appe’s design. The compromises to screen quality and USB speeds with the Surface Pro 12 are also a shame.

Microsoft Surface Pro 12 (2025): Performance

(Image credit: Future)

Good for general use
16GB RAM helps with multitasking
AI features remain pointless

Benchmarks

These are the results of our benchmarking tests for the Microsoft Surface Pro 12 (2025):

3DMark Solar Bay: 5,921
3DMark Wildlife Extreme: 3,179
Geekbench 6.4 Single-core: 2,263
Geekbench 6.4 Multi-core: 9,913
Crossmark Overall: 1,103
Crossmark Responsiveness: 1,003
PugetBench Photoshop: 4,043
Battery (TechRadar test): 17 hours, 49 minutes

Microsoft might argue that the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip within the Surface Pro 12 is the most exciting component, and I’d agree, but likely not for the same reason.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus is an Arm-based chip (similar to the M4 chip in the MacBook), with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) of 45 Trillion Operations per Second (TOPS) – an essential specification for it to be called a ‘Copilot+ PC’, which is Microsoft’s catch-all term for Windows 11 laptops that come with NPUs that can handle on-device AI tasks.

You might have noticed that a lot of companies are shoving AI into their products, and Microsoft is arguably one of the most ambitious. Like it or not, AI tools are now tightly integrated into Windows 11, and there’s no sign of that slowing down, with Microsoft’s Copilot AI tool becoming a fundamental part of the operating system, even getting its own dedicated key on the keyboard.

Of course, if you don’t have a Copilot+ PC you can still use Copilot – the key difference is that thanks to the NPU, you can use Copilot and other AI tools locally on the Surface Pro 12 itself, rather than relying on an internet connection and cloud-based AI tools.

The benefits are that you can work offline with these tools, and as all the data you provide the AI with is stored locally, there should be no danger of your data being shared with third parties or used to train AI models. This is good if you’re using AI tools with personal and private information, but less so if you’re just messing around with turning scribbles into AI-generated images in Paint.

Speaking of which, doing that is OK on the Surface Pro 12. Asking Paint to generate an image based on a photo I loaded took about 20 seconds, and the results were… well, what you’d expect from AI-generated art these days. Fine, and initially impressive, but not much more than a brief diversion, as the ‘art’ it produces comes with familiar tell-tale signs that it’s been made by AI. It’s likely a tool you’ll try once and then forget about it.

(Image credit: Future)

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus’ NPU also gives you access to some exclusive Windows 11 features, namely Click To Do. This feature, which is still in ‘preview’, so not the finished article, is pitched by Microsoft as a way to do things more quickly and easily in Windows 11 with the help of AI.

By holding down the Windows key on the keyboard, you’ll see the mouse cursor turn into a white dot. Clicking on something (or tapping using the Surface Pro 12 screen) will give the screen a blue tint to show that Click To Do is enabled. If you only have the Surface Pro 12 and no keyboard, you can also bring this up quickly by swiping from the right-hand side of the screen.

Click To Do should then intelligently offer up some quick actions supposedly based on what it sees on your screen, such as opening an image in the Photos app and removing the background.

In theory, this could save some time, though to be honest, right-clicking a document and choosing what app to open it in covers a lot of that, is much faster, and doesn’t require a Copilot+ PC.

In practice, however, the feature seems pretty useless. I used Click To Do with my Pictures folder open, then clicked on a photo, then selected Remove background with Paint, thinking that this would open the photo in Paint and remove the background. Instead, it opened the thumbnail preview of the image (which is tiny and pixellated) and removed the background.

Thinking maybe it was Paint’s fault, I did it again, but this time selected Blur background with Photos. This opened up the Photos app, but again, it was just the thumbnail; it didn’t actually open the file.

So what Click To Do is really doing is taking a screenshot of whatever is open, and all you can really do is interact with the screenshot, not the actual files. Maybe I got the wrong end of the stick, but it felt like Click To Do was promising something quite complex, but in reality, it was just basic and of no use.

I tried it with a web browser open and some Bing (of course) search results. Click To Do offered to copy text to Notepad. A bit pointless, but I gave it a go, and it pasted a single line of unintelligible nonsense. Sure, Click To Do is supposedly still in ‘preview’, but it’s in no fit state at the moment, and as a key selling point of Copilot+ PCs like the Surface Pro 12, it’s embarrassing.

(Image credit: Future)

Recall, another feature touted as a key selling point for Copilot+ PCs, is in a similar preview state. I’ve gone over the controversies of this plenty of times before but the general thrust of this feature is that it runs in the background and takes constant screenshots that you can then scroll back through and search for things.

Recall was supposed to launch with the initial wave of Copilot+ PCs, but a big backlash amidst privacy and security concerns kept Microsoft from rolling it out. Now it’s here (albeit in preview form), and most of my privacy concerns have been alleviated. First, unusually for Microsoft, you have to turn on this feature yourself; it’s not turned on by default (as it was initially). All the images and data are stored locally, and thanks to the NPU, all AI tasks are done on the Surface Pro 12 itself.

Recall, and the data it collects, can also only be accessed by the user when logged in, and needs to have advanced Windows Hello biometric security enabled.

While the security aspect seems improved, if not completely perfect, my other big concern about just how useful Recall will prove to be remains. On the Surface Pro 12, it can feel a bit sluggish, and it even crashed once, and the results were mixed. It did find screenshots containing search results I’d asked for reasonably well, but once it brings up the screenshots, you’re a bit limited to what you can do – a lot like Click To Do, you can’t click on a file or folder to open it up, though to be fair it does allow you to open the folder location in Windows Explorer.

But it just doesn’t seem that useful, and because you now have to turn it on yourself, and considering the performance and storage impact Recall has when taking all these screenshots, Microsoft needs to really make Recall worth using – and so far it hasn’t.

(Image credit: Future)

On a (much) more positive note, the general performance of the Surface Pro 12 (2025) is good. Even demanding apps like Photoshop installed and launched without issue, and because you’re able to run Windows 11 applications, it makes the Surface Pro 12 (2025) a much better tool, in my mind, than the iPad Pro, which despite all its power is limited to iPadOS apps, which are more basic.

Having multiple desktop apps open at once and switching between them was fine, though if you are going to be mainly using standard Windows 11 apps, you’ll need to invest in the Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard, frankly, as these apps can be fiddly if you’re just using the touchscreen to control them. I did notice, however, that trying to perform too many tasks at once can make the performance of the Surface Pro 12-inch lag, with the occasional app crash. Nothing too out of the ordinary if you’re used to Windows 11, but it means there’s not the slick experience you might expect from an iPad.

Logging into the Surface Pro 12 is handled by the Windows Hello biometric tool, which uses the built-in webcams of the tablet to recognise your face. I found it worked reliably in a range of different lighting conditions, and meant logging in was both quick and secure. If Windows Hello can’t detect you, you can use a PIN or password to log in.

The front-facing webcam does a decent job, though at 1080p, it’s not as sharp or detailed as the 1440p webcam on last year’s model. As the Surface Pro 12 is a Copilot+ PC, you can use the Windows Studio effects tool to tweak the webcam’s footage live. Using AI and the NPU of the Snapdragon chip, you can blur the background, or add creative filters that make you look like a cell-shaded animation, watercolor painting, and automatically center yourself in frame.

(Image credit: Future)

These work fine, but they are nothing we haven’t seen before, and the background blur feature seemed less effective as other background blurring features I’ve tried, such as when using Google Meet, with noticeable gaps in the blur where the clear background could be seen.

One feature I did like was Eye Contact, which uses AI to make it seem like you’re looking directly at the screen. As with a lot of devices, the webcam of the Surface Pro 12 is either at the top, bottom or side of the screen, depending on the orientation, and this can result in video calls where it appears like you’re looking away (as you’re usually focusing on the screen). With this feature, it does a good job of adjusting your eyes so they are looking directly at the person you’re talking to.

It sounds a bit creepy, but it does make video calls (or just taking selfies) feel more natural, and the feature does a good job of matching your eye color. When I first tried this feature a while ago, it felt fake, with a definite element of ‘uncanny valley’ where you can tell something isn’t quite right, but it seems the feature has been improved a lot.

The rear camera is Ultra HD, though the photos I took with it weren’t particularly impressive, with quite a bit of noticeable noise in darker conditions. While taking photos, the Camera app became unresponsive, which means I could not adjust the focus; instead, I had to wait a few seconds. This also means that some photos I thought I had taken hadn’t actually been saved, so I wouldn’t recommend depending on the Surface Pro 12 to take once-in-a-lifetime photos – you’d be much safer sticking to your smartphone.

Throughout my time with the Surface Pro 12, I appreciated how silent it was. Like Apple’s M-series chips in modern MacBook Air laptops, the Snapdragon X Plus is efficient enough that the Surface Pro 12 it powers doesn’t need internal fans to keep it cool, so you don’t get any distracting and annoying fan noise when the tablet is working hard. However, with the occasional hangs that I experienced using Windows 11 on the Surface Pro 12, trading silence for a more reliable experience (as cooling the components could improve performance) might have been one compromise I’d have liked.

Microsoft Surface Pro 12: Battery life

Microsoft promises 16 hours of local video playback
Lower refresh rate of screen helps give battery life a boost
Almost 18 hours in our battery tests

A common frustration I have with Copilot+ PC devices running on Arm hardware is that the marketing material often focuses solely on AI features and capabilities, but they are the least interesting thing about products like the Surface Pro 12.

Thanks to the power efficiency of the latest Snapdragon X chips, battery lives of these Copilot+ PC devices are impressively long, and considering that battery life is one of the most important considerations people have when buying a new laptop (it is for me, anyway), it’s a shame that this aspect is often glossed over.

The Surface Pro 12 continues this theme, with a battery that lasted an excellent 17 hours and 49 minutes in my battery life benchmark test, which involved playing a looped HD video until the battery died.

While this isn’t the longest battery life I’ve seen with a Copilot+ PC, it’s great that we seem to be in an era where battery lives for Windows 11 devices that are near 20 hours are increasingly common (though even the best gaming laptops won’t get anywhere near that). You’ll certainly be able to bring it on long international flights to work and watch films on, and have plenty of battery left.

Most importantly, it means you can go several work days on a single charge in most cases, since you likely won’t be using it for 18 hours straight, making it a great choice for people looking for a thin and light device to work on.

(Image credit: Future)

Should you buy the Microsoft Surface Pro 12 (2025)?

Swipe to scroll horizontallyMicrosoft Surface Pro 12 (2025) report cardHeader Cell – Column 0

Remarks

Score

Value

The starting price of the Surface Pro 12 is excellent, though you’ll need to pay extra for the keyboard cover.

4 / 5

Design

A slick, if uninspiring, design that’s thin and light. Shame about the thick bezels around the screen, though.

3.5 / 5

Performance

Windows 11 runs well for most tasks, and Arm support is improving. It does struggle with intensive use, however.

3 / 5

Battery Life

Almost 18 hours of battery on a single charge is excellent, and testament to the efficiency of the Arm chip powering this tablet.

5 / 5

Buy the Microsoft Surface Pro 12 if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider

How I tested the Microsoft Surface Pro 12

I spent about a week with the Surface Pro 12
I used it for everyday productivity
I ran our standard suite of Windows laptop benchmarks

I’ve been using the Surface Pro 11 daily to write articles (including some of this review), browse the web and make video calls. I switched between using it in tablet mode, and with the Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard attached, turning it into a laptop-like device.

As well as using it for real-world tasks, I also ran TechRadar’s standard suite of benchmark results. I’ve reviewed numerous iterations of Surface Pro devices, as well as competing tablets like the iPad Pro and some of the best laptops money can buy.

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained – regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it’s on our radar.

Motorola Edge 60 Pro review: a premium-feeling Android phone that undercuts big rivals

by admin June 4, 2025

Why you can trust TechRadar

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

Motorola Edge 60 Pro two-minute review

When Motorola first started releasing its line of more affordable ‘premium’ Edge smartphones in 2020, it never could have expected that it’d be the last mobile brand to make truly eye-catching flagship phones.

That’s not quite true, of course, but with expensive phones like the Samsung Galaxy S25, iPhone 16, and Xiaomi 15 all offering relatively boring designs that defy their hefty price tags, Moto is one of the few flagbearers whose top-end phones actually feel… well, top-end in 2025.

Moto has released a new generation of Edge phones each year since the debut of the Motorola Edge in 2020, and the Edge 60 Pro is the most advanced model of the current crop (at least until the next Ultra-branded model arrives). And thankfully, almost all of the previous models’ selling points remain valid on the Edge 60 Pro.

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Glancing at the phone’s specs list, you might think it’s not an upgraded Edge 50 Pro, but rather a different ‘take’ on it. And to a certain extent, that’s true. The Edge 60 Pro and Edge 50 Pro are very similar phones, with the former bringing as many upgrades as downgrades. The newer model, for instance, has a bigger battery, a higher-res ultra-wide camera, and upgraded speakers, but those positives are counterbalanced by a lower screen refresh rate and slower charging (both wired and wireless).

Some users, then, might consider the Edge 60 Pro to be worse than, or equal to, its predecessor, but the proof is in the pudding, not on the specs sheet.

With the Edge 60 Pro, Motorola has rounded down some unnecessarily high features and balanced those perceived downgrades with upgrades that really matter. I don’t imagine many people need a 144Hz refresh display over 120Hz, for instance, or truly require the extra few minutes that 125W charging saves you over 90W.

The inclusion of Dolby Atmos speakers, meanwhile, tangibly improves the experience of watching movies and TV shows on the Edge 60 Pro, while the jump to another chipset provider results in a useful jump in power. The addition of reverse wired charging, too, is really useful if you’re reliant on other gadgets.

These small-but-important improvements result in a phone that’s strong in all areas, though not the best in any of them, and for the 99% of people who don’t actually need the literal top specs available to them, that’s okay.

The only exception comes in the camera department, which is still a weak point of the Edge series. A few annoying issues abound, but the real problem is that photos taken on the Edge 60 Pro are too devoid of color. They look lifeless and dull, as though the AI scene optimization shrugged and said, “I can’t be bothered”. The phone’s camera performance doesn’t compare to that of any top-end rivals.

That would be a bigger problem if the Edge 60 Pro were hampered by an extreme price tag, but it isn’t. It undercuts pretty much all of the best Android phones by a decent margin, making it a borderline budget alternative that arguably feels fancier.

As sanded-down premium phones, Moto’s Edge devices appeal to those who want to feel like they own a powerful phone but won’t ever put that power to the test. Sure, the Edge 60 Pro won’t win any benchmark battles, but in a year’s time, when even the ultra-pricey Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has been transformed into an ugly box, Motorola’s latest flagship will at least look the part. It’s one of the best Motorola phones you can buy today.

Motorola Edge 60 Pro review: price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

Released in April 2025
Phone sells for £599 (roughly $800, AU$1,250)
Price matches predecessor

The Motorola Edge 60 Pro was announced alongside a non-Pro version in April 2025, roughly a year on from the release of the previous series, albeit with a different selection of sibling suffixes.

You can pick up the phone for £599 (roughly $800, AU$1,250). Due to precedent, we don’t expect that Moto will release the Edge 60 Pro in the US, but an Australian announcement seems likely later this year, especially with the Edge 60 Fusion already selling in the country.

That price makes the Edge 60 Pro the most expensive non-folding smartphone sold by Motorola, but in the wider smartphone world, it’s on the border of mid-range and premium – which means it undercuts a lot of big-name flagship rivals. The Google Pixel 9, Samsung Galaxy S25, and iPhone 16 all cost more, while the supposedly budget-friendly iPhone 16e retails for the same price.

Motorola Edge 60 Pro review: specs

Swipe to scroll horizontallyMotorola Edge 60 Pro specsHeader Cell – Column 0 Header Cell – Column 1

Dimensions:

160.69 x 73.06 x 8.24mm

Weight:

186g

Screen:

6.7-inch FHD (1220 x 2712) 120Hz AMOLED

Chipset:

Mediatek Dimensity 8350

RAM:

12GB

Storage:

512GB

OS:

Android 15

Primary camera:

50MP, f/1.8

Ultra-wide camera:

50MP f/2.0 120-degree

Telephoto camera:

10MP, f/2.0 2x optical

Front camera:

50MP, f/2.0

Audio:

Dolby Atmos stereo speakers

Battery:

6,000mAh

Charging:

90W wired, 15W wireless

Colors:

Dazzling Blue, Sparkling Grape, Shadow

Motorola Edge 60 Pro review: design

(Image credit: Future)

Premium curved-edge design
Thin and lightweight
Pantone-designed blue, khaki or purple

With companies like Samsung having seemingly jettisoned ‘attractive design’ from the list of important smartphone traits this year, I was worried that Motorola might abandon the Edge’s roots and follow suit. Fear not: the Motorola Edge 60 Pro is just as appealing as past entries (largely because it’s a dead ringer for past models).

To discuss the eye-catching part, we’ll have to start at the back: Moto typically offers these mobiles in a range of Pantone-designed hues, and it’s no different this time around. The model you see in the review images is Dazzling Blue, and there’s a greenish-khaki Shadow option too, but the real eye-catcher is Sparkling Grape, a vibrant and commanding purple. Unlike in some previous generations, Moto hasn’t included a literal color swatch on the back of the Edge 60 Pro, so you don’t feel like you’re texting on a walking paint advertisement.

Instead, the back features a slightly raised camera bump that’s incorporated well into the overall design; it’s reminiscent of Oppo Find X phones before they became overdesigned. It doesn’t stick that far from the phone’s body, so you can put the handset flat on a surface without undue wobbling. The phone’s rear is also textured – slightly differently depending on the color option you pick – making it feel more premium than your average Android.

Moving to the sides reveals the Edge 60 Pro’s other premium feature: a curved-edge display (admittedly, the name does give it away). This means that the phone’s screen curves slightly at the edges to become incorporated seamlessly into the sides of the phone without ending at an abrupt angle. While curved edges are divisive, and admittedly are slightly frail and prone to accidental touches, they’re still considered a trait of premium mobiles. As a result, the Edge 60 Pro is much more comfortable to hold in the hand than your average flagship, and it just feels more advanced.

The edges of the phone also feature all the mandatory buttons, plus one extra one. The right edge has a power button – just about within thumb’s reach on my hand – and above it a volume rocker, which I had to stretch to use. But on the left side, high enough up that I couldn’t really reach it, is a new addition: the AI Key.

Pressing and holding this button brings up Motorola’s AI assistant, while double-pressing it either opens a note-taking function or quickly summarizes your notifications – all of these require a separate Motorola account. If you’ve no interest in AI features like this, you can turn them off in the settings menu.

Let’s briefly continue our tour around the Edge 60 Pro: the bottom edge has its USB-C charging port and the SIM card slot. There’s no 3.5mm jack for wired audio, like in past generations. And that’s that in terms of design – except for the display, which we have a whole section about.

The total dimensions of the phone are 160.69 x 73.06 x 8.24mm, and it weighs 186g, so it’s on the lighter side of things.

Moto is also making a song and dance about the Edge 60 Pro’s protections. It has IP69 certification, indicating that it’s safe from dust ingress and high-pressure beams of water, plus the military MIL-STD-810H accreditation, which means it’s safe from shocks, high and low temperatures, high altitudes, and strong vibrations. We usually only see this kind of certification in rugged phones, but a growing number of consumer ones have them too – and it’s nice to know that your handset is protected from the unexpected.

Motorola Edge 60 Pro review: display

(Image credit: Future)

6.7 inches, 2712 x 1220 resolution
120Hz refresh rate and 4500-nit max brightness
Various filters and modes to tweak

The Motorola Edge 60 Pro’s screen is 6.7-inches diagonally, a size Edge fans will be used to, and that’s not the only spec that the 60 Pro has in common with its predecessors: the resolution is once again 2712 x 1220, or FHD+, and the 20:9 aspect ratio makes the screen feel long and thin.

We can’t knock Motorola for a lack of design upgrades year-on-year, but some tech fans might be upset that the refresh rate has seen a downgrade from the Edge 50 Pro: it’s now 120Hz. But that’s matched by a massive brightness increase, of over double, to a new high of 4500 nits: suffice to say this is a phone that’s easy to use when you’re outdoors in the sun.

The screen is broken up by a pretty minimal punch-hole cut-out for the front-facing camera at the top. It has an embedded fingerprint scanner which… worked when it wanted to, let’s put it that way.

Motorola has stuffed quite a few design features into the Edge 60 Pro’s display, including support for HDR10+ and DCI-P3 color space. There are also filters to reduce the amount of blue light coming from the display, which may placate people who use blue light filters to help them sleep (despite the scientific evidence that your phone’s blue light doesn’t affect sleep).

Pantone also shows its face for some display tweakery, with Moto’s listing for the Edge 60 Pro also mentioning “Pantone Validated Colour” and “Pantone Skintone Validated”, which suggests the color company had a hand in optimizing the screen.

Good job, too, because the Edge 60 Pro is pleasant to look at while watching movies and playing games, with nice contrast and vibrant colors.

Motorola Edge 60 Pro review: software

(Image credit: Future)

Android 15 with four years of updates
Customization options galore
Moto AI useful for small tasks, not big ones

The Motorola Edge 60 Pro comes with Android 15 as its default software. This is stock Android, ostensibly how Google designed it, but with every new generation, Moto adds more and more tweaks that make it feel distinct from Pixel or Nokia phones.

I’ve already discussed arguably the biggest software change – the AI key and Moto AI in general, which the brand seems to be presenting as something you’ll opt to use over Google Assistant for various tasks and needs.

Moto AI is at its best when you’re using it for little tasks around your phone: you can ask it to take notes, set an update reminder, or create a new background for your device. But like other AI chatbots like ChatGPT, if you start to ask it questions, it provides you with the usual factually inaccurate (and oftentimes totally irrelevant) gibberish that you love to mock.

Some of the features that Moto is touting most simply don’t make sense – unless you’ve received an absolute deluge of messages since you last checked your phone, it takes longer to use Moto AI’s notification summary tool than simply to check your messages. There’s also a function that creates a bespoke playlist based on your mood, but it only supports Amazon Music, so if you use Spotify or Tidal, you’re out of luck.

What’s more, every time I used the AI Key, the pop-up appeared with my last search or command, which I’d need to backspace from before starting my new task. I found it pretty frustrating.

Beyond its AI, the Edge 60 Pro retains Moto’s suite of personalization features, from the big things like background, font, and color scheme to the shape of icons and the animation that appears when you use the fingerprint unlock.

You can now also generate wallpapers based on your own prompt or a photo from your gallery. I sent this feature a photo of a cat, and it returned some patterned decals that looked like a marbled chocolate cake. Thanks, but I think I’ll just use the photo of the cat as my background. The point being: some of the AI’s creations were very tangential from the original photo, but I appreciate that none of them resembled the phony tripe you usually get from AI image generators, which is definitely a plus.

Motorola has committed four years of software updates to the Edge 60 Pro. It’s a perfectly acceptable amount of time that’ll future-proof your phone, though it falls just shy of being an industry-leading figure.

Motorola Edge 60 Pro review: cameras

(Image credit: Future)

50MP main, 50MP ultra-wide and 10MP telephoto cameras
50MP front-facing
Pictures look dull and colorless
Offers the standard range of camera modes

There are three cameras on the back of the Moto Edge 60 Pro: a 50MP f/1.8 main snapper, a 50MP f/2.0 ultra-wide one with a 120-degree lens, and a 10MP f/2.0 telephoto camera which supports 3x optical zoom.

On paper, that seems like a solid range of snappers, giving you a range of ways to take pictures, whether you want to zoom in from a distance or get yourself nice and close (the ultra-wide snapper also supports a macro mode). But Moto has yet to put out a killer camera phone, and the Edge 60 Pro doesn’t change that streak.

The main issue, which certainly isn’t new for Moto phones, is that pictures are just a little more dull and desaturated than they’d be on any other phone. While many brands pride themselves on the vibrancy of snaps you can take with their phone cameras, the pictures I took on the Edge simply weren’t social media-worthy due to how lifeless they look.

It’s a shame, because technically, the photos taken aren’t terrible – I was really fond of using the telephoto lens, for instance, as its depth of field was exquisite, and thanks to the high-res snappers, photos have lots of detail. But while some photos could be saved by dropping them into Photoshop, this shouldn’t be a necessary step for smartphone photographs to look worthy.

(Image credit: Future)

That’s not my only issue with the Edge 60 Pro’s cameras, though it’s the only one that can’t be deactivated. Firstly, the background bokeh blur on Portrait shots is intense – you can change this, but I only noticed after taking a few shots, so make sure to tweak it yourself. But the other biggie is macro mode, which by default turns on when you put the phone near a close-up subject.

When this mode turns on, it jumps over to the ultra-wide lens, which is lower positionally than the other two (when you’re holding the phone horizontally to take a shot). This often meant that the subject was in a different spot of the frame, or not in frame, causing the camera to decide that I was no longer trying to take a macro snap, and jump back to the main camera, whereupon it’d see the subject again. Rinse and repeat, you can see how this goes.

The camera app features most of the photography and video modes that you’re used to seeing on an Android phone, like slow-mo video, night vision shots, and tilt-shift photography. Video recording goes up to 4K at 30fps or 1080p at 60fps.

The selfie camera is a 50MP f/2.0 snapper, and it uses an ultra-wide lens so that you can take wider group shots if you need, though it defaults to the one-person view. These pictures suffer from the aforementioned issues, specifically Portrait absolutely obliterating the background, and the color tuning being lackluster – in the examples below, there’s an odd green hue to several of the images.

Motorola Edge 60 Pro camera samples

Image 1 of 8

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

Motorola Edge 60 Pro review: performance and audio

(Image credit: Future)

Uses the Dimensity 8350 chipset
12GB RAM and 512GB Storage
Dolby Atmos-tuned stereo speakers

The Motorola Edge 60 Pro marks a shift for Moto in that it’s moved from the dominant chipset maker Qualcomm to its underdog rival Mediatek.

The phone uses the Mediatek Dimensity 8350 chipset, a fairly powerful mid-range Android chip that we also saw in the Oppo Reno 13 Pro. Like in that contemporary handset, it provides good amounts of power, enough that most users won’t notice a difference between it and true top-end ones for most ordinary tasks.

A Geekbench 5 benchmark test on the Edge 60 Pro returned a multi-core score of 4,504, which is a solid upgrade on the roughly 3,000 score we saw on the Edge 50 Pro, and even better than the Reno 13’s 4,042.

The sole configuration on sale offers 12GB RAM and 512GB storage, which is generous: it means you’ve got loads of space to store years of photos and countless apps, and the RAM ensures the handset feels fast to use. There’s also RAM boost, which lets you sacrifice some storage space for a speed increase; a feature that has niche appeal but will be useful to certain users.

Audio-wise, Moto has long since binned off the 3.55mm jack in its Edge phones. However, you’re getting Dolby Atmos-tuned stereo speakers instead, which isn’t quite as good as wired headphones, but it’ll do.

Motorola Edge 60 Pro review: battery life

(Image credit: Future)

Boosted 6,000mAh battery
90W wired charging, 15W wireless
Reverse wired charging is new

Motorola has packed the Edge 60 Pro with a massive 6,000mAh battery, which is markedly bigger than the cell in its predecessor, though that upgrade is counterbalanced – on paper, at least – by a decrease in charging speed.

A big power pack like this ensures that the Edge 60 Pro can breeze through a day of use without running out of power, which isn’t a guarantee with big-screen phones these days. I also found that the Edge 60 Pro could withstand lengthy gaming sessions without draining too much power.

However, the amount of battery drain ensured that this isn’t a two-day phone; it’ll need daily recharges.

The charging speed sits at 90W, which, while technically a downgrade from the 125W powering on the Edge 50 Pro, is still an impressive figure. The difference between the two can be measured in mere minutes of charging speed, and I think most people won’t even notice the downgrade.

Motorola estimates that the charging time for the Edge 60 Pro is 40 minutes; however, to get this speed, it recommends that you use a sold-separately charger, which I couldn’t actually find on its website (in the box, you get a USB-C to USB-C cable but no mains plug). Mind you, even when using a third-party fast charger, my charging times weren’t that much longer.

Like any good premium phone, the Edge 60 Pro also offers wireless charging, although it too has seen a speed downgrade versus the last-gen model. It can support wireless charging at 15W and, while there’s no longer support for reverse wireless charging, the Edge 60 Pro does offer reverse wired charging, which lets you use it as a little power bank to charge other gadgets.

Motorola Edge 60 Pro review: value

(Image credit: Future)

Throughout this review, I’ve been mentally referring to the Motorola Edge 60 Pro as a premium phone, which is both correct and wrong.

It’s a correct designation in that the specs are all there, but wrong in that the phone doesn’t actually cost quite as much as a Galaxy, iPhone, or Pixel.

The bottom line: the Edge 60 Pro is a great-value phone if you want a top-end mobile, because you’re paying a bit less for mostly-similar specs. Sure, its cameras will leave you wanting, but in almost every other department, the Edge 60 Pro is a winner.

Should you buy the Motorola Edge 60 Pro?

Swipe to scroll horizontallyMotorola Edge 60 Pro score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

You’re basically getting a premium smartphone for a lower price, which sounds good to me!

4 / 5

Design

The phone feels and looks premium, and it’s well-protected with military-grade accreditation.

4 / 5

Display

The Edge 60 Pro has a high-res screen with a top max brightness and useful extra features.

4 / 5

Software

It’s a clean software with customization options and a long shelf life, even if Moto is relying too much on AI as a big new feature.

3.5 / 5

Camera

Photos look dull and there are one or two other issues with the cameras that lose it points.

3 / 5

Performance

The chipset suits most tasks and there’s lots of storage and RAM to go around.

4 / 5

Battery

It’s fast to charge and has a decently-sized battery, though there are some downgrades here.

4 / 5

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Motorola Edge 60 Pro review: Also consider

Still not sold on the Motorola Edge 60 Pro? Here are some other comparable smartphones you should consider looking at instead:

Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0

Motorola Edge 60 Pro

iPhone 16e

Xiaomi Poco F7 Ultra

Motorola Edge 50 Pro

Starting price (at launch):

£599 (roughly $800, AU$1,250)

$599 / £599 / AU$999

£649 (roughly $900, AU$1,400)

£599.99 / AU$999 (roughly $800)

Dimensions:

160.69 x 73.06 x 8.24mm

146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8mm

160.3 x 75 x 8.4mm

161.2 x 72.4 x 8.2mm

Weight:

186g

167g

212g

186g

OS (at launch):

Android 15

iOS 18

Android 15, HyperOS 2

Android 14

Screen Size:

6.7-inch

6.1-inch

6.67-inch

6.7-inch

Resolution:

2712 x 1220

2532 x 1170

1440 x 3200

1220 x 2712

CPU:

Mediatek Dimensity 8350

Apple A18

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite

Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3

RAM:

12GB

8GB

12GB / 16GB

up to 12GB

Storage (from):

512GB

128GB / 256GB / 512GB

256GB / 512GB

Battery:

6,000mAh

4,005mAh

5,300mAh

4,500mAh

Rear Cameras:

50MP main, 10MP telephoto. 50MP ultra-wide

48MP main

50MP main, 32MP ultra-wide

50MP main, 10MP telephoto, 13MP ultra-wide

Front camera:

50MP

12MP

32MP

50MP

How I tested the Motorola Edge 60 Pro

Review test period = 2 weeks
Testing included = Everyday usage, including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
Tools used = Geekbench 6, Geekbench ML, GFXBench, native Android stats

I tested the Motorola Edge 60 Pro for two weeks in order to write this review.

In that time, I used it as my normal phone, which involved socializing, listening to music, taking pictures, and playing games, as well as lots of other normal tasks.

I also did some ‘lab’ tests with the phone, as you’ll have read about in the performance section of this review, in order to get a more objective understanding of its power.

I’ve been reviewing smartphones for TechRadar for over six years now, and even reviewed the original Moto Edge models. So, I’m well-versed in the brand and its various handsets.

Acer Chromebook Plus 514 review: a fast machine with a great display and a sleek design

by admin June 4, 2025

Why you can trust TechRadar

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

Acer Chromebook Plus 514: Two-minute review

The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 has some strong specs that make it suitable for all kinds of workloads. For a 14-inch device, it has a rather slender and light frame. The lid material also looks premium and is outlined with a gloss rim that adds a touch of elegance.

The keyboard looks cheaper by comparison but, still, it feels built to a sufficiently high standard. The touchpad is better on this front, with its smooth finish and solid construction.

The Chromebook Plus 514 has two USB-A and two USB-C ports, which helps to make it a practical machine to live with. It also has an HDMI port and a 3.5mm audio jack, both of which are also welcome additions – but it’s a slight shame there’s no SD card slot of any kind.

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In action, the Chromebook Plus 514 is quite impressive, even compared to some of the best Chromebooks. It handled most tasks I threw at it with admirable composure. Multitasking is also possible, as it can switch between apps with speed and takes multiple browser tabs in its stride. However, fan noise is certainly noticeable when workloads become demanding, but thankfully I didn’t find it disruptive; the same goes for the mild heat it produces.

It also has some impressive gaming performance, allowing me to play mobile games with high settings and frame rates. It also streams 4K content without stuttering or buffering.

(Image credit: Future)

Such content is even more of a joy to experience thanks to the excellent WUXGA display in my unit, which is very clear and sharp with plenty of contrast. Colors are also rendered vibrantly, although perhaps not quite to the degree of some of the best Chromebook displays.

Typing on the Chromebook Plus 514 is pleasant enough, with the well-spaced keys and relatively long travel helping with feedback, although the lack of dampening can make it feel a little unrefined at times. The touchpad, although large, didn’t get in the way when hammering away at the keys, and it’s also easy to use thanks to its large size and smooth texture.

The battery life of the Chromebook Plus 514 is reasonable, lasting about eight and a half hours according to our tests. This is better than some of its competitors, but there are others that can beat it on this front.

With a starting price of $399 / £399 (about AU$560), the Chromebook Plus 514 sits in the middle of the Chromebook Plus market, but when you consider its performance for a Chromebook and sharp display, it’s certainly a device worth considering for work and play.

Acer Chromebook Plus 514 review: Price and availability

$399 / £399 (about AU$560)
Available now with multiple configurations
Middle of the Chromebook Plus market

The Chromebook Plus 514 starts from $399 / £399 (about AU$560) and is available in two colorways: Iron and Silver. Various configurations are possible, including a choice between Intel or AMD hardware and Full HD or WUXGA displays.

This is a mid-range price for a Chromebook Plus. It’s cheaper than the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch, for instance, which boasts a similar performance but does of course have a larger display, although it doesn’t have quite as high a resolution.

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly – but still very capable – Chromebook Plus, then the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is a great choice, and is our pick as the best student Chromebook. However, this doesn’t have an especially impressive battery life.

Acer Chromebook Plus 514 review: Specs

My review unit of the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 was specified with an Intel Core 3 CPU, WUXGA display, and 128GB of storage:

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Price

$399 / £399 (about AU$560)

CPU

Intel Core 3 100U (8 threads, 4.7GHz)

Graphics

Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics

RAM

8GB LPDDR5

Screen

14-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS, 16:10

Storage

128GB UFS

Ports

2x USB-A, 2x USB-C, 1x HDMI, 1x 3.5mm audio

Wireless

Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth

Camera

HD 1080p

Weight

3.15lbs (1.43kg)

Dimensions

12.9 x 8.9 x 0.8 inches (32.7 x 22.5 x 2cm)

Acer Chromebook Plus 514 review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

Premium from the outside
Strong yet smooth hinge
Good port selection

The Chromebook Plus 514 has a slender, dynamic figure considering its 14-inch size. It’s also surprisingly light and thin, although the lid is a little thicker than I’ve seen on other Chromebooks. All its sides are pleasingly neat, although there are a few juts and ridges that spoil its clean lines.

The finish of the lid looks and feels premium, with its metallic edges doing a subtle but noticeable job of enhancing its quality. It’s easy to open thanks to the smooth hinge mechanism, which also provides plenty of stability at any angle – even when it’s opened to its full 180 degrees, which is impressive for a Chromebook this size. However, this isn’t a convertible device, so it won’t be able to rival the usability of the best tablets.

The keyboard looks and feels less impressive, with the faux-metallic keycaps appearing quite cheap, and the lack of backlighting on my model was also something I lamented (although this can be optioned on certain models). However, the keys feel well made and their selection is reasonable, with their various shortcut functions clearly labeled. The touchpad is large and smooth, and seems to be engineered to an even higher standard than the keys.

The Chromebook Plus 514 also features the Quick Insert key, which can be used to summon a search box, with useful suggestions provided based on your recent files and web pages, among other items.

Underneath you’ll find vents and two large rubber bars in place of four individual feet. The back one is thicker than the front, which means the whole unit sits with a slight forward tilt, but this is barely noticeable in use.

I was pleased with the port selection for the most part. There’s no SD card slot, which is a little disappointing, but it has an HDMI port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and two USB-A and two USB-C ports, which lends the Chromebook Plus 514 versatile connectivity.

Acer Chromebook Plus 514 review: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

Handles productivity, video, and light gaming
Sharp and bright display
Noisy at times

Benchmarks

These are the results of our benchmarking tests for the Acer Chromebook Plus 514:

TechRadar Battery Life Test: 8 hours and 30 minutes
Jetstream2 Benchmark: 275.980
Kraken Benchmark: 438.7ms
Speedometer 3.0: 16.5 (±1.3)

I found the performance of the Chromebook Plus 514 quite impressive. Apps are quick to launch and switch between, and it handles multiple browser tabs without issue. This is thanks to its 8GB of RAM, which allows for seamless multitasking for the most part. Light productivity tasks, such as spreadsheet editing, are also dispatched without issue.

The Chromebook Plus 514 streams ultra-high-definition content with aplomb, too, and it even has capable gaming performance. I managed to play Asphalt Legends Unite on high graphics settings with next to no slowdown, which was impressive.

However, the downside of all this power is that the Chromebook Plus 514 can get quite loud as the fans kick in. It’s not as loud as other devices I’ve tried though, and the pitch at which they whir isn’t grating. The chassis can also get quite warm at the rear, but again not to a bothersome degree.

On the other hand, the display is hard to fault in any regard. The WUGXA resolution is very clean and sharp, capable of surprisingly high brightness levels for a Chromebook. Contrast is also strong and colors are vivid, although perhaps not quite to the extent of some displays.

(Image credit: Future)

However, plenty of viewing angles are possible and it does a respectable job of eliminating glare in unfavorable lighting conditions. In essence, it rivals the displays of not only the best Chromebooks, but also some of the best laptops.

Typing on the Chromebook Plus 514 is a mostly pleasant experience, thanks to the generous spacing of the keys. Their travel is quite deep, which helps with tactility; however, they lack dampening, which can make them feel a little harsh when you’re thumping away rapidly.

Thankfully, despite its large size, the trackpad didn’t get in my way while typing. It’s also precise and responsive, as well as offering smooth gliding. Its large surface area helps to make navigation that little bit easier, too.

Unfortunately, the speakers on the Chromebook Plus 514 aren’t particularly impressive, producing a tinny sound owing to the lack of bass response. Small amounts of distortion can also be heard at times, but the overall audio quality is clear enough to be usable, if not enjoyable.

Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Acer Chromebook Plus 514 review: Battery life

(Image credit: Future)

The battery life of the Chromebook Plus 514 is reasonable. During our test, which involved running a movie on a continuous loop, it managed to last about eight and a half hours, which is about average compared to other Chromebooks we’ve tried.

It’s a markedly better performance than the Acer Chromebook Plus 515, which we rate as the best student Chromebook, as that device only managed a paltry five hours. However, it’s worse than the Acer Chromebook Spin 314 (2023), which managed to exceed over ten hours.

Should I buy the Acer Chromebook Plus 514?

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

The Chromebook Plus 514 has a reasonable starting price, placing it somewhere in the middle of the Chromebook Plus market.

3.5 / 5

Design

The Chromebook Plus 514 looks good from the outside, although the keyboard is a little drab. Overall build quality is good, though, and the port selection is useful.

4 / 5

Performance

For a Chromebook, it’s fast no matter the task, and it can handle multiple workloads quite well, although it can get a little noisy in such cases.

4.5 / 5

Battery life

Battery life is fairly average relative to other Chromebooks, outlasting the weakest among them but falling short of the strongest.

3.5 / 5

Total Score

The Chromebook Plus 514 is fast at all kinds of tasks and has a fantastic WUXGA display. Starting prices are reasonable as well, all of which makes it worth your consideration.

4 / 5

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Acer Chromebook Plus 514 review: Also consider

Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0

Acer Chromebook Plus 514

HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch

Acer Chromebook Plus 515

Price

$399 / £399 (about AU$560)

$549.99 / £449.99 / AU$749

$399.99 / £399.99 (around AU$633)

CPU

Intel Core 3 100U (8 threads, 4.7GHz)

Intel Core i3-N305 (8 threads, 3.80GHz)

Intel Core i3-1215U

Graphics

Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics

Intel UHD Graphics

RAM

8GB LPDDR5

8GB

Screen

14-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS, 16:10

15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080), 144Hz, 16:9, non-touch screen

15.6-inch FHD (1920×1080) IPS, 16:9

Storage

128GB UFS

128GB

Ports

2x USB-A, 2x USB-C, 1x HDMI, 1x 3.5mm audio

1x USB-A, 2x USB-C, 1x microSD, 1x 3.5mm audio

1x Type-A USB port, 2x Type-C ports, 1x HDMI port, and 1x headset jack

Wireless

Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth

MediaTek Wi-Fi 6 MT7921 (2×2), Bluetooth 5.3

Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6E AX211, Bluetooth 5.1

Camera

HD 1080p

1080p FHD camera with privacy shutter

1080p HD video at 60 fps

Weight

3.15lbs (1.43kg)

3.81lbs (1.73kg)

3.7lbs (1.68 kg)

Dimensions

12.9 x 8.9 x 0.8 inches (32.7 x 22.5 x 2cm)

14.28 x 9.5 x 0.78 inches (36.26 x 24.15 x 1.98cm)

14.2 x 9.39 x 0.79 inches (360.6 x 238.5 x 19.99 mm; W x D x H)

How I tested the Acer Chromebook Plus 514

Tested for two days
Used for work and entertainment
Chromebook reviewing experience

I tested the Chromebook Plus 514 for two days, during which time I used it for working and for entertainment.

I streamed 4K content on YouTube and played games such as Asphalt Legends Unite. I also connected it to various peripherals via Bluetooth and its ports.

I have plentiful experience with Chromebooks and other mobile devices, and have reviewed a number of them as well.

Acer Chromebook Plus 514: Price Comparison

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June 4, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

Aventon Level 3 Review: A Fantastic First Electric Bike

by admin June 4, 2025

I love step-through ebike frames, not just because it allows my much-shorter wife to borrow the bike when she’s wearing a skirt but also because when a bike is this heavy (67 pounds), it makes it much easier to balance and hop on and off. I never felt sketchy hitting an intersection or trying to keep my bike upright when I had a saddle bag full of groceries.

The gearing and drivetrain is entry-level Shimano Altus stuff and includes an 8-speed trigger-controlled transmission. It also comes with decent Kenda tires that provide plenty of grip, even on slippery Portland roads.

There is a built-in 4G connection that allows you to GPS track the bike—nice for thefts and also in case you, like me, forget where you parked your bike at the Portland Timbers game. The 500-watt motor was more than powerful enough to get me over hills, even with gear or food in tow.

Even for my large, 210-pound body, the range proved more than enough for long commuting rides. I took it over 20 miles across town in a single session, over big hills, and still ended at my destination with over 20 percent battery. If I hadn’t run the bike at full speed the entire way and had pedaled more on the flats instead of using the thumb throttle, I would easily have made it with half my battery left.

Good for Most

Photograph: Parker Hall

Most folks aren’t riding 40 miles a day on their ebikes. They’re riding just a few, and this bike is more than capable of doing that. The included charging brick easily charges the bike in a few hours. You will really need to charge only once a week if you’re doing a shorter commute or just riding a bit around town.

There aren’t a lot of downsides to this model, but the main one is the gearing. I just wish that the top gear allowed me to keep up with the 20-mile-per-hour speed limit on the motor with more ease; I sometimes felt like I was pedaling like a crazed hamster when trying to go max speed.

At lower speeds and assistance rates, the gearing works just fine, so you’re better off riding slower when you want to pedal, then using the thumb throttle to go full speed. I generally prefer mid-drive ebikes for this reason; they use the actual drivetrain of your bike rather than a motor on the hub of the rear wheel to deliver the power, so things pair better together. That said, it’s nice to have the option of a thumb throttle when you’re feeling lazy and just want a glorified electric scooter to take you home, which isn’t offered by mid-drive ebikes.

For daily commuting, trips to the farmers market, and occasional long weekend rides, the Aventon Level 3 is a great choice. The price is right, the specs are solid, and it’s a confidence-inducing ride that has every feature most folks will need. Just snag a good helmet and a solid bike lock. These bikes look more expensive than they are.

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June 4, 2025 0 comments

The phone charging pad of the 2-in-1 Belkin charger it standing up, and an Apple Watch can be seen charging on the rear charing module. An iPhone is lying on the table to the right of the charger.

Product Reviews

Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Dock with MagSafe review: impressively steadfast for its size, and perfect for StandBy mode

by admin June 4, 2025

Why you can trust TechRadar

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

Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Dock with MagSafe review

The Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Dock with MagSafe is a weighty charging stand that can wirelessly charge an Apple Watch along with a compatible phone or earbuds case. It has a list price of $119.99 / £109.99 on the Belkin website, and can also be found at Amazon, with occasional offers appearing from both retailers in the form of discounts or purchase incentives.

At that price, it’s clear the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Dock with MagSafe isn’t a budget option. But that doesn’t stop it offering a sturdy yet space-saving wireless charging solution that’ll happily charge three Apple devices, albeit not at the same time.

(Image credit: Future)

The 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Dock with MagSafe comes in two colorways: Charcoal or Sand. The charger I’ve tested is the Charcoal model, which is composed of a super-soft-to-the-touch silicone-like outer material, with metallic accents on the charging pad hinge and the Apple Watch charging puck holder that’s fixed to the back of the charging stand. It became clear that dust could pose a problem straight out of the box, as the silicone material acted like a dust and lint magnet, so it took a bit of effort to keep it looking its best.

I was pleased to find that a 30W USB-C power supply comes as standard, as one should expect for the price, and the USB-C power cable is braided, giving it a more premium feel. This detail is something I don’t see all that often, even amongst the best wireless chargers, but very much appreciate when it comes along, as I did when I reviewed the ESR Qi2 Mini Wireless Charger, too. This is not simply because it looks good, but because it can often withstand more action than standard flexible plastic coverings that can split over time. The cable isn’t removable, which I’m usually not a fan of, but I’m not fussed in this instance, as this charging dock clearly isn’t designed to be relocated regularly, plus it reduces the chance of someone else in your household pinching the cable to power something else.

(Image credit: Future)

As the 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Dock with MagSafe had dimensions of 4.1 x 2.8 x 3.1 inches / 105 x 71 x 78 mm, it was nice that I could charge all of my devices without taking up a load of desktop or nightstand space. And I really appreciated the adjustable viewing angles that the charging dock offered, as I could keep the pad flat to charge my earbuds, or angle it up to 70 degrees to watch content on my iPhone, or toggle StandBy Mode. I found the non-slip base, strong MagSafe grip, and 1 lb / 450g weight of the charging dock to be reliable for the entirity of my testing, standing its ground and keeping a firm hold of my phone despite my poking and prodding.

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As a brand, Belkin looks to be paying particular attention to the environmental impact of their products, and it was nice to see that the BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Dock with MagSafe came in plastic-free packaging. Belkin also states this wireless charger includes a minimum of 60% post-consumer recycled materials, too.

(Image credit: Future)

In terms of iPhone charging speeds, this MagSafe charging dock lagged almost 20 minutes behind other 2-in-1 wireless chargers I’ve tested from competitors like Anker and UGreen, taking 142 minutes to recharge our iPhone 13 Pro, which has a battery capacity of 2,600mAh. The Apple Watch charging speed was another story, however, as it took just 58 minutes to fully charge my Apple Watch Series 9, making it one of the fastest Apple Watch chargers I’ve tested to date.

In conclusion, if you’re looking for a reliable multi-device wireless charger to take up residence on your desk or nightstand, then the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Dock with MagSafe is well worth your consideration. It may not be the fastest iPhone charger out there, but it’s perfect for passive charging while you work or catch some Zs, and the speedy Apple Watch charging speed is definitely a bonus. If you’re still on the fence about which wireless charger format would work best for you, I recommend checking out my selection of the best wireless chargers for some inspiration.

Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Dock with MagSafe review: Price & specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Price

$119.99 / £109.99

Model

WIZ020

Max power output

15W

Devices charged

Charging tech

MagSafe

Connection

Fixed – USB-C

Weight

1lb / 450g

Dimensions

4.1 x 2.8 x 3.1 inches / 104 x 71 x 78mm

Should I buy the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Dock with MagSafe?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Dock with MagSafe review: Also consider

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June 4, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma review

by admin June 4, 2025

One might assume that if you fell out of the sky, crash-landed through the roof of a shrine, and woke up with amnesia to a flying, talking sheep with horns listing your divine duties, you might get a day off. You might want to relax and recuperate. You might take a moment for yourself.

Need to know

What is it? Action RPG, social sim, city builder, take your pick!
Release Date: June 5, 2025
Developer: Marvelous
Publisher: Marvelous
Reviewed on: Windows 11, NVIDIA GeForce RTX
2060, AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS, 16GB RAM
Multiplayer? No
Steam Deck: Verified
Link: Official site

It would probably be a lot to ask that you become the most active municipal volunteer in the troubled local community, restore the divinity of their god, and embark on a quest to rejuvenate the world after a devastating apocalyptic event. Well, you clearly don’t have what it takes to be an Earth Dancer.

Kaguya, one of the two possible protagonists of Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, does have what it takes. Never has there been a more concerned citizen, a more selfless activist, or a more ambitious amateur farmer. She gets knocked out of the heavens after a violent battle with a mysterious figure on a black dragon; she gets thrust into tales of Celestial Collapse and Blight and meets the god of spring; she takes out a hoe and starts planting turnips. She also does some adventuring, romances some people, builds a house or two, learns to cook, and does her best to save the world. We love a Renaissance woman.

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Most of Guardians of Azuma is a fairly straightforward action RPG. Kaguya has multiple choices of melee weapons, a bow, and sacred artifacts given to her by the gods, which do elemental damage. Weapons can be upgraded or enhanced, and later on she can acquire talismans to aid her in combat. This implies a diversity to combat that doesn’t materialize—I never encountered a fight in the game that I couldn’t brute force with my sword, whatever sacred artifact I was feeling at the time, and an inventory full of cheese omelets.

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Marvelous)(Image credit: Marvelous)(Image credit: Marvelous)(Image credit: Marvelous)

Most battles won’t need strategizing, though enemies do have weaknesses and bosses can be stunned as well as just hacked at. I wasn’t particularly bothered with the shallowness of combat—it’s fun to spin in circles with my Fan Of Death and hear my party members chatter at the monsters we encounter, and it doesn’t distract from the parts of the game that are more engaging. Let the friends I’ve recruited go slice up oni for me: I’ve gotta float around with a parasol to find frog statues for a local child.

The polar opposite of combat is the game’s farm sim/village developer/landscape architect aspects, which can be as simple or as complicated as your heart desires. My urban planning style ended up being “function over form,” which means I’ve got four bustling, productive villages that look like they were zoned by an over-caffeinated squirrel. Players with more of an eye for aesthetics will have fun messing with decorations, of which there are plenty to find within the world, and the development mechanics are easy to use (though there’s some frustrating friction at the beginning, when crafting basic terrain tiles requires an annoying amount of menu navigation).

(Image credit: Marvelous)

Once you can start recruiting villagers they’ll be assigned to work in your absence, which means Kaguya only has to make a few decisions in her role as Literally Everyone’s Mayor before the money starts rolling in, leaving her free to wander around and fight or flirt or make more onigiri.

There’s a lot going on in this game. Kaguya’s got to explore, fight monsters, and discover what her amnesiac protagonist deal is, but she’s also got to build up these villages, do some farming, socialize, cook approximately a hundred thousand recipes, revive the divinity of some gods, and go to bed before midnight. At first it’s unwieldy, these systems bordering on excessive in what is actually not a huge game world. Kaguya spends a ton of time retracing her steps as she slowly unravels the truth about what’s going on with Azuma. Early on, that’s a weird juxtaposition: why do I have so much I can do and so little to do it with?

Time and progression pay off extremely well to combat that imbalance. The social mechanics reward long investments with different characters, and it takes a while to wade out of the shallower aspects of their personal quests. The villages you’re developing are irregularly stocked with dev zones and existing infrastructure, so some have easy early rewards whereas others get a boost at later levels. And the story simply gets more interesting later in the game. The first 10 or so hours are almost off-puttingly busy, but as the game progresses, the feeling of busyness turns into a feeling of comfortable denseness.

(Image credit: Marvelous)

It is satisfying and occasionally heartwarming to see characters I met in Spring Village settling down to eat a meal in Autumn Village, or to know that I’ll be able to fulfill a request of a villager in Summer Village because my barn in Winter Village is producing the eggs I need for the recipe. Because so much is automated, it escapes the player-centric god-king-of-all-I-survey trap it could have easily fallen into; Kaguya’s role, both narratively and mechanically, is just to get the ball rolling, to bring life back to something so it can continue living. Build a house, plant a field, and there will be people to till it, to water and harvest, to fish and mine and log and tend to animals and run shops.

It’s one instance of the game’s throughline: That the point of helping someone, or healing something, is so they can stand on their own.

The social system is the other standout. It’s regrettably frontloaded with some of the weakest writing and least interesting characters, but once you unlock more villages the roster of characters you can befriend is varied and charming, with some personal quests that go in really delightful directions (I have lost hours of my life to chasing around mischievous shapeshifters, advertising local businesses, and making gamers be social.)

Because personal quest progression is tied to the calendar, and because there’s no limit to how many characters you can interact with in a day, it fits in well between main quest progress, exploration, and village development. I thoroughly enjoyed when I’d be wandering around only to spot someone I’d been talking to in the distance and sprint after them to go grab a bite to eat together.

(Image credit: Marvelous)

Out of all the characters you can meet in Rune Factory, the best ones by far are the gods you awaken throughout the story. Without spoilers (because there are some legitimately fun reveals in their roster) the fact that the gods have both main story relevance and sidequest social relevance means they have the most time to develop, even the ones you don’t meet until later in the game.

(Image credit: Marvelous)

Kaguya often takes a step back in these parts of the story, and the quirks, neuroses, fears, and desires of the gods get to take center stage. This is excellent, since they resemble less a pantheon of powerful deities and more an impromptu reunion of bickering siblings that have been ignoring each other’s texts, complete with blithe nicknames, established alliances, and a handful of held grudges. They’re just as invested as Kaguya in restoring their divinity and investigating the cause of the Celestial Collapse, but also some of them are socially anxious or easily distracted or owe someone some money, so they’ll need a hand here or there.

Those are the two levels the game operates on: help save the world, or help a buddy out. At the beginning Kaguya is a stranger, literally crash-landed in the shrine of Spring Village, with no memory of her place in the world. Rune Factory feels like a stranger to itself at this point, with all of the moving parts present but watching each other warily, not sure how to work together yet. As Kaguya settles into herself, as she engages with her environment, helps the village and the villagers, and starts her divine journey, the game matches her.

On the macro level she collects the allies and information needed to figure out what’s going on with the Celestial Collapse and how to fix it. On the micro level, she collects the resources and knowledge needed to figure out how to cook honey toast for a demanding pastry chef. She might be an Earth Dancer for the gods, to bring them back to life and guide them towards the rejuvenation of the world, but in every other aspect she’s just a person trying to help out where she can.

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June 4, 2025 0 comments

The Klim Wind from a 3/4s angle in front of a pink background.

Product Reviews

Klim Wind laptop cooling pad review: this quiet laptop cooler is less a chill wind, more a gentle breeze

by admin June 3, 2025

Why you can trust TechRadar

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

Klim Wind laptop cooling pad: review

The Klim Wind is a laptop cooling pad that’s very much aimed at the average gamer. While it may not have the oomph required by pro esports players or creative studios, it’s aimed at those who just want to stop their CPUs cooking while playing Cyberpunk 2077.

It rocks four fans capable of spinning at up to 1200rpm and comes in a range of colorways, and it’s available from Amazon from just $19.97 / £19.97 / AU$49.97.

A big selling point of the Klim Wind is how quiet it is. In fact, the packaging describes it as ‘ultra silent’, which is a) redundant, given that something is either silent or it isn’t; and b) not actually true.

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However, its fan noise is impressively muted – during testing, the combined noise of its fans at 1200rpm and the inbuilt cooling of our Acer Predator Helios 300 testing laptop with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU only registered as 58.5dB from a few inches away and 44dB from my head height. That’s pretty much as quiet as any laptop cooling pad I’ve tested.

I feel a little lukewarm about the Klim’s design. On the one hand, its 16-degree angle is comfortable enough, even if I wish it had a few different height settings, and its blue LED lighting feels nicely understated. On the other, its build quality isn’t as high as some of the best laptop cooling pads, feeling a bit light and plasticky, while the flip-up laptop rests jabbed at my wrists when I was resting them on my laptop. Also, with all its notches and sharp angles, its looks are a bit on the nose – it looks like a cyber-goth butterfly, which is distinctly less charming than it sounds.

(Image credit: Future)

But all of this comes second to its core functionality – if it offers game-changing cooling, does anyone care what it looks like? Unfortunately, the Klim Wind does little to redeem itself here. The cooling it offers is, frankly, mediocre.

Using our testing laptop, I ran a 15-minute 3DMark stress test with the Wind on its max 1200rpm fan speed, measuring how much the laptop’s temperature changed. It increased from 85F / 29.5C to 120F / 49C, a 35F / 19.5C rise, which is the weakest cooling I’ve seen from any cooling pad I’ve tested, aside from the TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad’s 22.8C.

In light of this, I can’t really recommend the Klim Wind – there are simply too many similarly priced options that will keep your laptop cooler. The best cooling I’ve personally tested comes from the Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad, which I can’t recommend highly enough, although its $119.99 / £129.99 (around AU$188.33) price tag won’t suit everyone’s budget.

If value is your biggest priority, the Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad is a great option; it’s nearly as frosty as the Llano but costs just $19.99 / £20.99 / AU$66.91, which makes it a bit of a bargain in my book.

(Image credit: Future)

Klim Wind laptop cooling pad review: price & availability

Available now
Retails from $19.97 / £19.97 / AU$49.97
Wide range of colorways available

The Klim Wind is available from Amazon now. It retails for as little as $19.97 / £19.97 / AU$49.97, which will get you the blue-lit version we tested here. Although it has historically been reduced as low as £14.90 in the UK, this was way back in December 2019, while the price has never been lower stateside, so we’d argue you’re unlikely to get a better price for this now.

If black with blue lighting isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other, pricier colorways to choose from. Including options with red, cyan or green LED lighting, white metal and plastic or even an additional RGB strip, these max out at $29.97 / £29.97 / AU$149.97.

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Klim Wind laptop cooling pad?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

(Image credit: Future)

Klim Wind laptop cooling pad review: also consider

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Klim Wind laptop cooling pad

Tested over the course of two days
Recorded how much the product cooled our gaming laptop during a stress test
Checked the volume of its fans using a sound level meter

I tested the Klim Wind using TechRadar’s standard laptop cooling pad testing process. First off, I used a thermal camera to measure the peak temperature of our Razer Predator Helios 300 with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 testing laptop to establish a baseline. Then I ran a 3DMark stress test on the laptop for 15 minutes with the laptop cooling pad set to maximum speed, before recording its final temperature so I could compare its cooling against other products.

To test the amount of sound it generated, I used a noise level meter to check the combined noise of the cooling pad and the laptop’s fans. I took two measurements, one from a few inches away and one from my head height (21 inches away) to get a sense of the absolute and subjective noise levels the device makes. I also used the laptop cooling pad in a range of scenarios, from gaming to day to day work to assess how ergonomic and comfortable it was.

I have plenty of experience to help support my testing. Not only have I reviewed a wide range of laptop cooling pads for TechRadar, I’ve also been a creative and an avid gamer for years, meaning I’m familiar with the struggle of trying to keep a laptop cool during very CPU-intensive tasks.

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June 3, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

LDO Positron v3.2 3D Printer Kit Review: Build Your Own Portable, Foldable, Adorable, Upside Down 3D Printer

by admin June 3, 2025

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The Positron is not your average 3D printer. It’s a flex, both from the designer who figured out how to fold a working printer into an empty filament box, and for those who decide to build one. Do you really need a tiny, portable, upside-down printer? No. Do you want one? Yes. Yes, you do.

I’ve been following the development of the Positron for years, and when I learned that LDO Motors was backing this project, I got excited. After all, LDO is well known for its high quality stepper motors and printer kits. We previously reviewed an LDO Voron 01 kit, and that printer is still in use today. The Positron is something different. It’s not exactly an everyday workhorse, but it’s easily a show-stopping travel printer.

Like a Voron, the Positron is for advanced makers. To build one, you need a 3D printer that can produce high-quality ABS or ASA parts. You also need to be more than a little handy with hex keys and have a basic understanding of electronics. Once it’s assembled, you’ll need to install Klipper, tune the printer, and set up sensorless homing, following directions online.

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The LDO Positron 3.2 kit is $674 from Matterhackers. The complete printed parts kit is available for an additional $35.

LDO Positron v3.2 3D Printer Kit at MatterHackers, Inc. US for $674.99

Specifications: LDO Positron 3.2 Kit

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Build Volume

180 180 x 165 mm (7.08 x 7.08 x 6.49 inches )

Material

PLA/PETG/TPU (up to 260 degrees)

Extruder Type

Bowden

Nozzle

0 .4mm

Build Platform

Glass bed with integrated heater

Bed Leveling

Manual + IR sensor

Filament Runout Sensor

Connectivity

WiFi, USB, Ethernet

Interface

3.5 in LCD touch screen

Machine Footprint

Folded 200 x 200 x 70 mm (7.87 x 7.87 x 2.75 inches)

Unfolded 200 x 200 x 270 mm (7.87 x 7.87 x10.62 inches)

Machine Weight

3kg (6.61 lbs), with case 5.6 kg (12.5 lbs)

Today’s best LDO Positron v3.2 3D Printer Kit deals

LDO Positron 3.2 Kit: Included in the Box

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

This is a DIY printer kit that arrives as several boxes of parts. You will need to print a significant portion of the printer yourself, or you can purchase a complete kit with all the necessary parts from Matterhackers. It includes a travel case with room for the finished printer, LCD screen, detachable bed with its support, the 24V 200 Watt external power supply, power cord, and the spool holder. The printer is well-designed and folds easily without tools or much trouble at all.

We printed the Positron out of Polymaker Galaxy ASA for this review.

Design of the LDO Positron 3.2

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

The Positron has several features that make it stand out: it’s truly portable and prints upside down. The printer was designed to fit into an empty 1KG filament box, though thankfully LDO upgraded the kit with a hard case that is suitable to use as an airline carry on bag. This makes it the only 3D printer that can easily travel with you by plane.

Its ability to print upside down may seem like a gimmick, but it’s actually part of the portability solution. The print head and motion system are on the base of the machine, with a folding gantry that suspends the print bed over the tool head.

It uses a glass bed, which seems incredibly old school, but is absolutely necessary. Because the nozzle is on the bottom of the build plate, the only way to see your first layer is if the bed is transparent. This poses a unique problem, with a unique solution: how do you heat a glass bed and still see through it? The bed is made of high temperature borosilicate glass, coated with a thin layer of Indium Tin Oxide on the non-printing side, which conducts electricity. The leads on the edges of the glass heat the bed, much like how an airplane windshield is defrosted.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

While watching the Positron do its upside-down printing is endlessly fascinating, it does have one drawback. Any oozing filament – or worse, a failed print – will usually find its messy home attached to the nozzle. If you are a neat freak, this leads to a lot of cleaning time.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

The motion system of the Positron is complicated, with one belt driving both the X and Y axis on linear rails. The Z axis is belted and runs on a linear rail as well, and all are driven by high quality LDO motors. The frame is made of machined aluminum parts with carbon fiber covers. The fit and finish of the manufactured parts is first-rate. The hotend is custom-made by Phaetus with a 90 degree bend at the V6 Style nozzle. The mainboard is custom-made by LDO and has a CM4 to do the heavy lifting for Klipper.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

To get the Positron into its case, it has to be folded. There is a lever to remove tension from the Z belt, and one thumbscrew to release the Z column and another to remove the bed holder, and that is it. To be fair, the printer fits in a filament box but the bed, screen, power brick, and spool holder do not. They do fit brilliantly in the included custom case.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

Assembling the LDO Positron 3.2

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

Like a Voron, the Positron is a DIY project. You can source your parts from a bill of materials provided by the designers or buy a kit from several different manufacturers, like Matterhackers. Our kit came directly from LDO, which is the wholesaler. LDO is considered a superior kit for its high quality parts. All the wires are pre-crimped and marked, which is something you won’t find in cheaper kits. This can save you hours, if not days, of work.

The multitudes of metric hardware and heat set inserts are in labeled bags and in sufficient numbers for spares.

Building the Positron V3.2 can take days of printing and a solid weekend of assembly time, especially if you’re taking your time to make good-looking, functional parts. We used Polymaker ASA in Galaxy Blue and Galaxy Black, printed with 4 walls and 40% infill.

Complete assembly instructions are beyond the scope of this review, but LDO has an excellent assembly guide at https://ldomotion.com/p/assembly/Positron-V32. There are also social media channels run by the Positron team, which are very helpful should any questions or problems arise.

Leveling the LDO Positron 3.2

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

The Positron 3.2 has an IR sensor on the tool head, but leveling is still challenging. It was inconsistent due to a wiggle in the socket that secures the bed to the carriage block – this was eventually solved by carefully adding more CA glue to the socket. The bed has a 3-point system that requires manual adjustment with a slip of paper. Two adjustment screws are in the front, while the third point in the back is adjusted in the software. Klipper makes finding the Z height fairly easy.

The bed should be re-leveled every time it is taken off the printer. Since the bed is glass, you may find yourself leveling it after every print.

Klipper makes finding the Z height fairly easy.

Loading Filament on the LDO Positron 3.2

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

The Positron uses a table-top spool holder positioned just behind the machine, and material is loaded into an awkward port attached to the base of the machine. Loading and unloading can be done from the touch screen or from the Fluidd interface on a network PC. The load and unload routines work fine, but be aware that if you already have filament partially loaded, hitting load will make a mess on your nozzle as the filament is extruded.

Preparing Files / Software for LDO Positron 3.2

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

The Positron 3.2 doesn’t come with slicing software, but OrcaSlicer has a profile for it. Files are sliced in the normal manner, saved, then loaded into the printer over your network or with a USB stick.

Printing upside down can affect overhangs a little bit differently, but not enough to really be a concern.

Printing on the LDO Positron 3.2

The Positron doesn’t come with test filament, so you’ll definitely want to check out our guide to the best filaments for 3D printing for suggestions. It does a great job with PLA, PETG and TPU. We printed quite a lot with the Positron, but here’s a few of my favorite prints.

The first print on a newly built kit printer can be an adventure, so I started off with a trusty ol’ Benchy. I used OrcaSlicer’s default speeds and standard Speed Benchy parameters: 2 walls, 3 top and bottom layers, 10 % grid infill, a .25 layer height and .5 layer width. I also turned off minimum layer times to give it a bit more pep. It took 34 minutes and 45 seconds.

This boat is a little bit rough, but its shape is well-defined, and no signs of ringing. This was printed in Polymaker gray Polyterra PLA, so none of the defects are hidden.

3D Benchy (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

The next print was a vase mode rose that printed just perfectly at a .2 layer height at 25 mm/s in 1 hour 33 minutes in Polymaker Dual Shadow Red Matte PLA. The layers are even and there’s just a bit of goobers on the last layer that were easily brushed off.

Lytta’s Spiral Vase Rose (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

This Articulated Shrimp highlights the strangeness of printing upside down. This printed with the back and antenna of the shrimp on the glass, with the legs hanging downward. It said it could print without supports, but upside down the legs are a rough looking. The sides are very nice and the antenna came off the glass without any trouble at all.

Mattes’s Articulated Shrimp (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

For PETG, I printed a vase in a smoky grey translucent from Bambu Lab at a .2 layer height and average of 35mm/s speed. It only took 2 hours 29 min and maxed out the Z height of the printer. The lines are somewhat noticeable, but the print is strong and flexible.

One of Cbobo2ucu’s Bulb Vase Trio. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

TPU is always a challenge with Bowden extruders, but the Positron gave it an excellent try. Unfortunately, I gave it a print that needed supports, so the bottom (top?) top of this massage ball is rough. The rest of it is really good, with smooth layer lines because it ran much slower than the PLA prints – an average of 40mm/s. It took 2 hours and 20 minutes to print in Bambu Lab’s red TPU for AMS.

Fresh Brewed Design’s TPU Massage Ball (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

Bottom Line

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

The Positron is probably the only 3D printer you can carry on a flight as hand luggage, and if you put it on a table at a craft fair, you will not be able to stop talking about it with passers-by. After securing the bed mount, this printer has run successfully and leveled consistently, even after being folded up for storage multiple times.

It looks like a novelty…and heck, it is…but it’s a fun machine for makers looking for a tinkering project. The $674 price tag is steep, but you don’t buy this machine just because you need a printer.

Its build size is similar to other “mini” printers, which are easy to throw in the car, but not quite as portable as the Positron. If you want the experience of building a printer without having to print it out first, the Prusa Mini kit can scratch that itch for a couple of hundred dollars cheaper, with a price of $429. The Bambu Lab Mini is an even better deal with a $249 price tag for a single-color machine.

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LDO Positron v3.2 3D Printer Kit: Price Comparison

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June 3, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Helldivers 2’s battle for Super Earth makes Chinese news following the successful and slightly review bomby defense of Equality-On-Sea

by admin June 3, 2025

The battle for Super Earth that kicked off with Helldivers 2’s Heart of Democracy update concluded last week, with players managing to fend off an Illuminate invasion of their home planet. One of the two cities that ended up holding out against the hostile squids was Equality-On-Sea, located in the in-game map’s version of China, and it’s led the shooter to make a local news report in the country.

As spotted by players on the Helldivers 2 subreddit, following the big victory for Super Earth, Chinese broadcaster Kanka News’s Good Morning Shanghai anchors fronted a short segment about these recent developments in the game. Based on a translation by a Reddit user with the handle AtypicalGameMaker (whose profile asserts that they’re a Chinese game developer), the report discussed the defense of Equality-On-Sea, hailing both Chinese and non-Chinese players for working together to protect the city.

For some context, Equality-On-Sea and the Super Earth capital of Prosperity City were the only Super Earth cities left standing after the invasion. The defense of the former caused a bit of controversy, with a relatively small number of players review bombing Helldivers 2 because they couldn’t push the city’s defense percentage gauge up to 100%, meaning it’d be fully under their control.

Members of the game’s community suggested the root of this was that Equality-On-Sea was located in-game where Shanghai is in the real world, leading Chinese players to take its defense very seriously. An alleged translation mixup with the Chinese language version of the game seemingly also convinced these players that they could totally liberate the city while the battle for Super Earth was still in progress.

That last bit wasn’t actually the case, with the constant flow of fresh Illuminate troops while the invasion was ongoing making it impossible to fully secure any mega cities at that stage of proceedings. Cue players getting frustrated as they believed their in-game efforts weren’t having a dynamic effect on how the war was playing out, and some accusing developer Arrowhead of railroading them into certain outcomes.

The translation alludes to this apparent misunderstanding, citing the news anchors as having praised Helldivers 2 players for not following Arrowhead’s Galactic War “script” and instead having “fought for their own story in an honorable way.”

Meanwhile, I quite like the way the report looks to have described the final stages of the big fight for Super Earth playing out: “Chinese players were battling the enemies during the daytime using their excellent shooting skills and strategic plans,” the anchors allegedly said, “American players took over the nighttime operations, utilizing air drops and firepower to construct the defense line for Shanghai.

“This great unity of Chinese and American netizens came to a happy ending on the 30th.” Nice.

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June 3, 2025 0 comments