Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 review: sound reigns supreme for these excellent wireless earbuds

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 review: Two minute review

Sennheiser continues its Momentum True Wireless series with its latest incarnation, the Momentum True Wireless 4 (TW4). At its $299 / £259 / AU$479 price, the Momentum True Wireless 4 faces a lot of competition but brings a lot to the table to put up against some of the best noise-canceling earbuds on the market.  

Features are one of the Momentum TW4's strong showings, with future-proof Bluetooth support including the latest Bluetooth 5.4 version, aptX Lossless, LE audio and Auracast. Its battery life is long-lasting, with up to 30 hours total playtime, and there are ways to prolong and save power for times without chargers available. These features place it amongst the best earbuds around. 

The Momentum TW4’s call quality is good, with mics handling tougher weather conditions well. There were no options to tailor ANC or transparency to calls during my test, such as the Sidetone feature on Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 Wireless headphones, but they will be coming in a future firmware update. 

The Sennheiser Smart Control app is a functional companion to the Momentum TW4 that offers plenty of customization options and features, but can sometimes be a little confusing to navigate and doesn’t beat Sony’s Control App. 

Sound quality is where the Momentum TW4 shines. Its neutral profile may not excite people who like the bass of the Sony WF-1000XM5 or the trebles of the Technics EAH-AZ80, though the Momentum TW4 will nonetheless reproduce any genre thrown at it beautifully - no instrument goes unnoticed or is left behind. 

ANC on the Momentum TW4 is effective. Busy streets and office environments are drowned out when you have music pumping, though the Adaptive Noise Canceling feature can be a little hit-and-miss. With music off or at a low volume, the Momentum TW4 does a good job of muffling, but not totally wiping out, external noise, so if ANC is your top priority, you’ll instead want to look at the Bose QuietComfort II. 

The Momentum TW4’s design is copied from the previous Momentum True Wireless 3, with the finish here taking on a more appealing metallic sheen. The buds may be bulky for some, but with different fitting options and a Fit Test in the app to help, the Momentum TW4 buds nonetheless felt comfortable enough during long periods of use. Customizable, intuitive touch controls and a stylish and practical charging case round out a good overall design. 

In a competitive, even cluttered market, the Sennheiser Momentum TW4 is a great deal and what it does, it does well. I did have gripes about call control and the Smart Control app, and the sound may not be to everyone’s taste, but the Momentum TW4 gives the best wireless earbuds a serious challenge. 

The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 (pictured) are in a fiercely competitive price bracket, but still do an excellent job of standing out.  (Image credit: Future)

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 review: Price & release date

•  $299.95 / £259.95 / AU$479.95 
•  Released March 2024 

The Momentum TW4 costs slightly more than its predecessor, Momentum True Wireless 3, which was released at $249 / £219 / AU$399 Even so, the Momentum TW4 is priced in the same region as many of its competitors (of which there are many) at  $299.95 / £259.95 / AU$479.95.

The Momentum TW4’s closest rivals include the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, which launched at $299 / £279 / AU$429, the Technics EAH-AZ80  ($299 /  £259 / AU$499), the Sony WF-XM1005 ($299.99 / £259 / AU$499) and the Airpods Pro 2 ($249 / £249 / AU$399). While those prices are all very similar, the other buds have seen major discounts, which puts the new Momentum TW4 on the backfoot. But, based purely on features and sound, the Momentum TW4 is released at the right price.  

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 review: Specs

The Sennheiser Smart Control app (pictured) is functional and offers customization options for sound and more.  (Image credit: Future)

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 review: Features

•  Extensive Bluetooth support 
•  Solid battery life 
•  Functional Smart Control app 

Sennheiser clearly wanted to future-proof the Momentum TW4. It’s equipped with Snapdragon sound built on Qualcomm’s S5 Sound Gen 2 platform, which will stream not only at 16-bit/44kHz but also 24-bit/48kHz pending a future firmware update, and is compatible with LE audio and Auracast, (both also coming in a future update). 

Bluetooth support is stacked, with the latest Bluetooth 5.4 version, aptX Lossless, LC3, and other usual Bluetooth suspects. But unlike with the Sony WF-XM1005, there is no support for spatial audio. 

Call quality gives a strong showing on the Momentum TW4. There are 6 mics in total, the same as the Momentum TW3, but also a new feature that Sennheiser calls “AI improved voice pickup and call virtualization”. While on a call with the Momentum TW4, I was told I was coming through loud and clear, even on a wet and blustery day. 

I wanted to be able to control what the call sounded like at my end, as ANC was set to maximum. Although this was effective, it was also a little off-putting as I couldn’t hear traffic and my busy surroundings. I’ve been told that customizable features such as transparency will soon be added in an update, but it would’ve been nice to have this feature available as I found the quality of the caller’s voice a bit lacking. 

The battery life of the Momentum TW4 is touted as 7.5 hours of charge in the earbuds with up to 30 hours total playtime including the case. Generally, this was accurate. Even when playing with ‘Lossless’ Audio Resolution, the battery life was impressive, and when I combined this with ANC at full I only lost 30% charge over roughly 2.5 hours of playtime. 

Wireless charging is also available, though it takes longer than the standard USB-C charging, which does offer up to an hour of playback off a quick 8-minute charge if you’re in a hurry. That’s not quite Sony XM5 level (which is a staggering 3 minutes) but it’s still decent. There’s also a Battery Protection Mode option within the Smart Control app aimed at prolonging battery life by slowing charging and never charging to 100%. 

Sennheiser Smart Control may not be the most exciting app, but it’s functional. There’s plenty of customization via a 5-band EQ and sound personalization option, a Fit Test to get your buds sitting right, and customizable Touch Controls. I sometimes found its responses to be a bit laggy or unclear (adjusting transparency while listening to music had no obvious effect) but the app generally serves its purpose. 

There’s also a Smart Pause option that pauses music when it detects an earbud has been removed which was generally effective, especially at restarting when you put the earbud back in. If that’s a feature you’re bothered about, you can also turn it off in the app. 

•  Features score: 4.5 / 5 

The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 (pictured) has outstanding sound quality. (Image credit: Future)

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 review: Sound quality

•  Balanced, wide soundstage 
•  Extensive sound customization options in app  
•  ANC is effective, but can be beaten 

The Sennheiser Momentum TW4’s sound quality is superb. A balanced and neutral profile means no aspect of the sound is overwhelming, and no instrument goes missing. For some looking for serious bass or enhanced trebles that may not be the best news, but there’s still much to like about the Momentum TW4’s sound. 

Whether listening with lossy Spotify or the superior lossless quality Tidal, the Momentum TW4 sounded great. Naturally, Tidal gets the most out of these buds, and it’s worth using to get that little more out of them. 

Streaming Confidence Man’s ‘Holiday’, a big and bold dance-pop number, the Momentum TW4 showcased its weighty bass and euphoric synths, which soared without drowning out the vocals, and the wide soundstage enabled every aspect of the song to sing. 

Moving on to Dir En Grey’s ‘Rinkaku’, a powerful, driving metal song, the crushing guitars and thunderous drums plowed through the track, and lead singer Kyo’s falsetto vocals also pushed through, with the Momentum TW4 enabling every instrument to breathe. 

Listening to A Tribe Called Quest’s ‘Award Tour’, a chill hip-hop classic, the bass wasn’t as powerful as I’d like, but it was tightly controlled and refined. Once again, the Momentum TW4’s balance showed itself, with the vocals, twinkling keyboards, and bass and drums all combining beautifully. 

These were just some highlights. Most genres were brilliantly handled by the Momentum TW4, whether it be the sweeping strings of various Final Fantasy soundtracks, the shimmering acoustic guitar stylings of Cat Stevens or the chaotic jazz opening ‘Tank’ of anime Cowboy Bebop! (which features a particularly sharp saxophone solo). 

One thing seems apparent - these earbuds were designed with ANC in mind, as I found music to sound better the higher the ANC level. When transparency was set to 'High', I did find the music lost some of its punch compared to the Low transparency setting, but the quality was still there. 

Speaking of Active Noise Canceling (ANC), the Momentum TW4 is effective, offering several ANC options through the Sennheiser Smart Control app. The Transparency is adjusted from Low (higher ANC levels) to High (lower ANC levels) via a slider. In a busy office with ANC on maximum, nearby voices were muffled but audible with no music playing. With music on, however, I found it difficult to hear the sound of my keyboard while working. 

The Adaptive Noise Canceling feature, which dynamically adapts ANC to the world around you, was also effective on my walk through busy streets to my office, though it was not mind-blowing. ANC on the Momentum TW4 is very good, though Sennheiser won't dethrone the Bose QuietComfort Buds II anytime soon. 

One thing worth noting is there is no way to turn noise canceling completely off, but merely to a low transparency level. I didn’t find this to be much of an issue, but it is something worth bearing in mind. 

Sound customization options are available within the Smart Control app, including a 5-band EQ and a Sound Personalization option that compiles your ideal sound profile by going through an A/B test with sliders. I found the out-of-the-box sound (after a couple of days run-in) to be perfectly fine, but it was also nice to have these features. When I experimented with Sound Personalization to get my EQ profile, it was surprising how different the sound was. 

While the Sony WF-1000XM5 may offer bass and the Technics EAH-AZ80 more treble, the Momentum TW4’s sound profile sits nicely in the middle in a way that suits my listening style. So if you want a more neutral sound, you will also like the Momentum TW4. 

• Sound quality score: 4.5/5 

The case of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 (pictured) has a premium feel with its felt material.  (Image credit: Future)

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 review: Design

• Customizable touch controls 
• Comfortable with plenty of fit options  
•  Practical, if uninspiring design 

The Momentum TW4 is almost identical to the earlier Momentum TW3, keeping the same shape and arm design. As for colors, Sennheiser offers three options: Black Graphite (the option I tested), White Silver and Black Copper. The metallic sheen is an improvement over last year’s design but still feels a little plain. That copper color is certainly tempting, however…

In terms of fit, the Momentum TW4s sit within the ear canal. There are 4 bud sizes (XS, S, M, L) and 3 ear fin sizes (S, M, L) in the box, and I found the M size of both the bud and fin (which were the already fitted size) to suit me fine. After several hours of continuous use, the Momentum TW4 buds were still comfortable enough to keep wearing. 

To aid with fitting, a Fit Test within the Smart Control app uses different music clips at various volume levels to establish optimum fit, which I found helpful. This is not a unique feature to Sennheiser (many rivals have it), but it is worth checking out.

I found touch controls on the Momentum TW4 responsive, with the left earbud controlling transparency and ANC and the right controlling playback. These controls are customizable within the app, so if you use one function more than others, you can make it a one-tap option. You can also, of course, turn the touch controls off altogether if you wish.  

The Momentum TW4’s overall build quality is solid and weighty, although some may find its bulkier 6.2g weight and larger size cumbersome compared to the Sony WF-1000XM5, which weighs in at 4.2g. 

The charging case that comes with the Momentum TW4 is a particular highlight, with a similar weighty, solid design as the earbuds. It may not suit everyone, but the felt material does give it a more premium and comfortable feel.

•  Design score: 4 / 5 

The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 buds (pictured) have a weighty but solid design.  (Image credit: Future)

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 review: Value

• Feature-packed for the money 
• Premium feel  
• Extremely competitive area 

The Sennheiser Momentum TW4 is packed with future-proof features, including LE audio and Auracast compatibility, and offers great sound quality. But with a retail price of $299 / £259 / AU$479, it has a lot of competition in its price range. 

Compared to rivals, the Momentum TW4 is bested in certain areas (Bose QuietComfort II for ANC, Sony WF-1000XM5 for apps and spatial audio), though it does offer a jack-of-all-trades approach that covers every area well. But even at a price currently higher than its rivals, the Momentum TW4 is a good value, just not quite a perfect one. 

• Value score: 4 / 5 

Should you buy the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4?

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Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 review: also consider

The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 (pictured) with box and charging cable. Other bud and fin fittings come inside the box. (Image credit: Future)

How I tested

• Extensive playtime over a week
• Tested at home, in office and in public 
• Pixel 6A used as source player, streaming Spotify, Tidal, Netflix and more

After a 48-hour run-in time, I tested the Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 4 with both Spotify and Tidal streamed through my Google Pixel 6A (which supports aptX HD audio), listening to various genres from metal to pop and beyond. I also watched content with streaming sites such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer to test voice quality, and used podcasts to test this as well.

To test battery life, comfort, and noise-canceling, I wore the Momentum True Wireless 4 earbuds throughout my working day in the office, and during my commute to and from work through busy streets and often wet and windy conditions. I also listened at home when it was quietest and tested call quality outside in different weather conditions. 

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed: February 2024

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MinisForum Neptune HX100G review

MinisForum Neptune HX100G: 30-second review

Specs

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7840HX
Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6600M
RAM: DDR5 Dual channel (SODIMM Slots×2), supports up to 64GB
Storage: M.2 2280 PCIe4.0 SSD, up to 2TB
Rear Ports: RJ45 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet Port, USB3.2 Gen1 Type-A Port x2, USB3.2 Gen2 Type-A Port, USB4 Type-C Port ×2, HDMI ×2
Front Ports: USB3.2 Gen1 Type-A Port, USB3.2 Gen1 Type-C Port, 3.5mm audio in, 3.5mm audio out
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
Audio: HDMI ×2, Headphone Jack ×1
Camera: N/a
Size: 205x203x69.3 mm
OS installed: Windows 11 Home
Accessories: Power Adapter, Power Cable, HDMI Cable, Base Support Frame, Base Bottom Plate, Technical Documents, Mounting Screw Set

The MinisForum Neptune HX100G is classified as a mini PC; however, in size and stature, it is slightly larger than the vast majority of recent Mini PC releases. It does, however, bridge the size difference between the ultra-compact mini PCs and larger desktop offerings. 

While much of the internal componentry is similar to many of the best mini PCs we've tested, with the AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS and equipped with Radeon RX 6650M graphics, that extra size enables a significant step up in cooling, which helps to unlock the full potential of these components. It also allows for a little more airflow and space in and around the machine, so plugging in external drives and accessories is simple. 

With the two HDMI ports on the back, you have the option to hook up dual 8K displays, making it an ideal solution for anyone needing a multi-monitor setup for creative work or gaming. That additional space and cooling also mean that under most loads, the machine runs nice and quiet, and only when put under intense load do you really hear the fans kick in. For creative work such as using the best video editing software (think DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro), this machine is simply outstanding, providing the power you need. For gaming, the speed is good, with all games running well, albeit with some settings slightly reduced.

MinisForum Neptune HX100G: Price & availability

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The MinisForum Neptune HX100G is at the higher end of the mini PC pricing scale, but it packs in a high-end CPU and GPU combo that pushes the power and capability of the machine well beyond the reach of most other mini PCs. Moreover, there are several options for you to select from when purchasing this machine, including both barebones and slightly different configurations to meet your budget. The machine is widely available through the MinisForum website, as well as Amazon and other retailers.

• Score: 5/5

MinisForum Neptune HX100G: Design & build

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The MinisForum Neptune HX100G boasts an attractive design with its all-black carbon exterior featuring intricate detailing. This outer casing isn't just for aesthetics; it serves a practical purpose by aiding in the machine's cooling.

Another noteworthy aspect of this external case is that it's made from a carbon and resin composite, making it extremely strong and protective of the internals. If you're in the market for a compact and portable machine, this model offers an excellent solution.

The overall build quality is high, and the machine, while larger than most mini PCs we've got our hands on, feels solid yet retains a relatively compact size. This allows it to sit neatly on your desktop, though it's a bit too large to mount behind a monitor like many other models.

The layout of the machine simplifies the expansion of storage with external hard drives and other accessories. The back features a generous array of ports, from HDMI to USB Type-C, providing ample connectivity options. For those needing a wired network, there's an RJ45 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port.

The front is kept simple, with a USB Type-A and C port alongside audio in and out, making this machine a solid choice for both creative work and gaming.

A notable feature of this machine is the option to upgrade from a barebones configuration, meaning it comes without RAM and an SSD, which you might already own. This can significantly reduce the cost, making it an appealing option for those looking to upgrade power. Access to the internals is a bit less straightforward than in most cases; the rubber feet on the base need to be removed to uncover four screws. These screws can be removed, and the base pulled away with a bit of force. This exposes a metal plate that aids cooling and protects the internals, secured by four screws. Once removed, it reveals the dual RAM slots and SSD slot.

Overall, the design of the machine is very neat, but it's the build quality that truly stands out.

• Design: 4.5/5

MinisForum Neptune HX100G: Features

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The MinisForum Neptune HX100G mini PC offers a variety of features that cater to a diverse user base. Its support for dual 8K displays via USB4 Type-C ports stands out as a future-proof feature. For the present, the inclusion of these ports along with two HDMI sockets allows for the potential connection of up to four 4K@60 monitors.

In terms of connectivity, like most modern machines, it includes Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 for fast and reliable wireless connections, and a network port for those who prefer a wired solution.

Internally, the AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS, paired with Radeon RX 6650M graphics, provides ample power. Our review unit came equipped with a 1TB M.2 PCIe SSD and 32GB RAM SO-DIMM memory, offering a solid foundation for both creative tasks and gaming.

This power, housed within a relatively compact (though not the smallest) case, could potentially generate a significant amount of heat under load. This is where the machine truly shines. Peering through the Carbon Fiber Armor's case reveals two large fans that facilitate airflow through the system while keeping fan noise to a minimum. Additionally, seven copper cooling pipes and liquid metal cooling significantly mitigate any heat issues.

The cases of such compact machines are often simple, but the MinisForum Neptune HX100G, while maintaining a discreet appearance, has been meticulously designed to maximize cooling efficiency and durability. Its Carbon-Fiber Armor case, composed of 70% carbon and 30% resin, ensures the machine is both lightweight and robust. Upon accessing the interior, further reinforcements are evident, indicating this PC is built to withstand more than most.

• Features: 4/5

MinisForum Neptune HX100G: Performance

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Benchmarks

Crystal Disk Read: 4810.72MB/s
Crystal Disk Write: 3899.02MB/s
GeekBench CPU Single: 2654
GeekBench CPU Multi: 13382
GeekBench Compute: 65629
PC Mark: 8490
CineBench CPU Multi: 16787
CineBench CPU Single: 1736
Fire Strike Overall: 21660
Fire Strike Graphics: 23769
Fire Strike Physics: 29743
Fire Strike Combined: 10449
Time Spy Overall: 8545
Time Spy Graphics: 8112
Time Spy CPU: 12257
Wild Life: 48783
Windows Experience: 9.4

In performance tests, the MinisForum Neptune HX100G shines, showcasing its ability to effortlessly handle intensive gaming, content creation, and multitasking. If you're looking for, say, the best video editing PC in a small form-factor, this one shows impressive prowess. 

The AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS processor and Radeon RX 6650M graphics deliver outstanding performance, easily tackling demanding applications and modern games at mid to high settings. Popular titles such as Assassin's Creed, Cyberpunk 2077, and Tekken 8 all perform well, albeit with some reductions in Ray Tracing settings.

For video editing, 4K footage in DaVinci Resolve was handled with ease, though the 1TB internal storage proved somewhat limited, necessitating the use of an external Samsung T5 EVO 8TB as the primary working drive on this occasion.

The test scores for the MinisForum Neptune HX100G are impressive across the board, with Crystal Disk Read and Write speeds of 4810.72MB/s and 3899.02MB/s respectively, indicating swift storage access for applications. These transfer speeds are particularly beneficial for applications like DaVinci Resolve, enhancing 4K video editing with quicker file transfers and smoother playback, despite the limiting factor of a 1TB capacity.

High GeekBench scores, such as a Multi-Core score of 13,382, highlight strong CPU performance, suitable for demanding tasks like photo editing and multitasking office work.

For gaming and graphics-intensive tasks, Fire Strike and Time Spy scores suggest smooth gameplay and competent rendering for creative applications.

• Performance: 4.5/5

Should you buy the MinisForum Neptune HX100G?

If you're seeking outstanding performance in a compact form factor, the HX100G is an excellent choice. It's well-suited for gamers and creative professionals who need the power of a desktop in a more compact package. A solid alternative, then, to some of the best video editing laptops (and even the best laptops for photo editing). However, those on a tight budget or looking for a system with more upgrade potential might consider other options.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

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1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 review: A promising earbud let down by fit

1More Fit Open Earbuds S50: One minute review

The 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 use air conduction technology to get sound to your ears. They don’t sit in your ear canal, like most other true wireless earbuds, or cover your whole ear, like over-ear headphones. Instead they’re designed to hook around your ears, positioning little speakers above your ear canals.

The benefits of this open-ear design is that you can stay more aware of what’s going on around you, which is ideal for outdoor workouts or anyone who doesn’t want to feel cut off from their surroundings. Because no part of the design goes inside your ear, they’re also a good option for people who don’t like the intrusive design of other types of buds.

Other audio brands have been venturing into air conduction tech recently, including Bose, Shokz and JBL. But, as I’ll get to soon, keeping earphones in place when there’s nothing inside your ear is a challenge: the 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 won’t give the best earbuds a run for their money. It’s very difficult to get fantastic sound from this sort of design, but I was pleasantly surprised by their audio: it was clearer than I was expecting with some decent, but not powerful, bass. 

They’re built for workouts with some specs you’d expect from the best workout headphones, like an IPX7 rating, making them sweat-resistant, and an impressive listed 38 hours of battery. I got around 35 hours during testing, so this is quite representative. The 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 may sound like a decent set of earbuds, but they’re sadly let down by their fit: for me, they simply weren’t stable enough. 

It’s easy to see why there’d be a problem with this design as in-ear buds are “anchored” in place when they fit in your ear canal. 1More attempts to solve this problem both with earhooks and small silicone rings, which sit just outside of your ear canal. However, the earhooks didn’t bend enough and were oddly-shaped for my ear. This meant I never got a good fit on my left ear, the bud fell out several times, and although I managed to get a slightly better fit on my right ear, the bud still felt precarious the whole time – not ideal for earbuds built for fitness.

Some of these fit issues could have been down to the size and shape of my ears, but I asked a few other people to test them and several had similar problems. Issues with stability became even more apparent when I was wearing glasses, too, as the earhooks and glasses were competing for the same small space behind my ear.

1More Fit Open Earbuds S50: Specifications

1More Fit Open Earbuds S50: Price and availability

(Image credit: Becca Caddy)

• Cost $149.99 in the US
• £149.99 in the UK 
• Around AU$290

The 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 were released internationally in September 2023 and cost $149.99 / £149.99 / around AU$290. At the time of writing, they’ve been reduced on the 1More website to $99.99 / £104.99. We don’t know if this is a permanent discount or part of a limited deal. 

1More also makes the S30, and while these earbuds use the same air conduction tech and have a similar design, they’re cheaper and a step down in terms of specs. They only have an IPX5 water-resistant rating and a 30-hour battery, compared to the S50’s IPX7 rating and 38-hour battery. The S30 cost $69.99 / £69.99 but, like the S50, are currently reduced to $47.99 / £49.99.

To put the S50 into broader context, similar air conduction rivals, like the Shokz OpenFit, are more expensive at $179.95 / £179.99 / AU$289, although I did find the Shokz buds to be generally better and much easier to wear. The S50 are more similar in price to JBL’s air conduction offering, the Soundgear Sense, at $149.99/£129.99/AU$231. 

When comparing the 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 to sports earbuds more generally, you can often expect to pay more for buds at the top of their game, like the Beats Fit Pro at $199 / £199 / AU$299. Then again, plenty of the options in our best workout earbuds guide are much cheaper and perform significantly better than the 1More buds, like the JLab Go Air Sport at only $30 / £29 / AU$69.  

• Value score: 3.5/5 

1More Fit Open Earbuds S50: Design

(Image credit: Becca Caddy)

• Earhook design
• Unstable fit
• Looks nice and slickly designed

The 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 use air conduction technology to enable you to hear audio, which means there’s nothing in your ear canal. Instead, a speaker is just outside of it. So what keeps these buds in place is an earhook design that fits behind your ear and little silicone rings, which 1More calls “sound loops”, that rest just above the ear canal. There are three different sizes of these loops to choose from to get the best fit. Rival buds have a similar earhook, but we’ve not seen the sound loop-like design anywhere else yet.

I get the thinking behind the sound loops: they’re a way to keep the buds in place without putting anything in your ear, which means you’re still aware of your surroundings. But they defeat the point of open-ear buds a little for me, as they are still using something to block your ear, even if it’s not as intrusive as a bud in your ear canal. I much prefer the design of the Shokz OpenFit. 

But the reason the Shokz OpenFit work well without similar loops is that their earhooks are effective (albeit not perfect). Unfortunately, the 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 have earhooks that are too rigid and not as ergonomic – at least not for my ears. This meant I never achieved a snug or stable fit with the buds, especially in my left ear. This bud fell out even when I was just walking and not working out. 

I played with the earhook, adjusted the positioning, tried out all of the different loop sizes but had no luck. My best guess is that the distance between the bulk of the bud and the top of the earhook was just too big, so it actually fell down over the top of my ear. I did wonder whether this was a quirk of my ears and so enlisted a couple of friends and family members to see if they had similar problems. This was by no means an exhaustive test, but I found women with smaller frames had similar problems, either with one bud or both. 

There was another problem that affected the fit: glasses. Even with my right ear feeling stable, wearing glasses meant the arm of my glasses and the earhook were competing for space behind my ear. I could either lay the earhook down first and put my glasses arm on top, which meant my glasses were unstable and vision ever-so-slightly distorted or the other way around, which meant the buds were even more unstable. 

I opted to wear contact lenses for the rest of my testing, but some people won’t be able to. This also means wearing these buds and sunglasses could be an issue, which feels disappointing considering these are buds designed for outdoor workouts.

Despite these fit issues, these are a nice-looking pair of earbuds with a sleek design. I tested the silver version but, from what I can tell from online press shots, the darker grey shade is a little more appealing. The silver shade is nice, but does look a little cheap and plasticky. The same can be said about the charging case, which has a shiny cheap look about it. The charging case that comes with these buds is also big compared to the cases offered by competitors at 86 × 65 × 29.8 mm and weighing in at 63g (82.5g with the buds in). It could be slipped into a bag or a large pocket, but it’s not ideal for taking out on a run with minimal gear.

• Design score: 2.5 / 5

1More Fit Open Earbuds S50: Features

(Image credit: Becca Caddy)

• IPX7 water-resistant rating
• Air conduction for ambient awareness
• Good battery life

These earbuds are durable with an IPX7 sweat-resistant rating. This means they should handle the most sweaty workout sessions, even splashes, light rain and, technically, an accidental dunk in water. However, we wouldn’t advise it – and best keep them out of the shower.

There’s some opportunity to change the audio with 12 EQ presets within the 1More app. It’s good to have this option, but I preferred the way the buds sounded out of the box. You can also use the app to customize some of the touch controls on the buds. These didn’t work well for me as I never got a stable fit, so touching them made it more unstable.

The 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 have what 1More calls its ‘PurePower Driver’ inside. The company says it has a diamond-like DLC diaphragm, which results in a 40% boost in power over conventional models. It’s not clear whether this means whether that’s over previous 1More models or rivals. There are also dual mics on each earbud for calls, and an AI algorithm promises to distinguish voices from background noises, helping block out any ambient sound when you’re on a call. 

In terms of battery, 1More promises up to 11 hours of battery life from the buds and 38 hours of battery life with the charging case. I found these figures to be accurate during testing. 

This is where the S50 really shine, bringing some of the best battery compared to rivals. For example, the Shokz OpenFit offer seven hours of battery life, and 28 hours from the case. And the JLab Go Air Sport (with an in-ear design) bring you eight hours with an additional 32 hours of battery life with the case.

• Features score: 3.5/5

1More Fit Open Earbuds S50: Performance

(Image credit: Becca Caddy)

• Decent sound
• Only some leakage
• Great for hearing your surroundings

One of the biggest benefits of these open-style buds is that you can hear what’s going on around you, especially traffic, loud conversations and music. I personally found this to be a better experience than simply using the “ambient awareness” or similar modes on ANC headphones and earbuds, which I always find difficult to process.

However, due to the build of these buds – with their positioning and the silicone sound loops – not all sounds were clear in my immediate environment and it was easy to get distracted by the audio. This means you’ll need to be careful, as you definitely can’t hear everything when you’re using them. Especially when the volume is loud, which is worth bearing in mind if you run next to roads.

As you’d expect from an open-ear design, there’s some sound leakage. But not as much as I anticipated, which makes the 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 a versatile proposition for wearing in a range of different environments – assuming you get a decent fit.

The S50 deliver a good but unremarkable sound. The audio is clear and there’s some decent bass and volume here too – again, two things I wasn’t expecting from the open-ear design. Push up the volume high on a bass-heavy track and things do start to sound a little muddied. Due to the style of these buds there’s also no real sense of immersion or an expansive soundstage. But then again, these buds were never going to be the best-sounding out there, you’d need to find a pair of the best ANC buds for a more polished experience. However, for me, the sound is perfect for providing a soundtrack to a walk or workout.  

•  Performance score: 3.5/5 

Scorecard

1More Fit Open Earbuds S50: Should I buy?

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How I tested

I wore the 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 most days over three weeks, and had the opportunity to test them in a range of different environments.

I used them while walking around the city and by the beach, running through the countryside and rollerblading. I took them to work at several coffee shops and the gym and wore them as I worked at home alone.

I also went on a trip to Rome whilst testing these buds, which gave me a good opportunity to use them in some different situations, like on a plane to listen to movies with my phone and in an airport to listen to podcasts and stay aware of flight announcements.

I paired them with an iPhone 14 Pro and mostly used Apple Music and Spotify streaming services to test them with music, as well as podcasts on Spotify and movies on Mubi.

I’ve tested many different headphones and earbuds over the past 12 years, especially those designed for fitness and active lifestyles. I like to find the devices that prioritize comfort and ease of use and flag up any new tech that feels more style over substance.

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Canon RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM review - hidden depths

Two-minute review

(Image credit: Rod Lawton)

The Canon RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM is the only "official" macro lens in the Canon RF lens lineup. The brand does make some other macro-enabled primes, including the RF 24mm, RF 35mm and RF 85mm f/2 lenses, but these achieve a maximum magnification ratio of 0.5x, or half life size; so while this might be plenty close enough for many users, they're not true 1:1 macro lenses.

The RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM doesn’t stop at life size reproduction, however; it goes to a full 1.4x magnification. That means you can fill the frame with an object just 26mm wide. And that isn't its only interesting feature.

Half way along the barrel is an intriguing "SA", or Spherical Aberration, control ring. This shifts optical elements within the lens to adjust the appearance of bokeh, both in front of and behind your main subject, and can also introduce a soft-focus effect.

The SA (Spherical Aberration) adjustment is unlocked via a switch on the underside of the lens. (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

It isn't immediately obvious how you're supposed to use this control, since it’s locked at its center position. In fact, there’s a switch on the underside of the lens to unlock it, which is easily missed. This is one lens where it's actually a good idea to read the manual!

This bokeh control is aimed more at portraiture and longer shooting distances; indeed, Canon does seem keen to push this as a "portrait" lens as well as a macro lens. It’s an interesting idea, but then it leaves you wondering whether the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM might be better, being a stop faster and far cheaper, too. You might say the 100mm is a macro lens first and portrait lens second, while the 85mm is the other way around.

I only had the RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM for a short time, so I concentrated on its macro capabilities.

These are pretty formidable. It’s hard to make any sensible comments about edge sharpness wide-open with close-ups because it’s near-impossible to find a subject flat enough to test it on – and to get it perfectly perpendicular to the camera. Photographing a framed vintage "butterfly wing" picture reveals another macro photography issue: objects with layers of paint and textures, especially those under glass that may have dust or fibers on its surface, are actually three-dimensional.

Here's one of my test subjects, a very old "butterfly wing" picture just over 2-inches across. (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

This is a magnified section close to the Canon RF 100's 1.4x maximum. At this magnification, even at an aperture of f/8, its hard to keep all the strata of this object in focus. (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

This was taken at f/2.8, so the depth of field is extremely shallow – but this can suit many subjects. (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

At f/16, much more of this narcissus is sharp; but if you want objects with depth to be properly sharp from front to back, you'll need to resort to focus stacking. Small apertures alone won't do it. (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

The engraving on this old cigarette case, and all the tiny blemishes and scratches around it, are resolved extremely crisply – although the lens was so close to the case at this point that I had to shoot at a slight angle to avoid shadows and reflections from the lens in the polished metal. (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

Only the most ambitious, bokeh-loving macro fan would want to shoot wide open at these distances. You’re more likely to want to shoot at f/11-f/22, and the RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM produced crystal-clear detail that was difficult to fault.

However, while you might think that a 100mm lens should offer plenty of working distance between yourself and your subject, that isn't the case here. At its closest shooting distances, the front of this lens is close enough to your subject to cast a shadow or give unwanted reflection on shiny surfaces. A skilled macro shooter could fix this easily enough with good lighting and choice of angles, but it was still a bit unexpected. 

This lens is weather-sealed and has a fluorine-coated front element, so you won't have to worry too much about wet outdoor conditions. (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

If you shoot wide open at f/2.8 then you can achieve good subject separation and background blur – although, with this subject we could have got just as close with one of Canon's regular "macro" primes. (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

You can also use this lens outdoors on a range of subjects, where its weatherproofed design and fluorine-coated front element should shrug off rain and dew. The lens also has image stabilization built in – although, as Canon admits, the effectiveness diminishes the closer you focus. 

This isn't necessarily a fault with the stabilization, but an issue with handheld macro photography. If you can’t keep the camera perfectly steady, even the tiniest fore-and-aft "drift" will throw your subject out of focus between half-pressing and fully pressing the shutter release (switching to Servo AF mode can be an effective solution!).

The RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM’s Dual Nano USM autofocus seemed pretty quick at normal shooting distances, doing a reasonable job of tracking the eyes of our pet Dachshund. However, on occasion it got a bit lost switching to ultra-close subjects. It has a focus limiter to help with this, and you can also use manual focus to get it in the right ballpark first. In fact, manual focus works especially well here. The focus ring is smooth and precise, and there’s a real focus "snap" in the viewfinder to show you when the focus is correct. 

Canon says this lens has suppressed focus breathing, which should be especially useful for filming where you want to use focus pulls.

The Dual Nano ISM autofocus kept up pretty well with our canine subject, and the combination of a long focal length and f/2.8 aperture produced good background blur and separation. (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

This is a nice lens to use, if rather long. The SA control seems a slightly odd choice for macro work; I guess it's designed more for portraits and larger product shots. It’s good to have a single lens that can do a few jobs, so it’s easy to see how the RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM could create a kind of "product" lens category of its own.

Best of all, it isn't hugely expensive for an own-brand macro lens, especially one that can focus closer than rivals and has IS built in.

Canon RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM Price and release date

(Image credit: Rod Lawton)

The RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM was announced in April 2021 and is now widely available. It typically costs around $1,099 in the US and £1,369 in the UK. However, if you don’t mind manual focus – and you’re not interested in the SA bokeh control – then you can get the Venus Optics Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO lens for around half that, and with even higher 2x magnification.

Should I buy the Canon RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM?

(Image credit: Rod Lawton)

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

How I tested the Canon RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM

I tried out the RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM in a variety of situations to test its performance, handling and image quality. One session was spent shooting a family pet to see how well the Nano USM autofocus could keep up with my EOS R8’s excellent AI subject tracking, while another was spent out on the coast, shooting a variety of subjects from driftwood to sea spurge.

I also spent some time testing this lens with typical close-up subjects including a challenging "butterfly wing" picture, some just-open narcissi, and the engravings on a vintage WW1 cigarette case. These were taken using a tripod, the 12-second timer on the camera, and electronic shutter mode.

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Nutribullet Pro 900 blender review: compact and convenient

Nutribullet Pro 900 blender: One minute review

Nutribullet is a top name in the blender market and sells a wide range of powerful personal blenders such as the Nutribullet Pro 900, also known as the Nutribullet 900 Series in the UK and Australia. If you’re thinking about investing in one of the best blenders for 2024, you might want to consider the Nutribullet Pro 900 for its simple functionality and easy-to-store structure. Alternatively, you may want to invest in one of the brand’s more traditional countertop blenders such as the Nutribullet Smart Touch Blender, which works well for preparing larger quantities in one go.    

But for instant results when preparing dips, sauces, and smoothies, the Nutribullet Pro 900 is a great mid-range option. It features an extractor blade that spins an impressive 24,000 RPM, which is 50% more power than the original Nutribullet. It’s a great buy if you want to invest in a blender that doesn’t take up too much room on your worktop, and its powerful motor is great for making silky smooth drinks, sauces, and drips quickly

(Image credit: Future)

Nutribullet Pro 900 blender: PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

With its 900-watt motor, this is a mid-range Nutribullet blender, but a powerful one at that. If budgets won’t stretch to its very reasonable $99.99 / £89.99 / AU$119.95 price tag, you can spend a little less and buy the equally efficient 600-watt Nutribullet 600 Series ($69.99 / £69.99 / $99.95). If you want to invest in the brand’s most powerful model, you can choose the Nutribullet 1200 Pro+ ($119.99 / £119.99  / $189.95), which is double the power of the original Nutribullet. 

Depending on your region, you can buy the Nutribullet Pro 900 that we’ve taken a closer look at here as either as a 4-piece set, or as a seven piece set.

The seven-piece set seems to generally be better value as for the extra spend you get a tall cup and an oversized cup that can be sealed with either a ‘stay-fresh’ resealable lid or a flip-top lid for use on the go. It’s worth noting that for optimum performance, Nutribullet suggests that you replace the extractor blade every six months, which is something to bear as these cost around $15 / £10 / AU$20.     

Price: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Future)

Nutribullet Pro 900 BLENDER: DESIGN

•  Simple to use push, twist and blend design  
•  Stylish Champagne finish 
•  Dishwasher safe BPA-free cups  

With its eye-catching Champagne finish base, silver accents, and black accessories, this has to be one of Nutribullet’s most stylish blenders. It’s 14-inches / 36cm tall, with a smooth form that’s easy to wipe clean and can be easily dismantled for convenient cupboard storage.    

There are seven pieces in the set that I found very easy to put together without having to look at the instructions. There are two cups in the box, including one tall 680ml BPA-free container that can be paired with either a stay-fresh lid or the flip-top lid. This means you can make a smoothie and conveniently store it or take it with you for drinking on the go. There’s a larger 909ml oversized cup for when you want to make larger quantities - I was able to make two smoothies using this vessel and enough dip for around three people in one go. There’s also a ‘handled comfort lip ring’ in the box, which makes the cups easier to hold. 

I like the way the high torque power base sits securely on the countertop and the cable is a nice length so that it reaches the plug with ease. There aren’t any controls on the design, which keeps things simple and makes it very straightforward to use. 

Assembling the design was fuss-free and the clean-up was relatively straightforward. I simply wiped down the base and placed the cups in the dishwasher. On the odd occasion that I had used thicker ingredients inside such as pancake mixture or walnut dip, I needed to give the cup a good rinse before popping in the dishwasher. This ensured caked-on ingredients were dislodged and ensured a more thorough clean. The blades could them be simply rinsed clean straight after use and left to dry. 

Design: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)

Nutribullet Pro 900 BLENDER: PERFORMANCE

• Crushes ice and blitzes seeds, tough skins and stems with ease  
• Powerful 900 watt motor  
• Fast 24,000 RPM  

Nutribullet blenders have been designed to be easy to use and efficient and the Nutribullet Pro 900 is just that. To blend ingredients smooth, it’s a simple matter of filling the cup, twisting on the extractor blade and turning it upside down onto the base. Then a simple push and twist and the device will start to blend. To stop blending it’s a simple matter of twisting the cup the alternate way and it will immediately stop. There’s no pulse function here, however, so you’ll need to keep an eye on it if you’re after a certain texture – for a chunky guacamole, for example. 

To find out just how well the blender performs, I used it to make a smoothie and a dip.  In my berry and avocado smoothie I used fine and tough ingredients and packed a handful of spinach, chopped avocado, frozen berries, a spoon of nut butter, honey, a splash of maple syrup and some almond milk into the cup. 

(Image credit: Future)

With its 24,000 RPM extractor blade, this blender prides itself in making a smoothie in one minute and this seemed to work well for me. The blade has a cyclonic action that is designed to force your ingredients down so that it can achieve the smooth blend of your dreams, and the 900-watt motor claims to create less aeration than the original Nutribullet so you have a purer consistency too. After one minute the mixture was very smooth and well blended. To make it even smoother and ensure the frozen berry seeds were nicely crushed I added another 30 seconds to the timing. 

When using a Nutribullet, the liquid should always be added last and the cup has a max line that you shouldn’t go over.  To stop the smoothie becoming too thick and also make sure all the ingredients got captured by the blade, I had to  experiment with how much almond milk to put inside. When there wasn’t enough liquid inside, I found myself having to shake the cup mid-blend to ensure everything got combined. 

To see how well the design could tackle thicker dips and nuts, I also used the device to make Roasted Walnut and Red Pepper Dip. The recipe includes whole walnuts, pepper, whole garlic cloves and olive oil. As a much thicker sauce, a shake of the cup 30 seconds in was again needed. I was impressed at how quickly these ingredients could be mixed to create a satisfying consistency for a dip, however.  

Performance: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)

SHOULD I BUY THE Nutribullet Pro 900 BLENDER?

I was very impressed by the design, performance and aesthetics of the Nutribullet Pro 900 blender and would recommend it for anyone wanting to make smoothies, pancakes and dips in a hurry. It does a great job at whizzing cold ingredients super smooth with a simple push, twist and start. To get smoother results, you simply twist and press down. 

I think this design is a particularly good buy for who already has a traditional blender and wants to prepare smaller quantities of their favorite drinks and snacks. But bear in mind this only has one speed setting.  Should you want to make chunkier dips and sauces, you’ll need to guestimate how long to blend for.

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Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System review: untethered performance

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System: one-minute review

The Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System is certainly one of the best Shark vacuums out there right now. In my opinion, it may also be among the best vacuums available.

There are certainly some caveats. The price tag, although reasonable compared to rivals, might appear high, plus it isn’t as powerful as some tethered models – an important consideration for those who like to deep clean from time to time.

Still, the Shark Cordless Detect Pro’s power is very good for a cordless vacuum. And since it can be easily disassembled into a handheld, not to mention the fact that it comes with a few attachments, it can be used in a variety of situations. The self-emptying base station, along with its large dust bag, is also a welcome part of the experience since it makes charging and storing the vacuum simple. While most of the best cordless vacuums somewhat fit that description, the majority don’t leave your floors smelling fresh. 

Overall, then, this is a capable cordless vacuum that most people will find more than delivers for their needs.

(Image credit: Future)

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System: Specs

(Image credit: Future)

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System: Price and availability

•  How much does it cost? $449.99 / £449.99 / AU$999.99 
•  When is it available? Available now 
•  Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK and Australia 

At $449.99 / £449.99 / AU$999.99, the Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System is unlikely to be the budget option for anyone. Of course, you can save a little by skipping the Auto-Empty base station, which brings the price down to $379.99 / £349 / AU$799.99. But, in my opinion, that isn’t enough of a reduction in price to do away with functionality that not only empties the dust bin for you, but charges and stores the vacuum, too. Without the base, you’ll actually have to find a place to plug in the vacuum each time.

Considering that the Tineco Pure One S11 – a cordless stick vacuum with a similar auto-detect feature – comes in at $399.99 / £269 / AU$699, for example, and is missing that self-empty base station, the Shark Detect Pro Cordless’ price tag isn’t bad.

You can certainly spend much more. For instance, the LG CordZero arrives with a self-empty base station that doubles as storage for $999 / AU$1,299 (about £785).

Value: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Future)

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System: Design

•  Easy to assemble and disassemble 
•  Large LED display 
•  Base station is discrete and hides the odor-neutralizer cartridge 

Adorned in an attractive white and gold colorway, the Shark Detect Pro Cordless follows the general outline of other such stick vacuums. The floorhead, with a single self-cleaning brushroll, features a strip of LED lights to illuminate any mess in the path of the cleaner. The stem is lightweight but large enough for decent-sized debris to pass through unencumbered, plus it also easily clips and unclips into the floorhead and handheld. Disassembling the vacuum takes just a press of a few buttons.

The handheld itself is the brains of the operation. To convey this fully, a sizable LED display as well as the two control buttons – one for power and one for mode – cover the top of it. This display is bordered by a ring of color that changes with the soil level.

As far as controls go, there are three modes to choose from: Eco, Detect, and Boost. While somewhat self-explanatory, the Detect mode became my go-to option, with the Shark Cordless Detect Pro adjusting its suction power according to the amount of dirt or debris it comes across. This does away with the need to switch from Eco to Max on a particularly dirty section, and then back again, in order to save battery.

One of the great things about cordless vacuums is the versatility of being able to remove the handheld and use it for not only more detailed spot cleaning, but also vacuuming the ceiling or upholstery, for example. And, with the couple of attachments Shark has included, I was able to do just that with this vacuum.

The self-emptying base station is fairly discrete, despite containing a 2L dust bag. It features a handle to not only hold the Shark Detect Pro Cordless for easy grab-and-go use, but to charge it as well.

In addition, this Shark Cordless vacuum takes advantage of the company’s odor neutralizer technology. Unlike the Shark Stratos corded vacuum I tested, the odor neutralizer cartridge is inserted into the base station, not the floorhead. How the vacuum still manages to spread that scent around to leave floors smelling fresh is beyond me – but it works.

Design: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System: Performance

•  Powerful… for a cordless vacuum 
•  Does well on edges and corners, but not going backwards 
•  A bit heavy when using overhead 

The performance of the Shark Detect Pro Cordless is pretty impressive for an untethered stick vacuum. If you’re hoping for suction comparable to that of the most robust corded vacuum cleaners out there then, sadly, cordless models aren’t quite there yet.

But that’s the price you pay for the convenience of cordless. Having tested this model right after the Shark Stratos corded model, it was obvious to see that the Detect Pro Cordless needed an extra pass to clean up extra dirty areas compared to the Stratos, not to mention the fact that it didn’t perform as well sucking up debris with the backward pass.

Nevertheless, I found performance more than acceptable, even in homes where the Shark Detect Pro Cordless might be the only vacuum cleaner. It was able to pick up fine dust as well as large debris without too much issue; I even managed to vacuum up trimmings off a Christmas tree (not just individual needles).

The Shark Detect Pro Cordless was able to get pretty close to the edges and corners of floors. And the LED lights on the floorhead made it easy to see if any mess remained to be cleaned up – at least on hard flooring.

(Image credit: Future)

I tested this vacuum across carpets, rugs, and different types of hard flooring, and found that it performed equally well across all surfaces. Getting under furniture was no hardship, as it’s possible to get the floorhead to essentially lay flat. 

Getting up high proved a cinch, too. I simply removed the floorhead and clipped on one of the attachments to remove cobwebs in the corners of rooms. The only real issue with using the Shark Detect Pro Cordless in handheld mode is its weight. Using it to clean the couch wasn’t a problem, but holding it over my head for extended periods of time did become tiring.

As for the self-emptying base station, it does a wonderful job of keeping the vacuum charged and accessible. It’s also quick with the self-emptying function; it pulls the contents of the dustbin into the bag in the basestation. Plus, it does so more quietly than using the actual vacuum (69dB vs 76dB during use).

Performance: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System: Battery

•  Around 60 minutes’ runtime in Eco mode 
•  Battery life drops significantly in other modes 

The 60 minutes that the Shark Detect Pro Cordless can muster is fairly impressive, although it isn’t quite out of this world – and, of course, that’s 60 minutes in Eco mode. When using the vacuum in Detect mode, for instance, the LED display was showing a single bar of battery life after about 20 minutes. If you have a big area to clean, you might have to do it in shifts if it’s particularly dirty.

Battery: 4 / 5

Shark Cordless Detect Pro Auto-Empty System: Report card

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested

I used the Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System for a few weeks. I used it on carpet, upholstery, hard flooring, and even ceilings. And, in the course of these different cleaning scenarios, I tried all the different attachments, as well as using just the handheld on its own. I tested the odor neutralizer to see (or smell) if it was a gimmick or worthy addition, plus paid attention to how well it cleaned edges, corners, and debris of all sizes.

I’ve tested a lot of gear over the years from laptops and audio equipment to vacuum cleaners and air fryers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test. 

Read more about how we test

Tested December 2023

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