Headline 2: Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand review: a speedy and stable 3-in-1 MagSafe charger
Headline 3: Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand review: a speedy and steadfast 3-in-1 MagSafe charger that's perfect for the chronically clumsy
Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand review
The Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand has a list price of $99.99 / $89.99 / AU$199.95, making it considerably cheaper than the Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe, which takes over half an hour longer to charge an iPhone 13 Pro. It's available to purchase from the official Anker site in the US, UK, and Australia and is also available at Amazon, but only in the US and UK at the time of writing.
I was very impressed when the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand charged up an iPhone 13 Pro in just 1 hour and 38 minutes thanks to Anker's signature wireless fast charging, Wireless PowerIQ. This makes it the fastest MagSafe charger I've tested, and I've tested a lot of them! It also proved the fastest at charging my Series 9 Apple Watch, taking just 1 hour and 4 minutes to juice it from 0% to 100%, making it a worthy contender to win a spot in our pick of the best iPhone chargers. It also had no problem charging AirPods Pro 2, and Motorola Moto Buds+ cases.
(Image credit: Future)
Although I like the black version I tested, in all honesty I prefer the look of the Shell White Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand. Still, it made an attractive addition to my desktop as I like its minimalist yet interesting aesthetic. However, quite quickly the circular base was starting to show dust, which made it somewhat less attractive. This may not be a bother for some but I wouldn't want to have to wipe down my charger regularly, and the silicone-type material of the earbuds charger seemed to become rather attached to the aforementioned dust, and wasn't keen on letting go.
It isn't exactly the most compact 3-in-1 charger you could buy though, with a base size of 5.5 x 5.5 inches / 140 x 140mm, so you'd need the space for it. The charger is available in Shell White and black on the official Anker site for the US and Australia, but it would appear it's only available in black for the UK, however, you can buy it in Shell White at Amazon UK.
(Image credit: Future)
Due to its wide base, I had no concerns about accidentally knocking this 3-in-1 stand over, and, even after some provoking, my phone just swiveled on the charger rather than falling off, which scored this charger some brownie points as I'm chronically clumsy. All three devices are easily accessed, unlike some other 3-in-1 chargers, such as the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Travel Wireless Charging Set, which hides the watch and earbuds chargers behind the MagSafe phone mount. One little niggle I had with it was the firmness of the hold when I tried to use my phone as it charged. It swivels more than other MagSafe chargers I've tried out, not to a ridiculous extent, but at times it proved a little irritating. It does, however, make it super easy to change the phone's orientation from portrait to landscape, so it's not all bad.
In a nutshell, though, the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand had a surprisingly fast charging time and was strong and sturdy enough to withstand my sometimes chaotic desk environment. While the price is higher than alternatives such as the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set, it has a more attractive aesthetic, provides easier access to all three devices, and charges a bit quicker too. If you want to look at other wireless charging options before making a decision, I recommend checking out our selection of the best wireless chargers to see what else is out there.
Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand review: Price & specs
Should I buy the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand?
Buy it if…
You want something a bit fancier If you're tired of boring black desktop charging sets, then this Anker 3-in-1 charger might be what you've been searching for. With a large circular base and its shiny silver post and charging arms, it makes for something a little different, without being too "out there".
You want a quick charger I was thoroughly pleased with the charging speeds delivered during testing. This is the fastest MagSafe charger I've tested so far, and trust me, I've tested a lot of them. If you want to juice up your iPhone or Apple Watch in under two hours then this is the charger for you, just make sure you're using the included plug for the best result.
Don't buy it if…
You want something compact As sturdy and efficient as this charger is, it may prove too much of a space invader for people who don't have much room to spare on their desk or nightstand. If this sounds familiar, I have a space-saving recommendation in the Also Consider section below.
Dust gets you down I can't comment on how noticeable it would be on the Shell White variant, but in the first few minutes of having the charger on my desk, I started spotting pesky specs of dust on the black circular base.
Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand review: Also consider
ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set A more compact solution to your desktop charging needs, this ESR charger features an earbud charger in the square base, a MagSafe charger on a post, and a clip-on watch charger behind. It's still a bit of a dust magnet, especially the shiny surface of the charging pad, but considering it only took fourteen minutes longer to charge an iPhone 13 Pro than the Anker charger, plus it's a fair bit cheaper, I think I can forgive that.View Deal
The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is a mainstay on our list of the best Kindles, and the new Paperwhite offers just enough improvements to keep the e-reader feeling fresh while still leaving me wanting a bit more. It’s a little brighter, a little sharper, and a lot faster, and it turns out that speed truly makes a difference if you read a lot.
The main factor behind your choice of e-reader is where you get your books. If you buy books from Amazon or subscribe to Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited service, the Kindle is your only choice, and the Kindle Paperwhite is the best Kindle for most people. It’s bright, durable, and even water-resistant enough to survive a splash of salt water if you want to read in the sand.
Of course, the color Kindle is here, but don’t look at the Kindle Colorsoft if you don’t yearn for color when you read. It’s hard to go back to black and white once you’ve seen it, and the Colorsoft costs a lot more than the Kindle Paperwhite.
The Amazon Kindle Colorsoft is basically a Paperwhite in color(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
That’s fine because the Kindle Paperwhite does everything you’d expect from a Kindle, no more and no less. If you want a bit more, my review sample was the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, which includes wireless charging and maxes out the storage. I didn’t once charge the Kindle wirelessly except to test that it works, but you can buy a dock from Amazon to prop your Kindle at your bedside and let it charge while it shows you the cover of the book you’re reading.
That’s if you pay a little extra for the Kindle Paperwhite without lockscreen ads. I’m not a fan of Amazon’s common lockscreen ad scheme. I don’t like my phone, tablet, or e-reader serving me ads as a privilege of ownership. It feels cynical, and even though you can save $20 / £10 (and why is it so much cheaper in the UK?!) by allowing Amazon to take over your Kindle lockscreen with advertisements, I’d rather see my book covers or even just Amazon’s pleasant reading-themed wallpapers. Thankfully, the Signature Edition doesn't have lockscreen ads.
If you get your books from the library (yes, your local library will lend you an e-book) or if you buy from a seller other than Amazon, you have more choices, but the Kindle Paperwhite is still one of the best. I wish it had real buttons to turn pages, like the Kobo Libra e-reader. Buttons just feel more reliable than tapping or swiping, especially if I’m in the tub and my fingers are soapy.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition exceeds other e-readers in its speed and responsiveness. Turning pages feels fast now, much faster than it was on older Kindle devices, and zooming into a chart or a picture happens almost as quickly as it would on a smartphone. I didn’t think a performance boost would make such a huge difference for a Kindle, but it’s really noticeable and makes the e-reader better.
Besides the library, Amazon’s Kindle book store is also the most robust place to buy books. You’ll find every title you want, and the store is great at making suggestions. I was slightly disappointed by the Kindle Unlimited content offering, though, so I wouldn’t recommend the subscription service unless reading is your passion and not just a pastime.
The new Kindle Paperwhite is an easy e-reader to recommend because the Paperwhite wasn’t broken, and Amazon didn’t fix it. It’s just a bit better, but it does everything I need an electronic book to do. The only thing I miss is color, and I suspect that the next Paperwhite upgrade that comes along in a few years will satisfy that craving.
Kindle Paperwhite SE review: price and availability
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
$159.99 / £159.99 for the Kindle Paperwhite with 16GB of storage, with ads
$199.99 / £189.99 for the Signature Edition with 32GB and wireless charging
No Australia launch date yet
The Kindle Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition are a bit more expensive than the Kindle Paperwhite from 2021, and you don’t really get anything new. It’s a better device, to be sure, with a brighter screen and a more responsive interface, but I don’t like that it’s creeping up in price, especially since it’s an excellent vessel for Amazon to sell you more Kindle books.
Never fear! Because the Kindle Paperwhite will likely get discounted often. I’m finishing this review just before the 2024 Black Friday deals season starts, and the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition already has its first discount: it’s $45 / £35 off at Amazon. That’s a good start! I’m sure we’ll see this e-reader drop in price every time Amazon has a sale day, or a holiday, or a day that ends in 'y.'
Is it worth the price? Compared to what? There aren’t any other e-readers that synchronize perfectly with Amazon’s book store, unless you buy a more expensive device that runs Android and can load the Kindle app. That’s a bridge too far, on my reading journey.
The Kobo Clara Color costs less than a Kindle Paperwhite(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
You can find a Kobo Clara e-reader with a smaller display for less money; you can even get a Kobo Clara Color e-reader for less than a Kindle Paperwhite, let alone the Signature Edition Paperwhite. The Clara has a smaller display, and you should definitely explore Kobo’s book library before you commit if you’re making a switch.
Value score: 4 / 5
Kindle Paperwhite SE review: Specs
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Kindle Paperwhite SE review: design
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
Looks nicer with Signature Edition metallic paint
No page turning buttons, and power button is poorly placed
The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is a very simple e-reader, and Amazon hasn’t improved the design at all except to offer some brighter paint options, especially if you spring for the Signature Edition with its metallic paint. That’s the review sample I have, and I like the look much more than the basic matte black finish, as you’ll find on the Paperwhite and the Kindle Colorsoft.
What happened to Kindles that felt premium? The Kindle Oasis lingered for years as a premium model, clad in metal with real page-turn buttons. I guess Amazon gave that all up to cut prices, or maybe readers just didn’t want to pay more for a luxurious electronic book. In any case, I hope Amazon offers an alternative to the bland plastic Kindle Paperwhite slab in the future.
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition from the side(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
I also hope Amazon brings back page buttons because pressing a button is easier than swiping or tapping on the correct spot. If I held the Kindle Paperwhite SE too high, I’d open a menu instead of turning the page. Just give me a button.
There's only one button on the Kindle Paperwhite SE, and it’s the unfortunately placed power button. If you rest the Paperwhite on a desk while reading or rest it heavily on a finger for balance, you might turn off the screen by accident.
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is certainly simple; I just wish there were more elegance to be found.
Design score: 2 / 5
Kindle Paperwhite SE review: display
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
E Ink Carta 1300 display
Full set of white and amber LEDs for reading at night
The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition uses the latest E Ink black and white Carta 1300 display, which doesn’t offer more sharpness than past Kindle screens, but the Kindle already looks great when it’s displaying text and writing. Pictures look good enough in 16 levels of grey, but if you want better graphics, you should go for the Kindle Colorsoft.
The display does an impressive job keeping up with the improved performance inside. I expected to see a lot more ghosting and residual characters as I zoomed in and out of a page, but the Paperwhite SE gave me a lighter version of my screen for panning, then flashed briefly and gave me a darker, final version when I was steady.
The Kindle Paperwhite SE can get plenty bright, so be warned that the incredible 12 weeks of battery life only applies when you are reading at half brightness. If you are in a well-lit room you won’t need any light at all, but reading before bed is my personal habit, so I use the light frequently. There’s a full set of amber lights and white LEDs inside so that you can eliminate all the blue light before bedtime.
Display score: 4 / 5
Kindle Paperwhite SE review: software
The Kindle has direct access to Goodreads to rate your books(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Amazon’s Kindle software keeps things very simple
Better performance makes menus and libraries move faster
If you buy books through Amazon, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition does a perfect job delivering those books to your device. The Kindle can synchronize your progress easily if you read across multiple devices. It can also report your reading to Goodreads automatically or connect you to the social service to write your own reviews.
There isn’t much more to the Kindle Paperwhite SE. If you have books from other sources, you can connect the Kindle Paperwhite to your computer directly or just synchronize through Amazon’s web-based software.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
There is a web browser, but it’s dreadfully simple, maybe thankfully so. You won’t find yourself distracted and browsing your favorite websites on this e-reader. I could barely get TechRadar.com to load beyond some text boxes.
The big thing that I’m missing with Kindle software is the ability to annotate my books right on the page. The Kobo Libra can use a stylus to take notes on a book. Not just highlighting or sticky notes but actually drawing in the margins and on the page. It’s a nifty trick that Amazon really needs to adopt, especially for the Kindle Scribe.
User experience score: 4 / 5
Kindle Paperwhite SE review: performance
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Surprisingly fast performance on E Ink
Improved scrolling, moves faster than before
Amazon gave the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition a dual-core processor inside, which makes this electronic book more powerful than the Apollo 11 lunar lander. That means it can turn pages very quickly. I joke, but in fact, the difference is noticeable if you’ve ever owned a Kindle and been annoyed by slow page turns.
The only place where the Kindle still lags behind modern technology is in touch sensitivity. The E Ink display is not very sensitive, and I still felt a delay between tapping the screen, like when I needed to enter my Wi-Fi password, and when the character appeared. Menus were faster when I was scrolling, but still not totally reliable when tapping through them.
Frankly, there’s not much more I could ask for with Kindle performance. I’ve seen E Ink displays that try to do a lot more, and they overcomplicate simple technology like e-paper. I’m happy that Amazon made the interface more responsive. The next frontier is touch response.
Performance score: 4 / 5
Kindle Paperwhite SE review: battery
USB-C charging or go wireless with the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Excellent battery life, if you follow the rules
Avid readers will get a week of battery life or more
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition will last for 12 weeks on a single charge, if you’re a casual reader. Amazon’s 12-week claim calls for 30 minutes of reading with the screen at just under half brightness. If you read all day in bright sunshine, the Kindle Paperwhite SE might last longer. If you read in the dark New England winter nights, the Paperwhite will need to charge more often.
The good news is that you will get over 40 hours of screen time between charges, and the battery won’t die if you put the book down for a few weeks. If you read at a good pace, you’ll be able to read a couple of books before you need to charge the Kindle Paperwhite, and that’s exceptional for any modern electronic device.
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition features wireless charging. I like the wireless option as an elegant solution for keeping your Kindle topped up on a bedside stand, but it’s not essential at all.
Battery score: 5 / 5
Should I buy the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition?
Buy it if...
You want a new Kindle Amazon hasn’t given us a proper new Kindle for reading in years. Time to rejoice! New Kindles have arrived.
You’re a serious reader You can buy the cheaper Amazon Kindle, but serious readers want brighter displays with better battery life, and the Paperwhite is the one.
You’ll be reading in harsh, beach-like conditions The Kindle Paperwhite is IP67 rated, so it can resist sand and even salt-water (with a proper rinse after).
Don't buy it if...
You read comics or graphic novels If you don’t care about color, don’t worry about the Kindle Colorsoft. But who doesn’t care about color?!
You want to take notes on your books E-readers from Kobo can write directly on the pages, and there’s always the Kindle Scribe if you need a pen.
You expect a real web browser The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite still keeps things simple. This device is for reading without distractions, not doomscrolling.
Also consider
Kobo Clara Colour You can save a bit of money and even check out a color E Ink display with the Kobo Clara Color. As long as your books aren’t all on Kindle, it’s worth a look. Read our in-depthKobo Clara Color review
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) The base model Kindle Paperwhite doesn't have wireless charging, which I never needed, and it comes with only 16GB of storage, which is more than enough for most avid readers.
How I tested the Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
Testing period - three weeks
Subscribed to Kindle Unlimited and Comixology
Tested books, comics, audiobooks, and bathtub reading
I used the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition for three weeks before I published this review. I read two novels, multiple short stories, Japanese manga, and a number of other materials, including cookbooks and magazine.
I used the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition for listening to audiobooks from Audible, and for listening while I read the same book. I used the Paperwhite in the bathtub to test its water resistance, and because reading in the bathtub is the main reason I like to review Kindle Paperwhite devices.
I did not have a dedicated wireless charging dock, but I tried charging the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition with a Qi-compatible wireless charging adapter that attaches magnetically to the back of a smartphone. Before my review period I charged the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition using the USB-C port, and I only charged it one more time before this review was completed, even though I read daily and usually for more than an hour a day.
I used the Kindle Paperwhite without a case, and the photos in this review reflect its condition after daily use without a case, which is pretty good. I subscribed to Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited service and Comixology, and I also loaded books into my collection through the Overdrive library borrowing system and my local library.
The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is a mainstay on our list of the best Kindles, and the new Paperwhite offers just enough improvements to keep the e-reader feeling fresh while still leaving me wanting a bit more. It’s a little brighter, a little sharper, and a lot faster, and it turns out that speed truly makes a difference if you read a lot.
The main factor behind your choice of e-reader is where you get your books. If you buy books from Amazon or subscribe to Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited service, the Kindle is your only choice, and the Kindle Paperwhite is the best Kindle for most people. It’s bright, durable, and even water-resistant enough to survive a splash of salt water if you want to read in the sand.
Of course, the color Kindle is here, but don’t look at the Kindle Colorsoft if you don’t yearn for color when you read. It’s hard to go back to black and white once you’ve seen it, and the Colorsoft costs a lot more than the Kindle Paperwhite.
The Amazon Kindle Colorsoft is basically a Paperwhite in color(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
That’s fine because the Kindle Paperwhite does everything you’d expect from a Kindle, no more and no less. If you want a bit more, my review sample was the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, which includes wireless charging and maxes out the storage. I didn’t once charge the Kindle wirelessly except to test that it works, but you can buy a dock from Amazon to prop your Kindle at your bedside and let it charge while it shows you the cover of the book you’re reading.
That’s if you pay a little extra for the Kindle Paperwhite without lockscreen ads. I’m not a fan of Amazon’s common lockscreen ad scheme. I don’t like my phone, tablet, or e-reader serving me ads as a privilege of ownership. It feels cynical, and even though you can save $20 / £10 (and why is it so much cheaper in the UK?!) by allowing Amazon to take over your Kindle lockscreen with advertisements, I’d rather see my book covers or even just Amazon’s pleasant reading-themed wallpapers.
If you get your books from the library (yes, your local library will lend you an e-book) or if you buy from a seller other than Amazon, you have more choices, but the Kindle Paperwhite is still one of the best. I wish it had real buttons to turn pages, like the Kobo Libra e-reader. Buttons just feel more reliable than tapping or swiping, especially if I’m in the tub and my fingers are soapy.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The Kindle Paperwhite exceeds other e-readers in its speed and responsiveness. Turning pages feels fast now, much faster than it was on older Kindle devices, and zooming into a chart or a picture happens almost as quickly as it would on a smartphone. I didn’t think a performance boost would make such a huge difference for a Kindle, but it’s really noticeable and makes the e-reader better.
Besides the library, Amazon’s Kindle book store is also the most robust place to buy books. You’ll find every title you want, and the store is great at making suggestions. I was slightly disappointed by the Kindle Unlimited content offering, though, so I wouldn’t recommend the subscription service unless reading is your passion and not just a pastime.
The new Kindle Paperwhite is an easy e-reader to recommend because the Paperwhite wasn’t broken, and Amazon didn’t fix it. It’s just a bit better, but it does everything I need an electronic book to do. The only thing I miss is color, and I suspect that the next Paperwhite upgrade that comes along in a few years will satisfy that craving.
Kindle Colorsoft Signature review: price and availability
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
$159.99 / £159.99 for the Kindle Paperwhite with 16GB of storage, with ads
$199.99 / £189.99 for the Signature Edition with 32GB and wireless charging
No Australia launch date yet
The Kindle Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition are a bit more expensive than the Kindle Paperwhite from 2021, and you don’t really get anything new. It’s a better device, to be sure, with a brighter screen and a more responsive interface, but I don’t like that it’s creeping up in price, especially since it’s an excellent vessel for Amazon to sell you more Kindle books.
Never fear! Because the Kindle Paperwhite will likely get discounted often. I’m finishing this review just before the 2024 Black Friday deals season starts, and the Kindle Paperwhite already has its first discount: it’s $30 / £35 off at Amazon. That’s a good start! I’m sure we’ll see this e-reader drop in price every time Amazon has a sale day, or a holiday, or a day that ends in 'y.'
Is it worth the price? Compared to what? There aren’t any other e-readers that synchronize perfectly with Amazon’s book store, unless you buy a more expensive device that runs Android and can load the Kindle app. That’s a bridge too far, on my reading journey.
The Kobo Clara Color costs less than a Kindle Paperwhite(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
You can find a Kobo Clara e-reader with a smaller display for less money; you can even get a Kobo Clara Color e-reader for less than a Kindle Paperwhite. The Clara has a smaller display, and you should definitely explore Kobo’s book library before you commit if you’re making a switch.
Value score: 4 / 5
Kindle Colorsoft Signature review: Specs
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Kindle Colorsoft Signature review: design
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
Looks nicer with Signature Edition metallic paint
No page turning buttons, and power button is poorly placed
The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is a very simple e-reader, and Amazon hasn’t improved the design at all except to offer some brighter paint options, especially if you spring for the Signature Edition with its metallic paint. That’s the review sample I have, and I like the look much more than the basic matte black finish, as you’ll find on the Paperwhite and the Kindle Colorsoft.
What happened to Kindles that felt premium? The Kindle Oasis lingered for years as a premium model, clad in metal with real page-turn buttons. I guess Amazon gave that all up to cut prices, or maybe readers just didn’t want to pay more for a luxurious electronic book. In any case, I hope Amazon offers an alternative to the bland plastic Kindle Paperwhite slab in the future.
The Kindle Paperwhite from the side(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
I also hope Amazon brings back page buttons because pressing a button is easier than swiping or tapping on the correct spot. If I held the Kindle Paperwhite too high, I’d open a menu instead of turning the page. Just give me a button.
There's only one button on the Kindle Paperwhite, and it’s the unfortunately placed power button. If you rest the Kindle Paperwhite on a desk while reading or rest it heavily on a finger for balance, you might turn off the screen by accident.
The Kindle Paperwhite is certainly simple; I just wish there were more elegance to be found.
Design score: 2 / 5
Kindle Colorsoft Signature review: display
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
E Ink Carta 1300 display
Full set of white and amber LEDs for reading at night
The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite uses the latest E Ink black and white Carta 1300 display, which doesn’t offer more sharpness than past Kindle screens, but the Kindle already looks great when it’s displaying text and writing. Pictures look good enough in 16 levels of grey, but if you want better graphics, you should go for the Kindle Colorsoft.
The display does an impressive job keeping up with the improved performance inside. I expected to see a lot more ghosting and residual characters as I zoomed in and out of a page, but the Paperwhite gave me a lighter version of my screen for panning, then flashed briefly and gave me a darker, final version when I was steady.
The Kindle Paperwhite can get plenty bright, so be warned that the incredible 12 weeks of battery life only applies when you are reading at half brightness. If you are in a well-lit room you won’t need any light at all, but reading before bed is my personal habit, so I use the light frequently. There’s a full set of amber lights and white LEDs inside so that you can eliminate all the blue light before bedtime.
Display score: 4 / 5
Kindle Colorsoft Signature review: software
The Kindle has direct access to Goodreads to rate your books(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Amazon’s Kindle software keeps things very simple
Better performance makes menus and libraries move faster
If you buy books through Amazon, the Kindle Paperwhite does a perfect job delivering those books to your device. The Kindle can synchronize your progress easily if you read across multiple devices. It can also report your reading to Goodreads automatically or connect you to the social service to write your own reviews.
There isn’t much more to the Kindle Paperwhite. If you have books from other sources, you can connect the Kindle Paperwhite to your computer directly or just synchronize through Amazon’s web-based software.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
There is a web browser, but it’s dreadfully simple, maybe thankfully so. You won’t find yourself distracted and browsing your favorite websites on this e-reader. I could barely get TechRadar.com to load beyond some text boxes.
The big thing that I’m missing with Kindle software is the ability to annotate my books right on the page. The Kobo Libra can use a stylus to take notes on a book. Not just highlighting or sticky notes but actually drawing in the margins and on the page. It’s a nifty trick that Amazon really needs to adopt, especially for the Kindle Scribe.
User experience score: 4 / 5
Kindle Colorsoft Signature review: performance
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Surprisingly fast performance on E Ink
Improved scrolling, moves faster than before
Amazon gave the Kindle Paperwhite a dual-core processor inside, which makes this electronic book more powerful than the Apollo 11 lunar lander. That means it can turn pages very quickly. I joke, but in fact, the difference is noticeable if you’ve ever owned a Kindle and been annoyed by slow page turns.
The only place where the Kindle still lags behind modern technology is in touch sensitivity. The E Ink display is not very sensitive, and I still felt a delay between tapping the screen, like when I needed to enter my Wi-Fi password, and when the character appeared. Menus were faster when I was scrolling, but still not totally reliable when tapping through them.
Frankly, there’s not much more I could ask for with Kindle performance. I’ve seen E Ink displays that try to do a lot more, and they overcomplicate simple technology like e-paper. I’m happy that Amazon made the interface more responsive. The next frontier is touch response.
Performance score: 4 / 5
Kindle Colorsoft Signature review: battery
USB-C charging or go wireless with the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Excellent battery life, if you follow the rules
Avid readers will get a week of battery life or more
The Kindle Paperwhite will last for 12 weeks on a single charge, if you’re a casual reader. Amazon’s 12-week claim calls for 30 minutes of reading with the screen at just under half brightness. If you read all day in bright sunshine, the Kindle Paperwhite might last longer. If you read in the dark New England winter nights, the Paperwhite will need to charge more often.
The good news is that you will get over 40 hours of screen time between charges, and the battery won’t die if you put the book down for a few weeks. If you read at a good pace, you’ll be able to read a couple of books before you need to charge the Kindle Paperwhite, and that’s exceptional for any modern electronic device.
My review sample was a Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, which comes with wireless charging. I like the wireless option as an elegant solution for keeping your Kindle topped up on a bedside stand, but it’s not essential at all.
Battery score: 5 / 5
Should I buy the Kindle Colorsoft Signature?
Buy it if...
You want a new Kindle Amazon hasn’t given us a proper new Kindle for reading in years. Time to rejoice! New Kindles have arrived.
You’re a serious reader You can buy the cheaper Amazon Kindle, but serious readers want brighter displays with better battery life, and the Paperwhite is the one.
You’ll be reading in harsh, beach-like conditions The Kindle Paperwhite is IP67 rated, so it can resist sand and even salt-water (with a proper rinse after).
Don't buy it if...
You read comics or graphic novels If you don’t care about color, don’t worry about the Kindle Colorsoft. But who doesn’t care about color?!
You want to take notes on your books E-readers from Kobo can write directly on the pages, and there’s always the Kindle Scribe if you need a pen.
You expect a real web browser The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite still keeps things simple. This device is for reading without distractions, not doomscrolling.
Also consider
Kobo Clara Colour You can save a bit of money and even check out a color E Ink display with the Kobo Clara Color. As long as your books aren’t all on Kindle, it’s worth a look. Read our in-depthKobo Clara Color review
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature (2024) The Kindle Paperwhite Signature gives you twice the storage and wireless charging, plus nice metallic paint and no ads. It might be worth the upgrade. Check out theKindle Paperwhite Signature Edition at Amazon
How I tested the Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
Testing period - three weeks
Subscribed to Kindle Unlimited and Comixology
Tested books, comics, audiobooks, and bathtub reading
I used the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition for three weeks before I published this review. I read two novels, multiple short stories, Japanese manga, and a number of other materials, including cookbooks and magazine.
I used the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition for listening to audiobooks from Audible, and for listening while I read the same book. I used the Paperwhite in the bathtub to test its water resistance, and because reading in the bathtub is the main reason I like to review Kindle Paperwhite devices.
I did not have a dedicated wireless charging dock, but I tried charging the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition with a Qi-compatible wireless charging adapter that attaches magnetically to the back of a smartphone. Before my review period I charged the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition using the USB-C port, and I only charged it one more time before this review was completed, even though I read daily and usually for more than an hour a day.
I used the Kindle Paperwhite without a case, and the photos in this review reflect its condition after daily use without a case, which is pretty good. I subscribed to Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited service and Comixology, and I also loaded books into my collection through the Overdrive library borrowing system and my local library.
Moana 2 is not the follow-up we expected, as it was originally meant to be a Disney Plus show and instead arrived as a feature film. I must admit it was lovely seeing it on the big screen, especially during a gloomy December evening in London, but I can't help but imagine what a full series would've looked like.
Personally, I rather like the idea of an entire series dedicated to Hei Hei, a la Forky Asks a Question which centers on the much-loved toy fork character from Toy Story 4. An eight-episode series about a stupid chicken is right up my street.
I did have high hopes going into this movie, and I am happy to say that most of my expectations were met. Such bright and beautiful visuals are always a welcome treat. For example, I am fascinated by how well they seem to animate water. With this in mind, I would encourage you to see this on a big screen or at least have a great at-home setup for maximum immersion, as it's easy to find yourself swept away to the island of Motunui and what lies beyond.
Three years later...
(Image credit: Disney)
Moana 2 picks up three years after the first movie, where Moana is still fully connected to the ocean she adores so much. When she receives an unexpected call from her ancestors, she assembles a crew as a wayfinder where she hopes to track down the hidden island of Motufetu, reconnecting the people of the ocean once again.
As ever, she is enthusiastic about the mission, perilous as it may be, and would have been quite happy going off and doing it all by herself. She is encouraged to form a crew instead, and this merry band of misfits is thoroughly entertaining to watch. So much so, I think it will be worth rewatching when it arrives on Disney Plus.
The four-person crew is made up of Moana, Moni (Hualālai Chung), who is a superfan of the demigod Maui, Loto (Rose Matafeo), who is an engineer of sorts, and Kele (David Fane), a farmer who is grumpy and not massively thrilled to be recruited. This mismatch of personalities is excellent fun, resulting in some expected chaos, especially when you throw in Hei Hei and Pua. They say to never work with animals for a reason, right?
I really loved Moana's crew and all the performances. Still, one that stood out to me the most was Moana's little sister Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda), who stole the show despite her limited screen time thanks to her feisty, lovable personality. If Moana 3 does happen, I'd certainly like to see more of her!
Exploring familiar shores
(Image credit: Disney Plus)
Along the way, they do locate Maui, of course, because Moana simply would not be complete without Dwayne Johnson's cocky, reckless demigod figure. When Moni finally meets Maui, there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
While the plot of Moana 2 is centered around finding a new, long-lost island, it's quite ironic that many of the beats feel similar to what we've seen before. This is a journey we have undertaken as viewers, but I didn't mind following along for a second time!
Going on a voyage with Moana is always wonderful, I adore the songs, the atmosphere, everything about it. Even though we didn't quite reach the memorable heights of "You're Welcome", I have had some of the songs stuck in my head this week, especially "What Could Be Better Than This?", so it's not like any of the songs were complete duds.
While predictable in places, there is plenty of action, especially when it comes to the third act, where I did actually start crying, the mark of any good Disney movie, in my opinion. If I'm not sobbing into my popcorn, I do find myself kind of disappointed. There is also more than room for a follow-up movie, and I sincerely hope it happens.
Just give me more Hei Hei next time, please, I really do love him!
The Steelseries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 is a premium gaming keyboard with analog switches, designed to provide the most accurate and tweakable gaming experience possible.
It certainly looks the part: its understated appearance doesn’t scream gaming prowess, but when you peer further, the quality is evident from every angle.
The chassis is relatively thick but not as weighty as you might expect, and it feels solid and expertly put together, easily among the best gaming keyboards around. The same is true of the wrist pad and the stock double-shot PBT keycaps, which have a slight but smooth texture that’s satisfying to touch.
The inbuilt Smart Screen sits in the top right corner, and can be used to select profiles, change the global actuation point and toggle Rapid Trigger. It can also be customized to display information pertaining to your system or popular games and apps. You can even upload your own images and GIFs too.
Further customizations can be made via Steelseries peripheral software, GG. Here, you can tinker with the actuation points further, on a global or key-by-key basis. You can also set functions to trigger on press or release, and add two binds to a single key, with each triggered at different actuation points of your choosing.
It’s a shame, though, that GG provides no visual feedback when making such adjustments, and there’s no option to emulate the joysticks or triggers of a controller, as can be done on some other analog keyboards, such as the Turtle Beach Vulcan 2 TKL Pro.
However, the gaming performance of the Apex Pro makes up for this omission. The switches are extremely responsive yet offer enough feedback to make hitting actuation points easy. The relatively compact layout also makes the bottom row accessible, as does the sloped nature of these keys. All keycaps are also nicely indented, making for secure presses. The only gripe I have is with the short, flat wrist rest, which caused my palm to hang off the edge when in the WASD position.
I didn’t find the Apex Pro to be as amenable for typing. However, I generally prefer shallow keycaps to glide around on, so those who prefer thicker keycaps may have no issue here.
The Apex Pro is expensive, costing the same as the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro, another analog offering. But with the high price tag comes supreme build quality and performance, and although it misses out on a few analog tweaks, it’s still well worth your consideration.
(Image credit: Future)
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 review: price and availability
$219 / £209 (about AU$336)
Available now in black
Same price as Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless
The Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 costs $219 / £209 (about AU$336) and is available now. It comes in one colorway, black. It also includes a wrist rest and a keycap puller, with Steelseries selling replacement keycaps on its website.
Unsurprisingly, it’s less expensive than the wireless variant, which costs $269 – but as well as ditching the wires, that model offers multiple connectivity modes, meaning you can easily switch it between multiple devices.
The Apex Pro is certainly towards the top end of the wired gaming keyboard market. It’s the same price as the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless, for instance, which uses Hall-effect analog technology as well. That board can also be tweaked using Razer Synapse, the brand’s excellent, feature-packed peripheral software.
If you’re after a more budget-friendly analog keyboard, then the Turtle Beach Vulcan 2 TKL Pro is a possible contender. Unlike the Apex Pro, it offers controller emulation, although its switches aren’t as precise as we would’ve liked for this purpose. Even though it has its issues, it’s still one to consider.
Value: 3 / 5
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 review: specs
(Image credit: Future)
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 review: design and features
Superlative build quality
Useful inbuilt screen
Some analog tweaks missing
The Apex Pro is a fairly imposing slab, with a thick yet sleek chassis, and its muted looks belie its gaming intentions; the RGB lighting is about the only giveaway in this regard.
The build quality is where the Apex Pro really stands out, though. It’s quite weighty, although not as heavy as you might expect, but every material and joint is exquisite. There’s also a handy compartment underneath housing the keycap puller, with a rubber flap to close it that works well.
The double-shot PBT keycaps feel premium to the touch, with a slight yet smooth texture. The overall layout is reasonably compact, but I didn’t have any issues with mispresses.
The Apex Pro also features Steelseries’ own modifier key, called the Meta key. This allows you to perform various shortcuts, such as adjusting the actuation point and selecting profile slots.
Such alterations can also be made via the Smart Screen. This uses a black and white OLED display, with navigation controlled via a scroll wheel and a small button below – both of which are just as well engineered as the rest of the Apex Pro.
You can set the global actuation point from anywhere between 0.1mm and 4mm, and toggle Rapid Trigger. The Smart Screen can also be used to display certain system information, including workloads for the CPU, GPU and RAM, which is very useful. In-game information can be displayed too, with many popular games having their own default layouts, including those for Counter-Strike 2, Minecraft, and League of Legends. You can even upload your own images and GIFs to display.
(Image credit: Future)
Further actuation settings can be adjusted in SteelSeris’ GG software. You can change the actuation of individual keys, and set keys to trigger on press or release. There’s also a dual actuation mode, letting you bind two functions to a single key, each triggered at certain actuation points of your choosing.
Other rebinding options include those for common shortcuts, media playback and system-level functions, although there aren’t as many on the latter front as some other peripheral tools offer. You can also customize the information the Smart Screen displays with a pleasing amount of depth and detail, selecting the timings for when certain information is displayed and what triggers it.
In Counter-Strike 2, for example, you can view your health, as well as your K/D ratio at the end of each round. As well as games, some apps are also integrated, such as Discord, which can display messages.
Overall, GG is easy to navigate and responsive. One aspect that is disappointing, though, is the lack of visual feedback when adjusting settings, which would’ve been useful when setting actuation points to see how your inputs actually translate in real time.
Design & features: 4 / 5
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 review: performance
Excellent keycaps and switches
Actuation points easy to hit
Wrist rest issues
Put simply, the Apex Pro is a joy to use. The damping of the switches is superb, feeling incredibly satisfying to use while still being snappy enough for fast movements. The indentations of the keycaps also makes them secure and easy to use, and the bottom row is easy to hit with your thumb and little fingers, thanks to the slope of these keys and the aforementioned compact layout.
Hitting certain actuation points is also much easier than I’ve experienced with other analog keyboards, as there’s enough feedback to get a good feel as to how far down you’ve pressed. Rapid trigger also works brilliantly, letting you make those twitchy movements even quicker, by dynamically raising the actuation point when repeated presses are registered.
(Image credit: Future)
My chief nag from an ergonomic standpoint, though, is with the wrist rest. Given the aforementioned thickness of the Apex Pro’s chassis, I found the rest was definitely needed. However, since it’s quite short and provides very little slope, I found that the edge of my palm would hang awkwardly off the end when in the WASD position.
Also, when it comes to typing, I didn’t find the Apex Pro to be easiest to use. However, I should say that I mostly prefer shallow, laptop-style keyboards, as I find them easier to glide around on, which the stock keycaps on the Apex Pro are not particularly conducive to. But if you’re someone who prefers thicker keycaps for typing, then you’ll likely not have an issue here.
Performance: 4.5/ 5
Should I buy the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3?
Buy it if…
You want precise analog control The analog switches are a dream, providing plenty of feedback for accurate actuation-point hitting.
You want the best gaming performance Aside from that analog control, the switches are snappy when needs be, so there’s no gaming situation that catches it out.
Don’t buy it if…
You want to use it with multiple devices Since there’s only a wired connection, you can’t easily hotswap between multiple devices, as you can with the wireless variant.
You want to emulate a controller Despite the analog switches, you can’t emulate controller joysticks or triggers (not natively anyway).
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 review: also consider
Razer Huntsman V2 Analog If you have your heart set on an analog keyboard, then the Razer Huntsman V2 Analog is a worthy choice (it’s our pick as the best gaming keyboard around, after all). With its excellent performance and myriad of customization options courtesy of Razer Synapse, you can’t go far wrong with this board. And since the release of version 3, the V2 can be found for a good price. Read our Razer Huntsman V2 Analog review.
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 For $50 more, you can get the wireless version of the Apex Pro TKL, which helps to eliminate the clutter from your desk, and allows you to do some sofa gaming too. And since it features Bluetooth and wired options in addition to the 2.4GHz dongle, you can use it with multiple devices and switch between them with ease.
How I tested the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3
Tested for several days
Used for gaming, work, and general use
Over 10 years of PC gaming experience
I tested the Apex Pro for several days and used it to game, work, and browse. I used both with and without the included wrist rest.
I played games such as Counter-Strike 2, which is a great test for a keyboard’s responsiveness and accuracy. I also made sure to try out as many features as possible, and tinker with as many settings as I could using the GG software.
I have been PC gaming for over a decade, and I have used plenty of keyboards during that time. I have also reviewed a number of keyboards with varying price tags, sizes, and switch types.
Bose clearly likes the name 'QuietComfort Earbuds', because this is the third pair of earbuds to which the brand assigned the name – and that's not even counting suffixes! To clear up confusion, we've slapped the '2024' on the end up in the headline and our section headers. Got it? Good.
Following on from 2020's Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, 2022's Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 and 2023's Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, these could be called 'Gen 3' or simply '3', but Bose has decided to simplify things but dropping the descriptor entirely. For all intents and purposes, then, these are the new QCE (until newer ones come out).
It's no wonder that audio powerhouse Bose loves this name, though, because it's a very literal description of the two principal selling points of its earbuds. When you wear them, things are quiet (because of the Active Noise Cancellation) and comfortable (because of the design).
First up, the ANC: Bose's earbuds have noise cancellation that beats out anything else I've tried at this price – and many earbuds that cost much more. It completely eradicates all but the most incessant and loud background noises, and its Aware mode is fantastically smart in isolating and amplifying voices while hiding other sounds.
I was surprised by just how dramatic the two modes were. On a stormy day, on Aware mode, I could hear someone talking to me perfectly but didn't hear a peep from the trees which were almost blown at a 90-degree angle. Turn on full Quiet mode and I couldn't even tell if someone was talking to me.
Onto 'comfort', then. Again the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds knock it out of the park, with a snug and sturdy fit. Bose has brought back its stability bands from previous models, but has redesigned them to look slightly less like velociraptor talons – these ridges ensure the buds stick firmly in your ear. During testing, I was constantly surprised by just how secure the earbuds felt; in fact near the end I did an 8km run and never did the earbuds come close to falling out.
But the name isn't all, and the Bose have a few other tricks up their sleeve: they sound great, the battery life is surprisingly good, the app has plenty of features and the price is pretty low all things considered.
A few minor annoyances detract from the experience of using the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, but not by much. I found the case a little too big, and it really bulged out of my pocket. Plus, the buds support the SBC and AAC codecs for music streaming, but audiophiles will miss the likes of aptX, FLAC and WMA.
My personal biggest gripe, though, was that the earbuds' voice controls were far too sensitive, to the point that other people nearby me would accidentally control my earbuds when saying words similar to the voice commands. This was easily remedied by me turning the feature off, but it's a shame for there to be a feature that I can't use.
These issues aside, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are some of the best mid-range buds you can buy for the price, and might even sway you into spending your hard-earned cash here, instead of on something plenty more expensive but not that much better.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 review: Price and release date
(Image credit: Future)
Unveiled in October 2024
Sells for $179 / £179 (roughly AU$270)
Bose announced the QuietComfort Earbuds in October 2024, following the biannual release schedule of the other two earbuds of the same name.
You can buy the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds for $179 / £179 (roughly AU$270, though I couldn’t find them on sale in Australia). This price puts them as more affordable alternatives to the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, which sell for $299 / £299 / AU$449.
Ignoring the premium alternatives, the ‘standard’ QuietComforts’ price places them in the mid-range earbuds sector – you can’t call them 'cheap' but they’re certainly not expensive either, bringing some top-end features to a lower price point. Importantly, they're about $/£100 cheaper than their two namesakes.
To make the most of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, you need to use the bespoke Bose QCE headphones app – not any of the other Bose apps on your chosen app repository – and I’d strongly recommend you download it because it’s your ticket to most of the headphones’ features.
Let's deal with the first half of the QuietComfort name. Bose knocks the 'quiet' bit out of the park – it’s almost like the company names its products based on its fantastic noise cancellation. The QCE use a similar Active Noise Cancellation tech to Bose’s other products, many of which we rate as the best ANC earbuds. In fact, the company’s website implies, but doesn’t go so far as to explicitly say, that it’s exactly the same tech.
Either way the ANC is fantastic, drowning out sounds which I thought would be impervious to the best ANC-ing; no more chatty office spaces, rattling of train carriage or roar of wind in trees. I also found the earbuds’ Aware mode more accurate than many companies’ equivalents – this cancels most background noises but isolates and amplifies certain noises like oncoming traffic or people talking nearby.
The app also has an equalizer – it mostly offers you presets but there’s a custom mode that lets you adjust low, low-mid, mid, high-mid and high sounds to your taste. It’s not quite as in-depth as many earbud EQs but I’d say it’s the most complex you can make an EQ like this while making it usable by non-audiophiles.
(Image credit: Future)
Other features enabled by the app include multi-point pairing, the ability to change the touch control functions, a way to set up the earbuds to be remote camera triggers for your phone, a low-latency gaming mode, a battery prediction feature – which was really useful, so much so, I wish there were a way to find it that wasn’t buried in menus! – and voice control.
If you’ve read the introduction, you’ll know that I had an issue with this latter feature. It’s intended to let you use voice commands to control the buds hands-free (rejecting or accepting calls, playing or pausing music, skipping tracks, changing the volume, adjusting the ANC and so on) but it was far, far too sensitive. When I tested the buds in my office or in public, people around me would (accidentally, I presume) trigger these voice functions, and I kept finding my music stopping, or getting louder. It's really annoying. The only way to stop this happening, I found, was to turn off voice commands.
At some point, the QCE are getting a feature from their Ultra sibling: Bose Immersive Audio is on its way, though it wasn’t on the buds as of this review. This feature is basically Bose’s own version of Spatial Audio, so movies, games and sometimes music sound like they're coming from all around you. However the buds miss another feature of the Ultra, CustomTune technology which scans your ears to deliver sound mixed for you, a sign of the lower price.
Bose predicts the battery life of the buds to be 8.5 hours with the case getting you an extra 31.5 hours (or 2.5 charges). In my testing, the buds actually hit nine hours with ANC on, so presumably they'd last even longer with it turned off. I presumed 8.5 hours would be ANC off, with an ANC on figure of around six hours, and was very pleasantly surprised.
Features score: 4.5/5
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 review: Design
(Image credit: Future)
Comfortable and secure fit in-ear
IPX4 rated against sweat and showers
Chunky case
Given this section is about design, it's time to deal withe the second half of the QuietComfort name.
Each bud weighs 8.5g, and they’re bigger than some other earbuds I’ve used but the center of mass is towards the ears so they don’t wobble when you’re walking. They felt secure and comfortable to wear, even for long period of time, and I never felt any worry about them falling out.
Helping the security of fit is the fact that each earbud has a ‘stability band’, a protruding rubber ridge which helps ensure that the bud is wedged into your ear. There are multiple sizes of this in the case, as well as different ear tip options, and I imagine most people would be able to use these to find a fit as stable as mine.
(Image credit: Future)
Further helping the 'comfort' descriptor are the buds' incredibly easy-to-use buttons, which you can activate with just a tap of the flat part of the body.
Unlike many other earbuds, you don’t need to push the buds so far into your ear that they hit skull, nor do they require a finger manoeuvre so complex that you need to be double jointed. However, the sensitive button did pick up accidental touches quite a bit, especially when I was was putting the buds in my ear.
The buds are IPX4 resistant, which Bose says they repel sweat and ‘water’, albeit the latter is more likely to be splashes instead of immersion.
A small gripe I have with the new QuietComfort Earbuds is that the case is a fair bit bigger than most other true wireless cases I’ve tested. It’s not exactly football-sized but its 3.2 x 8.9 cm x 5.1 cm body made it feel like a rock in my pocket.
The case also feels like a questionable element as the buds audibly rattle around in it. I don’t think they could ever sustain damage from this wiggle room but it makes you question whether or not there’s a lot of empty space there…
Though Bose hasn’t added a word into its earbuds’ name for sound quality, prospective buyers will be happy to know the QuietComfort Earbuds don’t cost you a premium price.
The QCE have a crackling warm tone, with rich and meaty bass, though not to the extent that these will only cater to bass-heads. I’ve used earbuds that turn the bass up to 11 to the detriment of everything else, but these buds are more nuanced. Mid tones remain energetic and excitable and for the most part, treble did too, although in certain songs I did find the vocals missed some sparkle that other earbuds could provide.
The QuietComforts go nice and loud too – not ear-blisteringly loud when you crank it to the max, but I never found myself going near to the max volume in everyday use.
My favorite aspect of the buds’ audio, though, was a much more dramatic sound stage than many other buds I’ve tested. You can hear the different instruments spread around you like dishes at a tapas restaurant, and if you close your eyes you feel like you could point to where each one is. In fact, I’d say these Bose provide perhaps the best sound stage of any earbuds that don’t support top-end audio codecs.
Oh yeah, about that – support for some fancier codecs and features are missing, which ensures the Bose Earbuds Ultra still maintain some relevance, but if you listen to your music on Spotify you might not even mind.
Sound quality: 4/5
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 review: Value
(Image credit: Future)
Rare earbuds that justify the price
Bose's best value-for-money proposition
I previously referred to the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds as some of the best non-premium in-ears. Though this is true, in that they’re definitely cheaper than the top-end buds you can find on the market, they’re still pricier than loads of other options out there.
If you want to save money, you can find earbuds with pretty good fit or ANC or sound quality for about half the price of the QCE. They won’t do the job quite as well as these buds, but they’ll save you money.
But if you want features as advanced as the QuietComfort offer, you’d be hard-pressed to find a rival as capable on all fronts and costs any less.
I'd add that, being cheaper than previous QCEs and the Ultras, these are arguably the best-value earbuds Bose has put out recently.
Value: 4/5
Should I buy the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024?
Buy them if…
You need quality noise cancellation
If you work somewhere noisy or hate hearing annoying sounds on your commute, the QuietComfort Earbuds' ANC will be a blessing.
You have trouble finding well-fitting earbuds
Sometimes, it can be really hard to find earbuds that fit you well. Not so much with the QCE, which come with multiple ear tips as well as stability loops for a secure fit.
Don’t buy them if…
You're buying them for the voice controls The Achilles' Heel of the Bose QCE is the voice controls, which are far too sensitive. If that's the reason you're buying, I'd advise looking away.
You want to listen on high-res codecs With the Bose QCE only supporting SBC and AAC codecs, people who want high-quality sound from top-tier apps will be disappointed..
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 review: Also consider
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
A year after going on sale, these Ultra earbuds have reduced to nearly as low as the new buds. They have some extra features and a slightly different design.
JBL Live Beam 3 This same-priced alternative have a cool case screen, a great battery life and pretty good audio, even if the QuietComfort win for quietness and comfort.
The testing period for this Bose QuietComfort Earbuds review lasted two weeks, not counting time spent reviewing. I used them alongside my Android smartphone with many different music and video streaming apps, and also games.
The Bose got to enjoy a few different environments over those two weeks including my home, my office, various trips to the local neighborhood and gym, bus and train trips and even a run at one point.
I've been testing gadgets for TechRadar for nearly six years now, including audio products for much of that time, and that includes some of the earbuds I compared the Bose to earlier.
