Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum review: I was ready to make this my new car vac until I made an unwelcome discovery

Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum: two-minute review

The Temola TS20BS is available to buy at Amazon for $49.99 / £45.99. This is a fairly average cost for a handheld vacuum from a lesser-known brand, and after testing it out I would say that you get what you pay for here.

I was very disappointed to discover that there doesn’t appear to be replacement stainless steel HEPA filters for this model, although I could see replacements for some of their other vacs. Although the stainless steel covering could potentially increase the longevity of the HEPA filter within, but there’s no telling how long it would last. There is, at least, a replacement filter provided with the purchase, but without further replacements, this could significantly decrease the lifetime of the Temola TS20BS.

The Temola TS20BS is lightweight enough to use easily, although in my case using it with my arm extended with nothing to lean on did cause some aching. It’s fairly compact, so it has been easy to store, especially when combined with the convenient drawstring storage bag that fits the accessories, too. The Temola TS20BS doesn’t come with a storage dock but was easy to charge with the included USB-C cable, although it is disappointingly short at just 30.5 inches / 780mm long.

I was happy with the material quality of all parts of the Temola TS20BS set, the dust brush, crevice nozzle, and floor brush didn’t look cheap, the storage bag looked durable, and the materials on the vac itself felt sturdy and looked good. To aid visibility when vacuuming in darker spaces, there’s an LED light situated just above the top of the 3.6 cup / 850ml dust cup. It wasn’t outstandingly bright, but it was good enough.

(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)

As is the case with many handheld vacuums in this price bracket, I had to remove the front end of the vacuum to empty the dust cup. Detaching it was easy, but care needed to be taken when removing the filter from within, as a lot of debris collects around it. Getting the dust cup to clip back on was tricky on occasion. The level of noise emitted from the TS20BS is fairly standard for a vacuum cleaner, reading 76dB at 10,000PA power, and 80dB on the higher 15,000PA setting.

I found the Temola TS20BS to be a helpful tool for vacuuming my desk and sofa, but it really proved its worth when I put it through its paces against our TechRadar vacuum testing process. It did an adequate job of picking up the larger particles of oats and a mixture of flour and biscuit crumbs when on the lower power setting, but the higher setting was required to collect up the finer dust particles.

When testing the floor brush attachment I found it wasn’t helpful in that instance, mainly flicking debris around rather than helping to collect it up. When I used the dust brush on the end of the crevice nozzle, on the other hand, the results were fantastic. I found this smaller brush to improve performance in many different areas of my car, from dusting and vacuuming the leather to removing stubborn bits of leaf from carpeted areas.

For the most part, I’d recommend you purchase the TS20BS, as it did a good job for its price. Sadly, though, the lack of replacement filters makes me hesitant to encourage you to buy without doing further research, in case some may have become available in the meantime. If you’d like to take a look at some alternatives to help make up your mind, we’ve collated a selection of the best car vacuums, and best handheld vacuums to help you discover the most suitable option for your needs.

Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum review: Price and availability

• List price: $49.99 / £45.99
• Available at Amazon

The Temola TS20BS is a handheld vacuum that comes with accessories and a storage bag for a list price of $49.99 / £45.99 at Amazon. You’re getting what you pay for with the Temola TS20BS, considering the quality, performance, and ease of use; although some slightly more expensive vacs performed better, I was happy enough with its performance.

The set comes with an additional washable filter, which I was pleased about, but after investigating I cannot find replacement filters for this model. While the stainless steel covering of the filter may potentially increase the longevity of the filters, providing they are cleaned regularly, there’s no saying quite how long they’ll last, giving the Temola TS20BS a disappointingly short lifespan if replacements do not come available to purchase soon.

• Value score: 2.5 / 5

Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum review: Specs

Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum review: design and features

• Materials look good quality
• Short USB-C charging cable
• Useful drawstring storage bag

Considering its price, I was pretty impressed with the material quality of the Temola TS20BS. The majority of the vacuum is black and off-white and has a gloss finish, aside from the buttons and dust cup securing latch, which are bright orange with a slightly textured finish. The dust cup that makes up the business end of the vacuum is made from shiny transparent black plastic, making it easy for me to see when the dust cup is reaching capacity while obscuring the contents enough to stop it from being an eyesore.

The Temola TS20BS is fairly lightweight, but it isn’t the lightest handheld vac I’ve tested. It weighs 2.1lb / 957g, so it was easy enough for me to use but caused a little bit of arm ache if I wasn’t able to lean a little on what I was vacuuming. It isn’t a bulky vac, at 15 x 4 x 5 inches / 350 x 150 x 150mm, making it easy to store away in the handy drawstring bag, which also holds the accessories as well.

The accessories included are a dust brush, crevice nozzle, and a floor brush. Most of these did a great job, although I found one of them wasn’t very helpful during testing. Another useful addition that resides on the Temola TS20BS itself is the integrated LED light that is positioned above the dust cup. It’s not the most powerful LED I’ve seen, but it did an okay job of helping me see a little better when vacuuming darker spaces.

(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)

The Temola TS20BS comes with what Temola states is a stainless steel HEPA filter in place, and an additional filter comes in the box. This is a nice touch, as although the filters can be washed, and made easier with the included cleaning brush, they would likely need to be changed within a few months.

The Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum doesn’t come with a charging dock, instead, it can be recharged using just a USB-C cable. While some users may prefer a dock for ease of access, I liked the flexibility of placement that came with charging via a cable, and I was still able to store the vacuum and accessories away neatly in the drawstring storage bag. The one downside here, however, is that the cable that comes with the Temola TS20BS is only 30.5 inches / 780mm long, proving a little annoying at times.

There isn’t a replacement battery available, so I was limited to the max run time, which wasn’t quite enough to give my car a full valet, although with it being winter as I write this and I both work and live near a lot of leafy trees, I can’t judge it too harshly for that. One aspect I appreciated is that the included USB-C charging cable can be used with a power bank, or with a cigarette lighter adapter, so I didn’t necessarily need to bring it into the house to charge.

(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)

I was satisfied with the level of noise the Temola TS20BS emits, as it was quieter than a lower-powered car vac I’d tested and pretty standard for a vacuum cleaner. On the low 10,000mAh setting it reached a sound level of 76dB, and the higher setting reached 80dB, so the highest setting was no louder than a busy restaurant. I still needed to use some ANC earbuds when using it, but that’s due to an auditory issue; for the average person I don’t envision the noise levels would be uncomfortable.

On a few occasions, I found that the dust cup didn’t always connect to the handle properly the first couple of times I’d attached it. It clicked on and looked attached, but any bit of pressure on it caused it to fall off, I found I needed to pay particular attention to making sure the bottom of the dust cup had clicked over the extra plastic tag, which was a little fiddly, but simple once I’d gotten used to it. This is likely just a personal preference, but long pressing the power button did nothing when on the lower suction setting, this would only work after increasing it to the max suction level. This is only a minor niggle, but I like to keep loud noises to a minimum, so I wasn’t a fan that the increase of sound was unavoidable when I needed to turn it off, especially when using it to give my desk a quick hoover in the office.

• Design and features score: 4 / 5

Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum review: performance

• Performed well for the price
• Dust brush works well
• An extension hose would've been helpful

As it weighs just 2.1lb / 957g, the Temola TS20BS was easier to wield than the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus, which is currently our top pick of the best handheld vacuum and best car vacuum. I found the handheld Shark vac made my arm ache a little when performing the same tests for a direct comparison.

The Temola TS20B did a good job when I used it to vacuum my sofa, but I really put it to the test when I used it in my beloved car. One thing I love about working for TechRadar is our mission to perform thorough testing on all products – I just wish that didn’t involve spreading flour, biscuit crumbs, and oats in my car. But, if nothing else, I’m dedicated to our mission. So, dear reader, despite how uncomfortable it made me: I did it, for every single handheld vac I tested, each time praying they were up to the job of cleaning it up. I’m relieved to say, in the case of the Temola TS20BS, I needn’t have worried.

(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)

When following our testing procedure, the Temola TS20BS picked up most of the mixture of flour and biscuit on the lowest power setting, but smaller particles were left behind in the pile of my car mat. Turning up to the higher power setting made quick work of picking this up though, so I was able to get it all vacuumed up in a minute or so.

It was a similar story when it came to hoovering up the oats. The lowest setting picked up the large pieces without issue, but the smaller debris remained on the surface of the carpet and in the pile. Again, the higher setting cleared this up, but it required a little elbow grease and pressure.

The floor brush attachment of the Temola TS20BS didn’t do the best job of picking up the fine dust from my car mat. It kind of flicked debris around when using the lower suction, though it performed better on the higher setting. In the end, I found myself removing the floor brush attachment and giving the carpet a final going over on the higher setting just to collect the remaining dust. The dust brush, which is smaller and softer, did a vastly better job, even just on the lower 10,000PA power setting, and the performance improved further when I increased it to 15,000PA.

(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)

The crevice tool performed as expected, reaching smaller areas, and, naturally, the pickup was best with the higher suction setting. One nice-to-have would have been a flexible extension hose like the one included with the Homekane Handheld Vac, as getting down the edges of my seats was a bit of a struggle with the limited reach. As with the earlier tests the performance improved by far after adding the dust brush tool to the mix as it aggravated the debris just enough to allow it to be picked up easily.

When it came to emptying the 3.6 cup / 850ml dust cup, I must say that I preferred the Shark configuration, which simply required me to push a button and pull down a flap on the underside of its dust cup, which felt quicker and less messy than needing to remove the dust cup and filter from the Temola TS20BS each time. I had to bang out the filter, as most of the debris was caught on its surface and the cavity at the bottom of the filter housing, and it was also tricky to put it back into place properly.

• Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum?

Buy it if...

You want a simple-to-use vac
With easy-to-master controls and a fairly lightweight body, you'll be up and running with this Temola vac before you know it.

You want a vac that's easy to store away
Whether you plan on sticking it in a cupboard or in the trunk of your car, the drawstring storage bag makes it easy to keep all the parts neatly in one place.

Don't buy it if...

You don't want a vac with an expiry date
As there doesn't appear to be any replacement stainless steel HEPA filters compatible with this model at present, there is a risk that this handheld vacuum could only be usable for as long as the two included filters last.

You want a charging dock
The Temola TS20BS doesn't have a model with a storage dock, so if you're a dock fan this won't be for you. The storage bag provides a tidy storage solution, though.

Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum review: also consider

Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus
The top spot holder of our pick of the best handheld and car vacuums, this handheld Shark vac delivers great suction power, easy emptying, and some versatile tools. Take a look at our full review to hear how well it performed.

Shark WandVac System WS642 / WV361UK 4
This versatile vac requires more investment, but it's a great choice if you're looking for a lightweight and ergonomic vac that can be used in a stick or handheld configuration. It features on our list of the best handheld vacuums for its flexible use and light weight, but its battery life is a little on the short side. Here's our full review if you'd like to find out more.

How I tested the Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum

• I tested the Temola TS20BS against two other handheld vacs
• I assessed its ability to vacuum both large and fine debris
• I made use of the included accessories

I took a close look at the design and materials used for the Temola TS20BS. I used it to vacuum my sofa and my desk and put it through its paces against the TechRadar vacuum testing process in my car. This involves testing a vacuum's ability to pick up fine and coarse particles, namely oats, and a mixture of flour and fine biscuit crumbs.

I assessed the fit of the accessories and used each of them to see how effective they were. I also looked at how easy and efficient the dust cup emptying process was.

• First reviewed: December 2024
• Read more about how we test

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I tried an AI skiing coach on the slopes in real life: here's what happened

Carv 2 Ski Coach: One minute review

Carv is a system that gathers motion data from your ski boots using sensors, analyses that via the app on your smartphone, and provides feedback through your headphones. It’s a digital ski coach, using advanced algorithms to detect and evaluate your technique, grade it, highlight improvement points, and provide feedback to help you achieve that.

The first version of Carv used pressure-sensing insoles but has now evolved to two sensor units that clip onto your ski boot in Carv 2. That makes setup a breeze, you just clip them on, check the Bluetooth connection to your phone, pop in a headphone and you’re good to go.

The beauty of Carv 2 is that it works in real-time. It can provide audible feedback on each turn, with more detailed evaluation when you stop, or once you get on the lift. Your skiing is captured in incredible detail: this isn’t just a GPS trace like you’d get from a Garmin, you get detailed data through every part of your turn, recording how your weight shifted and how each of your skis behaved.

Carv 2 gamifies your skiing, giving you a Ski IQ score based on your skill (mine is 124) while helping you target the changes you’d have to make to improve your technique. The aim is to help you become a smooth carving skier, but there’s plenty to help you progress to better parallel turns, so it works for a wide range of intermediate to advanced skiers.

(Image credit: Carv)

Carv is a unique system and incredibly detailed, identifying your strengths and weaknesses, with audio feedback to help you improve, supported by videos in the app to demonstrate what’s being discussed. It’s like having an instructor with you every time you ski, talking in your ear, while hitting new targets is incredibly rewarding.

Carv 2 isn’t suitable for beginners and it can’t teach you to ski from scratch. It’s also fairly expensive: the sensors cost £99, but you need a subscription to use them and that’s £99/$119 for 6 days (a typical ski vacation). Alternatively, you can pay £199, get the sensors free of charge, and have a full year of use – but in future years you’ll need a new subscription, so there’s an ongoing cost.

(Image credit: Future / Chris Hall)

It’s cheaper than ski lessons, but you have to be engaged with Carv to benefit and you don’t have the advantage of having a real-life person to show you what you’re doing wrong – instead, you might end up with repeated feedback, which can feel a little like nagging.

Carv 2 is perfect for me however: as an intermediate skier, who has plateaued and is unlikely to ever have lessons again because I’d rather ski with my family, Carv 2 lets me make small adjustments to focus on my technique. There’s nothing else like it and for a skier, those stats are really addictive and mean that every run counts.

(Image credit: Carv)

Carv 2 Ski Coach: Scorecard

Carv 2: Should I buy?

Buy it if…

You’re an intermediate skier

If you love skiing but aren’t getting any better, then Carv 2 could help you make those changes to improve.

You’re a data junkie

Sometimes you just need data and Carv 2 will give you data on everything about your skiing. You’ll get the metrics of your turns, your speed, and the distance you’ve covered, all nicely presented for every ski session.

You feel like you’re held back by friends or family

It sounds mean but … with Carv 2 you can use those slower runs to really focus on your technique and make progress – while skiing with others.

Don’t buy it if…

You’re a beginner skier

If you’re just getting started and you can’t turn, then Carv isn’t for you. Get some lessons to help you learn the basics safely.

You don’t ski regularly

While you could buy Carv 2 for one week of skiing, you’re really not going to benefit unless you’re getting out on the snow regularly – yearly at least.

You don’t like headphones

It might sound silly, but Carv 2 talks to you through your headphones - if you can’t ski with headphones, then you won’t get on with it.

How I tested

I used Carv 2 over two days of skiing on the Stubai glacier in Austria, where I tested all the features. I previously used the original Carv, so had the chance to compare the experience of both systems. During testing, I covered 40km of runs, a descent of 8000m in total, with over 1600 turns across those days. I skied on piste, including some mogul segments. I didn’t have the chance to test it in powder snow. All testing was conducted on a trip paid for and provided by Carv. Carv did not have any say in the content of this article and did not see it before it was published.

First reviewed: November 2024

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OneOdio Focus A5 review: bassy wireless headphones with big battery life

OneOdio Focus A5: One-minute review

If you're considering picking up the OneOdio Focus A5, it's probably for its fantastic battery life – it'll last for 75 hours of music if you let it, which is an excellent figure. That's over three days straight, and well over double the figure of most rivals.

The world of the best cheap headphones is a competitive one, but this will have certain users' eyes perking up. If you go on long-haul flights across the world, embark on journeys in the wilderness for days at a time, or religiously forget to charge your gadgets, that figure could prove game-changing.

And you're getting the Focus A5 for cheap at $69.99 / £59.99 (roughly AU$100)! Sounds like a must-buy, right?

Well, that'll depend on what you actually want to listen to for 75 hours, and if you're an audiophile – or anyone who values well-balanced audio – then the Focus A5 might not actually be what you're looking for.

The audio balance on these cans is more wonky than a famous Italian tower, offering an overwhelming amount of bass that drowns out important parts of a song. It's not even well-tuned bass, so people who just want 75 hours of ear-shaking tunes won't like it either.

Then there's the feature set – or lack thereof. The OneOdio's Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is so light-touch that you can forget that it's turned on (and I'd recommend ignoring it, since turning on ANC cuts 30 hours off the battery life). There's no app either, and therefore no equalizer, so you can't try and fix the muddy sound quality.

You can't expect fantastic-sounding audio, an advanced feature set and a low price in the same set of headphones (even though some options do come close), but most of OneOdio's rivals tick at least two of those boxes. With the Focus A5 only hitting the last point, it's hard to recommend them beyond their long-lasting battery. The Earfun Wave Pro cost essentially the same price and have an even longer battery life, and work better in every way – those are ideal affordable option among the best noise cancelling headphones.

OneOdio Focus A5 review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Sells for $69.99 / £59.99 (roughly AU$100)
• Cheaper alternative to Focus A10

You can pick up the OneOdio Focus A5 for $69.99 / £59.99 (roughly AU$100, but unlike other OneOdio headphones, I can’t find it on sale in Australia at the time of writing).

That price makes the Focus A5 one of the more affordable headphones you might be considering if you’re looking to save money, but the cheap headphone market is a very competitive one.

Our best-in class option costs only a little more: the Earfun Wave Pro sells for $79.99 / £79.99 (roughly AU$120) and we also highly rate the $60 / £60 / AU$99 Sony WH-CH520.

OneOdio itself has plenty of other options, if you’re keen to stick with the brand: there’s also a slightly-more-expensive A10 as well as several other families of studio, monitor and hybrid headphones.

OneOdio Focus A5 review: Specs

OneOdio Focus A5 review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• No phone app
• Light-touch ANC
• 75 hours of battery life

The OneOdio Focus A5 doesn’t have a smartphone app to use, which makes writing this section easier, but using the headphones (or balancing its audio) a little bit harder. That means there's no equalizer, a big loss (as we'll get to).

You'll use the ‘ANC’ button on the right earcup to toggle between the three Active Noise Cancellation modes: on, off and ambient sound. The ANC on the A5 is very light touch, and I often didn’t know whether I had it turned on or not – it felt like the natural cushioning of the pads removed as much sound as the ANC.

From a poor feature, to a really handy one – the OneOdio Focus A5 has a battery life of 75 hours. You read that right – you could listen for over three days straight if you wanted to. That figure is for ANC turned off, and it reduces to about 45 hours with ANC turned on – given what I’ve said about how effective the noise cancellation is, you may want to opt for the longer lasting power.

The ability to listen to music for several days straight without having to juice it back up it is a win for the A5, as it means that people who are going on long trips or can’t reliably get to a power source could still enjoy using it.

• Features score: 3/5

OneOdio Focus A5 review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

• Too much bass
• Too little anything else
• High max volume

When I first started listening to the OneOdio Focus A5, I said to myself “wow, bass fans are going to love these headphones” but as the testing process went on, I had to amend that thought: “or they might hate them”.

Bass is certainly the emphasis of the Focus A5’s audio balance. The mix isn’t so much ‘warm’ as it is ‘blistering to the touch’, for how loud bass is compared to other parts of the sound profile. My first impression, to assume bass fans would love this, was proven wrong the more I listened.

The bass blows out other aspects of the sound mix. Vocals fade into the background like the roadies forgot to plug the mic in, guitars sometimes get a cut in but more often than not (especially with higher-pitched notes and hooks) fall to the same fate as the singing. Some other mid-frequency aspects of songs, like keyboards and rhythm guitars, have as much chance of being heard as you do of finding your phone if you drop it off a boat.

Fans of bassy headphones may simply accuse me of saying that simply to dig out my dusty creative writing degree, but there are more reasons to malign the bass tilt: even that aspect of the audio has a problem.

(Image credit: Future)

The bass is quite muddy, so it’s less ‘thumping’ and more ‘patting gently’ – it lacks energy or urgency, loudly saying nothing at all. According to Amazon, the Focus A5 has a custom-made 40mm dynamic driver (this information was conspicuously absent from OneOdio’s own site), and judging by other reviews of OneOdio products, this sound profile is a recurring feature in its headphones.

I can’t completely rule out the Focus A5’s audio chops – some people may really like this kind of hiccupping bass. I don’t think I’ve ever met these people, and I’ve no evidence to suggest they actually exist, but I can’t rule it out.

OneOdio has added support for LDAC codec and Hi-Res Audio certification to the headphones, but I’m not sure that the cans need more detailed bass – they need less of it.

I want to say a nice thing now: the OneOdio Focus A5 goes really, really loud. I could hear music perfectly well at max volume when the headphones were around my neck – no-one can complain about them being too quiet!

• Sound quality: 2/5

OneOdio Focus A5 review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Svelte look
• Single color option: black
• Feels a little fragile

OneOdio hasn't re-invented the wheel with the Focus A5 but I liked how svelte they look between the metal pivot, textured cups and gold-silver color scheme.

Don't get me wrong, these are incredibly similar to the vast majority of cheap headphones, but with a few augments here and there. They come in a single color option: black.

The right cup has all of the Focus A5's controls: there's the ANC button which you press to toggle between the three modes, a power button and a volume rocker. Nice and simple. The USB-C port for charging is on this side too.

The headphones weigh 265g which is a little less than some rivals I've tested, however they felt quite fragile. The cups rattle and rotate a little bit when you're not wearing the A5, there's no included carry case and if the cans have an IP rating, I can't find any mention of it in OneOdio's fact sheets. I was quite careful with the headphones during testing as a result, although they were never damaged in a way that would justify my caution; it's likely that they feel flimsy, but are perfectly robust. Still, I'd have liked to have felt more confidence in that.

• Design score: 3.5/5

OneOdio Focus A5 review: value

(Image credit: Future)

I'm all for 'cheap and cheery' headphones, and the OneOdio Focus A5 are ostensibly that: you don't have to pay much and you're getting one great feature along with a few less-great aspects.

However its iffy audio and troubled feature-set might lose the A5 some of those 'cheery points' – especially when similar-price rivals simply don't have the same issues.

These aren't inherently bad value at this price, but there's much better value out there.

• Value: 2.5/5

Should I buy the OneOdio Focus A5?

Buy them if…

You don't like charging
The 75-hour battery life will be a blessing to certain kinds of users who can't reliably access a charging point.

You're on a budget
Don't want to spend loads on top-price or even mid-range headphones? These will fit into your budget.

Don’t buy them if…

You don't like bassy audio
The audio is heavily skewed towards bassy sounds, so if you don't like this kind of sound, you're really not going to like the A5.

You're listening somewhere loud
The Focus A5's tender noise cancellation means you won't be able to hear music if you often listen in loud environments.

OneOdio Focus A5 review: Also consider

Earfun Wave Pro
Here at TechRadar we're big fans of the Earfun Wave Pro, and they beat the OneOdio in most areas while only costing a tiny amount more, so read our full Earfun Wave Pro review.

JBL Tune 670NC
We didn't rate the JBL Tune 670NC in the audio department, but elsewhere it has a great feature set and a decent battery life too. Here our full JBL Tune 670NC review.

How I tested the OneOdio Focus A5

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested for three weeks
• Tested at home, in the office, on public transport and on walks

I used the OneOdio Focus A5 for three weeks before writing this review, and that involved listening to music, watching streamed TV or playing games basically daily.

For the entire testing period I used the Focus A5 alongside my Android smartphone, via Bluetooth. Streaming was done via Spotify, Netflix and a range of games and I listened mainly at home or on my city's various public transport options, with some listening time also conducted in an office or on walks.

I've been testing gadgets at TechRadar for just shy of six years now, including many pairs of cheap headphones and other OneOdio offerings.

• First reviewed in December 2024

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

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Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: awesome wireless headphones in almost every way

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300: Two-minute review

The Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 are a fantastic pair of wireless headphones. Using the same drivers as the company’s studio-oriented DT 700 Pro X and DT 900 Pro X, the sound quality will make you feel like you’ve taken a blanket off your music, especially if you’re upgrading from a cheaper, lesser model. And they’re as feature-filled as any other model at this price point.

I believe that, since their release this year, they belong in the conversation for the best wireless headphones. They do fall slightly short of the active noise cancellation (ANC) you find with the likes of Bose and Sony flagships. But, they still fare very well. And again, they sound fantastic. On top of that, the battery life is very, very good.

There are a couple aspects that hold the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 from being perfect. For instance, the ear pads are tough to remove – an issue if you’re worried about potential wear and tear. And, the main way to control audio on the headphones is a touchpad on the right ear. It’s innovative, but slow to respond and comes with a bit of a learning curve. Since I generally use my phone or computer for adjusting things like volume and forwarding / rewinding, it’s not a dealbreaker. Still, it’s annoying.

At the end of the day, however, the pros vastly outweigh the cons.

(Image credit: Future)

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300: Price and release date

• Announced September 9 2024, available from November 2024
• Costs $399.99 / £359.00 (about AU$640)

No doubt about it, the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 are among the more premium options out there when it comes to wireless headphones. They go for $399.99 / £359.00 (about AU$640), which is more than the Sony WH-1000XM5 and their price of £380 / $399 / AU$649. Both are fantastic sounding headphones. Of course, the Aventho 300 fold up and have faster Bluetooth connectivity, but the WH-1000XM5 have class-leading ANC.

There are even more expensive options out there such as the $899 / £599-priced Dali IO-8 or the $549 / £549 / AU$899-priced Apple AirPods Max where you’re paying for the name or premium materials as much as anything else. The Beyerdynamic Aventho 300, therefore, are well-priced for what they are and offer good value, but are not a steal.

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Specs

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• Very useable EQ and presets
• Plenty of accessibility in the app
• Has multipoint connectivity and lossless codecs

As far as features go, the only thing missing from the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 is some kind of personalised, augmented sound profile. That said, there is more than enough flexibility available in the app to adjust the EQ. Not only are there six different presets to choose from, including “neutral” interestingly (more on why that’s necessary for some later), but there’s also a five-band graphic EQ with the ability to boost or cut up to six dB where you can save your preferred EQ curve.

Speaking of the app, there’s much more on tap, including playing around with different levels of ANC and ambient mode as well as turning Dolby Atmos and head tracking on. The ANC and ambient modes have five levels of sensitivity and work pretty well, either blocking out sound or letting you hear your surroundings. They’re not quite class-leading, but unless your neighbours or colleagues are especially raucous, you’ll probably be happy with them.

In the app, you can also turn on/off a voice assistant as well as adjust what the internal voice prompt announces. For example, I like hearing the battery level when I turn on the headphones, but I don’t want to hear which codec is being used during the first few seconds of the first song I listen to.

The app also allows toggling things like auto shutdown, sidetone, and LED brightness. There’s even a touch guide to show how to use the touchpad on the side of the headphones.

Though you won’t see it in the app, multipoint connectivity is available. It’s also worth noting that there’s AAC and aptX lossless (and adaptive) support.

(Image credit: Future)

• Features score: 4.5/5

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Design

• Aesthetically pleasing if a bit bulky
• Touchpad has a learning curve and has inconsistent sensitivity
• Has a very long battery life

The chunky design of the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 is aesthetically pleasing while still looking very similar to the majority of over-ear headphones out there. Available in Black and Nordic Grey (reviewed here), the whole thing from the earcups to the head band and all the plush materials are the same color with the exception of the metal (presumably aluminum) yoke and the model name emblazoned on the left earcup – silver on the Nordic Grey model and Nordic Grey on the Black model.

The ergonomics are solid as the ear cups are angled to sit more naturally on the side of the face, though the amount the headband can extend seems like it might not be enough for big heads. The ear pads and headband are covered in a faux leather that’s not the most breathable, but is comfortable enough. I can definitely wear these for a while without feeling fatigued, but they’re not the cream of the crop when it comes to comfort. On top of that, the clamping force is a bit strong, so if you’re sensitive to that, you might need to stretch them out just a bit.

(Image credit: Future)

The controls consist of a power button that also pairs via Bluetooth, a button to cycle through ANC, ANC off, and transparency mode, and the touch pad I’ve mentioned which covers the entire flat portion of the right ear cup. This capacitive area allows an assortment of controls from volume control, skipping through songs, answering calls, and the like via tapping and gesturing in the appropriate directions. It’s a good idea, but takes a bit to learn. More importantly, the sensitivity seems inconsistent, so sometimes I have to gesture more than once to get the headphones to react to what I want to do. This is probably the area where these headphones could use the most fine tuning for successive models.

At least the battery life is long, as you can get 50 hours with ANC on – and ANC has a tendency to drain the battery. After about 10 hours of listening, I had 80% battery life left without charging back up. Considering they charge via USB-C, 10 minutes of charging gets about five hours of play.

• Design score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future)

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Sound quality

• Seemingly neutral but has prominent bass and slightly hyped high-end
• Decently wide soundstage
• Dolby Atmos and head tracking work well

If you don’t feel like reading the next 200ish words, just know that the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 sound really good. Since these headphones share the same Stellar.45 drivers that the company introduced in its studio-focused DT 700 Pro X and DT 900 Pro X headphones, the frequency range leans towards a very clean, high-headroom experience that on first listen almost sounds neutral the way a pair of headphones meant for the studio sounds.

After spending a little time listening to all sorts of genres from Rock to Hip Hop and Folk, the nuances become a little more obvious. First of all, even though the sound comes across as clean and even, it’s actually quite bass heavy (note that the frequency range goes as low as 5Hz), especially nearing the sub-bass region. Any Rock or Alternative tracks I listen to become very bass prominent even though the genres are generally more mid-focused.

Of course, it’s a testament to the quality of the drivers that you get such prominent bass while still hearing everything else clearly.

(Image credit: Future)

The high-end is also a little hyped, which adds a bit to the clarity. But, it’s not so prominent to be in-your-face or painful. In the EQ modes I mentioned earlier, the neutral setting actually boosts the mid-range just a tad while bringing the low-end down quite a bit and the high-end a dB or two.

The soundstage is just as stellar. It feels wide enough to make me feel like I’m sitting on stage with the musicians. Far off elements are well-placed so that I get a really immersive sense of space. Now, they’re not the widest sounding headphones ever, but they sit at a sweet spot between intimate and concert hall.

Since there’s Dolby Atmos support, I should mention that it’s a nice touch. However, it is a virtual spatial audio so everything just sounds like there’s just a bit more reverb. While more dimensional, it doesn’t really add much to the experience unless watching a movie or show. I feel the same way about the headtracking that can be enabled. It works well if that matters to you.

• Sound quality: 5/5

(Image credit: Beyerdynamic)

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Value

• Pricing is about what one would expect for flagship wireless headphones
• Paying for consistency
• Comes with a hard shell and softshell case

As a value proposition, the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 are good but not great. As previously mentioned, they're not that much more than the Sony WH-1000XM5 and are comparable in a lot of ways, with some aspects being slightly better and others slightly worse. You can spend much more for models that aren’t really any better. But you can spend much less and still get very good-sounding headphones.

However, Beyerdynamic headphones are consistently great, so you’re paying for that to a degree the way you do with Apple when it comes to phones or laptops. At least, you get a nice hard shell case and drawstring bag out of the deal.

• Value: 4/5

Should I buy the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300?

Buy them if…

You want excellent, polished sound quality
Not only do the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 sound great, but they sound polished like they’re meant for the studio. Somehow, they still have a large bass response.

You want something a little different but just as good
If you want to get something a little different than everyone else without sacrificing quality, these headphones have it all from sound quality to feature set.

Don’t buy them if…

You’re looking for a best-value buy
While they’re priced appropriately, the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 are not cheap. So, if you’re looking to get the bang for your buck, there are other options to consider.

You want easy controls
Though the capacitive touchpad on the right earcup is a good idea, it could be executed just a little bit better (it’s not bad, just inconsistent).

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Also consider

Cambridge Audio Melomania P100
The Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 don’t have the best ANC and lose the proprietary spatial audio. However, they’re great value and not just because they’re a bit cheaper. Since they come at a lower price point, they focus on what matters most – and that’s excellent sound quality. Also, the battery life is excellent
Read our full Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 review

Sony WH-1000XM5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 are still considered one of the best, if not the best, over-ear wireless headphones. The sound quality is excellent, the app is easy to use, and, most importantly, the ANC and ambient features are still virtually unparalleled. Only thing is they’re minimally better than their lower-priced and still available predecessor.
Read our full Sony WH-1000XM5 review

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300

• Tested over two weeks
• Tested with different music as well as video streaming
• Tested every feature meticulously

I spent a few weeks using the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 as my daily headphones. While using them, I listened to all sorts of genres from electronic and hip-hop to rock and acoustic music to compare the frequency range and soundstage. I also tested them with streaming video and used the various settings such as ANC, ambient mode, and EQ.

After testing, it seems that the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 are best suited for those wanting a mostly neutral audiophile-like experience in a set of wireless headphones without sacrificing on features.

I’ve spent the last few years reviewing audio equipment and have spent even longer using my critical ear as a listener and musician to understand what does and doesn’t sound good.

• First reviewed in December 2024

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

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Orico O7000 SSD review: high-end PCIe 4.0 storage without the frills

Orico O7000: One-minute review

Although we’re technically in the PCIe 5.0 era of storage, it’s really been a golden age for PCIe 4.0 SSDs thanks to a plethora of choices, such as the Orico O7000, which is positioned as a drive with high-end performance for a midrange price.

This PCIe 4.0 SSD ranges from 512GB to 4TB, and for this review we’re taking the 1TB model for a spin. Rated for 7000MB/s in reads and 6500MB/s in writes, the O7000 isn’t quite at the top-end of PCIe 4.0 storage (which would be the Samsung 990 Pro), but it’s close.

What makes this drive particularly interesting is its current $69 price (about £55/AU$100), which is relatively low nowadays for a drive of this caliber.

Compared to top-end PCIe 4.0 SSDs like the FireCuda 530R from Seagate and the MP600 Pro NH from Corsair, the O7000 is just a shade slower for the most part, and often ties the two drives.

However, when writing lots of data to the O7000 (like if you’re moving all your game installations to it), its performance easily bogs down and becomes extremely slow.

The O7000 1TB also has a weakness in that other brands offer the same SSD hardware under different names, and these drives can sometimes be cheaper, but sales pricing is always a fickle thing.

For now, though, the O7000 is the cheapest option for this hardware, and its performance makes it one of the best values in PCIe 4.0 storage.

Orico O7000: Price & availability

(Image credit: Future / Matthew Connatser)

• How much does it cost? From $69 (about £55/AU$100)
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, with UK and Australia availability pending

The O7000 is currently available on Amazon and Newegg, though at the time of writing, Amazon only offers the 1TB model, while Newegg also has the 2TB and 4TB variants in stock. The 1TB model costs $59, the 2TB $93, and the 4TB $196. The 2TB is currently the best deal on a dollar per GB basis, but since SSD prices can easily go up or down, it’s unclear how long this will be true for.

At $59 for the 1TB model, it’s significantly cheaper than other flagship PCIe 4.0 drives like Seagate’s FireCuda 530R and Corsair’s MP600 Pro NH, which cost $94 and $84 respectively for the 1TB version. It’s also much cheaper than older PCIe 5.0 SSDs, such as the $169 FireCuda 540 1TB.

Orico O7000: Specs

Orico O7000: Performance

(Image credit: Future / Matthew Connatser)

Overall, the O7000 shows good, but not perfect, performance. The 530R and MP600 Pro NH were faster for the most part, but in nearly every single test the O7000 nipped on their heels. There were even a few instances where the O7000 tied or beat the Seagate and Corsair drives.

A particularly bright spot for the O7000 is its thermal performance and efficiency. It only maxed out at 50 degrees Celsius, far lower than the three other SSDs we tested. That makes the O7000 a decent candidate for laptops and handheld PCs, which often lack good SSD cooling.

Of course, more heat occurs because of higher power consumption, so the O7000 is a low-power drive too, another reason to choose it for a battery-powered device.

The FireCuda 540 was of course in its own league, but it costs about twice as much and benefits from active cooling, something the O7000 definitely doesn’t need.

However, the O7000’s biggest weakness is in sustained writes. All SSDs suffer from lowered writing performance the less free space they have, but the O7000 can see its performance drop to as low as 150MB/s. However, it’s rare to come across this situation in the real world since it requires tens or hundreds of gigabytes of large files being moved to an SSD.

Orico O7000: Verdict

(Image credit: Future / Matthew Connatser)

While the O7000 1TB isn’t perfect, its overall performance is very close to what you get with the FireCuda 530R 2TB and MP600 Pro NH 2TB. With a substantially lower price tag of $69, that makes the O7000 a better deal for the most part. If you’re looking for a new boot drive on a budget or if you just want some fast, secondary storage, the O7000 is a sensible choice.

However, the SSD that the O7000 1TB is based on is also made by other brands, including TeamGroup with its MP44. There’s really no reason to buy the more expensive drive since they’re essentially identical, but that works in Orico’s favor right now since the O7000 is cheaper.

The O7000 2TB is an especially good deal right now, going for just $93, which isn’t much more than lots of 1TB drives. Spending the extra $34 to get double the storage and the same performance makes the O7000 2TB especially appealing versus the 1TB model, though we don’t know how long this will hold since SSD prices can change quite frequently (and have done so as this review was in progress).

Should you buy the Orico O7000

Buy the Orico O7000 if...

You need fast storage on a budget
The O7000 has nearly top-end performance for a PCIe 4.0 SSD, and should work fine for just about anyone.

You want a cool and efficient SSD
The O7000 consumes very little power, which means longer battery life on mobile devices and low temperatures even without a heatsink.

Don't buy it if...

You need top-end performance period
The O7000 isn’t quite as fast as other PCIe 4.0 SSDs and stumbles in sustained writing.

You can find another SSD with the same hardware for less
There are a few SSDs out there that use the same components, such as TeamGroup’s MP44 and Lexar’s NM790. They’re essentially identical, so if they’re cheaper, just get one of those instead.

How I tested the Orico O7000

Although Intel’s new Core Ultra 200 Series has technically replaced last-gen 14^th Gen CPUs, I’m using my LGA 1700 test bench for SSD testing, rather than an LGA 1851 test bench.

This is because SSDs run on Arrow Lake CPUs actually perform significantly worse than on 14^th Gen CPUs. We’re not entirely sure why this is the case, but in order to show our SSDs’ best possible performance, we have to use Intel’s last-gen CPUs.

The LGA 1700 test bench is equipped with the Core i9-14900K, ASRock’s Z790 Taichi Lite motherboard, 32GB of DDR5 clocked to 5600MHz, and Corsair’s H170i iCUE LINK liquid cooler with a 420mm radiator. We also tested the Firecuda 530R, Firecuda 540, and MP600 Pro NH for comparison.

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AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh gaming chair review: right idea, wrong implementation

AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh: Two-minute review

AndaSeat's playing an intriguing game with this one. The X-Air Series Mesh line actually features two base models to choose from straight out of the gate, the X-Air and the X-Air Pro. The X-Air starts at $369 / around £290, and the X-Air Pro comes in at the $419 / around £329 mark. Both are only available from its store right now. The big difference between the two? Well, it's mostly down to colorways, the base, and the armrests.

With the Pro, you get 5D rests (more on that later), an aluminum base, and access to two additional colorways. The Celeste model, which I got to test, is a black mesh solution with a purple ombre back finish, and the Twilight, with a pinkish ombre back but with a white mesh rather than the black we see here.

The stock X-Air gets more traditional 4D armrests, along with a stock adjustable tilt system, plus an iron base, and is only available in black throughout. Yet, to be frank, that's still the one I'd recommend you pick up if you're torn between the two. Not only because of the savings but because those more traditional armrests are far superior to the 5D devils that you get on the X-Air Pro.

Why are they such an issue? Simply put, they're just too confusing. They slip, slide, and shunt in so many directions and rotate in so many different ways that it makes it incredibly hard for them to support you if you push against them. Rest your arms on top; sure, you'll be fine, but otherwise they've really lost some of that critical function that makes a good armrest; it's elements like this that really detract from the overall score, and keep it a step away from becoming one of the more comfortable gaming chairs available today.

(Image credit: Future)

As for its build process, well, you're going to absolutely want a second pair of hands to help out here, that's for sure. AndaSeat's manual is detailed enough, and the included bits and bolts are plenty abound, but the way it wants you to angle and align some of the (seriously heavy) parts just to secure them together is honestly mildly insane.

The ergonomics too are curious; it's got solid lumbar built-in and a decent headrest, and the mesh itself is supportive enough (even despite lacking any padding underneath), yet it's incredibly difficult to adjust or even know what you're doing when you start using it. That can make the initial experience with it quite a bit of a turn-off. There's an argument to be had that it is adjustable and with enough time, effort, energy, and reading the manual you'll get there, but this is something that should just be intuitive straight out of the box, which sadly it's not.

It might sound like I'm just wailing on this thing, but it's still an ok proposition if you're looking for a sleek, comfortable gaming chair that'll fit right into an office environment too. Alright, it might not make it as one of the best gaming chairs around, but credit where credit's due; comfort is impressive, and it does what it meant to: keep you cool over long gaming sessions while being ergonomically supportive. But, and it's a big but, there are still a number of better options out there at this price point.

AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh: Price and availability

• List price: $419
• No Amazon or UK availability
• Limited Colorways

Right now, if you're looking to pick up your own Mesh X-Air, you're likely going to find it a challenge if you're anywhere but the US. Stateside is the only place you can easily pick one of these up, and only directly from AndaSeat's website.

You can grab either the X-Air or the X-Air Pro in one of three colorways. The X-Air is limited to an all-black run, whereas the Pro also has access to a white mesh with an ombre back and a black mesh variation of that as well. The Pro also comes with AndaSeat's 5D Armrests, along with an aluminum base, and a self-adjusting tilt system, although I'll cover all that in a little more detail soon enough.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given how little physical material is involved in the Mesh line, the pricing of this compared to something like AndaSeat's Kaiser 4 is markedly less. The Kaiser 4 line starts at around $569, whereas the X-Air Mesh you can get as low as $369, making it seemingly good value by comparison.

AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh: Specs

AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh: Design and aesthetics

• Office-esque feel
• Challenging to configure
• Light gaming "pop" to it

Ok, let me call it like it is here. From the front, this thing screams corporate office, and little else. It just does. It's got that new mid-level manager making an executive decision to buy in 20 new highly ergonomic office chairs while they're in their task force/project codename phase, feel to it.

There's nothing glamorous here, nothing obviously comforting, just semi-transparent woven mesh fabric strapped ergonomically to a metallic-plastic superstructure, combined with an all-black finish, and some rather funky-looking armrests.

Turn it around on the spot, however, and if you've grabbed yourself one of the more outlandish X-Air Pro variants, your eyes will immediately be drawn to the dramatic and ostentatious ombre gradient running from top to bottom on the rear support structure. It's bold, it's potent, and honestly, a little bit confusing.

Almost like the X-Air doesn't quite know what it wants to be. Is it the best gaming chair? The best office chair? It doesn't know, but to be honest, that's fine.

(Image credit: Future)

AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh: Comfort and adjustability

• 5D Armrests are a nightmare
• No lumbar adjustment
• Not intuitive to use

From a comfort perspective, the mesh material on the AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh is far more impressive than you'd first think.

If you've not tried a mesh chair, and have sat your posterior down mostly on their slightly more expensive PU leather counterparts throughout your gaming career, complete with thick padded cushions and enough adjustable dials to make even the most avid of guitarists happy, then you might be surprised by just how spongy and supportive these things can be.

AndaSeat has nailed the mesh fabric on this. It's not anywhere near as abrasive, or unsupportive as you first might think; there's almost a bounce to it. That's not to say it's as soft as a labrador's ears, but nevertheless, if you're sitting on this for prolonged periods of time, you'll find it more than comfortable enough. Whether you're doing a nine-hour Elden Ring challenge run or writing out a 20-page feature, the X-Air Pro does have your back (quite literally).

Now onto the bad bits. Adjustability is there, but it's not intuitive. The lumbar support is fixed straight out of the gate and quite aggressive. If you're not a fan of that, there's little you can do to alleviate the pressure it puts on your lower spine. The headrest is adjustable, but again it does protrude quite aggressively, even with the best of adjustments, and the seat base does move back and forward too, giving you some level of control, but again, even with all the toggles you have at your disposal, knowing when you've actually moved it takes a great degree of awareness for your fine motor skills.

Then there's the 5D armrests. These things are a mess, sadly. They're effectively built on three moving parts. The main arm moves up and down on a ratchet system, a middle extended plinth attached to that that can rotate up to around 220 degrees, and then the final armrest on top of that, which can also rotate a full 360 degrees and also slide backwards and forwards as well.

There's a lot going on here, and although it's comfortable enough up top with plenty of sponge because it has all that movement, it means if you try and lean on it at any point or attempt to use it to reposition your sitting position on the chair, it's likely to slide out from under you in all manner of weird and wonderful ways. This is a marked design devolution, even compared to something like the Kaiser 4's 5D armrests, to the point that I'd actually recommend sticking with the X-Air if you're considering this chair, purely to avoid the 5D rests.

Final positive: the tilt mechanism is fantastic. The back of the chair itself tilts, rather than the base it's attached to as well. That gives you a much more sturdy seating position that lets you relax if you're a little on the anxious side. This was the first chair where I personally enjoyed having it set to that, and its self-adaptive tilt is top tier.

(Image credit: Future)

AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh: Assembly

Oh, why AndaSeat, why is the assembly on this thing so nightmarish? What is it that stops you from assembling some of this on-site and shipping it complete?

This is not an easy chair to put together. The instruction manual is good enough, and it tells you what to do, but you need to route and attach the wire cables for all of the adjustment elements, secure the toggles into position on the side of the seat base, and then cover the exposed cables with what has to be the most awkward plastic cover I've ever seen.

From there, it's a case of (if you're building it solo) precariously attaching the seat back to the chair base (which weighs a ton) with the arms already attached. That would be fine if it weren't balancing on those plastic 5D armrests. Finally, you can install the headrest, which again you're securing into position with two screws that you can't see. It's just a nightmare. I've built well over 50 gaming chairs over a decade during my time in this industry, and this was the most challenging one by far.

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh?

Buy it if...

You want to be cool
The mesh fabric does an outstanding job of keeping you cool under pressure. It's easy to clean, doesn't feel that abrasive, and supports you well.

You love lumbar support
You just need solid lumbar support straight out of the gate. It might not be adjustable, but this thing is pronounced for the lumbar lovers.

Don't buy it if...

You haven't got a buddy
Building this thing is a real challenge. If you've got a spare pair of hands available, pull them into the fray to get you to the end, otherwise other chairs are way easier to assemble and will be more attractive as a result.

You shuffle about a lot
Those 5D armrests might sound cool on paper, but they do little to support you if you move around on the chair or sit cross-legged.

Also consider...

It's relatively cheap, relatively comfortable, but a bit of a nightmare. If, like me, you're not sold on the AndaSeat X-Air Pro, then try out one of these for size.

Steelcase Series 2 Task
One of the best office chairs around, it may be pricey, but it's simple, elegant, unsophisticated, surprisingly minimal, and endlessly customizable for your needs. That might feel a little niche compared to our pseudo-mesh gaming solution here, but it's well worth your time if you're already looking down this alley.

For more information, check out our full Steelcase Series 2 Task Chair review.

AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL
AndaSeat's bread and butter gaming chair, the Kaiser 3 XL, comes with a lot of the same features that you'll find in seats nearly twice the cost. It's widely available, and you can pick one up in an absolute armada of colorways to suit your style too. Only downside? The stitching's a little out.

For more information, check out our full AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL review.

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh

• Sat in all manner of positions
• Tested over three weeks
• Multiple butts in seat

I tested the AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh gaming chair rigorously over the course of several weeks, using it as my daily chair throughout all of my writing work, alongside gaming and other PC-oriented activities.

Additionally, I also took it to live in a hospitality environment for 1 week with multiple staff members of a variety of different shapes and sizes sitting in it, providing me with their own direct feedback as well, ensuring all manner of folk are catered for. I documented the entire build process and my time with the X-Air Pro, and also sat in for the duration of the review writing process.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed December 2024.

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TP-Link TL-WR1502X Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router review

These days, my life is full of technology. Depending on the trip, I have my iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad Mini, MacBook Pro, my wife's iPhone, Kindle, kids' tablets, and a smart power station or two. That's a lot of internet-connected gear when on the go. Not only is it annoying to have to put in a new password for whatever location you are at, but it's also incredibly insecure.

Over the last few years, I have stopped connecting to public Wi-Fi, or Wi-Fi, which is not secure altogether. I'll frequently tether to my iPhone if I am just on one device. But, when I start pulling out multiple devices or if my iPhone cell service isn't excellent (I'm looking at you, Verizon), I look for a strong and probably ok public Wi-Fi and connect to it, but not with my devices, with my portable router. I do this, plus a VPN to help ensure that my information stays my information, and this little travel router is how I do it.

Can this tiny travel router compare with the best Wi-Fi routers out there? I put the pocket-sized TP-Link TL-WR1502X Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router to the test.

TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router: Price and Availability

The TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 Travel router is available all over the place. You can find it on the TP-Links website, Amazon, or other retailers. When writing this sentence, the price is $60 for a single unit.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router: Unboxing and First Impressions

When I opened the box for this router, I immediately noticed how simple everything was. This router seemed too small and too basic-looking to be able to do everything that it was doing. It's lightweight, with a sleek and durable build. The router, a power adapter, a USB-C cable, a quick start guide, and a simple ethernet cable came in the box.

The compact design is easy enough to tuck in any bag, pocket, or jacket. The unit as a whole can fit in the palm of my hand. Right now, I carry it with me daily in my backpack. And I'm particular about what I am willing to put in my backpack, so that's a big deal for me to tuck it away. I love the matte black finish and the built-in ventilation, as it helps keep the device from overheating.

Lastly, the port offering is impressive for a small unit, and the ports are placed great on the device, making it easy to use and work with.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router: Design and Build Quality

Specs

Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6
Speeds: Up to 1.5Gbps
Ports: 2x Ethernet, 1ssx USB-C for tethering/power, 1x fUSB-A
Features: VPN support, WPA3 security, USB tethering

As I have mentioned, this device is incredibly portable. Still, it's also quite sturdy, making it a great travel companion because I don't have to worry about it breaking on me. I've had this in my everyday carry backpack that goes everywhere with me for the last few months, and I have not had any issues with this getting damaged or slowing down. It keeps working and working great every time.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router: In use

So far, I have gotten a lot of use out of this little travel router. I've had it with me for a few months now and am thrilled to have it. The older I get, and as time goes on, the more and more paranoid I get about my physical and digital security. In the digital world, one of the things I have sworn not to do anymore is to connect to networks that I do not know or do not manage myself. However, sometimes that is the only option. That's where my travel router comes into play for one of the many use cases I have it for. I can quickly flip a switch and connect to that coffee shop, VRBO, airport, or even airplane Wi-Fi with my router, throw a VPN on, and then connect with my devices. My work and sensitive information, like bank cards and sensitive documents, are accessible through my Macbook. It would be wild for me not to protect it.

Another way that I have been using my travel router is to connect non-apple devices to my iPhone hotspot or direct USB tether. Most of what I have with me on any given day is Apple; however, for the times that I am testing a different laptop, if I have the Nintendo Switch with me, a portable projector if the kids have a gadget or something like that, this makes it super easy to have specific travel Wi-Fi saved on their devices that they can connect to that isn't just always my phone.

I have noticed smooth and fast connections when using the Wi-Fi, even from a decent distance away. For example, we stayed at a VRBO rental a few weeks back. I did not want to connect to the provided Wi-Fi, so I connected the ethernet cables to my TP-Link Travel router and ran that as a main router for a week. It worked great across the entire home, with all my devices connected. It handled (up to) five iPhones, two MacBooks, eight iPads, two Apple Watches, and a sound machine/night light, all without skipping a beat.

The only gripe I have with this router is that it takes a minute to boot up, so if I am in a hurry, it can be frustrating to wait for it to boot up and get working. However, if that's my only frustration, that makes for a pretty incredible device.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router: Final verdict

The TP-Link AX1500 Wi-Fi 6 Travel RoutWi-Filivers top-tier performance in a travel-friendly package. With its fast speeds, modern security, and versatile features like VPN and USB tethering, it's a must-have for anyone needing reliable internet access wherever they go. While it's priced slightly higher than some competitors, its advanced functionality justifies the investment for frequent travelers or remote workers.

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