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MSI Vector A18 HX A9W: Two-Minute Review This thing is heavy, seriously... (Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams) It's simple. If you're out for a powerful gaming laptop, capable of reaching high and smooth frame rates with minimal performance issues, the MSI Vector A18 HX A9W is your answer. Using Nvidia's RTX 5080 laptop GPU and AMD's Ryzen 9 9955HX processor, gaming is a breeze at its native 2560x1600 resolution without using Team Green's DLSS upscaling technology; however, when it is used, achieving high frame rates is a cakewalk. It shines best in games like Cyberpunk 2077 , Indiana Jones: The Great Circle , and Resident Evil 4 remake . It can struggle when attempting to use ray tracing at maximum graphics settings and at a 4K resolution without enabling DLSS, but that's exactly what Nvidia's tools are there for. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 had very little trouble reaching over 100fps, and edged close to the 100fps mark when running on EC...

Coros Heart Rate Monitor: One minute review The Coros Heart Rate Monitor is a strap-based monitor designed for your upper arm that uses optical tracking tech to measure blood volume, rather than electrocardiograph or ECG, which measures the heart's electrical signals. While many of the best heart rate monitors use ECG, optical sensors are found in the best smartwatches . Which begs the question: why does Coros' stand-alone HRM use optical sensors instead of ECG? The short answer, from Coros, is that optical heart rate monitoring works by using light shone through your skin to see your blood flow. While watches can do a reasonable job on the wrist, there is a lot more blood higher up the arm, making a dedicated strap – which can be affixed tightly yet comfortably to that higher arm position – more accurate. So, for your money, you are getting a more accurate optical heart rate monitor than a smartwatch, yet with arguably a more comfortable wearing position. Unlike a chest s...

Anker 20,000mAh 87W Power Bank: review The Anker 20K 87W power bank has a large capacity and power output, as well as an inbuilt USB-C cable for ease of use. It’s a sleek-looking brick, although it’s quite big. Thankfully, it’s not too thick or too heavy, both of which help to make it more portable than it otherwise would be. It features a small screen that displays the battery life as a percentage, which is bright and clear, making it easy to glance at. There’s also a relatively large power button next to it, which is very accessible owing to its size. True to many of Anker’s products, it feels solidly constructed, equal in durability to the best power banks . This extends to the inbuilt USB-C cable, which Anker claims has 11lbs of pulling resistance, and is rated for over 10,000 bends and 5,000 twists during its lifetime. It folds away neatly, sitting flush with the side panel, and it also feels secure in this housing, so I wasn’t concerned it would come loose or expose the jack...

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360: Two-minute review The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 is a 2-in-1 Chromebook with a small form factor for easy portability. It’s this miniature size that first strikes the eye, followed by the sleek and minimal design. It also has a sturdy construction, although it’s thicker and heavier than you might expect. Regardless, the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 is still easy to carry around. Opening up the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 further reveals its high level of engineering. The hinge mechanism, for instance, is silky smooth to operate yet provides plenty of stability. Of course, as you may have guessed from its name, the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 is convertible, so you can flip the screen all the way back and use it as a tablet. However, this isn’t ideal, as the aforementioned heft prevents this from being practical for extended periods. It does much better, though, when tented upside down on a desk, as you can still operate it via the touchscreen, but without b...

Sony FE 50-150mm F2 GM: two-minute review Sony's lens department is on a roll. Its superb FE 85mm F1.4 GM II bagged our 2024 lens of the year award; the recent FE 28-70mm F2 GM picked up a five-star rating; and now we have the FE 50-150mm F2 GM, which is the world's first telephoto zoom with consistent f/2 maximum aperture – and it's another stunning flagship optic. When I was first presented with the 50-150mm lens in April , I wasn't convinced by its unique focal length. Especially when you consider the 28-70mm F2 GM, plus a string of other pro 70-200mm lenses from down the years, which includes the FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II . However, following extended use, I'm convinced the 50-150mm is probably the single most versatile lens for the type of photography I often do – events, grass-roots sports, weddings, candids – and it's easily one of the best Sony lenses ever. The 50-150mm lens is part of Sony's professional G Master (GM) range, which means han...