For the last few years, most AI infrastructure conversations revolved around the massive scale of AI training.

The AI training factories that leading AI companies have been building to develop frontier models and lead the AI race are nothing short of impressive: hundreds of thousands of GPUs, power consumption comparable to a medium city, and tens of petabits per second to scale training across multiple campuses.

But, as AI adoption accelerates and its applications expand, a larger infrastructure challenge is set to grab the spotlight. The new, real, and sustained pressure on networks is coming from the demand side of AI: inference.

Inference is what happens every time someone asks a chatbot a question, drops a file into a productivity tool for analysis, or relies on an AI-generated summary inside their inbox or search results. On a per-query basis, the traffic generated is lightweight, nothing comparable with a massive training run.

Now multiply that by the number of people interacting with AI across the globe – and consider that each time more it involves video, images, and supporting files – and you can see where the next major network demand driver is emerging.

With inference, the growth curve is steeper, global, and widely distributed, and it is now reshaping how data center connectivity is designed and the broader network ecosystem that connects cloud regions, metros and continents.

The inference inflection point

Even more powerful than users actively embracing AI faster than any technology before is the compound effect of AI features being injected into platforms that already serve billions.

Just take a look at your technology ecosystem and no doubt you’ve got AI capabilities now embedded in your search engine, email, office software, maps, social feeds and your smartphone. Embedding AI into those products is ensuring instant, global access and inevitable overwhelming usage.

The result is staggering growth in inference volumes. Take Google, for example, which reported the number of AI tokens it processes monthly increased 50 times year over year in early 2025… and then doubled it again just two months later and continues to grow at breathtaking pace, as seen on the 60 percent quarter-over-quarter token growth announced on April 2026.

Efficiency gains at the hardware and algorithmic level help attenuate the demand for additional resources, but nowhere near all of it. Delivering this increased inference volume requires the accelerated deployment of new GPU capacity and in a quickly growing number of inference data centers distributed across more geographies.

That geographic distribution is the first reason inference is not just a compute story but, at its heart, a networking story.

From text to video: multimodal models’ impact on the network

Until recently, AI's contribution to overall internet traffic has been limited. A text prompt and a text response amount to a few kilobytes — negligible next to a single minute of video streaming.

That’s changing quickly.

Multimodal models analyze and generate images, audio, video and 3D content. A user uploading a short HD video clip for analysis or editing pushes several megabytes upstream in seconds.

Researchers, students, and workers are increasingly pumping collections of documents into models to summarize key findings and generate detailed reports. Cloud-based video analytics that process camera feeds to provide insights and alerts are finding their way into viable business models.

Multiply those interactions by hundreds of millions to billions of users and inference traffic becomes a major driver of distributed and pervasive traffic flows.

Reasoning models add a second stressor. Rather than producing an instant response, they break problems into multiple internal steps, often pulling in supporting information in real time. A single user-visible answer can sit on top of dozens of background retrievals, sending megabytes of data between models, storage systems and external sources, much of it crossing data center boundaries.

And more pressure on the network comes from context window expansion. Frontier models can now ingest enormous prompts: think entire document sets, conversation histories, retrieved knowledge bases and more. Retrieval-augmented generation has become a widely adopted technique for many enterprise AI applications, and it involves injecting contextual knowledge into the model prompt on every query.

All told, these trends mean inference is no longer a lightweight workload from a network perspective. It is becoming a dominant driver of traffic growth, both between data centers and between users and the AI infrastructure.

How the DCI focus needs to shift

AI models are now distributed across regions, and usage signals and reinforced learning feedback must flow back to the centralized intelligence.

Multi-step and disaggregated inference workflows are increasingly spanning sites with complementary capabilities; think one for prefill focused on high-compute, large context processing, another for decode centered around low-latency token generation and memory and cache efficiency.

And sovereign AI requirements are pushing workloads into specific jurisdictions, multiplying the number of facilities that need to be tied together with high capacity and reliability.

Typical inference DCI links already operate at multiple terabits per second per route. The number of routes is growing alongside the capacity of each one, driven by more resilient and diversified interconnect topologies combined with a surge in the volume and geographic distributions of emerging inference-driven AI data centers.

Interconnecting inference data centers is just one side of the equation. The other involves connecting users, agents, things, and organizations to run their inference workloads across this meshed infrastructure.

Multicloud onramps are evolving to enable the movement of large enterprise datasets across AI platforms. More symmetric broadband access and scalable aggregation will be needed support widespread cameras to upload video for analysis on the AI cloud. The entire networking ecosystem needs to adapt.

So how do network operators keep up with demand and service providers take advantage of these trends?

Connecting the Dots – or Tokens

Network operators are already responding with planning centered on scalability, flexibility, efficiency, and security. To maximize capacity of every fiber pair—a resource that has never been more valuable and sought-after—they are adopting coherent optical platforms and systems capable of 1.6 Tb/s per wavelength.

Lumen Technologies, for example, is one such network provider that is building for tomorrow. It’s expanding its network at incredible speed, and to do so is leveraging a high-bandwidth 1.6 Tb/s coherent transceiver.

Additionally, the variable and diversified nature of inference traffic patterns make static networks less than ideal. Many operators are thus turning to AI-assisted multilayer network control to shift capacity and optimize performance in near real time.

Again, Lumen is a prime example of this; by leveraging a rich control suite the provider is gaining comprehensive visibility and maximizing usage and performance of its fiber assets from one point of control.

And to tie it all off, as inference traffic often includes sensitive data, network operators are baking in encryption at the optical layer within any new DCI deployment.

Inference workloads are evolving faster than any forecasting model can keep up. The networks best positioned for the next five years are the ones designed to scale in capacity, reach and intelligence without requiring major upgrades each time the workload spikes.

Training defined AI's first wave of infrastructure buildout. Inference is shaping its second – one much more globally distributed and intricate that will transform the networking landscape.

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Fan technology has made huge leaps in recent years, with more powerful and quieter motors, misting attachments, and AI-powered person-tracking all promising to keep you extra cool when the weather warms up. But which fans actually deliver, and actually keep you feeling refreshed on sticky summer days?

We test dozens of new fans every year on TechRadar, and to help you pick the best one for you, I've rounded up the five that have really impressed me over the first half of this year, from brands including Shark, Dyson, and Dreo.

Dyson HushJet Mini Cool

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Release date: April 2026

Score: 5/5

It's a lot pricier than your average handheld fan, but the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool is also a lot more powerful, and unlike flimsy plastic devices, it's built to keep you cool for many summers to come. Despite its small size, the HushJet Mini really packs a punch, even on its lowest setting, and the highest options feel like a cold hairdryer blowing in your face. It's comfortable to hold, can stand on its end for use as a desk fan, and comes with a strap that lets you wear it around your neck. You can twist the angled nozzle to aim the airflow directly at your face and neck for quick relief on sweaty days.

Dyson claims battery life of up to six hours, but in my tests it continued running for almost exactly six and a half, which is impressive for such a compact device that shifts a lot of air even on its lowest setting. It's not quite as quiet as the Shark ChillPill below, despite Dyson's HushJet nozzle, but that's understandable considering it's basically a portable tornado.

Read our full review

Shark ChillPill

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Release date: March 2026

Score: 4.5/5

Another excellent handheld fan, the Shark ChillPill has a unique twisting design that lets you place it on a desk and angle the airflow at your face, plus three different cooling attachments: a regular fan, a misting fan (with a small reservoir for water), and a metal cooling plate that you can press against pulse points. The misting feature is my personal favorite, with continual and intermittent options — the spray is fine enough to evaporate on contact so it won't make your hair and clothes wet.

It loses half a star compared to the Dyson fan due to its higher price tag and less powerful motor — the ChillPill can reach up to 25,000rpm, while the HushJet Mini Cool can reach 65,000rpm — but the Shark is quieter. During my tests it ranged from 46dB on its lowest setting through to 67dB on the highest, making it a more discreet option in public.

Read our full review

MeacoFan Sefte Pro 10in Table Air Circulator

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Release date: May 2026

Score: 4.5/5

Air circulators are designed to move a large volume of air around a room rather than direct a focused stream in your direction, and the 10-inch version of the MecoFan Sefte Pro does this extremely well. You can run it directly from the mains, or from its rechargeable battery, so you can carry it around the house with you. This works particularly well when paired with the Sefte Pro's Eco mode, which adjusts the air circulator's power depending on the temperature.

I used the MeacoFan Sefte Pro during the last heatwave, and it was a real life-saver at night. Its sleep mode is almost silent, and its remote control means you don't need to get out of bed to activate it, and it's also available as a pedestal fan if you prefer. The biggest drawback is that it's not currently available outside Europe.

Read our full review

Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S

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Released April 2026

Score: 4/5

The Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S is another fan that keeps you extra cool with a super-fine spray of water, and our reviewer Harry Padoan said that "it added a nice degree of coolness without making any mess or feeling too intense". The 1.3-liter tank is large enough to keep misting for hours on end, and it's easy to switch to fan-only mode once you've had enough.

It's very reasonably priced too, coming in at $99.99 / £99.99 (about AU$140). That's not bad at all for a misting fan with app controls, and compatibility with both Amazon Alexa and Google Home, so you can operate it using voice commands.

Its lowest mode is quiet enough to avoid disturbing your sleep, though Harry found the turbo option loud enough to break his concentration, so it's best reserved for exceptionally sticky days when you want to just slump on a chair and do nothing.

Read our full review

Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool

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Release date: June 2026:

Score: 4.5/5

As you can guess from the name, this fan's key selling point is its ability to detect motion and follow you around the room, so you're never beyond range of its refreshing jet of air, even when you're doing chores, working out, or pottering about the kitchen — all of which are usually extremely unpleasant in hot weather. Paired with its extra-wide range of motion, this could make it the only fan you need.

It has Dyson's signature bladeless design, and our reviewer John McCann said it "delivers smooth air flow that feels like a natural breeze moving through your home, rather than the harsh buffeting you get from some other propeller and tower fans." It's extremely quiet at night (dropping to as low as 20dB), but delivers real cooling power as well.

It's the most expensive fan in this roundup (indeed, it's one of the priciest fan/air purifier combos on the market) but it's hard to argue with its sheer performance. If you've got the budget to spare, it's packed with premium features that really work. I only wish it offered vertical oscillation as well as horizontal.

Read our full review

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Businesses do not lose time on agreements - or any other business process - because they lack AI tools. They lose it because the steps involved, like contract intake, review and approvals, still move through disconnected systems, inboxes and document versions.

There is an opportunity to embed AI where work actually happens so that talent spends less time on routine admin in favor of work that requires judgment and negotiation - and offers growth and interest.

Most organizations are looking for AI gains in the wrong place. The deeper issue isn’t a lack of access to intelligent tools, but poorly designed workflows that often go unnoticed. In agreement processes, for example, the cost shows up in slower revenue, more dull manual review, weaker visibility around important changes or areas of risk, and unnecessary pressure on legal, procurement and HR.

AI becomes useful when it is built into those workflows to automate repeatable tasks, apply consistent policy checks and help teams move faster without losing control.

AI projects underperform when they're bolted onto broken processes. Instead, redesign existing processes, or reimagine them completely. Many users treat AI as a layer when deeper results come from reworking how tasks move across teams and how people spend their time interacting with each other.

Contract management - better called ‘agreement work’ - is a good example because though it touches revenue, supplier management, hiring and compliance, it often still runs through fragmented handoffs and manual reviews.

Deloitte research calls this the “agreement trap”, with poor agreement management costing businesses significant time and value - nearly $2 trillion in lost global economic value.

That multi-trillion-dollar figure is the sum of thousands of small frictions inside every organization. Teams lose time on intake, triage, chasing status, checking standard clauses and routing approvals.

Highly skilled people are pulled into repetitive work that does not require their full expertise. Then, deep insights on key people, mechanisms, and alliances sit locked up in static documents, not being used within the knowledge base of new intelligent solutions used to set corporate strategy.

Workflow matters more than innovation hype

Tasks and processes are the challenge that technology offers a solution for, and they outlast whatever technology solution is applied. Within agreement management for example, legal teams are there to review and remove risk, yes, but they also act as traffic controllers for broken processes, ensuring the task is moved onward to completion.

Procurement and HR face similar issues when requests arrive inconsistently and progress can be hard to track.

Early lessons in AI implementation have shown leaders that AI is most effective when the underlying workflow is structured. If the process is unclear then AI can accelerate confusion at scale.

Those with tech expertise and skill in workflow creation design can standardize rules and responsibilities such that AI will support the consistency and speed in a well-designed system.

So, a strong first question isn’t “where can we deploy AI?” It’s “where do existing workflows force skilled people to do routine and less valuable work?”

In agreements, that includes comparing terms against policy, flagging deviations, chasing approvals, and surfacing the subsequent step for the following decision-maker. AI works well here because the task is repeatable and the human still owns judgment.

With AI embedded in the workflow of this example, routine review is automated so standard clauses and known risks are checked quickly. Teams work from shared playbooks, making reviews more consistent.

Then progress becomes visible across the process, with fewer requests disappearing into email chains, sitting with absent people, or in a game of pingpong.

An AI-assisted review compares contracts against pre-approved playbooks, suggests redlines inside the workflow, centralizes intake, review and approvals, prompting the person, rather than the other way around.

The need for speed (with control)

Faster does not have to mean riskier when control of the workflow has been tightly defined. In any business managing a workflow, whether agreements and contracts or anything else, the best use of AI is to make business applications more consistent, with human experts able to spend significantly more time on areas like exceptions, negotiation and complex risk.

Used well, AI allows experts to focus on the areas where nuance matters most - just when it’s most needed.

Agreements cut across every major business function. Poor agreement workflows affect deal velocity, supplier onboarding, compliance and employee processes at different points in the workflow. That makes agreement management part of the whole digital workplace conversation, not a legal-contractual-sales-back-office issue.

More recent Deloitte research found that companies with advanced agreement management are more likely to outperform financially, and that 85% of organizations with advanced agreement management say it contributes to strategic goals.

It’s proof that the market is shifting towards structured agreement management solutions for areas of risk reduction and revenue acceleration. Leaders are building AI into structured workflows around intake, review and approvals because that is where their users feel the friction most acutely. It’s been that way since the first complex contract between two organizations was signed.

The next AI gains will come from everyday work

This example from agreement management shows that the next phase of enterprise AI can be less about eye-catching claims and more about fixing the everyday workflows that shape how humans do real business.

Agreements are one example, but they make the lesson clear: AI delivers the most value when it helps people do real work fast, consistently, and visibly. But more than that, it shows how by rethinking the invisible we reassess what is possible, making business work better.

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It’s no secret that the data centers that form the hidden engine of today’s AI boom can consume huge amounts of water, mostly for cooling purposes, and dealing with this issue is critical for any organisation in the technology sector.

Worldwide, the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that the data center sector consumes 560 billion liters of water per year today, and projections suggest this figure could soar over the coming years, reaching as much as 1,2 trillion liters per year by 2030, according to a recent government report on data center water use.

Taking measures today can help to mitigate this.

It’s very possible for data centers to reduce the drain on local freshwater resources, while also curbing their energy use, and all without reducing performance.

Here are five key issues which are driving water consumption in data centers today, and steps that data center operators can take to mitigate them.

1 Open-loop evaporative cooling is a problem

Today, many data centers still rely on ‘open-loop’ evaporative cooling systems, where hot water is sprayed onto pads to be cooled. This older form of cooling architecture means that data centers consume significant volumes of water, which has to be continuously replenished as it evaporates.

But more modern sealed liquid cooling systems offer a way to mitigate this source of water loss, by ensuring water is reused efficiently, while not impacting performance.

Today’s closed-loop systems reuse the same water over and over again, using liquid-to-air heat exchangers for cooling, rather than evaporating water. These warm-water cooling systems are sealed, so that after the system is filled in the first place, water loss is extremely low under normal operating conditions.

Instead, the systems recirculate the same water inside a sealed environment, so no water is consumed at all during normal operations. Water is not discharged from the system, and it never evaporates: instead, it absorbs heat directly from high-performance components and transfers it out of the system.

Closed-loop systems are designed not to be consumption-driven infrastructure but instead are recirculating, self-contained systems. This technology will be vital to reducing the water demands of data centers worldwide.

2 Data centers still attempt to cool the room

In too many data centers, cooling is highly inefficient, meaning that up to a third of the data center's total energy use can be 'spent' on keeping components cool, with fans working to keep the data center's temperature low as well as cooling individual machines. Modern technologies such as direct-to-node and direct-to-chip cooling are offering a new way to curb this inefficient energy and water use.

In direct-to-chip cooling, cold plates are attached to heat-generating components such as GPUS, with coolant liquid flowing through the plates to absorb heat and transfer it out to a heat exchanger. Liquid cooling techniques such as direct-to-node cooling can remove up to 98% of heat from servers, operating on a closed-loop system which means water is not wasted.

By capturing heat directly at the source, at the processor level, rather than attempting to cool entire rooms full of hot air, data center operators can reduce energy demand and also place less strain on local water systems. This also produces higher-temperature outputs which are easier to reuse.

3 Generative AI is driving an increase in compute density

One key reason for the increasing water use of data centers is simply that the AI boom is driving more demand for cooling. Generative AI is powered by Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), which can consume between five and 10 times more energy than Central Processing Units (CPUs). But we are also seeing an increase in compute density, as more and more of these components are packed into smaller areas, using techniques such as 3D silicon stacking.

The demands of AI workloads mean that warm water closed-loop cooling is coming into its own as a low-energy solution. Even at high rack densities, warm water systems (which can use inputs at much higher temperatures) enable high performance while also curbing water use and removing evaporative cooling.

To take one example, DreamWorks Animation adopted warm-water cooling systems for high performance computing (HPC) and recorded a 20% performance increase alongside reduced cooling requirements.

4 Projects to reuse data center heat are still too rare

In data centers, almost all of the electricity used is ultimately converted into heat, and today that is a resource that is underused. In fact, the heat has been traditionally treated as an unwelcome byproduct to be removed and then discarded. But this can be transformed into a usable resource, which can deliver heat for residential communities, commercial buildings and even district heating.

This reuse is still too rare, but pioneering projects across Europe are already showing the potential of the idea for reducing reliance on fossil fuels, cutting energy costs, and boosting resilience. Projects in Ireland and Scandinavia are already reusing heat to warm homes and businesses.

Older evaporative cooling systems are wasteful, and shifting towards closed-loop systems where water is reused, heat harvested and given to the wider community are a prime example of how waste can be turned into wealth.

5 Data centers are still in the wrong locations

At present, too little thought is given to the location of data centers, meaning that the facilities can be located in areas where there is already strain on local freshwater supplies.

Going forward, organizations will take this factor into account in order to deliver more sustainable data centers which ‘fit in’ to their local environment: research found that 45% of IT professionals believe current data center design does not support sustainability goals.

In the future, data centers will be put in carefully chosen locations to optimize renewable energy use, and also to ensure their water demands are not at odds with their local environment. This could include data centers built into urban areas with a goal to reusing waste heat to warm local homes - or even to offer spa-like experiences to local people.

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• Productivity and AI-induced cost reductions are actually dropping
• Most businesses plan to continue spending on AI regardless
• Only 35% have full visibility into costs, reporting lower ROI

Despite ongoing deployment, many organizations are apparently still struggling to achieve ROI from AI, with new KPMG data revealing growing accountability, governance and workforce pressures.

The report found productivity gains actually fell from 42% to 35%, with decision making speed also dropping from 41% to 36%. Even costs were challenged, with cost reductions slightly falling from 31% to 29%.

But planned AI spending data indicates a near-identical value compared with the quarter before, implying companies could be investing blindly without detailed strategies spelling out where they would get the most returns.

AI ROI is still a challenge, years later

Backing that optimism, four in five (79%) say AI would remain a top investment priority even if a recession occurred, with a similar number (78%) confident they can future-proof their AI strategies accordingly.

Costs are clearly being scrutinized, though, with 22% now factoring in lower-cost AI models (compared with 15% previously). Nearly half (49%) have even delayed, paused or shrunk their AI strategies over cost concerns.

"AI is now as much a financial management priority as it is a technology one," Global Head of Advisory Rob Fisher summarized.

Clearly, model capabilities are no longer driving AI investments as companies start to look more closely at how much they're paying for services and the promised returns. And with only one in three (35%) having full visibility into AI operating costs currently, much work needs to be done here.

The report even argues that those with full AI cost visibility are 5x more likely to report ROI. "We’re seeing a clear divide between organizations with leadership accountability at the top and those without," Global Head of AI and Digital Innovation Steve Chase commented.

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It’s no longer a question of if – only when. The promise of humanoid robotics is finally crystallizing into a commercial reality.

This new era will create a sector with the heft to rival megaliths like automotive and computing.

But we’re not there yet, and though large and well-known manufacturers are investing billions in development, with some clear leaders, the robots themselves remain in adolescent stage.

My advice? Treat them like any other adolescents and don’t rush them into adulthood before they’re ready. Take a crawl walk run approach to innovation, build capability layer by layer, and let maturity emerge from momentum. This is the fastest way to win the race to commercial deployment and value.

Development teams are making progress by the day, stimulated and inspired by the obvious appeal of a robot shaped like a human, operating deftly and effectively in any environment designed for people, using existing tools and infrastructure. But we’re clear on the obstacles, and equally clear with business leaders on the need to understand the technical, practical, regulatory and social factors that stand between them and the market.

That said, there’s no doubt in my mind that humanoid robotics represents not just a new way to win – but a way to win big. Companies that are first to crack the challenges I’m about to describe will seize powerful advantages. They’ll define industry standards, accumulate proprietary data and build customer relationships that late entrants can’t hope to replicate.

Early deployment – even for tasks like packing boxes – generates real-world learning that accelerates improvement.

The human-shaped challenge

The formidable gap between impressive (if carefully pre-choreographed) demonstration videos and actual deployment is marked with several key technical challenges, not least the physics of the human form. Balance and locomotion are among the hardest problems in robotics. We walk with a complex, energy-efficient gait that takes years to learn. Replicating for a robot requires real-time processing of sensor data, continuous adjustment to shifting weight and the ability to recover from unexpected disturbances.

Reinforcement learning and improved actuators have produced robots that can walk, run, and even perform parkour in controlled settings. But real-world environments are a chaotic mess of uneven floors, unexpected obstacles and slippery surfaces – and current systems still struggle here.

Dexterity and manipulation are equally daunting. Human hands have 27 degrees of freedom and extraordinary tactile sensitivity. Once learned, we can thread a needle, crack an egg, or catch a ball without conscious thought. Robotic hands have improved substantially, but fine motor control, delicate force application and adaptive grip remain limited. Tasks that seem trivial to us are extraordinarily difficult for machines.

Our research notes the promise of perfecting fine manipulation as physical AI teams progresses from lab proof-of-concept to stable pick-and-place cycles with real hardware. It’s tough, because it’s all about building new capabilities from scratch. But with a growing confidence in areas like fine manipulation, human-robot interaction and whole-body control, we’re moving ever closer to significant breakthroughs.

A new way to look at perception

Perception and decision-making represent further technical hurdles. Robots must interpret cluttered, dynamic environments in real time, distinguishing between a crumpled napkin and a spilled hazard, recognizing when a human is about to cross their path, and making split-second decisions about how to respond. Current AI can handle many of these tasks in isolation, but integrating them into a coherent, reliable whole is a work in progress.

As these technical problems are solved, economic viability will come increasingly into focus. While some humanoids are advertised with a cost of a few thousand dollars, these are essentially expensive toys rather than effective workers. Top-of-the-range humanoid robots cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, far more than what most businesses can justify for tasks that humans perform adequately.

Manufacturing at scale could bring prices down, but the path to a $20,000 or $30,000 unit that could potentially result in productivity and cost efficiency gains remains uncertain. Robot-as-a-Service financing models will enable early up-take but the underlying cost challenge will remain a blocker to mass adoption.

Getting closer to real-world usefulness

Personally, I’m optimistic about overcoming the remaining challenges. There is work to be done on operational reliability (we’re not yet there with machines that operate autonomously for extended periods without much intervention); legal frameworks; physical safety (regulatory guidelines are in their infancy); and even public perception (resistance to automation has derailed past initiatives.)

The key is to stay focused on the end game. With the remaining hurdles diminishing, the direction of travel is irresistible. Every small breakthrough – like that box packing example I mentioned earlier – brings us closer to real-world usefulness and every early deployment teaches us something we can’t learn in the lab. Build steadily, crawl-walk-run, and the rewards await the ambitious first movers.

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Genki Attack Vector: Review

The Attack Vector is a basic set of covers and grips for your Switch 2 and Joy-Cons, designed to protect your console and improve ergonomics in handheld mode.

The plastic covers for the console and both Joy-Cons are quite plain, with a totally black finish and no extra flourishes. They’re reasonably thick and durable, but also light.

(Image credit: Future)

The back cover for the console is easy enough to snap on. It should offer sufficient protection from scratches and the like, and I appreciated the fact that the inside has a small patch of rubber, which makes the fit more snug.

Like the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories, the Attack Vector doesn’t interfere with the console’s stand, ports or buttons, thanks to the various cutaways. They’re still quite easy to use, although the deep recess that’s created around the power and volume buttons means you may have to press these more with your fingernail than your fingertip. What’s more, the Switch 2 still fits in the dock with the cover attached; in fact, the fit is actually better, since it prevents it from wobbling at all.

(Image credit: Future)

Snapping on the Joy-Con covers is a little trickier, but it’s easier if you hold the detach button on each Joy-Con as you slide them on. These also have a small rubber backing on the inside for a more secure fit.

The Attack Vector comes with three sets of grips to attach to the back of these covers, of varying shapes and sizes. These have a solid build quality and a nice finish, with a rubber texture that feels comfortable, grippy, and hardwearing.

(Image credit: Future)

Attaching these grips is a little difficult at first. You have to line up the grooves and slide them on blindly, which can result in numerous failed attempts. However, I soon got the technique down and managed to attach them without issue thereafter. Once attached, they’re very stable; at no point did they come loose while I used them.

The two larger grip sets are called the Anchor and Balance. I found the latter set very comfortable, as the sides of the grips fitted the center of my palms naturally as I played.

(Image credit: Future)

The Anchor grips are shorter and feature ergonomic indentations at the bottom. I didn’t find these as comfortable or as secure, since only my last two fingers fit in these indentations. I suspect they’re designed for smaller hands than mine. Ultimately, though, both grips make handheld mode more comfortable and secure, especially when holding the Switch 2 upright, as you have something more substantial to hold on to.

There is a problem with these grips, though. Their weight and leverage mean that the Joy-Cons can rock back and forth slightly in the console, which is a little disconcerting. This rocking is minimal under normal use, and it never resulted in the Joy-Cons disconnecting from my Switch 2 during testing, but I do worry that eventually their hold in the console might loosen.

(Image credit: Future)

No such issue is created by the Feather grips, though. These are the smallest set and only cover the middle section of each Joy-Con. Unlike the other grips, they barely protrude outwards, offering a much more subtle feel. But given the stock Joy-Cons’ absence of a grippy surface or an ergonomic shape, I was still pleased with the limited support they provided. What’s more, I found them ideal when the Joy-Cons were detached from the console, since, unlike the other sets, they offer enough bulk to get a secure grip without impeding the reach of my thumbs to the controls.

At £40, the Attack Vector isn’t exactly cheap. However, the covers provide a good fit and basic protection for your console and Joy-Cons. Meanwhile, the comfortable grips for all types of hands are great if you play in handheld mode often, especially in a more upright position.

(Image credit: Future)

Genki Attack Vector review: Price & availability

The Genki Attack Vector costs £39.99 and is available now in black only. This isn’t particularly cheap for a case and grip combination. But the quality of the product, as well as the inclusion of three different types of grips, may be worth it to those who take their handheld gaming seriously.

Should I buy the Genki Attack Vector?

Buy it if…

You’ll be using handheld mode a lot
The grips offer a secure and satisfying way to use your Switch 2 in handheld mode, and the three different kinds should ensure you’ll get the right fit.

You want to keep the covers and grips on at all times
The console cover is designed to fit in Switch 2’s dock, and it actually prevents it from wobbling around in there, too.

Don't buy it if…

You want to improve the Switch 2’s looks
The utilitarian nature of the Attack Vector means if offers no flair to help personalize the style of your console.

You want ultimate Joy-Con stability
The larger grips tend to cause the Joy-Cons to wobble slightly, which might lead to problems for more animated players.

Genki Attack Vector review: Also consider

Genki Dual Wield Nintendo Switch 2 Charging Station
The Dual Wield actually makes a good companion to the Attack Vector, since you can attach the Joy-Cons to the Dual Wield grip while keeping the Attack Vector’s grips in place. What’s more, this improves the ergonomics of the Dual Wield, which was one of the main weaknesses I identified when I reviewed it. And when your session is over, you can simply dock your Joy-Cons in the charging station. There are two sets of grips for two sets of Joy-Cons and two positions on the charging station. Read our full Genki Dual Wield Nintendo Switch 2 Charging Station review.

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Genki Attack Vector

I used the Genki Attack Vector for several days, playing a variety of games in handheld mode, including Super Mario Bros. Wonder and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. I made sure to try out all three grip types. I also tested the grips with the Joy-Cons detached from the console.

I've been gaming for decades, and have used a variety of systems and controllers in that time, including various handheld systems. I've also reviewed other Switch 2 accessories and controllers before.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: June 2026

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Snakebyte Ergo Grip S2 review

The Snakebyte Ergo Grip 2 is a basic grip for the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons, although it has a few tricks up its sleeve.

Its design is very much a case of function over form. There’s no RGB lighting, and the all-black colorway leaves no room for levity. At least it's simple and unfussy, consisting merely of a central bar and two grip handles on either side. These handles are reasonably long but quite thin compared to more traditional controllers.

(Image credit: Future)

The build quality isn’t particularly great, it has to be said. There’s quite a bit of flex to the whole unit, although it's solid enough and the plastic feels smooth in the hand. But it’s certainly not going to challenge the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers on this front.

There’s a small switch underneath the Ergo Grip 2 to release the central bar from the bottom of the pad, allowing it to pivot upwards and out of the way of the grip handles so you can insert the Joy-Cons. This seems a little gimmicky, and what’s more, it’s not strictly necessary: by inserting my Joy-Cons at an angle, I managed to get around the handles while the center was locked down.

I think it would’ve been simpler to engineer a solution where the handles didn’t get in the way at all, rather than have a rotating mechanism. I’m also mildly concerned about the button that locks it down. I noticed a small amount of play while it’s locked down, which could spell failure further down the line.

(Image credit: Future)

Happily, the fit for the Joy-Cons is more secure. They slot into the Ergo Grip 2 just as well as they do into the Switch 2 itself. The hold feels strong, and the handles effectively partially cover their outsides, which prevents them from being prised out easily.

In action, it’s quite comfortable. The Joy-Cons sit fairly close together, but not so close as to cause issues. However, the grip handles took me a little while to get used to. At first, I had to slide my hands upwards to reach the Joy-Cons' bumpers when playing games such as Super Mario Bros. Wonder. However, I discovered that I could slot my last two fingers into the handles’ small indents for better purchase, which helped alleviate this problem somewhat.

But there are a few more ergonomic issues with the Ergo Grip 2. The bottom parts of the grips aren’t particularly long, and what’s more, they’re completely vertical, rather than angling outwards. This meant that they didn’t sit in the palms of my hands as well as more traditional gamepads, leading to a less secure feeling of grip.

(Image credit: Future)

This verticality extends to the orientation of the Joy-Cons. They don’t angle outwards at the bottom, which is part of the reason why reaching the bumpers can be a struggle. Other grips, such as the Genki Dual Wield, create such an angle, which feels like a more natural way to use the Joy-Cons.

The Ergo Grip 2 features a USB-C port for charging while you play. There are LEDs on top to indicate charging status, although these are basic, merely lighting up red while charging and green once complete.

At 200cm, the included USB-C cable is quite long, but it's made from rubber. This contrasts with the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories, including other controllers and grips, that come with braided cables for better flexibility. Thankfully, the cable is quite light, so I didn’t feel much resistance while playing, and I wasn’t worried about the cable disconnecting. However, it’s quite hard to unbunch, meaning it fails to maximize its entire length.

At less than £20, though, such shortcomings are easier to swallow. If all you’re after is a cheap way to securely hold your Joy-Con 2 controllers and want to play and charge at the same time, you could do worse than the Ergo Grip 2.

Snakebyte Ergo Grip S2 review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

The Ergo Grip 2 can be ordered from Snakebyte’s website for €19.99, which is about £17. However, we have seen it for less than this at other retailers. This is a fair price for a Joy-Con 2 grip, especially one that features charge-and-play.

However, there are Switch 2 accessories that are arguably better value for money, including others from Snakebyte. Its Starter Kit S2, for instance, includes Joy-Con 2 grips, a case, wired earbuds, joystick caps, and a screen protector — all for about the same price as the Ergo Grip 2.

Should I buy the Snakebyte Ergo Grip S2?

Buy it if…

You want your Joy-Cons secured
The design of the Ergo Grip 2 means that your Joy-Cons are locked in place with nowhere to go.

You want to play and charge at the same time
Thanks to the USB-C port and cable, you can charge the Ergo Grip 2 as you play.

Don't buy it if…

You want formidable build quality
The release button for the pivot mechanism doesn’t feel particularly solid, which is a slight concern.

You want the best ergonomics
The upright nature of the Ergo Grip 2 means you don’t get the same ergonomics of typical gamepads.

Snakebyte Ergo Grip S2 review: Also consider

Genki Dual Wield Nintendo Switch 2 charging station
This accessory features two grips for two sets of Joy-Con 2s, as well as a charging station for them. The triangular shape of the grips creates a more natural playing angle for your Joy-Cons, although the completely flat surface of the grip and its small central hole hamper ergonomics somewhat. Still, for the price, the Dual Wield is a decent value.

Read our full review Genki Dual Wield Nintendo Switch 2 charging station review

How I tested the Snakebyte Ergo Grip S2

(Image credit: Future)

I tested the Ergo Grip 2 for several days. I played various games with it attached to my Joy-Cons, including Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Super Mario 3D All-Stars. I attached and detached my Joy-Cons several times to test the fit and pivot mechanism of the grip.

I’ve been gaming for decades and have used many systems and controllers in that time. I’ve also reviewed other Switch 2 grips, as well as numerous controllers for the Switch, PC, Xbox, and mobile.

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• First reviewed: June 2026

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The best Bluetooth speakers get better every year: we get improved batteries to supply even more sonic stamina, wider connectivity, and a dizzying range of designs. The market is so competitive that 'good enough' just isn't good enough to stand out any more, and that means the speakers launched and launching in 2026 are often exceptional.

The first six months of 2026 have been great for audio fans, with a range of very good portable speakers to cover pretty much every niche. There are ridiculously loud party speakers that'll annoy your neighbors, tiny portables that are perfect for podcasts, small speakers that are ideal for when you're showering and go-anywhere, play-anything portables for the great outdoors. And we've tested a ton of them with in-depth reviews.

So I've picked out the five top Bluetooth speakers we've review so far in 2026, now that we're half-way through the year. The products I've picked here aren't the only Bluetooth speakers launched in 2026 by any means — for example, there was IKEA's 10-dollar Kallsup speaker, which is so cheap you can buy stacks of them to make a musical pyramid, which we also tried. I also haven't featured stationary wireless speakers that may include Bluetooth, but tend to be more focused on Wi-Fi — we're all about the portable options here.

I've picked my top five based on our in-depth testing, their price tags and how well I think they'll fit into most people's lives.

5. Tribit Stormbox Micro 3

• List price of $64.99 / £62.99 (about AU$130)
• Released in April 2026
• Rating: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)

The budget Bluetooth sector is absolutely jam-packed with affordable options, but it's hard to beat the Tribit Stormbox Micro 3: it's super-cheap even at full price, and it's frequently discounted from the launch price of $64.99 / £62.99 (about AU$130).

With 24 hours of battery life, a solid build and IP68 dust and water resistance it's a great go-anywhere speaker, and while its single 48mm driver is small, it's surprisingly punchy, with impressive bass for such a compact design. We really like the sound the Micro 3 delivers: it's a good all-rounder for music, podcasts and audiobooks.

Read our Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 review

4. Marshall Bromley 450

• List price of $799.99 / £549.99 / AU$1,079
• Available from March 31, 2026
• Rating: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Future)

The Marshall Bromley 450 is the marginally more sensible member of the Bromley party speaker range: it's considerably cheaper than its very expensive sibling, but still puts out a whopping 400W of Class D amplification — and it can keep playing for over 40 hours, albeit not at full volume. With a list price of $799.99 / £549.00 / AU$1,079 it's still quite expensive, but you're getting a lot of bang for your buck.

In our Marshall Bromley 450 review, we praised its 360-degree audio and noted that you can pair it with a second Bromley over Auracast if 400W isn't shaking the building enough. And as someone who's carried many a Marshall amp up and down venue stairs, I love that it echoes the design of classic Marshall amps and cabinets. Like most of my favorite rock bands it's a little bit ridiculous and enormously entertaining.

Read our Marshall Bromley 450 review

3. JBL Go 5

• List price of $54.95 / £39.99 (about AU$75)
• Released in April 2026
• Rating: 5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)

JBL is one of the best-known brands in the Bluetooth speaker space, and it consistently delivers very impressive products with equally impressive prices. Last year's JBL Flip 7 and JBL Charge 6 are firm favorites of ours, and this year JBL has updated its cute JBL Go ultraportable.

We gave this new model the full five stars in our JBL Go 5 review, calling it "the best tiny Bluetooth speaker" — while 4.8W output means it's hardly a party speaker, it delivers impressive sound from its tiny case along with attractive edge lighting and a durable, waterproof design. It's one of the best-sounding small speakers we've ever tested.

Read our JBL Go 5 review

2. Sonos Play

• List price of $299 / £299 / AU$499
• Released on March 31st, 2026
• Rating: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)

So far we've been focused on Bluetooth-only speakers, but now let's turn to a portable option that can also be used in multi-room setups over Wi-Fi. Sonos is the big brand in that space, and the Sonos Play is a superb new addition to the Sonos range whether you want it to fly solo, take it on your travels, or use it as part of a wider Sonos setup.

It's a little more expensive than rivals, but the Sonos Play delivers powerful and well-rounded audio, has superb streaming support and connectivity including Hi-Res Audio over Wi-Fi, and its USB-C port can be used as an audio input: you can get an adapter that enables you to connect a turntable or other wired audio source.

It delivers up to 24 hours of battery life and sits on a good-looking charging cradle when you don't need to take it places, which means you can grab and go in an instant without unplugging.

Read our Sonos Play review

1. JBL Xtreme 5

• List price of $399.95 / £329.99 (about AU$560)
• Launched in April 2026
• Rating: 5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)

This beast makes the JBL Go 5 look like it was made for a Lego character. The rugged, chunky and very loud JBL Xtreme 5 is a bit of a beast, delivering mesmerizing bass from its rather hefty frame. It's marginally bigger than its predecessor, but the sound is bigger too.

As we said in our review, "this is how you do an upgrade. This model has more power, more striking sound, lighting for added beauty points, and an even more durable build than last time out." It's also solidly built, reminiscent of the old Nokia phones where if you dropped them, you were more likely to break the ground than your phone.

Dustproof, waterproof and with a long-lasting battery keeping the party going for up to 28 hours, the JBL Xtreme 5 is exceptional — but if it's just a little too heavyweight for you, the 2025 JBL Charge 6 is very good too.

Read our JBL Extreme 5 review

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EZVIZ EP4: one-minute review

Fitting a video doorbell or security camera is often a non-starter if you rent or live in an apartment where drilling into the walls isn’t allowed. That’s where the EZVIZ EP4 Wire-Free Peephole Door Viewer comes in — by fitting through your front door’s existing peephole, it brings almost everything you’d get from a full video doorbell, without any damage that could upset your landlord.

The physical setup is incredibly easy and took me just 10 minutes to complete. After you’ve unscrewed the old peephole, the EP4 securely clamps onto the door without a power tool in sight.

Once it’s running, the footage captured is very clear, giving you a detailed look at anyone outside. The companion app is simple to use and intuitively designed, making it effortless to check live feeds, use the two-way talk feature, or adjust security settings.

When it comes to saving video footage, EZVIZ doesn’t lock you into a subscription plan like some rivals. While the company includes a free trial of its cloud subscription service, you aren’t forced to pay for it afterwards. If you want to skip the recurring fees, you can opt to install a local microSD card (up to 512GB) to store clips locally.

However, the EP4’s AI facial recognition has a notable quirk. Although it's smart enough to identify who is at your door, there’s currently no way to stop the app from sending you notifications when it spots someone you know — including you. Because you can’t tell the camera to ignore certain individuals, you’ll be alerted every time you walk through your own front door.

EZVIZ EP4: price and availability

• List price £229.99 (about $300 / AU$440)
• Available in the UK, but not the US or Australia
• No subscription necessary if you use a microSD card

The EZVIZ EP4 Wire-Free Peephole Door Viewer is available in the UK for £229.99 (about $300 / AU$440), but I’ve seen it discounted to as little as £159.99 during sales events. It’s not yet available in the US and Australia at the time of writing, but older models are, so hopefully the EP4 will launch more widely soon.

If you want to store your videos at home subscription-free, you’ll also need a microSD card (up to 512GB), so factor this into the cost. If you’d prefer to store footage in the cloud, you’ll want an EZVIZ CloudPlay subscription. After a 30-day free trial, there are three plans to choose from:

Plan Type	Cameras supported	Unlimited cloud storage	7-day event-based video history	30-day event-based video history
Individual plan	1	Yes	Monthly: $3.99 (about £3, AU$6) Yearly: $39.99 (about £30, AU$58)	Monthly: $6.99 (about £5.30, AU$10) Yearly: $69.99 (about £53, AU$100)
Home plan	4	Yes	Monthly: $5.99 (about £4.60, AU$8.70) Yearly: $59.99 (about £46, AU$87)	Monthly: $10.99 (about £8.40, AU$16) Yearly: $109.99 (about £84, AU$160)
Business plan	10	Yes	Monthly: $12.99 (about £9.90, AU$19) Yearly: $129.99 (about £99, AU$190)	Monthly: $27.99 (about £21, AU$41) Yearly: $279.99 (about £210, AU$410)

• Value score: 4.5/5

EZVIZ EP4: design

• Discreet external camera
• Very simple to fit without damaging door
• Internal screen projects an inch into the room
• Visitors might not spot the doorbell button

The EP4 has two main parts: the camera, which has a cable that threads through the peephole in your door, and a screen that sits on the inside. The camera has a doorbell button below the lens (though visitors might not notice it because it's at an unusual level), a motion sensor at the top, and a speaker and microphone on the side.

It’s compatible with doors between 1.4 x 4.1 inches / 35 x 105mm thick, with a peephole diameter between 0.6 inches and 2 inches / 14mm and 50mm. That’s a wide range, and should be fine for the vast majority of internal and external doors, but it’s worth measuring yours first just to be sure. You can remove the peephole from your door by simply unscrewing it, though if it’s particularly tight, you might need to use a pair of pliers to get it started.

The camera unit threads through an existing peephole and is compatible with most doorsFuture

I recommend using a spirit level to get the camera straight before securing it in placeFuture

The screws connect the backplate to the camera, clamping them to your door without damaging itFuture

To fit the EP4, start by measuring the thickness of your door using the card template provided, and choose the appropriate pair of screws, indicated by the instruction manual. These will be used to clamp the EP4 onto your door. Peel the paper off the 3M tape on the back of the camera unit, position it on the outside of your door (I recommend using a spirit level to get it straight), thread the screws and data cable through the peephole (you can roll a piece of paper around them to avoid snagging), and press down to secure it.

Then tighten the screws a little, slide the mounting plate for the screen into place, tighten the screws the rest of the way, plug in the data cable, and slide the screen into place. The whole process takes no longer than 10 minutes, and when you want to remove it, there’ll be no damage to your door.

The external camera is unobtrusive, and visitors might not realize it's also a doorbellFuture

The internal display gives a clear view of the area beyond your front door, but you'll get a better picture in the appFuture

The screen stands about an inch proud of your doorFuture

When you move, just unscrew the EP4 and screw the original peephole back in placeFuture

It’s a clever design, and the exterior camera is discreet (it comes with stickers to put on your door if you want to warn visitors they are being recorded), but it’s worth being aware that the interior screen stands about an inch proud of the door, so you’ll need to be very careful if it opens opposite a wall.

You can detach the screen unit to charge it via a microUSB cable (supplied with the EP4) and insert a memory card. It’s a shame there’s no hot-swappable battery — you can’t use the camera and doorbell while the unit is charging — but battery life is quite respectable. EZVIZ suggests up to 120 days, though this will depend on how many times the camera is triggered and how often you use the internal screen to see what’s happening outside.

• Design score: 4.5/5

EZVIZ EP4: performance

The EP4 is an ingenious home security device that provides many of the advantages of a video doorbell or home security camera without needing to make permanent changes to your property. It’s a great pick for an apartment, with excellent picture quality and smart notifications, though it’s worth being aware of a few drawbacks — particularly when it comes to person recognition.

The resolution of the internal screen is fine, and you’ll immediately benefit from a field of view that’s much wider than your original peephole, but it doesn’t do justice to the EP4’s 4K camera. To see footage in its full 4K glory, you’ll need to use the Ezvizlife app, which also gives you access to all the EP4’s settings, as well as event history, saved recordings, call logs, two-way talk, and static photos.

The app's welcome screen gives you quick access to video logs and live viewFuture

The camera records 10-second clips when triggered, which are kept in your video logsFuture

You can browse recordings at any time, scrub through video, capture stills, and export video filesFuture

Footage in the Ezvizlife app is incredibly sharp, and there’s very little lag between events happening outside and the camera starting to record. You’ll notice a delay when using two-way talk, but it’s only a couple of seconds, and no worse than some much higher-end video doorbells we’ve tested here at TechRadar.

When a visitor uses the doorbell, you'll receive an incoming-call-style notification that you can choose to reject or answer to start two-way talk. It's also possible to start two-way talk at any time through the app if you can see someone at the door.

Want to keep your identity private? The app gives you two options: ‘Uncle Tone’, which deepens your voice, and ‘Clown Tone’, which makes it high and squeaky, both of which work well and will effectively disguise your voice if you don’t want to be recognized. Personally, I would prefer an option that doesn’t sound quite so cartoonish, but they’re a welcome feature nonetheless.

I found the fisheye-correction option particularly useful during my testing, along with the AI person-shape recognition, which correctly identifies subjects even when they’re wheeling a bike or carrying a large object that might obscure their body shape.

When a person is detected, the camera will send a notification to the EZVIZ app, and start recording a 10-second video clip, which will be saved on an SD card or in the cloud, depending on which storage option you’ve chosen. You can also choose to watch through the camera live at any time, trigger a recording, or capture a still image.

Person identification works even when an individual's outline is obscured by large objectsFuture

You can see a live view through the app or internal screen any timeFuture

Check your video logs in the app, export videos, and capture still imagesFuture

You can also export videos from your logs at any time, which is very useful if you're unfortunate enough to need them as evidence for the police.

EZVIZ is a Chinese company, and although the app has been localized quite well, some parts are still confusing. For example, if you attempt to toggle a feature that’s still in beta, you will see a notification reading: “The current status of this detection is closed. Please enable the corresponding algorithm in the intelligent detection before enabling this function”.

For me, the biggest drawback — and the one that holds the EP4 back from a better score — is the implementation of facial recognition. In an ideal world, you wouldn’t receive a notification when your own face is detected, and you could disable alerts for other members of your household as well, so you’re only alerted when a stranger arrives. Unfortunately, that’s not an option with the EP4, which notified me that “Cat appeared” each time I arrived home from work.

You can add a person to 'Familiar Faces' using an existing photo, or take a new oneFuture

Photos should be well-lit and taken from the frontFuture

Adding yourself to 'Familiar faces' doesn't mean that the app will 'ignore' you Future

Facial recognition works very well, and even identifies a person wearing a cycle helmet and sunglasses, but at the moment, the implementation seems back-to-front. In fairness, though, the feature is still in beta, so perhaps the developers at EZVIZ will make that change before its full launch. For now, it's a real problem.

• Performance score: 3.5/5

Should you buy the EZVIZ EP4?

EZVIZ EP4 score card

Attribute	Notes	Score
Value	Very reasonably priced, particularly during sales, though you'll need an SD card too.	4.5/5
Design	Ingenious design that's great for renters, though screen projects quite far into the room and isn't very high-res.	4/5
Performance	Key functions are great, but you'll receive notifications whenever it detects your own face.	3.5/5

Buy it if

You rent your home

There’s no need to drill or make any permanent changes to your door, which will keep your landlord happy. When it’s time to move, the EP4 comes right off, and you can screw the old peephole back into place.

You’re on a budget

The EP4 is a great value doorbell and camera combo, and is frequently discounted on Amazon.

Security is a real concern

The 4K footage will make it easy to identify anyone who’s up to no good, if you’re unfortunate enough to need it as evidence.

Don't buy it if

You particularly want to watch for packages

Although the EP4 has a good horizontal field of view, it doesn’t cover your doorstep, so you won’t be able to see parcels left there.

You have notification fatigue

At the moment, there’s no way to avoid receiving a message when you approach your own front door.

EZVIZ EP4: also consider

If you're not sure whether the EZVIZ EP4 is the right security camera/doorbell for your home, here are two other wireless alternatives to consider.

Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell

This excellent subscription-free doorbell earned our seal of approval due to its sharp 2K recordings, ease of use, and great battery life.

Read our full Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell review

Eufy Video Doorbell Dual

Another solid subscription-free option, with dual cameras so you can keep an eye out for deliveries.

Read our full Eufy Video Doorbell Dual review

How I tested the EZVIZ EP4

I installed the EZVIZ EP4 on the door to my apartment, having first unscrewed the original peephole. I used it for two weeks, adding myself and my husband as 'familiar faces' halfway through. I used the two-way talk function to speak to him when I received a notification that he had arrived, and we used the doorbell function to speak to one another. I kept recordings on a microSD card once the seven-day cloud storage trial expired, and used the app to review recordings, export videos, and capture still images.

At the end of the test period, I removed the EP4 and replaced my door's original peephole. For more details, see how we test, review, and rate products at TechRadar.

First reviewed July 2026.

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