Cheapest NBN plans compared: Unlimited internet from $41/month

Keen to find a better deal on your home internet? We’ve compared the cheapest NBN plans from many of the biggest telcos to find the best deals for you in each speed category.

One of the best ways to save money on your internet bill is to shop around frequently. Many internet service providers (ISPs) offer introductory deals, including generous discounts for the first six months. Afterwards, it’s always worth comparing providers so you’re not left paying more than you should. Most ISPs don’t use lock-in contracts, making it relatively easy to swap to a better-value plan.

After the big NBN speed upgrade, it’s now easier than ever to enjoy fast internet at decent prices. Some older NBN plans got five times faster for the same price. Not a bad deal for those eligible.

Image: Jay Marshall.

But there’s not much point in paying for speeds you don’t need. Make sure you regularly assess whether your current internet plan serves your needs, as recommended by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

With that in mind, here are the current cheapest NBN plans in Australia from a wide range of telcos. We also have some affordable tips and tricks on how to maximise your current internet speeds. Looking for a new phone plan, too? Compare the cheapest SIM plans to save even more money.

Contents

• Cheapest overall NBN plans
• NBN 25 plans
• NBN 50 plans
• NBN 100 and NBN 500 plans
• NBN 250 plans
• NBN 1000 plans
• NBN 2000 plans
• What you need to know
• Which NBN plan?

Cheapest overall NBN Plans

Right now, SpinTel sells the cheapest NBN plan; its 25Mbps plan costs $41 per month for the first six months. After discounts, $69.95 per month is the ongoing price. Tangerine, Dodo, and Moose NBN also sell some of the cheapest plans, offering discounted rates of $45 or less per month.

Take a look at the widget below for more of the cheapest NBN plans. We update this article monthly, but the widget updates automatically, giving you up-to-date and accurate information.

Many of the retailers display promotional prices aimed at new and returning customers. These offers generally involve paying a discounted rate for six months before reverting to a standard price. To view the details of promotional offers, click on the green text labelled ‘deal’, which will also show the standard price.

Each plan featured here includes unlimited data. Some providers let you save a few dollars every month by choosing a plan with a data cap. If you know you don’t need much data, use this search tool to find plans with monthly data allowances.

NBN 25 plans

Suited for streaming videos in HD and basic online tasks, an NBN 25 plan gives you a bit more flexibility and much more value for money.

Like above, SpinTel’s NBN 25 plan is the cheapest, costing $41 per month for the first six months. Once the discounted period ends, the plan costs $69.95 per month ongoing. Other cheap NBN 25 plans come from Tangerine ($42.90), Dodo ($43.99), and Moose NBN ($44.80). Once their six-month discounts end, Dodo charges $73.99 per month, Tangerine’s price goes to $72.90, while Moose costs a reasonably priced $64.80 per month.

Without discounts, most of the cheapest NBN 25 plans cost between $65 and $70 per month, so it’s a relatively cost-effective speed tier.

NBN 50 plans

Traditionally Australia’s most popular internet plan, NBN 50 balances value with performance. These plans support 4K video streaming and can sustain multiple simultaneous users.

At the moment, Belong sells the cheapest NBN 50 plan, priced at $55 per month for the first six months, and then $91 per month thereafter. Afterwards, Dodo’s plan costs $87.99 per month. Dodo and Moose NBN also sell NBN 50 plans below $60 at the time of writing, at $57.99 and $59.90 per month for the first six months, respectively. After discounts, they’re a bit cheaper than Belong, with Dodo’s ($87.99) and Moose NBN’s ($83.80) full pricing sitting below $90.

Most full-priced NBN 50 plans start at around $85 per month, so it’s worth shopping around.

NBN 100 and NBN 500 plans

This is where the NBN speed upgrade starts to kick in. For customers with Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) or Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) connections, the NBN 100 tier becomes NBN 500 plans at no extra cost.

Both sets of speeds are ideal for streaming multiple 4K videos and downloading files quickly. If you get 500Mbps speeds, those downloads will be five times quicker. Only slightly more expensive than the 50Mbps tier, NBN 100 plans are still good value for most people; NBN 500 is even better value, given the small gap in pricing.

To start with, let’s look at the cheapest NBN 100 plans — these speeds apply to those with Fibre to the Node (FTTN), Fibre to the Building (FTTB), and Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) connections:

You can currently choose from three discounted NBN 100 plans priced at $65 or less per month, including Belong ($59), Dodo ($62.99), and Moose NBN ($63.80). Each telco’s discount lasts six months, before the monthly price jumps up to $95, $92.99, and $86.80, respectively.

There are a few sub-$90 NBN 100 plans going around, but the majority start at $90 per month without discounts.

If you have a direct fibre connection, here are the cheapest NBN 500 plans:

As you can see, the prices are more or less the same as NBN 100, which makes it pretty good value for those who can get NBN 500 plans.

Adding to the sub-$65 deals is a $59.90 discounted rate offered by Tangerine. Once its six-month discount expires, Tangerine’s NBN 500 plan costs $92.90 per month.

As long as you have the technology to support faster speeds, the prices for NBN 500 plans are no more expensive than the slower NBN 100 tier.

NBN 750 plans

500Mbps download speeds aren’t fast enough for you? For even faster speeds, you could try NBN 750, which was NBN 250 before last year’s wholesale speed upgrade. This is the tier you consider when you want to download the latest video game or save a whole bunch of media for offline viewing.

SpinTel and Dodo currently sell the cheapest NBN 750 plans at discounted monthly rates of $69 and $69.99 apiece. Afterwards, SpinTel’s ongoing cost is $94.95, while Dodo costs $99.99.

Without factoring in discounts, expect to pay between $100 and $110 per month for most NBN 750 plans.

NBN 1000 plans

NBN 1000 plans also come with 100Mbps upload speeds, giving you fast downloads and a strong upload rate. Consider these plans if you regularly work with large files, like content creators, and don’t want to waste time waiting for downloads or uploads to finish.

You’ll notice that not every telco promises 1,000Mbps download speeds during peak times. That’s because the NBN speed upgrade is still relatively new, so the industry is still collecting real-world performance data. Rest assured, though, that these plans are fast.

Belong currently sells the cheapest NBN 1000 plan, offering a $75 monthly rate for the first six months, before the price reverts to $110. SpinTel ($76) and Dodo ($79.99) are the closest competitors at the time of writing.

Elsewhere, most NBN 1000 plans cost upwards of $110 per month.

NBN 2000 plans

One of the new additions following the speed upgrade, NBN 2000 plans, also known as ‘Hyperfast’, is for absolute power users. Capable of handling multiple 8K video streams and downloading large files in the blink of an eye, it’s much faster than anything previously available to the wider Australian public.

Because it’s new and a bit on the pricier side, not many ISPs sell NBN 2000 plans just yet. Still, there are some discounts available, with prices already varying between telcos.

Mate currently has the cheapest and fastest NBN 2000 plan, selling it for $141 per month for the first six months, and $166 thereafter. Superloop is close behind, with a $148 monthly NBN 2000 plan. That price lasts for six months before increasing to $168 per month.

With not as much competition as other speed tiers, some NBN 2000 plans are as expensive as $194 per month.

What you need to know

If you want broadband internet in Australia, your main and most reliable choice is via the National Broadband Network (NBN). Although the NBN provides the internet backbone, it does not sell plans directly to the public. Instead, telecommunication vendors package up retail and business plans, which include different features and levels of customer support.

NBN availability

The NBN is available to all Australians, but the way you access the NBN may be different. This might include a fixed cable into your home, wireless access via an antenna on your roof or a satellite dish.

To see what technology is available to you, start by visiting the NBN getting connected page. After entering your address, you will be shown the technology available at your address. You will also see which providers or NBN retailers sell access in your area. In Sydney alone, we were presented with 123 different retailers.

Speed and reliability

It is important to understand that the speed and reliability of your NBN plan can differ by retailer. Each buys internet capacity from the NBN. This capacity is then shared with a certain number of the retailers’ customers. This means that a retailer may have faster speeds in one suburb versus another based on how many customers are accessing the overall capacity. It’s always good to ask your neighbours who they are with and their experience with a particular NBN retailer.

It’s also worth checking the ACCC website regularly. They publish quarterly broadband performance results, measuring how well telcos deliver on advertised internet speeds. You want to be certain that you’ll get the speeds you pay for, so this is a good starting point.

For those customers looking for an NBN alternative, we suggest the following GadgetGuy guides: How does 5G fixed-wireless stack up as an NBN alternative and Caravanner’s guide to connecting to the internet anywhere.

Having good internet speed is more than just a fast broadband connection. For more, be sure to check out GadgetGuy’s guide to improving your internet for more information.

Which NBN plan?

When evaluating an NBN plan, consider the following criteria:

• Data Limits – Is there a monthly download limit of data, or is the plan unlimited?
• Download Speed – Best measured at its busiest in megabits per second (Mbps) typical evening speed. Is it enough to watch Netflix? (Netflix requires 10-25Mbps depending on resolution quality.) Larger households with members using the internet simultaneously will require higher download speeds.
• Cost – How much do you pay each month, and is there a connection fee?
• Contract – Are you locking yourself to a retailer for a period, or is it month-to-month?
• Telephone – Is a fixed-line telephone service bundled into the plan?
• Customer service – What hours are supported, and is it an Australian-located call centre?
• Upload speed – Important for people who save large files online, like photos and videos.

Changing providers

If you wish to change internet providers, the process involves signing up with the new retailer in-store or online. You may receive a new Wi-Fi router, and you may have to return your old router to your previous retailer. The retailer-provided router is generally low quality but provides a fixed-line telephone connection if selected.

Your retailer might offer you an email address. Still, we recommend using a non-telco-specific email address, such as Gmail or Hotmail, allowing you to easily change NBN retailers.

The NBN changeover process can take less than an hour, but depending on the location and NBN technology, it could take a few days. To take advantage of introductory offers, you could swap your provider every six months.

Suppose you do not wish to leave your existing provider. In that case, you may be able to negotiate a better rate by comparing it to cheaper offerings.

GadgetGuy occasionally uses affiliate links and may receive a small commission from purchased products.

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Australia’s cheapest SIM plans compared: From under $12/month

Are you looking to save on your phone bill? We’ve rounded up the cheapest SIM plans from a range of different carriers to help you find the best price. If you’re unsure about whether a SIM-only mobile plan is what you need, our quick guide to SIM-only mobile plans will get you up to speed.

Generally speaking, if you don’t want a new phone or a lock-in contract, a SIM plan is the way to go. It’s easy to get what you need without paying for excess features. Unlimited phone calls and text messages usually come standard, with data and international roaming the main points of difference. If you do want a phone, however, check out the current deals on phone plans, including discounted handsets.

We update this article monthly, so bookmark this page to keep up to date with the cheapest SIM plans. Prices update in real-time, meaning you get the latest deals available in Australia right now. You can also use a custom search to choose a plan that suits your exact needs.

All of the plans featured in this article include an expiry period of at least 28 days. You can purchase a SIM plan with a shorter recharge window, ideal for travellers who only need a bit of data while visiting Australia.

Want to save on your internet bill, too? Check out the cheapest NBN plans to save even more money. You can also compare the best Telstra SIM-only plans, Vodafone SIM-only plans, and Optus SIM-only plans.

Contents

• Cheapest SIM plans
• Cheapest 5G SIM plans
• Cheapest 365-day SIM plans
• What you need to know: eSIM, prepaid, postpaid
• Phone number portability
• Best network coverage

Cheapest SIM plans

Postpaid

At the time of writing, Pivotel sells the cheapest postpaid SIM plan, priced at $11.45 per month for the first six months. That’s half its usual monthly price of $22.90, which you’ll pay once the discounted period ends. It comes with 25GB of data via Vodafone’s 4G network.

At its discounted $12 monthly price (down from $23), SpinTel’s 25GB plan costs only an extra 55 cents per month. This SIM plan from SpinTel connects to Optus’ 5G network, so the choice comes down to your network preference.

Moose Mobile (Vodafone 4G) and Swoop (Vodafone 5G) aren’t far behind, selling discounted postpaid SIM plans at $14 per month for the first six months. Afterwards, an ongoing plan with Moose costs $23 per month, while Swoop costs a couple of dollars more at $25 per month.

If you’re keen on a postpaid SIM plan on the Telstra network, Tangerine currently sells the cheapest option. Its $30 monthly plan costs $15 per month for the first four months, including 30GB of data. Keep in mind that this Tangerine plan only uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G networks, so check the coverage map before locking anything in.

Prepaid

At the time of writing, OnePass Mobile is the cheapest prepaid SIM plan with a discounted $12.50 rate for the first six recharges. Normally $25 every 28 days, OnePass Mobile’s 22GB plan connects to the Optus 5G network, while bundling in a OnePass membership at no extra cost.

MVNOs on the Vodafone network round out the next cheapest prepaid SIM plans. Starting with Lycamobile, its 50GB plan costs $15 per recharge for the first six recharges (on a 28-day cycle. Once the discount ends, the price reverts to $30 per recharge. Also $15 are the 30GB plans from iiNet and TPG (Vodafone 5G), but both are billed monthly, netting you an extra few days.

On the Telstra network, the cheapest current prepaid SIM plan is $25 from Everyday Mobile on a 30-day renewal. The Woolies-branded telco uses Telstra’s wholesale 4G network with 22GB of data, plus a 10% discount on one Woolworths shop every month.

Cheapest 5G SIM plans

5G coverage reaches more of Australia than ever, bringing with it faster download speeds. Phones compatible with 5G are also increasingly affordable, making it easier to access high-speed networks.

In some cases, 5G plans can cost more, but as you’ll see below, they can also be among the cheapest.

Postpaid

SpinTel’s discounted $12 plan mentioned earlier is currently the cheapest postpaid 5G SIM plan, followed by Swoop’s $14 monthly plan.

Outside of discounts, postpaid 5G plans start from $23 per month, so it’s a reasonably affordable tier.

Prepaid

Topping both the cheapest overall and 5G prepaid plans, OnePass Mobile features again with its 22GB plan, which costs $12.50 for the first six 28-day recharges. Lyca Mobile, on the Vodafone 5G network, is similarly cheap, priced at $15 per 28 days for the first six recharges, including a large 50GB allocation. Afterwards, it costs $30 every 28 days.

In a slight shakeup to the Telstra side of the market, both Aldi Mobile and Boost Mobile are the cheapest Telstra-based prepaid SIM plans with 5G access. Both cost a flat rate of $28; Aldi’s plan recharges every 30 days, while Boost has a 28-day recharge cycle. 12GB comes with each Aldi recharge, and Boost includes 8GB. However, Boost Mobile’s advantage is being the only MVNO with access to the full Telstra 5G network, reaching further than Aldi’s wholesale network access.

For a bit more data on the Telstra network, Aldi Mobile and Ezee Mobile include 29GB per 30-day recharge for $29. Both rely on Telstra’s wholesale network, so check the coverage map to be sure if your area is covered.

Depending on your data needs, you can generally pick up a 5G prepaid plan for $25 per recharge.

Cheapest 365-day SIM plans

If you know what you need over a longer period and want to save money in the process, a 365-day SIM plan might do the trick. Simply pay once per year, and get a bank of data to use with unlimited calls and texts. It’s a cost-effective way of paying your phone bill for basic internet users who aren’t big downloaders.

For the next couple of weeks, OnePass Mobile sells the cheapest long-expiry plan. For $149, you can get Optus 4G network access and a large 350GB data allocation. Keep in mind, the regular allocation for future recharges (at the full $200 price) is 200GB, which is still competitive compared with other telcos.

Kogan also currently sells its Small 365-day plan for $149 (down from $179.90). Via the Vodafone 4G network, it includes 220GB with the first recharge, and 140GB with future recharges.

If you want a long-term SIM plan on the Telstra network, Everyday Mobile is currently the cheapest option. Priced at $250 and including 215GB, it provides access to Telstra’s wholesale 4G network. 5G access comes with Boost Mobile’s $300 365-day SIM plan in return for 290GB of data for the first year (subsequent recharges include 240GB).

What you need to know about SIM-only plans

It’s fairly easy to change your SIM plan provider. Even more so with the rise of embedded SIM (eSIM) technology, letting you change plans almost instantly with a compatible device. Instead of requiring a physical card, eSIM stores network information directly in your phone.

Irrespective of which service provider you go with, the actual network used will be either Optus, Telstra or Vodafone. Many of the cheapest SIM plan providers are mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). This refers to carriers that use the network infrastructure of another company.

See Also

06/11/2024Adam Turner How to use

What is eSIM? All you need to know about the growing phone tech

Boost Mobile is a popular MVNO that has full access to Telstra’s network, reaching 99.5% of Australians. Not every MVNO includes a network’s full coverage, so it’s worth checking a company’s website to ensure your area is serviced.

In terms of how much data you should choose, data from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) found that Australians generally pay for more than what they need. On average, Aussies use 10.2GB of phone data per month, so it’s likely you could get away with a smaller allowance that costs less.

It also depends on how much you stream and download content using your phone. If you mainly use home or office Wi-Fi and don’t stream much, stick with a cheaper plan.

Postpaid versus prepaid

There are a couple of slightly different SIM plan options to choose from. Postpaid refers to plans that operate on a monthly billing cycle, where you pay at the end of each cycle. Postpaid SIM plans generally don’t involve a lock-in contract, so you can freely swap if your needs change or a better deal comes along. If you hit your data cap for a month, your telco might limit speeds until the next cycle or charge extra costs, so check the fine print beforehand.

Prepaid, on the other hand, sees you pay at the start of each cycle for a fixed number of days. Most prepaid SIM plans have a 28-day expiry cycle instead of a full month. Shorter expiries are also available if you need a SIM while travelling, making it a flexible option. The upside is that if you go over your data limit, you won’t incur extra costs. A lot of prepaid plans don’t automatically recharge by default but you can set up auto-recharge manually, with some telcos offering discounts or bonuses if you do so.

Phone number portability

The SIM changeover process takes about 10 minutes of your time or even less if you choose an eSIM. You will receive instructions to visit a website, provide your details, prove your identity (online) and then insert your new SIM.

Note you will have a choice to migrate your existing mobile number or choose a new one. About 15 minutes later, you should be up and running. However, the documentation will indicate it may take up to 24 hours and be affected by working hours.

Best network coverage

Network coverage is one of the most important factors to consider when buying any phone plan. Low prices and all the data in the world don’t mean much if you can’t get a signal.

Telstra decided to no longer express its network as a percentage of the Australian population, after the rules governing how telcos present network coverage changed midway through 2026. As such, a percentage-versus-percentage comparison is a bit trickier, but Telstra still claims the biggest phone network coverage in Australia by way of square kilometres.

Network	Network size
Telstra	2.14 million square kilometres
Telstra wholesale	1.4 million square kilometres
Optus	1.2 million square kilometres
Vodafone	1.2 million square kilometres

More important than percentages and square kilometres is whether your location has coverage. The best way to check is via a telco’s network map:

• Telstra network map
• Optus network map
• Vodafone network map

If you’re not sure which telco to choose, try a plan for a month. Lock-in contracts are largely a thing of the past, so it’s easier than ever to try one provider and swap if it doesn’t work out.

GadgetGuy occasionally uses affiliate links and may receive a small commission from purchased products.

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Samsung debuts more powerful tracker with Galaxy Tab S12 range

Arriving slightly later this year, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 range adds a bit more internal power and beefs up the tablets’ speakers, while a new tracker is set to launch next year.

This year’s range of premium Samsung tablets consists of two larger models: the 14.6-inch Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and the 12.6-inch Galaxy Tab S12+. Last year’s tablets didn’t include the ‘Plus’ model, with Samsung opting to alternate between tablet sizes as the sidekick to the Ultra model.

Both tablets run on a MediaTek Dimensity 9500 processor with 12GB of memory (the 1TB Ultra model gets 16GB of memory). This year’s range gets a new quad-speaker array, providing a four-channel audio system, up from previous tablets’ two audio channels.

Image: Samsung.

Consistent with other mobile device launches, there’s a higher price tag with the latest models, likely due to the AI-driven global memory shortage. In Australia, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra starts at $2,299, $200 more expensive than last year’s Tab S11 Ultra launch price. For comparison, the Galaxy Tab S12+ starts at $1,999 locally, up from the Galaxy Tab S10+’s $1,799 price tag.

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S12 range launches in Australia on 22 October. Like the brand’s top-end phones, the tablets support seven years of OS and security updates.

A new Samsung tracker

Launching alongside Samsung’s new tablets is the Galaxy SmartTag 3, the brand’s latest tracking device. Compared to the second-gen tag, the latest version is 35 per cent smaller and 33 per cent lighter.

Arguably the biggest change is the SmartTag 3’s iOS support. Compatible with Android and iOS devices, Samsung’s new tracker works across different brands, potentially helping households not wedded to one ecosystem over another. Apple device owners can track the SmartTag 3’s whereabouts via Samsung’s SmartThings app.

Image: Samsung.

In addition to the smaller size and cross-OS support, Samsung claims the new tracker can help locate objects from farther away. Using a combination of Bluetooth 6 and ultra-wideband technology, the SmartTag 3 can precisely locate a position from up to 60 metres away using Compass View, Samsung says.

Australians keen to upgrade their Samsung trackers will need to wait, however. Korea gets the Galaxy SmartTag 3 next week, but an Australian launch isn’t due until 2027.

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Worx Landroid Vision Cloud review: No more manual mowing

9

Do you know what happens when you don’t regularly mow a buffalo lawn? Buffalo grass is a lawn that grows by runners, and if you don’t mow it regularly, thatch can form as new runners grow over the old runners. This is exactly what had happened at my house. I then used a dethatching machine, which literally rakes out the thatch. Now the lawn doesn’t look so good, but it will recover soon, and thanks to the Worx Landroid Vision Cloud robot mower I recently tested, I shouldn’t have the thatch problem again.

Worx Landroid Vision Cloud features

Unlike a traditional lawnmower with a big steel blade, this Worx robot mower uses three tiny razor blades that cut small amounts off your grass often. In summer, you would run a robot mower three times a week, and the grass always looks great.

Gone are the days of pushing the smog-belching Victa around the garden every week or so. Regularly cutting your grass as it grows encourages it to grow sideways, giving you a thicker, lusher result as a side benefit. The tiny grass clippings fall back into your lawn, helping to feed and protect the roots.

Worx Landroid Vision Cloud WR308EA. Image: Worx.

I specifically tested the Worx Landroid Vision Cloud WR308EA model, which is a wireless robotic lawnmower designed to cut up to 800m² of multi-zone lawns. User-replaceable blades keep your lawn looking good short-term and long-term; the replaceable battery also extends its life compared to competing brands.

The Landroid Vision Cloud also includes a second two-blade cutting disk designed to cut right up to the edge of your lawn. The main cutting head has a cutting width of 18cm, which is small compared to traditional mowers but fine for a robot, since you don’t have to push it as it navigates and drives itself.

Cutting blades. Image: Angus Jones.

Mower height is adjustable for both the main cutting blade (3-6 cm) and the edge-cutting (5-7 cm) blade via manual controls. You should set the edge-cutting height slightly higher to help avoid ground contact.

This navigation uses satellite navigation (as you use in your car), with extra accuracy from the cloud, plus a built-in camera to identify grassed areas, navigate borders, and avoid obstacles. For the mower to work, you will need an outdoor power point, a clear view of the sky and Wi-Fi coverage out to your lawn.

If you have different sections of grass with access for your robot mower between them, you can set up multiple zones, and the mower will move between them. Larger areas often require the mower to recharge before it can finish the job.

Optional light (left) and the optional garage (right). Images: Angus Jones.

The WR308EA I tested also came with an optional light and garage. The light is user-installed and lets the mower run at night, ensuring it doesn’t hit anything. Because it’s so quiet, nighttime mowing is definitely an option. The garage protects the mower from rain and sun. It is not required, but it also hides the mower, making it less obvious in your garden.

Worx Landroid Vision Cloud specifications and price

Area capacity	Up to 800m²
Battery	4Ah
Slope capability	30% (17 degrees), 2-wheel drive
Dimensions	57 x 33 x 74 cm 19 kg
Price (RRP)	Robot: $1,999 Garage: $289 Headlight: $99
Website	Worx Australia
Warranty	2 years plus an extra year if registered within 30 days

Using the Worx Landroid Vision Cloud

Having tested quite a few robot lawnmowers, I’ve found that setting up the area to be mowed can be a chore in itself. Older robots required wires to be run in the ground, but now with GPS correction built into the mowers, the accuracy is centimetre-perfect.

Another feature that works exceptionally well, and isn’t widely available, is automatic mapping. I have normally found this a bit hit and miss, but the Worx system works the first time perfectly. This saves you from manually driving or controlling the mower around the perimeter of your lawn. This means installation is as simple as fixing the charging base to the ground, running the power cord, downloading an app, and following the on-screen instructions.

The app is fairly easy to use, and once you set everything up, you shouldn’t have to visit it much unless an issue occurs, and you will be notified. Here, you can set the cutting schedule and choose the cutting pattern. I did find some of the app’s terms confusing, like ‘Party mode’, which I had to Google. Contrary to its name, ‘Party Mode’ doesn’t send the mower into a dancing routine; instead, it suspends all operations while activated, ensuring the mower doesn’t operate during a party.

You can clean the mower with a low-pressure garden hose. Speaking of water, the mower can be programmed not to mow during rain, which, if done, does a poor job.

Edge cutting. Image: Angus Jones.

My garden is a challenge to mow. The buffalo grass is rough to drive on; my block slopes 1 in 10, and most edges are bush rocks that aren’t straight. Fortunately, the Landroid has never got stuck and does a great job. Not having to think about it is a big plus. Although the edge cutting does get reasonably close, even on a perfectly straight edge, a whipper snipper will still be required every few weeks to clean up the edge neatly.

Not every bit of grass on my block is accessible with the Landroid. I have a steep driveway that leads down to the nature strip, which no robot mower so far has negotiated, but I also worry about the mower working by itself next to the road where someone might steal it.

Who is the Worx Landroid Vision Cloud for?

The Worx mower is simple to set up and suits larger urban lawns with worry-free operation. A replaceable battery extends its useful life, meaning years of not having to push the mower around on a hot summer day. Your grass will always look good, and you won’t have to panic about getting the lawn done before your guests arrive.

I believe Australia is about to see a big boom in robotic lawnmowers starting this summer, and as one of the brands stocked by Bunnings, Worx is set to be one of the major competitors.

Worx Landroid Vision Cloud

When you have a robot lawnmower as good as the Worx Landroid Vision Cloud, you won't touch a smog-belching manual mower again.

Features

9

Value for money

9

Performance

9

Ease of use

9

Design

9

Positives

Easy setup

Quiet nighttime mowing with optional light

Close edge cutting with extra blades

Negatives

Can't navigate my steep driveway (although no robot mower has succeeded yet)

9

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Viture Pro 2 review: So close to XR glasses brilliance

7.5

It’s no wonder virtual reality never took off: who wants to wear a bulky headset for any length of time? Smart glasses and extended reality glasses have already attracted more support from both the public and tech companies keen to make the next big thing. Somewhere in between is the Viture Pro 2, a set of XR specs that replicates the big-screen experience on your face.

As simple as it gets, the Viture Pro 2 can display content from your phone, computer, and most handheld gaming devices via a USB-C cable. Eschewing the AI-infused smart features of many other wearables, these glasses only want to give you a big picture as close to your eyes as possible. And at $499, you won’t find many cheaper XR glasses in Australia.

Finding the sweet spot is the tricky part, however. When you find the perfect fit, the Viture Pro 2’s inner screens look spectacular. This isn’t as simple as it seems, though, and mileage may depend on the shape of your face.

My screen’s bigger than yours

My dad has an ongoing joke that he always has the biggest screen in the house. When I upgraded from a 55-inch to a 65-inch TV some time ago, he held his phone centimetres from his face and proclaimed that his screen was bigger, all the while chuckling like Ernie from Sesame Street.

As well-worn as the joke has gotten over the years, my dad has a point. When you factor in viewing distance, a 6.7-inch phone screen nearly touching your eyeballs will look bigger than a 65-inch TV.

In a similar vein, the Viture Pro 2 glasses house relatively tiny Micro-OLED displays that, by virtue of sitting millimetres from your eyes, look huge. It might take a bit of effort to get the best-looking picture, but the lightweight build sure beats holding your phone up to your face for ages at a time.

Image: Chris Button.

Viture claims the display produces the equivalent of a 146-inch screen. I have no way of verifying this claim, but 146 inches seems generous. It’s certainly a big screen, though, and a pretty one at that. You get the equivalent of 1920 x 1080 per eye, which is plenty sharp enough for most content.

Battery life isn’t a concern, either. The Viture Pro 2 doesn’t have a built-in battery, instead drawing power via whichever USB-C device it’s connected to. It’s somewhat restrictive, having a cable draped down the back of your head. At least it’s a physical reminder not to suddenly walk away, lest the connected device goes flying.

Viture Pro 2 specifications and price

Display technology	Sony Micro-OLED 1920 x 1080 per eye 120Hz Up to 1,600 nits of brightness Colours: 108% sRGB
Field of view	50 degrees
Size	63g
Dioptre adjustment	0 to -5.00D per eye
Included accessories	Lens shade Nose pads USB-C cable Glasses case and cloth
Price (RRP)	$499
Warranty	12 months
Official website	Viture Australia

Design

Weighing a svelte 63 grams, there’s not much to the Viture Pro 2. Slightly thicker and bulkier than display-less smart glasses, like Meta’s wearables, they’re not quite like wearing a pair of sunnies. Although, much to the delight of my partner, the Viture Pro 2 doesn’t have a built-in camera, avoiding the dreaded ‘pervert glasses’ connotations.

Compared to my regular set of dumb sunglasses, Viture’s AR specs have noticeably chunkier temples, while the top of the frames (the part that houses the Micro-OLED displays) protrudes slightly. Because of this, the glasses don’t sit completely flush against my face. There’s more of a gap between the lenses and my eyes, which I notice when wearing them. They also make me look a bit goofy with them on, but this could be less about the glasses and more about my appearance.

Image: Chris Button.

Fortunately, the Viture Pro 2 accommodates a reasonable degree of customisation. Included with the glasses are three sets of different-sized nose pads. Two of the pads use small flexible prongs with rubber tips on the end, designed to sit on the bridge of your nose. These two nose pads also let you adjust how high they sit, with three different height settings for each. When you find the right combination, these glasses are pretty comfy.

For my use, the third nose pad option proved to work the best. It also happened to be the smallest, closing the gap between the displays and my eyes more than any other option.

The Viture Pro 2 (left) and my regular sunnies (right). Images: Chris Button.

You can also adjust each temple independently to one of three angles. Raising or lowering the temple snaps it into a different angle, either higher or lower. It’s supposed to help the glasses fit more naturally depending on the position of your ears, the shape of your nose, and so on. Initially, I was worried about snapping one of the temples off entirely, but they’re reasonably sturdy, given the plastic design.

I don’t need prescription glasses, but the built-in dioptre dials still proved handy. On top of the frames, two dials — one for each eye — let you adjust the dioptre settings between 0 and -5.00D, providing some built-in adjustment to sharpen up the image. For those who need a stronger adjustment, Viture sells a separate attachment that lets you add your own prescription lenses.

Image: Chris Button.

Under the glasses’ left temple are buttons for quickly adjusting brightness and volume, among other settings. A rocker button, similar to what you’d find on a phone, increases and decreases your chosen setting, with a smaller button toggling between each setting. With this smaller button, various combinations of double-presses and holds cycle between different options, including colour settings, interpupillary distance (IPD) adjustments, and even a 3D mode.

It’s a well-considered layout on a reasonably comfortable pair of glasses that makes using the Viture Pro 2 as plug-and-play as possible.

Getting started with the Viture Pro 2

Like most display technology I test, the Viture Pro 2 saw its fair share of sports and video games. In most instances, using these glasses was as simple as plugging in a USB-C cable. With minimal friction, phones, laptops, and gaming devices simply treated the Viture Pro 2 as an external display. From there, it’s easy to get lost in whatever you’re watching. Several times when testing these specs, my partner walked in on me wearing them, seemingly staring vacantly into space. To be fair, me staring blankly at nothing isn’t an uncommon sight for her.

Watching an AFL stream on Kayo Sports was like viewing it on a personal projector. It was big, vibrant, and pleasingly crisp. If anything, these glasses are too bright. In a dim room, I squinted at even the lowest brightness setting. During the early stages of trying the glasses, I couldn’t quite see the whole picture without slightly cutting off the top or bottom.

Viture’s built-in speakers also took me by surprise. Footy commentary came through clearly, even on top of the crowd noise, with more volume and fullness than I was expecting. You won’t encounter skull-rattling bass through these speakers, but you don’t miss out on the low-end entirely, which is a fair compromise for the portable form factor.

Image: Chris Button.

Even on lower volumes, though, there was noticeable audio bleed. My partner could clearly hear the broadcast when I was in the same room, so headphones are essential to avoid disturbing others. Do not be one of those pricks on public transport who plays their phone audio for everyone else to hear.

I also noticed a slight hissing sound whenever the built-in speakers played a brief sound followed by silence, like when navigating a game console’s menu. However, this wasn’t noticeable when playing anything with consistent audio.

Unlike Viture’s higher-end glasses, the Pro 2 doesn’t support head-tracking or the ability to fix visuals in place. Whenever you move, the image moves with you, so any twitch or jostle is momentarily jarring. Meanwhile, the $1,199 Viture Beast XR glasses can track movement, letting you lock virtual screens in position, akin to a mini Apple Vision Pro experience.

The closest the Viture Pro 2 gets to this level of ‘spatial computing’ is when paired with the SpaceWalker companion app. Available on mobile and desktop, it enables a pseudo-multi-display environment that you can swipe between via a digital trackpad or virtual laser pointer controls. It’s a neat novelty, but not one I found particularly useful with these glasses.

Almost, but not quite

Once the initial novelty of the Viture Pro 2’s impressive display wore off, I was left with a lingering annoyance. When I couldn’t quite see the top or bottom of an image when trying the glasses for the first time, I assumed I’d eventually find the right combination of settings and adjustments.

Unfortunately, this never came to pass. Despite countless hours of tinkering and troubleshooting, I could never get the entire image to my liking. It was good, but not perfect.

At best, I’d estimate that I could see roughly 90 per cent of the image in full detail. Anything within this 90 per cent looked fantastic. I can’t speak highly enough of Sony’s Micro-OLED technology. Every colour looked rich and deep, accurately portraying the source material in the best light.

Image: Chris Button.

As for the remaining 10 per cent, the way my eyes lined up with the built-in displays meant that the top of the frames would slightly cut off a tiny part of the image. When I attempted to compensate, I’d lose a small bottom part of the image.

I also noticed slight blurring and chromatic aberration towards the edges of the displays. No matter what I tried, I couldn’t get complete perfection.

Viture advertises “edge-to-edge sharpness” stemming from its latest technology. This unfortunately wasn’t the case for me, but multiple overseas reviews from earlier in the year reported no such issues.

I believe that it’s impossible for one pair of glasses to account for every face shape, eye distance, and any other element of human variation. Maybe my schnozz is too big to get a proper fit? Are my ears weirdly shaped, preventing the glasses from sitting at the right angle? Spiralling with these thoughts only frustrated me more, rather than conceding I wasn’t going to have the same experience as others.

Learning to have fun with imperfection

Every device is a collection of design choices. Compromises are a natural part of this process. No single gadget can be everything to everyone. In my case, I wouldn’t use the Viture Pro 2 as a productivity device. Trying to read paragraphs of text and accounting for slight blurriness would quickly give me a headache.

Paired with something that didn’t require such singular attention, though, I enjoyed Viture’s glasses a lot more.

I spent hours reclined in a comfy chair, the Viture Pro 2 connected to my Steam Deck, enjoying my virtual farm in Fields of Mistria. Between my Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch 2, I spend a lot of handheld gaming time either craning my neck looking down or holding my hands up for extended periods. Both leave me feeling stiff and sore afterwards.

Most devices only need a single USB-C cable to connect. Image: Chris Button.

But the Viture Pro 2 lets me kick back and nestle into the comfiest position imaginable. Head on a cushion, eyes looking straight ahead at the ceiling, and hands relaxed in my lap holding the game console — it’s bloody nice, I tell ya.

Despite Fields of Mistria being a UI-heavy game, its bright and colourful visuals made the slightly blurry edges easier to ignore. When my partner wanted the TV, I could retreat into my glasses oasis and still enjoy a big screen experience.

For the Switch 2, this was slightly more complex, only through Nintendo’s doing. Unlike a Steam Deck or a phone, which can output to an external display via a compatible USB-C cable, Nintendo’s handheld relies on a proprietary dock.

Viture’s workaround is the $179 Mobile Dock Mini, which doubles as a video passthrough device and a power bank. That latter element means it can’t be used on flights, sadly. However, it lets you pair the Viture Pro 2 with the Nintendo Switch 2. It’s just a bummer that Nintendo’s restrictions necessitate an extra accessory.

Once set up, though, Viture’s specs are a treat for gaming.

Who is the Viture Pro 2 for?

The Viture Pro 2 is almost a great pair of XR glasses. It does almost everything right: a light and comfortable design, plug-and-play simplicity, and gorgeous-looking Micro-OLED displays.

But the promises of edge-to-edge clarity aren’t a guarantee. It takes a lot of trial and error to get the best results, and even then, I still encountered slightly blurry edges across most types of content.

When you find that sweet spot of clarity, though, paired with a good game, the Viture Pro 2 is a joy to use.

Viture Pro 2

The Viture Pro 2 almost reaches the summit of XR glasses excellence. Its Micro-OLED screens look fantastic, if you can get the right angle.

Performance

7.5

Features

7.5

Ease of use

8

Design

7.5

Value for money

7

Positives

Beautiful Micro-OLED displays

Lightweight and easy to wear for hours

Negatives

Tricky to get perfect clarity with sharp edges

Audible hiss from the built-in speakers in quiet environments

7.5

The post Viture Pro 2 review: So close to XR glasses brilliance appeared first on GadgetGuy.

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