Cheapest NBN plans: Save up to $180 over 12 months

Are you looking for the cheapest NBN plans to save money on your internet bill? We’ve compared many of the biggest telcos to find the best deals for you in each speed category.

Many Australians will be paying more for home internet as a result of wholesale price increases. Those on NBN 50 plans will feel the pinch the most, adding further financial stress to thousands of households.

So, what’s the solution? 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.

Australians are downloading more than ever, and choosing faster plans accordingly. 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. You can also compare the cheapest NBN 50 plans, the cheapest NBN 100 plans, and the cheapest NBN 250 plans to save on faster internet. Looking for a new phone plan? Compare the cheapest SIM plans to save even more money.

Contents

• Cheapest NBN plans
• NBN 12 plans
• NBN 25 plans
• NBN 50 plans
• NBN 100 plans
• NBN 250 plans
• NBN 1000 plans
• What you need to know
• Which NBN plan?

Cheapest NBN Plans

Here are the cheapest NBN plans at the time of writing. We update this article monthly, but the prices listed in the tables update frequently, 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 12 plans

Aimed at people who only need the internet for browsing online and checking emails, an NBN 12 plan isn’t blazingly fast but saves money.

Moose and Flip have sub-$50 plans at the moment; the latter costs just $39 per month for the first four months. Afterwards, its $52.90 regular pricing competes strongly.

For the most part, you’d be better off scrolling down and looking at faster speeds available for the same price or less.

NBN 25 plans

Suited for streaming videos in HD in addition to basic online tasks, an NBN 25 plan gives you a bit more flexibility and much more value for money. Flip features with another $39 monthly plan, with this discount lasting six months before the standard $57.90 price kicks in.

Beyond Flip, you can find sub-$50 NBN 25 plans from SpinTel, Moose, Tangerine, and Southern Phone. These telcos all offer discounted plans for the first six months.

Most promotional discounts last for six months, which is why it’s worth looking at Dodo’s 12-month discount. The NBN 25 Dodo plan costs $53.90 per month for an entire year, saving $180 over a 12-month period.

Otherwise, most NBN 25 plans cost less than $70 per month, making the speed tier one of the cheapest options outside of promotional periods.

NBN 50 plans

Australia’s most popular internet plan, NBN 50 balances value with performance. These plans support 4K video streaming and can sustain multiple simultaneous users. It’s not as cheap as it once was, but there are still plenty of good deals available.

Tangerine is currently the cheapest NBN 50 plan on our database at $59.90 per month for the first six months. Dodo also has another 12-month discount, while Moose and Exetel sit under the $65 mark when discounted.

After promotional pricing, NBN 50 plans hover around $80 per month. Buddy Telco, from Aussie Broadband, is one of the cheapest non-discounted plans, priced at $75 after its promotional $69 period.

NBN 100 plans

NBN 100 plans let your household stream multiple 4K videos at once, download files, and still have bandwidth for online gaming. Marginally more expensive than the slower 50Mbps tier, NBN 100 plans are still good value for most people.

SpinTel, Southern Phone, Moose, and Tangerine all cost around $65 per month for the NBN 100 tier, before climbing back up over the $80 threshold once the six-month discount ends.

Dodo has a 12-month discount here too, priced at $73.90 per month. Outside of discounts, NBN 100 plans typically cost $85 and above on a monthly basis.

NBN 250 plans

Not content with just streaming videos, NBN 250 plans significantly reduce the time waiting for large downloads. Whether you want to download the latest video game or save a whole bunch of media for offline viewing, this gets it done quicker.

Looking at the cheapest NBN 250 plans, $80 per month for SpinTel is a tempting offer. Another 12-month discount from Dodo is another good option, bringing the cost down to $83.90 per month.

Faster tiers like NBN 250 are among the major beneficiaries of the changed wholesale pricing. It’s led to more competition among higher-speed plans, which is nice for anyone wanting to swap from a slower tier.

NBN 1000 plans

You don’t like waiting for downloads to finish, that’s why you’re looking at this section. As long as you don’t expect to hit full speeds during peak periods, NBN 1000 plans are for households that live on the internet. They’ve even got faster in recent months, delivering more consistent performance during busy hours.

There’s a lot of competition for high-speed NBN internet at the moment, led by a $90 monthly offer from SpinTel. Big players like Optus, Vodafone, and TPG all include speeds up to 800Mbps for under $95 per month.

Over the long term, Buddy Telco’s $99 plan is a highlight. Providing typical evening download speeds of 875Mbps, it’s one of the fastest residential plans available. Another positive is that the $99 price is set in stone; it’s not a discounted price, so it’s cheaper in the long run than most competitors.

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 amount 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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Oppo Reno 13 5G review: The finer things at a mid-range price

With an impressive camera, great screen and long-lasting battery, the Oppo Reno 13 5G is for photographers burning the midnight oil.

Oppo’s smartphones have always taken pride in camera features, and this year is no different with the arrival of the $1,299 Reno 13 Pro 5G, $899 Reno 13 5G and $599 Reno 13 F 5G.

The Reno is not the flagship Oppo range, that honour would probably go to the Find series headlined by the impressive Oppo Find X8 Pro, but the Reno range certainly blurs the line between mid-range and premium Android if you’ve got $1,000-ish to spend and want to look beyond the usual suspects like Google and Samsung

Table of contents

• First impressions
• Specifications and price
• Features
• Quality
• Who is it for?

Oppo Reno 13 5G first impressions

With a 6.59-inch display, the standard Oppo Reno 13 5G is tall, but not too wide or cumbersome, thanks to its narrow 19.78:9 aspect ratio. You miss out on the slightly bevelled edges and curved screen found on earlier standard Reno models like the Oppo Reno 10 5G, in favour of a more utilitarian flat-edge design.

That said, these days the standard Reno has more of a premium feel thanks to a one-piece sculpted glass back and aerospace-grade aluminium frame.

The Oppo Reno 13 5G’s design is by-the-numbers, with the power button on the right sitting comfortably under your thumb, or left for southpaws, with the volume buttons above. The fingerprint reader is built into the screen rather than the power button, lighting up as soon as you pick up the handset to make it easy to find.

Across the bottom of the handset, you’ll find a USB-C port, but no sign of an old-school 3.5 mm audio jack.

The Oppo Reno 13 5G is a solid mid-range performer. Image: Adam Turner.

There’s also no sign on the side of a touch-sensitive Quick Button, as found on the Oppo Find X8 Pro, which launches the camera with a double-tap and then acts as the shutter button. It’s rumoured that this Apple-esque extra button might make it to the Reno 14 range. Nor does the Reno 13 5G feature the Find X8 Pro’s three-position Alert Slider, first introduced with the Oppo Find N3 Flip.

Fire up the Reno 13 5G, and you’re presented with a very impressive 1256 x 2760 pixel OLED. It offers 10-bit colour with a 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut, along with up to 120 Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and 1200 nits brightness.

Flip the handset over and you’re met by a striking camera array. Not striking in the number of lenses on hand, but more the clever design which manages to capture the light and make it appear that the camera array is glowing around the edges.

You’re presented with a 50 MP wide-angle main shooter and 8 MP ultra-wide, but the 2 MP macro lens has been swapped out in favour of what Oppo calls a 2 MP “monochrome” lens. You can’t use it as a standalone lens; instead, it works in conjunction with the other lenses to help capture extra fine details (which is why it’s sometimes referred to as a depth sensor, to help the camera make better sense of a scene).

Around the front is a 50 MP selfie camera with auto-focus to complete the handset’s photography credentials.

If you’re after a telephoto lens, you’ll need to step up to the Reno 13 Pro 5G, while if you’re chasing a macro lens, you’ll need to step down to the Reno 13 F 5G. To be fair, a telephoto lens with optical zoom isn’t overly common at this $900-ish price point (with the Nothing Phone 3a a notable exception, or the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE if you can break the $1,000 barrier).

Oppo Reno 13 5G specifications and price

Display size	6.59 inches, 19.78:9 aspect ratio
Display resolution	1256 x 2760 pixel, 460 ppi
Display technology	Flexible AMOLED, 60/90/120Hz refresh rate, 1200 nits brightness
Bands	2G GSM, 3G WCDMA, 4G LTE FDD/TDD, sub-6 5G
Chipset	MediaTek Dimensity 8350, 8 cores
GPU	ARM Turse G615
Rear cameras	Wide angle: 50 MP; f/1.8; FOV 79°; 5P lens; AF; OIS supported; EIS supported
	Ultra-wide angle: 8 MP; f/2.2; FOV 116°; 5P lens; EIS supported
	Monochrome: 2 MP; f/2.4; FOV 89°; 3P lens
Front camera	50 MP, f/2.0, FOV 90°; 5P lens; AF supported
RAM	12 GB LPDDR5X@3750MHz 4 × 16bits
Onboard storage	256 GB UFS 3.1
microSD slot	N/A
SIM	Dual Nano-SIM + eSIM
Charging	USB-C port SUPERVOOC 2.0, SUPERVOOC, VOOC 3.0, and PD2.0 (9V/1.5A)
Battery	5600 mAh
Wi-Fi	WiFi 2.4G, WiFi 5G, WiFi 6 (802.11ax), WiFi 5 (802.11ac), 802.11b/g/a/n WLAN 2.4G, WLAN 5.1G, WLAN 5G, WLAN 5.4G, WLAN 5.8G WLAN Display, WLAN tethering Wi-Fi 2.4GHz 20M, Wi-Fi 2.4GHz 40M, Wi-Fi 5GHz 20M, Wi-Fi 5GHz 40M, Wi-Fi 5GHz 80M, Wi-Fi 5GHz 160M 2 x 2 MIMO
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.4, Low Energy SBC, AAC, aptx, aptx-HD, LDAC, LHDC5.0
Operating system	Color OS 15, built on Android 15
Security	Fingerprint reader, Face Unlock
Ruggedness	IP69
Dimensions	157.90 x 74.73 x 7.24mm Plume White (x 7.29mm Luminous Blue)
Weight	181 gm
Colours	Plume White, Luminous Blue
Price	$899 RRP
Warranty	2 years
Official website	Oppo Australia

Features

The Oppo Reno 13 5G runs Android 15, customised as usual with Oppo’s own ColorOS UI, which at times feels like an homage to Apple’s iOS. Oppo also loads it up with a surprising amount of bloatware, which clutters the home screen.

Oppo says the handset will receive five years of Android OS updates and six years of quarterly security patches, which is good compared to many Android handsets.

Not surprisingly, ColorOS 15’s new features are very AI-centric, and the Reno 13 5G mostly applies them to the cameras. AI-powered photography features include:

• AI Motion leverages advanced generative AI to transform still images into three-second videos, making any photo into a dynamic “Livephoto”. It’s one of the first Android devices to feature a new Tap-to-Share feature that supports direct sharing of Livephotos with iOS devices.

Oppo’s description above is a bit misleading, because it can’t actually take an existing still image and use generative AI to turn it into three seconds of video. Instead, like Apple’s Live Photo, you need to enable Live Photo first, then it captures three seconds of video and then uses AI to optimise it and choose the best frame.

The other features include:

• AI Clarity Enhancer sharpens distant scenery to make even far-off objects like landscapes or architectural details appear clearer.

• AI Unblur brings clarity to previously blurry photos.

• AI Reflection Remover eliminates glass reflections, allowing users to capture scenery through windows with minimal interference.

You’ll find these four options under the ‘AI Editor’ menu when you click the Edit pencil icon under an image. Results generally aren’t bad, but at the end of the day, such changes are still an educated guess, so your mileage may vary.

Clever design means the Oppo Reno 13 5G’s camera array appears to shine on the Luminous Blue model. Image: Adam Turner.

Oppo is also keen to spruik the camera’s underwater credentials for photos and video, thanks to IP69 water and dust resistance, which means the handset can be submerged in freshwater up to two meters deep for 30 minutes. There’s even a dedicated Underwater Mode offering independent colour tuning. 

Cameras aside, the Oppo Reno 13 5G is a sub-6 5G handset, with Oppo’s AI-powered LinkBoost offering smart network selection to reduce dropouts. It’s good to have the flexibility of dual Nano-SIM and eSIM, although you miss out on microSD card support.

Under the bonnet is an 8-core MediaTek Dimensity 8350 power plant with a dedicated NPU to assist with AI performance. It’s accompanied by 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of onboard storage.

Powering all this is a very generous 5,600 mAh battery. As a result, the Reno 13 5G can easily go 36 hours before recharging, perhaps stretching out to 48 hours if you nurse it.

When you do need to top up, the handset can take advantage of SUPERVOOC wired fast charging, using the supplied bulky AC charger to provide a 50 per cent charge in under 25 minutes and 100 in under 50. You’ve also got the benefit of wireless charging.

Quality

Geekbench 6 results tell a respectable story with 1,325 single-core, 4,012 multi-core and 7,118 OpenGL. That puts it roughly on par with what you’d expect from rivals like the Samsung Galaxy A56 and soon-to-arrive Google Pixel 9a. Combined with 12 GB of RAM, it’s more than enough grunt for everyday tasks and should satisfy many gamers.

Device	CPU single-core	CPU multi-core	GPU (OpenCL)
Apple iPhone 16e	2,679	6,144	N/A
Xiaomi Poco F6	1,899	4,734	8,762
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro	1,886	3,355	3,308
Google Pixel 8a	1,510	4,232	5,754
Oppo Reno 13 5G	1,325	4,012	7,118
Motorola Edge 40	1,130	3,725	4,605
Samsung Galaxy A55	1,153	3,428	3,086
Motorola Moto G75 5G	1,022	2,874	1,801
Motorola Edge 50 Fusion	1,016	2,937	1,802
Samsung Galaxy A35	1,011	2,897	3,001
Oppo Reno 11 F 5G	905	2,358	2,372

Geekbench 6 scores.

When it comes to photography, the main shooter produces great results outside, producing vivid yet realistic colours with good contrast, like fine details in a blue sky. The lack of a telephoto lens is obviously going to frustrate some people, but the camera does a very good job with what it has and provides plenty of fine detail.

Switching across to the ultrawide lens doesn’t see a major shift in picture quality, as with some smartphones. Results after dark are also impressive, helped by the 2 MP depth lens, providing good colour and detail with minimal noise.

Who is the Oppo Reno 13 5G for?

The Oppo Reno 13 5G has a lot going for it, but it’s tough competition when, in roughly the same price range, you’ve got mid-range heavy hitters like the  Samsung Galaxy A56 and soon-to-arrive Google Pixel 9a, not to mention the Apple iPhone 16e. They could also claim to blur the line between mid-range and premium.

Assuming you’re not already wedded to one of these brands, the Oppo Reno 13 5G could win you over with its impressive display, decent cameras and long-lasting battery life, which ensures you can keep shooting all day.

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Australians pay too much for NBN internet, says telco CEO

Cost of living pressures are coming for all of us, but one area Australians don’t want to skimp on is fast internet. A study commissioned late last year by local telco SpinTel found that 70% of users would “never” choose a slower speed to save money.

Based on SpinTel’s research sourced from more than 1,000 Australians, roughly a third of respondents have tried to find a better deal on NBN internet. However, download speeds are a compromise not everyone is willing to consider.

Compounding the issue is the study finding that more than a third of consumers don’t understand how internet speed is measured. Most NBN plans are advertised in megabits per second (Mbps); a higher number means faster speeds. 50Mbps is Australia’s most popular NBN download speed, capable of saving a 1GB file in under three minutes.

But many Australians pay for higher internet speeds than they need, according to SpinTel CEO Liam Bal.

“For example, a household with 1-2 people streaming, video conferencing and browsing would have a great experience and ample speed with a 50Mbps plan, yet 70% of consumers think the faster the better, and pay up to $50 per month extra for speed they don’t require.”

Paying more money for faster NBN internet

With some NBN plans providing download speeds of 100Mbps, 250Mbps and beyond, Bal believes that more people can save money by going slower, not faster. Part of this comes down to education and knowing how internet speeds work.

“Better transparency around how much internet speed is actually required for everyday activities could help customers save money and make more informed choices,” said Bal. “Most consumers don’t realise that a slower speed, at a reduced cost, can easily meet their needs while saving money.”

It echoes a sentiment similar to the ACCC’s in 2023, when the nation’s consumer watchdog cautioned telcos against selling plans surplus to customers’ needs. Based on information from the ACCC, a 50Mbps plan is enough to stream more than seven HD video streams or up to four 4K videos simultaneously.

Image: ACCC.

Less than 50% of respondents reported using the internet for videoconferencing or playing video games. Meanwhile, nearly everyone surveyed said they access social media and online shopping, which aren’t as bandwidth-intensive.

SpinTel’s study also found that 54% of unhappy internet decision-makers feel they can’t switch internet providers because they feel stuck in a contract. Many of the cheapest NBN plans are contract-free, letting customers swap freely, which Bal says should be common practice.

“Internet providers have a clear opportunity to alleviate confusion and build trust with consumers. Providing better transparency and education on what speeds are actually needed for daily activities can help customers save money and feel more confident in their choices.”

To help you compare the best internet deals, here are the current cheapest NBN plans in Australia:

Read more internet and NBN news on GadgetGuy

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Here’s when to watch the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct in Australia

There’s a lot we still don’t know about the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console; this week’s Direct presentation is set to change that.

After Nintendo dropped a brief teaser trailer without many details in January 2025, the gaming giant then pencilled in 2 April for a follow-up Direct. While that’s not far away now, it’ll be a late night for Aussies keen to tune in.

Nintendo Switch 2 Direct: Australian times

For those on the Australian east coast, the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct will air at midnight AEDT on 3 April 2025. Conveniently converted by Vooks, here’s how it looks for the rest of the country:

• AEDT: Thursday 3 April 2025 at midnight
• ACDT: Wednesday 2 April 2025 at 11:30 PM
• AEST: Wednesday 2 April 2025 at 11:00 PM
• ACST: Wednesday 2 April 2025 at 10:30 PM
• AWST: Wednesday 2 April 2025 at 9:00 PM

It’ll stream live on Nintendo’s website, “offering a closer look at Nintendo Switch 2.” It’s expected that we’ll learn about the console’s full suite of features, price and release date. Any discussion about pricing is pure speculation at this point, although affordability is on the mind of Nintendo’s executives.

The original Nintendo Switch recently surpassed 150 million sales, firmly entrenching the 2017 device as one of the best-selling video game consoles. A new Mario Kart is expected to arrive on the Nintendo Switch 2, following up on the incredibly popular Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

After the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct airs, Australians can get an early glimpse at the fresh hardware at a Melbourne event scheduled in May. Don’t expect to walk up and have a go; event bookings have already been snapped up by successful ballot entrants. There is a waitlist if you missed out, just in case someone can’t go.

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Arlo Wired Floodlight Camera review: Illuminating home security

8.4

I was chatting with a courier the other day and realised I had five security cameras from four different brands at the front of my house. Arlo, which is considered a premium brand, was not one of them at the time.

With the lack of cameras at the back of my house and an opportunity to review the Arlo Wired Floodlight Camera, I thought it was time to see what makes Arlo different.

Table of contents

• Why a floodlight security camera?
• Features
• Specifications and price
• Using the camera
• Who is it for?

Why a floodlight security camera?

I am old enough to remember a time before sensor floodlights. Dad had two 150-watt floodlights positioned at our back door that would illuminate the backyard. Over the years, these lights were equipped with a sensor, which meant that any movement in the backyard would activate the lights, providing a lighting innovation and giving a sense of security.

Image: Angus Jones.

Next, these lights were replaced with LED, which significantly reduced the cost of running them while still providing excellent illumination. This leads us to today, where we can now have a floodlight security camera that not only illuminates the backyard when movement is detected but also alerts and records the event, providing ultimate peace of mind and a significant deterrent to any unwanted guests. A floodlight is designed to spread its light over a larger area than a spotlight.

Arlo Wired Floodlight Camera features

The Arlo Wired Floodlight Camera is a mains-powered outdoor Wi-Fi 2K security camera featuring a bright 2,000-lumen dual floodlight.

Opening the box, you will find the camera and some installation screws. As this is a mains-powered camera, you will need an electrician to connect it to a 240-volt supply. Mounting can be done on a wall or ceiling. The camera must be connected to Wi-Fi to establish a connection to the cloud. There is no internal storage, and all captured images will be stored on the cloud.

Image: Angus Jones.

The setup of the camera is remarkably straightforward, requiring you to download the Arlo Secure app and follow the onscreen instructions. This simplicity should give you the confidence that you can set up the system with ease, even if you’re not particularly tech-savvy.

To get the most out of your new camera, you will need an Arlo Secure subscription, which starts at $6.67 per month for a single camera with 30 days of video storage. There’s also a $15 monthly plan, which includes unlimited cameras as well as smart recognition of people, packages, and animals. You can use the camera without a subscription, but you will only receive alerts and live viewing. A subscription also provides the user with a replacement product in the event the camera is stolen, as well as priority customer support and a discount on additional products.

Arlo Secure Plus package. Screenshot: Angus Jones.

The floodlights at 2,000 lumens are enough to read by or cook a BBQ, but more importantly, can be adjusted to direct the light where it will be most effective. The lights are triggered by movement by default. Still, they can be activated manually via the app or adjusted in various settings, such as the duration they remain on after being triggered.

Night Vision. Image: Angus Jones.

Floodlights on. Image: Angus Jones.

The 2K resolution camera offers double the resolution of free-to-air TV and works reasonably well in low-light conditions, but why bother with night vision when you have the lights? The camera image is not quite side-to-side, offering a 160-degree field of view.

When the camera detects movement, several actions can occur. By default, the light turns on when it’s dark, recording starts, and a notification is sent to anyone with the app installed and paired with the camera.

In addition, a siren can be set to sound, which is loud enough for a neighbour and an intruder to hear, but certainly not as loud as a traditional car alarm, which is probably a good thing. You may also nominate up to three additional contacts with phone numbers that can be notified if the alarm is triggered.

Arlo Wired Floodlight Camera specifications and price

Resolution	2K (2560 x 1440)
Brightness	2,000 Lumens via two lights
Dimensions	27 x 17 x 17 cm
Weight	844 grams
Price (RRP)	$249
Website	Arlo Australia
Warranty	1 year

Using the camera

If you are already part of the Arlo ecosystem, meaning you have existing Arlo cameras, then this product is an obvious choice if you want an integrated floodlight. The benefit of being in the Arlo ecosystem is that all your Arlo devices can be managed from a single app, providing a seamless user experience. If you are starting from scratch with no cameras or already have another brand, then understand that you need an app for every brand of security camera you have.  The camera feed is also compatible with Alexa and Google Home smart home devices.

There have been some unconfirmed concerns in the past about the security of recordings with certain Chinese brands, particularly regarding potential data breaches or unauthorised access to the recordings. Arlo is not a company affected by these concerns, providing peace of mind to its users.

My experience with the Arlo Wired Floodlight Camera has been nothing short of impressive. It worked flawlessly straight out of the box, a reliability that I’ve not always found with other brands. The image quality is excellent, and the floodlight’s performance is so effective that I wish I had installed a sensor light at my back door years ago. This level of performance should give you a sense of security and peace of mind.

Screenshot: Angus Jones.

One feature that worked particularly well was the two-way audio conversations you can have between the camera and the app on a smartphone. This feature allows you to communicate with anyone near the camera, providing an additional layer of security. I have never had a conversation with so little delay as before, which is a testament to the quality of Arlo’s technology.

For most people, using the app will centre around alerts and the initial setup. For those who want to go beyond the default settings, the Arlo Secure app allows users to adjust numerous settings. Depending on your cloud subscription, it also enables alerts and further customisation.

For example, the triggering area for the camera can be adjusted for sensitivity and exclusion, such as a shrub that blows in the wind, to prevent false triggers. Alternatively, you may wish to exclude a neighbour’s window from being recorded. A beta offering known as Custom Detection allows the camera to recognise objects or changes occurring in what the camera sees. This could be used to answer the age-old fear: Did I leave the garage door open or the sprinkler on?

Screenshot: Angus Jones.

Fire detection is available on this Arlo product, part of its suite of advanced detection settings, which is unique to the brand. Fortunately, I did not have the opportunity to test this alert.

This security camera only supports cloud recording, which incurs a monthly fee. Some competitors offer SD card or internal storage options, allowing for recording at no additional cost.

While in-camera recording is beneficial, it also poses a security risk in itself, as the SD card or camera can be stolen, granting the thief access to all recordings. The cloud storage comes with a free 30-day trial, allowing you to explore all its features. However, I would have liked to see basic 7-day or even 1-day cloud storage included in the purchase price. Speaking of price, it is on par with competitors who do offer some free cloud storage.

Who is the Arlo Wired Floodlight Camera for?

If you are already part of the Arlo family, the Floodlight Camera allows you to illuminate the outdoor scene without worrying about running out of battery.

New users seeking a high-quality brand and a feature-rich security camera experience should consider this camera, especially since the feature set powered by the cloud will continue to evolve as Arlo develops new functionality.

If, however, you are not prepared to pay a monthly subscription fee, the functionality dramatically decreases, and you end up with an expensive sensor floodlight with a live view camera.

Arlo Wired Floodlight Camera

With clear 2K footage and a bright 2,000-lumen light, the Arlo Wired Floodlight Camera keeps your home monitored 24/7.

Features

9

Value for money

7

Performance

9

Ease of use

8

Design

9

Positives

Advanced detection alerts

Excellent two way audio

Bright adjustable floodlight

Negatives

Monthly subscription fee for advanced features

No local storage

8.4

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Acer Swift 16 AI review: All-day battery in a deceptively slim laptop

8.2

Surprisingly portable for its size, the Acer Swift 16 AI is a lightweight all-purpose laptop built to get you through the day.

I generally prefer my laptops to be smaller in frame, but Acer’s big-screen device ticks a lot of boxes. It has all the benefits of a 16-inch laptop, like a full-sized keyboard and plenty of ports, with the convenience usually associated with a smaller computer.

I do think the “AI” designation in the laptop’s name is a little bit of a misnomer, purely because there’s not much on offer that’s tangibly different to other laptops. That’s neither here nor there, having minimal impact on the impressive hardware.

First impressions

I’ve mentioned it before, and I’ll keep on mentioning it: I like devices with visual flair. Aesthetically pleasing materials, splashes of colour, and a strong sense of style; I’m all about it.

Image: Chris Button.

For the most part, the Acer Swift 16 AI is a fairly basic-looking laptop. Its dark aluminium finish is safe, not clashing with anything, nor does it stand out. It’s not to my tastes, but I know black and dark colours are popular choices among the masses.

What I love, however, is the snazzy metallic edge bordering the whole laptop. It’s a blend between rose gold and copper colour that stands out as a premium touch on an otherwise unassuming device. I acknowledge it wouldn’t be anywhere near as effective if the laptop weren’t such a dark colour, so kudos to Acer for adding a bit of personality.

This coppery finish around the edges is a nice touch. Image: Chris Button.

Generally speaking, the Swift 16 AI is a traditional 16-inch clamshell laptop. It turns on, walks you through the Windows 11 startup, and runs as expected. Acer also knows where to put the power button: right above the keyboard. Looking at you, Lenovo.

Acer Swift 16 AI specifications and price

Display	16-inch, 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED 120Hz refresh rate
Dimensions	356 x 249.42 x 10/15.95 mm 1.46kg
Processor	Intel Core Ultra 7 258V
Graphics	Integrated Intel Arc graphics
RAM	32GB LPDDR5X
Storage	1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD
Battery	70 Wh 3-cell Li-ion battery 65W AC power adaptor
Connectivity	2x USB 3.2 (Type A, Gen1) 2x USB4 (Type-C) 1 x HDMI 2.1 3.5mm headphone jack Wi-Fi 7 Bluetooth 5.4
Price (RRP)	Starts at $1,999 Listed on Harvey Norman for $2,398
Warranty	One year
Official website	Acer Australia

Design

I’ve already waxed lyrical about the aesthetics of the laptop’s design, so I’ll focus on the functional elements here.

Even though the Acer Swift 16 AI is a 16-inch machine (it’s right there in the name, after all), it doesn’t look big. It might not fit into my laptop sleeve, but at 1.46kg, it doesn’t add much weight to my backpack. That’s even lighter than smaller-screened devices, which is a decent achievement.

Image: Chris Button.

Another nice touch is that the keyboard raises into a slightly more ergonomic position when lifting the lid open. Instead of sitting completely flat, it nicely angles upwards on a slight incline. It’s not my favourite keyboard in the world – it’s responsive and works well enough – but the keycaps are a bit too flat for my liking and don’t produce the nice tactile feeling I enjoy when typing. However, the elevated angle helps provide a more comfortable typing experience.

Along the sides, the Acer Swift 16 AI rounds out the full range of I/O ports, as you’d expect from a 16-inch laptop. On the left-hand side are two USB-C ports, a USB-A port, and an HDMI 2.1 port. Then on the right is another USB-A port and a 3.5mm audio jack. It’s a good mix of connectivity options that’ll work with a wide range of peripherals.

Performance

There’s not much to fault here; the Acer Swift 16 AI is a more-than-capable laptop suited to the needs of most folks. Word processing? Easy. Web browsing? Not a problem. A bit of media editing? Consider it done.

Importantly, the Swift does it all without needing to have a charger on tap. Acer’s quoted 20-hour battery life may be a bit generous, as it’s based on video playback, but I comfortably got through a work day with leftover battery for the next day.

Image: Chris Button.

Equipped with an OLED screen, the Acer Swift 16 AI has a display that’s lovely to look at. It’s colorful, vibrant, and shows a lot of contrast. Like a lot of OLED laptop displays, it errs on the dim side, so it can’t stave off glare if you need to use it outside. Inside, where you have full control over the lighting? No worries at all.

Now, the “AI” in the laptop’s name might make you think that it offers some revolutionary experience you can’t get anywhere else. No matter how much Copilot and similar technologies worm their way onto more devices, I still haven’t found a reliably useful purpose for them.

I do my own writing, and I do my own photo editing, mainly because I don’t like the quality of AI’s output (although there are also strong ethical arguments to be made). Fortunately, it’s all relatively easy to ignore in favour of the decent hardware it’s housed in.

Benchmarks

CPU

Compared to the first series Intel Core Ultra 7 chip, the second-gen version seems to perform better on single-core CPU performance, but slightly lower on multi-core performance. This is likely a result of Intel focusing more on efficiency; the chipset is still decent without topping the benchmark charts.

Without getting too stuck in the weeds, the following results suggest reasonable CPU performance. That’s handy for just about all levels of computing, from everyday tasks to gaming.

Device	CPU (Single-core)	CPU (Multi-core)
Apple MacBook Air M4	3,751	14,789
Dell XPS 14 (2024)	2,349	12,941
Acer Swift Go 14 (2024)	2,421	12,639
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition	2,658	11,109
Acer Swift 16 AI	2,708	10,961
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024)	2,581	12,160
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2	1,567	8,761

Geekbench 6.

Device	CPU (Single-core)	CPU (Multi-core)
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14	86	927
Acer Swift Go 14	104	903
Asus Zenbook Duo (UX8406)	105	763
Apple MacBook Air M4	173	746
Dell XPS 14	102	660
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition	120	618
Acer Swift 16 AI	121	513

Cinebench 2024.

Graphics

Interestingly, the Swift 16 AI returned a slightly lower score on Geekbench’s GPU test than last year’s Swift Go 14, despite using Intel’s newer chip. As you can see, there’s also a bit of variability between the Swift 16 AI and the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i, which is expected from benchmarking tools.

Regardless, the benchmarking scores show the difference between laptops that use integrated graphics versus those with discrete GPUs. Acer’s laptop is still more than capable of a decent level of graphically intensive work. Photo editing and video editing work just fine; high-level 3D rendering would be better suited to a machine with dedicated graphics.

Device	GPU (OpenCL)
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (Gen 8, RTX 4070)	158,787
Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 (RTX 4070)	119,970
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (RTX 4060)	96,452
Dell XPS 14 (RTX 4050)	65,396
Acer Swift Go 14	34,388
Acer Swift 16 AI	29,111
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition	26,933

Geekbench 6.

As for gaming, most games can run in 1080p on Acer’s laptop, as indicated by a healthy score on 3DMark’s Steel Nomad (Light) test. A lot of games support software-based upscaling and frame generation, which makes them more viable on laptops with integrated graphics.

Once upon a time, it would’ve been heresy to suggest major titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur’s Gate 3 could run without a separate graphics card. Now, it’s just a given. 4K fiends who want the highest fidelity still need a dedicated GPU, but for everyone else, the built-in graphics work capably.

Device	Score
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition	3,281
Acer Swift 16 AI	3,230
Acer TravelMate	2,993
Asus Vivobook S 15	2,037

3DMark Steel Nomad (Light).

Storage speed

When the specs between laptops are so similar, disk speed can be a notable point of difference. If the included storage can read and write faster, that’s less time spent waiting for file transfers, especially when working with large photo and video files.

Running the Acer Swift 16 AI through CrystalDiskMark, a benchmarking tool that measures disk speed, the laptop returned sequential read speeds up to 6,383 MB/s and write speeds up to 5,747 MB/s.

That’s on the higher end of consumer laptops and is speedier than the SSD found in the recently reviewed Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition. It makes Acer’s laptop a potentially more attractive option for photographers and videographers whose workflow requires transferring large files to and from storage drives.

Who is the Acer Swift 16 AI for?

In the world of consumer laptops, most devices tend to aim to be nearly everything to everyone. That means enough power to handle the most-used software, and enough battery life to get through the day.

On that front, the Acer Swift 16 AI succeeds. 16 inches might be a bit much for everyone’s preferences, but it’s one of the more portable 16-inch laptops available. With its stature comes a full suite of ports, a long-lasting battery, and versatile performance, providing little to complain about.

Acer Swift 16 AI

The Acer Swift 16 AI is proof that good things also come in big packages.

Features

8

Value for money

8

Performance

8.5

Ease of use

8.5

Design

8

Positives

Lightweight design

The metallic accents are a nice flourish

All-day battery

Vibrant OLED display

Negatives

Dim screen in bright environments

AI not much of a selling point

8.2

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