Logitech G Pro X 2 review: A truly excellent PC gaming headset

I have reviewed dozens, if not hundreds of gaming headsets over the years, and it’s a gadget category with really uneven results. For starters, most people don’t even need a specific gaming headset, given you can use any wired headphones with a microphone. It’s not until you get to the more premium end of the market that it starts to make sense to get an actual, dedicated gaming headset.

The Logitech G Pro X 2 is designed for that premium end. It is a gaming headset that focuses on object-based audio and accurate sound reproduction with low latency to give players an edge. What makes it special is the use of relatively new graphene drivers, which are more rigid than traditional drivers and promise to maintain accuracy for longer.

After roughly a month of using the Logitech G Pro X 2 and comparing it to the original Logitech Pro X, I’m quite impressed, even though it’s not perfect.

First impressions

Setting up the Logitech G Pro X 2 was a pretty easy process:

Step one: Remove from box.

Step two: Plug small, easily lost dongle into PC (or PS5).

Step three: Use headset and enjoy.

Step four: Realise the leatherette ear cups were like putting tiny saunas on my ears, even on the coldest days, and then battle with the memory foam cloth ear cups to try and put them on. It’s a difficult experience that I can only compare to trying to put on shoes that are four sizes too small, but that you love anyway.

Having the choice between leatherette and cloth ear pads means you can pick whichever material feels most comfortable to you.

My first impression of using the headset was that the audio quality really isn’t all that different to the original Pro X. The way Logitech PR described it, I was expecting a revelatory experience. But, brand new from the box, the differences in audio quality were so minor that I, someone whose passion in life is being pedantic about the smallest details in audio, didn’t really notice any difference until I’d been playing for hours and something suddenly clicked.

Logitech G Pro X 2 Specifications

Driver	Graphene 50 mm
Frequency	20 Hz-20 KHz
Impedance	38 Ohms
Connectivity	Wireless (Lightspeed 2.4GHz dongle, Bluetooth) up to 30m range 3.5mm wired
Battery life	Up to 50 hours
Price (RRP)	$449
Warranty	Two years
Official website	Logitech Australia

Compared to the previous generation, the main differences are thus:

• 50mm Graphene drivers instead of hybrid mesh
• Impedance of 38 Ohms instead of 32
• 50-hour battery life vs 20 hours
• Wireless range of 30m vs 15m
• Adds Bluetooth as a connection option

Over the original Pro X, it’s easy to justify the extra $50 cost with just the graphene drivers alone, but more than doubling the battery life and making it so they can be used as Bluetooth headphones on the go (just disconnect the mic), and it becomes a really attractive option for everyday headphones. The difference in impedance is interesting, but in practice, it’s not something you’re going to be able to notice.

The one thing that annoys me with these specs is that you can’t be connected to Bluetooth and Lightspeed wireless at the same time. With my SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, I can stealthily play Fortnite on my Xbox while chatting to a friend on my phone, or play Forza Horizon 5 on Xbox while listening to different, better music from another device, thanks to the dual connection. With the Logitech G Pro X 2, I have to choose between the two, and I’ve had a couple of occasions where the audio source will abruptly switch because I shrugged too hard, or something else got bumped, which is less than ideal.

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9.2

05/07/2023

HyperX Cloud III review: put your head in the clouds

In this price range, I also would have liked to have seen a proper DAC, rather than just an easily lost dongle that looks like a USB key (and identical to every other Logitech dongle). Once this dongle is lost, you can’t use the headset as a wireless headset anymore. With a DAC, it’s harder to lose and you gain some extra functionality. Other gaming headsets in the price range often come with DACs instead of just little dongles.

Performance

There are four main things you want out of a good gaming headset around the $400 mark:

1. Accurate object-based audio
2. Long battery life
3. Good quality microphone
4. Comfortable

On all four counts (plus a secret, bonus count of making music sound good), I am extremely impressed by the Logitech G Pro X 2, to the point that it is now my main PlayStation 5 headset.

The reason why graphene drivers are special is because they’re so light and rigid. The rigidity is important, because mesh drivers warp with time, which can add distortion and change the sound from what’s intended. It drifts slowly with age and is the trade-off that’s required to make headphones light, portable and affordable. Graphene is made out of a similar material to pencil lead. It notionally stays rigid for the life of the product (unless otherwise damaged), so sounds stay at their correct frequencies and position.

That drift is something most listeners won’t notice while using a lower-quality music streaming service like Spotify, but it is something that’s important to competitive gamers who can hear opponents before they see them.

The moment the Pro X 2 clicked for me was when I was playing Fortnite and realised just how accurately the positions of my enemies were coming through in my ears. It almost became like a superpower in solos. I started consistently coming top 3, whereas before I was usually just top 10-15 with the occasional win. The positioning is more accurate than my usual headset, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, which retails for $749 (the also-impressive wired version sells for $565).

With the battery, I think I’ve only charged it once in the last month, and I’m not entirely sure I even needed to do that, it was more out of habit.

The microphone is also excellent. I wouldn’t use it to record a podcast any time soon, but it’s perfect for clear communication in-game. It’s also really easy to mute the microphone when the urge to consume a chip overtakes you mid-game.

What’s more, they’re so comfortable. I hated the pleather ear cups because I found them too hot and icky, and a bit prickly. But I really appreciated that there was the option for pleather and cotton in the box, so everyone could use the style that suited them. It was thoughtful and catered for more people. Sure, trying to change them over is a pretty unpleasant experience, but you’re unlikely to need to do it often.

With music use, I would place the performance closer to $700 pairs of headphones. They look far too stupid to wear out in public as regular headphones, but at home, I’ve found myself just getting lost in songs like “Everything At Your Feet” by Odesza and “Full Heart Fancy” by Lucy Chops. There’s so much detail at every register. Most gaming headsets emphasise bass with everything else as an afterthought, but these are surprisingly well-rounded for what they are.

Who is the Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed for?

I love this headset. For very serious PC and PS5 players, the Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed has a lot to offer, but it’s not perfect, and I’m not convinced it’s the best option for most users despite its many positive attributes.

For ultra-competitive players, that granular detail of positioning is so key that the Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed seems like the obvious choice, even over more expensive headsets. The $449 price seems just right for what it offers that segment of players.

But for everyone else, the Rig 800 Pro HX is around $150 cheaper, is more comfortable, is compatible with more consoles and still sounds great. It doesn’t have that graphene driver or the more precise object-based audio, but most players don’t really need that.

For people wanting to throw the kitchen sink at their gaming experience, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless has much more functionality, compatibility, and versatility, even if the object-based audio presentation isn’t as accurate.

What’s holding me back from recommending the Logitech Pro X 2 Lightspeed more wholeheartedly is how easily lost that tiny dongle is going to be (rendering the headset useless for its intended purpose), and the fact it doesn’t support simultaneous Lightspeed and Bluetooth connections. Because if it wasn’t for those two things, then it would easily be the second-best gaming headset I’ve ever used at any price point.

However, all of that said, even though it’s technically a PC headset, the Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed is now my main PS5 headset, edging out the Sony Inzone H9, because of the comfort and accuracy of the object-based audio. I still favour the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for Xbox and PC (just because of the granular control over microphone noise cancelling, the ability to play music from my phone while playing, and that hot-swappable battery), but I have extremely high hopes for the third generation of the Logitech Pro X, and making those updates would put it on top of the category.

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Bluetti AC60 review: dust & water-resistant portable power station

7.6

Buy on Amazon

Camping in Australia is best summed up by the poem “My Country” by Dorothea Mackellar. In it, the late poet encapsulates the local landscapes: “I love a sunburnt country… Of droughts and flooding rains… The wide brown land for me”. Whether it be a weekend camping trip, an outback adventure or simply on the tradie job site, we’re continually exposed to harsh elements.

This environment is not normally kind to electronics. Fortunately, the Bluetti AC60 power station is built to withstand tough Australian conditions.

Is the Bluetti AC60 weatherproof?

The AC60 is IP65 rated, meaning it is protected from dust ingress and low-pressure water jets (water resistant) from any direction. This is similar to ratings found on some smartphones today. Bluetti recommends not leaving it in the rain. Still, unlike Bluetti’s other models, the AC60 is protected by its design and several rubber plugs that fill each hole. To use the AC60, a plug must be removed, and this would reduce the resistance to water.

Only one way to test

Water and electricity don’t mix so we don’t recommend using any electric appliance in the rain however when it comes to dust we would feel much more comfortable.

The AC60 should take pride in place in the back of a dual cab ute, barreling down a bull dust track, powering a camping fridge, or recharging cordless tool batteries. The AC60 will happily be left in the elements overnight on a camping trip and equally deal with the dust and dirt of a job site.

Bluetti AC60 specifications

Capacity	403Wh (22.4V,18Ah)
Output	AC Outlet: 2 × 230V/2.6A, 600W in total Inverter Type: Pure Sine Wave Surge Power: 1,200W USB-C Port: 1 × 100W Max. (Built-in eMark chip) USB-A Port: 2 × 5V/3A 12V DC Outlet: 1 × 12V/10A (Car outlet, regulated.) Wireless Charging Pad: 1 × 15W Max
Input	AC Input: 600W Max. Solar Input: 200W Max., VOC 12-28V, 8A Car Input: 12/24V from Cigarette Lighter Port Max Input: 600W
Price (RRP)	$999
Website	Bluetti Australia
Warranty	6 years

Features

The Bluetti AC60 is a portable power station able to run appliances up to 600 watts from a 403Wh battery. Its durable aluminium case construction includes a nicely recessed carry handle for convenience. Weighing 9.1kg, you can carry the AC60 with one hand, making it extremely portable. Measuring just 29 x 21 x 23cm, it easily fits into vehicles.

Included with the AC60 are two 240-volt AC power points, a USB-C port for charging laptops and tablets, two USB-A ports, and a 12-volt car outlet to power a camping fridge. The power points are rated to 600 watts in total.

If you look at the label on the underside of the appliance you want to run, the number must be less than 600W to work. A Makita battery charger at 240 watts is fine, but a Coffee pod machine at 1500 watts is not. However, Bluetti does have a trick up its sleeve called Power Lifting. This feature cannot be used for electronics but for element heating-based (resistive) products. In Power Lifting mode, selectable from the Bluetti App, an up to 1200-watt resistive appliance could be used. Unfortunately, my Aldi Coffee pod machine at 1480 watts is outside this range. I would have liked to have seen a bigger inverter.

You also get a wide range of accessories with the AC60. An AC mains charging cable enables charging the battery in less than an hour from a powerpoint. A car 12-volt cigarette charging cable is significantly slower, taking around five hours of driving. Finally, a solar charging cable with industry-standard MC4 connectors allows up to a 200W panel like the Bluetti PV200 to fully charge the unit in under three hours of full sun.

AC60 charging from a Bluetti 200w PV200 solar panel

The Bluetti AC60 has a six-year warranty, more than many power stations from competing brands. Its batteries are LiFePO4 with 3,000+ Life Cycles to 80%. You would expect around 10 years of life if you charged the unit daily.

Using the AC60

My camping fridge, whilst running, uses around 40 watts. Still, once at temperature, this can easily drop to 20 watts an hour, depending on the outside temperature and how often you open the lid. The AC60, with its 403Wh battery, will have a usable capacity of around 330 watts due to operational losses. We could run my fridge for 16 hours without additional power input (like solar, for example). For comparison, previously reviewed models like the Bluetti AC180 (1152Wh) and the Bluetti AC200Max (2048Wh) run for 46 and 82 hours respectively. If you were to go away for a weekend, 16 hours is not quite long enough, as you may want a cold beer on the second night.

The good news is the AC60 is expandable with up to two Bluetti B80 expansion batteries rated at 806Wh each, meaning your AC60 can now match the AC180’s 46 hours and the AC200’s 82 hours by adding one or two batteries, respectively. Priced at $999, the B80 expansion battery is a standalone 12-volt power supply. It can be used separately or connected to the AC60 with a 94cm supplied pass-through charging cable. When attached, both batteries act as one, and the display will indicate the combined percentage of charge and any power input charging both units. You can have the input power to either the AC60 or B20, and when connected by the supplied cable, both units will charge. The display on the AC60 will only accurately estimate charge time when the charge comes directly into the AC60.

Bluetti AC60 with B80 expansion battery

I ran some tests assuming a blackout and found that my deep freezer drew approximately 150 watts when connected to the AC60. If you assume a half-on, half-off cycle of the freezer, I should get a run time of around four hours. My 65-inch TV ran for approximately two hours.

The AC160 is also an uninterrupted power supply (UPS). A UPS allows your appliance to continue running during a mains power outage without power interruption. This is useful for sensitive equipment like computers or medical devices like a CPAP machine where a power interruption could lead to disaster.

The display screen indicates how long the expected charge time is when charging and the time to empty based on the current load. It’s a feature I would have liked available on the app too.

Speaking of the app, when combined with the AC60, it enables a few extra features. For starters, you have greater control over when the Bluetti switches itself off. The Bluetti uses power and drains the battery when running with no load. To minimise this, you can use the app to specify how long and what minimum power draw would trigger a shutdown to save battery power.

Who is the Bluetti AC60 for?

A niche product in the brand’s power station range, the Bluetti AC60 still has its place. It is great for an environment where the power station might get wet or dusty, and its relatively light weight makes for easy manoeuvrability. Plus, its ability to add up two expansion batteries can increase battery capacity five-fold to 2015Wh, making it a versatile unit.

For my needs, the Bluetti AC180 has a bigger inverter for supporting more electrical appliances. It is better value for money than combining an AC60 and a B80 expansion battery. It does, however, weigh more than 16kg, making it less portable than the AC60.

On the outside, the Bluetti AC60 is better equipped to withstand harsh environments. It will stand up to the Australian environment as we love a “sunburnt country”. It comes with an impressive 6-year warranty, and the batteries should give you a life of more than 10 years of life.

Bluetti is a sponsor of GadgetGuy. This review has no input from Bluetti and is purely the reviewer’s opinion.

Bluetti AC60 Portable Power Station

Features

7

Value for money

6

Performance

7

Ease of use

9

Design

9

Positives

Water and dust resistant

Easy to carry (under 10kg)

Sturdy aluminium construction

Negatives

The inverter is too small

7.6

Buy on Amazon

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ECOVACS Amazon Prime Day: save up to $800 on robot vacuums

Now is one of the best times to buy a robot vacuum cleaner. During the two-day Amazon Prime Day sale event between 11-12 July 2023, ECOVACS has up to 43% off its popular range, with hundreds of dollars in savings up for grabs.

This includes big discounts on premium devices like the DEEBOT X1 OMNI, in addition to the brand’s affordable robot vacuums including the DEEBOT N8 and DEEBOT N10. Also included in the massive sale is ECOVACS’ DEEBOT W1 PRO automatic window-cleaning device.

A market leader in consumer robotics with over 25 years of experience and innovation, ECOVACS is Australia’s most popular robot vacuum brand. It’s a technology that’s growing in popularity thanks to its convenience and ability to save households hours of time on cleaning. If you’re new to the world of these smart devices, read up on how to choose the best robot vacuum for your home.

ECOVACS Amazon Prime Day deals

Save $500 on the top-of-the-line DEEBOT X1 OMNI

With dual mop and 5000Pa vacuum cleaning power, plus an all-in-one docking station, the DEEBOT X1 OMNI is ECOVACS’ ultimate cleaning device. It contains three tanks for emptying dust, cleaning and then drying the mop heads, providing a true hands-free cleaning experience.

As the brand’s smartest robot vacuum, the X1 OMNI uses AIVI 3D navigation technology to intelligently move around your home. In addition to ECOVACS Home App functionality, the YIKO voice assistant lets you control the device without having to press anything.

Preview	Product	Price
	ECOVACS Deebot X1 Omni Robot Vacuum Cleaner,Auto-wash mop & Auto-Empty,15-in-1 Deep Vacuum&...	$ 2,499.00	Buy on Amazon
	ECOVACS Deebot X1 Turbo Robot Vacuum Cleaner, 14-in-1 Sweeping and Mopping, Auto-wash mop, YIKO...	$ 2,099.00	Buy on Amazon
	ECOVACS Winbot W1 PRO Window Cleaner Robot, 2800 Pa Suction with Cross Auto-Spray & Win SLAM 3.0...	$ 799.00	Buy on Amazon
	ECOVACS DEEBOT N8 Robot Vacuum Cleaner,dToF 2-in-1 Vacuum & Mopping,2300Pa Suction Power,Multi-Floor...	$ 699.00	Buy on Amazon

In our review of the X1 OMNI, we praised its outstanding cleaning performance and self-cleaning capabilities. In fact, we went as far as saying that it’s “truly worthy of being called a flagship robotic vacuum cleaner”. At $1,999 during the ECOVACS Amazon Prime Day sale, it’s well worth a look

• ECOVACS DEEBOT X1 OMNI | RRP $2,499, on sale for $1999

Get 43% off the DEEBOT N8 robot vacuum

Equipped with TrueMapping Technology and the OZMO mopping system, the ECOVACS DEEBOT N8 is one of the standout deals of Amazon Prime Day. With smart features like smart speaker connectivity and app functionality, it makes cleaning the house easy. If your house has a mix of hard flooring and carpets, the N8 automatically detects carpet to avoid mopping and increases suction power up to 2300Pa.

During Amazon Prime Day, you can also save 38% on the DEEBOT N8+ which comes with an auto-empty station. It holds up to a month’s worth of dust, saving you from manually emptying the robot vacuum in between each clean. It sure beats getting your hands dirty every time.

• ECOVACS DEEBOT N8 | RRP $699, on sale for $399
• ECOVACS DEEBOT N8+ | RRP $1099, on sale for $679

Save a whopping $800 on the DEEBOT X1 TURBO

An alternative to the all-in-one OMNI, the X1 TURBO comes with an auto-cleaning dock to empty and recharge your robot vacuum in between cleans. A mopping powerhouse that uses the OZMO Turbo 2.0 Rotating Mopping System, it also has a strong 5000Pa vacuum to deeply clean your floors. Plus, its dock automatically cleans the mop pads and replenishes the device with clean water.

In line with other premium ECOVACS robot vacuums, the X1 TURBO uses AIVI 3D and TrueMapping technology to quickly map your home and make navigation a breeze. With smartphone integration and the YIKO voice assistant, cleaning your house is a streamlined process. Normally retailing for $2,099, the ECOVACS DEEBOT X1 TURBO drops to an eye-grabbing $1,299 during the Amazon Prime Day sale.

• ECOVACS DEEBOT X1 TURBO | RRP $2,099, on sale for $1299

Take 26% off the DEEBOT N10 robot vacuum

One of the newest ECOVACS devices, the N10 is an affordable robot vacuum and mop that uses many of the same smart features as the rest of the brand’s range. It steps up the vacuuming power to 4300Pa, along with an impressive run time of over five hours on a single charge.

We reviewed the N10 Plus model that comes with an auto-empty station, which is a strong performer at an affordable price. During the Amazon Prime Day sale, you can get the robot vacuum-only version for just $594.

• ECOVACS DEEBOT N10 ROBOTIC VACUUM | RRP $799, Now on sale for $594

Preview	Product	Price
	ECOVACS DEEBOT N8+ 3-in-1 Robot Vacuum Cleaner,with dTOF Laser Detection, 2.5L Auto-Empty...	$ 949.00	Buy on Amazon
	ECOVACS Robot Vacuum Cleaner and Mop DEEBOT N10, Powerful 4300Pa Suction, Up to 300 Minutes Runtime,...	$ 799.00	Buy on Amazon
	ECOVACS Deebot T10 Plus Robot Vacuum Cleaner with Air Freshener, 3000Pa Suction,10-in-1...	$ 1,549.99	Buy on Amazon

Save $700 on the DEEBOT T10 PLUS

Want a device that also freshens your home’s air? The T10 PLUS not only vacuums, mops and comes with an auto-empty station, but it also features an in-built air freshener. With a 3000Pa suction power, AIVI 3.0 obstacle avoidance technology, and TrueMapping 2.0 mapping, it’s one smart robot vacuum.

A handy feature of the T10 PLUS’ auto-empty station is that it uses hypoallergenic dust bags that seal up, ideal for people with severe allergies. Additionally, the station holds up to 60 days’ worth of dust, reducing the time you need to spend on manual cleaning.

• ECOVACS DEEBOT T10 PLUS | RRP $1,799, on sale for $1099

Get $100 off the latest WINBOT W1 PRO auto window cleaner

Another one of the ECOVACS Amazon Prime Day deals, you can the WINBOT W1 PRO on sale. It recently won a Canstar Blue 2023 Innovation Excellence Award for Cleaning Appliances thanks to its clever ability to clean windows, shower screens, and other glass surfaces with minimal effort.

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To ensure a thorough and safe clean, the W1 PRO wields high suction power, a physical tether, edge-detection and anti-slip technology. All using an app, it removes the hassle of cleaning tough-to-reach surfaces.

• ECOVACS WINBOT W1 PRO WINDOW CLEANING ROBOT | RRP $799, on sale for $699

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Make sure you visit Amazon during the Prime Day sales between 11-12 July 2023 to avoid missing out on these huge savings. You can also visit the ECOVACS website for more information about each device. Good luck grabbing a bargain!

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

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Motorola Edge 40 review: a mid-range phone that looks the part

8.5

Buy on Amazon

With slender premium styling, backed by a mid-range price tag, the Motorola Edge 40 lays the groundwork for Motorola’s next generation of flagship handsets.

Motorola is certainly prolific when it comes to producing smartphones, to the point where shoppers might understandably struggle to see the differences and know which is right for them. The new Motorola Edge 40 is the successor to last year’s Moto Edge 30, with the same $699 price tag.

That doesn’t mean the Moto Edge 40 is Motorola’s new top-of-the-line flagship handset. Right now, that honour probably still belongs to the $1399 Moto Edge 30 Ultra, which outguns the standard Edge 30 as well as the $599 Edge 30 Neo, $899 Edge 30 Fusion and $999 Edge 30 Pro. It’s fair to assume we’ll see similar iterations of the Moto Edge 40 over the next six months, with the Edge 40 Pro already available in some countries.

So, if you’re after premium specs and prepared to spend more than $699 then you might want to hold off until we see the full Moto Edge 40 family in Australia – especially when not every aspect of the standard Edge 40 is an improvement on its predecessor.

Motorola Edge 40 first impressions

Out of the box, the Edge 40 is certainly easy on the eyes. It sports a 6.55-inch pOLED display, but still looks and feels elegant thanks to a slender 7.58 mm body and rounded edges incorporating an “endless display” with curved screen edges.

The result is the slimmest of bezels, with the screen only interrupted by a punch hole front camera rather than a notch. Adding to the elegant look, the sandblasted aluminium frame is matched with a choice of vegan leather or matte acrylic back, depending on which colour you opt for.

The handset’s minimalist look features subtle volume and power buttons along the right-hand edge, along with USB-C at the bottom but no 3.5mm headphone jack. There’s a fingerprint reader built into the display, along with support for Face Unlock.

The curved “endless display” gives the Moto Edge 40 a slick look and feel.

When it comes to the screen, you still enjoy the 1080×2400 resolution of last year’s Moto Edge 30, but it switches from AMOLED to pOLED while retaining HDR10+ and a 144 Hz refresh rate which is impressive in this price range.

With these changes, the handset is a fraction thicker and heavier than its predecessor, but in return, it bumps up the battery from 4020 to 4400 mAh, which should deliver more than 24 hours. It supports 68W TurboPower charging along with 15W wireless charging. 

The Edge 40 also swaps out the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ 5G power plant for the MediaTek Dimensity 8020, both of which are solid mid-range performers. It sticks with 8GB of RAM but downgrades it from LPDDR5 to LPDDR4X, sacrificing a little power efficiency but not enough to be a deal-breaker.

Motorola continues to include a basic transparent protective case in the box, which tries not to cramp the handset’s style but in return, leaves the edges more exposed in the event of a fall than you might like.

What’s more comforting is that Motorola has managed to increase the ruggedness rating from a splash-resistant IP52 up to IP68, meaning it can survive dunking in 1.5 metres of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.

Motorola Edge 40 8/256GB Viva Magenta

• Fluid design and underwater protection
• 50MP and f/1.4, the widest smartphone aperture
• Blazing-fast 68W TurboPower charging
• Borderless 144Hz display + Dolby Atmos audio
• Performance powerhouse

$ 699.00

Buy on Amazon

Motorola Edge 40 specifications

Display size	6.55 inch, 20:9 aspect ratio
Display resolution	2400×1080 pixels, 402 ppi
Display technology	pOLED, HDR10+, 144 Hz refresh rate, 1200 nits peak brightness
Bands	2G, 3G, 4G, 5G (sub-6 only)
Chipset	MediaTek Dimensity 8020
Rear cameras	50 MP 1/1.5″ optical format f/1.4 aperture 1.0 µm pixel size | Quad Pixel Technology for 2.0 µm Omni-directional PDAF Optical Image Stabilisation
	13 MP Ultrawide angle (120° FOV) Macro Vision f/2.2 aperture 1.12 µm pixel size
Front camera	32 MP f/2.4 aperture 0.7 µm pixel size | Quad Pixel Technology for 1.4 µm
RAM	8 GB LPDDR4X
Onboard storage	256 GB UFS 3.1
microSD slot	No
Charging	USB Type-C port (USB 2.0) 68W TurboPower charging 15W wireless charging
Battery	4400 mAh
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax 2.4 GHz | 5 GHz Wi-Fi hotspot
Bluetooth	5.2
Operating system	Android 13
Security	Fingerprint reader, Face Unlock, ThinkShield, Moto Secure
Ruggedness	IP68
Dimensions	Vegan Leather 158.43 x 71.99 x 7.58mm Acrylic 158.43 x 71.99 x 7.49mm
Weight	Vegan Leather 171g Acrylic 167g
Colours	Vegan Leather: Eclipse Black, Nebula Green, Viva MagentaAcrylic: Lunar Blue
Price (RRP)	$699
Warranty	1 year
Official website	Motorola Australia

Features

As you’d expect, the Motorola Edge 40 runs the latest version of Android 13, with minimal bloatware, which is likely to appeal to Android fans. Motorola is promising an additional two years of platform updates, which means you’ll get Android 14 and Android 15 in time, along with five years of security updates.

Speaking of security, you’ve got Lenovo’s ThinkShield suite for protection and management at the hardware and software level (similar to the Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola). There’s also Moto Secure, an app that serves as a security and privacy hub. This includes the ability to create a secure folder for storing apps and files where others can’t access them.

It’s also a 5G chipset, ensuring you can take advantage of Australia’s fastest mobile broadband networks. As you’d expect, it only supports sub-6 GHz 5G and not the US-centric millimetre wave version.

When it comes to photography, the Moto Edge 40 retains the 50 MP main shooter with optical image stabilisation and the same 1.55-inch sensor. It also switches from f/1.8 aperture to f/1.4, letting in more light but offering a slightly shallower depth of field.

Compromises are made elsewhere, scaling down the ultrawide lens from 50 MP to 13 MP, and losing the 2 MP depth sensor. The front still sports a 32 MP selfie camera.

When it comes to multimedia, the pOLED display offers deep, rich colours while bringing HDR content to life thanks to the high screen brightness. The whites may be too cool for some tastes, but you can easily adjust the colour temperature and saturation. Meanwhile, the earpiece doubles as a second speaker, so you can get true stereo sound with good stereo separation.

While it retains the 50 MP main shooter, the overall camera array is scaled down from the Moto Edge 30.

Quality

Despite forgoing a Snapdragon processor, the Motorola Moto Edge 40 holds its own with GeekBench 6 scores of 1130 single-core, 3725 multi-core and 4605 GPU OpenCL. It’s more than enough grunt to keep things humming and support the needs of people shopping in this price range, although rivals like the Pixel 7a pack more punch.

When it comes to photography, that 50MP main shooter figure sounds impressive but we all know that megapixels aren’t everything. Thankfully, it also takes advantage of a larger sensor and pixels than Motorola’s budget models, resulting in crisp images with plenty of detail and good colours. It offers particularly impressive low-light performance. 

Switching across to the ultrawide lens naturally sees a drop in picture quality due to the lower megapixel count, plus the colours are a tad muted and the low-light performance takes a serious hit.

Who is the Motorola Edge 40 for?

The Motorola Edge 40 is for those who want to venture into premium design territory without breaking the bank. Yet while it looks the part, it’s made a few compromises – particularly in the camera array – to keep the same $699 price tag as its predecessor.

All up, you still score plenty of premium features at a mid-range price point, with the added bonus of a longer battery life and IP68 ruggedness to help protect your investment. It’s a solid mid-range handset but, if your sights are set a little higher, wait to see what else the Edge 40 range delivers in the months ahead.

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Motorola Edge 40

With premium styling and a mid-range price tag, the Motorola Moto Edge 40 is a great fit for the hand and the wallet.

Features

8

Value for money

8.5

Performance

8

Ease of use

9

Design

9

Positives

Slender, lightweight design

IP68 ruggedness

Good low-light camera performance

Negatives

Ultrawide lens drops down to 13 MP

No 3.5 mm headphone jack

8.5

Buy on Amazon

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We test out the BMW iX1 its most affordable EV yet

BMW’s new iX1 marks a new entry point into its electrified vehicle range. So, for those who want to hop into a fully electric premium compact SUV, this could be their ticket. 

However, is the iX1 able to compete with alternatives in the market? More importantly, does it deliver on BMW’s traditional values? We had a chance to take the iX1 through the hills and bends of rural Victoria and made a video about it too. Be sure to check out what we liked and how it handled.

Inside and out

Overall, the iX1 is a lovely vehicle to spend time in. Its cabin is well-appointed, and it really does feel premium. It gets the latest in-car entertainment system, found in its more expensive vehicles, as well as a number of safety and comfort features. We liked the huge curved display and the new floating centre console is refreshing and has some practical places to put your things.

Charging stats

The iX1’s drivetrain features two synchronous motors, a 67 kWh high voltage battery, 230 kilowatts of power and 494 Newton metres of torque. The driving range is rated to be 400 kilometres (ADR/8) on a single charge and there are maximum charging rates of 22 kilowatts AC and 130 kilowatts DC. The iX1 draws 18.3 kilowatt-hours per hundred kilometres and that’s around what we found during our road test.

Charging-wise, you can go from 10 to 80 percent state of charge in 29 minutes, and just 10 minutes will add about 120Km of range using the 130kW DC mode.

Both Mode 2 fast charge and Mode 3 public charging cables are included, which can be stored in a panel beneath the 490 cubic metres of rear storage. There’s no front trunk, however, as this is where one of the two motors sits.

The iX1 on the road

With a dual-motor setup, driving the iX1 is probably more fun than you might think for an SUV. It dispatches 0-100km/h in just 5.6 seconds, feels planted, with plenty of grip and feels flat around the bends. Yes, you can have a Hans Zimmerman orchestral soundtrack that simulates what an EV ‘might’ sound like to spur you on, or just drive in serene silence.

There are a few different regenerative braking modes, the most intensive of which can feed back 130 kilowatts into the battery. We also like the adaptive regenerative braking mode that applies the best settings depending on the driving situation. For example, if you’re in stop-start traffic, the regeneration will be low, however, if you’re driving down a hill in the countryside, it will be set to maximum.

EV features

Like other electrified BMW’s, the iX1 shares the same conventional design of the new petrol-powered X1. However, there are some EV-centric enhancements to improve aerodynamics including a slot-less front grill, air ducts for circulation around the front wheels, the removal of exhaust pipes, and it’s 35 millimetres lower to the ground to allow more undercarriage space for the batteries. 

Some cool tech includes the ability to unlock the car with your mobile phone thanks to BMW Digital Key Plus, and you can use all of the various cameras around the car to record driving incidents as well as what’s happening around you while parked to protect it. You can even tune into the live feeds from your app whenever you want.

Comparisons

The iX1 is priced at an MSRP of $84,900 AUD. If you’re looking around this budget, then you’re probably also considering the dual-motor, long-range versions of the Tesla Model Y (from $78K) and Polestar 2 (from $82K). The iX1’s pricing is fairly closely matched to both the Tesla and Polestar, however, the iX1 is arguably more ‘premium’ and akin to the Mercedes EQA. However, the less powerful single motor EQA 250 costs about $86K and you’ll to stretch up to around $106K for the dual motor EQA 350 4MATIC variant. So, with this in mind, the BMW iX1 is a competitive and well-appointed premium electric SUV for the price.

Another positive is that both M Sport and xLine model options (BMW iX1 xDrive30 M Sport & BMW iX1 xDrive30 xLine) share the same price. This means you can go for something with a sporty edge, or focus on a more luxe look without having to spend more on one or the other.

The x Line (left) and M Sport (right) versions of the BMW iX1 cost the same

There is a single option pack for an additional $4,700, called the ‘Enhancement Package’ that includes metallic paint, panorama glass sunroof, Harman/Kardon Hi-Fi system, front row active sports seats with lumbar support and massage function. This also comes in a different upholstery option.

You can find both models in BMW dealerships around the country, and if you order now, deliveries will be expected around December.

BMW iX1 xDrive30 equipment highlights

Motor	2 x current-excited synchronous motors, one front, one rear
Charging Membership	3-Year Chargefox membership, complimentary use of Fast and Ultra-Rapid (DC charge) public charging stations
Safety	Acoustic protection for pedestrians, Active protection
Lighting	Adaptive LED headlights
Suspension	Adaptive M suspension with M specific steering function
Air Conditioning	Automatic air conditioning, 2-zone
Vehicle Operation	Automatic tailgate operation
Display	BMW Head Up Display
Sound System	BMW Iconic Sounds Electric
Cockpit	BMW Live Cockpit Professional with 10.25” instrument display and 10.7” high-resolution curved widescreen control touch display feat. BMW Operating System 8
Drive System	BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive
Energy Management	Brake energy regeneration
Access System	Comfort Access with Digital Key Plus
Driver Assistance	Driving Assistant Professional
Stability and Control	Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Braking Assistant, Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Dynamic Traction Control (DTC)
Seating	Electric Seats with memory function on driver’s seat, Seat heating, front row
Charging Cables	Flexible Fast Charge cable, Mode 2, includes domestic plug, Public charging cable, Mode 3
Interior Finish	M headliner, anthracite
Navigation	Navigation guidance with augmented view
Parking Assistance	Parking Assistant Plus
Steering Wheel	Sport leather steering wheel with multifunction buttons

BMW iX1 xDrive 30 xLine styling includes: 

• 19″ light-alloy wheels V-spoke style 867 Bicolour
• Radiator grille frame in Pearl Chrome
• Radiator grille struts in high-gloss black
• Bumper trim elements, front/rear and right/left Pearl Chrome
• Entry sills (front): aluminium inserts with ‘BMW’ inscription
• Roof Rails, aluminium satinated
• Mirror caps in Satin Chrome
• Optical front and rear underride protection in Aluminium Matt
• Window recess cover in Aluminium satinated

BMW iX1 xDrive 30 M Sport styling includes: 

• 19″ M light-alloy wheels Double-spoke style 871 M Bicolour 
• M-specific radiator grille in satinated aluminium 
• Front bumper panel with M-specific design, in vehicle 
• colour with inserts in black high-gloss 
• Rear bumper panel with M-specific design, in vehicle 
• colour Side sill covers with M-specific design, in 
• vehicle colour 
• with inserts in black high-gloss 
• M identification on the sides 
• Entry sills: Aluminium inserts with ‘M’ inscription 
• (front) 
• Mirror caps in body colour 
• M Roof Rails High-Gloss Shadow Line

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