Acemagic K5 mini PC review

Acemagic K5: 30-second review

When this hardware first came to me, it was called the Acemagic KRON mini K5, but somewhere along the line it got rebranded as just the plain old K5.

Built around Intel's Core 5 Processor 320, a chip better known by its original codename, Wildcat Lake. This is the interesting bit. It is Intel's first outing for the 18A process on a mainstream mini PC part, and that matters more than the modest core count suggests.

Six cores split two ways sit at the heart of this silicon. Two performance cores handle the heavy lifting, while four efficient cores take on background tasks and keep power draw sensible. Turbo tops out at 4.6GHz, which is plenty for a machine this size.

The headline figure is AI throughput. ACEMAGIC quotes 40 TOPS across the whole platform, with the NPU alone good for 16 TOPS and the Xe graphics core contributing up to 20 TOPS of its own. That puts local AI tasks such as background blur, transcription and on-device image processing well within reach, without leaning on the cloud.

However, the minimum requirement to run even Copilot locally is 47 TOPS, so it's best suited to simple models.

Memory has moved on too. LPDDR5 running at 6400MT/s replaces the LPDDR4X seen on older ACEMAGIC boxes, and that faster memory feeds both the CPU and the integrated Xe graphics more efficiently. The trade-off is that the memory is soldered down, so what it comes with, 16GB in this instance, is all it will ever have.

The downside is that this NUC costs closer to mid-spec hardware, but it lacks USB4 ports, and its NVMe slots are only Gen4 x2. Cheaper Intel and AMD platforms offer USB4 and NVMe Gen4 x4 slots, but they use older technology.

Once more Wildcat Lake systems enter the market, hopefully prices will come down, but it seems overpriced for the specs it offers.

It's never going to be the best mini PC, but it is an improvement over what technology it replaces.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Acemagic K5: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? From $559
• When is it out? Shipping from mid-October 2026
• Where can you get it? You can get it directly from Acemagic

At the time of writing, the K5 is available for pre-order directly from Acemagic.com, but it seems likely that after its mid-October launch, it will also be purchasable from online retailers.

The US asking price is $559 for the only SKU, which has the Intel Core 5 320 CPU, 16GB of LPDDR5 memory and a 512GB SSD.

In the EU, two SKUs are coming on the 12th of October: one matching the US spec and another with the Intel Core 3 304 CPU, 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. These are €549 and €349, respectively.

Right now, the K5 isn’t listed on the UK pages, but that’s likely to change in the coming weeks.

As I’ve already mentioned, the Wild Lake silicon is new, and other system makers are still readying their Wild Lake systems.

However, I found that Beelink has the EQ mini, which uses the Wildcat Lake Core 3 304 and comes with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage for $429. The 304 CPU has only five cores, less GPU and AI power, and a lower clock speed than the 320.

The only other brand shipping a machine based on the Core 5 320 is ASRock, with its Industrial NUC BOX-320. But that’s a quote-only solution that can come with 64GB of RAM and dual 2.5GbE LAN ports, so it’s unlikely to be cheap.

Overall, it's hard to tell whether the K5 will align with what system makers will ask for on this platform, but I’d hope it's less than this. The machines it replaces used the Core 3 N305, and those were, until memory became stupidly expensive, mostly below $300.

• Value: 3 / 5

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Acemagic K5: Specs

Acemagic K5 Specifications

CPU	Intel Core 5 Processor 320 (Wildcat Lake), 2 performance cores plus 4 efficient cores, 6 threads, Intel 18A process
Clock speed	1.4GHz base, up to 4.6GHz turbo
Cache	6MB Intel Smart Cache
NPU	Up to 16 TOPS (Int8)
Platform AI total	Up to 40 TOPS across CPU, GPU and NPU
GPU	Intel Xe graphics, 2 Xe cores, up to 2.5GHz, up to 20 TOPS AI compute
Memory	16GB LPDDR5 6400MT/s, onboard and non-upgradable
Primary storage	512GB M.2 2280 NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen3 x4)
Expansion storage	1x M.2 2280 NVMe, each on a PCIe 4.0 x2 link
Wireless	WiFi 6
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.2 (M.2 2230 module)
Wired networking	1x 2.5GbE LAN, auto-negotiating down to 10Mbps
HDMI	1x HDMI 2.0, up to 4K at 60Hz
DisplayPort	1x DP 1.4, up to 4K at 60Hz
USB-C video	DP 1.4 Alt Mode, up to 4K at 60Hz, alongside USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 data at up to 20Gbps and USB PD 100W input
Audio	1x 3.5mm jack
USB-A front	2x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10Gbps
USB-A rear	4x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 5Gbps
USB-C	1x, shared video, data and 100W power input duties as above
Other	1x DC power input, 1x power button
Dimensions	128 x 128 x 41.3mm
Power input	DC 19V, 3.42A, up to 25W TDP design
Cooling	80mm x 10mm fan, aluminium heatsink, dual air outlets, rated at 2000rpm and above
Operating system	Windows 11 Pro
Warranty	Two years

Acemagic K5: Design

• Plastic enclosure
• Easy access
• No USB 4

Acemagic has made systems with metal enclosures, but the K5 isn’t one of them. This is mostly plastic, and no amount of metallic paint is going to make people think otherwise.

The advantage of that material is that the K5 is remarkably light, and with a provided VESA bracket, it's remarkably easy to mount this hardware to the back of a monitor.

The chassis itself is tiny, at 128 by 128 by 41.3mm, yet ACEMAGIC has kept the TDP down to 25W. That should mean quiet running and low running costs, useful for anyone who wants a machine parked on a desk all day rather than tucked away and forgotten.

Access to the internals looks easy, since Acemagic has a small switch on the rear that slides to unlock the top of the case. But those expecting tool-less entry are soon disappointed: under the lid is a panel that needs four screws removed before you can reach the top of the motherboard.

That plate helps distribute heat from the SSDs and has a thermal pad, so you still need to pry it off even after removing the screws.

Once you get past those hurdles, you can reach the M.2 slots, and there are three. Two are the conventional 2280 variety; one is occupied by Windows 11 Pro, and the third is 2242 and occupied by the WiFi module.

Two 2280 M.2 slots sound great on paper, but there is a caveat we’ll get to later.

There is no memory access because the LPDDR5 used in this machine is soldered to the mainboard.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Moving back to the outside, ports are limited to the front and back, with the sides reserved for ventilation slots.

The front has a power button that self-illuminates with “POWER” when you press it to start the system, a small touch I liked. Also front-facing are two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 port and a 3.5mm audio jack.

On the rear are four more USB-A ports, all USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps), one each of HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort and a single 2.5GbE LAN port. It also has a security slot on the rear, which, given how pocketable this machine is, might be worth using.

That single USB-C does a lot of work here. It carries video through DP Alt Mode, shifts data at up to 20Gbps over USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, and accepts up to 100W of power delivery. But that last specification makes zero sense, as you can’t power this PC with USB-C.

Placing it on the front, I assume you are meant to use it to charge phones and laptops, but that would be 100W output, not input. But this port doesn’t charge, which is confusing.

A bigger issue is that there is no USB4, and that is becoming something people expect, even if it’s only one port.

This problem, and a few others, come down to one part of the Wildcat Lake architecture that Intel didn’t improve enough.

• Design: 4 / 5

Acemagic K5: Features

• Wild Lake Core 5 320
• LPDDR5 Memory
• Short on PCIe lanes

The heart of this PC is a new processor series from Intel, which had the codename Wildcat Lake. This is a logical evolution of the products that were once in the Atom product lineup, and then went through a major revamp to become the N100, N150 and N305.

These were initially either two or four-core processors made for light-duty and embedded applications. Because they were cheap, they also ended up in some NUC enclosures, for those who didn’t need a powerful platform.

Somewhere along this path, Intel released the N300 with 8 cores, and the scope of what these systems could do expanded significantly.

But Intel has now abandoned that direction, the one where the chips all used E-cores (E for efficiency), operated with 7W or 15W of power and used the old UHD graphics.

The Core 5 320 has six cores. Two of these are now P-cores, designed for performance, alongside four E-cores.

Its power envelope starts at 15W and can be up to 54W, and where the N300 topped out at 3.8GHz, this new 18A silicon can run at 4.6GHz in boost mode.

With these attributes, it has significantly higher single-core and multi-core performance (roughly doubling the aggregate capability of entry-level N-series chips) thanks to its higher clock speeds and dedicated performance cores.

Which begs the obvious question: if it's that much better, where does that put the lower-specification Core Ultra chips? Well, Intel made sure it wouldn’t bother them, in a somewhat insidious way.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The PCIe lane budget is the catch, and it undermines many of the positive aspects of this series. On paper, the Core 5 320 has PCIe 4.0 instead of the PCIe 3.0 its predecessors got, so each lane has twice the bandwidth. But Intel gave it only six lanes, compared to the nine lanes in the Alder Lake-N series it replaces. Yes, another 33% more bandwidth, but the N300 was PCIe lane-starved to begin with.

To put that into perspective, a typical AMD Ryzen 5 mobile CPU has 20 lanes out of 24, and even on older models with PCIe 3.0, that’s more actual lanes and bandwidth than the Core 5 320. To be accurate, it’s 66% more.

This shortfall is not an Acemagic oversight but a Wildcat Lake platform limitation. Compact, low-power chips like this one get a smaller pool of PCIe lanes to share across storage, networking, and USB, and something has to give. Here, storage draws the short straw.

For everyday use, browsing, office work and light content creation, this will go largely unnoticed. For anyone hoping to drop in a fast PCIe 4.0 x4 drive and get full speed for large file transfers or video editing scratc

• Features: 3 / 5

Acemagic K5: Performance

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Mini PC		Acemagic K5	Beelink ME mini
CPU		Intel Core 5 320	Intel N150
Cores/Threads		6C 6T	4C 4T
RAM		16GB LPDDR5 6400	12GB LPDRR5 (1x 12GB)
SSD		512GB G932E5	64GB eMMC + 2TB Crucial P3 Plus SSD
Graphics		Intel Xe3 Graphics (Wildcat Lake)	Intel Graphics 730 (EU24)
3DMark	WildLife	11018	2298
	FireStrike	3508	732
	TimeSpy	1693	293
	S.Nomad	1254	188
Cine24	Single	110	56
	Multi	402	135
	Ratio	3.64	2.4
GeekBench 6	Single	2559	1103
	Multi	7852	2334
	OpenCL	12764	3908
	Vulkan	14273	4354
CrystalDisk	Read MB/s	1786	1731
	Write MB/s	1748	1686
PCMark 10	Office	6280	2781
WEI	Score	8.1	5.6

It was hard to decide which machine spec to compare the K5 with, since it’s an entirely new platform.

But since this is designed to replace the old N100 and N300 tier in the Intel stable, I found an N150-powered mini PC, the Beelink ME mini, that seemed appropriate.

Except in most respects, the Wildcat Lake machine eats the Twin Lake (Alder Lake-N refresh) architecture for breakfast.

In fact, if we take the single-core benchmarks in isolation, the Core 5 320 is faster than the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H, and for graphics it's faster than the Intel Core i7 12650H.

The dramatic difference we see against Twin Lake is because that platform used only Gracemont efficiency cores, had fewer cores, offered only single-channel memory support, used an Intel UHD graphics GPU, and had no NPU support.

This new Wildcat Lake generation has two performance cores and four efficiency cores, dual-channel DDR5 memory, Intel Xe3 graphics (two Xe cores), and an integrated NPU.

But those advantages come at a power cost: while the Beelink ME mini operated within a 9-15W budget, the Acemagic K5 runs 9-25W, and some systems running this chip will likely turbo to 35W.

But it’s easy to get carried away by all the performance benefits this generation brings and miss a rather obvious hole Intel left unpatched in the good ship Wildcat Lake.

Both machines share one horrible aspect: abysmal SSD performance. And it's for precisely the same reason.

While Intel was handing out all the new technology in the memory management, cores, GPU and NPU departments, they failed to properly address one critical area, PCIe lanes.

The Twin Lake architecture supported 9 PCIe 3.0 lanes, and the new Wildcat Lake supports 6 PCIe 4.0 lanes. Because PCIe 4.0 has double the bandwidth of PCIe 3.0, that’s the modern equivalent of 12 PCIe 3.0 lanes.

But with a 2.5GbE LAN port and seven USB ports, that eats up bandwidth to the point where there aren’t enough PCIe lanes to properly support the M.2 NVMe slots.

These slots are both PCIe 4.0 x2, and that’s a problem.

As the benchmarks reveal, the speed of the system drive is less than 1800MB/s in both read and write. But the drive's specification is double that speed.

The drive is a Gen3 drive, but the M.2 slot is Gen4, and the result is that it gets two lanes of PCIe, and two lanes of Gen3 is about 1800MB/s. That mistake is on Acemagic, because a Gen4 drive would be twice as fast. Not Gen4 x4 fast, since it only has two lanes, but twice as fast as the Gen3 drive Acemagic installed.

This is all somewhat frustrating. Intel built a punchy six-core system with excellent single-core performance and reasonable GPU output, and then kneecapped it effectively with limited PCIe lanes. And Acemagic put the wrong type of NVMe drive in one, regrettably.

• Performance: 3.5 / 5

Acemagic K5: Final verdict

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

As you may have gathered, the K5 is a mixed bag. But aside from one issue I can put down to Acemagic, most of the problems are Intel’s.

The more I looked at this system, the more I came to the conclusion that Intel realised these low-end chips were going to be too good, so they made sure they couldn’t be used more broadly by limiting the number of PCIe lanes.

Evidently, USB4 or Gen x4 M.2 slots on the Core 5 320 would have threatened Core Ultra models, so they made sure it was unlikely to have them.

Acemagic, for their part, did the best they could with this platform, with the exception of the Gen3 NVMe drive, which was a cost saving too far.

If this system were ever to be around $400, I’d recommend it for general office use, but its launch price makes it compete with the likes of the GMKtec M6 Ultra Mini PC. That’s a $459.99 system powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS (6 cores, 12 threads) with dual Gen4 x4 M.2 slots, USB4, dual 2.5GbE LAN ports and slotted SODIMM DDR5 memory that can be upgraded to 128GB.

When you compare the two options, the Acemagic K5 looks like it's been priced above what its specifications can justify.

Should you buy a Acemagic K5?

Value	Seems expensive for the specifications	3 / 5
Design	Mostly plastic construction with easy-ish internal access	4 / 5
Features	Great new Wildcat Lake CPU undermined by lack of PCIe lanes	3 / 5
Performance	An excellent single-core performer, but the Gen3 NVMe drive is slowed down in a Gen4 slot	3.5 / 5
Overall	What could be a useful general-purpose system, if it can get much cheaper than the launch price.	3.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You must have the latest tech
The Wildcat Lake CPU in this system is impressive and shows that Intel can deliver performance and efficiency if they want. It’s a dramatic improvement over the old N-series silicon.

You need lots of USB
With two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports on this design and another four Gen1, this machine has plenty of ports for external devices without the need to attach a dock.

Don't buy it if...

You need USB4 or Thunderbolt
While the K5 has plenty of USB, it doesn’t support Thunderbolt or USB 4.0. For those using those technologies, that could be a deal-breaker.

You need high-performance NVMe
This machine comes with a Gen3 NVMe that lives in a Gen4 slot, halving its performance. But even with a Gen4 drive, the dual-lane configuration only allows for a maximum of about 3800MB/s transfer. It doesn’t matter what drive you put inside this machine; it won’t go any faster.

Also Consider

GMKtec K6 Ultra
A mid-level AMD system that sports an AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS processor, up to 32GB of RAM and dual Gen4 x4 M.2 slots. This hardware shows what’s possible when you have 20 PCIe lanes. Also available in a barebones configuration if you have RAM and SSDs spare.

Check out our GMKtec K6 Ultra review

Acemagic K1
Those wanting a decent PC that can run any office tasks and surf the internet should consider the previous Acemagic design, the K1. It comes in two variants: one that uses the Intel Core i5-12600H, and another much more affordable model that’s built around the AMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 platforms.

The top-spec model uses the Ryzen 7 773OU CPU, comes with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, and costs a little over $400. A good price for a machine with an 8-core, 16-thread CPU.

Check out our AceMagic K1 (Intel version) review

For more professional hardware, we've reviewed the best business computers.

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This enormous 24TB Seagate external hard drive is nearly $140 off

If you have years of photos, videos, backups and other large files, a 24TB external hard drive gives you an enormous amount of room to store them on, without having to install internal drives or resort to pricey paid cloud storage.

Best for: Professionals who needs huge amounts of desktop storage for backups, photographs, videos and other large files without installing an internal drive.

The deal: The Seagate 24TB Expansion External Desktop Hard Drive is now $690 (was $830) at Best Buy.

Why it matters: A single 24TB drive provides enough capacity to store large archives and backups that might otherwise be spread across several smaller drives or hosted online.

Today's best Seagate external HDD deal

24TB Expansion External Desktop Hard Drive: was $829.96 now $689.99
This external desktop hard drive provides 24TB storage, USB 3.0 connectivity, Windows and Mac compatibility, Toolkit backup software, Rescue Data Recovery Services, an AC power adapter and one-year warranty.View Deal

Why we recommend it

Seagate has proved a strong storage maker during our tests, so this one's an easy recommendation if you need a hard drive.

24TB is enough space for extensive media collections, large creative archives and multiple computer backups, making it particularly useful for a home office or anyone producing large amounts of content.

Setup is straightforward as well — connect the drive to your Windows PC or Apple Mac, and you can start transferring files immediately. Seagate also includes its Toolkit software if you want full control over your backups.

The drive is powered by an external adapter, so it's intended to stay on a desk rather than travel around with a laptop.

Price context & historical value

The $139.97 reduction from $829.96 to $689.99 works out at almost 17% off, bringing the cost down to around 2.9 cents per GB. That sounds like a great saving, but context is important here. At the end of December 2025, Best Buy sold the same hard drive for just $279.99, reduced from $329.99. That makes today's $689.99 deal a stunning $410 more expensive than that previous sale price — or around 146% higher.

The comparison shows just how dramatically storage prices have changed in a year. So while you're saving nearly $140 against today's regular price, this is far from the cheapest deal ever.

For more shopping options, take a look at our roundup of the best external hard drives.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the 24TB Seagate External HDD if...

You need a huge amount of storage now and would rather keep everything on a single external drive than manage several smaller ones. The USB 3.0 connection also provides considerably more bandwidth than the mechanical hard drive itself requires for file transfers.

❌ Skip the 24TB Seagate External HDD if...

You can wait for storage prices to improve or for a better, bigger promotion. This is a desktop hard drive rather than a portable model so requires the supplied 18W power adapter as well as a USB connection. You can't simply plug it into your laptop and use it anywhere.

Also consider

2TB Portable Hard Drive: was $149.99 now $129.99
This much cheaper portable hard drive provides 2TB storage, USB 3.0 connectivity, plug-and-play operation, simple backup capabilities, an Adobe Creative Cloud trial and a one-year warranty.View Deal

• Shop all external hard drives at Best Buy
• See all external hard drives at Amazon

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Europe and UAE plan $1 billion orbital data center with 50 connected "computers" and a central "LLM store" that allows users to select what open source model to use on data collected by satellite sensors

• Marlan Space and Loft Orbital announce $1bn program to grow the Altair AI Earth observation constellation from ten satellites to fifty
• The fleet, which is funded by money from a UAE-based investor, Marlan Space will leverage French AI lab Mistral AI's models onboard
• None of the first ten satellites (which are in production) have launched yet, with a stated timeline of five years for deployment

French President Emmanuel Macron used the stage at recent the International Space Summit in Paris to announce a $1 billion program led by Abu Dhabi's Marlan Space and Loft Orbital.

The cash infusion takes their Altair Earth observation constellation from 10 satellites to 50, with French AI company Mistral supplying the models that run onboard.

The satellites will carry radar, optical and other sensors and are designed to interpret what they see before anything reaches the ground, sending an alert within seconds rather than raw imagery that would otherwise hours to download and process.

A sensor network that thinks on the fly and more

The architecture is serious and addresses a real bottleneck: the proposed design will essentially act as an orbital data center with 50 connected "compute units" and a centralized app store that lets users choose which LLMs to run on satellite-collected data.

Customers not only get access through what the partners call an AI application store, but can also choose the models they want, run them on shared spacecraft, and export the data they need to external models if required.

"Working together, Loft Orbital and Marlan Space have assembled a consortium required to build out a 50-satellite, AI-enabled, multi-modal constellation," Alex Greenberg, co-founder and COO at Loft told TechRadar Pro.

"The satellites are produced by Orbitworks at its facility in Abu Dhabi, the region’s largest high-volume site for commercial constellations. Mistral joins the consortium to provide the onboard models giving the constellation its reasoning and natural-language tasking capabilities in orbit, and will power services in the AI application store. More consortium partners will be announced over time."

This deal, therefore, falls into the same category as the space data center plans filed by US-based SpaceX and Blue Origin, with the proposals centering on hosting general-purpose compute and renting it out to potential buyers.

Altair-Next Gen, as the program is called in the Marlan-issued version of the release, processes data collected by its own sensors, even as it stresses that the 50 satellites would allow it to essentially offer something akin to a "permanent capability" versus traditional solutions that beam back data hours later and often require it to be processed on the ground.

The more interesting story, however, is the application store that the program pushes, which is a more novel idea. It lets customers choose which model to use. It also leaves it unclear whether the store would restrict open-source or open-weight models.

At a time when Mistral remains one of the most powerful EU AI brokers, trailing behind only US and China-based frontrunners on frontier AI models, this is an important step for both the European Union and its UAE-based investment backer to invest in an alternative, even as US labs are looking to slow down or 'pace the frontier' over AI concerns, something that has provoked rebukes from other industry players such as Palantir as well as the White House, with the US president himself addressing and downplaying the issue.

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AI models are becoming outdated at record speed — so what does that mean for the tokens that companies are spending millions on?

• AI models are becoming quickly outdated as they’re replaced with newer versions
• Most AI tokens are used on models available for less than four months
• Open-weight models are now more popular than closed AI models

New data from Vercel’s AI Gateway claims AI models are becoming outdated faster than ever as new versions are introduced. Token spend is increasingly on newer models – most of which have only been available for the past three months – and as use increases, token price is dropping.

Simultaneously, Vercel's report suggests the open-weight models are beginning to dominate, with the majority of tokens spent on the models with tunable options over the closed black box systems.

A key example of this is Fable 5, Anthropic’s most capable model, which lost out to Anthropic’s own Opus 5 as well as OpenAI’s Astra. But upstart models, such as TypeSafe AI’s Jev, are also having an impact.

Token price down

Date from the AI Gateway Production Index shows us that the average price per token has dropped, for the third month in succession, this time by 23.2%. While this is due to various factors, one of the key influences here is the token price way across the industry. Open-weight models make is possible to self-host or run on affordable cloud servers.

The significance of open-weight models is growing, as enterprise AI use realises that a closed model can be swapped out for a more affordable and capable open-weight alternative.

Consequently, in the September AI Gateway Production Index, open-weight models have taken 56% of the token volume, but only 14% of the spend on tokens. Open-weight models have grown in popularity throughout 2026, with a token volume share of just 13% back in April and representing just 10% of token use in December 2025.

Open-weight models making an impact include Meta Llama 4, but Vercel highlights Jev, from TypeSafe AI, as leaving a noticeable footprint in token pricing. The new model has a very low token cost, but relies on a different type of input (data, rather than conversation). They also note it is the “fastest-adopted model” since the AI Gateway Production Index was launched.

Churn and spend

While the improvement in AI models means better results for productivity and other uses, the manner of token spend may be about to change.

With the faster development and release of newer AI models, the commitment to older models – insofar as the purchase of tokens that can only be used on those legacy models – highlights one of the biggest debates in the AI discussion: that AI development is moving too quickly.

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Flsun T1 3D printer review

Unlike most 3D printers available today, the FLSUN T1 arrived in a relatively flat box, which was in stark contrast to the tall machine in the images. However, after about an hour of building, sipping coffee and double-checking, the machine was ready to go. Nothing too tricky on the construction side, though I needed to double-check the screws after the first few runs to fix some print quality issues.

Once the machine was complete and I stepped back, the T1 was instantly impressive and stood out from the other desktop 3D printers in the workshop. While Cartesian bed-slingers and increasingly CoreXY machines dominate the market, the T1 uses a Delta mechanism, with its print head suspended between three rapidly moving arms above a circular build platform. Prusa Research is one of the few other mainstream companies to still produce a printer of this style, but that model is aimed at the pro market with a price tag to match.

These delta machines are unusual-looking, but they offer a major speed advantage. Flsun quotes a maximum print speed of 1,000mm/s and an acceleration of 30,000mm/s², which, on paper, at least puts the T1 among the fastest machines I’ve tested.

However, what surprised me most wasn’t the speed. After careful assembly and adjustment, the T1 produced some of the most dimensionally accurate prints I’ve seen from a machine at this price level.

There are compromises, most notably noise, single-filament printing and a more involved setup process. For some, this is unlikely to be the best 3D printer - unless speed is the aim of the game. For rapid prototyping and functional printing, there’s plenty here to like.

FLSUN T1 3D Printer: Design

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Unusually for a modern 3D printer, the Flsun T1 arrives essentially flat-packed, so my first job before starting the test was to assemble it, and having seen these machines in action and reviewed a couple of TriLab (now Prusa) deltas in the past, I didn’t fancy my chances.

I’ve built plenty of printers over the years, although mostly Cartesian and, more recently, CoreXY models. While I initially thought the complexity of the Delta would make construction difficult, in reality it was straightforward.

Actually assembling this Delta machine was deceptively straightforward because most of the complicated mechanical elements arrive pre-assembled. It’s largely a matter of fitting panels, securing components and installing the top.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

However, my first prints didn’t quite meet my expectations; they weren’t bad, but they weren’t good either. They all had minor surface imperfections, even though the machine appeared correctly assembled.

If I hadn't tested the Flsun S1 a while ago, I might have dismissed the imperfections; after all, this isn’t an overly expensive machine given the build area. After checking the mechanism again and tightening a grub screw around the suspended head, print quality immediately improved.

The design itself is striking, with the print head hanging between three articulated arms, giving the machine a futuristic appearance. While Flsun makes a wide range of Delta machines, the T1 offers an enclosed heated chamber and even a filament spool holder, which, while not sophisticated, it sits inside the machine, helping keep the filament moisture-free. Essentially, the reel is suspended from a metal rod above the print head. It looks crude, but it worked perfectly throughout testing.

At 436 x 490mm, the footprint is reasonable considering the build volume, although its substantial 836mm height means you’ll need plenty of vertical space.

FLSUN T1 3D Printer: Features

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The Flsun T1's headline feature is its Delta mechanism. While traditional Cartesian printers move components independently along X, Y and Z axes, and CoreXY printers use a belt-driven arrangement to move the print head rapidly across a fixed plane, a Delta printer uses three vertical towers and articulated arms to control the position of its suspended print head. Visually, while a Cartesian and a CoreXY can look very similar, the Delta's inverted tripod design instantly highlights that it's something different.

While all 3D printers are fascinating to watch, the Delta system is even more so, and even as you see the print build, you can’t help but think that this system and the design in its complexity are impossible, yet it works. Even after years of using 3D printers, there’s still something slightly alien about seeing three arms rapidly coordinating their movement to position a nozzle accurately above the build plate.

The major advantage of this design is speed, although how or why it works so well is beyond me. Flsun quotes a maximum print speed of 1,000mm/s, with acceleration reaching 30,000mm/s², even with the latest CORE XY machines, those figures are difficult to match.

However, as I’ve seen in the past, fast movement is only useful if the extrusion system can keep pace, and as I found out with the larger S1, FLSUN has once again equipped the T1 with a powerful, if noisy cooling system, cooling system; I’ve also noted that they now sell a silencer kit. The tool head's dual-gear direct-drive extruder offers a quoted extrusion force of up to 78N, while the 300°C hotend has a maximum volumetric flow rate of 90mm³/s.

Throughout testing, filament delivery was remarkably reliable for a machine of this speed, with plenty of flexibility in the software settings. The spool’s position directly above the tool head meant that the filament follows a relatively straightforward path into the extruder, with fewer bends than on many conventional machines. During the test, I didn’t experience many filament-feed issues, and I ended up having quite a bit of faith in the system feeding older, and increasingly brittle PLA that would have jammed up other printers.

Cooling is a major part of this machine's success, and it’s especially important when you’re depositing material at this sort of speed. The T1 uses a CPAP high-pressure turbo fan rated at 30,000rpm. It’s effective, but it’s also extremely loud; when it starts running at speed, you’ll know about it.

In fact, one of the first useful prints suggested for the machine is a silencer that fits over the exhaust. It’s worth printing because it noticeably reduces the noise, although the T1 still isn’t a printer I’d particularly want operating beside my desk all day; as mentioned earlier, a silencer kit is now available.

Once constructed, the machine is fully enclosed, which helps both safety and material compatibility. Flsun specifies a chamber temperature of up to 50°C, while the bed can reach 110°C. Combined with the 300°C hotend, that gives the T1 enough thermal capability for materials beyond basic PLA, although out of the box it comes with only a brass nozzle.

The supplied 0.4mm nozzle is brass, so abrasive materials aren’t advisable with the standard hardware. At the time of testing, the Flsun website didn’t list an obvious official hardened-nozzle upgrade, although the E3D-style nozzle arrangement may open the door to third-party alternatives; obviously, check compatibility before fitting one.

During testing, I successfully printed PLA, PETG, ABS, and ASA with consistently good results.

Specs

Print Technology: FDM Delta
Build Area: Ø260 x 330mm
Minimum Layer Resolution: 0.1mm recommended
Maximum Layer Resolution: 0.35mm recommended
Dimensions: 436 x 490 x 836mm
Weight: 18.44kg
Bed: Heated, 110°C maximum
Print Surface: Textured PEI print plate
Software: FLSUN Slicer / compatible third-party slicers
Materials: PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA, PET, ABS, ASA, PA, PC and others
Print Speed: Up to 1,000mm/s; 30,000mm/s² maximum acceleration

As you’d expect, the machine offers automatic bed levelling, vibration compensation, and input shaping, along with filament detection and power-loss recovery.

A 1080p camera enables remote monitoring and time-lapse capture. It doesn’t provide the sophisticated AI print-failure detection increasingly found on the latest premium machines, but during testing it connected reliably and provided a clear remote view of the print.

The 4.3-inch colour touchscreen is simple but excellent, with an interface that follows the same general approach as the company's larger machines.

Perhaps the most impressive specification, however, is the build volume. The circular platform offers Ø260mm of horizontal space combined with an impressive 330mm Z height. That’s a substantial printable area for a machine with such a modest footprint.

FLSUN T1 3D Printer: Performance

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Getting started took some thought and about an hour to fully unbox and assemble. It’s been a while since I last put this much effort into building a machine, but for the most part the instructions were well documented and shouldn’t be beyond most people. The one point is that you do need to build, double-check, print and then re-check.

The point is that this machine is all about speed, so any small movement in the joints, frame, or anywhere else will be amplified in the print. The more time you put into the construction and pre-flight checks, the better this machine will be. When I first finished construction and ran a test print, the results were good but not quite what I expected.

Minor surface imperfections suggested something wasn’t quite right, and another inspection revealed a grub screw around the Delta mechanism that needed tightening; once that was done, the machine's speed and print quality suddenly took a leap forward.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Speed was the first feature I tested, and as the first 3D Benchy rapidly appeared on the print bed, it was obvious why these Delta machines still exist. If you need to print stuff quickly, then a Delta’s what you need.

Speed isn’t all; the Flsun T1 also impressed with print quality and dimensional accuracy, and as you notch down that speed, the accuracy of the prints, which was already good, improved further.

FLSUN T1 3D Printer: Print quality

Dimensional accuracy - score of 4

Target 25: X: 24.87mm / 0.13mm Error | Y: 25.00mm / 0.00mm Error
Target 20: X: 19.89mm / 0.11mm Error | Y: 19.97mm / 0.03mm Error
Target 15: X: 14.86mm / 0.14mm Error | Y: 14.92mm / 0.08mm Error
Target 10: X: 9.87mm / 0.13mm Error | Y: 9.86mm / 0.14mm Error
Target 5: X: 4.75mm / 0.25mm Error | Y: 4.72mm / 0.28mm Error

X Error Average = 0.16mm
Y Error Average = 0.106mm
X&Y Error Average = 0.133mm

Fine Flow Control - score of 5
Fine Negative Features - score of 5
Overhangs - score of 5
Bridging - score of 5
XY resonance - score of 2.5
Z-axis alignment - score of 2.5

Adding up the totals gives a final score of 29 out of 30.

Those numbers were reflected in real-world use. Circular features in the dimensional test appeared remarkably clean with little visually apparent ovaling, while separately printed components fitted together snugly.

More importantly, models designed in CAD generally translated directly into usable physical parts without repeatedly adjusting dimensions to compensate for printer inaccuracies.

That makes the T1 particularly useful for prototyping and functional printing. It’s not simply fast; it can produce accurate parts quickly, which is a far more meaningful advantage.

FLSUN T1 3D Printer: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The Flsun T1 shows exactly why Delta 3D printers still have a place alongside increasingly sophisticated CoreXY machines. It’s extraordinarily fast, visually distinctive and, once properly assembled, capable of exceptional print quality.

That 29 out of30 benchmark result is impressive and more importantly, the accuracy carried over into practical projects, where components fitted together correctly and CAD dimensions translated well to printed parts.

There are compromises. The CPAP cooling system makes the T1 extremely loud, even with the recommended silencer. Assembly also requires greater care than today’s almost appliance-like CoreXY machines. Tightening every bolt and grub screw properly can significantly improve print quality.

It’s also strictly a single-filament printer, with no straightforward equivalent to the increasingly common automatic multifilament systems.

However, those limitations matter less if your priority is functional printing, such as for product designers, engineers, makers and workshops producing prototypes or mechanical components; the combination of speed, accuracy and substantial build volume is will be more important.

The T1 isn’t the most polished 3D-printing experience, but once correctly configured, it’s an exceptionally good machine.

The Flsun T1 makes the most sense if speed and dimensional accuracy matter more than multicolor printing or complete plug-and-play simplicity. Its Delta mechanism delivers extremely fast movement, and my testing showed that speed doesn’t have to come at the expense of accuracy.

Product designers, engineers, makers, and small workshops producing prototypes should find plenty to appreciate, particularly given the build volume. Beginners who want the simplest possible experience may prefer a modern, pre-assembled CoreXY printer. Likewise, anyone mainly interested in multicolour decorative models should look for machines with automatic multifilament systems instead.

Should I buy the Flsun T1 3D printer?

Value:	Exceptional speed and accuracy make this an impressive printer for money.	4.5
Design:	Distinctive Delta engineering delivers decent volume for the size of the machine but requires careful assembly.	4
Features:	Plenty of printing essentials, though it notably lacks multi-filament capability.	4
Performance:	Outstanding speed and accuracy combine for functional printing.	5
Total:	Exceptionally capable Delta printer with speed, accuracy and great value.	4.5

Buy it if…

You need speed

For rapid prototyping, the T1 is exceptionally good. Its Delta mechanism combines fast movement speed with excellent extrusion and cooling.

Accuracy really matters

Our 29/30 benchmark result demonstrates how capable the T1 can be once correctly configured. Functional components printed accurately, fitted together well and required remarkably little dimensional compensation when moving from CAD design to finished physical parts.

Don't buy it if...

You need silence

The high-pressure cooling system generates a lot of noise, particularly when the printer is working hard.

You want multicolour

The T1 is a single-filament machine, without the straightforward automatic material-changing systems offered by many competitors.

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How to watch Ravens vs Cowboys for FREE: Live streams

• Watch Ravens vs Cowboys FREE on 5 (UK) / Virgin Media Play (Ireland)
• Unlock your stream with IPVanish (save up to 83%)
• Ravens vs Cowboys kick-off: Sun, Sep 27 at 4.25pm ET / 9.25pm BST / 6.25am AEST (Mon)

The Ravens vs Cowboys is the very first NFL game to take place at the legendary Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, and although the playing surface has been in an atrocious state for some time, quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Dak Prescott shouldn't have any trouble laying on the samba.

The issue for the Cowboys is that this is about as bad a matchup as there is. They've given up the third-most rushing yards per game in the 2026 NFL season so far, while the Ravens have racked up the fifth-most rushing yards per game.

And Baltimore should rank even higher on that list. With the team 7-6 up at the interval, new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle effectively pulled Derrick Henry for the second half against the Saints last Sunday, to disastrous effect. King Henry still finished as the game's top rusher, but he'll be keen to make up for lost time in Brazil.

The Cowboys went off against the Commanders to get off the mark, with Prescott throwing for 279 yards and four touchdowns, two of those going to CeeDee Lamb, but it's difficult to gauge where they stand. After all, Washington lost Jayden Daniels before half-time, and the Giants got the better of Dallas in the opening week.

Read on as we explain how to watch Ravens vs Cowboys for free.

Can you watch Ravens vs Cowboys for free?

Yes. Ravens vs Cowboys is being shown on free-to-air Channel 5 and 5 in the UK, and on free-to-air Virgin Media Two and Virgin Media Play in Ireland.

Traveling abroad right now? You can use a VPN to watch Ravens vs Cowboys for free as if you were right at home.

Use a VPN to watch Ravens vs Cowboys live streams

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How to watch Ravens vs Cowboys live streams in the US

In the US, the Ravens vs Cowboys game is being shown on CBS and Paramount+.

Paramount+ starts at $8.99/month or $89.99/year, and is also home to Champions League soccer. However, you can access Paramount+ virtually for free with a Walmart Plus 30-day trial for $1.

Alternatively, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream and the Fubo Sports + News plan each carry CBS and will provide near-comprehensive NFL coverage this season.

Outside of the US? IPVanish can unblock your stream from anywhere in the world.

How to watch Ravens vs Cowboys live streams in the UK

In the UK, Ravens vs Cowboys is free-to-air on Channel 5, with live streaming available via the 5 platform.

If you're traveling outside of the UK, you can make use of IPVanish to access that free Ravens vs Cowboys coverage.

How to watch Ravens vs Cowboys live streams in Australia

In Australia, the Ravens vs Cowboys game is being shown on ESPN via Foxtel, with live streaming available via Kayo Sports.

Kayo Sports subscriptions start at AU$30 per month after a 7-day free trial, as detailed above. Equally, you can get your first month for AU$1.

It's also available to stream live on NFL Game Pass on DAZN, which is showing every remaining game, including the Super Bowl.

Prices start at AU$339.99 for the season if you pay upfront, rising to AU$34.99/month if you commit to 12 months, and AU$33.99/week on a rolling basis.

Not in Australia right now? You can simply use a VPN like IPVanish to watch the action as if you were back home.

How to watch Ravens vs Cowboys live streams in Canada

(Image credit: Other)

The Ravens vs Cowboys game is available to watch on DAZN in Canada.

DAZN, which is showing every 2026 NFL fixture, starts at CA$24.99/month.

It's also being shown on CTV.

If you're out of Canada but still want to tune in, explore the VPN route set out above, which will help you access your accounts from anywhere.

What is the Ravens vs Cowboys start time?

The scheduled Ravens vs Cowboys kick-off time on Sunday, September 27 is 5.25pm BRT local time in Rio de Janeiro, which is 1.25pm PT / 4.25pm ET / 9.25pm BST.

That's 6.25am AEST on Monday, September 28 in Australia.

What is the Ravens vs Cowboys head-to-head?

The Ravens and Cowboys have faced off on seven previous occasions. Baltimore won six of those games, and Dallas one.

Can I watch Ravens vs Cowboys on my mobile?

Of course, most broadcasters, like 5 and Virgin Media, have streaming platforms that you can access through mobile apps or via your phone's browser.

You can also stay up-to-date with the latest NFL news and plays on the official social media channels on X/Twitter (@NFL), Instagram (@NFL), TikTok (@NFL) and YouTube (@NFL).

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

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Panasonic's new laptop has a round touchpad, weighs 919g, and has a removable battery that lasts 23 hours — Let's Note SC7 is a powerful reminder that Japan remains the undisputed leader of tiny notebooks

• Panasonic Let's Note SC7 weighs just 919 grams but passed drop tests from both 76 and 30 cm
• The chassis meets the US military's MIL-STD-810H toughness standard
• Battery testing returned nearly 23 hours of continuous everyday use

Japanese manufacturers have long built a reputation for producing remarkably light business notebooks, with some models weighing under a kilogram entirely.

Panasonic has now expanded that lightweight lineup with the Let's Note SC7, a compact notebook weighing just 919 grams total.

The company also carried over its distinct circular wheel pad, letting users scroll by tracing a finger along the pointing device's outer rim.

Packs a full-day power into a small frame

The SC7 features a 12.4-inch display with a 3:2 aspect ratio, taller than the widescreen format common on most rival laptops today, showing more vertical content at once, improving efficiency when editing spreadsheets, documents, or browsing lengthy web pages daily.

Inside sits an Intel Core Ultra 5 325 processor paired with a 47 TOPS neural processing unit for on-device AI tasks.

The low-end version of this device comes with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of internal storage - however, users can choose models with 32GB or 64GB of RAM and 1TB or 2TB of internal storage depending on the buyer's needs.

Let's Note SC7 ships with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, HDMI, and Gigabit Ethernet.

Under the hood, this notebook uses a 56Wh removable battery, which is attached with two screws rather than a latch.

According to Panasonic, this battery lasts roughly 17.7 hours during video playback and 32.4 hours in idle mode under JEITA 3.0 standards, and charging through the bundled 65W USB PD adapter reaches about 46% capacity within 30 minutes.

A magnesium alloy body measuring 273.2 x 208.9 x 19.9 mm combined with internal ribbing keeps the notebook sturdy, though it still appears slim.

Sturdiness, software, and benchmark results that support the design

Panasonic subjected the SC7 to internal drop tests from 76 centimeters and 30 centimeters across 26 separate directions during development.

The chassis also passed a 100 kgf pressure vibration test and met the US Department of Defense's MIL-STD-810H toughness standard - few compact business notebooks built outside Japan undergo this level of physical stress testing before reaching commercial release.

The built-in NPU meets requirements for Microsoft's Copilot+ PC program, enabling both cloud-based and local artificial intelligence processing directly on device.

PCMark 10 testing showed the processor performing at full capacity, aided by Panasonic's proprietary MaxPerformer heat and power tuning system.

On Geekbench 7, the Let's Note SC7 scored 2354 points on single-core tasks and 10437 points on multi-core benchmarks.

Battery testing under PCMark 10's Modern Office profile returned roughly 22 hours and 59 minutes of continuous everyday use.

For security, this device includes facial recognition through an infrared camera alongside a fingerprint sensor built into the power button.

It is currently available in gray, black, rose, and deep indigo, but there is no indication that this device will sell outside Japan.

All these capabilities do not come for cheap, as Panasonic lists this device for 298,100 yen, which is about $1,880.

Via PC Watch (originally in Japanese)

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Baldur’s Gate 3’s first act is a Tav graveyard — here's how I finally conquered act one syndrome

There are many audacious and commendable feats in gaming. Taking down Consort Radahn, platforming through the Path of Pain, filling your entire Pokedex, to name but a few. However, despite personally doing all these things, one task chewed me up and spat me out repeatedly. One that, on paper, isn't all that tough at all.

From the Backlog

Every gamer has a backlog — and that’s no different for us at TechRadar Gaming. From the Backlog is a series about overdue first plays, revisiting classics, returning to online experiences, or rediscovering and appreciating established favorites in new ways. Read the full series here.

The task: To get through Act One of the mammoth CRPG, Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3).

The 'act one syndrome' brought on by the sheer volume of content and the steep learning curve of BG3 is something that just about everyone has endured at some point when exploring Faerûn.

However, I feel I have been wearing this albatross around my neck for quite some time. While watching others take second laps around Faerûn for a Dark Urge run, unburdened by this plight of mine.

BG3 has been the loud, obnoxious gnawing at the back of my mind. The bane of my backlog, and at some point, I snapped.

Operation: get act one done

(Image credit: Larian Studios)

On paper, it's far from a Herculean task. After all, if you really want to, you can hop off the Nautiloid and head straight for the Githyanki Crèche if you choose. But ignoring the slew of content and the abundant, overlapping 'what ifs' is just too tall a task for a completionist such as myself.

I've gone back to the BG3 well a grand total of seven times. Each time, I fell at the first-act hurdle, but for different reasons.

At first, it was simply overzealous confidence and ineptitude. There was an underlying issue in that my understanding of Dungeons & Dragons principles was severely lacking.

As a result, there were many hour-long battles that inevitably led to a full party KO and a painful restart. Poor decisions compounded with each new dialogue exchange. This culminated in a heated exchange with a deceptively powerful frog, and the first of many save files to be abandoned. RIP Ignacius, my first Tav to fall.

Then came the attempts to right that wrong. A YouTube brush-up on DND systems here and there, a few tweaks to the starting build, and it would all surely work out fine.

It did not.

(Image credit: Larian Studios)

There was an inevitable and foolish overcorrection, a choice to play a build that simply wasn't fun to use, especially for a novice like myself. Monks sound great on paper, as you can let your fists solve all problems. Until you’re starved for Ki and left helpless. So, with that, another save file bit the bullet. RIP Falconhoof.

You would think at this point, with so much Baldur's Gate 3 act one experience behind me, success was all but guaranteed. But then, like a pesky Kobold leering from the shadows, a menacing creature I call my wife said, in hushed tones, 'That looks fun; will you show me how to play?' Thus beginning a co-op campaign led by a D&D novice, acting as a sage for an even bigger novice.

Safe to say, this blind leading the blind dynamic was about as successful as Lae’zel would be headlining at the Comedy Cellar. So, we dug a twin grave for my wife's Tav and poor, unfortunate Arcane Michael.

It was these constant setbacks that set the wheels in motion for even more attempts to go awry. Because the dynamic shifted from a state of wonderment and curiosity to an attritional, transactional slog, as scenarios, battles, and pivotal choices repeated again and again, lacking the weight they once had.

Much like Tav, I too was infected with a parasite acting as a ticking time bomb. At some point, the tedium, or the ennui, would set in, and I would succumb to that parasite's mind control. Forcing me to exit the game, uninstall it, and relegate BG3 to the back of the backlog again.

Mercifully, this affliction doesn't come part and parcel with a tadpole insertion through the eye socket, but it’s unpleasant nonetheless.

Finding my Faerûn flow state

(Image credit: Larian Studios)

Returning for my eighth crack, things had to be different. So, I put those wheels in motion. I cooled off for an entire year, forgetting large portions of the opening act in the process. I researched the most fun, accessible build to play relative to the most recent patch. I even passed on some hot and fresh releases, devoting all my time and energy to breaking through.

But above all, I knew that if this was ever going to work, I would need to learn how to let go. To let decisions shape the experience rather than relying on save-scumming, embrace the rough and the smooth in equal measure, and find the mental fortitude to push on towards new and exciting things.

As someone who wants to see everything a game has to offer, ponder over every decision, min-max at every opportunity, and somehow manage to accurately roleplay while juggling all of this. I was still skeptical that it would all click into place. But against all odds, in honor of my newborn son, my Halfling Rogue, Lorcàn, was born, and before long, I could see the Shadow-Cursed Lands on the horizon.

With a streamlined build that allowed me to rely on Luck, overpowered stealth, and flexibility to multiclass. No combat encounter felt like an insurmountable task, and no conversation felt like an inevitable road to a failed dice roll. My half-pint Halfling fittingly gave me the glass-half-full mindset I needed.

Minthara and her goblins were vanquished: shoved down a chasm to their doom. The party shone a light on the Underdark's mysteries. I left that demonic frog to their own devices. But above all, the insurmountable pressure to finally leave Act One had dissipated and this is an accolade I place in my personal trophy cabinet of gaming feats.

The city of Baldur's Gate awaits, and finally, I feel that curiosity and magic again.

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WoW: Forever has me excited, but Blizzard needs to tread carefully — the player base will be seriously split in its current state

After one week of World of Warcraft: Forever's beta, I have to say, my initial impression is one of cautious optimism. I'm not quite sure what I was expecting, but I think Blizzard could, just maybe, be onto something here.

Like many other veteran WoW players, I've been dabbling over the years. A little bit of retail here, a little bit of Seasons of Discovery there. But nothing has quite matched that initial experience from all the way back in 2005 when I first created my Tauren Hunter and stepped into the world of Azeroth.

That's made spending a full week with the closed beta for World of Warcraft: Forever a particularly interesting experience. Like many others, I've gone into it with plenty of nostalgia for the original game, but I'm looking for that little extra to pull me back in for another round.

I'll get into specifics soon, but there are some really positive signs that Blizzard is taking a massive step in the right direction with Forever.

Of course, there are certainly things Blizzard has changed that I'm less convinced by, including one specific issue that I think could cause problems further down the line. But, even in its current state, WoW: Forever is just outright fun for 'Classic Andies' like myself.

The mythical Classic Plus of legend

Perhaps what I like most about WoW: Forever (at least, in its initial state) is that it genuinely feels like the mythical 'Classic Plus' we've speculated about for years. Yes, there are new models. Yes, there are plenty of new abilities and instances, but the core experience that made Classic so compelling appears to be present. I'd argue that Classic is less about art style and more about how the players actually interact with the world.

The starting zones, for example, are subtly refreshed and remixed to add depth and variety, but they don't streamline those initial levels of experience. There are no compromises for convenience here; everyone is footslogging across open fields to kill eight boars. You will be spamming the same spells and abilities over and over in the initial levels as you're being drip-fed abilities.

These subtle instances of friction add a lot of flavour to the experience — and, I would argue, are generally the reason that Classic is the way it is. While I'm certainly a fan of certain aspects of modern WoW, such as the incredible class design and dungeon mechanics, I've always preferred the jankiness and character of Classic. There are so many small little things that add up to make the world feel more alive.

Over the years, Blizzard has smoothed out the wrinkles with additions like the raid-finding tool and flying mounts, and I think, along the way, we've subsequently lost a lot of that character. I'm certainly guilty of nostalgia when I look back at classic WoW, but I do genuinely think that certain additions have reigned in that sense of adventure that we felt back in the day. Even as early as The Burning Crusade, we were diverging from what made WoW so compelling.

An unashamably old school approach

(Image credit: Blizzard)

In its current state, WoW: Forever strips out most of the modern conveniences in favour of an unashamably old school approach. My gut feeling is that Blizzard has got a good balance here.

People will surely have strong opinions on this, but I've been having a blast spontaneously grouping up with players while questing out in the world. Forever has that vibe where you're subtly encouraged to engage with players in your immediate environment. While most of this comes from an adherence to classic quest design, Blizzard has leaned into the experience with additions like the new camping system, which is just a lovely touch that really adds a lot of flavour.

As a brief overview, the camping system lets players passively sit around a player-built campfire to get small buffs. It's cleverly entwined with the new profession changes so that players have more ways to interact aside from simply grouping up. It's a brief respite for players out in the world.

And, since everybody is out there footslogging, the world feels genuinely big and dangerous again. It all adds up to a kind of adventure that I haven't really experienced in WoW since the first Seasons of Discovery phase. The beta feels very similar in that everyone is still working it out, and everyone is eager to explore the world. Some of that is surely 'beta vibes', but I've seen enough to suggest that most players are going to have an absolute blast unlocking the fresh secrets of WoW: Forever.

A sight to behold

(Image credit: Blizzard)

Graphically, the game is a real upgrade, too. The lighting effects in particular add a lot of atmosphere to the zones without detracting too much from the original vibe. The art style (mostly) looks the same, but Blizzard has leaned into making the world a little more immersive with new lighting and increased draw distances.

For my sins, I also like the new Skyborne race, which has really divided the player base (mostly between those who are flatly opposed and those who are ambivalent).

I think Blizzard was stuck with a tough decision in regard to adding an elven race to the game. Simply adding Blood Elves for the Horde would have left the Alliance without a new option. Conversely, adding both Blood Elves and High Elves into the game would have likely meant quite a few more zones to add.

Instead, we've got a completely new race of Elves for either faction with one starter zone: Zephyrus Isle. There's no doubt it's a compromise.

Having played through said zone, however, I was pleasantly surprised. I don't think the zone is quite as different as some are painting. Yes, there are a few quests that are reminiscent of modern WoW, but the overwhelming majority are as you would expect in Classic. I think if someone were to play WoW for the first time, they wouldn't find that much of a discrepancy between Zephyrus Isle and the other starter zones.

The biggest issue with the Skyborne, by far, is that some of their character models stick out compared to those from the older races. WoW: Forever lets players toggle between classic 'SD' character models and modern 'HD' models, and in the case of the former, there's definitely a marked difference in-game. It's particularly visible with the various Druid forms that the Skyborne have access to.

Dividing the fan base

(Image credit: Blizzard)

So, overall, my impressions are positive, but I do have a few misgivings about WoW: Forever's initial direction. As previously suggested, I'm very much on the side of 'fewer changes' rather than a maximalist when it comes to Classic Plus. I generally believe that Blizzard should tread carefully when tweaking the winning formula.

Because of this, I'm slightly wary of some of the class changes that Blizzard has already implemented into the game. In some cases, they've genuinely fixed serious issues that have made certain classes unviable or boring, but in others, I think they've stripped out a little bit of character. Inevitably, there will always be balance issues with any changed system, but what I'm worried about is making classes too smoothed out.

Take Hunter, for example, which was my main class in the original iteration of WoW. Blizzard has added a few spells and made the class a little easier to play by removing some of the finer animations. I think the changes will prove popular, but I loved the subtle gameplay of timing certain abilities around your auto attacks. It was difficult to master but rewarding, and I'm not so sure I'd enjoy the new changes as much.

(Image credit: Blizzard)

I'm also really not a big fan of the current mega-servers that appear to lock players into one faction long-term on the player-versus-player mega realm. I understand why Blizzard is implementing modern server technology, but the rigidity of the current setup is going to divide the players dramatically.

In my own case, for example, I have a group of friends who want to play Alliance on the PvP megaserver and another who want to play Horde. Under the current setup, there's no option for me to have characters in both factions without having two separate Blizzard accounts. Previously, I would just have two characters on separate servers.

I would assume that many veterans who have accrued friends over the years might be in the same situation as me. I've known some of these people for over twenty years, so I'm weighing my decisions carefully.

Considering the server technology appears to be using some form of sharding (like retail), I don't quite grasp why Blizzard doesn't allow both factions on the PvP server. Corpse camping, for example, is quite easily solved through instancing. In a high-population area, players are constantly switched between shards anyway, which doesn't particularly lend itself to a social or 'classic' experience.

I suspect the reasoning behind the rigidity is a new system that groups players into instances based on previous interactions. In practice, that means encountering guildies and those who you've grouped with before. It's a nice system, but it's not so nice that it offsets the issue of faction locking.

For myself, the rigid modern server structure is by far and away the biggest issue I have with WoW: Forever so far. I'd even go so far that this will quite literally divide the player base — both in opinion and in-game. The idea of not being able to play with half my friends in perpetuity certainly puts a massive dampener on my experience.

Will Blizzard address it? I'm not so certain based on how committed they appear to the current setup. However, if they would, then I'd even go so far as to say that this could be the best iteration of WoW so far. For me, at least.

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