CYPLORE is trying to solve one of the biggest problems with e-bike conversion kits. It adds electric assist to existing road and gravel bikes while keeping the weight down.

The project has just launched on Kickstarter with prices starting around $599 for the FLEX version and $779 for the ready-to-ride ONE wheel setup. The pitch is simple enough. Give riders extra help on climbs and long rides without turning a lightweight carbon bike into something that suddenly feels heavy and awkward.

A very different kind of e-bike conversion

Most conversion kits end up changing the personality of the bike. You usually get a bulky mid-drive motor, a large external battery and extra weight that changes handling even when the system is switched off.

CYPLORE is clearly trying to avoid that. The motor sits inside the rear hub while the battery disguises itself as a bottle mounted in the standard cage position. There is also a small wireless remote that docks neatly onto the setup. From a distance, the bike still looks mostly normal.

That low profile approach is probably the most interesting thing here. Plenty of cyclists still resist full e-bikes because they either dislike the added mass or simply do not want their expensive road bike turning into something visually cluttered. CYPLORE seems aimed directly at those riders.

The quoted 1.7kg total system weight is also unusually low for this category. That includes both the motor and battery. The battery itself weighs roughly 800g and delivers a claimed 50km assisted range from its 111Wh capacity. USB-C charging is supported and the company says a full recharge takes around an hour.

The ride feel will decide whether this works

CYPLORE says the system uses a torque sensor that adjusts assistance based on pedalling effort in real time. Push harder and the support increases. Ease off and the motor backs away. The company also says the built-in clutch fully disengages the motor when assistance is not active, removing drag resistance from the wheel.

That last part is important because some lightweight hub systems still feel slightly sticky when riding without power. Road cyclists tend to notice those things immediately. If CYPLORE has genuinely managed a near invisible ride feel, that could end up being the real selling point rather than outright speed or power.

The system is rated at 250W and targets modern road and gravel bikes using 142x12mm thru-axles. Compatibility includes most Shimano and SRAM drivetrains.

Two versions depending on how much flexibility you want

The ONE version is the simpler option. It arrives as a complete rear wheel with the motor already built in. Riders swap out their existing rear wheel, attach the bottle battery and ride away within a few minutes.

FLEX takes a different approach. Instead of a complete wheel, buyers receive the hub motor and build it into their own preferred wheel setup. That will probably appeal more to experienced cyclists who already have favourite rims or very specific wheel configurations.

CYPLORE also splits its setups into road and gravel variants. The road rims support 25 to 32c tyres while the gravel option stretches from 32 to 55c.

There is app connectivity too. The system connects to cycling computers over ANT+ and syncs activities to Strava through the CYPLORE app. Riders can monitor battery levels, switch assist modes and view ride history from the app itself.

A familiar Kickstarter balancing act

Like many cycling hardware projects, CYPLORE sits somewhere between exciting concept and wait-and-see territory.

The company says it already has working prototypes and has completed performance testing. It also claims the founding team includes engineers and former staff from Samsung, Xiaomi, Alibaba and e-bike system companies.

Still, Kickstarter hardware campaigns always carry some uncertainty. Manufacturing delays, supply chain problems and shifting timelines remain common across the category. CYPLORE currently estimates deliveries for November 2026.

Price: $599 and up

Raised: $333,474 of $10,000 goal

Estimated delivery: November 2026
33 days to go before campaign closes

View on:

The post A new Kickstarter wants to make your road bike electric without the bulk appeared first on Gadgets & Wearables.

The main experience stays

This is an extension of Form’s smart goggles idea. Instead of checking a watch between lengths, you see swim data inside the lens while you are in the water. And it works brilliantly. Smart Swim 2 LT now sits below the regular Smart Swim 2 and Smart Swim 2 Pro.

I reviewed Smart Swim 2 a while ago, and the display was the main reason the goggles worked. It made structured swimming easier because data was visible mid-set rather than after stopping at the wall. The second generation model also had a smaller module and better fit than the original, although the display still takes some getting used to.

The new LT model should offer the same basic experience for swimmers. But with one caveat.

Heart rate is the cut

The regular Smart Swim 2 includes an integrated heart rate monitor. Smart Swim 2 LT does not. That is the clearest reason to pick one over the other.

In my review, I found the built-in heart rate tracking useful because it removed the need for another device. It gave a better view of effort during intervals and recovery. But not every swimmer needs that, especially if they already train mostly by pace or use a separate heart rate strap.

HeadCoach remains part of the LT package. That gives users access to Form’s training planner and technique guidance, including feedback around swim form. SwimStraight is also now free for all users, which helps open-water swimmers keep a straighter bearing without sighting as often.

The range now makes more sense

The lineup now has three clear price points. Smart Swim 2 LT costs $149. The standard Smart Swim 2 remains at $199. Smart Swim 2 Pro now costs $259 after a $50 price cut and adds Gorilla Glass lenses and fog-free swimming. You can check the all out on Form’s website/,

Smart Swim 2 LT is the entry model for swimmers who want the display and coaching, but not integrated heart rate. Smart Swim 2 remains the better fit if you want heart rate included. Smart Swim 2 Pro sits above both with the tougher lens setup.

That is a cleaner range than before. Form has not taken away the thing that makes its goggles useful. It has just created a lower priced version for swimmers who can live without one sensor.

For regular pool swimmers, this could be the more practical option. You still get the in-lens data and the training platform, which are the main reasons to buy Form goggles in the first place. The more expensive models are still there for swimmers who want the full hardware package.

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You can check all the current Isinwheel offers here.

The power option up front

The Isinwheel GT1 Dual Motor Off Road Electric Scooter 1600W is the one that leans into power. You get two 800W motors, a 48V 13Ah battery and a quoted range of up to 35 miles. It sits on 10 inch all terrain tyres and supports up to 330lbs, so it is clearly built for more than short city hops. This thing is aimed at riders who want stronger acceleration and a bit more confidence on uneven ground.

The 6% discount code ISW6% applies here, and it runs for a long time. What’s more, right now the scooter is selling for £569 on the site, down £190 from its usual price. So quite a big drop.

A middle ground scooter

The Isinwheel GT2 Pro Off Road Electric Scooter 1200W sits between the two. It runs a 1200W motor and adds a removable 48V 15Ah battery, which is probably its most useful feature day to day. The quoted range is 37 miles and charging takes around 5 to 7 hours, so it edges slightly ahead of the GT1 on range while trading off some motor output.

That removable battery makes a difference if you do not want to move the whole scooter just to charge it. It also makes it easier to top up indoors, which can matter depending on where you store it. It uses the same ISW6% code as the GT1. Right now this one is selling for £539 on the site, down from the usual £799.

The ebike stands apart

The Dremax Commuter Ebike is a sensible part of the Isinwheel. It uses an 864W motor paired with a 720Wh Samsung battery, with a claimed range of up to 93 miles. That number depends heavily on how you ride, but even with real world variation it is clearly built for longer trips and daily use.

Bigger 27.5 inch tyres and the ebike format make it more suited to commuting and mixed terrain rather than quick bursts. It should feel more stable over distance, especially compared to standing on a scooter for longer rides.

The Dremax gets a simple £70 discount with the Dremax70 code. This is in addition to the £200 off the price it is selling right now (£1,199 down from £1,399).

Another ebike worth considering

Those three described so far are the current hot sellers. But there is another device in the mix that is also on sale.

The Isinwheel U4 Foldable Step-thru Electric Bike 500W is down to £439 from £629, which puts it in budget territory for a folding ebike. The 6% discount code ISW6% applies here, as well.

The U4 is a bit different from the Dremax. It is lighter, more compact and built around convenience rather than long range riding. You get a 500W motor and a quoted range of up to 55 miles, which is enough for shorter commutes and everyday errands without needing something as large as a full size ebike.

I recently reviewed the U4 and it comes across as a very accessible entry point into electric bikes. The folding step through frame makes it easy to store and carry, which is a big part of its appeal if you are tight on space or mixing transport modes. It is not trying to compete with higher end models on power or battery size, but it does not need to.

In day to day use, the focus is clearly on simplicity. It is the kind of bike you can just hop on without overthinking settings or modes. That makes it a solid option for casual riders or anyone who wants something straightforward for getting around, especially at the current discounted price.

You can check all the current Isinwheel offers here.

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The post Isinwheel GT1, GT2 Pro and Dremax deals, which one makes sense appeared first on Gadgets & Wearables.

Fast forward to 2026 and the product looks very different. In/Out has moved well beyond that original single-device setup into a full v4.0 system with Net Devices, Line Devices, multiple sport support and years of software updates that have made the whole thing feel much more practical.

In the original review, one of the main attractions was simplicity. You clipped the device onto the net post, connected it to your phone and suddenly your local tennis match had a touch of Hawk-Eye style technology. It was fun, useful and definitely something that got people talking on court.

But there were obvious limits. Asking one device sitting at the side of the net to judge everything was always ambitious. Accuracy depended heavily on positioning and calibration, and while the idea worked, it still felt like an early version of something that needed more refinement.

From one gadget to a proper court system

That is probably the biggest difference today. In/Out is no longer really selling one gadget. It is selling a court setup.

The company now uses Net Devices and Line Devices. Net Devices still sit on the net posts and handle the main match operation, while Line Devices sit directly along the lines they monitor. In/Out describes them as the equivalent of chair umpires and line umpires, which is actually a very good way to explain it.

This solves one of the obvious weaknesses from the original product. A device looking straight down a baseline has a much better chance of making an accurate call than one trying to judge everything from the side. In/Out says these Line Devices help deliver millimetre accuracy, and for amateur matches it recommends using two Net Devices and two Line Devices, particularly for baseline coverage.

Compared to the version I tested in 2017, this feels far less like a clever gadget experiment and much more like a serious officiating system.

Hardware has matured

My early review focused on a much simpler hardware package. Since then, In Out has gone through multiple generations including v1, v2, v3 and now v4.0.

Version 3.0 introduced support for a third middle camera on the Net Device, which expanded both video capture and match analysis. It also improved net-related tracking by separating serve net faults from rally net faults, something the original system could not handle nearly as well.

Version 4.0 takes things further with a dedicated app flow, clearer device pairing and support for a much more modular setup. One v4.0 device can now work with multiple Line Devices, and the whole system is positioned not just for tennis, but also pickleball and badminton. Also, now there’s no screen on the device itself – instead it all works through your smartphone.

Software did most of the real work

Looking back at the original review, the concept was already strong. What the product really needed was reliability.

That seems to be where most of the work happened. In/Out’s own changelog says there have been 75 software releases and five hardware generations over eight years, which tells you this was not a product left sitting after launch.

Updates improved camera speed, Line Device communication, calibration, ball detection and overall call consistency. There were fixes for cases where devices disagreed with each other, better automatic recalibration after movement and fewer false detections.

One feature I particularly like is the “Too Close To Call” alert. Instead of pretending every call is perfectly certain, the system can now flag when a decision falls inside the margin of error. That feels much more honest and much more useful for real tennis.

Back in 2017, the discussion was often whether the technology could work. Now the focus is more about how smoothly it works in practice.

The app matters much more now

When I first tested In/Out, the app was mostly there to support the device. Today it’s a much bigger part of the product.

The v4.0 app handles umpiring, stats, camera views, replays and video recording. It can record from the phone or device view, stream matches and save videos directly to the smartphone. That makes it far more useful for coaching sessions and match review, not just line calls.

Stats have also grown. Training zones, player positioning and better Line Device stats all make the system feel less one-dimensional than before. It is still not trying to replace professional broadcast-level analytics, but it offers far more than the original “was it in or out?” use case.

Still not for everyone

One thing has not changed much. This is still a specialist product.

The current v4.0 pricing costs around $499 for one Net Device and two Line Devices. That means it is still aimed more at serious players, coaches and clubs than someone playing casual doubles once a week. But that was always the reality. Even in 2017, the value was strongest for people who played regularly enough to care about accuracy, video review and structured training.

You can also opt just for the Net Device for $299. Plus, there’s a special promotion with free shipping until May 8th for Europe. No customs fees or import duties guaranteed, too.

Looking back at that original review, the core idea was right. Tennis players hate bad line calls and love any tool that removes arguments. The difference now is that the product is far more complete.

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The French Open will now allow the wearables on a trial basis, with Wimbledon and the US Open expected to follow later this year. The move comes after confusion at the Australian Open, where players including Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka were told the devices were not permitted on court. To remind, these devices were already allowed on ATP and WTA Tour events.

Why the rule is changing

So why the rule change?

It all kicked off in Melbourne earlier this year. Players who regularly wear recovery bands like Whoop suddenly found themselves being told to take them off before matches, despite using them throughout the rest of the season.

There were even awkward moments on court. Carlos Alcaraz had a device hidden under his wristband during a match, while Jannik Sinner was stopped before play after an official noticed his wearable before the coin toss.

That confusion came from the fact that Grand Slams were operating under separate rules from the regular tour. The International Tennis Federation had already approved these devices, and ATP and WTA events were allowing them. But the majors were still taking a stricter approach.

Now that appears to be changing.

Players were never using them for coaching

This was never really about live coaching or someone getting tactical advice through a wrist strap. Players have been clear that the main reason for wearing these devices is recovery and health tracking.

Whoop and similar wearables track metrics such as heart rate, heart rate variability, recovery, strain, sleep, respiratory rate, blood oxygen and skin temperature. For elite players dealing with back-to-back matches, long rallies and difficult weather conditions, that data can be useful when deciding how hard to train the next day or whether the body needs more recovery.

Sinner spoke about this after the Australian Open issue, explaining that after playing in the extreme Melbourne heat, he wanted to check recovery numbers and understand how his body was responding before the next round.

Aryna Sabalenka made a similar point. She said she uses the device to monitor stress and recovery between matches and was frustrated by the ban, especially because the same wearable was allowed all year on WTA events.

Why organisers are backing it

French Open tournament director Amélie Mauresmo said the decision to allow the wearables was made in order to improve the player experience and respond to what athletes were asking for. The idea is simple enough: if players want better access to their own health data, there is little reason to block it if the technology does not affect fairness.

That is probably the key point. These are not hidden performance enhancers. They are passive trackers collecting information from the body. The argument from supporters is that data should help protect players, not be treated like an unfair advantage.

In a social media post – Whoop itself leaned heavily into that argument with the phrase “Data is not steroids”. Which is dramatic but gets the point across.

For now, the bigger takeaway is that Grand Slam tennis is catching up with the rest of the tour. The French Open is treating this as a trial, but once players start using these devices openly on the biggest stages, it will be difficult to go back.

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The video itself is undeniably fun to watch. There is something slightly surreal, and admittedly a bit funny, about seeing a humanoid robot charging down a running track like it has somewhere very important to be. It feels less like watching a smooth Olympic sprinter and more like seeing a determined machine late for its own firmware update.

Fast, but not world record fast

What’s worth noting here is that the robot has hit 10.1 meters per second at one point. Which is not the same as averaging that speed from start to finish. Bolt’s 9.58 second world record works out to an average speed of 10.44 metres per second across the full 100 metres, despite starting from a standstill.

That is the part that often gets lost when these clips start doing the rounds on social media. Peak speed is the headline number. But average speed is what the stopwatch cares about. A car touching 200 km/h for a second on a straight is not the same as averaging that across an entire lap, and the same logic applies here.

The H1 is clearly quick, and much quicker than most people would expect from a full-sized humanoid (minus the head). But it needs further improvements before it can genuinely be mentioned in the same breath as elite sprinting performance.

The movement still looks very robotic

There is also the small matter of how it moves. The H1’s stride looks fast, but not exactly graceful. It is more rapid mechanical stepping than fluid sprint mechanics. In fairness, that is part of what makes the clip so compelling.

Human sprinters make running at that speed look almost effortless, even though it is anything but. The robot, by contrast, looks like it is working extremely hard for every metre. There is a slight drift in its line too, which adds to the sense that this is still very much an engineering demo rather than something ready for lane four at the Olympics.

That said, it is still a serious technical achievement. Keeping a humanoid stable at these speeds is no small task. Balance, foot placement, traction, and real-time correction all need to work together, and one bad step could easily send it face-first onto the track.

Bolt can still sleep easy – for now…

So, is Bolt’s record under threat? Not yet. The robot would need faster acceleration, better directional control and, most importantly, the ability to sustain a much higher average pace over the full distance.

Still, this is the sort of thing that makes for great headlines and even better videos. For now, the record books remain safe, but it is not every day a robot gives sprint fans a reason to check the numbers twice.

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One minute review

The isinwheel U4 feels particularly well suited to city life, and living in London that comes through quite clearly. For quick commutes, runs to the shops or getting across town without dealing with public transport, it makes a lot of sense. The folding design is especially handy when space is tight, whether that means storing it in a flat, taking it into the office or keeping it tucked away at home.

It is not trying to be a premium e-bike, and that is perfectly fine. What it does offer is an affordable and practical way to get around. The motor has enough power for daily riding, and the battery is more than adequate for the sort of distances most city trips involve.

There are compromises, of course. It is heavier than you might expect for a folding bike, and rougher roads definitely remind you of the smaller wheels. But those trade-offs feel reasonable once you factor in the price.

What I like most is that it gets the basics right. It is easy to ride, simple to live with and genuinely useful for everyday use. For city-use in particular, where convenience and storage matter just as much as performance, the U4 fits in nicely.

View on isinwheel (currently £439, down from £629).

isinwheel U4 Ebike review: Design and build

Living in London, I am surrounded by bikes. There are rental bikes on what feels like every other street corner, but the costs add up surprisingly quickly, and in many cases it is actually cheaper to just take the bus or jump on the Tube. I already have a regular bicycle, but I have never owned an e-bike before, so coming into the isinwheel U4 I was curious to see whether having one of my own would make life easier.

Right out of the box, it is clear the U4 is beautiful in a minimalistic sort of way. It goes for a clean, understated look that really works, a simple design that suits its urban character perfectly.

Putting the bike together is pretty straightforward. That said, it still took me the best part of an hour. I started off following the instruction booklet, but there were a couple of points where I got a bit stuck, so I switched to a YouTube video, which made things much clearer. If I had to do it again, I could probably get it done in under half an hour. Live and learn.

Once I had everything put together and ready to ride, the first thing that stood out was just how solid the bike felt. There is some weight here, more than I expected, but on the plus side that weight gives the bike a reassuring sturdiness when you ride it. Once everything is locked in place, the structure feels stable with very little flex, and nothing feels poorly put together.

I would say the build quality is excellent, especially when you take the price into consideration. On isinwheel’s website it typically retails for around £600, but it often drops closer to £400, so it is definitely worth keeping an eye on sales.

In London, that price starts to look even more reasonable when you compare it to rental e-bikes. A typical hire ride can easily cost around £3 to £4 for a short journey, so if you use one regularly for commuting, the cost adds up surprisingly quickly. Over time, owning something like the U4 can work out far more economical. In fact, I was stopped at traffic lights by someone asking about the bike, and they genuinely did not believe me when I told them the price. Most e-bikes are far more expensive.

The components follow the same basic essentials theme. There is a front light powered by the e-bike battery and handlebar reflector, along with a rear light that runs on its own small third-party battery. You also get a bell to attach to the handlebar, while the display panel comes pre-installed. There is even an optional throttle that you can add to the handlebar in under a minute, just connect the cables and tighten the clamp.

Nothing feels overly premium, but nothing feels cheap either. The brakes, drivetrain and controls all feel in line with what you would expect at this level. Cable routing is exposed and a bit messy in places, which adds to the utilitarian look. It is not a dealbreaker, but it does remind you this is a budget build.

Worth noting is that both the handlebar height and seat height are adjustable, which helps the bike fit a wider range of riders than the specs might suggest. Officially, it is said to be designed for people up to 5ft 7in, but I am 5ft 9in and felt perfectly comfortable riding it. I have also watched a few YouTube reviews from people over 6 feet tall who seemed to get on with it just fine.

Overall, the design of the U4 leans heavily towards usability. It feels like a bike that is meant to be used daily without fuss. For the price, the balance between sturdiness and simplicity is about right, exactly what you want from an urban bike.

Folding and portability

Folding and portability is a big part of the appeal, and the U4 mostly gets it right. The folding process is simple and does not take long once you have done it a couple of times. There are no complicated steps or awkward sequences to figure out, which makes a difference if you are doing this regularly.

The bike folds down into a fairly compact shape and the process is very straightforward. You simply flip two latches. One folds the handlebars down roughly halfway, while the other lets the main frame fold in the middle.

Once folded, it ends up at about half its original size. It is not tiny, but it is compact enough to fit in a car boot, under a desk or in the corner of a flat without much hassle. That alone makes it far more practical than a full-size e-bike.

Where things get a bit more mixed is the weight. At around the mid 50 pounds mark, this is not something you will want to carry for long. Lifting it up stairs or onto public transport is doable, but it is not effortless. You feel the weight straight away.

Because of that, portability here is more about storage than carrying. It works well if you need to fold it and tuck it away, less so if you plan to carry it around often. But it is doable.

Overall, the folding aspect adds real convenience, as long as your expectations are in the right place. It is practical, not ultra portable.

Tech specs

isinwheel U4 Ebike review: Ride experience

On the road is where the isinwheel U4 really comes into its own. Once you start riding it, the whole simple and practical approach comes through quite clearly, and for urban trips it feels very easy to get along with.

The motor has enough power for everyday use. It is not punchy or aggressive, but it pulls you along smoothly and takes the effort out of getting up to speed. In stop-start traffic, that works particularly well. You are not fighting the bike, and it feels predictable rather than jumpy.

You can ride it without any motor assistance, or choose from one of the three assist levels. The first is barely noticeable and takes you up to around 10 km/h. The second is more useful when moving through busy streets, lifting you to around 15 km/h. The third is where the e-bike really shines, taking you up to 25 km/h, or 30 km/h if you tweak the settings. In the UK, the default is 25 km/h as that is the legal limit. This was the level I found myself using the most.

Hills are manageable, but you do notice the limits. On moderate inclines, the assist helps a lot and keeps things moving without too much strain. On steeper climbs, you will need to put in a bit more effort. It gets the job done, just do not expect it to breeze up everything.

Handling is quite nimble, especially at lower speeds. The smaller wheels make it easy to move around tight spaces, which is useful in city environments. At higher speeds, it feels a bit less planted than a full-size bike, but still stable enough for everyday riding.

Comfort depends a lot on the road surface. On smoother streets, it rides just fine and feels controlled. Once you hit rougher patches, you start to feel the bumps more than you would on a bigger bike. It is not harsh, but it is noticeable and reminds you of the smaller wheels and basic setup.

Braking is decent and does what you need it to do. It feels reliable in normal conditions, which is really what matters for a bike like this.

As mentioned, the bike also comes with an optional thumb throttle. It is genuinely useful in stop-start traffic, when pulling away from lights or if you just want a quick boost without pedalling. But UK riders should note that full throttle-only riding on public roads is only legal if the bike has the required manufacturer approval. Otherwise, it should be treated as a walk-assist feature only.

Battery and real world range

On paper, the isinwheel U4 is rated for up to around 88 km on a single charge. That number looks great, but it is very much a best case scenario based on ideal conditions and lighter use. How far the 36V 10.4Ah gets you depends heavily on how you use the bike.

In everyday riding, the range is more grounded. If you stick mostly to pedal assist on flatter routes, you can get somewhere in the region of 40 to 60 km without too much trouble. That feels realistic for commuting and general city use.

Push things a bit harder and the numbers drop. Using higher assist levels, tackling hills or relying more on the throttle will bring the range closer to 30 to 40 km. That is still usable, but it is worth keeping expectations in check.

The battery itself feels well matched to what this bike is designed for. It handles short trips, daily commutes and quick errands without any stress. You are not constantly thinking about charging, as long as you are not trying to stretch it too far. And hey, if you do run out of battery – you can always pedal your way back home.

Charging is straightforward and fits easily into a routine. It can take up to four few hours, but that is when the battery is entirely empty. Typically it will take you less, do just do a top up.

Display and controls

The bike comes with a preinstalled LCD screen. It shows the essentials, speed, battery level and assist mode, without trying to do anything more than that.

The display is clear enough for quick glances while riding. It is not particularly detailed, but it gives you the information you need without distraction. There is no menu diving to deal with. But if you click to +/- buttons at the same time, you can tweak some of the settings.

Controls are also straightforward. A basic button layout lets you switch assist levels and power the bike on or off. It is easy to get used to, and after a short time you are not really thinking about it.

You do not get any smart features here. There is no app, no ride tracking and no deeper data. Everything is kept at a very basic level. Which I like as I have too many apps on my smartphone as it is.

isinwheel U4 Ebike review: Who it is for

The isinwheel U4 is really aimed at people who just want an easy way into e-bikes without overthinking it. If this is your first e-bike, it makes a lot of sense. You get the basics, it is simple to use and you do not need to spend a lot to get started.

It works best for urban commutes. Maybe up to 10 or slightly more kilometres to work and back, quick trips to the shops or just getting around the city without relying on public transport. In that kind of use, it feels right at home.

It is also a good fit if you are tight on space. Flats, small homes or shared spaces all benefit from something that folds down and stays out of the way. You are not dealing with a full size bike taking over your hallway.

Casual riders will probably enjoy it too. If you are not chasing performance and just want something that makes riding easier, this ticks that box. The motor takes the edge off hills and longer rides, which makes it more approachable.

Where it starts to make less sense is if you already have experience with higher end bikes. If you care about lighter weight, smoother ride quality or longer range, you will notice the limits fairly quickly. So it really comes down to expectations. If you want something simple, practical and easy to live with, the U4 fits nicely into that role.

isinwheel U4 Ebike review: What could be better

The isinwheel U4 does a lot right for the price, but there are a few areas where the compromises are clear.

The first thing you notice is the weight. For a miniature folding bike, it is fairly heavy. You can carry it when needed, but it is not something you will want to lift regularly. That limits how “portable” it really feels in day to day use.

Ride comfort is another point to consider. The smaller wheels and basic setup mean you feel bumps more than you would on a larger or more refined bike. It is fine on smoother roads, but rougher surfaces highlight the limitations.

The components are also quite basic. Everything works, but it lacks that sharper, more precise feel you get from higher-end bikes. Braking, shifting and general responsiveness are all just average.

Range is decent, but the advertised figures are optimistic. In real use, especially with higher assist levels or hills, you will see it drop quite a bit. It is not a problem, but it is something to be aware of.

Put together, these are the trade-offs that come with the price. The U4 keeps things simple and affordable, but you do give up some refinement along the way.

View on isinwheel (currently £439, down from £629).

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How the robot actually learned to play

The interesting part is not just that the robot can hit a tennis ball. It is how it learned to do it.

Instead of relying on perfect motion capture data, the researchers used short fragments of human movements. Things like forehand swings, backhand strokes and basic footwork. These fragments were not precise, and they did not represent full tennis rallies.

The system stitches together these fragments using a learned latent action space. In simple terms, it builds a library of movement building blocks and then figures out how to combine them in real time. So instead of copying a textbook forehand, it learns something closer to how a human moves when playing tennis, then refines that into something usable.

There is also a clever workaround for one of the hardest problems in tennis, wrist control. The robot’s high-level controller directly adjusts the wrist during play, rather than relying on the imperfect training data.

That alone tells you how messy this problem is. Even humans struggle to explain what their wrist is doing mid-swing.

What the video actually shows

The video doing the rounds online makes this look almost match-ready, but it is worth looking a bit closer.

The robot is genuinely tracking the ball and returning shots. This is not stitched footage or selective cuts. But the rally is clearly controlled. The human is feeding relatively clean, predictable balls rather than pushing the pace or mixing things up.

But it’s still impressive. And fairly surreal.

The system works because it can anticipate fairly consistent trajectories. You do not see last-second adjustments or recovery from awkward bounces. The swings are functional, not precise, and there is a slight hesitation between movements that would become more obvious if the tempo increased.

What does stand out is the coordination.

The footwork is surprisingly decent. The robot repositions itself, shuffles across the court, and times its swings in a way that feels closer to natural movement than earlier humanoid demos. It is not fluid in a human sense, but it is not rigid either.

What it can actually do on court

This is not just a one-hit demo.

The system can sustain multi-shot rallies with human players and return balls across different areas of the court. The incoming balls in testing travel at speeds above 15 metres per second. Which is more basic level tennis. But if this is the worst its ever going to be, it makes you wonder.

In simulation, the robot handles thousands of trials and consistently returns balls close to target areas. In real-world testing, performance holds up across forehand and backhand strokes, as well as different court positions.

There is also another interesting detail. When two of these systems play each other in simulation, they can keep rallies going for up to 25 consecutive shots.

Why this is more interesting than it looks

Robots playing sports is not new. There have been table tennis bots, badminton experiments, even robot football teams. What stands out here is the approach.

Most systems depend on clean, high-quality motion data or unrealistic physics assumptions. This one leans into imperfect data and still produces movement that looks relatively natural.

That has broader implications. If a robot can learn a complex physical skill like tennis from messy, incomplete data, it suggests the same approach could work for other real-world tasks. Anything involving coordination, timing, and adaptation.

Also, instead of trying to perfectly model physics, the system trains with a wide range of variations. Friction, mass, air drag, all of it gets randomised. That makes the robot more robust when moving from simulation to reality.

Where this could go next

Before anyone starts worrying about being replaced at Wimbledon, there are limits.

The setup still relies on motion capture systems to track the robot and the ball. The rallies are controlled, and the robot is not diving for impossible shots or dealing with real match pressure.

The next step is moving away from motion capture and toward vision-based systems, so the robot can operate independently. Another direction is training in more realistic match conditions, with unpredictable shots and longer rallies.

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Players push for more in-match data

On Sunday in his 4th round match, Alcaraz was spotted wearing a Whoop on his right wrist and was quickly told to take it off by the umpire. Shortly after, Whoop CEO Will Ahmed voiced his frustration on social media, calling the decision “ridiculous” and stating that the tracker poses no safety risk. “Let the athletes measure their bodies. Data is not steroids!” he added in a post on X.

Jannik Sinner faced the same request in the tournament, after wearing his Whoop tucked under a wristband. Like Alcaraz, he complied, but said afterwards that the decision was disappointing. He explained that he and his team had no intention of using the device for live data, but rather to analyse post-match heart rate, calorie burn and effort metrics. For Sinner, these insights are useful in tailoring future training sessions and refining recovery strategies.

“I understand. I won’t use it again,” he said after advancing to the quarter-finals. “There are other things we could use. The vest with a tracker inside. But it’s a bit uncomfortable, you feel like you have something on your shoulders.”

His comments point to the shift that has been happening in the sport. More players are integrating physiological data into their match preparation and recovery routines. I mean, why wouldn’t they? Aryna Sabalenka was also seen wearing a Whoop tracker during the event

Grand Slam rules lag behind pro tour standards

Tennis Australia, which oversees the Australian Open, confirmed that wearable tech is currently not allowed during play at Grand Slam events. That puts it at odds with the broader rules of the sport. The International Tennis Federation includes the Whoop strap on its official list of approved Player Analysis Technology. The same goes for the ATP and WTA tours, where wearables are permitted under specific guidelines.

That split in policy creates a grey area for players and their teams. On one hand, governing bodies encourage smarter recovery and performance tracking. On the other, players risk penalties if they try to wear the same tech on the sport’s biggest stages.

In most other sports, wearable sensors have become standard. They’re in team kits, shoes and jerseys, often with league support. Tennis remains one of the more conservative corners of pro sport when it comes to tech integration, with Grand Slam tournaments especially reluctant to modernise.

Commercial partnerships complicate the picture

There’s also a commercial angle here. Whoop has marketing deals with several high-profile players and teams, and its strap is marketed specifically as something athletes can wear throughout their day. The brand is known for pushing the limits of real-time physiological data, especially in endurance and combat sports. Tennis fits neatly into that strategy.

But tournament organisers may be wary of giving visibility to commercial brands unless they’re official sponsors. That could partly explain the tension at this year’s event.

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A tennis bag that trains with you

The core idea behind the Nisplay Y1 is to reduce the hassle of setting up a ball machine. It combines gear storage and training functionality into a single compact unit. There’s no need to lug around multiple pieces of equipment or find a separate power source on the court. Instead, players can unzip the bag, turn it on and start hitting. Nisplay says the transition from bag to ball launch takes only seconds.

The outer build uses soft-touch vegan leather with quality zippers and fastenings, along with an ergonomic back panel and padded straps. The look is intentionally clean, avoiding the bulky industrial design of traditional ball machines. There are also magnetic modular attachments for extras like bottles, towels and rackets.

Training features with a focus on flexibility

Inside the Y1 is a dual-wheel launcher designed to produce topspin, backspin and flat shots. You can choose between pre-set drills that target different skills, or you can manually configure your own. The system supports up to 15 court target zones, with shot combinations adjustable to suit everything from basic consistency work to more intense rally simulation.

An interesting feature is the so-called Ball Boy mode. It offers one-shot-at-a-time delivery for serve practice or recovery drills, letting users control the pace more naturally. You can switch modes using the included controller, through a smartphone app or even via Apple Watch or voice command. The whole setup is built to be used solo, without needing to walk back and forth to tweak settings.

More than just tennis

Nisplay is positioning the Y1 as a multi-sport device. While it’s launching with tennis as the main focus, there are plans to support padel and pickleball too. Players in those communities often face the same challenges: inconsistent practice partners and limited access to training equipment. A portable launcher that fits in with standard gear bags could help bridge that gap.

There’s also a custom 58-inch mini racket accessory being offered. It’s meant for precision and control training, pushing users to move more deliberately and sharpen footwork. It’s optional, but it ties in with the broader goal of making practice sessions more engaging and dynamic.

Kickstarter coming soon

Now, this sounds very much along the lines of the Slinger Bag which we reviewed a few years ago. But something that is smaller in size. More recently we reviewed PongBot Pace S Pro – that one doesn’t look like a tennis bag but is one of the most feature-packed tennis robots you can purchase today.

The Y1 isn’t out yet, but early backers can place a refundable deposit to lock in a lower launch price. Nisplay lists the VIP tier at $499, compared to a future MSRP of $1,199. Actual payment only happens once the Kickstarter campaign goes live and hits its funding target.

This also isn’t Nisplay’s first rodeo. Their earlier L1 ball machine launched on Kickstarter back in 2022 and raised over $1 million from more than 2,000 backers. That model leaned more toward a compact traditional launcher, but it showed the company could deliver on crowdfunding promises.

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