Stuff March 2022

168 GADGETS RATED Never miss the postie

POWER UP YOUR SMART HOME! Unbeatable upgrades to add to every setup BOOST YOUR PC GAMING

Potent laptops for all levels

Get your toes toasty

Paint with light Give your bulbs a brain

PLUS!

Samsung Galaxy S22 revealed Formidable Garmin Fenix 7 rated Two weeks with Oppo’s foldable A decade of Raspberry Pi KELSEYmedia

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£4.99 March 2022 www.stuff.tv

Be a human hub

Secure your home Master voice control

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Unlock with your finger

03/02/2022 16:55

Philips A6606

Headphones Headphones

Philips A7306

move Philips A4216

Inspired by rainy runs and 6AM gym sessions, Philips Sports Headphones move with you, take a beating, and keep sounding great in any conditions.

GO. If you’re out there, you’re winning.

www.philips.com/sports-headphones

Model

SRP

Promo SRP

Online Code

A4216 (Sports Cooling Gel) A6606 (Sports Bone Conducting) A7306 (Sports UV Cleaning & Heart Rate Monitor)

£59.99 £129.99 £159.99

£44.99 £99.99 £119.99

PHPTAA4216BKSAVE15 N/A PHPTAA6606BKSAVE30 N/A PHPTAA7306BKSAVE40 200048582512288

In-store Voucher

Visit Currys.co.uk (promotional dates 26th January – 1st March 2022)

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Welcome Hello and welcome to this smart home special issue. This time around we’re focusing on new upgrades to add to your existing setup rather than leading you through the basics; there are oodles of cool new bits for you to peruse. We’ve got the latest networking gear to speed up your connectivity, fresh smart lighting innovations, hot thermostats, kitchen gear, outdoor tech and much more besides.

On that note, we’ve also reviewed the latest Facebook Portal video-calling smart displays, which offer a major improvement on their predecessors. And our first test is the seriously impressive Garmin Fenix 7, the sports watch that can track pretty much any activity you throw at it. We’ve also spent quality time with Oppo’s Find N foldable phone and some Philips bone-conducting headphones, while in games we’ve weighed up the latest Pokemon instalment plus Dying Light 2.

We’ve tested six of the best gaming laptops, covering all budgets, plus of course there’s the ever-evolving Stuff Top 10s and all the best newly announced gadgets in our Hot Stuff section.

Next issue we’ll bring you a huge smartphone supertest – and if you’re in the market for a new handset in the next few months you won’t want to miss it. Until then, enjoy the issue!

Dan Grabham, Editor-in-Chief / @dangrabham

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Advertising Head of Commercial Neil Tillott (01959 543719, x7003) neil.tillott@kelsey.co.uk Commercial Manager James Walton (01959 543547, x7052) james.walton@ kelsey.co.uk Production Ad Operations Manager Martin Williams martin.williams@ kelsey.co.uk Production and Design Manager Neil Hepden (01233 220245) stuff@ tandemmedia.co.uk Management Chief Executive Steve Wright Chief Operating Officer Phil Weeden Managing Director Kevin McCormick Publisher Liz Reid Head of Digital Steve Jones Retail Director Steve Brown Subscription Marketing Director Gill Lambert Subscription Marketing Manager Rochelle Gyer-Smith Print Production Manager Georgina Harris • Volume 26 issue 3 • ISSN: 1364-963 • On sale 17 Feb 2022

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Kelsey Media 2022 © All rights reserved.

Kelsey Media is a trading name of Kelsey Publishing Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden except with permission in writing from the publishers. Note to contributors: articles submitted for consideration by the editor must be the original work of the author and not previously published.

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CONTEntS 03.22 P29

P12

WIN! p25 P36

HOT STUFF 06 The Hot Five

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra A smartphone that should, in theory, be ultra-brilliant Asus ROG Flow Z13 A tablet that’s good for gaming, and not just Slither.io Suunto 5 Peak A sporty wearable that will guide you to the nearest pub TP-Link Archer AXE200 Omni A router that waves its arms about like a hungry sea anemone Samsung The Freestyle A projector that will dazzle even if your walls are sickly puce

TESTS 29 First test Garmin Fenix 7

Warning, may contain red pandas 18 Icon A&K ACRO CA1000 We slipped a couple more ELO puns onto this spread

A watch so durable it’ll stand at the top of the hill laughing and pointing as you haul yourself up the last gruelling stretch 56 Versus Compact soundbars Denon or Sonos – which bar will turn your TV sound from tinny to titanic?

58 Tested Facebook Portal+ A smart display that specialises in letting you show Grandma your latest drawing of a dinosaur 63 Tested Philips Bone Conduction Bluetooth Headphones Nice snappy name, Philips 64 Group test Gaming laptops Six meaty machines, almost all with daft keyboard lighting 71 Tested BT TV Box Pro A slab of smartness to rescue you from watching First Dates 74 Long-term test Oppo Find N The ‘foldable’ gimmick, but in a phone you might actually want

Never engage with reality again 22 Wheels Polaris Slingshot R A Reliant Robin for our times

Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Dying Light 2, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction

14 Vital stats Withings Body Scan Spot the headline theme… and they’re not all ELO songs

16 Stream

20 Games

76 Games

FEATURES 34 Upvoted

Electric shavers There are little hairs all over your face and they are disgusting and you must remove them at once

36 Cover feature

Smart home tech It’s 2022, and finally you can use the power of technology to talk to some radiators

55 Mini meme

Word puzzle apps Yes, this includes Wordle, but STOP POSTING YOUR RESULTS ON TWITTER, NOBODY CARES

60 Beta yourself

Smart cooking And by ‘smart’ we don’t just mean keeping the beans away from the sausages

72 Instant upgrades

Panasonic Lumix GH5 MkII A few tricks to stop you taking poo pix with your Lumix

98 Random access memories

Raspberry Pi (2012) Happy 10th birthday to what is arguably the nerdiest product Stuff has ever covered

THE LEGENDARY STUFF TOP TENS P82

MAKING STUFF UP

Editor-in-Chief Dan Grabham Associate Editor Matt Tate Contributors Kieran Alger, Vikki Blake, Rob Clymo, Esat Dedezade, Craig Grannell, Mike Jennings, Sam Kieldsen, Basil Kronfli, Simon Lucas, Tom Morgan-Freelander, David Nield, Ross Presly, Richard Purvis, Chris Rowlands, Michael Sawh, Alan Wen, Tom Wiggins Contact us stuff.ed@kelsey.co.uk UK subscription and back issue orderline: 01959 543747 Overseas subscription orderline: 0044 (0)1959 543747 Toll-free USA subscription orderline: 1-888-777-0275 UK customer service team: 01959 543747 Customer service email address: subs@kelsey.co.uk Customer service and subscription postal address: Stuff Customer Service Team, Kelsey Publishing Ltd, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Maidstone, Kent ME18 6AL

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Every note. Every word.

Every detail.

LS50 Wireless II - The Ultimate Wireless HiFi When you first listen to the new LS50 Wireless II, close your eyes. You’ll find it hard to believe that a sound so pure is coming from such compact wireless speakers. That’s because our unique Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT™) eliminates the high-frequency distortion inside the speaker.

So keep your eyes closed and keep listening; there’s a whole world of streamed music to enjoy.

AirPlay2, Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, Internet radio, HDMI, and more.

Stuff_2022_02_Feb_KEF_FP.indd 1 KEF LS50 WII red_stuff_ad_20211201_AW.indd 1

05/01/20223:20 09:55 1/12/2021 PM

Human eye-way Portrait mode now benefits from an AI Stereo Depth Map, which separates the subject from the background more naturally and stops people looking like cardboard cutouts.

HOT FIVE #1 SEE THIS GUY ABOUT TO REIGN Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

When we grow up we tend to turn into our parents – but we only take the best bits.

We start doing things like watching The Repair Shop, listening to Steely Dan and reading books about the A303. It turns out mobile phones are no different, because the Galaxy S22 Ultra is gradually turning into the Galaxy Note.

Not only does it come with a whopping 6.8in QHD+ AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate, but the new Ultra is the first ‘S’ phone to come with somewhere to store the S-Pen stylus. The camera setup isn’t messing about either, with a 108MP wide snapper, a 12MP ultrawide and two 10MP telephotos with different levels of optical zoom. There’s also a 40MP selfie-cam, and all of them benefit from improved AI that processes up to four times more data when you take a photo, sharpening detail and reducing noise.

Throw in a 5000mAh battery that charges to 50% in less than 20 minutes, up to 12GB of RAM and a maximum of 1TB of storage, and you’ve got the phone equivalent of the mullet hairstyle your dad had in the ’80s: business up front, party at the back.

As hot as… your dad with a mullet £tba / samsung.com

Like a flurry pen Latency on the S-Pen has been reduced from 9ms to 2.8ms, plus the AI can predict where you’re going to draw next. That should make the stylus feel smoother in use.

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ALL THE BIGGEST STORIES FROM PLANET TECH

Down by the quiver Video performance is improved with Auto FPS and Auto Framing, as well as the Super Steady system that makes it look like you’ve got a gimbal built into your hands.

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When the clip comes in

HOT FIVE #2

You won’t really buy a tablet like this to take on holiday and snap pictures, but there’s still an 8MP camera on the back and a 720p one on the front for video-calling home.

FLOWIN’ IN THE WIND

Asus ROG Flow Z13 Powerful as the Apple iPad Pro might be, hardcore gamers will still scoff at the idea of playing on a tablet. That could all change with the Asus ROG Flow Z13 – essentially a Windows gaming laptop squeezed into a slim and nimble slate.

Chipset options top out with a 12th-gen Intel Core i9, along with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage. The graphics hardware is punchier still: the top option is Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3050 Ti, which is a proper laptop GPU. Clearly this thing is not designed for propping up in the kitchen to help you with cake recipes.

It’s compatible with XG Mobile, which means you can connect an external card in a caddy for a massive graphics boost.

Of course, that will make it slightly less portable, but at 12mm slim and 1.2kg the Flow Z13 is more than bag-friendly, with a kickstand and detachable keyboard providing lots of flexibility.

Connectivity is comprehensive as well, with Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, USB 2.0, microSD, HDMI 2.0 and a headphone port. Go-anywhere gamers can spec the 13.4in screen with 4K resolution, or drop to 1080p for 120Hz refresh rates.

As hot as… an iPad’s graphics chip trying to keep up from £1900 / rog.asus.com

Masters of roar With no hinge to make room for, there’s more space inside for fans. There are three modes – Silent, Performance and Turbo – for varying combos of quietness and grunt.

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Gaming laptops group test p64

Inclines they are a-changin’ The integrated kickstand offers 170° of adjustability, so you can always find an angle that suits you. It also helps with cooling, as the bits that get hot are lifted off your desk.

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Day dripper In case the heavens open or you take a very wrong turn, the 5 Peak is waterproof right down to 30m. You can also use it to control music playback on your phone.

HOT FIVE #3 I’LL FOLLOW THE SUUN Suunto 5 Peak

It costs nothing to explore the great outdoors. Alright, you might stop off for a ploughman’s at that nice place by the river, or pick up a postcard for your nan at the visitor centre, but you can easily enjoy a day out in the country without spending a penny. Sadly, most intrepid activity trackers are not so cheap – but Suunto’s new 5 Peak should leave you with enough cash for some more pub lunches.

Suunto hasn’t scrimped on quality to keep the price down. Its sturdy stainless steel shell and polyamide lens are built to withstand weather far worse than anything you’ll encounter in the Peak District, while GPS and support for 3D heat maps via Suunto’s app mean you get turn-by-turn instructions that’ll help you find your way home if things do take a turn for the murky. Fuelled by feedback from the heart-rate monitor, the 5 Peak will also deliver the kind of adaptive training guidance that serious adventurers expect.

Want extra righteousness with your exhaustion? The Ridge Sand Mulitcolour model (pictured) has a recycled silicone strap, so it’s literally made from rubbish.

As hot as… you after running up Kinder Scout £259 / suunto.com

Eight days a streak GPS battery life isn’t ‘budget’ either, with three modes to last you up to 100hrs depending on the features you need. The Time setting promises 10-day longevity.

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Plug me do Anyone who still prefers to plug their tech in using ol’ faithful Ethernet will be happy to see six ports round the back: four standard, one 2.5G and one speedy 10G.

HOT FIVE #4 TWIST AND SPOUT TP-Link Archer AXE200 Omni

Pick it to ride Most people would struggle to even name 80 sports, but that’s how many the 5 Peak can track. It’s also compatible with Suunto’s Bike Sensor (£59) and Smart Heart Rate Belt (£69).

If you’re at a party and somebody starts telling you about their Wi-Fi router, there’s a clause in the Human Rights Act 1998 that allows you to punch them in the face until they stop. But that law might need updating – because the TP-Link Archer AXE200 Omni demands an exemption. It has four motorised antennas that wiggle around in search of the best signal – and if you own a router that does something as sci-fi as that, it’s your duty to tell everyone all about it.

Take your tablet upstairs for a Netflix marathon and if you hit ‘Enhance’ in TP-Link’s app the router will adjust the position of its protrusions to make sure you’re getting the best connection possible – and with tri-band support, it certainly means business. Wi-Fi 6E works on 2.4, 5 and 6GHz, the idea being that there’s less interference and more available capacity at 6GHz so your data will be able to whizz through the air at speeds of up to 11Gbps, with less interference, and with practically zero latency. When you’ve got a router that can do all that, who needs parties anyway?

As hot as… Ethernet noodle soup £tba / tp-link.com 11

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Wake up little screwsie It’s mains-powered, but you can also use a USB battery pack for truly portable projection. Even niftier, with an optional adapter you can screw it into an E26 lightbulb socket.

HOT FIVE #5 ALL I HAVE TO DO IS BEAM Samsung The Freestyle

In the olden days, after a hard day hunting woolly mammoths and trying not to get eaten by sabre-toothed tigers, our ancient ancestors would retire to their caves and start a fire. With nothing to watch on TV yet, they had to find other ways to while away the evenings – but while back then the shadows their hands cast on the wall would probably be enough, these days most of us demand something a little bit more sophisticated.

Samsung’s The Freestyle still only requires the wall of your cave/house to work, but with the ability to pump out a 100in Full HD picture, a speaker that offers

360° sound, a Tizen-powered OS that includes all your favourite streaming services, plus mirroring and casting from both Android and iOS mobile devices, this portable projector is a thoroughly modern entertainer. It even has both Bixby and Alexa on board.

The tilting cradle should make positioning a cinch, with autofocus, auto-keystone and auto-levelling on hand to keep streams sharp and straight, while ‘smart calibration’ compensates for coloured walls. In fact, it’s so simple even a caveman could operate it.

As hot as… mammoth and chips £999 / samsung.com

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02/11/2021 15:46

V I

T A L S T A T S

ELECTRIC LIGHTNESS ORCHESTRATOR Withings Body Scan

If you have a Withings hybrid smartwatch, all the data from the scales will sync up to your wrist.

$279 / withings.com

Withings’ latest smart scales will do much more than tell you how much Pom-Bear weight you’ve put on this week ● Toned bring me down Have you ever wondered just how fat your arms are? Or suspected that your left leg isn’t really pulling its weight in the gym? Withings’ Body Scan has four weight sensors and 14 electrodes integrated into its glass base, plus four more electrodes built into a retractable handle, so when you step aboard it can give a much more rounded picture of your rounded physique.

And as well as showing your vital stats on the 3.2in LCD screen, it also sends everything to the Withings app. ● Got my mind sweat on you Of course, the Body Scan will tell you how much you weigh, but it can also measure your heart rate and work out your vascular age before showing you how you compare to others in your age bracket. Unless you watch a lot of Holby City that might not mean a lot to you, but the six-lead ECG is designed to detect arrhythmia, while vascular age is a good measurement of arterial health and general wellbeing. It can also do a nerve activity assessment via the sweat glands in your feet. ● Handles with care So how does it work out whether you’ve got flabby appendages?

Most sets of scales measure body composition through your feet, but the Body Scan’s extra electrodes mean it can give individual readings for specific body parts, including your arms, legs and torso. It also measures whole-body fat and water percentages, visceral fat, muscle and bone mass, plus extracellular and intracellular water. Given all this medical business the Body Scan needs to go through some tests of its own before it can go on sale, but it should be available in the second half of the year.

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Telephone spine

MORE NEW HEALTH TECH ● Garmin Epix (Gen 2)

If your idea of a workout involves trails rather than treadmills, the Epix is a hard-as-nails fitness watch for wearing off the beaten track. See also our review of the new Garmin Fenix 7 on p29. from £800 / garmin.com

HUAWEI P50 POCKET From the outside, Huawei’s P50 Pocket looks like a real blast from the past – a throwback to when clamshells ruled the world. But open it up and it’s obvious this phone is far from being old-fashioned. Inside is a folding 6.9in OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 processor – although, this being a Huawei, you’ll have to make do without any Google apps. On the outside there’s a 1in circular screen so you can see notifications, control your music and such like, plus the main 40+13+32MP triple camera, which includes an Ultra Spectrum Fluorescence mode to pull out colours your pathetic little human eyes can’t see. from €1299 / consumer.huawei.com

● Movano Smart Ring

Don’t fancy wearing a fitness band but have space to spare on a finger? Movano’s Smart Ring can measure heart rate, sleep, respiration, temperature, blood oxygen, steps and calories. £tba / movano.com

● Honor Watch GS 3

This looks more like something you’d wear for team-building than body-building, but it has over 100 sport modes plus GPS, heart-rate and SpO2 sensors.

Battery life is a healthy 14 days. £tba / hihonor.com

Wrister blue sky

LOUIS VUITTON TAMBOUR HORIZON LIGHT UP

IT CAN ASSESS NERVE ACTIVITY VIA THE SWEAT GLANDS IN YOUR FEET

A subtle smartwatch might help you blend in at the office, but you’ll need to go bolder if you want to turn heads among the fashionistas.

Styled like a deconstructed kaleidoscope, the Tambour Horizon Light Up’s 1.2in always-on AMOLED touchscreen is ringed by 24 colourful glyphs that glow whenever you get a notification. Rather than following the Wear OS crowd, the Snapdragon-powered Tambour’s software is bespoke, but it’s compatible with Android, iOS and Huawei’s HarmonyOS. It’s also water-resistant to 30m – which, given the price, will presumably be tested mostly in the rooftop infinity pools of Dubai. from £2690 / uk.louisvuitton.com 15

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S T R E A M

Bingewatch this lot in one day and have nightmares about time-travelling zombies doing standup comedy with chainsaws

Severance

The Walking Dead

Fans have had a long wait for this fourth season (as with so many things, you can blame the virus)… but now we can finally catch up with the mid-century adventures of glass-ceiling-smashing standup comic Midge Maisel. Slick and snappy, it’s arguably Amazon’s best current original show.

S4 / Prime Video, 18 February

The term ‘work-life balance’ takes on a whole new meaning in Apple’s new drama about the joys of office toil. Adam Scott plays a manager at Lumon Industries, a company whose employees have their minds and memories surgically divided (or ‘severed’) into separate sections for work and personal life to improve productivity.

S1 / Apple TV+, 18 February

Yes, it’s actually happening. The series that has shambled on and on long past its natural lifespan (a bit like the mindless flesh-eaters of its title) is finally coming to an end with this second part of its 97th –no, sorry, 11th – season.

Will the survivors find some kind of peace and safety at last? Don’t bet on it.

S11.2 / Disney+, 21 February

Vikings: Valhalla

Turning Red

The Adam Project

Lovers of beards, pillaging and ships shaped like dragons will be overjoyed to see this Vikings spin-off arriving on Netflix. Set a century or two after the previous series, it focuses on three of the most famous Norse types of all: explorer Leif Erikson, his sister Freydis Eiriksdottir and Prince Harald Sigurdsson.

S1 / Netflix, 25 February

Originally slated for a cinema release, Pixar’s latest animated film is now debuting directly on Disney+. Popcorn-guzzlers’ loss is couch potatoes’ gain, we say, and as big fans of red pandas we’re looking forward to this tale about an awkward 13-year-old with a habit of magically turning into one when things get too exciting. film / Disney+, 11 March

There’s just no stopping them: every time you blink, another Netflix original movie starring Ryan Reynolds pops up on the service. This sci-fi adventure sees everyone’s favourite football club co-owner travelling back in time to seek help from his younger self.

Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldana and Jennifer Garner also star. film / Netflix, 11 March

The Marvelous Mrs Maisel

The time-honoured movie studio practice of reviving old horror franchises in search of a fresh audience shows no signs of abating. We’ve had several sequels and a full-on reboot of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre unleashed on us over the 48 years since the original caused legions of cinemagoers to dampen their seats, but this Netflix original is a direct sequel that wipes all that away. A group of well-scrubbed youngsters head to a remote Texas town to start a new business, but disturb a familiar (leather) face in the process…

D M ON’ TH ISS T IS

Texas Chainsaw Massacre film / Netflix, 18 February

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I C O N AS WELL AS HAVING INPUTS FOR EXTERNAL SOURCES, IT CAN BE USED AS A STANDALONE MUSIC PLAYER

ASTELL&KERN ACRO CA1000 £1999 / astellkern.co.uk So that’s where all the headphone ports have gone…

Well spotted. While it’s pretty much impossible to find a phone with a socket for your cans on it these days, Astell&Kern’s ACRO CA1000 has four of them – but you’d have to be a headphone mega-nerd to make use of every one. Across the front you’ll find unbalanced 3.5mm and 6.35mm (quarter-inch) plus balanced 2.5mm and 4.4mm outputs, so

it’ll cater for pretty much any type of wired headphones you could possibly want to plug in. And if you’re the type of person who’d consider spending £2000 on a headphone amp, chances are you’ve got a few.

Ah, so that’s what it is!

That’s only half the story. As well as optical, coaxial, USB-C and RCA inputs on the back for plugging in turntables and other sources, the

ACRO CA1000 can be used as a standalone Android-powered music player, with 256GB storage that can be bumped up to 1TB with a microSD card – plenty for that collection of hi-res audio files you’ve been building up. While the 4.1in tilting touchscreen looks just like one of A&K’s portable players you can’t actually remove it, but the whole thing is portable, weighing just over 900g with an 8400mAh, 10.5hr battery built in.

Hmm, perfect for the commute…

That shiny aluminium chassis and big volume wheel would definitely turn heads on the train. But in that instance you might be better off using the onboard Bluetooth to connect a pair of wireless cans and stream through it from your phone – perhaps making use of the Crossfeed mode that’s intended to help relieve ear fatigue by making it sound more like listening to a pair of speakers.

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Hold on titanium

BROMPTON T LINE ONE Folding bikes might be easier to squeeze on the 6:57 to Paddington, but a collapsible cycle isn’t much use if it’s too hefty to haul over the footbridge. Crafted from titanium, the single-speed T Line One tips the scales at just 7.45kg – some 37% less than the all-steel original.

Brompton’s latest featherweight foldaway has been redesigned from bars to bottom bracket, with a carbon fork, handlebars and crankset for improved power transfer, self-aligning hinges to make reassembly a cinch, and a new whittled-down derailleur that adds just 60g to the weight. Only the brakes remain untouched. Fancy a few more gears?

An extra £200 gets you the four-speed T Line Urban. £3750 / brompton.com

WTF IS THE LABRADOR RETRIEVER? Er, it’s a breed of dog. But isn’t this supposed to be a gadget magazine?

That’s very observant, but Labrador’s Retriever gives a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘man’s best friend’. This domesticated robot looks like a cross between a cupboard and a Dalek, and is designed to give people with reduced mobility a bit of help around the house.

Use it to ferry shopping bags from the front door to the kitchen, safely transport a pot of scalding hot tea to the living room, or just ensure that important things like medication or the phone are only ever an Alexa voice command away.

How do you stop it running over the actual dog?

The Retriever uses 3D vision to find its way around, with a dual layer of down-facing sensors on all four sides keeping an eye out for real dogs – although Labrador does say you shouldn’t leave it unsupervised around kids and pets. Hopefully that doesn’t mean it’s prone to ED-209-style meltdowns.

It’s designed to work on preset paths, with various ‘bus stops’ added to its memory during setup, so you can summon it to the washing machine or your favourite chair, with extra forward-looking sensors keeping an eye out for any obstacles on the way.

Shame it doesn’t have hands.

Ma-ma-ma Dell

DELL XPS 13 PLUS Ten years is a long time in laptops – but some things never change. It’s been a whole decade since Dell unveiled its first XPS 13 and we’ve been besotted by the company’s ultraportables ever since. Well, that doesn’t look like changing with the arrival of the XPS 13 Plus – a beefed-up version that comes with Intel’s new 12th-gen Core chips, a 13.4in screen (3.5K OLED and 4K LCDs are available), a battery that can be charged to 80% in under an hour, and touch-sensitive function keys above its edge-to-edge QWERTY and seamless glass trackpad. The Plus does come with a couple of minuses, though: the headphone port and microSD slot have been ditched. Here’s to another 10 years. £tba / dell.com

It is, although it does come with a set of special trays that it’s able to pick up on its own as long as they’re left within reach. The Retriever can adjust its own height from 25 to 38 inches, so it can stretch or stoop to grab one if required.

In total it can hold up to 11kg, which is about the same as 30 tins of soup, four bricks or one sausage dog. And there’s even better news to come: Labrador says it plans to release a Retriever-friendly fridge with an automatic door, so the dream of a robot that can bring you a cold beer is alive and well.

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G A M E S

OUT 18 MAR

FIRST PLAY STRANGER OF PARADISE: FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN PC, PS5, PS4, XSX, XB1

[ Words Alan Wen ]

The Final Fantasy series is no stranger to spin-offs, while the mainline games have also pivoted away from traditional turn-based battles to more action-based affairs… but Stranger of Paradise is probably its most divisive instalment yet.

On one hand, it’s a dark retelling of the first Final Fantasy (hence ‘Origin’); on the other, its hero Jack Garland seems to come from the modern world: an angry young man sporting an Eminem buzzcut who’s obsessed with killing Chaos before blasting rap metal from

his smartphone. Let’s just say parts of the internet have been having a perpetual field day since this game was announced last summer.

But once you get past the ridiculous tonal whiplash, this is a genuinely intriguing prospect.

Stranger of Paradise has been developed by Team Ninja, who brought us the masochistic but brilliant samurai action RPG series Nioh. And that hardcore template translates here.

Weapons correspond to job types that FF fans should be familiar with, while different jobs

provide an excuse to give Jack a much-needed wardrobe change.

You’ll recognise some enemy types too, such as Bombs that grow closer to self-destructing each time they’re hit.

But as rewarding as the tough combat feels (particularly the parry mechanic that builds up your own meter for special attacks), you can also opt for ‘story mode’ difficulty and play it as an enjoyable hack-and-slash romp. The premise and tone may be all over the place but, on the strength of its gameplay, you’d be a fool to rule this one out.

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FIRST LOOK SCROTAL WAR

SNIPER ELITE 5 PC, PS5, PS4, XSX, XB1

If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that killing Nazis never gets old – and it doesn’t get more brutal and creative than in homegrown developer Rebellion’s flagship Sniper Elite series. This is, after all, the game that pioneered the ‘bullet cam’ view, where special

kills see you travel with the shot in X-ray vision as it rips through a Nazi officer’s internal organs – the testicle shot remaining a favourite.

That creative brutality was expanded in the last instalment to include shrapnel kills and a close-quarters knife to the skull. Bringing bullet cam to even more weapons may risk diluting the sniping aspect of

the game, but there’ll be plenty of terrain to get behind the scope as Sniper Elite 5 takes elite marksman Karl Fairburne to France in 1944 in the series’ largest open-world map to date, featuring recreations of real-world locations.

Besides the expansive campaign, there’ll also be multiplayer options such as intense 16-player battles and

co-op survival. The most exciting addition, however, takes inspiration from Dark Souls and Deathloop: you can invade another player’s game as an Axis sniper. Note that if you’re invaded yourself you can always call for backup from another player.

SE5 is planned for release this year, so you won’t have to rest that trigger finger for long.

BEST OF ODDBALL INDIES ON THE HORIZON

WEIRD WEST

PC, PS4, XB1 The Wild West reimagined as dark fantasy where gunslingers are more likely to hunt grotesque creatures than outlaws? Yes, and each adventure’s story arc will be nothing like the last thanks to a freeform sandbox approach. Delayed from 2021, it finally comes out on 31 March.

PS5, PS4, XSX, XB1

THIRSTY SUITORS

PC This story-driven adventure from hip indie publisher Annapurna Interactive is part Scott Pilgrim – as Jala faces her exes through turn-based RPG battles – and part everything else, from skateboarding to Indian cooking. It’s a unique game about culture, family, relationships and more.

SLITTERHEAD

tba That’s a pretty on-the-nose title, as you’ll be encountering people whose heads slit open to reveal something monstrous within. It’s just the kind of body horror you might expect from the creators of Silent Hill and Forbidden Siren, although the teaser also hints at an action edge.

INCOMING MARCH ● TINY TINA’S WONDERLANDS ● GRAN TURISMO 7 ● TRIANGLE STRATEGY ● GRAND THEFT AUTO V (PS5, XSX) APRIL ● L EGO STAR WARS: THE SKYWALKER SAGA ● ADVANCE WARS 1+2: RE-BOOT CAMP ● 13 SENTINELS: AEGIS RIM (SWITCH)

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W H E E L S

Polaris Slingshot R (2022)

THUNDER LIGHTNING TRIKE A pair of sculpted seats hold driver and passenger in place, and there’s even a 7.5in tinted windscreen to fend off the worst of the motorway bugs.

from $32,499 / slingshot.polaris.com

NEWS DASHBOARD

Is this for people who can’t decide between a car and a motorbike?

The 2022 Polaris Slingshot R is a bit radical, looks-wise… but this three-wheeler delivers plenty of performance too. While you could call it a trike, there’s a little more style and substance here than just half a VW Beetle with some chopper forks stuck on. Fitted with either manual or ‘AutoDrive’ transmission, it has a ProStar two-litre fuel-injected engine taking it to 60mph in 4.9 seconds.

Top speed is limited to a fairly sensible 125mph.

THE GREYER

‘Sensible’ hardly seems the right word for this…

Well, it’s not for commuting. At just 749kg, the Slingshot R is lean, mean and low – with just 5.4in of ground clearance to guarantee a bonus thrill factor on bumpy, pot-holed roads. It’s also extremely compact in footprint and only a little over 1.3m high.

What sort of ride can we expect?

There should be plenty of grip thanks to 225/45R18 rubber on the 18x7.5in front wheels, while at the back there’s a fat 305/30R20 tyre on a 20in rim.

The ride promises to be rapid but smooth, with independent double wishbone suspension soaking up those ruts. And there’s traction control, which is probably a good idea given the temptation to throw it around bends.

Any creature comforts at all?

Oh, it isn’t light on features: you get cruise control, electronic stability control and Apple CarPlay, while tunes should sound pretty good (weather permitting) on the 100W Rockford Fosgate audio system.

It still might be worth getting the Technology Package, though, as this adds a 7in display complete with turn-by-turn navigation plus Bluetooth and USB.

You may have seen a number of car journalists losing their poo-poo over the BMW iX Flow concept and its colour-changing E Ink body panels.

There’s more, though – like a 31in 8K rear display and surround sound from B&W, plus a self-healing front grille that can be ‘fixed’ using a hairdryer.

THE PLAYER

The Sony Vision-S 02 is just a concept for now, but it’s still probably easier to get hold of than a PS5. This SUV promises space for up to seven passengers in its super-flexible seating layout, and remote PlayStation integration means they’ll be able to play games on the console at home while you drive.

THE STAYER

Is this the future of electric motoring?

With a super-sleek exterior and 125 rooftop solar cells, the Mercedes Vision EQXX concept claims to be able to go over 1000km on a single charge. Inside you get a vast 47.5in 8K LED display, while the ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice assistant handles features and functions.

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Cuby, do take your love to town

CASIO RUBIK’S X G-SHOCK Committed cubists are never caught without a Rubik’s Cube to hand, but even the keenest puzzler would think twice about strapping one to their wrist. Built around the rugged GA-2100 with some colourful highlights to leave its design inspiration in no doubt, this special-edition ticker is shock-resistant and good for dunking down to 200m – handy if you’re into underwater solving. Functionality is suitably retro, with an alarm, stopwatch, countdown timer, world time and weekday indicator.

That doesn’t exactly make it smart, but does mean the battery lasts around three years, which is about how long we’ve been trying to solve this bloody Rubik’s Cube… £139 / g-shock.co.uk

NEWS FEED MICROSOFT BUYS BLIZZARD

Don’t worry, you haven’t accidentally picked up the Financial Times, but Microsoft’s $68.7bn acquisition of Activision Blizzard could have a serious impact on what games you’ll be able to get for your PS5 in the future. Despite the deal, though, Activision says “the next few” Call of Duty games will still be available on PlayStation. Phew.

SONY TEASES PSVR2

While we still don’t know what it’ll look like, Sony has revealed the name, one game and some specs for its upcoming PS5-compatible headset. While the name ‘PlayStation VR2’ won’t win any awards for originality, we can’t wait to play Horizon Call of the Mountain (and other stuff) with its 110° field of view and 4K HDR visuals.

APPLE GETS FITTED UP

Need help perfecting your yoga poses, running your first 5K or winding down before bed? Apple has added a set of curated ‘Collections’ to Fitness+ to help you reach particular goals. There are six to start with, plus new city-specific running routes and workout playlists based around artists including The Beatles, Shakira and Pharrell Williams.

Flicks up, look sharp

ANKER NEBULA COSMOS LASER 4K If you’ve ever used a portable projector, you’ll know their picture quality isn’t likely to worry your local Odeon… but Anker’s Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K might just have the projectionist packing away the popcorn.

Capable of beaming out a 4K HDR picture at 2400 lumens, it’s claimed to be bright enough to work with the lights on – but the handle makes it easy to carry to a room with curtains and functioning light switches, where it’ll align and focus the 150in image in three seconds. With 30W speakers built in you won’t even need to worry about hooking up any audio, while Android TV 10.0 means it has all the streaming apps you’ll ever need. Just add a strangely sticky floor and you’re basically there. £2199 / anker.com

TESLA DOES CAR-AOKE

Like singing along to the radio while you drive? Tesla has just taken in-car karaoke to the next level with a special TeslaMic (which is currently only available in China). It works with a specialised karaoke app, Leishi KTV, with lyrics displayed on the centre console. James Corden has a lot to answer for.

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DROP EVERYTHING & DOWNLOAD

Pinterest

£free / iOS, Android Pinterest is no stranger to augmented reality (AR) tech, having already launched features for trying on clothes and makeup.

But now the social media platform has taken the next step: trying out furniture in your home using AR. Who wouldn’t want to see what a sofa looks like in situ before forking out for it? The feature is rather awkwardly called Try On for Home Decor, but hey, you can’t have everything. It looks a lot like the Ikea Place app, but is much wider in scope: Pinterest is teaming up with a number of retailers (only in America for now) to offer it, and initially more than 80,000 items will be available in AR.

Autel zoom service

AUTEL EVO NANO SERIES When it comes to pocket-friendly flying machines, DJI has long reigned supreme. But there’s a new quadcopter kid in town: Autel’s after the crown. Its Evo Nano and Nano+ promise pre-programmed video modes to capture cinematic 48MP stills and 4K video at the touch of a button, 28 minutes of flight time, and a three-axis gimbal for steady footage.

There are three-way obstacle avoidance sensors so first-time flyers should be less likely to come a cropper in a coppice – and with a weight of 249g, the Nano drones are clear for liftoff without the need for registration. Both the Evo Nano and Evo Nano+ fold down for compact travel, meaning they can also fly when you fly. from £599 / autelrobotics.com

Shout out to my EX

PHILIPS OLED807 The latest in a long, snaking line of Philips OLED tellies, the 807 features a whole heap of new – most notably LG’s super-dazzly OLED EX panel, which claims to offer around 30% higher brightness than other displays of the type. This Android-powered TV is available in 48, 55, 65 and 77in sizes and has an ultra-thin design centred on a chrome T-bar stand (unless you want the 77in model, which has feet instead). As you’d expect from a top-end Philips, there’s Ambilight on all sides, while it’s also happy with the full range of HDR formats: IMAX Enhanced is new here. It also supports variable refresh rates for top-notch Xbox Series X and PS5 gaming. Most EX-cellent. £tba / philips.co.uk

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RRP £250 EACH

WIN 1 OF 4 PAIRS OF GRADO GT220 TRUE WIRELESS EARBUDS! New tech is often hailed by overblown statements about tradition and craft, but in the case of Grado it’s pretty much spot-on. The Brooklyn-based company is now into its third generation as a family business, having been founded in 1953 – making various audio products before settling on high-end wired headphones.

This month’s competition is to win one of four pairs of the fine manufacturer’s first true wireless headphones. The GT220 is Grado’s unique spin on the familiar case-and-bud design, with a ‘twist and lock’ fit plus 8mm drivers tuned to match the sonic signature of Grado’s other headphones. They’re IPX2-certified, making them ideal for the gym or running, while the case supports Qi wireless charging giving you up to 36hrs of total use (the buds have 6hrs in them).

See right for how to enter this competition, and go to grado.co.uk for the full lowdown on the GT220 and Grado’s other ear-wares.

HOW TO ENTER

Ready to give your lugholes an upgrade courtesy of some tasty Grado buds?

For your chance to win this month’s competition, go to stuff.tv/win and answer this question:

WHERE IS GRADO BASED? A… Brooklyn B… Beckham C… Brixton

HURRY!

COMPETITION CLOSES 24 MARCH 2022

Terms & conditions: 1 Open to UK residents aged 18 or over.

2 Entries close 11.59pm, 24 Mar 2022. 3 Prizes are as stated.

4 Prizes are non-transferable. 5 Only one entry per person.

Full Ts & Cs: kelsey.co.uk/competition-terms-conditions/ Promoter: Kelsey Publishing Ltd, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Maidstone, Kent ME18 6AL.

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15/10/2021 10:33

FIRST TEST GARMIN FENIX 7

Let’s talk about treks

Spec it up enough and Garmin’s do-it-all adventure watch will go longer than you can. But is that boosted staying power worth the eye-watering spend?

from £600 / stuff.tv/Fenix7

[ Words Kieran Alger ]

I

t’s been a good two years since Garmin upgraded its top-tier multi-sports watch, but the Fenix 7 has finally risen.

It takes the familiar Fenix rugged design DNA but moves on in two key areas: bigger battery life and more accurate GPS. On the range-topping 7X Solar edition that we tested,

the GPS battery life has been boosted from 60 to 122hrs. You also get new multi-band GPS that’s designed to deliver better accuracy to your runs, rides and treks, plus a colour touchscreen, navigable colour topo maps and a new route-following tool.

Just like its predecessor, this beast is built to boss almost any sport. It has the most complete

set of training, performance and analysis features, across the widest range of activities, on any Garmin watch. New highlights include real-time stamina estimates and a visual race predictor. Oh, and a pickleball profile.

That’s all backed by a full suite of tools for tracking health and wellness, plus all the smartwatch

skills that Garmin now offers on its other wearables – like contactless payments and offline support for Spotify and Amazon Music.

On paper this is a watch with top-dog potential. But with a heavy price tag – between £600 and £1150 – can it be worth that adventurous investment? Let’s get strapped in and find out.

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FIRST TEST GARMIN FENIX 7

1

4 2

1

Fortunate sun

You have plenty of options here.

The 7S (42mm) and 7 (47mm) come in standard, Solar and Sapphire Solar Editions; the bulkier 7X (51mm) features Solar and Sapphire options only. You can also choose from stainless steel or a lighter titanium casing.

2 Bright here, bright now A new transflective touchscreen adds useful control to Garmin’s simple five-button setup. Screen sizes range from 1.2in (240x240) to 1.4in (280x280), all of them offering plenty of real estate for essential stats and customisable brightness levels.

3 Sat’s the way I like it The Sapphire Solar Editions have precision multi-band GNSS. The idea here is to boost GPS tracking accuracy in areas where regular GNSS signals are weak… although in our tests the difference against regular multi-GNSS mode wasn’t exactly huge.

4 Won’t get fuelled again An hour’s GPS workout on the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar burned around 2% of the battery life.

After 15 days, including 10hrs of full-GPS and multi-band GNSS workouts, we’d only torched 51%. So you should get a month’s training between charges.

5 Steady or not A new training insight, Stamina, aims to stop you going too hard at the start of runs and rides. It uses your training history and metrics like max HR and VO2 Max to provide a dynamic read on how much gas you’ve got left in the tank at different paces.

Good Meh Evil

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24 hours with the Garmin Fenix 7

10mins 20mins 30mins 40mins

1hr

4hrs

5hrs

6hrs

7hrs

8hrs

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16hrs 22hr

s

FIRST TEST GARMIN FENIX 7

Tech specs Screen 1.2in 240x240 / 1.3in 260x260 / 1.4in 280x280 colour touchscreen Sensors Optical heart-rate, pulse ox, altimeter, barometer, compass Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ANT+ GPS battery life 37-57hrs non-solar, 46-122hrs solar Water-resistance 10ATM Case size 42-51mm Weight 63-96g

Young smarts run free The Fenix 7’s skills stretch way beyond measuring marginal gains. Here are four handy extras:

n Light exercise

n Light entertainment

n Light relief

n Out like a light?

The 7X has a built-in torch that fires a beam from the watch’s top edge. It’s useful enough on a dark campsite, has white and red options, and will flash in sync with your cadence to boost road safety.

A m uto od re ei p s u co nr un el tin iab g Su le in s m gg nu tr ot e m en iva st be gt e tio d rw h t n a wo an ra r g. inin nd ko g gu ut Ga s i di rm da se st i n r n an ’s ce ve ce ra . u ph s c ce an an pr dy be ed Th ict a su e i l o i tt n rg he le s e a ar pe for nd t-r ss lo im ng hi ate gh s ist e ic. m ns ax o …b re r su de ut a f vi th di fe ce a ng rs s, t’s s… la re co g, all m y. m on to all op tic al

Garmin’s Power Manager lets you create incredibly granular custom power modes. You can toggle optical HR and maps on and off, manage the backlight and set the GPS tracking frequency.

8hrs

16hrs 22hrs

23hrs

24hrs

Garmin’s musical smarts include 16-32GB of offline storage and playback from Amazon Music, Spotify or Deezer. Pairing wireless buds to work out phone-free is dead simple, and the link is steady.

Beyond training, the 24/7 heart-rate tracking also powers health tools such as Body Battery (a fairly reliable estimate of daily stress and energy levels) plus sleep tracking (hit and miss), with optional alerts.

This is more watch than most people need, for more cash than most people can spare. But if your budget stretches – and your active pursuits demand it – the impressive mix of rugged durability, serious battery endurance, excellent navigation skills and smartwatch features make this the best all-round sports watch you can buy. @KieranAlger

STUFF SAYS HHHHH An almost complete all-rounder, this is a fantastic tool for building fitness and taming the outdoors 31

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FIRST TEST GARMIN FENIX 7

The alternatives: 3 more adventure watches These sporty strappers are all worthy rivals to the new Fenix 7 BEST FOR TIGHTER BUDGETS

BEST FOR BATTERY LIFE

Coros Vertix 2

BEST FOR A BIG SCREEN

Polar Grit X Pro

Garmin Enduro

£599 / stuff.tv/Vertix2

£439 / stuff.tv/GritXPro

£650 / stuff.tv/Enduro

What’s the story?

Coros’s second-gen flagship outdoor watch packs a mind-boggling 140hrs of GPS battery life. But there’s more to it than staying power. With all-systems dual-frequency GPS, offline topo maps, wrist ECG, music storage and offline playback, plus a pretty comprehensive suite of sports tracking and training tools, this is a serious all-round adventurer.

What’s the story?

Polar’s most adventure-ready rugged watch, the Grit X Pro mashes up some solid outdoor skills with all the training insights and recovery smarts you’ll find on Polar’s other watches – including daily workout recommendations, overnight recovery readouts, 100m water-resistance, turn-by-turn navigation and back-to-start routing.

What’s the story?

Before the Fenix 7 and the Vertix 2, the Enduro was the endurance king. Its full GPS battery life promises up to 80hrs, extendable to 300hrs in power-saving mode. Its training and fitness tools include suggested daily workouts, a recovery time advisor, heat and altitude acclimatisation plus sleep, stress, hydration and blood oxygen monitoring.

Is it any good?

It might not quite match the Fenix 7 on features… but if you want the longest battery life in the business in a durable, adventurous build, the Vertix 2 is it.

Whether you’re training an hour a day or tackling multi-day endurance trips, the staying power is beyond impressive.

GPS and heart-rate monitoring are solid, though the lack of turn-by-turn hampers the navigation skills and the breadth of training insights on offer is almost overwhelming.

Is it any good?

With its 40hr GPS battery life, the Polar might be eclipsed by it’s longer-lasting rivals, but there’s plenty to recommend this multi-sport tracker. It’s light and compact, and has some of the best tracking tools going for sleep, recovery and wellness. We love the dedicated tests that benchmark your running and cycling performance, and the recovery tests that add a layer of insights to your training decision-making. Komoot route-planning is handy too.

Is it any good?

If feats of lengthy running, cycling, climbing or swimming are your fitness bag – or you just hate charging your watch – the Enduro is a fine choice. With solar charging to slow the battery burn rate, even with daily training you’ll only need to plug it in once a month. The lack of colour topo maps and offline music is frustrating, but you still get OK nav tools including breadcrumb turn-by-turn navigation and the ability to create, load and follow routes.

KEY SPECS Screen 1.4in 280x280 GPS battery life 140hrs Weight 89g

KEY SPECS Screen 1.2in 240x240 GPS battery life 40 hrs Weight 79g

KEY SPECS Screen 1.4in 280x280 GPS battery life 70/80hrs Weight 89g

Stuff says ★★★★I

This is a real bang-for-buck bargain with unrivalled battery life

Stuff says ★★★★I

A solid option for fitness fans tackling occasional further-flung adventures

Stuff says ★★★★I

A cut-price Fenix-a-like with a large display but missing maps and music

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05/11/2021 15:39

FOIL FUZZ-KILLERS

ROTARY REAPERS

TRAVEL TRIMMERS

UPVOTED

The rugged razor

Wahl Lifeproof Wet/Dry Shaver Wet shaves are all well and good, but soapy paws can make it tricky to keep a grasp on your grooming tool. Wahl’s waterproof number helps your hands with a sculpted rubber housing. Good for 90 minutes on a charge, its shockproof shell should survive the fall if it somehow slips from your grip. £65 / wahl.co.uk

The budget barber

Carmen Titan A good grooming routine goes beyond taming your ’tache twice a week. The swappable top on this multi-tool keeps more of your noggin neat and tidy: sort fuzz with the floating titanium blades, before using the clipper attachment to define your sideburns. Plus there’s a nasal trimmer. £19 / carmen-products.co.uk

The multigrain mower

Braun Series 9 Pro Braun’s premium pruner isn’t stumped by lengthy bristles: ProLift tech deftly raises and snips the hair on your face, maintenance is automatic thanks to the SmartCare dock, and the PowerCase keeps the battery boosted for up to six weeks away from the mains. £280 / uk.braun.com

HOW TO DECIDE

The pocket pruner

Philips PQ206/18 Business beards can be tough to maintain if your trade takes you travelling. Go from five o’clock shadow to boardroom-ready with this battery-powered buzzer. Designed for dry shaves on the fly, it’s small enough to fit in any toiletry bag, yet its floating rotary heads still serve up a close shave. £17 / philips.co.uk

ELECTRIC SHAVERS

The capped cutter

Braun MobileShave M-90 Are your mutton chops the envy of your biker buddies? Stick this pocket-friendly implement in your panniers for easy pruning at every pitstop: washable and protected by a twist-cap, its flexing foil will keep your chin as smooth as a saddle while the precision head puts a hard edge on your handlebars. £20 / uk.braun.com

The simple strimmer

Chris Rowlands takes his chin on a quest to find the best cordless stubble-busters for dainty down and bushy beardage alike

Remington R4 Not sure whether to match your socks to your shirt? You need a style guide. Not sure how short to cut your stubble? You need a styler guard. This Remington rotary can’t help with your sartorial choices, but its clip-on limiter will give your scruffy growth a dapper three-day finish. £40 / uk.remington-europe.com

The turbo tool

The gleaming groomer

Panasonic ES-LV97 Even on the furriest of faces, fluff isn’t uniform. This responsive razor uses speedy sensors to detect the density of different patches and adjust power accordingly. It’s like traction control for your kisser, boosting the blades to whizz through tricky whiskers then laying off when it finds a softer spot. £130 / panasonic.com

1 Heads up With straight edges hidden behind a mesh guard, foil shavers are ideal for close cuts on sensitive skin. Rotary razors use spinning heads to tackle stubborn stubble on tougher mugs.

BaByliss Pro FoilFX02 Want a barbershop experience in your own bathroom? You could try your hand with a straight-edge razor… or for a clean shave without the risk of a Sweeney Todd slip, try this cordless job. Equipped with double gold foils, it promises a cut close enough to impress the professionals on Fleet Street. £125 / babylisspro.co.uk

2 Lather up Electric shavers let you trim your chin far from the nearest sink. Still like a foamy shave sometimes? Look for a ‘wet or dry’ model that can do both kinds.

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UPVOTED

The cheek checker

Philips Shaver Series 9000 You don’t need a management certificate to know that extra pressure rarely improves results.

That’s why sensors in this ‘smart shaver’ check if you’re pressing too hard and use lights to tell you when to ease off. Like a performance review of your personal grooming, the Series 9000 also employs face-tracking tech to monitor your technique and offer feedback through an app. £450 / philips.co.uk

3 Clean up Waterproof razors are easy to rinse, but it takes more than a quick splash to shift any whiskers stuck inside. Some shavers work with docking stations that clean, oil and dry while charging.

4 Lube up All blades eventually lose their edge. Most razors have replaceable heads, and lubrication can also lengthen their lifespan: use a suitable oil to reduce friction and protect metal parts.

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SMART HOME TECH

THRIVING HOME FOR SWISHNESS So, like everyone, you’ve got a smart speaker. But how can you take your connected abode to the next level?

Here’s our guide to the most appealing and useful devices you can add to an existing setup to get your pad properly smartened up… [ Words Esat Dedezade, David Nield, Sam Kieldsen, Tom Wiggins ]

WHICH SMART HOME ECOSYSTEM?

Amazon Alexa

Apple HomeKit

Google Assistant

Alexa remains the GOAT of smart assistants. The number of Alexa-powered Echo devices out there is now in the hundreds of millions, and Alexa’s prowess shows in its accurate responses. And it’s no longer audio-only: the Echo Show range of smart displays is getting better at serving as an effective touch interface, rather than just being voice-controlled with a tacked-on screen. Alexa copes fine with many requests (though localised info remains a weak spot), while we especially like the excellent support for music services like Deezer and Apple Music.

Once seen as a part-time lover, Apple’s HomeKit is now a serious smart home ecosystem with hundreds of devices supporting it – and, of course, native support on Apple devices via the Home app. As a simple system to use, it can’t be beaten – even device setup is relatively easy.

The only letdown is Siri.

Now over a decade old, it’s fair to say that Apple’s assistant is drastically underachieving. Basic tasks are fine, but miscommunication is regular and it lacks the finesse of its rivals.

Surely Apple is working on something here…?

While Alexa is still a little ahead for controlling the smart home, Google Assistant’s everyday charm is compelling. What sets it apart is its ability to rely on a certain massive search engine and the info it stores about just about everything. Local bus times? No bother, and it’ll even tell you how long it will take to walk to your stop. Google Assistant is also top-notch with follow-up questions, making it able to be more conversational than Alexa or Siri. Like Alexa, it’s also superb whether you use iOS or Android and appears in stacks of third-party devices.

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SMART HOME TECH Hey Alexa!

Amazon’s most popular Alexa-powered speaker is the bargainous little Echo Dot (from £30). It’s now got a speaker good enough for kitchen music and also comes in a kids’ version.

R SS Hey Google!

As a smart speaker with a clean design that improves on the audio prowess of the old Google Home, the Google Nest Audio (£90) delivers. It’s a fine alternative to the full-size Echo.

Hey Siri!

Apple’s pricey HomePod offered great sound quality but it was discontinued last year. Luckily the HomePod Mini (£89) is still around and it’s a good, if rather Apple-centric, option.

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Line o’ the times

The stick-like nature of the Lines makes them ideal for creating geometric patterns, highlighting negative space without being as overpowering as a block of solid panels.

Tech me with you

The Lines can double up as a Thread Border Router, extending networks between compatible devices (like other Nanoleaf products or Apple’s HomePod Mini) for a more solid connection.

Let’s glow crazy

Due to their lightweight nature, you can get as creative as you like — stick the Lines up on your ceiling, and gaze up at your masterpiece as you stare off into space.

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LIGHTS If you’re tired of the eye-searing brightness of your regular boring bulbs, it’s time to add some swanky ambience to your home

Nanoleaf Lines

ALTERNATIVELY… WHAT IS SMART LIGHTING?

from £180 / nanoleaf.me

N

anoleaf has been gracing rooms with customisable smart lights for the past decade, most notably with funky Wi-Fi-controlled modular panels that can be connected any which way you see fit. From stamping your own mark on a gaming setup to adding subtle mood lighting in your living room, they’re versatile and easy to install too, with some sticky 3M mounting strips and your imagination the only two things needed to create your illuminatory masterpiece. And now, enter the Nanoleaf Lines – the latest modular kit designed to light up your room with geometric precision.

RASPBERRY ARRAY Unlike the shaped panels of the rest of the range, the Lines are made up of a series of RGB-powered sticks that can be arranged in any way. With 19 built-in scenes you’ve got plenty of options, but you can also create your own colour schemes and animations using two colours per line.

You can control your Lines via the Nanoleaf app or using the power of your voice via your favourite smart assistant, while the app can also automatically detect your layout for smoother effect customisation.

Download the desktop app and you can have them mirror the colours on your PC too, making for an immersive Ambilight-like gaming experience.

There’s a Rhythm Music Visualizer as well, which is a fancy way of saying they’ll light up to any music or sounds that happen to be playing. This could be relaxing pulses of light while your mind is cleansed with soothing lo-fi beats, or brain-melting techno – the choice is yours.

Elgato Key Light

Govee Immersion Kit

From streaming on Twitch to Zoom work calls, you want to do yourself justice with proper lighting, and Elgato’s Key Light is an effective, hassle-free and unintrusive way to look your best. After clamping it to your desk, you can use an app to dial in your ideal light/temperature and be YouTube-worthy in seconds. It’s good for general videography too. £190 / elgato.com

If you’re hankering for some Ambilight-like effects but don’t want to drop a bunch of cash on a new Philips TV, then Govee’s aptly-named Immersion Kit is here to save the day. Featuring an LED strip for the back of your TV, along with two light bars, it lets you lose yourself in glorious colours, made possible by a cleverly positioned camera that tracks what’s on screen. £140 / uk.govee.com

Sengled Smart Health-Monitoring Light If being able to change the colour of your bulbs seems a little gimmicky, how about one that doubles as a health monitor and can even detect when somebody in the house might have collapsed? This light, which works over both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, uses radar tech to measure heart rate and body temperature, plus it tracks sleep. £tba / eu.sengled.com

Innr WiFi Vintage Globe While blasting ever-changing RGB lighting into a room can make it fun and fruity, there’s nothing wrong with slowing things down every now and then. Take these retro filament bulbs: they’re (quite literally) not trying to be flashy. Instead, they’re a pair of bulbs that can be controlled via an app or your favourite smart assistants with no need for a separate hub. €40 / innr.com

Time was, a bulb was a bulb. Then LEDs came along, followed by the era of the smart home, RGB lighting, and more colours beaming into our rooms than our young selves could possibly have ever imagined. Today most homes are rocking some form of smart lighting, using app controls or integrated into a voice-controlled home ecosystem with Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant.

PURPLE GAIN With the ability to totally change the look of a room without a lick of paint or new rug required, there’s never been a better time to dip into smart lighting.

Beyond simply banishing the dark, this is also a great way to set the mood, from a romantic dinner to immersive gaming and everything in between. So getting the right kit can make a huge difference.

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THERMOSTATS Get the right temperature all of the time – in all of the rooms – with our pick of the best smart home heating controllers you can buy

Nest Thermostat E

ALTERNATIVELY… HOW DO I CHOOSE A STAT? The range of smart thermostats can be quite overwhelming at first glance, but narrowing down your choices won’t take too long… and you can start by focusing on the five we’ve mentioned here.

Of course, one of your first checks should be that a stat is going to work with your central heating, but that shouldn’t take long (and the answer will probably be yes).

SUSSED STUDIO After that, make sure a stat is going to work happily with your other connected kit. You can have a smart home powered by Google Assistant, Alexa or HomeKit, for example, so your stat needs to be compatible.

Plus, if there’s a specific feature you need – such as room-by-room control – make sure it’s covered in the specs before you buy.

£199 / store.google.com

Tado Smart Thermostat V3+

Netatmo Smart Thermostat

Tado has been making reliable, capable smart thermostats for years now, and the latest model offers just about everything you could want, including easy app control and humidity monitoring.

There are wired and wireless models available, and the ultra-minimalist look means this thermostat will blend easily into any of your rooms. from £180 / tado.com

This stat offers compatibility with all the major smart home standards, plus impressively detailed energy reports, a clever auto-adapting feature that can personalise your heating schedule, simple operation from your phone, and plenty more besides. It even comes in a choice of four colours so you can pick one to match your decor. £160 / netatmo.com

Honeywell Home T6R

Hive Thermostat Mini

Honeywell’s effort is simple to set up, easy to operate and packed with plenty of features.

We like the geofencing support that means your heating can be automatically turned off when you leave home, the information-rich display that tells you everything that’s happening with your system, and the compatibility with both Alexa and Google Assistant. £178 / amazon.co.uk

Pitched at anyone who wants to join the smart energy club but baulks at the full-size Hive’s £179 price, the Mini model offers many of the same features for significantly less: remote control of your heating and hot water via app or voice commands, as well as the ability to set up and change schedules easily.

And like the Honeywell, it will support geofencing. £119 / hivehome.com

N

est helped pioneer the whole idea of a smart thermostat as a device that could be useful to the masses – and even after the brand’s takeover by Google, Nest devices have continued to offer a reliable, intelligent level of service for home owners who want a little more automation in their lives.

With the Thermostat E, that covers not just everything you’d expect – the ability to set the temperature on your phone, regular heating reports – but also a few features that you might not. After a few days, this stat is able to learn from the scheduling changes you make, and automatically save you money on heating bills.

FREEZY LOVER It looks the part too: while it doesn’t have the bright, high-quality display of the standard Nest Thermostat, we think this actually looks better. The savings on materials mean a lower price to pay, and the temperature still appears on the screen when you move close to it.

Another reason to go for this stat is if you’ve got a lot of other Google gear around the house, whether that’s Nest speakers or Nest cameras.

Everything works neatly together, and the Thermostat E is compatible with Google Assistant, so you can turn the heating on or off with your voice if you prefer.

It’s easy enough to install yourself, and there are full instructions online if you need them (Google says the Nest Thermostat E is compatible with “almost all” central heating systems out there). Add in the competitive price, and it looks like a bit of a hot deal.

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SMART HOME TECH Against wall odds

If leafing me is easy

Look out for the leaf icon on the display: it appears when the Nest Thermostat E is set to an energy-saving temperature, whether that’s heating up or cooling down your home.

You can fix this thermostat to a wall or stand it on a desk, and the frosted display only shows a temperature readout when it senses that someone is close to it.

Win the air tonight

You can easily control the Thermostat E through the Nest app on your phone or on the web – or you can make use of voice commands through Google Assistant.

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Mother nature’s sun

No worries about fiddly wiring: the Video Doorbell 4 is battery-powered. And you can avoid recharging down-time by docking it in a Solar Charger (£49) that will keep it topped up.

Clear prudence

The HD stream from the Ring Video Doorbell 4 is almost as good as the quality of the movies you stream over the web – so you can clearly see what’s going on outside.

Why don’t we view it in the road?

You can set the zones that the doorbell checks for motion – meaning no more false alarms from passing cars, pedestrians and neighbourhood pets.

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DOORBELLS Never miss another delivery – and always know who’s at the door, from wherever you are – with this essential smart home purchase

Ring Video Doorbell 4

ALTERNATIVELY… DO I NEED TO KEEP PAYING?

£179 / ring.com

T

he fact that Ring has made four versions of its standard wireless doorbell – plus quite a few other variations besides – tells you it knows what it’s doing when it comes to these devices. And you certainly get plenty of features for a good price with Ring No.4.

Most crucial is the ability to check who’s at the door from wherever you and your smartphone happen to be in the world: that’s the whole point of investing in a smart video doorbell in the first place. This is all handled very capably, with crisp video quality (and night vision) as well as two-way audio so you can speak to your visitors.

DO PASS ME BY Then there are the bonus features… and these are genuinely are useful extras. You can send quick replies from your phone, for example – preset messages that can be deployed with a tap when you’re too busy to talk. We also like the pre-roll recording feature, so you get a few seconds of video saved even before motion is detected in front of the camera.

The battery is easily removable for recharging, and without any wires to worry about you can position this bell just about anywhere you want (within Wi-Fi range) – and you can adapt it to run as a hardwired doorbell too, so you always have that option.

When it comes to the software, it’s just as polished as the hardware: you can easily set up notifications for doorbell pushes and movement in front of your home – and as Ring is owned by Amazon, its video doorbells work well with Alexa and other compatible devices.

Arlo Video Doorbell Available in white or black, Arlo’s bell is a solid device that will of course work very well with any Arlo security cams you might already have. With high-def video, HDR for balancing darker and lighter areas, night vision and a 180° viewing angle, you’re not going to miss anything that happens outside your front door – with two-way audio capabilities included as well. £180 / arlo.com

Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell This one’s on the expensive side, but it oozes style and quality – and definitely won’t disappoint when it comes to enabling you to check who’s at the door from the sofa or the office. It works with Google Assistant, Alexa and HomeKit, and has two-way audio, night vision and motion alerts – plus it’s a breeze to set up and use. £270 / netatmo.com

Eufy Video Doorbell 2K (Wired) Note the ‘2K’, which tells you this doorbell offers video quality that isn’t matched by any other model at the moment – and it’s reasonably cheap too. Besides that high-res video, the Eufy brings two-way audio, smart alerts that can distinguish between people and anything else, and local storage so you don’t have to rely on the cloud. £170 / uk.eufylife.com

Nest Doorbell (Wired) Google’s Nest brand has a comprehensive set of smart home devices these days – all of which work seamlessly with Google Assistant – and that extends to this video doorbell.

There’s around-the-clock access to the video feed, smart alerts that can tell the difference between a parcel and a pet, plus two-way audio for scaring off burglars with your singing. £180 / store.google.com

When you’re shopping for a video doorbell, make sure you check up on any add-ons that might be required to enable all the functionality.

Every doorbell will cover the basics right out of the box, but most also give you the option of paying a monthly fee for more features.

MONEY PIE For example, the Ring Protect plan will set you back either £2.50 or £8 a month. This lets you store 30 days of video in the cloud, so you can go back and look at something you missed; the more expensive plan adds cellular backup in case your Wi-Fi goes down. Other manufacturers offer similar plans, so be sure to weigh these up.

The ongoing cost of owning one of these devices might be more than you think.

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SMART HOME TECH

SECURITY Guard dogs might be good at scaring away baddies, but dip into this arsenal of smart snooping kit and you’ll save a fortune in Wagg Treats

Ring Alarm Pro

ALTERNATIVELY… CAN MY PHONE BE MY KEY? Forever getting locked out but never forget your iPhone? One of the coolest features of iOS 15 is the sadly underused Home Key. As long as you have a compatible lock, such as Schlage’s Encode Plus (£tba, schlage.com), you can add a digital key to your Apple Wallet and use the phone’s NFC chip to let yourself in just by tapping it against the door.

It’ll also work with your Apple Watch.

EYE GET AROUND Worried about someone stealing your phone and then taking the contents of your house as well? You can add an extra layer of security that requires Face ID before it’ll open.

And if your phone does get pinched but you don’t have that turned on, marking it as lost using the Find My feature will automatically deactivate keys in your Wallet.

from $250 / ring.com

Arlo Ultra 2

Nest Cam

It’s all very well filming the thieving scrote who’s snooping around your garage, but that’s not necessarily going to stop them trying to nick your new bike. Arlo’s Ultra 2 cameras don’t just send alerts to your phone when motion is detected and film it in incriminating 4K HDR; they also have a built-in siren and spotlight that should go some way to scaring them off. from £630 / arlo.com

Battery-powered and fully waterproof, so you can use it inside or out, the Nest Cam won’t cry wolf when it sees a Volkswagen: intelligent alerts tell you whether it’s spotted a pet, person or car. Just note the footage maxes out at 1080p, and you’ll need a Nest Aware subscription (from £5/m) if you want to watch videos that are more than 3hrs old. £180 / store.google.com

Nuki Smart Lock 3.0 Pro

Lexon Nomaday Lock

If you want to make a lock smart you usually have to replace the whole thing, but this one – which is compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant and HomeKit – simply attaches on the inside, adding extra features to your existing setup with no drilling required. To unlock the door you can either fire up the app or activate Auto Unlock, which will do it whenever your phone’s within range. €249 / nuki.io

The humble key has been around for thousands of years, ever since the ancient Egyptians used them to keep their gold death masks safe – so isn’t it about time we switched to something a bit more modern?

This rugged padlock can store up to 10 different fingerprints and will only unlock when one of the recognised digits is placed on its biometric reader. €50 / lexon-design.com

I

f all goes well your alarm system will never have anything to do, so you might as well give it another job in the meantime – and that’s where Ring’s Alarm Pro comes into its own.

As well as helping to keep your castle secure with its 104dB siren, the Alarm Pro doubles as a mesh Wi-Fi system – and one that offers extra protection for your network via Eero Secure. The base station is capable of maximum speeds of 900Mbps over 1500sq ft, but each extra node you add to the system adds another 1500sq ft on top of that, so connected devices such as Ring’s security cams, smart lights and video doorbells should be able to maintain a steady connection no matter how big your gaff is.

SURFER WHIRL The connectivity features haven’t just been tacked on either – this is a seriously powerful smart home hub that supports 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, Wi-Fi 6 and Z-Wave for connecting compatible third-party smart devices, and includes two Gigabit Ethernet ports.

For $250 you just get the base station, but Ring sells packages that include various door, window and motion sensors – and you can always buy more if necessary. There’s also a wireless keypad for arming and disarming the system, but you can use the Ring app to do that anyway.

Plus you can turn different sensors on and off individually.

So where’s the catch? Well, it’s currently only available to buy in the US, but word on the street is that Ring is working on a UK version right now.

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Please let me wander

Be true to your fuel

There are, sadly, some odd omissions. There’s a Zigbee chip inside but it’s not turned on (that may change in the future), and it doesn’t work with HomeKit, Google Assistant or IFTTT.

The Alarm Pro has built-in battery backup, so if there’s a power cut it’ll keep working for up to 24hrs.

Not enough? You can add up to four 8550mAh Power Packs.

When I Pro up

You’ll need a Ring Protect Pro sub ($20/m) to get the most out of the Alarm Pro. It adds backup internet via 4G, local storage for connected cams, and that Eero security.

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Heroes and fillin’s

Each node features eight antennas. According to Linksys, three units can cover a total of 8000sq ft or 745sq m – enough to fill a veritable mini-mansion with speedy internettery.

Stood vibrations

Looking like the world’s most boring games console, the blocky 9.6in-tall Velop MX4200 isn’t as petite and discreet as alternatives like the Eero and Nest opposite.

Through it again

Each node has one USB 3.0 and three Gigabit Ethernet ports, allowing you to connect devices directly.

Could be handy if you use network-attached storage drives at home.

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MESH NETWORKS Banish those infuriating Wi-Fi not-spots by bolstering your router’s effective range with a mesh-based home networking setup

Linksys Velop MX4200

ALTERNATIVELY… WHY CHOOSE WI-FI 6?

from £180 / linksys.com

A

single Wi-Fi router works fine for small flats and studios, but in a large or odd-shaped dwelling it can result in a whole lot of ‘not-spots’: dead zones where Wi-Fi slows to an intolerable crawl or drops out entirely.

With the sheer amount of connected kit we’re adding to our homes now, having a fast and reliable hook-up throughout the place is essential, but problems caused by walls, ceilings and plain old distance can make a mockery of our smart home dreams.

That’s where a mesh Wi-Fi setup comes in – and the Linksys Velop MX4200 is a fine mid-priced example.

WOULDN’T IT BE THRICE This tower-shaped node, available in packs of one, two or three, supports Wi-Fi 6 for fast, secure, high-capacity networking: a single node connected to your existing router can cover up to 260sq m, while two doubles that to 520sq m, and Linksys claims it’ll happily support over 40 devices at once with a theoretical download speed of up to 4.2Gbps. It’s tri-band, meaning it can connect via one 2.4GHz band and two 5GHz. Setup and general management are handled through the Linksys mobile app, which also lets you manage your home network remotely and access parental controls. It’s compatible with HomeKit, so if you already use that to control your smart home accessories it’ll slot straight into your setup – and it comes with a generous three-year warranty, which you won’t find on many other mesh systems.

Nest Wifi

TP-Link Deco X90

Google’s second-gen module offers something a bit different from the whole-home Wi-Fi pack: each Nest Wifi point also incorporates a Google Assistant smart speaker. Affordable, easy to set up and compatible with older Google Wifi gear, it might not sound so appealing if you already use another AI assistant like Alexa… and it’s the only one here not to support Wi-Fi 6. from £129 / store.google.com

It might cost a small fortune and have nodes that look more like air-fresheners, but TP-Link’s powerful tri-band Wi-Fi 6 system offers speeds of up to 6600Mbps and supports up to 200 connected devices, suggesting your hefty outlay will be repaid with a fat measure of future-proofing. Each node comes with two Ethernet ports for wired connectivity too. from £229 / tp-link.com/uk

Asus ZenWiFi XT8

Eero 6

Available in moody black and gleaming white brushed metal finishes, Asus’s mesh setup looks ready for business… and that business is ensuring every corner of your gaff is furnished with secure and fast (6600Mbps) Wi-Fi 6 coverage.

Each unit includes a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port and three Gigabit ports, plus Alexa support and parental controls. from £240 / asus.com

This Amazon-owned mesh brand is great if you’re on a tight budget (it offers an even cheaper model, but this one supports dual-band Wi-Fi 6).

Eero works with Alexa, naturally; and while its extenders are limited to 550Mbps, this is an ideal choice for anyone put off by the high entry costs of some of the other setups on this page. from £69 / eero.com

If you’re feeling the need for speed (or just want to ensure your fancy new mesh setup is future-proof) you’ll probably want a Wi-Fi 6 router and mesh extenders. Wi-Fi 6 (aka 802.11ax) sits on the 6GHz band and supports a theoretical download speed of 9.6Gbps, as opposed to Wi-Fi 5’s 3.5Gbps.

BRAKE AWAY In reality, most of us aren’t going to need all that bandwidth any time soon, but as we add more and more wireless kit to our homes and broadband speeds soar ever higher, Wi-Fi 6 is going to bring markedly improved network performance.

Fewer bottlenecks, reduced buffering and smoother downloads? We can all get behind that. Wi-Fi 6 gear also supports WPA3 security as a minimum, which is reassuring.

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THE KITCHEN Infuse some delicious tech flavours into the most important room in your house, and you’ll never have to eat burnt cheese on toast again

Anova Precision Oven

ALTERNATIVELY… BUT DO I NEED THIS STUFF? Despite being the hub of many homes – where mouths are fed, homework is done and beer-pong is played (and not necessarily in that order) – the kitchen is often overlooked in the tech department… and for the most part, that’s fine.

You don’t need a Bluetooth-enabled santoku knife after all. But it’s a pity to stick to the old gear when there’s so much more potential out there.

CRUMBS A TIME From versatile gadgets that can replace 10 others to instant recipe suggestions, the right tech can make cooking a breeze, with faster prep times and less mess to clean up. There’s nothing wrong with beans on toast, mind, but wouldn’t it be exciting to have something worthy of a Gregg Wallace lip-smack every now and then?

£550 / anovaculinary.com Samsung RF9000 Family Hub Fridge Freezer Look, you’ve managed perfectly fine with a touchscreen-less fridge so far, but it’s tempting.

From displaying photos and calendar events to letting you see who’s at the front door or even streaming content from the TV, Samsung’s latest smart fridge will unapologetically (and expensively) propel you into the future. £3499 / samsung.com

Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 Multi Pressure Cooker About the only thing not covered on this list so far is a pressure cooker, and this multi-functional one is sure to serve you well.

Slashing cooking times, it can act as a traditional pressure cooker, slow cooker, sous-vide, steriliser, yoghurt maker, cake baker and more — and you can save your best recipes to the five ‘favourite’ buttons. from £150 / instantbrands.co.uk

De’Longhi Dinamica Plus If the Dinamica Plus is good enough for Brad Pitt, who’s to say it’s not worthy of a place in your kitchen? For true coffee connoisseurs who don’t want to faff about with manual grinding, tamping and dialling in precise temperatures, this machine does it all. It has a built-in milk foamer, the ability to save your favourite recipe and hassle-free self-cleaning – just add beans. £700 / delonghi.com

Kenwood Cooking Chef XL You honestly don’t have to spend more than a grand on a stand mixer. But if you want one of the most versatile and tech-rammed ones ever made, this Kenwood has you covered.

Standout features include the ability to weigh ingredients as they’re tipped into the bowl, and to send instructions direct to the mixer from the Kenwood World app. £1250 / kenwoodworld.com

Y

ou don’t need to have a penchant for celeriac foam or a signed photo of Michel Roux Jr on your wall to cook like a pro (although presumably the extra enthusiasm helps). If you’ve dabbled beyond the basics you might already be familiar with sous-vide — that is, cooking food at precise temperatures using a water bath — and the incredible results it can produce. From perfectly cooked steaks to gloriously golden poached eggs, it opens up a whole new world of culinary delights… except that you have to mess around filling a container with water and vacuum-sealing your food first.

The Anova Precision Oven takes the sous-vide principle and rolls it into an easier, more versatile form.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS IS COOKWARE A do-it-all cooker with almost infinite uses, it has a temperature probe for knowing exactly when food has reached the perfect level. Its accurate temperature control claims to produce results that are 50% faster than traditional sous-vide cooking – and it’s a combi steam oven too, which means it has steam-injection skills for controlling the humidity, making it ideal for baking bread among other things.

It can be used as a standard convection oven too, of course, as well as a grill, air fryer, defroster, reheater and more… which goes some way to taking the sting off that rather frightening price tag.

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After the gold flush

The oven gradually turns up the temperature without overshooting, then quickly ramps up the heat to focus on your chicken’s skin for the promise of crisply golden goodness.

Tonight’s the bite

Anova’s handy app is rammed with tasty recipes to help you get started, in addition to letting you remotely preheat the oven and check how things are progressing.

Crust never seeps

When a bread dough’s surface reaches around 82°C, the starches in the emerging crust absorb moisture, turning into a crisp and glossy shell.

Fascinating, eh?

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The dried is high

The microporous composition of the stone base is for more than just heat – it also draws moisture out from the dough as it bakes, for a delightfully crisp finish.

Sunday grill

A built-in underfloor thermometer lets you easily and safely monitor the internal temperature.

Preheating takes around half an hour, then your one-minute pizzas await.

Heart of gas

An interchangeable burner connection lets you switch between traditional wood and convenient gas. Our tip: nab the gas version then try the £100 wood burner later if you fancy.

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OUTDOORS There’s more to your garden than nose-tickling pollen and renegade squirrels. Well, there can be if you turn it into a mini-jungle of tech…

Gozney Roccbox

ALTERNATIVELY… AND SMART MOWERS?

from £399 / gozney.com

A

t some point around 250 years ago, a wonderful, ingenious Neapolitan decided to marry cheese, tomatoes and dough together in a beautiful symphony of flavour. We don’t know their name, but we’re eternally grateful – for a quality pizza is one of the most delicious culinary creations of all. And while once the only way to enjoy authentic cheesy goodness was to go to a pizzeria with an old-school pizza oven, times have thankfully changed.

To save you desperately trying to put together a giant woodfired oven in your back garden, a crop of easily manageable and portable pizza ovens have emerged in recent years… and the Roccbox is up there with the best.

UNION CITY CHEW This fierce-looking machine can use either wood or gas to heat up its 19mm-thick stone floor, which will then cook a beautifully authentic pizza in a mere 60 seconds. Densely insulated to retain heat, it’s rammed with clever, practical design features, including a clever silicone outer lining plus folding legs for easy storage and transportation.

While you can pay extra for the dual-fuel version, the domed shape manages to recreate the yellow rolling flames of a traditional woodfired oven even if you stick to the gas option. Just remember not to leave it unattended, as those 60 precious seconds will run down fast – so practise using the included pizza peel (paddle).

And if you fancy something a little different, you can experiment with searing steak, chargrilling vegetables and more besides.

Eve Aqua If you’re lucky enough to have a garden big enough that you need to ‘do the watering’ every spring and summer evening, then you’ll know it can be a tedious task. Smart watering systems are available from various hosepipe makers, but our recent favourite is this little box from the Apple-orientated Eve. It works with most hose systems and is app-controlled. £90 / evehome.com

BioLite FirePit+ If you’re after something to keep you warm on chilly nights but would rather do without ungainly heaters, a firepit is your answer. This model from BioLite burns both wood and charcoal, letting you use it for cooking as well as ambience. The best part, though, is the fact that you can adjust its built-in fan with an app, giving you wireless control over the intensity of the fire. $300 / biolitenergy.com

Weber Genesis Smart Gas Barbecue Weber’s latest range of smart barbecues will blow diehard grill fans away, thanks to connected tech that uses wireless probes to let you remotely check on the internal temperature of your food. Brains aside, they’re formidable beasts in their own right, with powerful burners and dedicated sear zones for getting that mouthwatering finish. from £1649 / weber.com

EcoFlow Delta Portable Power Station This portable battery station lets you recharge or power gadgets from anywhere in your garden.

Its 1800W of continuous power rivals petrol generators, with a mix of USB-A, USB-C and, yes, actual three-pin plug sockets, so everything from speakers and TVs to laptops and camping fridges can run for hours. £1299 / hampshiregenerators.co.uk

This is a good time to invest in a smart robot lawnmower before prices rocket during spring.

There’s plenty of choice around the £500 mark now, including app-controlled options like the Worx WR130, Gardena Sileno Minimo 250 and Flymo EasiLife 150 Go. FLITCHER THIS Full smart home compatibility remains rare for robot lawnmowers, though Husqvarna offers Alexa and Google Assistant support for its Automower range.

It’s also important to factor in a few other things when considering a robo-mower: how much grass it’ll cut on a single charge if you have a larger lawn; how long it’ll take to charge; and whether it can detect when the grass is wet then automatically retreat until it’s dried out.

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SMART HOME TECH

AND THE REST… Because ‘miscellaneous’ isn’t a very pretty word, here’s all the assorted gadgetry that didn’t really fit on any of the other spreads

Ikea Symfonisk Speaker Lamp

ALTERNATIVELY… WHAT’S THE MATTER? One of the biggest barriers to smart home adoption?

It’s fragmentation.

No, we’re not talking about your video doorbell falling to bits, but the fact that lots of smart home gear doesn’t play nice with lots of other smart home gear due to the fact that Amazon, Apple, Google and Samsung each have their own standards.

SAVE A PAIR Enter Matter, an alliance between those four tech titans that promises to simplify the way smart devices talk to each other.

Matter works across existing techs like Wi-Fi, Ethernet and Bluetooth – if you see its logo on a device, you’ll know it works with pretty much everything.

Due to be available to developers by mid-2022, it should be in some products by the end of the year.

Lenovo Smart Clock Essential with Alexa Lenovo’s previous Smart Clock Essential used Google Assistant, but that’s been ditched in favour of Alexa for the 2022 model.

Also on board is a mute switch for its mics – well, this is your bedroom – plus a 3W speaker and a USB port for smartphone charging. You can also perch the clock atop an add-on that turns it into a softly glowing nightlight. $60 / lenovo.com

Netatmo Smart Carbon Monoxide Alarm Carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer, so investing in something that can sniff it out could literally be a matter of life or death. This alarm tests itself periodically – and if you have a Netatmo Smart Thermostat (see p40), you can set up a HomeKit rule that will turn off the boiler as soon as the CO alarm is triggered. £100 / netatmo.com

Flic Twist Voice control is great, but there are times when you just want to prod a good old button. Flic’s new battery-powered Twist adds a rotating dial, so you can switch between up to 12 preset scenes or customise it to do all kinds of smart home trickery; push the button at the same time and you get even more options.

It’s compatible with Nanoleaf, Sonos and loads more. €99 / flic.io

Samsung Home Hub No, we haven’t forgotten about SmartThings – and if you’ve thrown your hat into Samsung’s ring, the tablet-style Home Hub could help everyone in the house control all the pieces of smart home gear you own. With an 8.4in touchscreen, AI-assisted tasking to anticipate your needs and Bixby voice control, it can keep your fridge (see p48), oven, door locks and more in check. £tba / samsung.com

from £179 / ikea.com

W

ant to listen to a little light music? There’s a new weapon in the battle to save precious shelf space at home: Ikea’s updated Symfonisk table lamp, which has been given a major glow-up (pun wholly intended) over the 2019 version. The cunning Scandi flatpack fanatics have once again teamed up with OG smart speaker maker Sonos (presumably over a bowl of meatballs) to conjure up a combined lamp/speaker that includes a host of improvements.

UNION OF THE MAKES For starters the acoustic architecture concealed in the lamp’s base has been given a major overhaul. It’s designed to be used solo or combined with other Sonos speakers, and you can team up multiple Symfonisks if you want to light up your home with expansive sounds (the range also includes a £99 wireless bookshelf speaker and a £199 wall-mountable picture-frame speaker).

The lamp uses good old Wi-Fi to connect to your home network, but it’s worth noting that on the lighting side of things it’s just a table lamp: you can’t turn it on and off using your smart home assistant unless you’ve fitted a smart bulb. Luckily, Ikea sells those too.

The base comes in white or black finishes and is sold separately to the shade, allowing you to mix and match to suit your home’s decor.

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SMART HOME TECH Ordinary knurled

Shimmery fabric and smooth glass options are available for replacing the shade, the former costing £20 and the latter £40.

Each comes in black or white, like the base.

Planet girth

Having discovered a lot of buyers of the original Symfonisk wanted to use it on bedside tables, Ikea has shrunken the new model’s base – leaving more room for your other junk.

A screw to a fill

The lamp takes an E27 screw-in bulb, of which Ikea naturally sells numerous varieties; your first step for controlling the speaker part is to download the Sonos app.

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DIGITAL EDITION

Available from shop.kelsey.co.uk/stuff plus Readly and Pocketmags Pub1 Stuff digital.indd 36

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APPS

Mini meme

● Wordle

Wondering why your Twitter feed is awash with green, yellow and grey squares? That’s down to people sharing Wordle results in spoiler-blocking form. This free online game has you guess a five-letter word across six rounds; a new challenge arrives daily at the stroke of midnight.

Just can’t wait for the next one?

Try Hello Wordl (foldr.moe/ hello-wordl/), which has the same rules and unlimited play. £free / powerlanguage.co.uk

● Wordsmyth

If Typeshift feels too frantic, try Wordsmyth instead: a daily puzzler so tranquil it’s in danger of falling over. It’s essentially Boggle, serving up nine letters and having you use them to make as many words as possible. There’s no timer or moves limit – you can dodder along at leisure. And this genial feel extends to letting you dip into recent unfinished puzzles you’d like another crack at. £2.99 / Android ● £2.49 / iOS

LETTERS ENTERTAIN YOU Dig into the latest word puzzle craze (if you somehow haven’t already) and then try five mobile titles with their own brain-busting daily challenges

● Bonza Word Puzzle This one chops up crossword puzzles into what resembles a bunch of Tetris pieces that someone’s stencilled letters onto. It’s your job to put this minimalist jigsaw together, in a manner that makes sense.

Assistance comes from a single clue that links all the words… but that’s not always a great help when you’re faced with a dozen or more pieces scattered about and no idea where to begin. £free (IAP) / Android, iOS

● SpellTower

At its most frenetic, this game has you drag snake-like paths through a grid of letter tiles in what amounts to a high-octane mash-up of a wordsearch and Tetris. The daily mode is rather more sedate, letting you relax while tackling a single tower of tiles that disappear when words are submitted. But that does mean you must think ahead to make best use of your letters and not leave any stranded. £free (IAP) / Android, iOS

● Typeshift

This new take on anagrams has you slide columns of letters up and down to form words on a central row. Doing so colours the letter tiles; transform them all to complete the puzzle. The game has a crossword-style mode, but the daily challenge is a speedrun effort, where you blaze through a puzzle before facing a list of your words – and discovering you only needed half that number to win. Gaah! £free (IAP) / Android, iOS

● Tiny Crossword

Much of Wordle’s appeal comes from how easy it is to fit in a short session every day. This app applies similar thinking to the traditional crossword puzzle.

It won’t concern purveyors of cryptic crosswords – the clues are simple and the daily puzzles are easy. But then that’s the point: you get a mild workout for your brain yet can still tell yourself you’re completing a crossword puzzle every day. £free (IAP) / iOS 55

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V E R S U S C O M PA C T S O U N D B A R S

TEST WINNER Spready’s dead There’s only one HDMI socket and no passthrough here, so you’ll need to use up one of your telly’s ports.

Improve on up The Home 550 has a couple of HDMI sockets, both of which support 4K, HDR10 and Dolby Vision.

Loaves’ great adventure In 2022 a top-end soundbar can be the size of a baguette, not a railway sleeper

Denon Home 550

VS

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

The Home 550 is nicely compact – just the right size to sit below a 40-55in telly without drawing unnecessary attention to itself. The plastic materials don’t feel anything special, but everything is built and finished properly.

1. DESIGN

Just like its predecessor, the second-gen Beam won’t hog the length of your TV cabinet, and with its polycarbonate grille and stylish curves it looks very much like it belongs in the Sonos family. It’s available in either black or white.

For a manageably small soundbar, the Denon delivers a big sound with loads of detail, deep, well-controlled bass and a crisp, confident top end. Turn the volume up too much, though, and it does get quite shouty.

2. AUDIO

As with the Denon, none of the Beam’s drivers point upwards, so its Atmos effects are achieved entirely through audio trickery. Still, the soundstage is expansive and it does a decent job of immersing you in what’s going on.

3. SMARTS

You can control the Beam with your TV remote, but the Sonos S2 app lets you calibrate it and fiddle with features like Speech Enhancement. Add other Sonos speakers and you’ve got yourself a proper surround-sound setup.

Between Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and hi-res audio support, Wi-Fi (including AirPlay 2) and Bluetooth, built-in Alexa skills and the HEOS app that lets you fiddle with EQ settings, the Home 550 is a thoroughly modern soundbar.

Drivers 2x tweeters, 4x full-range drivers, 3x passive radiators Connectivity 2x HDMI (1 with eARC), digital optical, USB, 3.5mm Dimensions 650x120x75mm, 3.5kg

1 2 3

● Price £469 / stuff.tv/Home550

★★★★★

Drivers 1x tweeter, 4x elliptical midwoofers, 3x passive radiators Connectivity HDMI eARC, Ethernet Dimensions 651x100x69mm, 2.8kg

● Price £449 / stuff.tv/SonosBeam

STUFF SAYS

★★★★★

The Denon’s Atmos performance is superior, but the Sonos is still the better bet overall 56

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© Jered and Ashley Gruber

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10/11/202109:17 16:01 08-11-2021

T E S T E D FA C E B O O K P O R TA L +

Nobody does it Meta Facebook’s Portal+ is a redesigned large-screen take on the social network’s smart display – with Alexa on board. Your new video-calling hero?

1

[ Words Dan Grabham ]

£349 / stuff.tv/PortalPlus Paranoid about privacy? A smart display from Facebook (or Meta, or whatever it is they’re calling themselves now) probably isn’t for you. But then, if you use WhatsApp or Messenger on a regular basis, you’re already in the Meta kingdom whether you like it or not. The Portal+ works with both services for simple video calling, while there’s also native Zoom support.

With those three options on board it’s a better video-calling bet than the Echo displays, which use Amazon’s own systems as well as Skype (but don’t support Zoom in the UK yet).

Only a handful of apps are available on the Portal – Teams, BlueJeans and Webex are other calling options – but it’s also decent for music and brilliant as a rolling family photo gallery that can take pictures from your Facebook feed or your phone photos. There’s also a new portable model, which we’ve looked at opposite.

3 You know my frame The display is a nicely thin 14in HD (2160x1440) screen with super-skinny bezels (1) and it adds to what is a rather pleasant aesthetic. The base is quite compact, so there’s no Amazon Echo Show 10-style ‘fruit bowl’ blob at the bottom. It’s all about the display here.

GOOD MEH EVIL

Righting’s on the call As with other Portals, the 12MP camera (2) pans and zooms as you move around the room with a 131° field of view, meaning you’re always in the frame. This sounds like a gimmick, but is surprisingly effective at keeping the focus on you as you cook your fajitas while calling your bae.

Thin bezels give it a sleek look

…but Alexa rescues the day “Hey Portal” assistant is poor…

Licence to trill The Portal+ makes for a decent kitchen or family-room speaker (two 5W drivers and one 20W woofer) and you can use it with Spotify Connect to easily play music (3). There are Spotify and Deezer apps on board, and four mics mean there are no problems with in-call audio.

We’d like a few more apps

Decent slew of video services

Call quality is nice and punchy

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T E S T E D FA C E B O O K P O R TA L +

2

No time to pry As with Amazon’s smart displays, the Portal+ enables you to slide a cover over the camera if you want full-time peace of mind.

Tech specs Display 2160x1440 14in touchscreen Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1 Camera 12MP ultrawide Audio 2x 5W drivers, 1x 20W woofer Dimensions 313x251x80mm, 1.8kg

Another way to ‘hi’

Facebook Portal Go £199 / stuff.tv/PortalGo

We have all the chime in the world There is a Portal voice assistant but it’s hit-and-miss. Thankfully someone at Facebook had the bright idea of getting Alexa on board too, and that’s what you’re going to want to use. You can do all the standard Alexa stuff such as checking the news and seeing who’s pressed your Ring doorbell.

Gold filter Facebook’s still having fun with its Portals – including AR masks and backgrounds so you can look like Harry Potter characters (it only works with WhatsApp calls to another Portal). There’s also a feature that lets you put yourself in a story for kids… if you like that sort of totally impersonal thing.

Facebook’s ad campaign for the original Portal lays bare the main appeal for this device: grandparents calling grandkids. And for good reason – it’s easy to live with and simple to use, especially when you don’t really want your ankle-biters accessing oodles of apps on the family iPad. The Portal Go stands out from the rest of the range because of its portability and 5hr-plus battery life – there’s really nothing similar available from Amazon or Google.

It’s a tactile gadget with a soft finish and, thanks to its amply wide base,

This isn’t a smart display in the purest sense, but it is elevated from dumbness by the ability to use Alexa. There’s no doubt it’s excellent as a standalone device for video calls if you use Messenger or WhatsApp already, and especially if you use those services for regular chats with family. The filters are fun too. @dangrabham

stands up without having to be propped against something (a familiar iPad annoyance). Of course, it can still do everything the static Portals can, so you can treat yourself to a bit of portable music or faff about with Alexa.

The disadvantages are three-fold: it’s heavy at 1.4kg, it isn’t completely portable since it still needs to be connected to your Wi-Fi, and it’s costly for what it does. After all, for another £120 you can get the basic iPad, which does pretty much everything.

Stuff says ★★★★✩ Brings a bit more flexibility than a static Portal

STUFF SAYS HHHH✩ The Portal+ might not be the smartest display around, but it’s a brilliant choice if you’re after a screen for video calls 59

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BETA YOURSELF

SMART COOKING Already got a kitchen full of clever gadgets? Add one more, says Craig Grannell, by recruiting your smartphone or tablet to help you plan, schedule and make great meals…

THE BASICS

■ Prepare yourself

Any good chef will ensure things run smoothly by sorting ingredients, tools and accessories in advance.

If you’re using a phone or tab, that thinking extends to your technology: install and keep timers and conversion apps handy; where possible, run through what you’re going to do, so you don’t mess things up at a critical moment.

■ Dedicate a device

If you only own one smart device, use it when cooking.

But ideally work with a spare phone or tablet in the kitchen so it doesn’t matter if it gets covered in flour. Give it a permanent spot on the counter, and ensure its stand (see panel opposite) and charger are stable so it won’t topple into your casserole.

■ Keep your kit clean

Naturally, a charging port you somehow fill with jam during baking is something you’ll need to fix. But it’s also vital that you don’t transfer germs from gadgets to food. So whether or not you’re using a dedicated device, give yours a wipe with a suitable anti-bacterial cleaner before you start cooking.

■ Be hands-off

Cut the risk of germ-transfer and device-trashing by limiting your interaction with the touchscreen. Explore what you can do with voice commands, be that setting timers or switching steps in cookery apps. Turn off the automatic lock so your screen doesn’t shut off when you’re halfway through a particularly tricky bit.

■ Protect your tech

If you use your main phone in the kitchen, keep it well clear of anything that could splatter it. But even spare devices shouldn’t be drenched in hot fat, random spices and that half-litre of sherry you’d planned on using to give your trifle an extra kick last year. So do consider a screen protector, and investigate affordable but effective protective cases.

START COOKING ■ Master key skills

Measure up

Chances are you’ll need to convert between metric and imperial with some online recipes. Morpho Converter (£free, iOS) lets you pin conversions for regular use.

Kitchen Stories (£free, Android and iOS) is great for cookery newcomers.

It provides a photo for every recipe step, and prior to tackling a dish you can delve into how-to videos on prep work and other techniques.

■ Watch some videos

Tasty (£free, Android and iOS) is like cookery telly for people with no attention span.

Each recipe comes to life in about a minute – and clips are cut into tiny looping snippets for when you’re working through a dish’s individual steps.

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STAND AND DELIVER

IKEA BERGENES

You could get a flashy metal stand for your kitchen-based device.

Or you could come to your senses, realise it’ll get covered in muck and plump for something cheap. This bamboo holder is sturdy and can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. £1.50 / ikea.com

TRYONE GOOSENECK TABLET HOLDER BE A MELA DWELLER ■ Follow feeds

GET ORGANISED ■ Browse the web

Paprika (£4.49, Android and iOS) is a digital take on recipe clippings. Using its browser, you grab the useful bits of online recipe pages by tapping a download button. Saved info can be edited so you can put your own spin on things.

■ Build a menu

Along with managing recipes, Paprika also wants to help organise your meals. You can assign recipes to a schedule, and create new menus once you’ve decided that you are now, in fact, an actual chef.

Just make sure your pantry tab is kept up to date.

Mela (£4.49, iOS) combines recipe management and RSS. Under ‘Feeds’, tap ‘…’ and then ‘Add Feed’. Paste a blog’s address and its articles will be piped into the app, ready to explore and pilfer bits from with the ‘+’ button.

■ Start from scratch

Want to add your own recipes, or some of Great Auntie Doris’s classics? No trouble.

Under ‘Recipes’, tap ‘…’ and then ‘New Recipe’ to input one from scratch, or ‘Scan Recipe’ to have Mela extract its details from printed pages.

■ Label your stash

There’s no point in replacing a big stack of papers with an equally big stack of virtual recipes, so eradicate chaos.

Flag recipes by tap-holding to assign categories, and revel in your orderly chefness.

CUT DOWN WASTE

If you’re rocking an older device that you want level with your face while you’re chopping carrots, this stand can be yanked into submission for precision placement.

It clamps to any worktop up to 75mm thick. £25 / amazon.co.uk

■ Track your food

If you have a fancy fridge that alerts you when food is about to go rotten, great. If not, use reminder lists to perform the same task. Armed with an iPhone? Kiff (£3.49, iOS) can put bold countdowns right on your homescreen.

■ Use what’s there

Get into the habit of using food you already have rather than buying more. Not sure how? Fire up SuperCook (£free, Android and iOS) and dictate into it a list of items lurking in your fridge. It’ll then serve up matching dishes for you to try.

MOFT SNAP-ON (MAGSAFE)

Another good option for propping up an iPhone is this MagSafe foldable stand – which has the added benefit that you can take it with you and use it as a wallet. Moft also does self-adhesive stands for other devices. £25 / madebymoft.com

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TESTED PHILIPS BONE CONDUCTION BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES

Jiving bone for crispness Looking for some sporty buds that won’t cut you off from the world? We’re getting good vibes from these bone-conduction jobs… £130 / stuff.tv/PhilipsBone

Jewel-ear There’s no button to control the built-in lights; you have to use the app for that. It’s also where you pick your listening profile.

■ Instead of piping music directly into your ears and blocking out the outside world, these ’phones sit just in front of your lugs on your temples, sending vibrations through your cheekbones. That means there’s less chance of being surprised by an oncoming bus.

■ The relatively slimline neckband design has been slapped with an IP67 water/dust-resistance rating, so they’re built to survive being drenched in sweat and, unlike the wearer, won’t complain if you get caught out in a sudden downpour.

You can even keep them on for your post-run shower.

■ Philips has included LED lights to give you a visibility boost. They can be set to blink slowly or quickly, or stay constantly illuminated. It’s not the kind of light that’s going to dazzle other pedestrians, but it will help to make sure you’re seen a bit better when out after dark.

■ Bone-conduction headphones tend to emphasise clarity and detail but disappoint a little in the bass department. However, these have a Bass listening profile that boosts the bottom end to give you a bigger, heavier sound that fills your ears more effectively but still allows you to be aware of your surroundings.

n On the reach

The neckband gets a little thicker behind the ears to make room for some physical controls. You can tweak the volume or skip tracks, plus there’s a multi-function button that lets you play and pause audio or respond to calls.

n The road to swell

The controls generally work well on the move, though the volume buttons are maybe a bit too close together. Holding them down for two seconds skips tracks, which can mean accidentally cranking the volume in the process.

■ Opting for Bass mode does seem to have an impact on battery life. Philips reckons they’ll last 9hrs before they need recharging, but an hour of running knocked about 20% off, which suggests more like 5hrs. Enable the lights and that’ll drain them even faster.

Tech specs Connectivity Bluetooth 5.2, USB-C charging Water-resistance IP67 Battery life 9hrs Weight 35g

STUFF SAYS Fill your ears with sound – without actually filling your ears HHHH✩ Still a bit wary of bone-conduction ’phones? You’ve nothing to fear…

Michael Sawh

All bone-conduction headphones require a sacrifice when it comes to sound quality, but Philips has produced a pair that sound fuller, warmer and more rewarding than the rest.

You just have to forfeit a bit of battery life instead. Still, they should be good for a solid week of training – and if you like the idea of an extra bit of visibility when you’re running outside, the built-in lights are a nice touch as well.

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GROUP TEST GAMING LAPTOPS

Monster hunter buys There’s a bewildering choice of laptops for serious gamers – so here are six of the best, from budget barnstormers to hardcore hardware

Alienware x15 What’s the story?

Alienware has long been a big beast in the field of gaming laptops, and that’s set to continue with the x15.

It’s a tweaked version of the firm’s m15, and pairs a sleeker design with superb components and top-notch display options.

As usual there’s a wide selection of customisable specs, and this rig is also available in a hefty 17.3in form factor as the x17.

Is it any good?

The x15’s updated design is unmistakably Alienware thanks to its honeycomb vents and RGB LEDs. It’s hewn from magnesium, aluminium and plastic, and has near-flawless build quality. It’s also lighter than its predecessor.

Gaming grunt comes from Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 cores and you can choose from a trio of displays: combine the RTX 3070 with a 165Hz screen for buttery-smooth mainstream gaming, or opt for the RTX 3080 with 1080p at 360Hz or

2560x1440 at 240Hz if you want esports excellence or high-res visuals.

This machine has top 11th-gen Intel processors and lashings of memory, and it’s available with up to 4TB of SSD storage.

The x15 has the pace to tackle any gaming scenario, while the displays have lashings of brightness and huge colour gamuts. Wi-Fi 6 ensures fast networking, the USB-C ports support Thunderbolt 4 and the snappy keyboard has 1.5mm travel and per-key RGB LED backlighting.

Superb stuff – just note that upgraded internals are coming to these machines later in the year.

from £2149 / stuff.tv/x15 Key specs ● 15.6in 1920x1080 165Hz/ 360Hz / 2560x1440 240Hz ● Intel Core i7/i9 ● GeForce RTX 3070 / 3080 8GB ● 16/32GB RAM ● 512GB-1TB SSD ● 1-5hr battery ● 16.3mm thick, 2.36kg

STUFF SAYS Alienware’s latest certainly isn’t cheap, but it is brilliant ★★★★★

Acer Nitro 5 What’s the story?

If you’d like to get your hands on some top gaming power without rinsing your bank account, this Acer is our top budget pick.

This machine is available with current-gen Nvidia graphics alongside capable Intel processors and displays with the refresh rates to handle games at decent speeds.

Is it any good?

The most powerful Nitro 5 models pair the RTX 3070 GPU with AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800H for £1399. That’s a sensational price, and those components supply enough gaming power to scythe through any title.

More affordable specs rely on RTX 3050 and 3060 graphics cores – the former is ideal for casual games and older titles, while the latter is a rock-solid chip for esports. The Intel options aren’t current-gen and can’t keep up with AMD, but they’re respectable and won’t slow you down… plus they’re getting updated later this year, which bodes

well for performance. The 15.6in displays have a 144Hz refresh rate – fine for most situations – and offer good depth and contrast.

You get three full-size USB ports, an HDMI output, dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth, plus a keyboard with a numberpad and four-zone RGB LED lighting.

Those buttons are fast and comfortable, so ideal for long gaming sessions.

The compromises? Build quality is mediocre, so we’d recommend a protective sleeve if you’ll travel with this notebook. Plus it’s heavy, the speakers are tinny and ours only lasted for just over 3hrs during a work benchmark. from £899 / stuff.tv/Nitro5

Key specs ● 15.6in 1920x1080 144Hz ● Intel Core i5/i7 / AMD Ryzen 5/7 ● GeForce RTX 3050 4GB - 3070 8GB ● 8/16GB RAM ● 512GB SSD ● 1-3hr battery ● 24mm thick, 2.3kg

STUFF SAYS Rough around the edges but offers outstanding value ★★★✩✩

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Let’s glance

The Alienware’s HDMI 2.1 port means it’s all ready if you want to output to a 4K/120Hz display – like your next gaming TV?

ys

The road to quell

The gallium-silicon matrix thermal hardware does an admirable job of cooling the powerful internals of the x15.

Drive in home for Gears mass

The Acer has a spare M.2 SSD connector inside, so you can add another drive if you need more space.

BEST FOR HIGH-END GAMING

BEST FOR A TIGHT BUDGET

Cool if you sync bits over

The promised updated Nitros will have Thunderbolt ports that can transfer at 40Gbps.

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Hues of the world

The ROG Flow X13’s touchscreen is Pantone-validated and is made from super-tough Corning Gorilla Glass.

Flat’s entertainment

The XG dock has DisplayPort and HDMI ports, so it’s easy to output to external screens – like a TV or a widescreen panel.

BEST FOR PORTABLE POWER

Asus ROG Flow X13 What’s the story?

Gaming laptops are usually big lumps that don’t do much travelling, but the Asus ROG Flow X13 flips that convention on its head: it has a 13.4in display inside a body that’s just 16mm thick and weighs 1.3kg.

Of course that restricts what hardware can fit inside, but Asus has thought of that too – because this machine is sold alongside a graphics dock with an RTX 3080. The laptop alone costs £1500, and the dock increases that price to £2600.

Is it any good?

The X13 is tiny and impressive. Its RTX 3050 Ti graphics core can handle most games at decent framerates, and it has a brilliant AMD Ryzen 9 processor that slices through work tasks. It’s also got a fantastic display: the 16:10 aspect ratio

adds height, it’s a touchscreen, and it has amazing contrast and accurate colours.

Impressively, this is a hybrid, so it can swing into tent and tablet modes. It even has good speakers and a crisp keyboard, and is robust thanks to aluminium and magnesium construction.

There are downsides, though. The X13 doesn’t have many ports, exterior surfaces can get hot, it’s sometimes just as loud as big gaming laptops, and battery life is only mediocre; and while the RTX 3050 Ti offers reasonable pace, it won’t run the top games at high quality levels.

But that’s where the XG dock comes in. That RTX 3080 has the power to handle any gaming task, even if you output to an external display with a higher resolution or refresh rate. The dock also provides loads of extra connectivity and is nice and easy

to use – it just slots into a bespoke port on the laptop’s left-hand edge.

The dock weighs 1kg, so slinging that plus the laptop in a bag means you’ll be carrying as much weight as a conventional gaming notebook – but in a smaller and more versatile package. And that’s really what this combination is all about: flexibility for more than just gaming. from £1500 / stuff.tv/FlowX13 Key specs ● 13.4in 1920x1200 120Hz ● AMD Ryzen 9 ● GeForce RTX 1650 / 3050 Ti 4GB ● 8/16GB RAM ● 512GB/1TB SSD ● 1-4hr battery ● 16mm thick, 1.3kg

STUFF SAYS Combines ultraportable computing with high-end gaming power ★★★★✩ 66

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The giver of gleams

The Legion’s 500-nit backlight means it’s the brightest display in this group, and one of the few that can work well outdoors.

Intel her about it

If you’d prefer an Intel processor, check the Legion 5i Pro – those machines have similar specs alongside the blue team’s CPUs.

BEST FOR WORK AND PLAY

Lenovo Legion 5 Pro What’s the story?

Loads of people buy a gaming laptop and also use it for work, which is no surprise given the ample power available in the latest game-centric portables. If you’re on the hunt for a machine that can straddle work and play, the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro does a tremendous job without costing silly money.

It’s got more screen space than most gaming laptops, and has some surprising features alongside plenty of power. And, crucially, it looks more ‘mature’ than most gaming notebooks so it won’t seem weirdly out of place in the office.

Is it any good?

Lenovo’s machine has a load of features that boost its ability in work situations.

The display has a 16in diagonal, a 16:10

aspect ratio and a 2560x1600 resolution, which means you get more vertical space and more pixels than most. It renders the sRGB colour gamut accurately, with great contrast, and it’s got awesome brightness levels that mean it works well outdoors.

Elsewhere, the Legion has loads of USB connections and a webcam with a privacy shutter and Windows Hello support. The keyboard is fast and comfy, and includes a numberpad.

On the inside, it’s available with AMD Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 processors, with the former suited to mainstream work and the latter a content-creation powerhouse.

These rigs can run with up to 32GB of memory and 1TB of SSD space. It’s an impressive specification, especially when you consider that the Legion’s prices start at close to £1000 – and upgrades later in

the year will see some models equipped with better processors, graphics cores and displays.

If you want to run top games without compromise you’ll need to specify an RTX 3080, and esports fans might not be happy with the 165Hz refresh rate. For most people, though, this is the best choice if you need a laptop for gaming and working. from £1150 / stuff.tv/Legion5Pro Key specs ● 16in 2560x1600 165Hz ● AMD Ryzen 5/7 ● GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 4GB - 3070 8GB ● 8-32GB RAM ● 256GB-1TB SSD ● 1-4hr battery ● 22mm thick, 2.54kg

STUFF SAYS A big-screen experience with the power for games and creative work ★★★★✩ 67

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Mashes to mashes

The keyboard has n-key rollover, so you can hammer as many buttons as you like at once. That’s handy for frantic games.

Hardwary monsters

Manufacturers can specify the power used by Nvidia GPUs in their laptops – and Gigabyte has set it high in this one.

BEST FOR COVERING ALL BASES

Gigabyte Aorus 15P What’s the story?

The Gigabyte Aorus 15P is a superb laptop that sits right in the middle of the market.

Its broad variety of specs, consistent levels of quality and solid prices make it the best choice around if you want to bag a powerful laptop that will last for years… without bankrupting yourself.

That might not make it sound exciting, but Gigabyte eschews innovation for excellence and balance. And when you’re spending your hard-earned on a machine that you want to last, that’s important.

Is it any good?

The 15P is available with good graphics chips, starting with the RTX 3060 and ramping up to the 3080, which will tackle any high-end gaming scenario without breaking a sweat. These GPUs are paired

with superb 240Hz, 300Hz and 360Hz displays. The lowest refresh rate is still well-suited to esports and fast games, while the latter will satisfy the most demanding competitive players.

You also get punchy speakers with good detail, even if they’re a little lacking in bass, and the rest of the components hit the mark: Intel’s Core i7-11800H is a solid chip for everyday work and gaming, while these laptops come with 16 or 32GB of memory and 1TB SSDs. The 15P has three full-size USB ports alongside Thunderbolt 4, as well as HDMI and Mini DisplayPort plus a card reader.

The keyboard is great, with fast, consistent buttons, a numberpad and per-key RGB LED lighting.

As ever, there are compromises. The webcam is terrible thanks to its position

beneath the display, and fan noise is noticeable if you push the hardware.

Battery life is unsurprisingly mediocre, at 1hr for games and 4hrs for work.

Still, it’s sleeker and better-specified than budget gaming notebooks, and it delivers excellent performance and good screen quality. If you want a versatile and reliable mid-ranger, stick with this one. from £1299 / stuff.tv/Auros15P Key specs/ ● 15.6in 1920x1080 240/300/360Hz ● Intel Core i7 ● GeForce RTX 3060 6GB - 3080 16GB ● 16-32GB RAM ● 1TB SSD ● 1-4hr battery ● 27mm thick, 2.2kg

STUFF SAYS A capable and affordable mid-range option that nails the basics ★★★★✩ 68

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Zenny royal Ti

The RTX 3080 Ti has a mighty 16GB of the fastest GDDR6 memory that’s ever shipped in a laptop.

Quite nippy, then.

Honour plain

Razer’s aluminium chassis is one of the cleanest-looking on the market – it looks more grown-up than most gaming laptops.

BEST FOR SPEEDY ESPORTS

Razer Blade 15 Advanced What’s the story?

Razer makes some of the best gaming laptops on the market, and its latest machines take aim at competitive gamers who want every advantage in top esports titles. That’s no surprise given the firm’s pedigree in peripherals – they’ve spent years building the best gaming mice and keyboards around.

The Razer Blade 15 Advanced uses lightning-fast 360Hz displays with 2ms response times, so there’s hardly any difference in performance between these screens and the best desktop displays.

Is it any good?

Those 360Hz panels pair ace performance with excellent visuals, including 100% sRGB reproduction and high contrast – handy for seeing enemies lurking in the darkest

corners. Alternative display specs are available: the 1080p, 240Hz variant has Nvidia G-Sync for smooth gaming, and the 4K model is ideal for creative work.

Razer’s machines have the internals to keep up with those displays. They’re bolstered by Nvidia’s latest GeForce RTX 3070 Ti and 3080 Ti GPUs, which deliver extra cores and higher clock speeds than non-Ti models, and they have 12th-gen Intel processors that have proven to be exceptional for gaming and working.

There’s a lot to like around the rest of the specs too – like Thunderbolt 4 ports with charging, SD card slots, Killer Wi-Fi 6 and crisp RGB-lit keyboards.

The speakers are high-quality, and the 17mm body and 2.01kg weight mean this is slimmer and lighter than most 15.6in machines. The aluminium exterior does

get warm in tough gaming situations, but it doesn’t bring too much fan noise.

The updated Blade 15 Advanced is not cheap: the most affordable model with a 12th-gen CPU costs £2800. There are also 17.3in and 14in variants, but for us that 15.6in model with the 360Hz screen is the esports sweet spot. from £2500 / stuff.tv/15Adv Key specs ● 15.6in 1920x1080 360Hz / 2560x1440 240Hz / 4K 144Hz ● Intel Core i7/i9 ● GeForce RTX 3060 6GB - 3080 Ti 16GB ● 16-32GB RAM ● 1TB SSD ● 1-4hr battery ● 17mm thick, 2.01kg

STUFF SAYS Brilliant design meets searing pace in a top-tier esports experience ★★★★★ 69

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CREATE THE POWER anytime anywhere

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09/11/2021 10/11/2021 15:17 13:50

TESTED BT TV BOX PRO

BT and the beast This powerful box packs in more TV than the Christmas edition of the Radio Times.

Enough to make you switch from Sky? £various / stuff.tv/BTPro ■ With the BT TV Box Pro you can watch 4K HDR content over Wi-Fi, stream Dolby Atmos-supported shows and films, and record up to three Freeview HD shows at once while watching a fourth. And 1TB of storage (around 600hrs) means it’ll be a while before you’re forced into a tedious delete-athon.

■ The total haul of channels you’ll have depends on what package you choose. All come with up to 94 Freeview channels, and then you bolt on the extras. The £73/m VIP package includes BT Sport in 4K, standard Netflix, and Sky Sports and Sky Cinema via Now.

Bound and vision A new, sensibly designed Bluetooth remote means you can hide the box in a cupboard and still be able to control it.

■ The redesigned YouView interface is easy to get to grips with, if not quite as slick as Sky Q. The EPG shows every channel you have access to in one place, including any Sky channels via Now. The universal search function isn’t quite as universal as you’d expect, though, refusing to find anything on Netflix.

■ You get the likes of BBC iPlayer, Britbox, All4, ITV Hub, My5 and Amazon Prime Video built in, as well as a handful of kiddie-friendly streamers, but notable absentees include Apple TV+ and Disney+. And there’s no Dolby Vision.

n The clean genie

The device itself is a compact, minimalist black box with nothing but a BT logo on the front. This has a ring around it that lights up when the box is in use – it’s unlikely to distract you from what’s on the telly.

n Place oddity

You’ll need BT’s Smart Hub or Smart Hub 2 to use the box (they’ll send you one if required).

Keeping the two fairly close together is advised, so if you’d rather go wired than Wi-Fi there is an Ethernet cable included.

■ There’s not as much 4K content available as on Sky, but things still look great in HD. To experience the box as its very best, though, you’ll want to watch a 4K football match on BT Sport Ultimate with Dolby Atmos, which looks and sounds fantastic. Well, unless it’s Arsenal.

Tech specs Max resolution 4K HDR Storage 1TB Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, optical, aerial in/out, HDMI, USB

STUFF SAYS An excellent 4K HDR-ready set-top box offering a feast of telly HHHH✩ It’s not quite Sky Q but BT’s box is still a bit of a star, man Matt Tate

A BT TV Box Pro with the all-you-can-eat VIP package isn’t what anyone would call cheap, but it really does cover almost all of your square-eyed needs, thanks to that bundled Now subscription and free Netflix. The interface is great too, making it easy to find something to watch; and while the absences of Disney+ and Dolby Vision both stand out, that doesn’t stop the BT TV Box Pro being pretty easy to recommend.

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FI R TH ST ES AD E… D

PANASONIC GH5 MkII

ONE VODAFONE 5G MIFI In case you fancy nippy mobile data to smoothen out livestreaming from your GH5 MkII, Vodafone has just launched its 5G MiFi. This brings unlimited data on a range of price plans, including £30 a month with a £100 up-front cost. Connecting 32 devices, it’ll also keep your on-the-go studio online, lasting up to 8.5hrs on a single charge. from £10/m / vodafone.co.uk

TWO MOZA SLYPOD PRO MASTER KIT Teaming up with the GH5 MkII’s new and improved in-body stabilisation, the Moza Slypod is a multi-function carbon fibre monopod/mini-tripod that can steady shots and capture slider/dolly-style clips. Controlled by an app, this space-saving stick is a great combination photo and video tool. £599 / parkcameras.com

THREE ATOMOS NINJA V The GH5 MkII only has a 3in screen – and while it looks great, if you want a clear view of whatever you’re shooting you’ll be much better off gazing into an Atomos Ninja V. Both a monitor and a recorder, it also adds RAW video capture to the mix, while upping your preview screen to an ample 5.2in with HDR and Full HD resolution. £539 / wexphotovideo.com

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NO TH W T IS RY …

TH TH EN ES GE E… T

INSTANT UPGRADES

LUMAFUSION

1 FIRM THINGS UP

2 HARNESS THE POWER

3 PHONE IT IN

To unleash the latest features such as USB livestreaming, visit panasonic.com/global/support and select ‘Digital AV’, then ‘Digital Camera’, and then ‘Downloads’. Find your camera (DMC-GH5M2), download the update file and unzip it to a freshly formatted SD card.

On your camera, navigate to the wrench icon and find ‘Firmware Version’. Now insert the SD card and select ‘Firmware Update’.

If you don’t want to buy a bunch of spare batteries, power up and run your camera off external electricity via its USB-C port.

Note that to shoot indefinitely you’ll need to use a 9V/3A power supply (we tested it with the Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD 45W powerbank and it worked great). If you use a lower-voltage power source, then your battery might charge slowly when the camera’s off.

The Lumix Connect phone app is a treasure-trove of tools for the GH5 MkII. Making wireless image transfers a doddle, it lets you easily fire your camera’s photos directly onto Instagram.

Support for remote shooting turns your phone into a wireless viewfinder with control over the camera, and the app also makes livestreaming a breeze with quick access to Facebook and YouTube.

If you want to edit your GH5 MkII’s videos on the go, LumaFusion on iPad and iPhone is a powerful editing suite that supports up to six audio and video tracks. £25.99 / iOS

AMAZON PHOTOS

[ Words Basil Kronfli ]

Prime customers ahoy: your sub includes unlimited full-res backups on Amazon Photos. Simply sync your phone and camera’s snaps and upload. £free / Android, iOS

4 GET PERSONAL

5 HIT IT FOR 6

6 DON’T GO BLANK

With so many tricks packed into this camera, personalising your workflow will help speed up access to your most-used features. A quick way to do this is to customise the function button next to the lens mount: just long-press it, select what you want to shortcut to, and it will be saved. We use it to flip between image stabilisation boost mode (for video) and focus peaking (for stills).

While this is a 4K camera, it can shoot video at 6K – which is handy for anyone who wants to crop into videos when editing them. The only catch is that 6K footage is captured in a tall 4:3 aspect ratio (4992x3744), so it can’t shoot 6K in cinematic 16:9. Nevertheless, to activate 6K, open video settings in the menu and change the recording file format to ‘MOV’, then select ‘Rec Quality’ and pick ‘6K’.

Hooray, you can stop the screen switching off whenever your hand strays near the eyepiece by locking the viewfinder – and Panasonic makes this a breeze, with the button next to the eyepiece with ‘LVF’ on it used to toggle viewfinder modes.

Keep pressing it and you’ll cycle through settings, locking the viewfinder to the camera’s screen or the eyepiece, or switching automatically.

LALALAB

If you want to print photos taken on your GH5, try this.

Download the app, fill a photo box with snaps, add messages, or make wall art or a book – it’s easy to use and the prices are reasonable. £free / Android, iOS

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TWO WEEKS WITH THE OPPO FIND N

Fold little heart Oppo’s Find N is the latest flexible flyer and it’s a bit more cute and cuddly than most… Dan Grabham finds out if the foldable concept has finally come of age £tba / stuff.tv/FindN

Half-folding the screen and standing it up is great for watching stuff… at least until it snaps back.

DAY 01 Foldable phones remain a niche pursuit, but they’re the kind of niche pursuit everybody wants to get involved with. So we unpack Oppo’s Find N with glee; like other foldables we’ve seen (especially Samsung’s Z Fold3), it feels fresh and different to the multitude of glass rectangles out there. But there is one key difference with the Oppo: it’s more compact than its rivals, and is designed to be more

pocketable. Certainly it sits in a jeans pocket comfortably.

Compared to the Z Fold3, which has 6.2in and 7.6in displays, the Find N keeps it tidy with 5.49in (external) and 7.1in (internal) screens, both super-bright AMOLED jobs with up to 1000 nits of brightness. The external display boasts the spec du jour of the smartphone world: a variable refresh rate (up to 120Hz). No surprise that our entire first day

You’ve got to really prod the screen to tell that it’s anything other than pancake-flat – it’s just not an issue

with this phone is spent with that big ol’ display folded out.

You don’t notice the crease once it’s unfolded – foldable phone tech has really moved on here, and the way this display works is designed to prevent any kind of line from showing. You’ve got to really prod the screen to tell that it’s anything other than pancake-flat, and we can’t see any evidence of issues arising from the folding display – it’s just not an issue.

It is a heavy phone, though, at 275g – and that weight can be a drag if you generally use a relatively light handset. Well, if

you want to live your tech life at the cutting edge…

A side-mounted fingerprint reader on the power button takes care of the biometrics, while the only other physical control on the side is the volume rocker.

Because the two sides with the buttons are together when folded, I’m finding it easy to hit the wrong button when trying to turn the display off. The button is recessed because it’s the fingerprint reader, but it still makes things more difficult. The idea is that you just need to rest your finger there to unlock… well, maybe I’ll get used to it.

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LO N G -T E R M T E S T

01

Donut of Truth™

06

05

02

03

04

DAY 02

Tech specs Displays 7.1in 1920x1792 + 5.49in 1972x988 OLED Processor Snapdragon 888 5G RAM 8/12GB Storage 256/512GB OS Android 11 with ColorOS 12 Cameras 50+13+16MP rear, 2x 32MP front Battery 4500mAh Dimensions 133x73x16mm / 140x133x8mm, 275g

I’m appreciating the physical size of the Find N, which is a little wider than the Z Fold3 but significantly shorter. The external display is very usable because of that width, and as I get out and about with the phone I’m finding myself using it in closed mode more and more.

By the way, the Find N is going to be available in purple or white should you not like the black finish (which, as with all black phones, seems to get rather fingerprinty).

The finish is excellent quality, though, with a hinge that clips shut with a satisfying slap.

The 16mm chubbiness of this phone in folded form really isn’t a problem, though it does feel like having two phones in your pocket.

The exciting thing about this is that we feel like foldable handsets have got to the stage where thickness is the only issue.

DAY 04 What’s definitely not an issue is power. The Find N uses last year’s flagship Snapdragon 888 5G platform and it’s incredibly slick.

It’s got Android 11, topped with Oppo’s simple ColorOS interface, and there’s 12GB of RAM and 512GB of speedy UFS 3.1 storage inside our test model.

01 Feels great when you snap it back together 02 It’s super- quick and responsive in use 03 The inner display is just wonderful

04 It’s not available in the UK… yet 05 There’s no getting away from the weight 06 It’s a fingerprint magnet for sure

DAY 07 Watching videos on the Oppo’s fold-out display isn’t the best because of its aspect ratio, which is nearly square at 8.4:9. That means you get massive black bars top and bottom. But you can use the display for some pretty clever stuff, including having two apps side by side. Apps also transfer between the displays when you open or close the handset.

DAY 09 I’ve now got the measure of the triple rear camera setup. The main 50MP sensor is a standard f1.8 Sony part, with optical image stabilisation, and takes some impressive images. There’s also a 16MP ultrawide and 13MP telephoto, plus high-quality 32MP selfie-cams on each display.

DAY 14 Topping up the battery in this thing has been super-speedy. There’s 15W wireless charging if you use a compatible charger, but the wired charging is 33W, meaning you can juice up the 4500mAh cell to around 70% in half an hour.

Such rapid refuelling is a joy – and another sign that folding phones really don’t have to be impractical.

STUFF SAYS Oppo shows that foldable phones can be pocketable too – this is a valiant effort HHHH✩

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TESTED GAMES

Switch / stuff.tv/Arceus

Pokemon Legends: Arceus

To move forward, sometimes you have to go back… which sums up the approach in what is arguably the biggest shake-up of the Pokemon series in its 25-year history

hile they’re loved by players of all ages, there’s always been a tension between the Pokemon games – made to be enjoyed by kids – and the people who want the series to grow up along with them. So Arceus ditches many of the traditional elements of the ‘my first RPG’ formula, yet at the same time goes back to basics in fully embracing its original mantra to catch ’em all.

You’re not going against gym leaders, trying to thwart Team

W

Rocket, or even striving to become a champion – your main mission is to help complete the first ever Pokedex by cataloguing all 242 Pokemon in the Hisui region.

As with catching Pokemon, the action all takes place in the same space rather than transitioning to a battle arena, which helps to keep you immersed. You can even come under peril from hostile Pokemon; the dodge-roll mechanic comes in handy with this.

When it comes to battling, however, the game reverts to

turn-based mechanics as you use the rock/paper/scissors formula for the most effective results – such as using a Pokemon with water attacks against a fire variant, or having a rock Pokemon withstand the effects of lightning attacks. Provided you’ve got the right team at a decent level, landing a super-effective attack means battles against a single Pokemon can be over in a turn or two.

Fans may be disappointed at that, not least as this is a decidedly

single-player affair, but then that’s Arceus’s peaceful ethos… which goes some way to explaining why the boss fights are basically you calming frenzied Pokemon by pelting them with snacks.

As a Pokemon game, it’s the most fresh and exciting the series has been for a long time thanks to an emphasis on exploring and discovering all the critters out in the Hisui region, giving you more than one way to catch ’em all. This legend is just getting started.

Alan Wen

STUFF SAYS Blending old and new, this is the most refreshing Pokemon game in ages ★★★★✩ 76

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TESTED GAMES

Don’t expect the breadth of the wild

This Pokemon is called Bumbaclart, and its chief ability is acerbic sarcasm.

Munchlax, so called because it sometimes forgets to eat breakfast.

The hundreds of Pokemon in this game are full of character, but the world they inhabit often leaves a lot to be desired.

Arceus can’t help but draw comparisons with Nintendo’s masterpiece Breath of the Wild and its vast environments, but a game-changing open-world sandbox this is not – even if it inherits some of the repetitive checklist-type side-quests of the genre.

The Hisui region isn’t quite open-world – it’s split into five zones of varying biomes (annoyingly, you always have to return to the central village hub before you can venture to another zone). But they do feel vast, loading times are pretty quick, and it runs at a stable framerate.

That, however, comes at the price of graphical fidelity. It’s hard not to notice the sketchy textures on characters’ clothes that haven’t been made to be inspected from too close, or the poor draw distance that results in trees popping up.

Anyway, this game is hardly light on content, with plenty to keep you hooked even after completing the main story.

If Arceus is a first flawed attempt at a new spin-off series like Metroid Prime, then at the very least it’s got its core element right: the Pokemon themselves.

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GET THE BEST GADGET DEALS WITH STUFF

In the mag We pick out the best price for every featured product

Online Choose from our roster of great-value retailers

Ever wondered what’s up with the links in Stuff? We’ve got a team of retail pros who scour the web to find you the best gadget deals – visit any stuff.tv link in this mag and you’ll be taken to the best deal for that product. If you make a purchase, we may get a small commission. It’s that simple, and has no impact on how much you pay.

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TESTED GAMES

all platforms / stuff.tv./DyingLight2

Dying Light 2

An uneven story doesn’t detract from the feast of free-running open-world larks offered by this sequel to a much-loved game xpectations have been set dangerously high for Dying Light 2, with vows that the original game’s weakest facet – its storyline – would be vastly improved for the sequel.

The bad news is that it’s only marginally better… but this is still brilliant fun in a superb open-world parkour playground.

It starts off with a promisingly simple premise: our protagonist Aiden, a wandering messenger who carries packages between the few remaining outposts of humanity in a post-apocalyptic 2036, receives a lead on the whereabouts of his long-lost sister. He steals into Villedor, the last city on earth, to meet up with a contact, but the plan quickly goes awry: he finds himself alone in an urban jungle with only a fresh zombie bite for company.

There’s lots to like here – Dying Light 2 is built around a core of gameplay that’s fundamentally enjoyable. Aiden moves around the decaying sprawl of Villedor like a two-legged gazelle, leaping across rooftops, swinging on monkey bars,

E

As rehearsals for the latest Bros reunion got underway, tensions soon began to show.

“Now that I really do need that bit of extra purchase, I wish I’d opted for the string back.”

scaling handholds and, er, zipping down ziplines – and that’s just at the start of the game, before you unlock more advanced parkour skills and equipment.

The fights are brutal and fast, with more moves being added to your repertoire as you level up the combat side of your character. And as you’ve contracted the zombie infection yourself, you also need regular doses of UV light to arrest its progress – a nice mechanic for keeping you on your toes.

The visual style is vibrant and colourful for the most part (who says the end of the world has to be dull and dreary?) and the audio is also impressive, with solid voice acting – including a turn

by Rosario Dawson – and some seemingly context-aware musical scoring that kicks in when you’re in a long parkour session.

Despite the disappointing story, we can’t help but recommend this game. The open world is a pleasure to explore, the parkour mechanics are keenly honed and the combat is exhilarating and involving.

Sam Kieldsen

STUFF SAYS A worthy sequel that offers improvements in almost every area ★★★★✩ 79

X3 Games Dying light.indd 79

03/02/2022 17:08

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Pub4 Next issue.indd 68

03/02/2022 17:01

TESTED GAMES

PS5, PS4, XSX, XB1, PC / stuff.tv/Extraction

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction

With a deadly parasite creeping across the USA, the latest R6 shooter arms you with much more than a mask and a vaccine. But is it as effective? n the face of it, Rainbow Six Extraction has everything Clancy fans are looking for: strong gunplay, fabulously destructive environments, and a roster of unique Operators. The only trouble is, the rest of what makes R6 a hot favourite with shooter buffs – chiefly tactical PvP fights across intricate maps – is simply not there.

While there is an emphasis on online collaboration… well, that’s it, really. There’s no story campaign; in fact there’s no campaign at all. All you do is enter quarantine zones – either alone, with your pals or with matchmade randos – shoot shizz up, and do your damnedest to get back out again.

Rinse and repeat.

Even the objectives you’re required to complete come from a limited pool. Selected at random from a dozen or so options, they’ll task you with rescuing somebody, or perhaps eradicating a clutch of poisonous nests. Occasionally you have to hold specific points while warding off intruders, and

O

“Shoot on sight! He’s trying to steal all the footballs from the school sports hall!”

Well, if you tried to scratch your nose with hands like that your face would be sore too.

later you might need to silently take down a particular specimen in order to extract its DNA for scientists to analyse.

This means that sometimes you’ll have a great time – your objectives will be speedy and straightforward, and you’ll move seamlessly through the incursion zone – and others will feel like literal nightmares, with blackened goo sucking at your feet as you try to run for your life.

We suspect Extraction’s main issues stem from its core premise.

Neither solely a survival horror nor a tactical shooter, it straddles both genres without committing seriously to either. If you’ve come into this looking for the hardcore tactics of other Rainbow games, you’re unlikely to come out of its formulaic ghost train feeling wholly satisfied.

But if you’re just happy with a gun in one hand and a stun grenade in the other, the combat is fabulous fun and the parasitic aliens you take on are a formidable, occasionally even unnerving foe.

Vikki Blake

STUFF SAYS It’s got guns. It’s (kind of) got aliens. What else do you need, eh? ★★★✩✩ 81

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03/02/2022 19:11

TOP TEN

Straight outta testing and into our rankings.

NEW

OF EVERYTHING Time changes everything, including Stuff Top Ten entries.

HOT BUY

BARGAIN BUY UPDATE A product of techy genius that’s set our hearts aflame.

A proper steal.

Worth owning regardless of cashflow.

Smartphones 83 Headphones 84 Smartwatches, 85 fitness tech Laptops 86 Speakers 87 TVs 88 Soundbars, 89 streamers

Y1 Top 10 opener.indd 79

Tablets, consoles 90 Games 91 E-bikes etc, electric cars 92 Smart home 93 VR headsets & games 94 Drones & action cams, 95 tech toys Cameras 96 Budget buys 97

HOW TO USE THEM 03/02/2022 18:47

83

SMARTPHONES TOP TENS

1

HOT BUY

Google Pixel 6 Pro from £849 / stuff.tv/Pixel6Pro

TIPS & TRICKS Go to Settings > System > Gestures to enable taking a screenshot with a tap on the phone’s back.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Ambitious and uncompromising, this is Google’s finest smartphone by far

Android 12’s new one-handed mode makes it easy to use big phones like this using, yes, one hand.

● NOW ADD THIS Google Pixel Stand (2nd Gen) This wireless charger will juice up your Pixel at the phone’s maximum rate of 23W. £69 / store.google.com

‘At a Glance’ mode helps you see key information like Calendar events, weather and so on.

2

3

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Oppo Find X3 Pro

While the iPhone 13 Pro doesn’t look dissimilar to 2020’s offering, it comes with a bunch of tweaks that add up to something more significant. This is Apple’s most accomplished handset of the new generation, with the A15 Bionic chip, 5G and an ace camera system.

In almost every respect, the X3 Pro is a killer flagship phone. Oppo’s software has taken a major leap forward and the hardware is easily on a par with Apple and Samsung.

If you want the best you pay the premium… and the Find X3 Pro is very much one of the best.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Hits the spot for power, performance, camera, battery life and design

Stuff says ★★★★★ It’s serious money, but it’s brilliantly capable in just about every way

from £949 / stuff.tv/13Pro

● Prices quoted are for handset only unless otherwise stated

The Pixel 6 Pro is a true flagship device and the best Google phone yet. With smart shooting modes adding flexibility and a trio of lenses delivering delightfully detailed images under every kind of lighting, this Pixel is trading blows with the best. It has one or two weak spots, but Android 12’s slick user experience mostly makes up for them. It’s the fact that cameras are now only a part of the package, rather than being the main benefit, that will give Apple and Samsung owners serious pause for thought.

£1077 / stuff.tv/X3Pro

4

OnePlus 9 Pro

5

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

6

Google Pixel 6

7

Sony Xperia 1 III

8

Apple iPhone 13 Mini

9

Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro

10

★★★★★ from £829 / stuff.tv/OnePlus9Pro Top camera, top display: the latest OnePlus flagship is a high-end phone at a non-premium price.

★★★★★ from £1049 / stuff.tv/13ProMax For Apple fans who like to go large, this is a significant upgrade on the old 12 Pro Max.

★★★★★ from £599 / stuff.tv/Pixel6 Misses the 6 Pro’s zoom lens, but this remains an upper-mid-range Android phone to be cherished.

★★★★★ £999 / stuff.tv/Xperia1iii Photo novices might find it tough to master, but no rival has such comprehensive camera skills.

★★★★✩ from £679 / stuff.tv/13Mini The current entry-level iPhone is essentially the same phone as the standard 13 but a bit smaller.

★★★★✩ from £1100 / stuff.tv/5sPro With its overclocked processor, this is an evolution of the ROG Phone 5 that roars while others whimper.

Xiaomi 11T Pro

★★★★✩ £545 / stuff.tv/11TPro Puts pricier phones on notice with its blisteringly rapid 17-minute charging.

FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW PHONES, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/SMARTPHONES

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03/02/2022 18:48

TOP TENS IN-EARS 84

1

HOT BUY

Sony WF-1000XM4

Sony WH-1000XM4

A worthy successor to the XM3 buds that sat atop this list for what seemed like decades, Sony’s latest true wireless noise-cancelling in-ears are smaller, smarter and better.

With the arguable exceptions of call quality and app slickness, the WF-1000XM4s aren’t quite the best at anything; but they’re so close to being the best at everything that their all-round game is untouchable. No other wireless earbuds are so consistently accomplished across the board.

With their balance of wearability, active noise-cancelling prowess and audio performance, there hasn’t been a better package than the Sony XM3s… until now. The XM4s look and sound almost identical, but a range of new features – including Speak-to-Chat, which stops the music when you start talking – aims to lure you away from your current ’phones. If those are the XM3s (still available at a super-low price, by the way), it’s tough to justify the upgrade; but who’s going to knock Sony off its perch now?

Stuff says ★★★★★ The finest true wireless noise-cancelling earbuds around – this is the complete package

Stuff says ★★★★★ Not surprisingly given their heritage, these are the best all-round noise-cancelling headphones you can buy

2 3

NEW

1

HOT BUY

£229 / stuff.tv/WFXM4

NEW

ON/OVER-EARS TOP TENS

Beats Fit Pro

£200 / stuff.tv/FitPro These Beats are excellent on many levels.

Unless you really love the earhook design of the Powerbeats Pro, they’re definitely the best workout ’phones in the Apple/Beats range and rival any others at the price.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Good battery life, punchy sound, lock-tight fit

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

£249 / stuff.tv/QCE They’re bulkier than the average in-ears, but otherwise the QC Earbuds are difficult to knock. The sound is bassier than you might expect but retains lots of detail, and you won’t find better ANC. Stuff says ★★★★★ A fun listen with excellent noise-cancelling

4

Bowers & Wilkins PI7

5

Jaybird Vista 2

★★★★★ £349 / stuff.tv/pi7 These true wireless buds are expensive but impressive. See also the affordable PI5s.

★★★★★ £190 / stuff.tv/Vista2 A superb fitness all-rounder with great sound and lots of neat extras.

£279 / stuff.tv/WHXM4

2

Bowers & Wilkins PX7

3

Bose NCH 700

4

Philips Fidelio L3

5

Bang & Olufsen H95

£300 / stuff.tv/PX7 B&W’s second ANC headphones place greater emphasis on comfort and are all the better for it, while the noise-killing is as effective as you’ll find anywhere. Oh, and they sound flipping good too.

Stuff says ★★★★★ B&W takes on the best with top-class cans

£290 / stuff.tv/NCH700 There are superior-sounding headphones, but if call quality and noise-cancelling are just as important to you then Bose’s flagship cans are the gold standard. The voice-pickup system is the best out there.

Stuff says ★★★★★ As all-rounders, these are hard to beat

★★★★★ £259 / stuff.tv/L3 For those who value balance and tonal accuracy, the L3s are easy to recommend.

★★★★★ £700 / stuff.tv/H95 Prepare to be bankrupted by the most luxurious ANC cans of all.

TO READ THE FULL REVIEWS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/IN-EAR-HEADPHONES & STUFF.TV/TOP-10/HEADPHONES

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03/02/2022 18:50

TOP TENS SMARTWATCHES

1

1

HOT BUY

HOT BUY

BARGAIN BUY

Apple Watch Series 7

Mi Smart Band 5

If you’ve got an Apple Watch Series 3 or even earlier, upgrading to this one will be like walking into a lighting shop from a dark and foggy winter evening: the display is bigger and clearer, and there are new input options too. As a wearable it can’t be beaten simply because it does so much, especially if you’re into fitness; just bear in mind that it’s probably not worth upgrading from a Series 5 or 6 – and of course, its usefulness remains totally dependent on you having an iPhone.

With no installable apps, Xiaomi’s dinky wearable can’t stack up to smartwatches or reply to notifications, but it can relay alerts and track everything from sleep to workouts. It’s better than the Mi Smart Band 4, thanks to a bigger and brighter screen, smarter software and a charger that’s much less annoying. The slightly reduced battery life really isn’t an issue – and with the addition of activity, stress and menstrual cycle tracking, this is a £30-ish gift that keeps giving.

Stuff says ★★★★★ The mighty Apple Watch cements its place at the top of the wearable tree

Stuff says ★★★★★ Fantastic value and decent features make this an easy fitness tracker to recommend

from £369 / stuff.tv/WatchS7

2

UPDATE

3 4 NEW

FITNESS TECH TOP TENS

85

5

Garmin Fenix 6

£533 / stuff.tv/Fenix6 Anyone who’s truly into their fitness will appreciate the Fenix 6’s endless feature list. This is the finest fitness watch money can buy… although the Fenix 7 tested on p29 might change that in next month’s list.

Stuff says ★★★★★ The best fitness-orientated smartwatch

Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic

from £289 / stuff.tv/Watch4 This is the best Wear OS watch in years: a greatest hits of Samsung watch design and Google watch software. Go for the larger 46mm version, though, as the wee one just doesn’t last long enough between charges.

Stuff says ★★★★✩ A top smartwatch that needs a lot of charging

Apple Watch SE

★★★★✩ from £249 / stuff.tv/WatchSE The most obvious alternative to the Watch Series 7 – and it looks almost as good.

Huawei Watch GT 3

★★★★✩ from £200 / stuff.tv/WatchGT3 A nippy interface with great health tracking and stellar battery life.

£33 / stuff.tv/MiBand5

2

Myzone MZ-Switch

3

Hammerhead Karoo 2

£140 / stuff.tv/MZSwitch Myzone’s modular heart-rate tracker can be attached to different parts of the body, while the app gamifies your activity. It’s a versatile wearable that pushes you to roll up your sleeves and go further without intimidation.

Stuff says ★★★★★ An addictive and convenient route to fitness

£324 / stuff.tv/Karoo2 For ages cycling computers have been held back by outdated tech… but Hammerhead’s sharp screen really is a gamechanger, and effectively running a tiny Android phone inside a custom case feels like a no-brainer.

Stuff says ★★★★★ At last, a bike computer for the 21st century

4

Peloton Bike+

5

Wattbike Atom

★★★★★ £2295 + £39/m / stuff.tv/PelPlus The connected bike phenomenon: Peloton owners look smug for a reason.

★★★★★ £1999 / stuff.tv/WBAtom With improved sensors, this is the benchmark for serious indoor cyclists.

FOR THE FULL REVIEWS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/SMARTWATCHES & STUFF.TV/TOP-10/FITNESS-TRACKERS

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03/02/2022 18:51

TOP TENS LAPTOPS TIPS & TRICKS

The Sidecar feature on macOS Big Sur lets you use an iPad as a second display for your MacBook.

86

Apple charges a hefty premium for extra storage, so consider a cheaper external SSD.

1

HOT BUY

Apple MacBook Air from £889 / stuff.tv/Air

The early-2020 version was already the best MacBook Air ever – and this one brings a real step up in power. Apple’s amazing M1 processor means that, for once, we aren’t hankering after a Pro for video editing and graphics-heavy gaming. It’s a pity about the rubbish webcam – a real annoyance in the age of video calling – but this is a stunning machine in every other respect, and the best all-round work laptop you can get for under a grand.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Our go-to MacBook just keeps getting even go-to-er ● NOW ADD THIS Anker PowerExpand 7-in-2 Hub Turn the Air’s twin USB-C ports into a media hub with a mix of HDMI, USB, microSD and SD card connections. £40 / uk.anker.com

2

3

4 5 6 7

Apple MacBook Pro 14in

Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

If you don’t need this MacBook’s power and ports, it’s overkill. And if your software isn’t yet optimised for Apple’s incredible new M1 Pro chip, it might not (yet) represent great value. But if you work in a field that can take advantage of its tech, you’ll be laughing.

The Surface Laptop 3 seems plain on paper – no second screen, no hybrid hinge, no fingerprint scanner – but Microsoft has put supreme attention to detail into every bit that matters. And if you can spare a few quid more, see also the newer Surface Laptop 4.

Stuff says ★★★★★ The Pro goes fully ‘Pro’ again – if you can afford it, you’ll love it

Stuff says ★★★★★ Forget frills and gimmicks: this is everything a laptop should be

from £1899 / stuff.tv/Pro14

from £829 / stuff.tv/SurfaceLap3

8

Apple MacBook Pro 13in

★★★★★ from £1187 / stuff.tv/Pro13 Surpassed by the new M1 Pro models, but the ‘basic’ M1 chip still kicks big, big bottom.

LG Gram 16

★★★★★ from £999 / stuff.tv/Gram16 LG’s latest lightweight machine is slick, light and well made – an impressive, versatile option.

Dell XPS 13

★★★★★ from £859 / stuff.tv/XPS13 Style, portability, performance… there’s little else out there that’s quite so well rounded.

Razer Blade Pro 17

★★★★★ from £2840 / stuff.tv/BladePro17 Incredible power and quality make for a working and gaming beast.

Huawei MateBook X Pro

★★★★★ from £1100 / stuff.tv/XPro This is a real powerhouse of a Windows laptop.

See also the equally slick MateBook 14s.

9

Asus ZenBook Duo 14

10

Google Pixelbook Go

★★★★✩ £1300 / stuff.tv/Duo14 The full-width second screen is innovative and useful, but ergonomics are compromised.

★★★★✩ from £629 / stuff.tv/PixelbookGo A light and stylish touchscreen laptop built for those who like to live and work in the cloud.

FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW LAPTOPS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/LAPTOPS

Y6 Laptops.indd 86

03/02/2022 18:53

TIPS & TRICKS

You can control your Move with the touch controls on top, the Sonos app, Google Assistant or Alexa.

Auto Trueplay adapts the Move’s sound to different rooms, while the app offers additional EQ tweaks.

1

87

SPEAKERS TOP TENS HOT BUY

Sonos Move £399 / stuff.tv/SonosMove

The Sonos range of wireless speakers had been crying out for a battery-powered portable model for ages – and finally our favourite multiroom audio specialist caved in. Luckily, the Move was worth the wait. Its adaptability and sound quality mean it’s fine value for money, and a no-brainer for anyone who’s already a fan of the brand.

This is the speaker Sonos should have launched years ago – and for even better portability, see the Roam model at No4 on this list.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Sonos finally gets up to speed with the portable speaker craze, and in style ● NOW ADD THIS YouTube Music Premium If you’d like a side of optional visuals with your audio, look no further than the ad-free tier of YouTube Music. £9.99/month / music.youtube.com

2

3

4 5 6 7

Sonos One

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin

The Sonos One is now a more well-rounded device than it was at launch, supporting Spotify with voice control as well as Amazon Music and TuneIn Radio, while the early Alexa hiccups seem to have been fixed. It’s a class apart from the competition.

No, the latest Zeppelin doesn’t quite give the wide, separated stereo sound it reckons it can… but in every other respect this is a deeply impressive speaker.

There’s no clever DSP magic, just the excellent sound that B&W has decided on.

Stuff says ★★★★★ A great balance of sound and smarts for forward-thinking audio nerds

Stuff says ★★★★★ Supremely enjoyable hi-fi sound in a supremely large package

£199 / stuff.tv/SonosOne

£699 / stuff.tv/Zeppelin

8 9 10

Sonos Roam

★★★★★ £179 / stuff.tv/SonosRoam There are better-sounding sub-£200 speakers, but none with the Roam’s portable skills.

Naim Mu-so 2nd Generation

★★★★★ £1449 / stuff.tv/Mu-so2 More than capable of maintaining Naim’s position at the front of the luxury hi-fi pack.

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII

★★★★★ £338 / stuff.tv/C10Mk2 Ideal for multiroom systems – there’s nothing else that sounds this good at this price.

Devialet Phantom 1 108dB

★★★★★ £2790 each / stuff.tv/Phantom1 An insanely powerful lump of hi-fi magic, best enjoyed in a neighbour-terrifying stereo pair.

JBL Charge 5

★★★★★ £145 / stuff.tv/JBLCharge5 A no-nonsense portable speaker for audio fans who won’t settle for a sonic lightweight.

Q Acoustics M20

★★★★★ £389 (pair) / stuff.tv/QM20 Hi-res sound from multiple sources, with none of the compromises the price suggests.

Bowers & Wilkins Formation Wedge

★★★★★ £899 / stuff.tv/BWWedge Pricey, weird-looking… and a brilliant illustration of what a wireless speaker is capable of.

FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW HI-FI, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/HI-FI-STREAMING

Y7 Speakers.indd 87

03/02/2022 18:54

TOP TENS TVs TIPS & TRICKS

You can configure this TV to work with the voice assistant of your choice, not just Samsung’s Bixby.

88

Samsung’s remote is solar-powered, so don’t lose it down the back of the sofa – it’s dark down there.

1

AirPlay 2 integration lets you stream content from Apple devices to the big screen.

HOT BUY

Samsung QE65QN95A £2399 / stuff.tv/QN95A

This is Samsung’s single most expensive current 4K telly (unless you buy a bigger version), but the pictures justify the outlay.

The Korean giant’s implementation of the new Mini LED tech is, on this evidence, something to be reckoned with. It’s difficult to imagine how any of the new sets that are incoming in 2022 could be better.

Stuff says ★★★★★ This Mini LED television is a fearsomely accomplished set – and the one to beat ● NOW ADD THIS Samsung Q-Series soundbars Pairing your QLED with one of these is a stress-free way to get 3D object-based sound. from £549 / samsung.com

2

3

4 5 6

LG OLED65G1

Philips 48OLED+935

Well over £2k is a lot of money for a television, even one as slim and well-specified as this, especially when you take the humdrum audio into account – not to mention the absence of a stand.

But the OLED specialists have made good on the ‘Evo’ promise by serving up pictures that exceed expectations… so maybe LG is entitled to charge what it thinks it can get away with. Between this and the Samsung at No1, there’s really nothing in it.

A grand and a half for a 48in TV is no one’s idea of a bargain.

But when you consider the level of audio-visual fidelity this money buys, not to mention the convenience of the integrated soundbar, it’s hard to argue the 48OLED+935 isn’t worth every penny. Next-gen gamers may lament the lack of HDMI 2.1, but for anyone other than the most ardent button-bashers the lovely picture (with Ambilight) is quite immersive enough.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Probably LG’s best ever OLED… which is saying something

Stuff says ★★★★★ Expensive for its size, but the picture and sound justify the price

£2199 / stuff.tv/65G1

£1499 / stuff.tv/OLED935

7 8

BARGAIN BUY

9 10

LG OLED55CX

★★★★★ £899 / stuff.tv/OLEDCX LG knows exactly what it’s doing with OLED and the results here are mighty impressive.

Philips 55OLED806

★★★★★ £1599 / stuff.tv/OLED806 All the specs and all the performance make this Ambilight beauty a real contender.

Panasonic TX-55JZ1000

★★★★★ £1300 / stuff.tv/JZ1000 Has the specs, the interface and the picture quality to compete… shame it’s so chunky.

Sony XR-55A90J

★★★★★ £2399 / stuff.tv/A90J Does everything to a dizzily high standard – but the world is awash with cheaper rivals.

Samsung 50AU9000

★★★★★ £529 / stuff.tv/AU9000 As much TV as most people will ever need, at a reasonable price.

Sony KE-48A9

★★★★★ £1189 / stuff.tv/A9 Don’t be fooled by its relatively small size: the A9 is a real smasher of a 4K OLED.

Hisense A7200G

★★★★★ £349 / stuff.tv/A7200G This 50in budget buy is a perfectly good way to get a biggish screen at a little price.

FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW TELEVISIONS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/TVs

Y8 TVs.indd 88

03/02/2022 18:55

89 TOP TENS SOUNDBARS

1

STREAMERS TOP TENS

HOT BUY

1

HOT BUY

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar

Sky TV

Utterly convincing Dolby Atmos and DTS:X 3D sound, ample power and lots of inputs mean no other soundbar currently available can perform feats with the solidity and confidence of this Sennheiser. The sheer room-filling scale of this device’s sound is remarkable, and it’s hard to think of any content that wouldn’t benefit from being Ambeo’d. That’s why, as well as being the biggest and the most expensive, it’s the best you can buy.

Already home to the biggest selection of 4K content, from blockbuster films and original dramas to top-flight sport, Sky has adopted a can’t-beat-’em-join-’em approach to streaming by incorporating the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and BT Sport in its user-friendly interface. It’s also restructured its packages to make them more affordable, while multiroom and mobile options round off the most comprehensive content system money can buy.

Stuff says ★★★★★ The Ambeo Soundbar is a big unit but the sound it makes is bigger still

Stuff says ★★★★★ Sky has come out fighting to move with the times and its selection of shows is unrivalled

£2199 / stuff.tv/AmbeoSoundbar

2

Sonos Arc

3

Roku Streambar

BARGAIN BUY

4 5

£899 / stuff.tv/SonosArc Don’t expect this soundbar to do everything a multi-speaker Dolby Atmos setup can do, but its up-firing and side-firing drivers give a real sense of scale for an immersively cinematic TV-watching experience.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Big-screen sound for your big-screen binges

£130 / stuff.tv/Streambar It’s a compact soundbar and a versatile streaming stick in the same box – and both parts of the deal work brilliantly well. This is the simplest and cheapest way to upgrade your TV’s sound and smarts in one go.

Stuff says ★★★★★ A punchy little bar with built-in streaming skills

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

★★★★★ £449 / stuff.tv/SonosBeam The addition of Dolby Atmos has made an excellent compact soundbar even better.

Yamaha SR-C20A

★★★★★ £229 / stuff.tv/SRC20A At 60cm wide, this is a little bit of a soundbar that can do a little bit of everything.

from £26/m + setup / stuff.tv/SkyTV

2

Amazon Fire TV Cube

3

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

4

Roku Express 4K

5

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

£110 / stuff.tv/FireTVCube The Fire TV interface is easy to use and all the big catch-up services are available via this tidy box – and best of all, Alexa voice control works brilliantly. You’ll never have to worry about losing the remote again!

Stuff says ★★★★★ A marvel of voice control for your telly

£50 / stuff.tv/FireStick4K This streaming stick offers 4K plus a faster processor than the original Fire TV Stick, and comes with an Alexa remote… but see also the Max model below, and the cheaper non-4K version.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Simply a great 4K streaming stick

★★★★★ £40 / stuff.tv/Express4K Has the user-friendly Roku OS and offers all the streaming services you’d expect.

★★★★✩ £55 / stuff.tv/Fire4KMax The ‘Max’ part means faster insides, Wi-Fi 6 support and a remote with more buttons.

FOR FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THE PRODUCTS IN OUR TOP TEN LISTINGS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10

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03/02/2022 18:56

90 TOP TENS TABLETS

1

HOT BUY

CONSOLES TOP TENS

1

HOT BUY

Apple iPad Air

Sony PlayStation 5

The 4th-generation iPad Air ushers in big changes. It looks the spit of an 11in iPad Pro (at least from the front), and supports Apple’s snazzy Magic Keyboard and second-gen Pencil… and the A14 chip makes it blazingly fast, leaving its predecessor in the dust. Sure, there are compromises, but none are critical. So if you were considering an iPad Pro but don’t really need the extra power of that phenomenal M1 processor, it might be wise to save yourself a few quid and buy the Air instead.

The PS5 is not a modest upgrade. Its hulking design means it’ll make a bad first impression on some, but spend time playing it and it’ll soon win you over – and then some. This is essentially a high-spec gaming PC for the living room: stupendously powerful, with greatly reduced loading times compared to the PS4. Most last-gen titles will run fine, many with a boost, and the line-up of new games is strong; we just hope developers make use of that fascinating DualSense pad and its haptic feedback trickery.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Pointing to the iPad’s future rather than its past, this is a meaningful, impressive, powerful Air update

Stuff says ★★★★★ Huge power, clever hardware and a guarantee of great games to come make the PS5 hard to resist

from £540 / stuff.tv/iPadAir

2

Apple iPad Pro

3

Apple iPad (2021)

4

Microsoft Surface Go 2

5

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+

from £749 / stuff.tv/iPadPro The iPad Pro’s display is wonderful and the M1 chip super-powerful, with only Apple itself holding things back with the flawed iPadOS. Don’t rush to upgrade if you have the 2020 model… but this is the king of tablets.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Absolutely the best tablet around… at a price

from £319 / stuff.tv/iPad The ninth generation of Apple’s entry-level tablet keeps things familiar with a Home button, a Lightning port and a headphone socket. But the chip has been upgraded and this is a highly capable productivity tool.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Might just be all the iPad you need

★★★★★ from £309 / stuff.tv/SurfaceGo2 Just enough power to be a genuine iPad rival, and a surprisingly good way to play games.

★★★★I from £679 / stuff.tv/TabS7Plus A true iPad Pro alternative that brilliantly balances productivity and entertainment.

£450 / stuff.tv/PS5

2

Nintendo Switch OLED

£310 / stuff.tv/SwitchOLED While it’s identical to the standard Switch in terms of raw power, the OLED model does move things on with its bigger, better display.

If you’re looking to buy a Switch for the first time, this one is well worth the extra cash.

Stuff says ★★★★✩ A tempting upgrade from the trusty old Switch

3

Microsoft Xbox Series X

4

Microsoft Xbox Series S

5

£450 / stuff.tv/XSX A fully future-proofed machine that doesn’t scrimp on specs or speed, the Series X just wants more exclusive titles to make it sing.

Xbox Game Pass remains pretty much the best streamed offering in gaming.

Stuff says ★★★★✩ A beast of a console that needs more games

★★★★✩ £250 / stuff.tv/XSS Delivers affordability without sacrificing key features, but still falls short on new titles.

Evercade VS

★★★★✩ £90 / stuff.tv/EvercadeVS Ideal for anyone who loves playing old-school games but isn’t wedded to very specific titles.

FOR FULL REVIEWS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/TABLETS & STUFF.TV/TOP-10/GAMES-MACHINES

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91

GAMES TOP TENS

HOT BARGAIN BUY BUY

The Last of Us Part II £20 / PS4

Just as The Last of Us proved to be the perfect swansong for the PS3 era, The Last of Us Part II is a masterful triumph to see off the PS4 in style: a rare superior sequel that can be mentioned in the same breath as The Godfather Part II. An unparalleled masterclass in everything it does, with an extensive suite of accessibility options that every game should adopt as the standard, it’s a game with a story that challenges us – and one we’ll be discussing long into the new console generation.

TIPS & TRICKS Take your time exploring – you’ll find key resources, notes, even some fun Easter eggs.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Naughty Dog has done it again with this brutal, bleak and beautiful game

Not keen on all the violence? A lot of confrontations can be avoided. Just look out for sniffer dogs!

2

● OR PLAY THIS Uncharted: The Lost Legacy A leaner and somewhat less grim action adventure from Naughty Dog, starring a pair of kick-ass women. £15 / PS4

3

Hades

Deathloop

Just when you think you’ve seen all this hellish roguelite has to offer, a new tweak yanks you out of your comfort zone. It quickly becomes very addictive… and even if you’ll have to face numerous setbacks, few games make you feel so godly.

With meaty combat, organic exploration and lots of ingenious puzzles, this is a wondrously accessible adventure that’s easy to pick up but impossible to stop playing. It’s flawless in pretty much every way, from its design style to its soundtrack.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Great even if you don’t like roguelites …and if you do, it’s the best there is

Stuff says ★★★★★ Not just one of the best games of 2021, but one of the best games ever

from £19 / all platforms

from £35 / PS5, PC

4

Halo Infinite

5

Forza Horizon 5

6

It Takes Two

★★★★★ from £50 / XSX, XB1, PC The best Halo since the original trilogy – and it’s included with Game Pass.

★★★★★ from £48 / XSX, XB1, PC This stunning fifth venture into the Horizon is the pinnacle of open-world racing.

★★★★★ from £17 / PS5, PS4, XSX, XB1, PC A masterful co-op experience that will live long in the memory.

7

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

8

Final Fantasy VII Remake

9

Metroid Dread

10

Psychonauts 2

★★★★★ £43 / PS5 Consistently fun and incredible to look at, this is a PS5 must-have.

★★★★★ £50 / PS4, PS5 The greatest remake of one of the all-time greatest video games.

★★★★★ £37 / Switch Samus Aran’s latest adventure is the perfect showpiece game for the Switch OLED.

★★★★★ from £40 / XSX, XB1, PS4, PC A story that brims with imagination while also addressing very real issues.

FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW GAMES, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/GAMES

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1

HOT BUY

ELECTRIC CARS TOP TENS

1

HOT BUY

VanMoof S3

Porsche Taycan

VanMoof’s second-gen S3 (or X3 if you’re under 5ft 8in) looks like a normal bike, rides like a normal bike and, crucially, doesn’t cost a ridiculous amount of cash. The chunky 50mm tyres, slightly swooped bars and upright riding position all combine to make it super-comfy, and 30 miles with the power assistance set to level three (out of four) left us completely sweat-free with 20% still in the tank. Plus, for such a looker, the S3 has a lot of tech hidden away to make it a less than ideal target for thieves.

It was about time someone took the fight to Tesla, and boy has Porsche delivered with the Taycan. This electric four-door saloon is the EV that petrolheads have been waiting for. In full-fat Turbo S flavour, the Taycan hits 62mph in 2.8 seconds – and adding more drama to proceedings is how it shifts up through its two-speed gearbox. The Taycan has a dynamism that can’t be matched by other electric cars, with a surefootedness that encourages you to press on.

Stuff says ★★★★★ This smart-looking e-bike offers a great ride, great features and some genuinely useful security smarts

Stuff says ★★★★★ Big power, sports-car handling and lots of clever tech make the Taycan the most exciting EV yet

£1998 / stuff.tv/VanMoofS3

2

Cowboy 4

3

LeMond Prolog

£2490 / stuff.tv/Cowboy4 The Belgian maker’s latest model has 50% more torque than its predecessor, but the slinky profile and simple interface with GPS remain… and there’s also an equally excellent step-through version, the 4 ST. Stuff says ★★★★★ Smoothly integrated e-power at a good price

£4350 / stuff.tv/Prolog From multiple Tour de France winner and world road race champion Greg LeMond, the Prolog is an all-carbon commute-crushing machine that doesn’t really look like it has a motor or a battery at all.

Stuff says ★★★★★ If you want gears and lightness, it’s worth it

4

Ribble Endurance SL e Pro

5

Gocycle G4i

★★★★★ from £5199 / stuff.tv/Endurance Super-light and a great bike on its own – the motor is just the icing on the hilly cake.

★★★★★ £4999 / stuff.tv/G4i This folding e-bike is silky-smooth, super-fast and splendidly futuristic… for a price.

from £72,850 / stuff.tv/Taycan

2 3

● Electric car prices include government plug-in car grant (PiCG)

92 TOP TENS E-BIKES ETC

Audi Q4 E-tron

from £43,115 / stuff.tv/Q4Etron Audi’s premium electric SUV has decent range and is surprisingly well priced. The smart tech works great, but this is also a highly practical car and will make sense for a lot of families and compulsive boot-fillers.

Stuff says ★★★★★ The best all-round electric SUV we’ve driven

Honda E

from £34,365 / stuff.tv/HondaE Born to be a city commuter (its maximum range is just 137 miles), the E is light, nimble and planted, but also delivers a completely comfortable and saloon-like refined ride for longer journeys.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Pricier than the equivalent Mini… but more fun

4

Polestar 2

5

Volkswagen ID.3

★★★★★ from £39,900 / stuff.tv/Polestar2 From Volvo’s EV subsidiary, this five-door all-electric fastback is a joy to drive.

★★★★★ from £32,200 / stuff.tv/ID3 A solid hatchback that looks ice-cold but is equally good at the mundane stuff.

FOR UP-TO-DATE LISTINGS AND FULL REVIEWS OF ALL KINDS OF GADGETS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10

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1

SMART HOME TOP TENS HOT BUY

Amazon Echo (4th Gen) £60 / stuff.tv/Echo

Having morphed from a cylinder to a sphere, the latest Echo is an excellent newsreader, weather forecaster, personal assistant and intercom straight out of the box; but it’s now also a capable speaker and a very accessible smart home hub. It doesn’t sound as good as the Sonos One or Apple HomePod for listening to music, but it’s significantly smarter than both and considerably cheaper too.

TIPS & TRICKS The Echo’s built-in Zigbee hub can hook up hundreds of smart home devices without a bridge.

Stuff says ★★★★★ An all-round upgrade that makes the Echo a smarter speaker than ever

Pair a compatible thermostat and the Echo’s temperature sensor can activate the heating.

● NOW ADD THIS Honeywell T6R This Zigbee-enabled thermostat is wireless so you can place it where it’s most convenient. £178 / amazon.co.uk

Alexa Flash Briefings deliver bursts of news or trivia; choose from 5000 sources in the app.

2

BARGAIN BUY

3

NEW

Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen)

Google Nest Mini

It can’t match a full-size smart speaker for audio, but as a radio and Alexa assistant for the bedside or kitchen, this cutey gets the job done. It’s worth paying £10 more for the ‘with Clock’ version, which adds extra functionality beyond telling the time.

If you live in Google’s world (and let’s face it, most of us do) then the Nest Mini is the best, cheapest way to get into the smart home game. It’s a better bet than the Echo Dot with Clock if you want close integration with your Google calendar and apps.

Stuff says ★★★★★ With the optional clock, this is our favourite bedside wondergadget

Stuff says ★★★★★ Louder and cleverer than ever… and it’ll only improve with updates

from £30 / stuff.tv/Dot

£49 / stuff.tv/NestMini

4

Ring Indoor Cam

5

Nest Learning Thermostat

6

★★★★★ £49 / stuff.tv/RingIndoor This cute little spy-cam is a bona fide bargain for anyone with security worries.

★★★★★ £219 / stuff.tv/NestTherm A simple and mess-free smart thermostat with Alexa compatibility.

Amazon Echo Show 15

★★★★★ £240 / stuff.tv/EchoShow15 Amazon’s smart display has come of age – this is easily the best Show in town.

7

Philips Hue Starter Kit

8

Dyson V15 Detect Absolute

9

Brisant-Secure Ultion Smart

10

★★★★★ from £45 / stuff.tv/Hue Become an indoor god with the smartest way of lighting up your home remotely.

★★★★★ £599 / stuff.tv/V15Absolute Ludicrous but brilliant: a vacuum cleaner that illuminates your dust particles with a laser.

★★★★★ from £259 / stuff.tv/UltionSmart Tradition and tech partner up in a smart lock to please everyone.

Nest Doorbell (Battery)

★★★★✩ £180 / stuff.tv/NestDoorbell A simple gadget that makes it easy to answer the door when you can’t answer the door.

FOR FULL REVIEWS OF THE BEST SMART HOME DEVICES, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/SMART-HOME-DEVICES

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03/02/2022 19:01

94 TOP TENS VR HEADSETS

1

HOT BUY

VR GAMES TOP TENS

1

HOT BUY

Oculus Quest 2

Half-Life: Alyx

The original Quest felt almost too good to be true. Its successor lacks the same wow factor, but you can’t argue with a better display and processor – not to mention a lighter, more comfortable build – for less money. Are there more powerful headsets? Is motion sickness still an issue? Yes to both, but superb tracking and a total absence of wires make this the VR package to get… that is, unless you’re boycotting Facebook, because you have to be logged in to use it.

Announcing Alyx as not only a ‘midquel’ but a VR exclusive got some Half-Life diehards riled up… but in classic Valve fashion, the end result is utterly brilliant. Alyx succeeds because its universe just happens to be a perfect fit for the format. It’s also larger and much more robust than most VR games, at a meaty 12-15 hours. And though it unfolds at a different kind of cadence to past Half-Life games, it feels like a fully fledged solo campaign and a key part of the franchise narrative.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Not a complete reinvention, but our favourite VR headset is now even better… and cheaper!

Stuff says ★★★★★ Valve’s beloved series returns… and offers one of the strongest arguments to date for VR gaming

from £299 / stuff.tv/Quest2

2

Valve Index

3

HTC Vive Pro

4

HTC Vive Flow

5

PlayStation VR

£919 / stuff.tv/ValveIndex While not revolutionary, the Index carries enough subtle upgrades to put it atop the PC-based headset pack. Everything looks fabulous and the controllers deliver the most fluid-feeling VR interactions to date.

Stuff says ★★★★✩ The best of the performance-PC VR options

£599 (headset only) / stuff.tv/HTCVivePro No longer the top dog for high-end VR using a PC, the Vive Pro – launched way back in 2018 – remains a strong headset thanks to its crisp screens and comfy fit. But see also the upgraded Pro 2 model.

Stuff says ★★★★✩ Impressive, but not the best around any more

★★★✩✩ £499 / stuff.tv/ViveFlow The VR is decent, but the ‘travel-friendly’ part faces some obstacles.

★★★✩✩ from £260 / stuff.tv/PSVR Held back by niggling issues… let’s hope the upcoming PlayStation VR2 will fix those.

from £40 / Oculus, Vive, Valve Index

2

Beat Saber

3

Star Wars: Squadrons

4

Pistol Whip

5

Population: One

from £23 / Oculus, Vive, PSVR Gleefully swing your twin lightsabers to chop blocks that are flung your way to the thumping beat of a song. This game has reinvented the rhythm genre for VR and it’s glorious, especially on the cable-free Quest.

Stuff says ★★★★★ A mesmerising musical melee

from £8 / Oculus, Vive, PSVR Suit up and enter the cockpit in this dazzling dogfighter, a robust Star Wars sim that you can play fully in VR across the entire experience – campaign missions and online shootouts alike.

Stuff says ★★★★✩ Spacey fun… and even better with a joystick

★★★★✩ from £23 / Oculus, Vive, PSVR Like John Wick meets EDM, this rhythmic blaster makes you feel like a master assassin.

★★★★✩ from £23 / Oculus, Vive Not as polished as Fortnite, but still a ripping battle-royale shooter with chaotic action.

FOR FULL REVIEWS, AND TO EXPLORE MORE OF THE STUFF TOP TEN LISTS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10

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TOP TENS DRONES & ACTION CAMS

1

£380 / stuff.tv/H10B

At a glance it’s almost impossible to tell the Hero10 Black apart from its predecessor. Each is a little box with screens front and rear, and a lens housing that juts out. Under the hood, however, GoPro has truly levelled up its latest action camera – and much of that is down to the new GP2 processor. It’s more responsive and captures better images in all lighting conditions, while ‘nice to have’ features (better livestreaming and webcam support, faster wireless and wired transfer of video) iron out some old issues.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Beefed-up internals make the Hero10 Black a nippy, powerful, polished action cam DJI Air 2S

£880 / stuff.tv/Air2S DJI’s laurels remain assuredly un-rested-upon, and this may be its best drone yet: an almost perfect balance of portability, performance and price, ideal for novices but still able to produce nigh-on pro-level results.

Stuff says ★★★★★ The best all-round camera drone on the market

3

DJI Mini 2

4

DJI Mavic 3

5

Fimi X8 Mini

NEW

TECH TOYS TOP TENS

1

HOT BUY

GoPro Hero10 Black

2

95

£419 / stuff.tv/Mini2 Just light enough to avoid having to be registered with the CAA, DJI’s latest pocket drone is a little beast that grabs stellar aerial video. It’s also super-intuitive to control and capable of shooting in 4K. Stuff says ★★★★★ DJI’s dinky drone soars above the competition

★★★★★ £1879 / stuff.tv/Mavic3 It isn’t cheap, but DJI’s stunning new flagship raises the bar for foldable flying cameras.

★★★★✩ £260 / stuff.tv/X8Mini A pocket-friendly flying machine with convincing camera skills.

HOT BUY

Lego Mindstorms Robot Inventor £250 / stuff.tv/Mindstorms

It’s clear Lego has prioritised immediacy and fun with its latest build-your-own-bots kit, which lets you and/or your little ones create five different coding-controlled mecha-beings. Yes, the set lacks a proper screen and relies on a separate device for programming; but it offers great clarity and scope, plus an attitude that encourages tinkering… whatever your age.

Stuff says ★★★★★ A fun, versatile set for Lego electronics newcomers and old hands alike

2 3

Sphero RVR

£264 / stuff.tv/SpheroRVR Pulling off the balance between serious coding and knockabout fun, this is an all-terrain rover with real programming chops. Just be warned that Sphero is still warning of supply chain disruptions, so you might have to wait.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Enough fun to convert any coding-phobe

Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit

£100 / stuff.tv/MKLive AR software, real-life cars and course markers turn your living room into a Mario Kart track. Lots of fun in short bursts, hugely inventive and yet another example of the Switch’s versatile brilliance.

Stuff says ★★★★✩ Another ingenious invention from Nintendo

4

Lego Adventures with Mario

5

Kano Harry Potter Coding Kit

★★★★✩ from £55 / stuff.tv/LAMario Basically Mario Maker in brick form; begin with the essential Starter Course.

★★★★✩ £90 / stuff.tv/KanoHarryPotter Still a magical way to make coding accessible and fun to learn.

FOR FULL REVIEWS, AND TO EXPLORE MORE OF THE STUFF TOP TEN LISTS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10

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TOP TENS CAMERAS

96

1

HOT BUY

Fujifilm X-T4 The Fuji X-T4 might be the high-end mirrorless camera of your dreams. Relatively affordable for a flagship, it excels at stills and video thanks to in-body image stabilisation, high-speed shooting and 4K recording at up to 60fps. Rapid shooting is backed up by fancy AF tricks that feel equally fast and reliable, and even the battery life goes above and beyond the usual standards. There’s no doubting this is a worthy successor to the already fabulous X-T3.

TIPS & TRICKS It’s easy to set up the X-T4’s customisable Q button: just hold it down for a couple of seconds for options.

Stuff says ★★★★★ A superbly capable mirrorless camera for shooting pretty much anything in style

Avoid those wonky horizons by turning on the built-in on-screen level in screen settings.

● NOW ADD THIS Fujifilm XF 16-80mm f/4 This versatile lens covers a bigger zoom range than most and adapts to pretty much any requirements. £699 / wexphotovideo.com

Fujifilm X Acquire is a clever bit of PC/Mac software that backs up all your X-T4’s custom settings.

2

3

Sony A7C

Sony A7 III

Putting full-frame sensors in small bodies is one of Sony’s greatest strengths, and the A7C minimises things even further – but this is a compact package with a lot of imaging power. For photographers and video makers who want to carry everything with them in a modest bag (or hanging around their neck), the A7C fits the bill better than any other interchangeable-lens camera.

The A7 III manages to pack in a lot of technology and desirability for less than £2000. It’s a fantastic all-rounder that’s well suited to a bunch of shooting scenarios, coping well with landscapes, portraits, and even a little bit of high-speed sport shooting.

As a camera design it’s admittedly not the prettiest thing we’ve ever seen, but it handles well for its compact size.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Superb quality and full-frame goodness from a half-pint camera

Stuff says ★★★★★ An excellent all-rounder that thrives in low-light conditions

£1599 / stuff.tv/A7C

£1699 / stuff.tv/SonyA7iii

4

Nikon D780

5

Canon EOS R6

6

Canon EOS RP

7

Sony A1

8

Fujifilm GFX100S

9

Sony ZV-E10

10

● System camera prices quoted are for body only unless otherwise stated

£1399 / stuff.tv/XT4

★★★★★ £1999 / stuff.tv/D780 An all-round DSLR that’s built like a tank and borrows the best tricks of its mirrorless siblings.

★★★★★ £2399 / stuff.tv/EOSR6 With its low-light-friendly specs, the R6 all but guarantees sharp shots in any conditions.

★★★★★ £1050 / stuff.tv/EOSRP A full-frame mirrorless marvel that’s light enough to not be a burden and offers top picture quality.

★★★★★ £6499 / stuff.tv/A1 There are better options for specialists, but this is the ultimate no-compromise all-round camera.

★★★★★ £5499 / stuff.tv/GFX100S Not cheap, but lightweight and compact: Fuji has made medium-format accessible.

★★★★★ £679 / stuff.tv/E10 With lots of inputs, decent mics and strong 4K performance, this is a great-value vlogging tool.

Nikon Z50

★★★★★ £829 / stuff.tv/Z50 One of the best APS-C cameras out there, offering a multitude of pro-level features.

FOR FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW CAMERAS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/SYSTEM-CAMERAS

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1 TIPS & TRICKS

Stuff says ★★★★★ With the optional clock, this is our favourite bedside wondergadget

Dot at your bedside?

Saying “Alexa, turn on whisper mode” will stop it waking up sleepyheads.

● NOW ADD THIS Sportlink Wall Mount This minimalist acrylic mount for the Dot will keep it clear from wet surfaces in the bathroom or kitchen. £13 / amazon.co.uk

3

4

Raspberry Pi 400 Kit

5

Mi Smart Band 5

6

Redmi Note 10 Pro

7 £90 / stuff.tv/XboxHeadset

Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) This fabric-covered take on Marvin the paranoid android in disguise as a Magic 8-Ball feels playful yet classical. It can’t match a full-size smart speaker for audio, but as a little radio and an Alexa assistant for the bedside table or kitchen worktop, this cutey gets the job done. It’s worth paying £10 more for the ‘with Clock’ version, which adds extra functionality beyond telling the time.

Alexa Voice Shopping lets you order from Amazon; add a ‘voice code’ to keep the kids off.

Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset

HOT BUY

from £30 / stuff.tv/Dot

Fed up of yelling?

Alexa’s voice can work like an intercom with connected Echo devices.

2

BUDGET BUYS TOP TENS

8

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite £130 / stuff.tv/Paperwhite

These black cans are unmistakably Xbox, with chunky earpads and plenty of padding. And the sound is impressive for the price, with a low-end response so impactful we had to turn down the bass in the Xbox’s EQ app.

With this redesigned and markedly improved Paperwhite, Amazon’s e-reader dominance looks sure to continue. The bigger display is worth the added heft, while the warm light setting means the gap between this Kindle and the pricey Oasis has never been smaller.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Yes, you really can bag a decent gaming headset for under £100

Stuff says ★★★★★ The evolved Paperwhite remains the best Kindle for almost everyone

NEW

9

10

★★★★★ £93 / stuff.tv/Pi400 This DIY PC kit is a superb gadget for hacking around and exploring computing’s past.

★★★★★ £33 / stuff.tv/MiBand5 Fantastic value and decent features make this an easy fitness tracker to recommend.

★★★★★ from £270 / stuff.tv/Note10Pro A strong all-round smartphone with top camera tech and a lush 120Hz display.

Orange Crest Edition

★★★★★ £95 / stuff.tv/OrangeCrest Comfortable cans with a sound that’s true to Orange’s hard-rocking heritage.

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2

★★★★★ £69 / stuff.tv/Wonderboom2 A rugged little wonder that’ll bring a sonic boost to any occasion.

Beurer TL50

★★★★✩ £78 / stuff.tv/TL50 A beautifully designed anti-SAD lamp that doesn’t cost the earth.

Nanoleaf Essentials A60

★★★★✩ from £18 / stuff.tv/NanoleafA60 Simple, affordable, effective: these lights are a must for any Apple smart home.

FOR FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THESE GADGETS, AND TO EXPLORE MORE TOP TEN LISTS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10

Y17 Budget buys.indd 97

03/02/2022 19:08

Pi thing honed for scrimpers The original Pi’s spec was ruthlessly cut to hit a sub-£25 price point. The founders hoped they’d sell a few thousand… over 40 million Pis of various types have sold since.

RANDOM ACCESS MEMORIES 2012

ou’ve outdone yourselves. We’re now apparently getting nostalgic about a circuit board.

Not just any circuit board: this is the original Raspberry Pi. And although it looks like it’s been fished out of a parts bin, this tiny device kickstarted a revolution upon its release a decade ago. A team including engineering guru Eben Upton and Elite creator David Braben had identified a crisis in computer science: interest was dwindling and many of those who did rock up at uni had barely any programming experience. The Pi was designed to get people experimenting.

Y

Did they first experiment by communicating with it in mime? There’s not even a keyboard.

Ah, but that’s the point. The tech of the day was increasingly closed, while schools had shifted from teaching computer science and electronics to the more superficial subject of ICT. So the Pi invited you to get properly stuck in, connecting whatever you wanted or needed to. The idea was that young geeks would, as Braben put it, “engage in things we’re all consumers of but not creators of”, thereby harking back to the 8-bit era of kids smashing away at the keys on their ZX Spectrums and BBC Micros.

OK, so – and this is vitally important – could you play the original Elite on it?

Indeed you could. That very first Pi lacked the power of a laptop, but it had enough clout to run a desktop-style OS for which folks crafted apps and emulators. Yet while the Pi’s roots grew in part from nostalgia, its success was all about the future. This unassuming circuit board blew a raspberry at an industry keen to cut people off from the technology they used. With a Pi and some smarts, you could create wonderful contraptions that would otherwise not have existed – and that you could truly call your own.

[ Words Craig Grannell ]

Raspberry Pi

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