2020-01-01 T3 Australia PDF

9001
We’re For Creators ®

9000
THE NEW BEST TRUE WIRELESS HEADPHONES
GREATEST
TECH HITS
OF THE YEAR
The highest-rated gadgets
January / February 2020 / $9.95 you must not miss
RAZR REVIEWED
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The classic is back,
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AMAZING
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SHOWSTOPPER
Gadgets that showcase the
very best that design and
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WAVES AN
SCALES
According to
Ruark’s website, the
Tempo’s distinnctive,
fragmented paattern
was inspired by
b
“soundwaves and
graphic scales of 20th
century artists”. We
reckon it looks a bit
like ’70s wallp
paper
in a good waay!
RUA R K L IN L E Y TEM PO
Such is the array of home-entertainment options you can get these days, it’s a wonder that anyone still
bothers with radio. Or at least it was a wonder until we clapped eyes on the Tempo. A collaboration
IMAGE SOURCE: RUARK AUDIO
between audio expert Ruark and royal furniture maker Linley, this British-made tuner is a devastating
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and songs couldn’t be easier. However, as satisfying as the technology is, the Tempo’s biggest selling
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radio is effortlessly eye-catching without being gaudy. Right, who’s for an episode of The Archers?
$2,845, ruarkaudio.com
Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au F E B / M A R 2 0 2 0 T3 3

The team
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About the magazine

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4 T3 F E B / M A R 2 0 2 0 Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

Welcome
We love
cool tech
The year ‘2020’ has a super cool sci-fi ring to it, and after reflecting on all the incredible tech
that’s come our way – it certainly feels like we’re living in some kind of fantastic future. Let’s
pause for a moment and remember that Blade Runner was set in 2019…
The year just passed was a rather good one for tech. We saw 5G roll out – and while getting
to the point where everyone enjoys speedy coverage is still a while away, we’re going to get
there. 8K TVs are now a real thing, and upscaling technology has evolved so that even if you’re
not feeding your car-priced telly native 8K content, almost anything will look good on one of
these.
Old is new again with the new Motorola Razr. This thing has opinions divided, but personally I
think it’s just about the sexiest phone I’ve seen since… the last Razr. Game consoles are exciting
again, with a new era of Xbox vs. PlayStation dawning, so check out what we know so far – it’s
looking good!
I’m sure you have a few things that stand out to you personally, and, maybe they’re right here
because our main feature this issue is a big look at the best tech 2019 had to offer. Tech you may
well be using right now. It’s a wrap of the gear that rated the highest over 2019 here in T3, as
well as some staff favourites. It’s a great way to catch up on cool stuff you may have missed, and
a reminder to perhaps chase something down that slipped off your radar in a busy year.
Ben Mansill, Editor

ben.mansill@futurenet.com
T3’S MISSION
T3’s mission is to help you find the best products for every This goes for reviews too – you won’t us wasting your time
area of your tech lifestyle. From traditional gadget buys like with products you don’t need to know about.
phones and TVs to connected home security and sports More than that, our aim is to make sure you get the most
sensors, if it can make your life better, we’re here to make out of the things you buy, with in-depth guides to complex
sure you get the right one for you. tech areas, tips on making better use of products, and
The products we feature are chosen by our expert writers, recommendations for add-ons that make your favourite
with years of experience in their key areas. We wouldn’t gadgets even better.
recommend something we wouldn’t be happy to live with We’re here to help you find things you’ll really love, and
ourselves – the tat is filtered out long before we print a page. that make your life easier. Because we can all do with that.
OUR AWARDS
THE BEST FOR BEST ON

PLATINUM DESIGN BATTERY TEST
AWARD AWARD LIFE
Only a five-star review earn We give this only to tech This award, and others like it, The winners of our group
a product our prestigious that stands out for stunning are given for exceptional tests earn this accolade,
Platinum Award aesthetics or a clever build performance in a key feature showing them to be top tier

Contents
Contents
026
TECH’S
GREATEST HITS
Whatever your
lifestyle there’s a gadget to make it
better. We round up the best of the
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Horizon
Top 10
The best new tech heading your way

Edited by Claire Davies
MOTOROLA RAZR
$TBA, motorola.com
The Motorola Razr is a cutting-edge, foldable 96x80 digital colour LCD, the new Razr has
phone that’s also a throwback to one of the a 2.7-inch 800x600 display. It’s far sharper
most iconic handset designs of all time: the than expected, and makes selfies a joy. Just tap
original Razr V3 that launched in 2004… it’s the the screen, hit the volume button or turn on
future wrapped in the past. We got a chance to ‘smile for shutter’, and the phone takes a photo.
test it, to see whether this synthesis is novel The Razr has a single 16MP rear camera,
enough to be worth flipping out over. which functions fine. Given that last year’s
We assumed that foldables would bridge the Moto Z4 dropped down to one lens but
gap between phones and tablets by unfolding supplemented it with much-improved
horizontally into a wider display. Motorola has software, we assume the new Razr will take
other ideas, however, and its take flips open to photos of the same quality. The ones we
reveal an elongated touchscreen that’s just a took seemed fine – and you’re not buying
bit longer than the iPhone 11’s display. the Razr for photography, anyway.
So, no, you don’t get much more screen Elsewhere, the phone runs Android 9 and
real estate. The novelty lies in what you can do packs a Snapdragon 710 chipset – which
when the phone is closed down to a pocket- doesn’t reach the performance of the advanced
friendly size, as there’s a smaller display on the Snapdragon 855 in the Samsung Galaxy Fold.
outside for checking texts, calls, music, emails Why not the latest chipset? Because it
and such. Below that quick-look screen is the would’ve drained more battery and generated
rear camera – which, when the Razr is closed more heat than the Razr team desired for the
becomes a selfie camera, with the small display phone’s final design. In many ways, this new
showing what it’s looking at. handset inherits the old Razr’s initial reputation
The interior display is a 21:9 OLED screen as a pricey status symbol – though instead of a
with a resolution of 876x2142. That’s cinematic- fashion flex, the new Razr is a design darling.
level widescreen, like those on Sony’s Xperia Yes, it’s a big nostalgia play, but it’s also an
phones, but less sharp. Being so widescreen innovative new direction that smartphones
is a bit up and down if you want to use it to could follow to break out of the black
watch media – movies look fantastic when they rectangle convention.
fill the screen, not all of the content on Netflix And yet, convention drives down costs, and
and other TV services fills it. the unique design in the new Razr comes at a
But for a foldable phone at a lower price price. It’s hard to tell whether the novel form
than the Samsung Galaxy Fold, the Razr is built factor will convince folks to fork over more
well. Yes, you can feel the hinge beneath the money for functionality they could largely
screen as you run your finger over the middle, have at a much lower price tag.
but it doesn’t obstruct. Better still, unlike the
Galaxy Fold, the Razr’s display doesn’t have a
visible seam – though we’d love to see if that TECH-O-METER
holds up after years of opening and closing it.
There is a front screen, much like the
old-school Razr – though in place of the dated

Top 10
BATTERY DOUBT
While Motorola assures us that the 2,510mAh
battery will last all day, we aren’t sure that will hold
up to more strenuous GPS and media-watching
activity. However, if the front screen leads users to
preview more and open their phone less, that could
lend weight to Motorola’s assertion
STORAGE LIMITATION
The Razr doesn’t have a slot for expanding
the storage or inserting a SIM card (the
phone uses eSIM), and neither is there a
3.5mm headphone jack. Meanwhile, the right
side of the phone features a volume rocker
and a lock button, but they’re too slim and
sharp to be terribly useful

Horizon
Top 10
PHOTO FUN
The front-facing camera is a 5MP
sensor that’s perched in the top of
the unfolded screen. While it’s not
as sharp as some phones’ offerings,
there’s something neat about shooting
a video with the device closed, and
then flipping the phone open to switch
to the front-facing camera
NICE GES STURES

The devic ce supports
variou
var iouss Motorola
gestures tthat work when
the phone e is closed and
opened. T This is handy
for the ‘chhop to open
flashlight’ gesture, and
crucial forr the ‘wiggle
to open camera’ – which
seems to be the only
way to ge et the camera
app open while the
p ne is sshut
pho
HIGHLY CHARGED
We’re a bit disappointed
to note that the Razr
doesn’t support wireless
charging. However,
Motorola has made up
for this by including
a 15W TurboPower “The new Razr’s look is
wall charger with the
phone. According utterly desirable – we just
to the US company,
it delivers hours of hope the middling specs
power in a matter of
minutes, making it ideal don’t leave it feeling like
for emergencies
an expensive gimmick”
Matt Bolton
1 0 T3 F E B / M A R 2 0 1 9 Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

S O U N D
OF A NEW
au.yamaha.com
A new spin on a classic. Whether adding music streaming

to your existing hi-fi setup or wirelessly connecting to
MusicCast speakers throughout the home, the MusicCast
VINYL 500 is designed for a new generation of audiophiles.
Horizon
Top 10
XIAOMI MI NOTE 10
$TBC, mi.com
A few months back, we featured the Xiaomi Mi

MIX Alpha, a concept phone that boasted not
only a unique wraparound display, but also
the world’s first 108MP smartphone camera
– the only downside being that it wasn’t, and
probably never will be, available in any great
quantity. Happily, though, the Chinese firm has
mimicked that photographic feat in its new,
widely available handset, the Mi Note 10, a
phone that packs a total of five rear cameras; a
huge 5,260mAh battery; an impressive 6.47-inch
AMOLED display; and fast 30W wired charging.
While the UK price had yet to be confirmed at
the time of writing, the Mi Note 10 is expected
to cost around the $1,000 mark (slightly more
for the Pro version) – which, considering the
spec, sounds pretty tempting to us.
T3 SAYS: For a mid-range phone, Xiaomi’s new
IMAGE SOURCE: XIAOMI

handset offers plenty – especially for snappers.
TECH-O-METER
LEICA SL2
$9,899, leica-camera.com
Launched in 2015, Leica’s original SL full-frame

mirrorless camera wasn’t really one for the
masses, matching an unconventionally minimalist
aesthetic with a hefty price tag. It was still
mightily impressive, though, which is why this
follow-up is sure to cause ripples of excitement
among photographers. This time around, the
German firm has virtually doubled the
megapixel count, the SL2’s 47MP CMOS sensor
trouncing the SL’s 24MP offering. And at 3.2
inches/2.1m dots, the rear touchscreen is also
bigger and better than the previous iteration’s.
Elsewhere, the SL2 packs five-axis in-body
stabilisation with 5.5EV shake compensation; a
Maestro III image processor; an ISO range of
100-50,000; as well as the ability to shoot 4k
video at up to 60fps. If money is no object…
T3 SAYS: One of the most iconic cameras gets

IMAGE SOURCE: LEICA
a reboot – and we Leica it very much.
TECH-O-METER

Top 10
FOSSIL HYBRID
SMARTWATCH HR
From $199, fossil.com
Just because you want the modern features of

a smartwatch doesn’t mean you should have to
sacrifice your traditional tastes. Fossil’s latest
wearable offers the best of both worlds. At the
centre of the watch is an always-on digital
display that’ll enable you to keep tabs on your
heart rate and step count, take messages or
calls delivered to your phone, and control your
music playback. But there are also physical
hands, along with minute and hour intervals
around the outside of the fascia, for telling the
time in the old-fashioned way. The Hybrid
Smartwatch HR will last around two weeks
on a single charge, while waterproofing to
30 metres means it won’t conk out if you
accidentally wear it in the bath.
T3 SAYS: The classic and the contemporary sit

side by side in this stylish, functional timepiece.
IMAGE SOURCE: FOSSIL

TECH-O-METER
PHONOCUT
$2,300 (approx), phonocut.com
Thanks to websites like SoundCloud, it’s never

been easier to get your home-made music
heard. But it’s not quite the same as having
your compositions pressed to a physical
format. Phonocut – currently crowdfunding on
Kickstarter and earmarked for a December
2020 launch – enables musicians to cut their
tunes to vinyl with absolutely no technical
knowledge needed. All you have to do is place
a blank disc onto the turntable, connect your
source via the input socket, and press a button,
and Phonocut will create your very own record
for you. Of course, it doesn’t have to be your
home-made music – there’s nothing stopping
you from digging out one of your old ’80s
mixtapes, or your child’s first attempt at
karaoke, and committing that to a 7”.
IMAGE SOURCE: PHONOCUT
T3 SAYS: Ever dreamt of creating your own

record label? This is a great place to start.
TECH-O-METER
Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au F E B / M A R 2 0 2 0 T3 1 3

Horizon
Top 10
SEGWAY DIRT EBIKE

X160/X260
US$3,000/US$4,500
segway.com
Fully chargeable in just four hours, the Dirt

eBike X160 and X260 promise mile upon mile
of mud-splattering adventure. As you might
expect, the more expensive and slightly larger
X260 will take you further and faster, its
120-km range and 75kph top speed trumping
the X160’s 65-km/50kph. But otherwise, the
two bikes offer much the same features: a
sturdy, lightweight aluminium frame; three
riding modes (novice, standard and sport); app
compatibility for remote control and firmware
upgrades; and a swappable battery. The only
downside (and it’s a biggie) is that Segway
hasn’t announced any plans to launch them
over here so far.
T3 SAYS: These will tear up those trails. Shame

they’re not available in Australia – yet.
IMAGE SOURCE: SEGWAY

TECH-O-METER
DJI MAVIC MINI

From $599, dji.com
Here in Australia, drones weighing 250g or

more now need to be registered with the
relevant authorities. So what has DJI gone and
done? Yep – launched one that weighs 249g.
That makes the Mavic Mini the Chinese
company’s lightest, and smallest, drone to date.
But this is still a very capable device: advanced
sensors enable it to hover with impressive
precision; a 12-megapixel camera and three-axis
motorised gimbal combine to deliver 2.7K
footage at up to 30fps and with the minimum
of judder. The remote control can maintain an
HD video feed at a distance of up to 4km; while
a 360-degree propeller guard provides
enhanced safety. You get a generous 30
minutes’ flying time from a single battery
charge. Mini it may be, but this Mavic offers
maximum pleasure.
T3 SAYS: Light, long-lasting and loads of fun,

IMAGE SOURCE: DJI
this is a perfect drone for beginners.
TECH-O-METER

Top 10
KLIPSCH S1 TRUE WIRELESS EARPHONES

$219, klipsch.com
Earlier this year, Klipsch entered the earphones to your smart device with
‘true wireless’ earphones market with ease. And two built-in mics provide
its impressive T5 buds. While they clarity when making and receiving
weren’t extortionately priced, at calls. Sure, the S1s’ five-hour battery
around $300 for a pair they still life (plus 16 hours in the charging
represented a sizeable investment. So case) but you can’t go wrong with
the fact that the US company has Klipsch’s quality in some budget
returned with a cheaper alternative buds.
will be music to many people’s ears.
IMAGE SOURCE: KLIPSCH

The S1 True Wireless Earphones offer T3 SAYS: Klipsch’s earphones offer
an admirable spec for their modest quality listening at a reasonable price.
fee. With contoured silicone tips
helping them to nestle securely in TECH-O-METER
your lugholes, outside noise is kept to COOLNESS
a minimum. Bluetooth 5 and AAC INNOVATION
support means you can pair the FEATURES
SAMSUNG GALAXY BOOK ION

$TBC, samsung.com
Not only is Samsung set to unveil its will ensure that your work projects
Galaxy S11 smartphone in February, and games run as smoothly as a
it’s also launching the world’s first freshly shaved chin. And, thanks to
two QLED-screened laptops – the Wireless PowerShare, you can charge
hybrid Galaxy Book Flex and this, the a Qi-compatible smartphone simply
more conventional Galaxy Book Ion. by placing it on the Ion’s touchpad.
Available as a 13.3-inch or a 15.6-inch Neat, as long as you’re not using it.
model, the Ion is super portable
IMAGE SOURCE: SAMSUNG

thanks to its thin (12.9mm/14.9mm) T3 SAYS: Samsung has changed the
and light (0.97kg/1.19kg) Aura Silver laptop game with its QLED machines.
magnesium build. That QLED FHD
display delivers eye-popping
1920x1080 visuals, unhindered by TECH-O-METER
bright sunshine thanks to a maximum COOLNESS
brightness of 600 nits. A 10th-gen INNOVATION
(Comet Lake) Intel Core processor FEATURES
LG PURICARE MINI
$TBC, lg.com
If you spend a lot of time in a smartphone control and a clear LED

confined space (office, car, etc), it’s display indicating how clean your air
important to keep the air as clean is at any given time. Sadly, LG hasn’t
and as fresh as possible. Touted as announced a launch date for
“the world’s first portable filter-type Australia yet – in the meantime, you’ll
air purifier”, LG’s cordless PuriCare just have to open a window.
Mini will detect and remove 99.9% of
airborne pollutants, enabling you to T3 SAYS: Light, quick and efficient,
work, travel or sleep without fear of the PuriCare Mini is quite literally
sucking in dust, germs or allergens. like a breath of fresh air.
IMAGE SOURCE: LG
Up to eight hours of battery life is

great, but what’s even better is how
efficient the device is – 50% of the TECH-O-METER
air inside a car can be cleaned in COOLNESS
just ten minutes. And the PuriCare INNOVATION
Mini is also a doddle to use, with FEATURES

Horizon
Fitness
ESSENTIAL
GYM GEAR
BEATS BY DRE
POWERBEATS PRO
IMAGE SOURCE: ZWIFT

A great pair of earphones
IMAGE SOURCE: BEATS BY DRE
will keep you in the zone

while working out – and they
don’t get much better than
the Beats by Dre Powerbeats
Pro. With exceptional sound,
sweat resistance and a nine-
hour battery life, these are a
CHAIN REACTION
champion choice.
$349, beatsbydre.com GET STARTED WITH
INDOOR CYCLING
You can pedal your way to fitness without even having
to leave your home. Here’s what you need to know…
If you’re looking for advice on how to get we’re fans of the Tacx Neo 2T Smart ($1,599
and stay fit: on your bike! No, we’re not approx, tacx.com). And if you get bored
being rude – cycling is one of the most while you pedal, you could always download
effective forms of exercise you can do, a cycling app: Zwift (from Free, zwift.com),
IMAGE SOURCE: JOSEPH JOSEPH
DOT WATER BOTTLE offering a workout for the legs, lungs and offers a range of training plans, and lets you
Keeping hydrated is vital heart. And indoor cycling is even better, as ride with thousands of like-minded people in
when you’re exercising. there are no traffic lights or big scary lorries. five different virtual worlds.
Joseph Joseph’s simple but Most gyms have exercise bikes, but if You don’t even need to spend a lot of
ingenious Dot Water Bottle you’d rather cycle at home, your two time on your bike to make a difference to
adds a dot to its lid every time options are a dedicated training bike like the your health. “It’s so quick to do,” says James
g Wattbike Atom (from $3,499, wattbike. Spragg, a former professional cyclist turned
you to keep tabs on how com) or a turbo trainer, which will convert coach. “You can jump on, do a high-intensity
much you’re quaffing. your regular bicycle into a static machine – session in ten minutes and still get a benefit.”
$20, josephjoseph.com
HEELY GOOD
REACT INFINITY RUN
Now there’s no excuse not to burn off those Christmas
indulgences with these fiendishly clever, injury preventing Nikes
OSPREY MUTANT 22 How are you meant to get into shape if you
A streamlined 22L bucket keep getting injured? Nike is aiming to minimise
with a huge opening up top this inconvenience with its new React Infinity
that’ll eat all the climbing Run trainers. Designed for moderate runs,
gear (and food) you’ll need they’re built on a wide platform and supportive
on short trips to the crag. foam, which work together to guide the foot in
IMAGE SOURCE: NIKE
There’s a nifty rope carry on a smooth, straight line. And the results have
top, 3-point haul loops, ice been incredible – in a recent comparison test,
axe carry for when things get athletes wearing the React Infinity Run were
frosty and additional webbing found to have a 52% lower injury rate than
on the front. The perfect pack. those wearing a similar running shoe.
$129.95, www.osprey.com/au $TBC, nike.com

Travel
SAFARI
ESSENTIALS
SWAROVSKI OPTIC CL
COMPANION NOMAD
The CL Companion Nomad
binoculars are packed
IMAGE SOURCE: SWAROVSKIOPTIK

with carefully-considered
features, whether it’s
IMAGE SOURCE: GREATPLAINSCONSERVATION.COM

Swarobright coating for
maximum colour fidelity
across the whole light
spectrum, or the titanium
screw components, for
unbeatable durability.
$3,390,
swarovskioptik.com
LIFEVENTURE TIV
VACUUM BOTTLE
This hi-tech bottle will
keep chilled drinks cold
SIMPLY THE BEAST during the day
and hot drinks
hot (surprise
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE surprise) durin
those all-
ng
Travel journalist Tamara Hinson takes a walk on the wild side important nigh ht
IMAGE SOURCE: LIFE VENTURE
to round up the top safari camps to adventure at in 2020 safaris. A large

neck makes it
easy to add ice
Today’s safari camps are hi-tech yet camp, perched on the banks of the Kafue cubes, and it’s
sustainable retreats packed with innovations River. Highlights include the enormous made entirely
that make it easier than ever to admire the bathtubs on the tents’ private patios, and with recyclable e
world’s most majestic wild creatures, the chance to sign up for silent safaris – the materials.
whether you’re desperate to see the ‘big lodge has invested in a fleet of electric jeeps $33,
five’ or hoping to spot more elusive species, and a solar-powered e-boat to maximise lifeventure.comm
such as pangolins or wild dogs. Here are our guests’ chances of spotting the local wildlife.
favourite spots for those of you who are keen Over in Rwanda, Wilderness’ Magashi
to channel your wild side in the new year… Camp (wilderness-safaris.com) is a PETZL SWIFT RL
You’ll find Great Plains’ Mara Nyika wonderful reminder of just how far the A head torch is a safari
(greatplainsconservation.com), which country has come since it was torn apart by essential, and Petzl’s hi-tech
opened in August 2019 and stays open year- the genocide in 1994. After the atrocity, RL features an ultra-bright,
round, on the western side of the 50,000- many refugees were given farmland in the 900-lumen beam. The best
acre Naboisho Conservancy, the second park, and its lions were completely wiped bit? Switch to reactive mode
largest conservancy in Kenya’s greater out. The big cats were reintroduced in 2015, and the Swift RL monitors
Maasai Mara region. and 2018 saw the opening of Magashi ambient light and responds
Green Safaris’ Chisa Busanga Camp Camp, the park’s first safari lodge. accordingly. For example,
(greensafaris.com) opens in June 2020 in Finally, if you’re considering a safari later it will activate full power
Zambia’s wildlife-filled Kafue National Park in the year, make sure Wilderness Safaris’ mode when you stare straight
(Zambia’s oldest). It’s another sustainable Little DumaTau, which opens next August, is ahead, but dim when you
IMAGE SOURCE: PETZL
camp – electric jeeps are used for the safari on your radar. Wilderness’s newest property look down at a map.
drives, and the four Chisa nest-shaped tents will have one of the largest wellness areas of $150, petzl.com
(‘chisa’ means nest) have been designed to any Botswanan safari camp, and its position,
have minimal impact on the environment. next to a lagoon and close to the Kavango-
Can’t wait until June? Then consider a Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area,
stay at Green Safaris’ other Kafue property, will make it one of Botswana’s best options
Ila Safari Lodge. There are 10 tents at this in terms of wildlife diversity.

Horizon
WE CAN BUILD YOU
A MOBILE
WORK SETUP
A lightweight, no compromise office away from the
office – everything you need to work hard wherever
THE READER THE EXPERT

Carl Jepson Alex Cox
Carl is looking for a mobile worker Writer Alex never stops working.
setup centred around a powerful With a family under his feet, he
but lightweight laptop, often needs to escape to the local
complemented by everything he coffee shop, so knows what gear
needs to work wherever he is. can help Carl work better on the fly.
ACER SWIFT 7 STUBBLE & CO

1 How light does a laptop need
to be? At under 900g, the
3 THE BACKPACK
Made of durable and
magnesium-alloy Swift 7 manages to waterproofed canvas, this is one of
crush an incredible amount of power the most stylish backpacks we’ve
into a thin (under 1cm) and compact seen in some time. But that’s not why
shell that will barely make a dent on we’ve selected it. It’s here because
the overall weight you’re carrying. A of the quick accessibility of its
92% screen-to-body ratio means you drawstring opening and magnetic
actually get a generous 14-inch display, top flap, because of its padded and
with a resolution of 1920x1080. What’s protected laptop pocket, and because
more, it’s got a strong quick-charging of its huge 18-litre capacity. That’s
battery (it’s rated for up to 12 hours of enough for a bag full of necessary kit
battery life, but that will depend on and a decent lunch besides.
how you use it), dual-band MU-MIMO $182, stubbleandco.com
Wi-Fi to ensure high-speed
connectivity in the office, and a ANKER POWERCORE+
fingerprint reader to keep the screen
locked when our reader is away.
4 20100 USB-C
When you’re remote there’s
$3,144, acer.com no telling when you’ll next find a source
of power; although the Swift 7 offers
ASUS ZENSCREEN long battery life from one charge,
2 MB16AC
While the Swift 7’s 14-inch
having Anker’s large-capacity battery
on hand is the ultimate in reassurance.
panel is a pretty good size, some work It can juice up a laptop via its 5V/3A
just really needs dual screens. With USB-C output, and it’s equally useful
Asus’ 15.6-inch super-slim USB monitor for keeping your phone alive.
ready to go, you’ll be able to pull the $95, anker.com
full desktop experience out of the bag
wherever you are, even if you’re SAMSUNG PORTABLE
stationed at your local coffee shop. Its
protective cover cleverly doubles as a
5 SSD T5
If you’re jumping from your
stand, you can rotate it vertically for laptop to a different machine, fast
long documents or really seeing the removable storage is a big help.
full horror of your inbox, and it both Samsung’s V-NAND drive, which
plugs in and powers over a single supports USB-3.1 Gen 2, is hugely
USB Type-C cable, keeping things tidy. speedy, perfect for off-laptop backups,
The 1920x1080 resolution makes and solid state storage means
everything nice and clear. It weighs just nothing’s going to get corrupted in
800g and is 8mm thick, so doubling transit. And it weighs just 51g, so it is
your screens won’t weigh you down. most definitely extremely portable.
$426, asus.com/au From $129 (250GB), samsung.com

We can build you...
SAYS…
“Where you
are shouldn’t
stop you from
working if
you want to”
Matt Bolton

Horizon
T3’s dashing tech guy sits pretty

while solving your problems
ROSS HORNBY, WENTWORTH FALLS
How can I look better on webcam?

Tough one, this, as Guru’s chin and up your nose: that ain’t There’s a lot you could do to
A
ABOVE
cosmetic surgery licence flattering. Grab yourself a solid Looking like a improve the overall image coming
has (quite rightly) been external webcam (Logitech’s Brio phantom might from your webcam – software
suspended, so he can’t exactly Ultra HD Pro might be a bit pricey not get you an filters can work wonders, and
whip out a scalpel or a syringe full at $250, but its picture does beat appreciative you’ll definitely want to have a
of questionably-sourced Botox to the company’s 1080p C922 at $95) Skype audience fiddle with the exposure and white
help you out. But he can, at least, and fasten that to the top of your balance – but feeding the sensor
diagnose some of the reasons a laptop screen or, ideally, to a tripod with a better image will do you
ILLUSTRATIONS: STEPHEN KELLY
webcam makes you, an otherwise camera stand high above for that more favours.
beautiful person, look like an only tried and tested Instagram angle. A ring light around your camera
vaguely humanoid bag of butter. (Neewer’s cheap option on
Positioning is one issue, and if Amazon will do) will make your
you’re unlucky enough to have a There’s a lot you could do to eyes sparkle and ensure you’re
last-gen Dell XPS 13 or any other very evenly illuminated.
laptop with the camera in its hinge, improve the image coming If you don’t want to add any
you’ll likely have noticed the big from your webcam – software extras, the Razer Kiyo webcam
problem with a cam that points ($140) includes its own little ring
directly at the underside of your filters can work wonders light mounted around the lens.
SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: INBOX@T3.COM OR FACEBOOK.COM/T3MAG

Horizon
ALEX SMITH, BRISBANE
I’m heading abroad. How can I

avoid communication issues?
Apps are your friend. Guru can also type messages, if you
A has recently spent many
weeks with Duolingo (free,
don’t trust its interpretation, and
your quarry can do the same.
Android and iOS) and by golly he Sticking with Google, Lens (free)
has obtained a vague grasp on very can, through your phone’s camera,
basic French. Some of it is a bit transform printed text in foreign
odd, like its slight obsession with languages into something you’ll
owning a pet owl, but it’s a clever understand, avoiding those
language-learning course that awkward menu snafus or missed
breaks things down in a really ‘danger of death’ signs.
sensible manner. If, on the other hand, you’re
Not everyone has the time more worried about staying in
for all that, though. Duolingo’s touch when there might not be
gamification of language learning adequate network coverage
is effective, but it does involve around, the goTenna Mesh ($225 a
learning – surely, in this day and pair) is a neat solution. You can use
age, it is better to cheat? Live two, dangling from backpacks, to
translation is a thing, and don’t create a long-range network link
believe Google’s hype about it between a pair of points and send
being an exclusive Pixel Buds thing. text messages and GPS locations
They just make it slightly more between them. Additional devices
convenient. Fire up Google can act as repeaters, extending that ABOVE CHRIS TROTT,
Translate (free), poke your phone’s network further. Definitely a clever You won’t be CUMNOCK
mic in the uncomfortable space solution for keeping your location able to wear
between your faces, and it’ll do its known while hiking, or ensuring a hat with this How do I get
darnedest to interpret two-way there’s a brew on the go when get up, but the
conversations in 32 languages. You you’re nearing base camp. glasses are cool seen on my bike
in the dark?
GADGET GURU’S MAGIC BOX A
While Guru, with his
ever-following legions
of adoring and highly
It has taken a long time, but GaGu finally at least his new unstable fans, favours the stealth
convinced Mrs Guru that the festering bedroom is now method, he can certainly
15-year-old mattress from the bedroom had done. Never let it be understand the benefit of going
to go: in its place, one of those fancy pants said that Guru isn’t around looking like a Christmas
squashed-in-a-box mattresses. Guru opted practical, but he tree on a carnival float. Ultimate
for a Simba Hybrid Pro, given that his emerged scarred visibility depends on reflectivity
colleagues at T3 rate it as the best mattress and bruised after and illumination; on the first count,
in the world, and let him tell you: it is assembling a massive the waterproof and breathable
definitely a mattress. It would, at this point, Pax wardrobe set from Ikea. Guru’s FWE Kennington FX jacket is just
be too hasty for GaGu to give it his own options, including some neat Trådfri smart about the most reflective thing
gold-star rating, as your author’s contorted lights, but you can go cheaper. Note to our known to man, flicking from a cool
spine was quite happy with his flea-ridden Swedish furniture overlords: some kind of grey to a blinding white as soon as
old night nest and this new one has taken a overview guide, telling folks what to build it’s hit by headlights.
lot of getting used to. But it is certainly first and why, would have prevented Guru On the second, front and rear
agreeably soft, with a good bit of firm unscrewing and rescrewing things while lights are (obviously) essential
support in contrast. muttering advanced curse words under his – Knog reckons its Blinder Mob
The months-long bedroom breath. Four Eyes set ($89) are visible from
realignment process of Final quick thing: GaGu has been testing a kilometre away – but while extra
Guru Towers currently the Cooler Master MM830 gaming mouse, lights that can be seen from the
es GaGu without
see which has a weird D-pad of thumb buttons, side (JML’s $20 Wheely Bright set,
a home office, some great switches, a whole bunch of for instance) might seem like a
working from RGB, and a preposterous LCD screen great idea, they’re legally iffy on the
his lounge like tucked away on the front left edge. This is road. Try fitting a head torch to
some kind of basically the most extra mouse he has ever your helmet, and make sure you’re
peasant – but seen – if you can find it for $89, snap one up. using spoke reflectors to enhance
that side-on shine.

Gadget guru
NEW MEDIA
G HAYES, FERNVALE
NOW PLAYING
Guru finds the best
Android Auto
media you need on won’t work…
your various screens Try a new cable, then try
A two more. Hopefully one of
them might just work with
Android Auto’s finicky and ultra-
sensitive data transfer requirements.
If that doesn’t work, it’s probably
going to be a boring commute.
At press time, Guru’s glancing at
the angry unanswered comments
on Google’s echoey support forums
suggests that somehow, some way,
Google has managed to break
Android Auto on Android 10
I SHOULDN’T BE TELLING devices. Indeed the app icon itself
YOU THIS has been removed, replaced by
Jeff Goldblum’s jazz album, some system-level thing, because
despite the wacky ivory- the Big G was aiming to replace it
tinkling star collaborating with with a voice-only Google Assistant
Miley Cyrus at one point, is a driving mode. The advice: cross
truly wonderful thing. your fingers that an update fixes it.
RAY WILKES, KILCOY
How can I enjoy

fizzy drinks
without plastic?
Er, buy cans instead?
FOR ALL MANKIND
The real star of the Apple TV+
A Aluminium is just about the
most recyclable material
ABOVE
Winter blues
JESS WATERSTONE,
COOMERA
can be bad
launch capsule, this drama going. But if you’re okay with a little
imagines a space race that the bit of plastic, SodaStream is still a
but not as bad
as drowning in
Winter gets
Soviets won – and America’s thing, with the four-bottle, two-
apoplectic determination to cordial Spirit One Touch Hydration
a snowstorm
me down.
continue the fight. pack coming in at around $100 and
offering three levels of fizziness and What can I do?
an electrical gas pump.
Now owned by PepsiCo (and still Technology can certainly
suffering from a couple of tricky
ethical issues) SodaStream isn’t the
A play a role. While you’re
supposed to wait for a
only option out there. The problem diagnosis of Seasonal Affective
is the gas: most competitors use Disorder before picking up a SAD
the same CO2 canister format as lamp, Guru doesn’t think blasting
the big boy, and GaGu will be your face with light is exactly going
damned if he can find anywhere to have many negative effects even
selling anything other than pricey without your doctor’s permission.
SodaStream-branded bubbles. The brighter you get, the quicker
ENTER THE DR AGON you’re likely to feel the results; the
How’s this for a classic? Now on Lumie Vitamin L ($70) is a super-
Netflix, Guru’s favourite: the Blasting your face with light is slim option that uses 10,000 lux.
uncut 1973 Bruce Lee violence Consider an app, too: dminder (free
festival, unquestionably one of not exactly going to have many with IAPs on iOS and Android) can
the greatest kung fu flicks of all
time. Jim Kelly’s fab, too.
negative effects even without tracks your mood and reminds you
to go outside and get some sun,
your doctor’s permission even if it’s through a black cloud.

Horizon
Opinion
Duncan Bell
is inducted
When you find yourself cooking with
magnets, you know life has got weird
love cooking, not le t ur pans

because at the end f , around,
I there is some yum

food for me to eat.
at any rate, there’s some food.
something.
This, obviously,
causes the pans to
Then I shovel it into my gob, s at up, just as fri e
can later be told by my Japan se magnets keep your fridge
scales that I am ‘secretly obes ’. cool, I expect.
think they struggle with Wes rn The problem is that, while t
physiognomy, to be honest. b itself was reasonably pric ,
Later, I might go and flail a ut placing all my nice pans was not.
on an elliptical machine, until This is because, while they were
watch assures me I’ve burned off all very d t onduct g onouncements
the calories from the yummy food. weren’t magnetic, which they have i ht up t re w
The display on the smart scales still to be, for induction to work its number of calories my watch
says, ‘Get off me you fat, Western magnet-based witchcraft on them. reckons I’ve burned. I even told a
bastard’ afterwards. Isn’t it great to In exactly the same way that if representative from a manufacturer
live in the technological age? you have clothes moths, they will of one pan, ‘I keep getting pans
One part of that cycle of without fail choose your most that don’t work on induction, even
consumption and purging that’s expensive jumpers to chow down though they say they do,’ and they
never really involved tech till now is on, the likelihood of an induction chortled and said, ‘That’s ridiculous,
the actual cooking of yummy food. hob working with a saucepan is on but I guarantee this one will work.’
Sure, I flirted in my youth with an inverted sliding scale based on It didn’t. When I told them, they
microwaves and sous vide how expensive and posh they are. seemed to imply I was lying.
waterbaths. If you really like food The thing you soon learn when
that looks raw but is actually more you locate a pan that does work on
or less cooked, they are both great
devices. Big thumbs up from me.
While the hob itself induction, is that it really works.
Turn it up to warm up before you
Cooking without cooking was reasonably priced, start cooking, and you may turn
around 20 seconds later to find it is
Recently, however, I took the
plunge and got an induction hob. replacing all my nice so red hot it has singed your ceiling,
and the handle’s on fire.
A rather grand induction hob from Even so, I’d never go back to
AEG, in point of fact, with a
‘temperature probe’ that somehow
pans was not using boring old gas or ceramic
again. Everyone gets excited by the
requires neither batteries nor a wire, speed with which induction makes
and a double-sized ‘zone’ for fish Basic milk pan from Argos? No things very hot, but its real genius is
kettles, or cooking spaghetti problem at all. Copper sautée pan in how incredibly controllable it is.
horizontally or something. from a French brand you can’t Turn it down to the lowest setting
It’s a cool and futuristic thing, pronounce? Not a chance, mate. and you could leave a pan of soup
but I should warn anyone going Trying to buy new pans is hard on it for a week without it burning,
down this path that cooking with as well because, despite what they and the middle settings let you
nothing but the white heat of tell you, nobody in cookware cook food like a pro. Add lower
science is not straightforward. shops or in the business of writing energy bills thanks to induction’s
Actually, it’s deceptive to say product descriptions online seems efficiency and you truly have the
‘white heat’ because an induction to even know what induction is. hob of the future.
hob actually radiates no heat. ‘Can be used on all hobs including Too bad you have to bid adieu
Instead, as you probably know, it induction’ must be one of the to the pans of the present, but
uses magnets to swirl the atoms of most frequently inaccurate progress always come at a cost.

Our timeless classic,
rewritten in bronze.
With an ever-changing patina
that reflects the passing years.
A single red hand that marks
the present day. And a future
that’s yet to be written.
The story continues.
Big Crown
Bronze Pointer Date
Tech’s greatest hits
TECH’S
Whatever your lifestyle there’s a
gadget that can make it better. We
round
r up the very best tech of 2019
to get you sorted for the ne
ew year
Words: Alex Cox

A stylish life
A STYLISH LIFE
Up your sartorial game, and polish your skin and teeth,
instantly with these smart style accessories and grooming gadgets
1
2
3
1 Y-BRUSH
Brushing your teeth in 10 secondss may sound
like a terrible idea, but the Y-Brush can reach
all three visible faces of all 32 of your teeth at
once. Coat it with toothpaste, actiivate its sonic
YLEUDWLRQV DQG \RXèUH IUHVK LQ D ćDDVK
$85, y-brush.com
2 APPLE WATCH SERIES

S5
Simply the best smartwatch you canc buyy.
The design is nigh-on perfect, with two size
RSWLRQV ĆWWLQJ D PDMRULW\ RI ZULVWVV 7KH $SSOH
Watch truly straddles the line bet ween tech
and fashion, especially variations ike the Gold
Stainless Steel Case with Milanese e Loop.
From $649, apple.com/au
4
3 FOREO LUNA MINI 3
Not only will Foreo’s latest little Lun
na cleanse
your skin and unclog dirt from porees in 30
seconds, it’ll help you better controol your skin’s
natural oil production and help you maintain a
healthy glow, even through the dep pths of winter.
w
$219, foreo.com
4 GILLETTE HEATED RAZOR 5

Everybody and their mum has bought
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subscription service by now: leave it to
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7KH KHDWHG EDU UHDFKHV WHPSHUDWXUH LQ D
second, giving a hot-towel feel to any shave.
$TBC, gillette.com
5 NIKE ADAPT BB
Nike’s wirelessly-charging basketball
ERRWV ĆW WKHPVHOYHV SHUIHFWO\ WR \RXU
IRRW VKDSH DV VRRQ DV \RX VOLS WKHP RQ
DQG DGMXVW WKDW ĆW RYHU WLPH DV \RXU EORRG
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ćRZ LQFUHDVHV DQG \RXU IHHW VZHOO
$905, nike.com

A SMARTER NEST
Kit out your house with some of your favourite smart home
gadgets and accessories, plus a few top recommendations from us
Wireless security has never

EHHQ HDVLHU %OLQNèV ;7 LV
weather-resistant with all the
smartest camera mod cons,
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XS WR WZR \HDUVè SRZHU IURP
a single pair of AA batteries.
7KDWèV VXSHU FRQYHQLHQW
$255, blinkforhome.com
1IKEA KADRILJ
SMART BLIND
,NHDèV ORQJDZDLWHG VPDUW
EOLQGV DUH HDV\ WR ĆW DQG
easy to automate, since they
ZRUN ZLWK WKH FRPSDQ\èV
7U§GIUL KRPH DXWRPDWLRQ
system as well as the
included remote and
WKH\èUH D GDUQ VLJKW FKHDSHU
than their competitors.
$TBC, ikea.com
3 THERMOMIX TM6
7KLV FRRNLQJPL[LQJ K\EULG LV
WKH HYROXWLRQ RI WKH 7KHUPRPL[
formula. With a quad-core
processor (yes, really) and
access to 40,000 international
UHFLSHV LWèV VPDUW HQRXJK WR SXOO
RII VRXV YLGH VORZ FRRNLQJ DQG
IHUPHQWDWLRQ DQG LWèOO HYHQ FOHDQ
LWVHOI ZKHQ \RXèUH GRQH
$TBA, thermomix.vorwerk.com

A smarter nest
4 MEURAL CANVAS 2
A decadent addition to any wall,
WKLV PDWWHĆQLVK GLJLWDO IUDPH LV
built for art reproduction and
with a subscription to Meural’s
library and a wave of your hand
you’ll be able to display whichever
masterpiece you choose. 8
From $899, meural.netgear.com
5 NEOS SMARTCAM
The most affordable security
camera we’ve ever seen for the
price of one competing camera,
you can swathe your whole home
with sharp 1080p coverage, with
night vision, motion detection,
sound activation two-way audio 4
and free cloud storage.
$29, neos.co.uk
5
6 DYSON V11 ABSOLUTE
E
A rechargeable vacuum so light
and so powerful that Dyson
decided to bow out of the corded
market altogether. Strong enough
to suck up pollen and bacteria,
DQG VXSHUĆOWHUHG IRU WKH
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carpets are crying out for.
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recommended light levels for your
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9 LITTER ROBOT 3
There aren’t too many downsides
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Turn your living space into an auditory and visual fun palace with so
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GETTING AROUND
Stay on the move in the most stylish ways possible, and
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all-wheel drive that reacts to the road, up to 348
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which is why you should stay in good nick using some of this great tech
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State of the art
Wireless
high-end hi-fi
The quality of these streaming speakers may not come cheap,
but it’s worth every cent. So which should you buy?
Words: Duncan Bell Photography: Neil Godwin
ireless speakers are now a We’d pick UK hi-fi brand Naim as being against the new speaker from another hugely
W
massive part of the music the progenitor of this new breed. Its original prestigious UK brand, the Series 3 from
world. For a long time, the Mu-so wireless speaker was the first to cost Scotland’s Linn. Also competing is the
most successful have been in around $1,500 and be a big success. It also Phantom Reactor (now available in sexy black)
the $100-$1,000 bracket, but there’s a redefined what a wireless speaker could be in from France’s hi-fi disruptor Devialet.
growing range of high-end wireless, terms of quality of sound and design, and it None of these speakers looks like a
multi-room speakers appearing. They come still looks as stunning now as it did in 2014. traditional speaker, but they are all intended
from both established hi-fi brands and from This issue, we’re taking a look and a listen to get you to splash reasonably large sums to
newer manufacturers melding tech prowess at that speaker’s successor – called, logically enjoy classic hi-fi quality, via that there
with more old-fashioned audio virtues. enough, Naim Mu-so 2nd generation. It’s up new-fangled streaming.

THE FUTURE OF
MAGAZINES
Subscribe at www.techmags.com.au
State of the art
WHAT’S ON TEST…
1 Linn Series 3
Linn helped to pioneer high-end
digital hi-fi. The Series 3 is a serious
2 Naim Mu-so 2nd Gen
The new Mu-so looks very much
like the illustrious first, but don’t be
3 Devialet Phantom
Reactor 900
Both more compact and more
bit of kit, but unlike the brand’s fooled; audio has been improved affordable than its test rivals, the
previous entries into this market, this over even that masterpiece. Like the Phantom Reactor nonetheless
one can at least be set up at home by Linn, Mu-so 2 is fully multi-room puts out a formidable sound
you – past Linn streaming speakers capable, although you can’t pair from its compact and unique
have required a dealer with a laptop two of these in stereo. The long, form. Connectivity is kept simple,
to come and optimise everything soundbar-like shape of the Mu-so with AirPlay and Spotify Connect
to suit the room you placed it in. helps it put out a pleasingly wide for convenience and UPNP for
Reviewed here as a single speaker. sound stage on its own. streaming hi-res files from a laptop
$5,700 ($10,500 if you want a $2,499, naimaudio.com or NAS. Two can be paired in stereo.
stereo pair of them), linn.co.uk $2,590, devialet.com
SPECS
SPECS CONNECTIVITY Wi-Fi, ethernet, SPECS
CONNECTIVITY Wi-Fi, ethernet, Bluetooth, HDMI, line in, optical in, CONNECTIVITY Wi-Fi, ethernet,
Bluetooth including aptX HD, HDMI USB audio in/charging Bluetooth, line in
RESOLUTION Up to 24-bit, 192 kHz RESOLUTION Up to 24-bit, 384 kHz RESOLUTION Up to 24-bit, 192 kHz
POWER 200W POWER 450W POWER 600W
SIZE 250x296x206mm SIZE 122x628x264mm SIZE 219x157x168 mm
WEIGHT 6.9kg WEIGHT 11.2kg WEIGHT 4.3kg

Wireless high-end hi-fi
LINN SERIES 3 (301) PRODUCT 01:
LINN SERIES
3 (301)
This new-age hi-fi classic aims to be
nothing less than the best of its breed
inn is by no means a newcomer to digital
L
audio or streaming, but the Series 3 does
represent a new approach from this
prestigious UK brand, because it can be
bought online and set up by an unqualified person: you
or us, for instance. Its sawn-off teardrop shape is more
reminiscent of a high-end air purifier, but the Linn Series
3 certainly sounds like a high-end hi-fi product.
Setup is easy enough via Linn’s Kazoo app, and you can
then stream Tidal, Qobuz, TuneIn and music from your
home’s many network drives via that app. Apple AirPlay
is also supported, but we found it dropped out a lot from
our iPhone. Luckily, there’s also the option of Bluetooth
for streaming your phone’s content, and services not
supported by Linn’s app – ie: nearly all of them. Normally,
we’d consider it a bit perverse to spend nearly six grand
on a speaker and then use Bluetooth, but the Series 3
supports the hi-res aptX HD form of Bluetooth.
There’s also an HDMI ARC input, so you can plug in
your TV. This latter function would tend to work better
with a stereo pair of these. A lone Series 3 is actually
mono, but Linn will gladly flog you a second speaker – the
302 or ‘Series 3 Partner’ – with no controls. Additional 301
speakers can also be added, to build a no doubt stellar
multi-room system.
This is comparable in
terms of ease of use to a
classic Bluetooth speaker
A 301 twinned with a 302 sounds quite magnificent,
but even a lone Series 3 puts up a fantastic performance.
MQA isn’t supported, so you can’t utilise Tidal’s hi-res
streaming, but Qobuz’s hi-res files are supported, and HD
music from a local drive sounds quite mind-blowing,
with the Series 3 floating a convincing sound stage from
just the one speaker, even when placed in unpromising
locations such as the corner of a room. The Series 3 also
makes an excellent job of playing Tidal CD-quality as well
as compressed MP3s, web radio and Spotify streams.
Thanks to its ease of placing and small footprint, this is
comparable in terms of ease of use to a classic Bluetooth
speaker, although clearly the price and expertise involved
mean its not at all comparable in terms of performance.
The Series 3’s blend of ease and quality mean it should be
top of your list if you have the necessary readies. The only
warning note we’d sound is that – while it’s admittedly
hard to quantify these things – we’re not sure that this is
ConnectivityislimitedtoWi-Fi,Bluetooth,HDMI,ethernetandLinn’sEXAKTLink. more than twice as good as the Mu-so 2, but it sure as hell
This is used for wiring to a second Series 3, to form an expansive stereo pair is more than twice as expensive.

State of the art
PRODUCT 02: NAIM MU-SO 2ND GEN
NAIM MU-SO
2ND GEN
The current T3 Award holder for Best
Multi-room Speaker is another classic
espite looking almost traditional in the
D
company of its rivals here, this is still a
striking bit of design. The huge and tactile
volume dial, the heat-sink fins on the back
and the sheer girth of the thing make it instantly iconic.
Naim has honed everything about the original Mu-so
for this successor. The result is a brilliant-sounding slab
of sound, with rock-solid streaming over Wi-Fi or
ethernet and a good range of other connectivity options
– Bluetooth, analogue and digital inputs, a USB audio port
that also charges your phone, and HDMI Arc. The latter is
quite apt, as the Mu-so does resemble a soundbar, at least
when viewed from the front.
Naim’s app is notably better than Linn’s, especially if
you use Tidal, as the implementation of that service’s
features is head and shoulders above any other speaker’s.
But you can bypass its app entirely if you prefer, and use
Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast or Spotify Connect
instead. Bluetooth is also supported, although again, we
can’t quite see why you’d spend this much on a speaker
and then use Bluetooth with it.
Where the Linn Series 3 beguiles, the Mu-so 2 has
a more forceful presentation. That’s not to say it isn’t
capable of subtlety – far from it – but this big, long
speaker is best when you turn up the volume and let it get
You can also use it as part

of an AirPlay, Spotify or
Chromecast setup
aggressive with your favourite rock and electronic tunes.
As you’d expect from a speaker this shape, the sound stage
is W-I-D-E for a single speaker, although naturally it can’t
handle stereo as well as a pair of speakers can (and you
can’t pair two in stereo). You can connect up to five of
them – and the smaller Mu-so Qb 2, and earlier Mu-sos
as well – into a multi-room system. Underlining the
versatility of the thing, you can also use it as part of an
AirPlay, Spotify or Chromecast multi-room setup.
Particularly if you have a room where cramming in
a stereo pair is tricky, the Mu-so is our go-to pick for
anyone wanting a wireless speaker that sounds truly
great. Placement is easy, helped by very competent room
optimisation, although clearly you will need to clear a
space for its nearly 63cm of be-grilled girth.
The Mu-so clearly isn’t cheap, although having now
experienced the Linn Series 3 it suddenly seems more
affordable. With such brilliant performance and all the
extra connectivity options, you can’t deny that you get a The enormous volume knob also has touch controls on it for key functions.
hell of a lot for your money from Naim’s wondrous box. These appear, as if by magic, when you approach the speaker

Wireless high-end hi-fi
DEVIALET PHANTOM REACTOR 900 PRODUCT 03:
DEVIALET
PHANTOM
REACTOR 900
Ooh la-la! This French speaker both
looks and sounds out of this world
f the Linn looks like an exotic air purifier and
I
the Mu-so a soundbar on steroids, this
wireless speaker is almost impossible to
describe without reference to sci-fi movies.
It’s reminiscent of something from David Lynch’s Dune,
or the drones in the Tom Cruise film Oblivion. What, you
haven’t seen Oblivion? Well, take our word for it.
Those two disks on either side of the Reactor 900 are
actually woofers that throb and pulsate quite violently
when Devialet’s speaker starts getting down to business.
The tweeter is on the front beneath that ornate grille.
This unique arrangement, coupled with 900(!) watts of
amplification, means that the Phantom can put out a quite
astounding wall of sound for something so small. You also
get a surprising feeling of space to the music considering
the relatively tiny footprint of the thing, and that’s true
almost regardless of where you stand in relation to it.
Granted, the result also sounds objectively not quite as
incredible as the other two speakers on test, but many
listeners will be captivated by the sheer, visceral thrill of
the Phantom Reactor’s sonic assault, and rightly so. It’s
also the easiest of the three to set up, thanks to its small
Many will be captivated

by the sheer, visceral
thrill of its sonic assault
size and simplified approach to connectivity. There’s only
AirPlay – nb: not AirPlay 2 at present, which means no
Apple multi-room – Spotify Connect, Bluetooth and a
3.5mm line in, and the app does very little beyond
toggling between them.
While none of the speakers here is any kind of chore
to position or use, this is the one that will suit the most
spaces, both because it’s so small and because of its ability
to muster up enjoyable listening for almost any angle.
Your placement options range from positioning two on
stands paired together, just like a traditional hi-fi system,
to placing one (or more) on any spare bit of sideboard,
shelf or table – more like your typical Bluetooth speaker.
Because of its blitzkrieg approach to music playback,
we’d suggest that the Phantom, while certainly not totally
unsubtle, is slightly less suited to acoustic reveries and
a capella singing. Lovers of rock, dance, hip-hop – and
futuristic design statements, especially in menacing matt
Aside from streaming duties via Wi-Fi or ethernet, the Phantom finds room, just black – should definitely consider auditioning this sonic
about, for a 3.5mm analogue audio input orb, however.

State of the art
VERDICT: 1st
THE OVERALL
WINNER IS…
NAIM MU-SO 2
$2,499, naimaudio.com
WE’RE IMPRESSED*UHDW WE’D IMPROVE,QDSSVXSSRUW

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VRXUFHVZLWKDQH[FHOOHQW ZRXOGEHJUHDWDOWKRXJKDV
SHUIRUPDQFHDFURVVFRPSUHVVHG QRWHGWKH\FDQEHVWUHDPHG
ORVVOHVVDQGKLUHVDXGLRĆOHV RYHU$LU3OD\RU&KURPHFDVW
6XSSRUWIRU&KURPHFDVW6SRWLI\ THE LAST WORD 6WLOOWKHEHVW
&RQQHFWDQG$LU3OD\DVZHOODV ZLUHOHVVVSHDNHU\RXFDQJHW BEST ON
TEST
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HDV\IRUHYHU\RQH+'0,LQSXW DPRXQWV RI PRQH\
LVSRWHQWLDOO\KDQG\LI\RXGRQèW
KDYHDVRXQGEDU
LINN SERIES 3 DEVIALET PHANTOM REACTOR 900

$5,700, linn.co.uk $2,590, devialet.com
2nd WE’RE IMPRESSED This is 3rd WE’RE IMPRESSED +RZ FDQ

everything you’d expect in VRPHWKLQJ VR VPDOO VRXQG VR
WHUPV RI DXGLR TXDOLW\ 5HDOO\ PDVVLYH" )DQWDVWLF ORRNV WRR
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THE BEST STREAMING PLATFORMS

01 TIDAL 02 AMAZON HD 0342%8= 04 SPOTIFY AND
It may be partly owned by Jay-Z, Giving Jay-Z a 100th problem to Another hi-res streaming APPLE MUSIC
but Tidal isn’t only for hip-hop; ponder, the new Amazon HD option, Qobuz is popular with We doubt anyone needs to
there are millions of tunes now also offers millions of audiophiles because its 24-bit EHbWROGDERXWHLWKHURIWKHVH
available, from every genre and CD-quality tunes (dubbed ‘HD’ hi-res tracks stream without services, but we’re going to
every era. Tidal’s USP used to be by Amazon) and several million MQA encoding. That gives DQ\ZD\%RWKRIIHUPLOOLRQVRI
that it was the only service of hi-res ones (‘UHD’) as well. wider compatibility in theory, tunes, with Spotify having a
any size to offer CD-quality There’s also a smattering of although not many speakers ‘free’ option – although frankly
streaming, as well as a decent- tunes in Atmos-style 3D audio. directly support Qobuz. we’d rather pay than endure the
sized selection of hi-res tracks, However, to get the most of the Uniquely, this French service ads it runs to fund this. Neither
albeit requiring an MQA- UHD tunes, you’ll need either offers both hi-res streaming and service yet offers streams of
compatible speaker. Amazon DQb(FKR6WXGLRRU%OXHVRXQG the option to buy and download &'bTXDOLW\RUDERYHEXWERWK
HD offers the same for less, but compatible speaker – nothing tracks, although it must be sound surprisingly good on the
Tidal’s excellent interface and else supports it. And for the 3D SRLQWHGRXWWKDW7LGDObDQG speakers reviewed here. It’s
recommendations engine mean tunes, of which there are few, Amazon both allow downloads MXVWbWKHRSWLRQVWRWKHOHIWZLOO
it remains a great choice. it’s a Studio or nothing. IRURIćLQHOLVWHQLQJ sound even better…

Wireless high-end hi-fi
5
ESSENTIAL WIRELESS
SPEAKER ADD-ONS
The Naim Mu-so (or whichever speaker you go for)
is made to be a one-box solution, but that doesn’t
mean you can’t add even more to the experience
1
CAMBRIDGE AUDIO
ALVA TT
01 If you’re going to kit up with a great
wireless system, a great wireless turntable is
a natural expansion. It can be connected over
Bluetooth aptX HD, which is made for hi-res,
full-quality audio. The Linn Series 3 supports
aptX HD, while the Mu-So supports aptX,
which is still a huge step up over regular
Bluetooth. Pair it with your speaker, then you
can place them in separate parts of the room.
$2,799, cambridgeaudio.com
2
NAIM MU-SO QB
(2ND GENERATION)
If you’ve got the big Mu-so and want
WR H[SDQG LQWR PXOWLURRP ZLWK DQRWKHU
wireless speaker, Naim’s smaller Mu-so Qb
LV JUHDW IRU RIĆFHV EHGURRPV DQG VR RQ ,W
has all the same wireless connectivity as the
big Mu-so, and sounds fantastic for the size.
3
AMAZON ECHO INPUT
Want to turn these speakers smart?
The Echo Input plugs into the aux port
and adds all of Alexa’s powers, funnelled
through the Mu-so’s mighty drives.
$40, amazon.com
4
NAIM UNITI CORE
This box stores up to 100,000 hi-res
03 DXGLR ĆOHV UHDG\ IRU \RX WR SOD\ WKHP
on your Mu-so via the app, all wirelessly. It
also has a CD drive built-in, so you can rip
your collection directly to it, making your
library accessible at full quality really easily.
Again, you can place this anywhere – it
doesn’t have to be near the speaker.
05 $3,500, naimaudio.com
5
NAIM MU-SO
SPEAKER GRILLE
The black front grille of the Mu-so
FDQ EH VZDSSHG RXW IRU VRPH IHWFKLQJ
alternative colours: Peacock and Terracotta.
There’s supposed to be an Olive option, but
it wasn’t available at the time of writing.
$145, naimaudio.com

Next gen
NEXT
GEN
With two brand new consoles
arriving later this year, it’s time to
take a closer look at PlayStation 5
and Xbox Series X
Words: Louise Blaine

IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY

Next gen
PS5-Vs-Series X
Processors
8-core AMD Ryzen Zen 2 Custom AMD Ryzen Zen 2
Graphics
Custom AMD Navi Custom AMD Navi
Storage
Custom SSD Custom SSD
RAM
TBC GDDR6
Optical drive
Yes (4K Blu-ray drive) Yes (4K Blu-ray drive)
Maximum output resolution

8K 8K
Maximum frame rate

120fps 120fps
Backwards compatible?
Yes (PS4) Yes (Xbox One, Xbox 360, Xbox)
ere we are. After seven years and Both use custom processors from AMD, very adding even more games to its
countless iterative consoles, it’s similar graphics cards and a solid state drive subscription services, and revealing
H finally time for a new PlayStation

and Xbox to take their rightful
places under your television for a new
in their quest for gaming glory, but that
doesn’t mean you’ve not got an important
choice to make. We’ll go into the details of
more first party studios.
It’s also important to break down the
jargon swirling around both console
generation. What better way to start a new the specs here and what it means for your releases. We’ll take a look at what ‘ray
decade than with a fresh set of consoles to 2020 gaming experiences, but we’ll also be tracing’ will really do for your games,
gently argue over? But, now we know what’s diving into the big differences in the ponder how realistic 8K gaming can be,
coming during the sacred period known consoles and what we know so far. and investigate just how big a performance
only as Holiday 2020 - that’s October to Despite a very clear absence from E3 2019, leap solid state drives will offer. Just so you
December for us Muggles - it’s important to Sony has still managed to grab headlines know, it’s big.
look ahead and uncover the tech behind the with its tasty teasery reveals of new And, whether you choose Sony or
new generation. PlayStation tech and internet-melting dev Microsoft - or indeed both, we won’t judge
It turns out that the chipsets, processors kit designs. Meanwhile, details have seeped - it’s important to draw up that launch day
and drives at the heart of both the PS5 and out about Microsoft’s plans, which look to wishlist of games. Now, let’s answer some
Microsoft’s Series X are very, very similar. be heavily service focused, leaning on those questions about your next consoles.

Next gen
This strange V-shape fan design is in

use on the PS5 development kits. We
expect a different shape for the final
thing, but this is what it looks like now.
Images courtesy of Let’s Go Digital:
letsgodigital.org
PlayStation 5
From 3D audio to a haptic controller, here’s everything
we know about Sony’s dive into the next generation
Sony really isn’t one for code names. Sure, it much more realistic lighting techniques. Put will still have an optical drive capable of
held out for a while, somehow resolutely simply, PS5 is going to be fast and powerful. reading 100GB discs - not to mention 4K
staying mute on the name of its new console, Team this processor and graphics card with Blu-rays - all games are going to have to be
but now we know that the follow up to the flash storage, and the improvement over PS4 installed on the SSD before you play to make
PS4 is, of course, the PlayStation 5. And and PS4 Pro will be significant. This is no the most of all that new processing power.
whether you’ve had a PlayStation since the But it will happen at speeds many times
days of that surprisingly large grey rectangle faster than current hard drives can handle.
or are a recent adopter, the box that lies Expect speeds According to lead system architect Mark
ahead is a tantalising future machine. Even Cerny, for the first time we’ll be able to
better is the fact that we know a surprising many times faster choose what we install with “finer grained
amount about what’s to come. Spoiler: it’s access to data”. If you’re spending all your
going to be fun. than what current time in CoD’s multiplayer, why let the
First off, let’s take a look at what lies campaign clog up much-needed space?
under the (probably) plastic hood. Similar consoles can handle
to Microsoft, Sony is touting a third- CONTROLLER FREAK
generation AMD Ryzen processor. This has In a surprising move potentially aimed at
eight cores of AMD’s brand-new 7nm Zen 2 ordinary iterative upgrade. Sony might have avoiding another PS3-boomerang-controller
microarchitecture to ensure maximum quickly retracted a ‘world’s fastest console’ debacle, Sony has revealed a stack of
performance in much less space than a PC claim from a recent job advert, but it will information about its new controller. It
has to play with. For graphics, the PS5 has a surely be battling for that. hasn’t gone as far as confirming it as the
custom AMD Radeon Navi that includes The solid-state drive is what lies at the DualShock 5 - heaven forbid - but has
hardware support for ray tracing, providing heart of this speed upgrade. While the PS5 discussed the new pad’s innards. We’re

Next gen
talking improved speakers, haptic feedback

functions, and a new adaptive trigger
system. Gone is the now archaic rumble of
MOST-
old. Instead, PS5’s controller lets you feel
everything differently. Draw a bow back
WANTED
using L2 and you’ll feel it start to resist as you
draw tighter. Pull the trigger on a shotgun
GAMES
Sony’s first-party
and it should feel very different to that
machine gun you tried for size earlier. stable is full
More detailed haptic feedback is a big
move (literally) for the new controller and
something that Sony’s first-party titles will
definitely make the most of. While the use of
the touchpad and speaker has sometimes felt
arbitrary - oh hello, Death Stranding baby looks like Sony might be using an alternative
- a full sensory extravaganza sounds tracking system for its new virtual reality
significantly more immersive. Sony has offering. A wireless PSVR 2 patent has been
shown off demos from Astro Bot Rescue uncovered, but there has been no official
Mission developers Japan Studio with slow, discussions on the future of Sony’s plans.
sluggish sand to wade through, slippery ice Regardless of PlayStation’s VR future, GHOST OF TSUSHIMA
and the bouncing of a wooden bridge, all PS5 is aiming to be the full package when The movement of Sucker Punch’s
reflected perfectly in the haptic feedback. it comes to losing yourself in games. Sony Sony-exclusive samurai ’em up
Oh, and it might officially not have a name has also revealed a greater focus on audio to late 2020 doesn’t RIĆFLDOO\
yet but Sony is happy to say that while the immersion. Mark Cerny discussed his dislike guarantee a PS5 release as well as
haptic coils mean it’s slightly heavier than for the lack of any kind of aural upgrade PS4, but it’s quite the coincidence.
the DualShock 4, it’s still lighter than the between PS3 and PS4, so wants to make As beautiful open worlds go, it’s
Xbox wireless controller. Touché. sure the hardware supports a significant hard to think of anything hungrier
In terms of the design, a leaked patent improvement this time around. This comes for ray tracing than feudal Japan
shows off a very similar style to the current in the shape of what he calls 3D Audio which
controller. Looks wise, not much has will come with the audio chip built into the
changed if the patent is to be believed, but processor. Given that this won’t require
there are a number of subtle key differences external hardware, it looks like it will create
and potentially a microphone on the a 3D soundscape to make sure you can hear
controller itself. While the touchpad remains exactly when you’re being sneaked up on.
in place, a USB-C port replaces the micro- The PS5 is shaping up nicely, then. With
USB of the current model, and the patent is backwards compatibility for PS4 titles and
missing the iconic light bar from the the ability to play online with PS4 users, it
DualShock 4. While it’s fun to watch it looks like Sony is focusing on growing its
change colour in compatible games, the ecosystem, not shutting everything out in HORIZON ZERO DAWN 2
primary function of the bar is for VR a hunger for new tech. Not that we’re ,WèV QRW EHHQ FRQĆUPHG WR H[LVW
tracking. Intriguingly, if it’s gone, then it complaining about that hunger… yet, let alone be a PS5 launch title,
but studio Guerrilla Games’ job
listings heavily hint at a sequel to
Aloy’s adventure. Vegetation Artist
for the world of +RUL]RQ anyone?
We’ll bet a robotic dinosaur on an
announcement soon. IMAGE SOURCE: SONY, UBISOFT
ASSASSIN’S CREED 2020

Rumoured for a reveal at Sony’s
PlayStation Event in February
and apparently called 5DJQDURN,
Ubisoft’s newest Creed will
GHĆQLWHO\ V\QF ZLWK QHZJHQ
consoles. A Viking setting should
still be taken with a handful of salt,
but rumours are pointing that way.

Next gen
The Xbox One X is already a marvel of

compact high-end computer design
– we’ll probably see something quite
similar from its successor.
Images courtesy of Concept Creator:
youtu.be/H5UnyBmXwvE
Xbox Series X
Microsoft’s next-generation offering
isn’t planning on making you seeing red
While we’d probably all like to think announced that Project Scarlett will have discussed at length that getting games to run
ourselves above terms like ‘console wars’, GDDR6 high-bandwidth RAM as well as a at 60 frames per second in 4K is the design
the game industry is looking ahead to next custom SSD to create a console four times goal for the console. Ray tracing again comes
year’s holiday season with interested, if not more powerful than the current Xbox One X. as standard, with dedicated cores
quite bloodthirsty, eyes. After a generation Just like Sony with the PS5, Microsoft is specifically for the visual tech to run as
at least initially dominated by PS4, Microsoft relying on the higher read speeds of a solid seamlessly as possible. And we even know
has everything to play for with its next- state drive. It hasn’t discussed the operating the first game to turn this all into reality.
generation console. And, because it likes Halo: Infinite is the only known first-party
code names, until recently we’ve stuck game for the Series X launch. When it comes
repeatedly saying Project Scarlett instead of Getting games to to a choice of titles though, it looks like
just Xbox Two or whatever. The good news is Microsoft might just trump PlayStation 5 for
that now it hasg its official name with Series run at 60 frames per day one.
X, and we have plenty of details on
Microsoft’s future tech. second in 4K is the CLOUD MINE
Series X will be making the most of a Not only is Series X backwards compatible
custom AMD processor with Zen 2 goal for the console for all Xbox One games, you’ll also be able to
technology and a custom AMD Navi graphics play all your original Xbox and Xbox 360
chip. Yes, this is distinctly similar to the tech games at launch using the optical drive.
at work in the PS5, but the word custom is system or interface, but expect a similar Praise Viva Piñata! Unless you have some
key here. While the internals are probably installation-based setup to PS5 to make kind of emotional attachment to those
the most similar we’ve ever seen when it everything as seamless as possible. probably very dusty consoles and SCART to
comes to Xbox versus PlayStation, the ways While Microsoft has said that Series X will HDMI adaptors, you’re only going to need
the tech is utilised can be completely support 8K, true 4K gaming is the target one box under your TV from now on. The
different. Microsoft has also happily here. Head of Xbox Phil Spencer has even better news is that if your favourite

Next gen
games are yours via Xbox Game Pass, those

will be transferring to Project Scarlett too. MOST-
Phil Spencer confirmed at XO 2019 that
Microsoft’s impressive subscription service WANTED
will be making the trip to the next gen with
all of its games and saves attached. Given
that Game Pass has quickly become the most
GAMES
What to expect in
attractive game subscription service
available, with a huge number of titles those launch offers
included, this is a serious win for Microsoft.
FAMILY AFFAIR
It’s also important to note that Project
Scarlett will happily run alongside your without the more detailed haptic feedback
Windows PC. Microsoft is big on the Xbox available on both PS5 and even the Nintendo
‘family’ and that includes your time at a Switch, Microsoft might be missing out if it
gaming PC. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate also doesn’t up its vibration game significantly.
hands over PC access to a stack of games We do know that all previous Xbox headsets
and, with the addition of Project xCloud and controllers have been confirmed to be
– Microsoft’s new gaming streaming service forwards compatible with the console. HALO INFINITE
to take on Google Stadia – you’ll be able to Although, perhaps don’t bet on Kinect One first party launch title is
access your games and achievements making the upgrade… official: 343 Industries is once
wherever you are. It’s an area Sony hasn’t And finally, there’s the small matter of again responsible for the return of
quite caught up on, despite a renewed price. Sony hasn’t even touched on the cost Master Chief but with all new tech.
promise to improve on PlayStation Remote of its console, while Microsoft’s Phil Spencer The Slipstream Engine promises
Play. Microsoft has a sprawling network of has said that it will not be “out of position on to deliver even more bombastic
ways to access content that, if you’re already power or price”. Given Microsoft’s misstep performances with greater fidelity.
even a small part of it, makes owning Series in pricing at the start of the Xbox One It wouldn’t be an Xbox with Halo…
X a natural progression. generation, this could mean that we get a
Unlike PS5, there has been no big reveal dangerously good deal on Series X as it
or even discussion around Series X’s outprices the competition. The main cost for
controller. However, given the latest Elite both console makers is going to be that SSD
Wireless Controller Series 2 release this year, storage, so it will be interesting to see what
it’s clear that Microsoft is currently doubling size the initial capacity of both is.
down on the tech to make you feel like a pro. Regardless, Series X’s impressive array of
Chances are that the console isn’t going to launch games via Xbox Game Pass and
come with one of these - we can always backwards compatibility makes for a
hope - but the focus on adjustable tension ludicrously enticing 4K package, even
thumbsticks, grip, and customisation is a without the bells and whistles that Sony EVERWILD
hint that Microsoft is staying away from has already revealed for PS5. Rare’s Xbox exclusive follow-up to
what could be seen as gimmicks. Although, Sea of Thieves is all about playing
in a “natural and magical world”.
It’s perhaps a little too much like
wishful thinking to expect it for
launch, but it’s good to know the
legendary studio is busying away
on something charming. IMAGE SOURCE: MICROSOFT, RARE LTD, UBISOFT
WATCH DOGS LEGION

Trigger-happy octogenarians
forming a resistance force in a
violent post-Brexit London? If any
game deserves the trip to next
gen, it’s Ubi’s latest open world
dronefest. Thankfully there’s no
need to threaten to hack anyone.
It’s already been confirmed.

Next gen
RAY TRACING EXPLAINED

Shining a light on the latest visual technology
It’s been a long time since visuals in games were the thinking something looked real, ray tracing delivers a
very first things we noticed. Every console generation real-time recreation of your favourite worlds in their
has come with its own jump in quality, but in the years glowy glory. It’s also what Hollywood has been using in
since PS4 and Xbox One were first released, we’ve its CGI for years.
become accustomed to a certain graphical standard, Plus, like the well-lit call coming from inside the
making every new leap forward seem somewhat small. house, ray tracing is already here. Nvidia’s RTX range
Ray tracing is not small. It’s the future of how we see of graphics cards already bring it to compatible games,
digital worlds, and probably the reason you’ll wear out so it’s easy to see what a big difference this new tech
your screenshot button. makes. The inclusion of ray tracing tech in both PS5
Put simply, ray tracing simulates the physical and Series X - with the latter going as far as to say it has
behaviour of real light. Where previously developers dedicated ray tracing cores - means that next-generation
had to create specific lighting effects to fool you into console visuals are truly taking a giant step.
Minecraft
Control
Metro Exodus
IMAGE SOURCE: NIVIDIA

Next gen
8K GAMIN
Will Series X and PS5
truly be able to deliver
resolutionary pixel power?
Let’s face it, 8K gaming in 2020 seeems

hopeful. While both Series X and P PS5 claim
to have maximum resolution outpu uts of 8K
- yes, that’s 7680x4320 - there are a few
technical reasons why we probably y won’t be
playing launch games with more pixels than
we thought would fit in our eyes. This Th isn’t to
say that 8K won’t eventually be possible
with next-gen consoles, but there are a
definitely some limitations when itt comes to
what these new boxes will be able to t achieve.
Not to be too negative, but the good d news is
that you don’t have to upgrade you ur TV yet…
It’s a little cheeky but, to say the
ey are 8K
ready, technically all PS5 and Xbox x have to
do is use the new standard of HDMI, HDMI heights in new games, it is phenomenally development techniques that deliver better,
2.1. This new connector allows much faster unlikely for games consoles in 2020 to have crisper imagery using less processing power.
refresh rates, with 8K resolution supported the capability to power four times the pixels. Checkerboard rendering has long become
at 60 frames per second and 4K at 120fps. However! Look at the current PS4 Pro and the new norm for both PS4 Pro and Xbox
Presumably both new consoles will have it’s easy to see how future consoles might One X to deliver on 4K targets. It’s also
exactly this, meaning that on the surface, it cope with the next step in TV tech. Sony’s important to look at upscaling. Where a
is possible for 8K gaming to speed down your updated PlayStation 4 uses a combination standard PS4 lets your 4K TV do the grunt
new favourite wires. The problem arises of native 4K and 4K upscaling to deliver an work of pixel stretching, the PS4 Pro takes
when it comes to the machine doing the improved experience onscreen that makes care of the process, delivering smoother 4K
hard work… and natively 8K gaming is it difficult to tell whether you’re looking at visuals. Imagine a future console delivering
seriously hard work. Given that our current ‘real’ 4K or not. Studios working on the a next-level version of this upscaling,and 8K
benchmark is 4K and it takes a not current generation of games have had to get gaming feels a bit more reasonable.
insignificant gaming PC to reach these heady seriously inventive with a variety of
SSD SPEED
In news to absolutely no one, it turns out
An upgrade from traditional hard drives is a solid
but expensive step into the future of gaming
When it comes to the PS5, lead system However, to butcher a Spidey quote,
that switching out the whirring moving architect Mark Cerny has happily revealed with great power comes great increases
parts of a traditional hard drive for a that loading times haven’t just been halved, in financial cost. Solid-state drives aren’t
solid-state version improves your gaming they’ve been annihilated. In a recent demo cheap and 1TB and 2TB models are still
experience. Ray tracing and potential 8K of Sony’s dev kit, a loading time previously significantly more expensive than their
gaming are the flashier claims to fame, but measured at around 15 seconds in Marvel’s HDD brethren. It’s telling that neither Sony
IMAGE SOURCE: SQUARE ENIX
PS5 and Xbox Series X’s upgrade to SSDs as Spider-Man on a regular PS4 became 0.8 nor Microsoft has confirmed their storage
standard is the true leap forwards for next- seconds on PS5. And while long loading capacities, with Sony going as far as to say
gen gaming. As open worlds have grown in times will similarly be a thing of the past on that you’ll be able to choose what parts of
both size and visual fidelity over the years, Project Scarlett, Microsoft has revealed that games you want to download to maximise
it’s become the norm to hit ‘continue’ and the use of an SSD in its new console will space Ikea-style. Add in the fact that it will
perhaps go and make a cup of coffee while allow for what’s known as Virtual RAM. ruin the experience to use a standard drive
the loading bar gradually creeps up. Well, This means that games can use the SSD as as extended storage and a rumoured
prepare for your caffeine levels to drop a memory booster, letting terrain and cartridge based SSD upgrade system for
significantly. worlds load even faster than usual. PS5 doesn’t seem too outlandish.

The best speakers for every room
THE
BEST
SPEAKERS
FOR
EVERY
ROOM Whether you want to go big in the living room, compact on the
kitchen counter or portable for the garden or garage, these are
essential Wi-Fi speakers and DAB radios for the whole house
Words: Alex Cox

Living room
LI V ING ROOM
Bringing smart design and huge sound, these fit right into the busiest room
SONOS BEAM LINN SERIES 3 RUARK R7 MK3

$525, sonos.com $3,900, linn.co.uk $4,499, ruarkaudio.com
It might feel most at home under your (QJLQHHUHGIRUVRXQGLWPD\EHEXW 5XDUNGHVFULEHVWKLVDVDçKLJKĆGHOLW\
TV, with its highly tuned and individually WKH6HULHVèVNH\VWUHQJWKLVLWVHOHJDQW UDGLRJUDPèDQGWKDWèVSUHWW\PXFKVSRW
DPSOLĆHGĆYHVSHDNHUDUUD\EODVWLQJ GHVLJQ/LQQKDVFUHDWHGDVXEWOH RQWKLVLVVRPHLFRQLFROGVFKRROGHVLJQ
WKURXJKPRYLHVRXQGWUDFNVEXWGRQèW unassuming alien pod of a wireless DQDOOLQRQHXQLWZLWKDFDELQHWDQGGXDO
GLVFRXQWWKH%HDPèVPDQ\RWKHUDELOLWLHV VSHDNHURQHZKLFKFDQZRUNHLWKHU GULYHUDPSOLĆFDWLRQFRPERWKDWZRUNV
RULWVPXVLFSOD\EDFN,WèVRQHRIWKHPRVW VWDQGDORQHURFNLQJDSDLURI:&ODVV LQJORULRXVKDUPRQ\<RXèUHQRWVKRUW
YHUVDWLOHVPDUWVSHDNHUVDURXQGZLWK 'DPSOLĆHUVLQVLGHRUZLWKWKH6HULHV RISOD\EDFNRSWLRQVZLWKPXOWLURRP
the option of employing either Google Partner as a stereo pair, with inputs to and everything from a CD player to
Assistant or Alexa depending on your FRYHUMXVWDERXWDQ\VLWXDWLRQ:KHWKHU wireless streaming and DAB+/FM radio
personal preference, and it also supports XQGHU\RXU79RUOXUNLQJLQDFRUQHU\RXU LQWHJUDWHGDQGLWèVSDFNHGZLWKLQSXWV
$LU3OD\ VWUHDPLQJ GHFRU ZLOO WKDQN \RX WRR 4XDOLW\ WKDW VWDQGV DORQH

BEDROOM
Perfect bedside sound p
NAIM MU-SO QB 2
This is a cube that works hard for its
money, with a host of speakers crammed
into its compact frame, pointing in
different directions to project an
enormous and frankly phenomenal
soundstage, somehow even better than
WKHĆUVWLWHUDWLRQRI4E3HUIHFWWRĆOOD
bedroom with top-tier sound without
SK\VLFDOO\ĆOOLQJWKHDYDLODEOHVSDFHDQG
its multiroom and wireless streaming
FDSDELOLWLHVDUHDEVROXWHO\VSRWRQ
PURE DISCOVR
$445, pure.com
$OH[DKDVDSODFHLQWKHEHGURRPåbLWèVD
cracking alarm clock, and a great way to
trigger that morning or evening smart
KRPHURXWLQHåbEXWWKHUHDUHFHUWDLQ
bedroom times when those ever-listening
URERWHDUVUHDOO\DUHQèWZHOFRPH,I\RX
GRQèWWUXVWWKHUHGOLJKWRIWKHçPLFRIIè
function on many other devices, rejoice:
WKH'LVFRY5èV$OH[DFXWRIISK\VLFDOO\
disconnects the mic when you push the
VSHDNHUWRSGRZQLQWRLWVVKHOO
ORBITSOUND
DOCK E30
$699, orbitsound.com
Complex beyond its compact size,
ZLWK2UELWVRXQGèV$LUVRXQGWHFK
somehow projecting a spatial experience
throughout the room and Halo bass
booming some serious low end, this is a
highly accomplished speaker that pulls
GRXEOHGXW\RQWKHEHGVLGHWDEOH7KHUHèV
a docking groove you can slide your
phone or tablet into, and both a USB-C
charging port on the back and a super-
KDQG\4LFKDUJLQJSDGRQWRS
Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

Office
OFFICE
Smart in more ways than one, these will help you focus and get more done
RUARK MR1 MK2 SONORO STREAM APPLE HOMEPOD

$699, ruarkaudio.com $399, sonoro.de $469, apple.com/au
Smaller than basically every set of :KHWKHU\RXVSHQG\RXUZRUNLQJ :K\PDNHGRZLWKMXVWDVSHDNHU"7KH
Bluetooth-capable desktop speakers out GD\URFNLQJRXWWR\RXURZQSOD\OLVWV +RPH3RGLVWKHPRVWJORULRXVVRXQGLQJ
there, you’d be forgiven for expecting streaming your favourite classical music VSHDNHUDVVLVWDQWćDJVKLSEXWLWèVWKDW
the MR1s to sound tiny too, but nothing UDGLRVWDWLRQRUWXQLQJLQWR5DGLRYLD latter feature that makes it shine in the
could be further from the truth. These DAB+, the incredibly tidy-looking Sonoro RIĆFHIRU$SSOHXVHUV7DNHPHPRV
do absolutely amazing things, pushing out Stream has you covered. Its touchscreen QRWHGRZQDSSRLQWPHQWVUHDGPHVVDJHV
DWUXHKLĆVRXQGZLWKELWN+] PDNHVVHOHFWLQJDVRXUFHHDV\ZKLFK DOOZLWKRXWWHDULQJ\RXUVHOIDZD\IURP
support) from an impossibly tight shell, LVJUHDWIRUVKDUHGZRUNVSDFHVEXWLWèV your computer – and the latest update
and every aspect of their design has DOVRDKDQG\VWUHDPLQJWDUJHWåbDQGOHWèV adds multiple-user support, meaning it’ll
EHHQUHĆQHGWRPDNHWKHPH[FHHGLQJO\ QRWIRUJHWWKHIDEXORXVDQGVXUSULVLQJO\ recognise up to six people and let them
pleasing on the eye. loud) EQ-able sound. all use its smart services individually.
F E B / M A R 2 0 2 0 T3 5 9
KITCHEN
Great sound and easy control without taking up lots of spac
ce
SONOS ONE
$239, sonos.com
Alexa, Google Assistant, multiroom
audio and a rich sound all in one small
box? What’s not to like? The Sonos One
is just a great speaker all round, and it
is perfectly suited for the kitchen given
that you can operate it completely with
your voice. Even if you do decide to get a
little touchy, its button-free top control
VXUIDFHPHDQVVWLFN\ĆQJHUVZRQèWJHW
food into the guttyworks. It also works
with Sonos and AirPlay 2 multi-room.
B&O BEOSOUND 2
$3,300, bang-olufsen.com
The BeoSound 2 has one of the biggest,
warmest, most expansive sounds
out there thanks to its 360-degree
DFRXVWLFOHQVDQGEHHI\ZRRIHUåbDQGLWV
EHDXWLIXOO\XQLTXHGHVLJQDOOFUHQHOODWHG
conical aluminium with a tiny footprint
that doesn’t eat up counter space, means
guests may be fooled into thinking you’ve
picked up yet another ill-advised cookery
JDGJHW<RXKDYHQèWåb\RXèYHSLFNHGXSD
great kitchen speaker.
ROBERTS STREAM 94i

$385, robertsradio.com
With a big, bold design that perfectly
suits the windowsill above the sink (or
the spot next to the spice rack, or in
that little mysterious alcove, depending
on where you’d like to carry it) and
everything from DAB+ to Spotify
Connect ensuring it’s not short on
connectivity, this is the classic kitchen
radio made new. Bonus points to the
huge easy-to-tweak controls – perfect
WRbKLWTXLFNO\ZKHQ\RXèUHGLVWUDFWHG
Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

Portable
PORTA BLE
Perfect for taking to the garden, garage, bathroom or anywhere else you want a music boost
UE MEGABLAST B&O BEOLIT 17 PURE MOVE T4

$299, ultimateears.com $850, bang-olufsen.com $249, pure.com
We have to imagine UE’s engineers were Just look at that design: it’s like a Wherever you might like to listen to
going a little mad the day they came up JRUJHRXVKLJKHQGOXQFKER[ĆOOHGZLWK DAB+, FM, or your own streaming
with the wonderful MegaBlast. ‘What delicious sound. And so it is. This is that Bluetooth tunes, the Pure Move T4 will
if,’ they thought, ‘we made a massive- rich, thick B&O sound packed into an be there with you. It has a telescopic
sounding cylindrical speaker you could aluminium and polymer Bluetooth box aerial (or uses your headphones for
hurl into a swimming pool with no ill you can carry wherever you may be. reception if you’re really moving) and,
effects, and put Alexa in it too?’ Can’t Perfect placed next to a hamper in the even with its colour screen, it can manage
fault that thinking – the MegaBlast is park or in the sunroom, with an elegant an impressive 15 hours playback on the
as radical as its name, and incredibly leather strap backing it up, the BeoLit internal battery. In the garden, the shed,
useful if you’re looking to bring the 17’s huge internal battery can keep on the conservatory, the bathroom – this is
SDUW\ RXWVLGH RU WKH JDUDJH URFNLQJ IURP GDZQ WR GXVN perfectly portable, and is ready to play.
Dis
D is
sc er t rad
d c
Face lift
Meet the statement watches that demand

attention. It’s time to stand out with incredible
design-led timepieces that don’t break the bank
Words: Alistair Charlton

Face lift
WATCHES 40MM ARNE JACOBSEN BANKERS SLOW ROUND 11

TARD YELLOW
s it is simple, the Picto watch
This striking timepiece by Arne Jacobsen is
all about the details. Just look at the hour
markers; each is made of 12 empty squares
Ever find the progress of normal watch
hands just a bit too… fast? Then try out the
Slow Round 11. Like all Slow watches, the
by rotating both its face and with one filled in to denote the number. Round 11 has just one hand, which sweeps
nd. A white dot on the face Arguably pointless for anyone who can read oh-so-slowly around a 24-hour dial.
hour, while the hand sweeps the time, but a lovely piece of clean Danish Midday sits in the 12 o’clock position, as
IMAGE SOURCES: PICTO WATCHES, A
around once an hour, thus indicating design with character, as is the red centre you’d expect. But midnight is at what would
minutes. Such a face might take some point. Powered by a Miyota GL26 quartz be the six o’clock position on a regular
getting used to, but we think it looks great movement, the watch is offered with four watch. You’ll probably find it tricky to tell
- especially in the unusual mustard and different stainless steel case size options the exact time but that’s the point of Slow’s
white colour combo shown here with ranging from a compact 30mm to a huge watches; chill out, and remind yourself the
Picto’s ‘thunder grey’ silicone strap. The 16mm, with leather strap sizes varying difference between 14:23 and 14:24 is
polished steel case is 40mm in diameter, accordingly. The Bankers has a concave inconsequential. This Swiss-made
accepts 20mm straps, and houses a Miyota dial and convex M2 glass front, and is timepiece features a 40mm stainless steel
2025 quartz movement. Also available with water resistant to 3 ATM. It's also available case with a sapphire crystal and housing a
white or grey dials, and a 30mm case. as wall or bedside clocks. Ronda 515.24 quartz movement.
$191, pictowatches.com $359, arnejacobsenwatches.com $440, slow-watches.com

Face lift
E
Builtt rim
BRADLEY BRAILLE TACTILE WATCH
mar
ari y to help blind people tell the time, the Eone Bradley
is ls a s ate
is ement timepiece for those who want something
iffe n . Thee watch is named after Bradley Snyder, who lost his
ffe ent
ghtt de
gh efu
fusi ng ombs in Afghanistan, but later went on to win gold
using
i the ndo don a d Rio Paralympic Games. The watch has two ball
b a in i gs
g hiich h are moved by magnets. A ball bearing on the face is
forr mi
mn andd one rotating around the outside edge of the watch
o h u ; eeling the location of both tells you the time. The
is for
ar z watch has a 40mm face and is offered with cases and faces
m de of t tani n um, stainless steel or ceramic, and straps of steel
mesh, leather or canvas.
$415, eone-time.com
MARLOE WATCH COMPANY

IMAGE SOURCE: EONE, MARLOE WATCH COMPANY
CONISTON BLUEBIRD
Handmade in the UK, the Marloe Watch Company is celebrating
the water speed records attempts of Sir Malcolm Campbell and his
son Donald. The Coniston is named after both the lake where
Campbell set his records, and Bluebird K7, his jet-powered boat
which set a record of almost 450kph back in 1964. Sadly, Campbell
was killed three years later, when Bluebird crashed on Lake
Coniston at over 480kph. Limited to 1,000 pieces, the 40mm
Coniston Bluebird has a hand-wound Miyota 8N33 mechanical
movement visible through a clear case back, is water resistant to
10 ATM, and offered with a choice of 11 different leather straps.
$495, marloewatchcompany.com

Face lift
SKAGEN HORIZONT BROWN BLEND WATCH MVMT CHRONO 45MM

LEATHER DUAL TIME
Perhaps a little less out-there than the
Now here’s a statement watch if ever we
saw one. Not only is the US-made Blend
Watch offered in three striking colourways,
GUNMETAL SANDSTONE
If it’s a stealthy look with flair you’re after,
other options here, but the Horizont by but the watch actually features no hands. this is for you. Available in 40mm and 45mm
Skagen should still catch many admiring Instead, the case houses two coloured and options, the MVMT Chrono gunmetal
glances. The Danish company has a semi-transparent discs, each with the features a matt black case, bezel and hands,
IMAGE SOURCES: SKAGEN, MOMA, MVMT
reputation for bold but minimalist shape of a hand cut out of them. When with subtle grey hour markers and accents to
timepieces, and this one is no different. placed over a white background, the two the hands just about making them visible.
It somehow has a face which seems both full dials produce a new colour, while the Contracting this are the bright blue hands
of blank space and details at the same time. hand cut-outs remain unchanged. It’s for the three-dial chronograph and the
The stainless steel 42mm case is 12mm thick, all to do with subtractive colour theory, second hand. Those three sub dials are for
water-resistant to 5 ATM and accepts where semi-transparent colours laid over a 24-hour clock, 30-minute timer and
standard 22mm straps, if you’d like to swap each other create a new hue. Showcased 60-second timer - so while they don’t have
out the included NATO-style leather option. by the Museum of Modern Art in New any markings, they’re still entirely readable
A pair of secondary dials are used to track York, the watch has a 37mm stainless for those specific tasks. A small date
a second timezone of your choosing and steel case, leather strap and a Japanese complication sits between four and five
24-hour time. Miyota quartz movement. o’clock, and water resistance is to 5 ATM.
$320, skagen.com $US125, store.moma.org $229, mvmtwatches.com

TESTED
Expert reviews and recommendations
WRKHOS\RXEX\ZLWKFRQĆGHQFH
Edited by Matt Bolton
68 72 73 74 76 78
MICROSOFT GOOGLE AMAZON APPLE MACBOOK JABRA 75T GOOGLE PIXEL 4

SURFACE PRO 7 NEST WIFI ECHO STUDIO PRO 16-INCH EARPHONES
HOW WE TEST
In T3, we feature only the finest gadgets out We only choose people with specialist THE SCORES EXPLAINED
there, and we believe that you – our loyal knowledge for each test, so you know you’re
reader – deserve only the best tech in your going to get an outcome based on many years Forget it
life. We don’t want you to waste time, and of experience in their respective field. Below average
money, on inferior products, and that’s As well as our traditional five-star rating
Good for the price
exactly why our Tested section exists. system (right), we also give out awards to
In here you’ll find only the latest and particularly exceptional gadgets, using the Very good all round
hottest tech. Each product has been line-up below - so when you spot one of An exceptional,
handpicked and tested by T3’s experts. these, you’ll know you’re onto a good thing. best-in-class product
OUR AWARDS
Only the best products This is given to winners This accolade, and For kit with exceptional
å WKRVHWKDWVFRUHĆYH BEST ON of our group tests, so BEST FOR others like it, show you THE industrial design and
PLATINUM stars – receive our TEST you can see which is BATTERY which gear is best for DESIGN UHĆQHPHQWLQDGGLWLRQ
AWARD LIFE AWARD
Platinum Award the best at a glance VSHFLĆFIHDWXUHV to being a great buy

Sonos Move
MUSIC TO GO
Sonos
Move
Meet the most luxurious,
water-resistant, rugged,
portable speaker around
– and it’s a smart one too
In Bluetooth mode, it’s set up and used like any
$585, other Bluetooth speaker, so you don’t use the
sonos.com Sonos app. Instead, stream from Spotify, Tidal
or other apps, or use the music on your device.
The Move is water- and dust-resistant to
ost portable water-resistant, rugged IP56, so it can endure short downpours but not
M
wireless speakers are lightweight, full immersion. You should be able to put it in a
cost less than $250 and are designed humid bathroom – not near the bath or you may
for party super-fun time. The Sonos die – or take it to the beach. Just keep it out of VERDICT
Move is $585, weighs a hefty three kilos, and is salt water and don’t bury it in the sand.
as happy playing classical or prog as it is playing Audio quality is comparable to the Sonos One
pop hits. It’s everything you’d expect from on Wi-Fi, although it does lose a little definition WE’RE IMPRESSED Superb
Sonos, but it ventures outdoors too. when you go outside and switch to Bluetooth. sound quality; all the digital
The Move sits on a barely noticeable charging Automatic TruePlay tuning analyses the sound assistants; impressively life-proof.
pad, and you can also charge it via USB-C. The bouncing back to the Move from your walls and WE’D IMPROVE Heavier than it
speaker manages 10 hours of playback per furniture, adjusting the audio to suit. The results looks; pricier than most; quality
charge, with a power-saving mode keeping it are genuinely impressive: it sounds very good takes a hit on Bluetooth.
alive for five days if you don’t use it. The Move is almost everywhere, projecting a lot of bass from THE LAST WORD You get what
set up via (and runs on) the same app as any a relatively small box, and with a wide sound you pay for: the Sonos Move isn’t
other Sonos speaker, and can access the same field – although not full 360º sonic projection, to cheap, but it offers an unrivalled
streaming services as any Sonos speaker. prevent you inadvertently firing loud music into combination of rugged style and
The Move supports AirPlay 2 and has your your neighbours’ garden. smart-speaker usefulness with
choice of either Alexa or Google Assistant on Audio-wise, we can’t think of an outdoor- typically stunning sound quality.
board. As with many Sonos speakers, you can friendly, battery-powered speaker that can Not cheap, but superb.
pair two Moves into a stereo pair, though only compare. If you’re in the market for a weather-
indoors. For indoors, there’s dual-band Wi-Fi resistant, rugged speaker that can also perform
with the option of gigabit ethernet. just like an indoor Sonos speaker – and isn’t so
Outdoors, the Move uses Bluetooth 4.2 with rugged-looking that it becomes ugly – Sonos
AAC and SBC support for boosted audio quality. Move is number one in a field of one.

Tested
Processor Intel Core i7 1.3GHz (3.9GHz

Turbo) Screen 12.3-inch 2736x1824
Memory 16GB Storage 256GB Battery Up
to 10.5hours OS Windows 10 Camera 5MP
front; 8MP rear Connectivity 1x USB-C,
1x USB, 1x 3.5mm jack, 1x microSD,
Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 Dimensions
292x201x8.5mm Weight 790g
LUCKY 7
Microsoft Surface Pro 7

Microsoft new professional tablet/laptop hybrid is more of the (very good) same
Granted, they serve different difference. Three generations of the

From $928 markets; the Pro X is a higher-price, Surface Pro have come and gone with
microsoft.com sleeker new professional tablet, only the slightest hint of design
while the Pro 7 is a potentially more innovation. The bezel looks large for a
affordable version that has a lot more tablet in 2019; the kickstand feels a bit
icrosoft has come out in common with the older Surface Pro more robust but appears no different.
hitting hard with the new models – so much that it actually feels The Surface Pro X shakes things
M Surface range, releasing

the Surface Pro 7, the
a little lazy.
Yes, that is a bit uncharitable of us,
up, and given the mere weeks
between their launches, it surprises
Surface Pro X and the Surface Laptop but comparing it even back to the us that the Pro 7 looks so… well,
3. Two Pro tablets? That’s a bold move. Surface Pro 4, you can barely tell the normal. It’s still a lovely design that

TALL ORDER
The 3:2 aspect ratio of the
Surface Pro’s screen is
unusual – it’s taller (closer to
square) than most laptops.
It’s great for working on
documents for this reason
BASIC PITCH
The most basic, $828,
version of the Surface
Pro 7 isn’t something we
recommend – it’s weak
on RAM, processor and
graphics. The $1,199 version
is the place to start, for sure
feels well-made, but it’s simply not and Microsoft’s design choices The Surface is a the Surface Pro 6. It’s more competent
exciting any more. certainly reflect that. The Type sort of halfway- in every area, whether that’s 3D
The rear and sides of the Pro 7 are Cover’s keyboard still feels good house between rendering, video encoding or
tablet and laptop
solid metal, which gives the chassis a to use, far better than the Touch crunching equations. It’s worth
sturdy feel but is liable to scuff should Cover (which uses capacity pads noting that if you’re looking to do
you drop it. The screen is fairly well instead of physical keys). serious professional studio work like
protected by the metal encircling it, 4K video editing, you’re still probably
and looks as bright and colourful as Under the hood going to want a proper laptop.
ever, testament to the display quality The Surface Pro 7 does differ from its The new Iris Plus graphics make a
of the Surface line. forefathers in one very key regard: huge difference, though. Gaming in
As any Surface owners will know, the internal hardware. This tablet is 1080p is actually viable here – not at
the Pro 7 looks incomplete without rocking one of Intel’s new 10th- ultra settings, certainly, but good
its keyboard cover. We’ve got the generation CPUs, which not only enough for a spot of Fortnite if you
Signature Type Cover in a dark ochre, brings improved general performance have a mouse. We tested a handful
which snaps satisfyingly onto the over older processors, but also comes of games (including Portal, Dirty
base of the Pro 7 with its magnetic equipped with Intel’s new Iris Plus Bomb, Everspace and, you guessed
clasp. The Pro 7 itself is an all-black integrated graphics – provided, that it, Crysis) and it handled most of
affair, and with the Type Cover is, you don’t buy the version with an them pretty well.
attached looks particularly classy. i3 processor. Unfortunately, this powered-up
But there’s a tell-tale problem on Our unit has a quad-core i7- performance has come at a cost. The
the box of the keyboard: “for Surface 1065G7 processor and 16GB of RAM, Pro 7’s battery is pretty lacklustre,
Pro 5, 6 and 7”. This piece of hardware making it the most powerful version falling short of the older Pro 6 in
hasn’t been changed for three of the Pro 7 (although this model only battery life tests. It can hit the
generations, and of course the Pro X has 256GB of storage, which can go up advertised 10.5-hour battery life from
has its own unique version. We to 1TB). This model is currently priced full charge if you’re simply word
suspect that the ethos here was ‘if at $1,959, but more on that later. processing, but in practical terms any
it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. The difference is significant; the strenuous tasks will cut that in half
The role of the Surface is a halfway- newer processors offer performance or worse, though this is typical for
house between tablet and laptop, improvements of around 20% over laptops with a bit of grunt to them.

Tested
CAMERA OBSCURER
The front-facing 5MP
webcam produces a
decent image, and the
stereo mics are well
separated. There’s an
IR camera for use with
Windows Hello too
M v e playbaa k a ec s e batt r Battery life could r cuu A roid connectivity and compatibility, and
pret
e ty b dl too, un tunatel b be better, but at i It s miliar
fam keeps one conventional USB port to
i ’l
it ll comfortably
’ll play
comffortablly pl
p ay movie
yamo ie at
ov at full
ful least it charges nd software-compatible,
and soft
so ftwa
ware
re com
ompati ble aand
tibl nd lacks
l ensure that older hardware is still
quickly
volume without needing to be any extra irritations. usable. The USB-C port doesn’t have
charged. It’s by no means a Then there’s all the usual stuff: Thunderbolt 3 data transfer speeds,
dealbreaker, but we just wish the Windows Hello for facial recognition but it’s still a good addition.
battery had a little bit more juice. login, tablet mode for easy on-the- This Surface also comes equipped
At least it charges quickly, move changes, Your Phone sync for with superior Surface Pen sensitivity
using Microsoft’s proprietary connecting with Android devices. Of along with gesture control, features
Surface Connect port. particular mention is the instant-on that were introduced in previous
performance: the Pro 7 boots seriously models and remain backwards-
Clean windows fast, and with Windows Hello active it compatible here. If you already own
One of the weirdly most attractive can be unlocked before you’ve even the new-model Surface Pen, it
features of the Surface tablets remains finished opening the Type Cover. performs better than ever here.
present: Windows 10, issued directly The Pro 7 also now has USB-C Peripherals are a pretty big deal for
from Microsoft, free of annoying support, a huge boon for modern Microsoft with the Surface range. The
PRO ADD-ONS
SIGNATURE TYPE COVER LOGITECH MX ANYWHERE 2S LG 27UD88

This connects magnetically to the Surface Pro, Our pick of the best travel mouse options, this If your Surface Pro 7 is your mobile work
and gives you a keyboard plus trackpad in a is thin and comfortable, and can use Bluetooth machine, get yourself a nice big monitor at
super-thin screen cover. There are cheaper or a dongle for wireless connectivity. There’s your desk. This 27-inch 4K screen is also a
versions of the Type Cover, but this is the also high-precision tracking, if you do decide USB-C hub, so you can connect video and
more luxurious, and nicer feeling, option. to get a bit of gaming in… peripherals over a single cable.
$249, microsoft.com $69, logitech.com $1,299, lg.com

ON THE BACK
Every tablet needs a rear-
facing camera, for some
reason, and the 8MP sensor
on the Pro 7 is the same as
last year’s offering
Pro 7 represents maybe the last solution to the bulk of the traditional The Arc Mouse shines about this product. It’s more
chance to flog the older Type Cover computer mouse. Designed to work looks novel but powerful than the Pro X, so it is the
and Surface Pen designs, if the best with the Surface, the Arc Mouse IHHOV UDWKHU ćLPV\ better option for content creators and
in the hand
different design of the Pro X take off, is a wireless Bluetooth mouse that gamers in all likelihood, though take
since it uses different keyboard and a folds in half, and turns on when you the latter with a pinch of salt, because
slimmer pen with wireless charging. unfold it. It feels a bit flimsy, and this is still no true gaming laptop.
The issue here – and this is an issue there aren’t distinct left and right The Pro 7 is multipurpose. It might
with Microsoft peripherals in general buttons. For $120, it’s hard to not do anything the best – cheaper
– is the pricing. The Surface Pen’s recommend over any third-party laptops can outpace it in terms of raw
price of $140 is not out of kilter with wireless mouse, which will probably performance – but it does just about
the likes of Apple’s Pencil, but that be more responsive, too. everything pretty well. If you’re
just makes them both alarmingly looking for a really flexible tablet for
expensive, frankly, despite both Strong performer work and pleasure combined, the
offering admittedly excellent We honestly do like the Surface Pro 7 Surface Pro 7 is a very good choice.
performance. For digital artists, the – quite a lot. It’s a powerful tablet that
Surface Pen is certainly a worthy doubles as a perfectly competent
addition, although we think a laptop, although actually trying to
dedicated Wacom tablet outranks position it on your lap with the
the Surface series for art. keyboard is an exercise in futility.
The current Type Cover is a nice We just wish Microsoft had been a VERDICT
piece of hardware - we particularly little braver in the design department.
like the luxurious woven Alcantara The Pro 7 is unexciting; good, but
fabric backing (though it can wear unexciting. If you’ve got a bigger WE’RE IMPRESSED Powerful; USB-C support;
awkwardly over time) and the soft budget, the Pro X is the sleeker, sexier improved pen sensitivity; display is great.
white key backlighting - but it isn’t option, but its Qualcomm processor WE’D IMPROVE No big design change;
really worth the $200 Microsoft makes it a bit of unknown right now average battery life; expensive peripherals.
charges for it. The keys feel nice to use in terms of usefulness – until we can THE LAST WORD An excellent hybrid that
and the keyboard is responsive, so get a chance to review it. If you want doesn’t do quite enough to innovate.
we’d say it’s certainly still the most a tablet with a battery capable of
essential piece of extra kit in the supporting all-day work, the Pro 6
Surface’s repertoire. is actually the better choice.
The same cannot be said about the The improved graphics and
Arc Mouse, Microsoft’s ‘artful’ upgraded connectivity are what

Tested
Google Nest Wifi
ANOTHER FINE MESH
Google
Nest Wifi
Stable, comprehensive
Wi-Fi, with some useful
network management
through the phone app
your kids can get online with their devices, or
From $199 set up a separate guest network so visitors aren’t
store.google.com able to suddenly take over your Sonos speakers.
There’s also device prioritisation, so if one
device – like your TV or phone – needs stronger,
he likes of Eero, TP-Link and more more stable internet than the others, you can
T
are now offering mesh networking make that happen. What’s more, you can even
kits, so you’ve got more choice than manage other Nest Wifi networks through the
ever when it comes to picking a app remotely, which is very handy if you’re VERDICT
system to cover your home in fast, reliable Wi-Fi always providing tech support for your parents.
– and now Google has released the second We should mention that the Google Nest Wifi
generation of its own kit. satellite nodes also double up as Google Nest WE’RE IMPRESSED
If you’re new to the idea of mesh networking, Mini speakers, so you can ask Google Assistant Fast, reliable Wi-Fi everywhere;
the idea is that rather than having just one questions, queue up music and so on. They don’t Wi-Fi management is very
router stuck in a corner of your property, you double up as Chromecast devices, however, so simple; Google Assistant built in.
have a router and several nodes or satellites you don’t have quite so many options when it WE’D IMPROVE
spread around your living spaces – with the comes to playing music, podcasts, audiobooks No Ethernet ports on the nodes;
Wi-Fi signal spread evenly between them, and so on. no support for Wi-Fi 6.
eliminating dead zones. Google says a two-pack If your home is already full of Amazon Echos, THE LAST WORD
Nest Wifi system is good for 210m2 of coverage. however, Next Wifi doesn’t look quite so Does an impressive job of getting
Full marks to Google on the setup, because appealing, and there are a handful of other speedy Wi-Fi into every corner
it’s a breeze through the Google Home app, marks against it: no Ethernet connection of your home. Will appeal most
which you may have already used in the past to options on the nodes, for instance. to those already heavily invested
set up a Chromecast or a Google smart speaker. You can be sure of excellent wireless internet in Google’s ecosystem.
Google’s smart home device range is steadily with Google Nest Wifi, and some cool features in
improving, and the Home app lets you manage the app. As for the question of whether it’s
it all in the same place. actually right for you, that’s more difficult to
Through the Google Home app, you can do answer – make sure you take a long, close look
some cool tricks like limit the amount of time at the competition before making a purchase.

Amazon Echo Studio
SU-SUSTUDIO
Amazon
Echo Studio
The best sounding, but
not best looking, Echo
by far assails Sonos One
with hi-def and 3D audio
range driver, giving further support for Dolby
$329 amazon.com.au Atmos as well as ‘3D Audio’ music. There is not
an awful lot of music available in 3D at present
– even Amazon’s own ‘best of 3D audio’ Alexa
playlist is fleetingly brief – but it does sound…
cho Studio fills a long-time gap in interesting. Obviously the killer app here will be
E
the Echo range. It’s the Echo that when (if?) Amazon is able to provide the likes of
sounds good, here to replace, or at the Pink Floyd and Muse back catalogues in 3D.
least take on, ‘proper’ speakers. The Echo Studio sounds big and powerful, if a VERDICT
To that end it’s got oodles of bass, support bit lacking in refinement, and that’s also what it
for HD and UHD (CD quality and hi-res, looks like. It’s like a standard Echo that’s gorged
respectively) music files from Amazon Music on protein shakes, and come back hella swole. WE’RE IMPRESSED Best
HD and an array of drivers that includes an Big light ring, big bass port, big… everything. sounding Amazon Echo speaker
upward-firing one, giving support for 3D audio The result is quite ugly but not full-on offensive. to date; support for CD-quality
and potentially letting it serve as a rear Dolby The Studio is a huge leap forward in terms of sound, hi-res audio and 3D audio;
Atmos speaker. You can pair two as a stereo duo, sound quality over previous Echo speakers, and slightly cheaper than Sonos One.
or connect as many as you like into a multi- it’s well worth the money so long as you’re an WE’D IMPROVE ‘Ultra HD’ and
room speaker system, along with any other Amazon Music HD subscriber. It’s a solid 3D audio are of questionable
Echos you may own. performer with Spotify as well, but if you use value; not the sexiest thing.
Or, to put it another way, it’s a Sonos One any other streaming service there are better THE LAST WORD Amazon’s
rival. Sure, there are plenty of other wireless options available. Amazon Music and Music HD Echo Studio has a bigger sound
speakers we could compare it to, but the Sonos are keenly priced compared to their rivals, and and lower price than key rival
One is market leader at this price. have just as many tunes on offer, all searchable Sonos One. It’s also somewhat
The Echo Studio has a BIG sound. As well as a by voice. And if that gets annoying, you can less refined.
3.5-inch woofer, there’s a dedicated tweeter and always use your phone, tablet or laptop.
two mid-range drivers, positioned to provide Echo Studio won’t win any design awards
stereo – or something quite like it – via Dolby but it looks acceptable, it’s excellent value for
Atmos-based processing. Uniquely in this money, and if you’re fully on-board with
market, there’s also an upward-firing mid- Amazon, it’s a real winner.

Tested
Processor Intel Core i7 6-core

2.6GHz Screen 16-inch, 3072x1920
LCD Memory 16GB Storage 512GB
Graphics AMD Radeon 5500M
4GB Battery 100Wh Connectivity
4x Thunderbolt 3, 1x 3.5mm jack,
Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 5 Dimensions
142.2x69.9x7.9mm Weight 150g
KEY UPGRADE
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch

The MacBook Pro is dead, long live the MacBook Pro,
with its bigger screen and spanking new keyboard
preserve of unwieldy gaming devices The display is 3072x1920, and while
From $4,399 than sleek pro machines, the idea of it’s a bit of a shame not to get a full 4K
apple.com/au 16 inches of working space is a damn panel for this price, that’s the only
tempting one. complaint we have about it. It’s sharp,
The 16-inch MacBook Pro is it’s vibrant, it has good viewing
his is kind of a banner actually only around two percent angles, and it comes with Apple’s
T
occasion. There hasn’t larger than the 15-inch MacBook Pro True Tone tech, which makes it more
been a new size of Apple that it has replaced in Apple’s line-up comfortable on the eyes than your
pro laptop since 2009 – Apple has finally got with the times standard blue-tinted screen. The
– before the iPad even existed. And to slim down the bezels, affording an support for the wide-colour P3
with 17-inch screens now more the extra inch of screen space. gamut, plus 500 nits of brightness,

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch
give colours lots of vibrancy, and And yes, as a reminder that this .H\V DUH SOHDVLQJ have been given a big upgrade, and
everything is supremely accurate out really is a pro machine, its fast storage WR WKH WRXFK DQG do a great job. And it still has four
of the box. It’s a great screen, and and six-core processor can handle 8K WKHUHèV ĆQJHUSULQW Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports, one
VHFXULW\ WRR
while 16 inches isn’t a revelation over video no problem, or advanced image 3.5mm jack, and nothing else.
15, there’s no doubt that you just feel processing, or giant music projects… All told, it is an extremely slick
like you have a little bit more space for though you may need to upgrade from and powerful machine that’s hard to
windows and tools. its 16GB of RAM for real pro stuff. resist. In terms of specs, it falls short
Speakers won’t be a priority for a Its AMD Radeon 5500M GPU is of Dell’s XPS 15, which offers a 4K
lot of laptop buyers, but Apple has even decent, scoring similarly to the OLED screen, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of
still put the best-sounding drivers (admittedly older) Nvidia GTX 1060 storage, eight-core processor and
we’ve ever heard into here – they’re for compute power in benchmarks, slightly more powerful Nvidia
powerful, crystal clear, and provide and with 4GB of VRAM for solid 3D graphics for $3,654.
stereo sound that feels like it’s coming and even gaming performance. But specs aren’t everything – the
from head height either side, not accurate, big screen is a draw, macOS
blasting up from your keyboard. It’s Just your type and its apps are a big deal for many,
no reason to buy on its own, but it’s And then there’s the keyboard. After and it’s sturdy, reliable and portable.
genuinely impressive and we count years of a low-travel keyboard that It’s an excellent work machine.
ourselves big fans. was at best divisive (we quite liked it,
Inside, you get the biggest battery many did not), and at worst proved
you’ll find on any laptop for the unreliable (not good for a pro laptop),
foreseeable future: 100Wh is the limit Apple has returned to using a
the FAA places on battery size that’s keyboard with more travel, and it
allowed on a plane, so that’s what feels great. It’s one of the nicest we’ve
Apple has included here. It gives a used, in fact. It still has the Touch
battery life of around 10 hours of light Bar at the top – a thin screen that VERDICT
browsing or movie playback, which regularly threatens to feel useful,
is strong for something with such a but never quite follows through – plus
big screen (though Apple’s other fingerprint security, which is nice. WE’RE IMPRESSED Big, sharp,
laptops beat it for overall longevity). Small details: its webcam is still accurate 16-inch display;
Of course, editing 8K video will cut a crappy 720p affair that’s kind of SOHQW\ RI SRZHU ELJ EDWWHU\
that down slightly… embarrassing, but its microphones WE’D IMPROVE 1R .
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$3,654, dell.com $5,199, razer.com

Tested
Jabra Elite 75t
HEAD MASTERS
Jabra
Elite 75t
There’s a new true wireless
champ in town. For the
money, it’s hard to beat
these Alexa-packing buds
the buds and the case are brilliantly compact. In
$279 fact, Jabra has made the case so small that our
jabra.com.au only real criticism is that there’s very little room
around the buds when they’re in it, meaning
getting them out requires a bit of a knack.
or those willing to look beyond
F
AirPods (or AirPods Pro) there are Sci-fi sounds
rich true wireless pickings to be had The Elite 75ts have a slight Star Trek vibe to
right now. From Powerbeats Pro to their design, and the audio, while excellent VERDICT
Cambridge Audio’s Melomania 1, there are loads – especially by true wireless standards – is also
of very good options. They’re broadly similar in slightly unearthly. There’s plenty of bass, and
terms of sound quality, battery life and the electronic music, hip-hop and most modern WE’RE IMPRESSED Brilliantly
comfort and security of their fit. Many of them rock in particular sound excellent. It’s fine for compact case and buds; superb
also offer one-button or voice-only access to listening to quieter, more acoustic sounds too, fit; great battery life and audio
Siri, Google Assistant and/or Amazon Alexa. but you’re not going to get the most natural or quality; good mics mean calls are
In that light, Jabra Elite 75t could be seen as nuanced performance out of these buds. Their clear and your AI can hear you.
yet another pair of AirPod rivals. However excellent noise isolation (not noise cancelling) WE’D IMPROVE Removing them
they’re good enough in all the key areas that and driving, enjoyable sound should more than from the case is weirdly fiddly.
they could in fact be considered the true make up for this for most listeners. THE LAST WORD Jabra’s
wireless AirPod rivals. The IP55 water- and dust-proofing, allied to Elite 75t sound and fit better
T3’s favourite in this field are the Powerbeats. the excellent fit, means they can be confidently than AirPods Pro and are also
They sound great and fit brilliantly, but they used as workout or running buds. There’s also cheaper. If they’re not the best
are quite large buds and their battery case is the option to trigger Alexa, Siri or Google true wireless buds, they’re
about the size of a coffin. These, Jabra’s follow- Assistant with a double press of the right bud’s certainly in the top three.
up to the also-excellent 65t, fit almost as well responsive button, and call quality over the
– more or less unshakeable, without being built-in mics is excellent too.
uncomfortable – have similar battery life (about In short, there’s a ton to like about Jabra’s
seven hours per charge, 28 hours from the case new buds and almost nothing to dislike. They’re
– excellent by true wireless standards), yet both an easy recommendation.

Tested
BUDGET-FRIENDLY PHONES
Motorola One Action Nokia 7.2

$298, lenovo.com $548, nokia.com
DESIGN & FEATURES DESIGN & FEATURES

An all-glass design with aluminium frame makes This is a nice-looking device with an appealing
this feel pretty premium, though it isn’t Gorilla matt finish on the rear, though there are chunky
Glass (the phone comes with a case). There’s a rear bezels. It goes old-school with a notification light
fingerprint sensor and headphone jack, plus 128GB as well as headphone jack, plus rear fingerprint
of storage as standard (and microSD expansion). sensor. It has 32GB of storage, with microSD.
SCREEN SCREEN
The screen is the biggest draw here. It’s a 6.3-inch, The 6.3-inch, 1080x2280 pixel LCD screen does the
1080x2520 panel, with a 21:9 aspect ratio. It’s taller job, and is suitably clear and bright: it’s not that
and thinner than the Nokia, so is easier to use easy to tell the difference between this and a very
one-handed, and widescreen movies don’t fill it high-end display, though side by side with a more
with black bars. It looks excellent, too. expensive phone, the disparity is noticeable.
PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE
A Samsung-made Exynos 9609 breezes through all Nokia is part of the Android One program, so you
the usual tasks – for email, streaming and all the get clean Android with timely updates here. It
typical phone stuff, it feels plenty powerful. The means the phone feels really snappy on its mid-
battery should last you all day, though intensive range Snapdragon 660 processor. The battery life is
users may need to top up in the evening. fine – pretty typical for this type of handset.
CAMERA CAMERA
This is the best camera on a budget phone. The The triple-lens 48MP+8MP+5MP camera can get
12MP+16MP+5MP triple rear cam takes detailed, some very good shots in well lit situations, and
vibrant pics, and has extra tricks, such as using the some satisfactory shots in low light – the results
117° ultra-wide lens to record 4K landscape video are better than the phone’s price suggests. It has
while holding the phone in portrait. automatic scene adjustment and HDR support.
VERDICT VERDICT
WE’RE IMPRESSED 21:9 screen is fantastic; camera WE’RE IMPRESSED Good battery life; bloat-free,
is excellent for the price; performance is strong. quickly-updated Android; solid camera.
1st WE’D IMPROVE It’s missing Gorilla Glass; battery WE’D IMPROVE Not especially premium feel; no
2nd
life could be better. waterproofing; no camera optical zoom.

Tested
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 855

Screen 5.7-inch 1080x2280 OLED
Memory 6GB Storage 64GB/128GB
Battery 2,800mAh Cameras 12MP
wide-angle, 16MP 2x telephoto rear;
03 IURQW OS Android 10 Dimensions
147.1x68.8x8.2mm Weight 162g
FAB 4
Google
Pixel 4
The Pixel’s camera
rules, but is the fourth
time a charm for the
rest of this phone?
From $1,049,
store.google.com
t’s always exciting to see it has a typically clean and fast version that chunky top bezel on the front
what Google does with of the latest Android OS on board. and that blocky camera lens array
I its flagship phones.

From the days of the
groundbreaking Nexus line to the
Yes, it has its little exclusives such
as offline transcription, and a price
below that which Google was asking
found on the back. It almost looks like
a prototype; something lacking a
certain finesse. That said, it’s not an
power of recent Pixel models, there’s for the Pixel 3 at launch, but again: is ugly phone, especially if you opt for
always something new, something it enough? the white or coral colours as a
exciting, and something that pushes In terms of design and aesthetics, contrast to the back; these have a
the boundaries, but does the Pixel 4 the Pixel 4 doesn’t quite hit the high matte finish, whereas the black Pixel
do enough? As with previous Pixel notes of the Samsung Galaxy S10 or 4 sports a glossy backing. The sides
phones, the camera is the focus, and the Apple iPhone 11 Pro – not with are textured, giving it a comfortable

Google Pixel 4
MOTION SENSE
Google’s new motion-
sensing Soli radar chip,
embedded next to the front
camera, enables both wave-
of-the-hand gestures and
super-fast face unlocking
SELFIE CAM
That front-facing camera is
a solid 8MP snapper, with
great dynamic range and
excellent exposure levels –
and the 22mm-equivalent
f/2.0 aperture lens captures
a wide angle
feel in the hand, but there’s no doubt excellent photographic results. The The Pixel 4 doesn’t through a day with average-to-heavy
Google’s competitors are outdoing it Pixel 4, with its added telephoto lens, come with a use, so you may need to top it up
in the design stakes right now. continues that legacy: there are few ĆQJHUSULQW VHQVRU during the evening if you have a big
LW UHOLHV RQ IDFH
The display, a 5.7-inch, 19:9 OLED better phone cameras out there, UHFRJQLWLRQ night out planned. It’s certainly not
running at 1080x2280, is perfectly though it’s a shame you don’t get catastrophic, though. An hour spent
fine, and doesn’t struggle with colour, an ultra-wide angle lens. In all kinds watching Netflix pulled capacity from
contrast, brightness, sharpness or of scenarios, the Pixel 4 camera 100% to 89% at full brightness and
anything else. In short, it’s a quality impresses, snapping shots with rich volume at half the maximum, which
panel. It runs at a maximum refresh colour and excellent detail. The Night is a reasonably respectable score.
rate of 90Hz too, which means Sight mode returns, doing wonders
super-smooth scrolling and gaming with limited light, and this year it’s Face it
– though it’s not always that swift, even able to have a go at some Unusually, neither the Pixel 4 or its
adapting during the day to extend astrophotography – provided you can big brother, the 4 XL (from $1,429),
battery life. keep the phone perfectly still for four come with a fingerprint sensor.
We’re glad that the notch now minutes while pointed at the night Instead, Google is aping Apple’s
seems to have been consigned to Pixel sky so it can capture enough detail. approach of relying on face
history, though we do truly miss the Its telephoto lens really helps when recognition for biometrics, but you
two-tone backing from previous zooming in; combined with the Pixel can use a backup PIN code. This works
phones in the series – the Pixel 4 looks 4’s Super Res Zoom digital processing, very well – by the time you have lifted
a bit nondescript without it. Add to you can get close to the action from up your phone to your face, you’re in.
that the rather daft-looking camera afar. Apple and Huawei are nipping at You need never see the lock screen
array on the back, and we can’t call its heels, but Google’s poise in the again, if you don’t want to.
this a design winner. photography game can’t be faulted – One issue with this is that apps
though the important benefit of the which often use your fingerprint for
Image conscious Pixel range so far, the unlimited security, such as banking apps, will
But what of that camera? Google’s Google Photos uploads at the original force you to manually type in your
total mastery of image processing quality, ends with the Pixel 4. password until these apps get updated
algorithms has, even when its Pixel Battery life is less impressive: the to accept face unlock – and that’s by
line sported only a single lens, meant 2,800mAh battery just about makes it no means a guarantee.

d
SUPER SCREEN
The Pixel 4’s OLED
panel updates (usually)
at 90Hz, meaning
scrolling is incredibly
slick and games which
take advantage of it
can outclass rivals
LIVE HDR
Line up an HDR shot using
either of the rear cameras,
and Google’s trickery will
show you a preview
The face scanner is one reason the Choose between which transcribes spoken audio in be able to respond to queries much
top bezel is so large; the other is 64GB and 128GB real-time as you record – perfect for more quickly and with less reliance
Motion Sense, which utilises a tiny of storage interviews, meetings and lectures. on the cloud.
radar packed into the phone to enable You can search through your notes The rest of the specs of the Pixel 4
you to skip songs, silence tracks and with ease, and even run searches for are rather average, or at least average
more all with a wave of your hand. ‘applause’ or ‘music’. If you’ve ever in the context of a 2019 flagship
We’ve seen this before in various used YouTube’s automatic closed Android phone. It comes with either
guises from other manufacturers, captions, you’ll know Google’s 64GB or 128GB of storage and there’s
and while Google’s implementation algorithm can make a stab at no memory card slot. The Note 10+, by
works pretty well, it has a lot in recognising those, too. The Recorder contrast, maxes out at 512GB, with a
common with Samsung and LG’s app works offline if needed, as Google memory card slot. There’s 6GB of
stabs at the tech: it’s far from perfect, has managed to embed some RAM (the OnePlus 7T Pro can carry as
and we can’t really imagine using it machine-learning AI trickery onto much as 12GB), and a Snapdragon 855
very much. the device itself. CPU, which has already been bettered
What we can imagine using is the Speaking of AI, Google Assistant by the Snapdragon 855+. Specs aren’t
Recorder app, exclusive to the Pixel 4, gets better yet again and should now everything, of course – Apple’s
PIXEL 4 ALTERNATIVES
APPLE iPHONE 11 PRO ONEPLUS 7T PRO SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE10

Just about the only smartphone competitor If slick refresh rates are your jam, OnePlus’ Curved glass, a great camera and scads of
to the Pixel 4 in the camera game, the 11 Pro higher resolution panel might just scratch RAM and on board storage: Samsung’s phone
boasts three individual lenses and its own take that itch a little better: it pulls off 90Hz with SXVKHV ERXQGDULHV WKH LQVFUHHQ ĆQJHUSULQW
on night mode. What’s more, the 11 Pro is aplomb, and its maximum brightness exceeds scanner) but it does so while still pouring
Apple’s most accomplished iPhone to date. that of the Pixel 4 so it’s great to use in sunlight. extravagance onto the features that matter.
From $1,749, apple.com/au $1,057, oneplus.com From $1,199, samsung.com/au

Google Pixel 4
BEYOND SIGHT
The Pixel 4’s camera array
includes a hyperspectral sensor
which can peer through the
electromagnetic spectrum –
perfect for astronomical shots
iPhones famously get by on less RAM made substantial steps forward with The phone can something else will be an entirely
thanks to software optimisations their handsets this year. Let’s be fair: survive for up to personal thing. The price, we feel, is
going on behind the scenes, but they Google has also made progress with bPLQXWHVLQ right, and the laundry list of reasons
metres of water
are something. In just about every the Pixel 4 in terms of the camera, you’d have bought a Pixel in the past
category you can find a phone that’s Motion Sense, Face Unlock and remain ticked off here.
beaten the Pixel 4 this year, which integrated AI. But there are some There’s magic in the Pixel 4, but
isn’t a good look for a flagship that’s disappointing misses among the hits. most of it comes from Google’s
launching after every other brand has When it comes to the hardware software division using it as a launch
had their go. design, the internal components and platform for some cool new Android
the battery life, the Pixel 4 is not functionality – if you need that now,
In sink much more than satisfactory. If then you need a Pixel 4. If you’re
The Pixel 4 is fully dust- and Google wants what has thus far been looking for raw power in your hand,
waterproof, with an IP68 rating that Android’s cornerstone design to its souped-up rivals may offer more of
means it can survive for up to 30 continue to appeal to power users it what you’re looking for.
minutes in water at a depth of up to needs to go further than a maximum
1.5 metres. Wireless charging and fast of 128GB of internal storage with no
charging are here again, same as last memory card support, for example.
year, and you can use the same Pixel Perhaps the excellent Pixel 3a and 3a
Stand that launched alongside the XL proved that high-end pixels have
Pixel 3 to turn your phone into a had their day, and that the mid-range VERDICT
nightstand display. is where the Pixels belong?
Bad news for 3.5mm stalwarts, Or maybe not. The improvements
because you’ve got USB-C or just aren’t big enough in comparison WE’RE IMPRESSED Another amazing camera;
Bluetooth for audio: the headphone to the rest of the field – it feels as some cool AI tricks; face unlock is speedy.
jack is gone for good, though the Pixel though Google has lost some ground WE’D IMPROVE Average battery life; ho-hum
4 does also offer a good-quality pair of this year – but this is still absolutely design; better specs out there.
stereo speakers. They’re fine for the best Pixel handset yet. It takes THE LAST WORD Loads to love, but perhaps
gaming, podcasts and movies and, at the stellar photos that the range has needed to punch harder given the competition.
a push, they’ll do for music as well. become known for, and the on board
So, let’s now loop quickly back to AI (including Google Assistant)
the beginning of our review and ask remains the gold standard that
again: is all of this enough? The likes everyone else needs to beat. Whether
of Samsung, Apple and OnePlus have that is enough for you to pick this over

Garmin Fenix 6 Pro
GARMIN GET IT
Garmin
Fenix 6 Pro
The ultimate multi-sport
watch, but with its heft
and weight, it may be more
tech than you need
how different activities, or even just your daily
$1,099 grind, can affect your overall energy levels. This
garmin.com pairs well with the new PacePro feature, which
suggests pacing strategies when active
according to the terrain (for example, elevation
nyone who wants a truly high-end intensity), the desired finish time and, of
A
running watch – which is also a golf course, your own preference settings.
watch, a gym watch, a ski watch and The sturdy steel and sapphire build looks
a hiking watch, among others great, and should survive whatever you throw VERDICT
– should give this Garmin consideration. at it (including water – yep, it’s swimproof). The
The Garmin Fenix 6 Pro’s closest predecessor watch is controlled using five buttons on the
is the Garmin Fenix 5 Plus. The Fenix 6 Pro has side, with no touchscreen option. WE’RE IMPRESSED Excellent
improved on a few key parameters, like battery All the activity tracking metrics appear build quality; high-precision
performance and screen size, all the while not accurate – heart-rate worked well for any tracking; good menu system;
increasing the overall physical size or weight of exercise we tried, and GPS is accurate. The large tough sapphire glass.
the watch. In fact, the Fenix 6 Pro is actually screen enables you to see lots of metrics at once, WE’D IMPROVE No haptic
thinner and lighter than the Fenix 5, but offers a which is ideal for advanced training. It’ll suggest feedback from button press;
bigger 1.4-inch screen, at 260x260 resolution. training types based on VO2 levels, and other heavier than running watches;
There’s also 32GB of on board storage, for data, which is useful to explore – especially the Garmin Pay is limited.
keeping music playlists synced to it. Garmin Coach system, which adapts to give you THE LAST WORD Improvements
Battery life has been greatly improved thanks training plans to hit 5K, 10K or a half marathon. all over to this serious sports
to the different modes that can extend the life The only real downsides to the Fenix 6 Pro watch formula. It’s the best, most
up to a whopping 46 days. This mode is called come from how comprehensive it is, which comprehensive out there… but is
‘Expedition’, in case you were wondering who it makes it expensive and bulky. Though it has it too much for you?
was designed for. For us, with a bunch of useful great running features, it’s just a little too heavy
functions turned on, it lasted around a week. to be ideal – the Garmin Forerunner 945 would
Speaking of batteries, there’s a new Body be better. But it is ideal if you want a watch that
Battery feature that monitors your energy level does golf GPS and skiing maps and swimming
throughout the day. This gives you an idea of and hiking and gym tracking… you get the idea.

Nintendo Switch Lite
LITE BITE
Nintendo
Switch Lite
It may be cheaper, but
does a Nintendo Switch
that doesn’t ‘switch’ really
make any sense?
One welcome change is the addition of a
$289, proper D-pad, which replaces the original
nintendo.com.au Switch’s four small separate direction buttons.
It’s particularly ace when playing retro titles
that were originally made with D-pads in mind.
he Switch Lite is an assured new step The Switch Lite achieves three to seven hours
T
on the dedicated portable console of play per charge. That means it outlasts the
path that Nintendo has dominated original, but doesn’t manage as long as the 2019
for decades. But it’s emphatically Switch, which achieved between over four to VERDICT
not a successor to the original Nintendo Switch. nine hours per charge. Performance in games is
The Switch Lite is smaller (91.1x208x13.9mm identical to the original, but internal storage is
compared to 102x239x13.9mm), and thanks to limited to a titchy 32GB. WE’RE IMPRESSED Slim, stylish
rounder case edges and a new matte finish, it’s a Why has Nintendo released a Switch that and more portable; good battery
tad more comfortable to hold. It’s also lighter, at can’t switch? One answer may be the rise of life; proper D-Pad; cheaper than
275g compared to the original Switch’s 297g. The mobile phone gaming, especially now that a full-fat Switch.
Switch Lite’s screen is 5.5 inches compared to Apple appears to be getting its act together with WE’D IMPROVE Doesn’t
the Switch’s 6.2, but it retains the same 720p Arcade. Making the Switch even more portable connect to a TV; Joy-Cons are
resolution, so it actually looks a little sharper. helps with that. fixed in place; no kickstand or
The Switch Lite’s microSD card slot is located And, of course, a cheaper Switch is an easier rumble; tiny internal storage.
on the bottom of the case under the right sell, especially with so many impressive titles THE LAST WORD The Nintendo
thumbstick, behind a pull-away tab. There’s no being released over autumn and winter. We Switch Lite delivers a classic
kickstand, no rumble, and no ambient light suspect that the bulk of sales will come from handheld gaming experience, but
sensor either. kids (or those buying for them), rather than sacrifices in features mean it isn’t
The Switch Lite’s thumbstick and button gaming’s hardcore. That’s because the Lite isn’t a must-buy for every gamer.
layout is the same, though a more compact case really designed for them.
means that the right thumbstick is now in the The Switch Lite may be cheaper and more
bottom right hand corner, which is something portable, but for serious gamers the lack of TV
we found to be slightly less comfortable over output, detachable Joy-Cons and rumble means
elongated or busy play sessions. it’s not as compelling as the full-fat Switch.

Tested
Processor Apple A10 Screen 10.2-

inch, 1620x2160 LCD Memory
3GB Storage 32GB/128GB Battery
8,227mAh Cameras 12MP rear;
1.2MP front OS iPadOS Dimensions
174.x250.6x7.5mm Weight 483g
From $529
apple.com/au
he most important thing
T
about Apple’s new cheap
iPad is that it doesn’t feel
cheap in any way. Not
only is it nearly physically identical to
the more expensive iPad Air, it’s also
an extremely slick and fast tablet. For
a lot of stuff, it has everything you
need – a sharp 10.2-inch screen, a
speedy Apple A10 processor and tons
of apps. But the iPad Air still offers an
upgrade in almost every area, for $250
more, so the question is whether this
really is enough for you, or whether
you’d be better off with its big
brother, or the iPad mini.
PERFECT 10.2 Let’s start with the most important

part of a tablet: the screen. The
Apple iPad
10.2-inch display here has a notable
amount of extra volume compared to
the 9.7-inch display of the previous
low-cost iPad model (though they’re
the same otherwise, really, so it’s not
worth upgrading from last year’s).
A bigger 10.2-inch screen makes the cheapest Obviously, it’s nice to have a bigger
iPad a really versatile tablet for not much cash screen for games or movies and stuff,
but that’s just gravy really. The truly

Apple iPad
handy part about the bigger screen is The speakers are loud and really Touch ID is still version. 64GB is plenty of storage. The
that it’s better for having multiple clear – great for videos. here for security iPad mini is a really capable games,
apps side by side – the screen is The Apple A10 chip powering – we prefer it to movies and creative apps machine
face recognition
practically the same size as the iPad everything here is a couple of years RQ WDEOHWV – provided you’re happy doing one
Air, and just as sharp. With the slick behind the A12 you’ll find in more thing at a time. If the smaller screen
Apple processor, plus the option of expensive iPad models, but it’s no isn’t a problem, it’s a smart choice.
connecting a keyboard cover (Apple’s slouch at all. For opening apps and The iPad Air costs $779, which is
is hideously expensive at $235, but flitting around iOS, everything is $90 more than the 128GB version of
very good), this is a pretty capable very slick and fast. Some intensive this iPad. That has all the advantages
computer, actually. apps, and especially games, will open of the iPad mini, plus a 10.5-inch
However, while the display here a bit faster on more powerful devices, screen that’s ideal for multitasking.
is perfectly nice – it’s clear, and the but the difference is less than you’d The 64GB that the base iPad Air comes
natural colours are appealing – the think. Our only concern is that Apple with will be enough for the vast
iPad Air’s screen is even better: it might stop supporting it with updates majority of people, too.
appears brighter and more vibrant sooner than the A12 – that’s years We’re not saying you shouldn’t get
thanks to its wide colour support, it’s away in any case, but the A12 is more this – far from it. It’s easily the best
laminated (so the pixels are closer to future-proofed overall. Along those tablet in this price range, and is a fab
the surface), and it has True Tone, lines, the A12 also includes extra little computer for the price. But it’s
which means it shifts its hue to be camera processing tech for better shots worth looking at the upgrades.
more comfortable to read in natural – the camera here is rudimentary.
light, which makes a big difference.
The iPad mini’s screen also has all How to choose
these advantages, though it’s only The basic new iPad comes with 32GB
7.9 inches, so isn’t good for side-by- of storage, but you can up that to
side apps. 128GB, which costs $689 total. Here’s VERDICT
There’s support for Apple Pencil, where the decisions really get sticky.
and it works just as well as on other The iPad mini comes with 64GB
models. It supports the original Apple of storage as standard, has the nicer WE’RE IMPRESSED Good 10.2-
Pencil v1, which has wired charging, screen tech and faster processor, and inch screen; zippy to use; great
unlike the more useful v2 unit, but costs $599 – just $70 more than the multitasking; Pencil and Smart
the drawing function is just as good. base iPad, and less than the 128GB Keyboard support.
WE’D IMPROVE No True Tone
screen; keyboard case is pricey;
THE A ERNATIVES same A10 chip as previous iPad.
THE LAST WORD The best
APPLE iPAD AIR AMAZON tablet you can get for this cost.
We’ve already made the FIRE HD 10 It’s great for kids, fast as a
iPad Air’s case in this Want a cheaper c eap computer for the sofa, and is
review, but we think it’s tablet? This has a 1 80p actually way more capable than
probably the main choice e 10-inch screen, 32GB its price suggests.
if you don’t get the iPad. storage and oct -ccore e
A great True Tone screen, processor. It’s not as
powerful innards and versatile as the iPad,
d but
Pencil support. can do the core stuff.
$779, apple.com/au $119, amazon.com au

Tested
True wireless earbuds

The latest set of true wireless headphones vying for a place in your ears
go head to head
Words: Duncan Bell, Matt Bolton Photography: Neil Godwin
BIG SOUND, BIG BUDS FEATURE-PACKED FOR LESS
AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-CKS5TW HUAWEI FREEBUDS 3

$249, audio-technica.com $229, consumer.huawei.com
Good as these are, it’s debatable whether they’re worth the extra Huawei has included active noise cancellation here for a low price,
$120 over the Lypertek Tevi set tested in this group. That’s because but only with an outer-ear fit (like how original AirPods fit) rather
while the sound quality is better in ideal circumstances, the increased than a sealed in-ear fit. This fit means the ANC is limited. While it
bulk of Audio-Technica’s mid-range buds makes them more awkward does cut back on hubbub, you can find yourself still hearing odd
to use when walking about – whatever combination of tips we tried, things, including the air con in T3 Towers, which should be one of the
a really secure fit was hard to come by. The battery life of 15 hours easiest things for ANC to cut out. Sound quality is solid – it doesn’t
is exceptional, and the charging case raises that to a colossal 45 do much wrong, but it feels a little compressed, and the mid-range
hours. The extra bulk of the buds also means there’s room for on-ear and vocals come through a little too dominant over other areas for
buttons that are actually quite usable, which is not always the case our taste. The battery life of four hours is fine. These don’t make any
for true wireless. They’re good, but it’s a shame about the fit. big mistakes, but they don’t wow, despite a strong feature list.

True wireless earbuds
he convenience The range of options is much popular AirPods, which come
T
of true wireless bigger than anyone expected, so with a big price tag but luckily
earbuds has made we’ve collected four of the most have the features to match.
them the most interesting new releases for our All will work with any phone,
popular type of headphones on latest test. We’ve got a selection but the AirPods have better
sale right now – the majority of that ranges from our top pick for software support with Apple
headphones sold this Christmas the under-$150 budget, right up gear, and the Huawei’s are the
will be totally wire-free. to the successor to Apple’s wildly same on Huawei phones.
BEST FOR
VALUE
THE HIGH-TECH HOTNESS BIG-BATTERY BUDGET BARGAIN
APPLE AIRPODS PRO LYPERTEK TEVI

$399, apple.com/au $129, lypertek.com
The new top-tier AirPods add a more secure in-ear fit, IPX4 sweat There are a number of solid true wireless buds you can buy for under
resistance, active noise cancellation and improved sound quality. $150 these days, but the Lypertek Tevi are perhaps the best. There’s
Plus, they shorten the sticks. There’s a similar sound profile to support for AAC and aptX Bluetooth streaming, for improved audio
original AirPods – fairly neutral, without skimping on bass – but with quality, but the real ace in their pack is how well they fit. Just a light
the clarity and detail dialled up. The ANC works really well, though it push into your ears and you get good passive noise isolation and no
isn’t quite as good as more expensive over-ear NC models. There’s a fears that they may fall out and roll into the road. Sound quality is
Transparency Mode for letting sound in, activated by squeezing the as good as it gets for this price when it comes to true wireless. Ten
AirPod’s stick. The fit is comfortable and rock solid (and they even hours of battery life per charge is extremely good; 70 hours in total
test the fit with a sound check). Battery life is average at 4.5 hours, via charging in the case is exceptional, especially considering how
plus 24 from the case (which is still slim). These are, overall, brilliant. compact both the buds themselves and the battery case are.

BEST OF
THE BEST
The world’s best tech, all in one place
Edited by Matt Bolton
If you’re looking for the very

best tech available today, you’ve
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INSIDE
Smartphones and smart watches 89
Watches 90
Soundbars and gaming consoles 91
Streaming and AV devices 92
Bluetooth devices and headphones 93
Headphones 94
Laptops and tablets 95

Best of the best
CHEAP
SMARTPHONES SMARTPHONES SMARTWATCHES
APPLE iPHONE 11 PRO SAMSUNG GALAXY S10E APPLE WATCH SERIES 5
From $1,749, apple.com/au From $999, samsung.com/au From $649, apple.com/au
Packing the best The modestly sized This truly straddles
screen and camera and pocket-friendly the line between
on any phone, plus 5.8-inch screen tech and fashion; it’s
the fastest processor on the S10e is a not just the best-
and a beautiful high- breath of fresh air. looking smartwatch,
quality build, and With Samsung’s but its health and
you’ve got a phone impeccable levels of ĆWQHVV IHDWXUHV
that earns its Pro ĆW DQG ĆQLVK JUHDW always-on screen
name. It’s a totally software and top and good apps
polished package. specs, it’s a deal. PDNH LW HVVHQWLDO
SAMSUNG GALAXY S10+ MOTOROLA ONE ACTION SAMSUNG GALAXY

WATCH ACTIVE
From $1,499, samsung.com/au From $289, motorola.com From $299, samsung.com
A premium build, One of the most Sleek and powerful,
LQFUHGLEOH ,QĆQLW\2 exciting budget this is the best
screen with smartphones to have smartwatch for
HDR10+, brilliant launched in... forever. Android users. The
rear triple camera There’s a massive screen and design
system and blazing 6.3-inch LCD screen are on par with the
performance in on the front, a triple Apple Watch, while
Samsung’s slick new camera on the a collection of new
One UI make this rear and 128GB watch faces give it
the Android king. RI VWRUDJH LQVLGH DbPRGHUQHGJH
HUAWEI P30 PRO GOOGLE PIXEL 3A SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH

From $1,299, huawei.com $649, store.google.com From $399, samsung.com/au
A revolutionary 5x 64GB of storage, The circular screen
optical zoom (with always up-to-date with innovative
10x lossless hybrid Android with no rotating bezel is the
zoom) meets a 6.47- extra cruft, snappy best way to control a
inch OLED screen, performance and smartwatch, and the
big battery, and a truly brilliant slick Tizen software
ultra-fast processor camera, all in a is easy to use. It
for one of the SDFNDJHWKDWGHĆQHV looks good too, and
smartest Android ‘cheap and cheerful’ a battery life of up to
phones available. – it’s great value. six days is ace.
ONEPLUS 7 PRO HONOR PLAY FOSSIL SPORT

From $829, oneplus.com From $485, hihonor.com From $249, fossil.com
:LWKDZRUOGĆUVW Pitched as a gaming Fossil’s fourth
in screen tech and phone, but it’s just generation of
the fastest wired an all-round brilliant smartwatches serves
FKDUJLQJ\RXèOOĆQG Android phone that’s up what’s probably
this is an ambitious a stone-cold bargain. the best Wear
phone, designed to It has a high-end OS smartwatch
prove that OnePlus processor, 6.3-inch available to buy
can make higher-end screen, good rear today. Capable and
ćDJVKLSVDVZHOODV cameras and a wearable, with good
mid-range marvels. fantastic design. app support.

Best of the best
HYBRID WATCHES
SMARTWATCHES WATCHES UNDER $1,000
WITHINGS STEEL HR SPORT TAG HEUER AUTAVIA VICTORINOX I.N.O.X V
$254, withings.com $7,200, tagheuer.com $585, victorinox.com
Featuring a heart- 3DUW RI 7$*èV Having undergone
rate monitor and the Heritage range, 130 durability tests,
ability to track 30 the Autavia was this watch will stand
different exercises, favoured by racing up to anything you
this is ideal for GULYHUV LQ WKH V WKURZ DW LW 7KH
ĆWQHVV IDQDWLFV ,WèV The vintage silver paracord strap hints
water resistant to dial features a retro at its adventurous
50 metres, and the Heuer logo, and is KHULWDJH DQG LWèV
battery lasts around encircled by a black great for all wrist
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WITHINGS MOVE ECG TUDOR BLACK BAY GMT HAMILTON KHAKI FIELD
$255, withings.com $5,610, tudorwatch.com $595, hamiltonwatch.com
Think a pricey Apple Sporting a bold This is a faithful
Watch is needed to 41mm steel case and recreation of its
take an ECG reading distinctive blue and original 1960s
of your heart? This burgundy bezel, the forebearer and is
can do that, plus Black Bay GMT can WUXH WR +DPLOWRQèV
activity tracking and keep track of three PLOLWDU\ KHULWDJH 7KH
sleep monitoring, time zones, making PP VWDLQOHVV VWHHO
with a 12-month LW LGHDO IRU WKRVH case is paired with a
battery life, for a who often travel GXUDEOH 1$72 VWUDS
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MONDAINE HELVETICA 1 OMEGA SEAMASTER 300 TISSOT QUICKSTER

CHRONOGRAPH
$428, mondaine.com $7,970, omegawatches.com $625, tissotwatches.com
Mondaine is The 300 recalls its This packs a Swiss
most famous for iconic namesake, quartz movement
producing watches but has been with 1/10 of a
which resemble updated to include second counters,
its classic Swiss 2PHJDèV PRUH central 60-seconds
Railways clock, modern watch tech, chronograph hand,
but the Helvetica including the anti- and add/split
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includes activity and Co-Axial mechanical FDVH LV ĆQLVKHG ZLWK
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KRONABY SEKEL BREITLING NAVITIMER B01 CHRISTOPHER WARD C5

CHRONOGRAPH MALVERN MK III
$545, kronaby.com $6,510, breitling.com $740, au.christopherward.com
Looking for more The Navitimer is This sleek dress
than a pedometer? %UHLWOLQJèV PRVW watch retains its
The Sekel vibrates LFRQLF FROOHFWLRQ classic British design
to alert you to This model boasts cues from older
QRWLĆFDWLRQV RQ \RXU a 43mm stainless models, but features
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be programmed with showing off the self- with Fluid ‘light-
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Best of the best
GAMES
SOUNDBARS STREAMERS CONSOLES
SONOS BEAM ROKU STREAMING STICK+ MICROSOFT XBOX ONE X
$479, sonos.com $145, roku.com $479, xbox.com
If it were just a The Swiss Army With 4K, Dolby
soundbar, the Beam’s Knife of streaming Atmos, Ultra HD
great audio would delivers 4K HDR, Blu-ray and a fairly
still make it top – but isn’t locked to a FRPSDFW SURĆOH
with Amazon Alexa, particular ecosystem, this is the best
Apple AirPlay 2 and has tons of available ;ER[ HYHU ,WèV HYHQ
support for a billion apps and is a joy to more powerful than
streaming services, XVH ,WèV WKH EHVW the PS4 Pro and
it’s fantastically streamer for many also a great home
ćH[LEOH SHRSOH HQWHUWDLQPHQW KXE
SAMSUNG Q90 CHROMECAST ULTRA SONY PLAYSTATION 4 PRO

$1,429, samsung.com $75, store.google.com $389, playstation.com
A soundbar, The Chromecast It’s still overkill if
subwoofer and rear Ultra is a receiver for you don’t have a 4K
surrounds, this is as phones and laptops 79 EXW ZLWK S
painless a way to get and depends on HDR gaming, the
Dolby Atmos as you’ll them for control and PS4 Pro delivers
ĆQG ,WV FKDQQHOV content – but it’s incredible visuals
are driven by 512W simple, versatile and and is smoother and
of amp, and the new compatible with iOS, faster than its non-
sub gives plenty of Android, Windows 3UR VLEOLQJV
UXPEOH DQG 0DF
Q ACOUSTICS M3 AMAZON FIRE TV STICK 4K NINTENDO SWITCH

$339, qacoustics.co.uk $63, amazon.com.au $429, nintendo.com.au
Want superb sound 4K HDR for under We love the Switch,
without a big price $100 isn’t to be which brings
and unnecessary VQLIIHGDW,WèVEHVW Nintendo’s great
extras? Q Acoustics’ suited to Prime gaming pedigree to
M3 combines great subscribers and genuinely stylish,
simplicity and great Google apps are premium-grade
VRXQG,PSUHVVLYH absent, but it’s a KDUGZDUH)RUJHWWKH
affordable, and it very capable and specs: it’s all about
wasn’t hit with the affordable streamer the sheer joy of
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VIZIO 36-INCH 5.1.2 HOME APPLE TV 4K MICROSOFT XBOX ONE S

THEATER SOUND SYSTEM
$799, vizio.com $249, apple.com/au $269, xbox.com
With a sound as big iTunes has the The S is smaller,
as its name is long, biggest source of whiter and much
this is your best 4K HDR and Dolby cheaper than its
affordable Dolby Atmos movies, big brother, and
$WPRV'76;RSWLRQ and lots of other while you don’t get
Also known as the services have apps its sibling’s super-
SB36512-F6, it ticks KHUHWRR<RXFDQ powered specs you
all the right boxes in also easily stream still get Ultra HD
WHUPVRIIHDWXUHV to it from Macs and %OXUD\$ĆQHKRPH
L26bGHYLFHV HQWHUWDLQPHQWKXE

Best of the best
STREAMING MULTI-ROOM
TURNTABLES DACS SPEAKERS
PRO-JECT ESSENTIAL III YAMAHA WXAD-10 NAIM MU-SO 2ND GENERATION
$475, project-audio.com $219, au.yamaha.com $2,499 naimaudio.com
Really sounds great This Yamaha lets you Mu-So 2 crushes
for the money, with stream everything its competition. An
an expansive and from Bluetooth awesome, thumping
enjoyable sound to hi-res audio, wall of sound and
across a range of with support for reliable, versatile
genres and volume AirPlay, most of your software platform
levels. It also looks favourite streaming and streaming
very pleasing, in services and, of support make for the
a variety of high course Yamaha’s perfect 21st-century
JORVV ĆQLVKHV own MusicCast. music experience.
CAMBRIDGE AUDIO ALVA TT GOOGLE CHROMECAST AUDIO SONOS ONE

$2,799, cambridgeaudio.com $49, google.com $259, sonos.com
This Bluetooth A somewhat less Sonos One is
turntable is a real audiophile solution compatible with
game changer. It perhaps, but so every music service
uses an exhausting simple and so cheap. ever, multi-room
array of analogue- Suddenly, all your connectivity is fab,
to-digital trickery, Android phone’s and Alexa comes
plus aptX HD to give music (plus Google’s built in as an added
hi-res/better-than- apps on iOS) can bonus. Many pricier
CD-quality sound, be beamed to your Sonos speakers then
and all wirelessly. audio setup. await you…
TECHNICS SL-1210GR ARCAM RDAC RUARK R5

$3,499, technics.com/au $849, arcam.co.uk $1,999, ruarkaudio.com
The iconic DJ For those who Like a mini system
turntable reimagined stream via AirPlay for the 21st century,
as a lustworthy slab and UPNP, this is Ruark’s R5 chucks
RI KRPH KLĆ :KLOH ever so hard to beat. in a CD player, DAB
we wouldn’t take It’s essentially a very and FM radios and
this out clubbing, it’s high quality DAC, two extra inputs,
the ultimate deck and gives a real including one pre-
for gently maturing boost to any decent amped for use with
ravers, and sounds TXDOLW\ DXGLR ĆOHV a turntable. There’s
excellent too. beamed its way. even Bluetooth too.
MCINTOSH MT2 iFI NANO iONE BOWERS & WILKINS

FORMATION DUO
$8,495, mcintoshlabs.com LĆDXGLRFRP $5,800, bowerswilkins.com
This beautifully Just want to wring These may look
ĆQLVKHG GHFN LV the very most out of like Bender from
perfect for vinyl Bluetooth? This fag- Futurama but sound
addicts. It’ll wring an packet-sized DAC like God yodelling in
incredible amount is your new friend. your ear. The only
of detail out of your Even the shonkiest wireless choice for
records, without MP3 gets a polish, any real audiophiles
needing to be and your higher out there: highly
plugged into a crazily TXDOLW\ ĆOHV DQG specced, but not
pricey system. streams will shine. exactly affordable.

Best of the best
BLUETOOTH BLUETOOTH TRUE WIRELESS

SPEAKERS HEADPHONES HEADPHONES
BLUESOUND PULSE FLEX 2I AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-M50XBT BEATS POWERBEATS PRO
$539, bluesound.com $299, audio-technica.com $295, beatsbydre.com
More than a Long battery life and If you want true
Bluetooth speaker, sound that’s closer wireless buds with
with Wi-Fi and to the more neutral quality audio, there’s
ethernet included WRQHV RI KLĆ FDQV almost nothing to
this is more like a (though still with match these, and the
portable Sonos. It’s a slight extra kick ZD\ WKH\ ĆW PHDQV
AirPlay 2 compatible, of bass), plus great they cannot fall out
and works with comfort levels, make and get lost. Beats
streaming services these ideal for losing KDV NQRFNHG LW RXWRI
and internet radio. yourself in music. the damn park.
AUDIO PRO ADDON C3 AKG Y50BT JABRA ELITE 65T

$499, audiopro.com $199, au.akg.com $199, jabra.com.au
$ ĆQH EOHQG RI If you want an on-ear Jabra has solved
classic Bluetooth alternative to the most of the problems
portability, high- Marshalls, these that bedevilled
quality audio and ’phones from AKG earlier true wireless
Scandie style. Thanks remain a great option. buds. Sound is great,
to Wi-Fi, you can The sound is punchy connectivity is rock
stream higher quality and the styling is VROLG WKH ĆW LV VHFXUH
sounds indoors, then pretty cool without but comfortable, and
revert to Bluetooth WU\LQJ WRR KDUG they’re discreet.
in the garden.
ULTIMATE EARS MEGABOOM 3 OPTOMA NUFORCE BE LIVE5 APPLE AIRPODS PRO

$199, ultimateears.com $107, optoma.com $399, apple.com/au
The best waterproof These slick Great active noise
speaker – it even earphones offer cancellation, a
ćRDWVåRIIHUV incredible sound super-secure in-ear
hours of battery life for the price, taking ĆWVZHDWSURRĆQJ
and a hefty sound, everything from pop adaptive EQ, good
perfect for outdoor to classical in their battery life and
parties. It works stride. They’re made excellent audio
great for kitchen to stay comfortable quality make these
audio duties, too. for their eight-hour pricey but technically
battery life. brilliant buds.
CAMBRIDGE AUDIO YOYO M SOUNDMAGIC E11BT LYPERTEK TEVI

$435, cambridgeaudio.com $125, soundmagicheadphones.com $134, lypertek.com
The best Bluetooth These are as good as These are
solution for buds that cost twice unbeatable at this
audiophiles’ audio as much. Audio is price – a discreet
ĆOHVWKLVLVDV\RX brilliant, connectivity design, decent
can see, a stereo is rock solid, the battery life, good
pair. As such it’s necklace-style band ZDWHUSURRĆQJVWDEOH
more like a classic stays stable, and the connectivity and
KLĆV\VWHPEXWZLWK ĆWLVFRPIRUWDEOHDQG good sound make
the convenience secure enough for these one hell of a
RIbZLUHOHVVQHVV exercise. bargain.

Best of the best
NOISE-CANCELLING WIRED IN-EAR WIRED OVER-EAR

HEADPHONES HEADPHONES HEADPHONES
SONY WH-1000XM3 BOWERS & WILKINS
FLARE AUDIO FLARE PRO 2HD P9 SIGNATURE
$395, sony.com.au ćDUHDXGLRFRP $1,249, bowers-wilkins.com
With 30-hour These are both The P9s don’t just
battery life, very wired and wireless sound wonderful
quick charging, – the in-ear bit has a with hi-res audio.
Google Assistant, cable to a DAC box, They do a stellar job
amazing bass which you can then with poor quality
response and an play music through music, such as
incredibly clever over Bluetooth or compressed MP3s.
noise cancellation by plugging in. The You can have any
processor, these are sound is fantastic – colour you like as
superb headphones. huge and nuanced. long as it’s brown.
BOWERS & WILKINS PX KLIPSCH R6I II AUDIO TECHNICA ATH-A1000Z

$399, bowers-wilkins.com NOLSVFKFRP DXGLRWHFKQLFDFRP
With useful motion- A more comfortable Forget about MP3s
sensing features, alternative to in-ear or EDM: these
the stylish PXes monitors, the R6i headphones don’t
have variable noise IIs deliver lots of ćDWWHU RU VDFULĆFH
cancelling and bass and a lively, sound quality for
accurate B&W HQJDJLQJ VRXQG bass. But if you give
sound. We think the It’s maybe a little them a good amp
Sonys are slightly bass-heavy for older and a good sound
better, but you may music, but it’s great source they do
well disagree. for modern stuff. incredible things.
SONY WH-1000XM2 FLARE AUDIO FLARES JET 3 SENNHEISER MOMENTUM 2.0

AROUND EAR
$389, sony.com.au ćDUHDXGLRFRP VHQQKHLVHUFRP
With the XM3 model Maintaining the The best sub-$350
replacing these, you quality of the Flares over-ear headphones
PLJKW EH DEOH WR ĆQG Pro (see Bluetooth aren’t too picky
them cheap – and headphones), about sonic sources.
if you can, you’ll get removing the DAC They don’t quite
impressive noise element and thereby have the frequency
cancellation and slashing the price, range of our more
brilliant sound in a these audiophile in- expensive picks but
comfortable body. ear headphones are they’re well built and
They’re still ace. a tremendous option. good for the price.
BEATS STUDIO3 WIRELESS SOUNDMAGIC E11C BOWERS & WILKINS P5 SERIES 2

$399, apple.com/au VRXQGPDJLFKHDGSKRQHVFRP $199, bowers-wilkins.com
These Beats deliver Can we really be The little sisters
exceptional noise recommending a pair of the mighty P9s
cancellation that of headphones for deliver a beautifully
reacts very well under $100? Yes we warm and spacious
to all kinds of can! The grown-up sound for a lot less
environments, they sound quality and money, and their
get three hours of exemplary comfort of closed backs mean
charge in 10 minutes the 11c make them they’re less likely to
and they’re the best the sonic bargain of annoy other people
sounding Beats so far. the year. when you commute.

Best of the best
2-IN-1
LAPTOPS LAPTOPS TABLETS
DELL XPS 13 MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK 2 APPLE iPAD PRO 12.9 (2018)
From $1,698, dell.com $1,757, microsoft.com From $1,529, apple.com/au
The Dell XPS 13 is Pull the screen away The biggest iPad
thinner and more from the keyboard Pro is unbelievably
powerful than ever. and it’s a tablet. powerful and slick,
Up to 1TB of SSD Connect them ZLWK DQ H[FHOOHQW
storage, 16GB of for more graphics screen, thin and
RAM, a 4K screen power and battery compact design,
and fast Intel chips life. A premium, great battery life
help make it a top fantastically portable, and support for the
quality all-rounder. and supremely Apple Pencil. Pricey,
versatile system. but worth it.
MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK 2 HP ENVY X2 APPLE IPAD PRO 11 (2018)

$1,757, microsoft.com From $899, hp.com From $1,449, apple.com/au
Available in 13- or The big sell here Despite its smaller
15-inch sizes, with a is the monstrous size, the internals
3:2 screen that gives battery life, with of the 11in iPad Pro
you more height up to 22 hours on are the same as the
than other laptops, one charge. This is bigger version: it’s
and plenty of power, because it makes use supremely powerful,
this is a light and fast of ARM architecture, it’s incredibly
machine that’s also with a Snapdragon versatile, in short, it’s
UHDOO\ ćH[LEOH 835 CPU powering an absolute beast of
everything. a tablet.
HUAWEI MATEBOOK X PRO DELL XPS 15 2-IN-1 APPLE IPAD AIR (2018)
$1,993, consumer.huawei.com From $2,549, dell.com From $547, apple.com/au
This marries style With a big screen With a sharp, vibrant
and function, and great specs, 10.5-inch screen,
delivering incredibly ZKDWèV QRW WR OLNH Apple Pencil support,
capable internal about this 2-in-1? mega-powerful A12
hardware in a form Well, the price is processor and thin,
factor that also steep, but if you can light body, this a
matches Apple’s afford it then this is Pro in all but name,
MacBook range in undoubtedly one of for a bargain price.
terms of looks and the best touchscreen The best all-rounder
feel. options. tablet.
ALIENWARE AREA-51M ASUS ZENBOOK FLIP 13 SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S6

From $3,999, alienware.com $1,299, asus.com $999, samsung.com
A gaming laptop The Zenbook Flip 7KH ĆQHVW $QGURLG
packed with power, 13 might be the best tablet, this delivers
from the ninth-gen laptop Asus has ever D V\VWHP ZLWK
i7 processors, to released. Tooled up a sharp OLED
the newest Nvidia with an eighth-gen screen, S Pen stylus,
mobile GPUs. The Intel Core processor, H[FHOOHQW DXGLR
performance you get the tablet mode feels credentials, powerful
back is worth the great to use, thanks internals, and a neat
substantial outlay. to a responsive laptop-aping DeX
touchscreen. mode.

LUXURIES Exclusive gifts to
seriously spoil yourself
WAX LYRICAL
The Automatic Turntable MkII boasts
a high fidelity built in valve phono
stage, d i d ffor moving
designed i magnet
cartridges. The resulting sound is
beautifully warm and toasty
T U R N TA B L E M K II
IMAGE SOURCE: GEARBOX RECORDS
Gearbox Records, a London label that originally made a name for itself as a purveyor of archival jazz, is what you might call a
music connoisseur. So it should come as no surprise that its turntable is a bit special. Inspired by Dieter Rams’ iconic 1955
%UDXQWXUQWDEOHZKLFKDOVRLQVSLUHG-RQ\,YHèVĆUVWL3RGWKH$XWRPDWLF0N,,LVDSOXJèQèSOD\%OXHWRRWKFRQQHFWHGGHVLJQ
masterpiece that would hold its own in the most exquisite surroundings. Naturally, Gearbox wanted it to sound great too,
ZKLFKLVZK\WKHWXUQWDEOHFRQWDLQVDQXPEHURIDXGLRSKLOHIHDWXUHV7KHVHLQFOXGHDSUHFLVLRQEHOWGULYHDSUHPRXQWHG
2UWRIRQ20FDUWULGJHDVROLGJODVVSODWWHUDQGDORZYLEUDWLRQV\QFKURQRXVPRWRUZLWKEXLOWLQHOHFWURQLFVSHHGFRQWURO
2XUIDYRXULWHIHDWXUH"7KHWUDFNUHFRJQLWLRQVRIWZDUHXVHGLQFRPELQDWLRQZLWKWKH*HDUER[$XWRPDWLFDSSHQDEOHVXVHUV
to add ZKDWHYHUWKH\èUHSOD\LQJRQWKHWXUQWDEOHWRWKHLU6SRWLI\SOD\OLVW$VMD]]W\SHVPLJKWVD\WKDWèVVPRRWK
$1,100 gearboxrecords.com

Luxuries
N EO LEGEN D GRU NGE

STR E ET FIGHTER S
C OM PAC T A RC A DE GA M E
If you’ve ever wondered what Kurt Cobain would look like as a muscled kung-fu master,
this retro arcade machine provides the slightly surreal answer. A tabletop version of the
IMAGE SOURCE: MR PORTER
Capcom classic Street Fighter, it’s emblazoned with pictures of both Kurt and his Nirvana
pal Dave Grohl in full martial arts get-up, as imagined by Brazilian artist Butcher Billy.
Sadly, the two godfathers of grunge don’t feature in the game itself (now, wouldn’t that
be cool). French company Neo Legend has launched a whole range of arcade machines
illustrated with cultural icons, from rock stars to superheroes. We await the Pearl Jam
edition of Space Invaders with bated breath.
$5,125, mrporter.com

Luxuries
TIZI A NA TER ENZI

OR ION I S EXTR A IT
DE PA R F U M
Nothing against Hai Karate, etc, but those cheap aftershaves and
perfumes you can buy at your local pharmacy aren’t going to cut
it if you want to turn heads (or, more accurately, noses). Named in
IMAGE SOURCE: TIZIANA TERENZI
honour of Orion (the constellation, as opposed to the 1980s car),

,WDOLDQĆUP7L]LDQD7HUHQ]LèVODWHVWVFHQWIRUPHQDQGZRPHQLVD
truly exotic blend of “rare oils, scarce essences and priceless
molecules” – think ambergris, red patchouli, tolu balm and benjui.
Equally seductive is the bottle it comes in: made of hand-blown
glass, and featuring a 24-carat gold top and ornate crest, it’s the
NLQGRIWKLQJ\RXèGH[SHFWWRĆQGLQDUR\DOERXGRLU<HV2ULRQLV
FRPPDQGVDQDVWURQRPLFDOIHHbEXW\RXZLOOVPHOOOLNHDVWDU
From $1,225 (100ml), harveynichols.com

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A new spin on a classic. Whether adding music streaming

A few months back, we featured the Xiaomi Mi

T3 SAYS: For a mid-range phone, Xiaomi’s new

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Fully chargeable in just four hours, the Dirt

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Here in Australia, drones weighing 250g or

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