9000 9001

TOP NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES UNDER £160

SAMSUNG
S20 ULTRA
SMARTER LIVING
REVIEW
Is the most advanced phone
in the world worth the price?

8K TV
TESTED!
4 PORTABLE
SMART
SPEAKERS

IN-CAR ALEXA

E-BIKES
2020’S BEST TECH

THE GADGETS AND TECH TRENDS NEXT-GEN

YOU MUST KNOW THIS YEAR, FROM TABLETS

NEW TV TECH TO 5G EVERYWHERE

 SHOWSTOPPER
Gadgets that showcase the
very best that design and
technology have to offer

GET YOURSELF CONNECTED

The latest design of this iconic machine
offers two RCA audio jacks for external
sources, one RCA audio output for
connecting to an external amp and one
for an external subwoofer, plus a 3.5mm
preamp audio jack for your headphones

B R ION V E GA R A DIOFONO GR A FO
R R 226 FO-ST
Back in 2016, a 1960s turntable once belonging to David Bowie sold at auction for £257,000. That turntable was a
Brionvega Radiofonografo RR126, created by Italian geniuses Achille and Pier Castiglioni. Now, to mark the 100th
anniversary of Achille’s birth, a special edition of that iconic music system has been launched, complete with the original
machine’s iconic ‘smiley face’ (made up of controls for the record player, radio and volume). The Radiofonografo RR226
FO-ST comes in white, orange and red, with only 100 of each colour available for purchase – all will be numbered and made
using the original Italian cabinet design. Each will feature a premium Pro-Ject turntable with Ortofon cartridge, an AM/FM
radio and cool modular speakers that can be moved up or down to create unique looks. There’s a headphone jack for when
you want to listen privately, but let’s be honest, a system this iconic deserves a bigger audience.
From £6,670, brionvega.it/en

4 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
 Meet the team

Meet the team MEET OUR

ADVERTISING TEAM
Get in touch to see what T3
can do for your brand!
UK COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
CLARE DOVE
clare.dove@futurenet.com
+44 (0)7432 442244

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR
ANDREW TILBURY
MATT BOLTON CLAIRE DAVIES JO GULLIVER andrew.tilbury@futurenet.com,
Editor Senior Content Editor Group Art Director +44 (0)1225 687144

ACCOUNT MANAGER
ISABEL LINCOLN-MOORE
isabel.lincoln-moore@futurenet.com,
+44 (0)1225 442244

SENIOR AD MANAGER
SASHA McGREGOR
sasha.mcgregor@futurenet.com,
+44 (0)1225 442244

MICHELLE McLAREN RUSSELL LEWIN PAUL DOUGLAS

Art Editor Production Editor Global Editor-in-Chief THE GLOBAL
MAGAZINE
T3 is currently licensed
worldwide, from
Australia to Mexico

ROBERT JONES DUNCAN BELL SPENCER HART

Ecommerce Editor Lifestyle Editor Product & Style Editor

POLAND FRANCE

HOW TO LICENSE T3
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version of T3 in your territory? Please
direct enquiries to T3’s Senior Licensing
& Syndication Manager, Matt Ellis
(matt.ellis@futurenet.com;
+44 (0)1225 442244)
MATT KOLLAT MATT EVANS JOSH RUSSELL
Staff Writer Staff Writer Usurper

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6 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
 Welcome

Editor’s letter
After three years of steering the good ship T3 around
WKH&DULEEHDQRIWHFKUDLGLQJFRPSDQLHVIRUWKHLUĆQHVW
wares, I’m giving up the wheel. I’m not leaving T3 – you’ll
still see me across the page on our little Most Wanted
wall – but I won’t be editing the magazine any more. I’m
handing over the reins (I don’t know why this ship has
reins, let alone reins and a wheel, but stay with me here)
to Josh, who’s already helped make this very issue
happen, so you’re in safe hands.
I actually started here immediately after 2017’s Hot 100
LVVXHVRbWRHQGKHUHIHHOVOLNHDYHU\QHDWĆQLVKWRWKHFLUFOH
The Hot 100 is always one of the most fun and frantic
issues to pull together – from coming up with our gigantic
longlist of potential entries, to spending hours locked in a
room ranking them until we have a top 100, to deciding
what order those 100 should be in… and then the process
of deciding a number one, which takes almost as long again.
It’s been really satisfying to work on this year’s list as my
last issue as Editor, because I get to cover the whole gamut
of gadgets one more time, from practical health tech to
weird new startups to game-changing advancements to
just very cool-looking gear. I’ve loved bringing all this stuff
to you, and I’m so grateful to all of our readers – thank you.

Matt Bolton, Editor

matthew.bolton@futurenet.com
Tweet me @matthewbbolton

T3’S MISSION
Our mission is to bring you the clearest recommendations
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before a product even reaches our pages!
Because we only feature products the T3 team would
having to undertake hours of painstaking research and
product comparisons.
You won’t see any duff products, but you will come away
with clarity on which one is the best in its category or for
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QXPEHURIRSWLRQVLQHDFKFDWHJRU\EHIRUHVHWWOLQJRQDĆQDO
shortlist to review. We select only the best of the best for
RXUb7HVWHGVHFWLRQWKHbJHDUZHNQRZ\RXèOOZDQWWRVHULRXVO\
consider purchasing. And that should mean an end to you
DbVSHFLĆFWDVNRXUDZDUGVEDGJHVVHHEHORZHQVXUHWKDW
everything T3 recommends is clearly highlighted on the page.
It goes without saying that every product in our review
VHFWLRQKDVbEHHQWKRURXJKO\WHVWHGE\RXUWHDPRIH[SHUWV
HQDEOLQJ\RXbWREX\ZLWKWRWDOFRQĆGHQFH

OUR AWARDS
THE BEST FOR BEST ON
PLATINUM DESIGN BATTERY TEST
AWARD AWARD LIFE

Only the best products – For kit that demonstrates This accolade and others This is given to winners
WKRVHWKDWVFRUHĆYHVWDUV H[FHSWLRQDOLQGXVWULDOGHVLJQ OLNHbLWVKRZ\RXZKLFK RIbRXUJURXSWHVWVVR\RX
– receive our coveted DQGUHĆQHPHQWLQDGGLWLRQ JHDUbLVbEHVWIRUVSHFLĆF FDQbVHHH[DFWO\ZKLFK
Platinum Award WRbEHLQJJUHDW IHDWXUHVbRUbWDVNV LVbWKHbEHVWDWDJODQFH

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 7
 Contents

Contents

031
HOT 100
E-planes to
e-campers, sex
tech to next-gen consoles, teensier
LEDs to 8K TVs – here are the tech
trends setting the world ablaze

059 066
STATE OF THE ART COMPLETE GUIDE
These game-streaming systems offer Get the warmth of vinyl and the versatility of
top-tier 4K gaming (almost) on the go wireless audio with Bluetooth turntables

8 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
 Contents

BEST OF THE BEST

HORIZON
010 TESTED
HORIZON TOP 10
The latest folding phone formats and 074 087
&DQRQèVQHZPLUURUOHVVćDJVKLS SAMSUNG GALAXY S20 ULTRA YOUR IN-DEPTH
7KHODWHVWXEHUćDJVKLSIURP6DPVXQJ BUYER’S GUIDE
016 smashes all challengers into 2XUJLDQWEX\HUèVJXLGHKHOSV\RXĆQG
STYLE submission. But is it worth the cost? the world’s best gadgets in over 50
Get preppy with casual tailoring, and categories, from top tellies to DSLRs
discover the trendiest timepieces 078 to car tech to shavers – all tested by
NOISE CANCELLING T3’s team of tech experts!
HEADPHONES
Philips and Bowers & Wilkins sound
off in this battle over which brand best
blocks noise

079
ALIENWARE 55 OLED SUBSCRIBE
Offering 4K, a 120Hz refresh rate and AND SAVE BIG MONEY
superb contrast, is the new monitor an
018 essential addition to your gaming life? Get the latest offers
AUTO 056
We ride LiveWire, Harley-Davidson’s 080
shockingly fast electric motorbike SUUNTO 7
The new running watch has a serious
022 screen and downloadable maps – but
TRAVEL LWIDOOVDWWKHĆQDOKXUGOH
Visit these sun-drenched holiday
destinations and lighten your mood 082
SMART WIRELESS SPEAKERS
023 Whether you’re an audiophile or a
FITNESS & OUTDOORS rugged outdoorsperson, here are the
Improve your run times with Nurvv’s best Alexa-enabled speakers for
smart soles taking your tunes outside

024 PLUS GET A FREE

LIVING
Spring into action with this tech for LAPTOP BACKPACK
freshening up your home this season

026
GADGET GURU
T3’s techspert talks tiny kitchens,
NLGSURRĆQJGLVSOD\VDQGFDOOXV\IHHW
029
TALKING TECH
Duncan Bell realises, when it comes to
nostalgia, you can’t go home again
084
THINKWARE Q800 PRO
With 2K video, a suite of driver safety
features and the option of a secondary
rear-facing camera, this is the best
dash cam we’ve gotten our hands on

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 9
 Horizon

The best new tech heading your way

Edited by Claire Davies

HUAWEI
MATE XS
£2,100 (approx.), consumer.huawei.com

If you looked on in envy as Huawei launched its

beautiful folding 5G phone the Mate X in China
last year, we have some good news for you. A
second edition of the handset, called the Xs, is
coming to Europe – and it’s even better than
the original. Okay, in many ways it’s the same:
there are still two exterior OLED screens – 6.6
inches at the front and 6.4 inches at the back
– that fold out to make a 5.4mm-thick, almost-
square eight-inch tablet; and also present and
correct is the Mate X’s quad camera set-up
(40MP wide-angle, 16MP ultra-wide-angle, 8MP
telephoto, TOF lens), designed in conjunction
with Leica. However, Huawei has improved the MEGA STORAGE
Falcon Wing hinge, making it more robust and Folded out, the
protective against dirt and debris; upgraded 2480x2200
the Mate X’s Kirin 980 processor with the display is a dream
faster, more powerful Kirin 990 (which also for getting stuff
supports a greater number of 5G bands); and done. And with
introduced an innovative new cooling system 512GB of built-in
that’ll enable you to stream videos and play storage, plus a
the latest games without fear of overheating. card slot for up
Finally, though the phone still doesn’t have any to 256GB more,
Google apps due to trade restrictions imposed you’ll have loads
by the USA, Huawei has installed its very latest of space for
EMUI 10 operating system – which, lest we hoarding your
forget, runs on an open source version of favourites.
Android 10. But the very best thing about this
new handset? You’ll be able to own it, although
the price has gone up even further from the
already-expensive first version. Given that cost,
is the all-round screen a durability concern?
Well, not if you don’t drop it. But it will also
come with the fetching leather folio case
pictured to the right, if you want to protect
it when it’s in a bag with your keys.
“The lack of Google
TECH-O-METER apps is a shame, but
we love the design and
tech on offer here”
Matt Bolton, Editor
10 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
 Top 10

PACY POWER
As with most foldable phones, the Mate
Xs comes with a dual battery – with
a combined capacity of 4,500mAh.
As well as being long-lasting, it’s fast-
charging, topping up to 85% capacity
in a lightning-quick 30 minutes.

NEAT TOUCH
With the Mate Xs, the
fingerprint sensor is
discreetly integrated into
the power button. This
means you can switch the
phone on, and identify
yourself, in a split second –
handy for when you want
to take a picture or answer
a call urgently.

FROM BOTH SIDES NOW

Like the Mate X before it, the Mate Xs
uses its two screens to offer something
called Mirror Shooting. It enables both the
IMAGE SOURCE: HUAWEI

photographer and their subject to see a

picture before it’s taken, so that they can
collaborate to make it as good as possible.

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 11
 Horizon

SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FLIP

£1,300, samsung.com/uk

Barely six months have passed since Samsung

launched its first folding handset, aptly titled
the Galaxy Fold, and already the South Korean
firm has taken another stab at the market.
To be fair, the Z Flip is a different proposition,
folding horizontally instead of vertically, and
featuring Samsung’s new Ultra-Thin Glass
display rather than a polymer one. Opened
up, the HDR10+ Dynamic AMOLED screen
measures a virtually bezelless 6.7 inches, but
it’s when the Hideaway Hinge is activated that
the Z Flip is perhaps at its most useful, its
angled position facilitating hands-free selfies
and video calling. It also has 4K video
recording and a Night Hyperlapse mode for
those arty long-exposure shots. It’s a flippin’
good phone, basically.

IMAGE SOURCE: SAMSUNG

T3 SAYS: You’ll wonder how you ever lived
without Samsung’s second folding phone.

TECH-O-METER

SAMSUNG GALAXY S20

From £799, samsung.com/uk

For the much-touted follow-up to its (non-

foldable) flagship Galaxy S10 smartphone,
launched last year, Samsung has leapt forward
a few numbers and called it the S20. The South
Korean firm certainly thinks the photography
capabilities are advanced, the phone offering
8K(!) video shooting, along with a feature
called Single Take that can instantly convert all
of that resolution goodness into 33MP stills. If
you want to take pictures the conventional way,
the rear triple camera set-up (12MP ultra-wide;
12MP wide; 64MP telephoto) is more than
capable. And for admiring your handiwork, you
can either use the stunning 6.2-inch QHD+
screen or transfer your pics and vids in high-
speed via the phone’s 5G functionality. So yes,
there’s plenty in this 20.
IMAGE SOURCE: SAMSUNG

T3 SAYS: Fancy photography and fast transfer

speeds abound in Samsung’s latest Galaxy S.

TECH-O-METER

1 2 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
 Top 10

CANON EOS R5
£TBC, canon.co.uk

One swallow may not make a summer, but a

really good camera will. When it goes on sale in
July, the EOS R5 won’t come cheap, but then it
is a very, very nice piece of kit. Designed for
professional photographers, Canon’s latest
full-frame mirrorless flagship packs a 45MP
CMOS sensor, a blisteringly fast 20fps
electronic/12fps mechanical shutter and, for the
first time in a Canon camera, In-Body Image
Stabilisation, all of which conspire to deliver
spectacular results. The EOS R5 is also a sharp
shooter when it comes to video, and you’ll
enjoy watching back its glorious 8K footage
on your new giant TV. Finally – as you might
expect from a device in this price bracket – the
camera has built-in Wi-Fi, meaning you can edit
your results on the move. And what results!

T3 SAYS: Shoot for the stars with Canon’s 8K

mirrorless maestro.

IMAGE SOURCE: CANON

TECH-O-METER

MARSHALL MONITOR 2 ANC

£269, marshall.com

The headphones market is as crowded as a

Led Zeppelin reunion concert, but that hasn’t
stopped Marshall from leaping into the sweaty
moshpit with a new, active noise cancelling
addition to its popular Monitor range. Sporting
the amplifier brand’s iconic black vinyl and
brass styling, these wireless over-ears contain
custom-tuned 40mm drivers for powerful and
accurate sound reproduction – an experience
made even better by the cans’ ability to snuff
out unwanted interference. With a collapsible
design and 30 hours of battery life, they’re
ideal for taking on the road. And support for
Google Assistant means you can manage your
music, hear the news headlines and stay
connected to your nearest and dearest, all
without removing your phone from your pocket.
IMAGE SOURCE: MARSHALL

T3 SAYS: Going on tour? These feature-packed

noise cancellers deserve a place in your case.

TECH-O-METER

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 13
 Horizon

FUJIFILM X-T4
£1,599, fujifilm.eu

Fujifilm’s X-T3 is a mirrorless camera that found

adoration thanks to a robust build with power
and a raft of features, at an affordable price.
And it has T3 in title! Well, now Fujifilm has
followed it up with a more advanced model.
Though it retains the retro, two-tone look of
its predecessor (and also packs the same-size
26.1MP APS-C X Trans 4 sensor), the X-T4
features some notable tweaks. Slightly bigger
and heavier, it comes with In-Body Image
Stabilisation, an upgraded rear display (now
fully articulated, and boasting 1.62 million dots
instead of 1.04 million), improved eye tracking/
face detection, better video shooting (including
4K at 60fps) and a superior battery life. This is
going to be a hot one.

T3 SAYS: If you loved Fujifilm’s mirrorless X-T3,

you’re going to find this bigger and even better

IMAGE SOURCE: FUJIFILM

version hard to resist.

TECH-O-METER

WRISTBUDS
£115 (approx.), antigravityofficial.com

Need somewhere to stash away your earbuds

when you’re not using them? Well, how about
inside your watch? Wristbuds – crowdfunded
on Kickstarter and due to be launched any time
now – is a quirky, Chinese-made concept that
comprises a pair of true wireless earphones
and a smartwatch in which to store them.
When you’re done listening to your music,
podcast, etc, simply flip open the front fascia of
the watch and push the buds in. As well as
being kept secure, they’ll be fully rejuiced in a
claimed 30 minutes, with the watch’s battery
good enough for two complete charges. As
for the watch itself, it offers a 1.14-inch TFT
touchscreen, a wide range of fitness features,
phone calling/receiving, and 4GB of music
storage. Too good to be true? Time will tell…
IMAGE SOURCE: WRISTBUDS

T3 SAYS: A buddy brilliant idea for people who

keep forgetting their true wireless earphones.

TECH-O-METER

14 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0

SONY XPERIA L4
£170 (approx.), sony.co.uk
With its latest budget handset, Sony
has made a big statement – literally.
The successor to last year’s Xperia
L3 boasts a whopping 6.2-inch, 21:9
display. This screen is cinematically
wide, but it also makes it perfect for
multi-tasking, because you can split
the screen into two separate
windows and run a different app on
each, something the phone handles
with ease thanks to its octa-core
Mediatek MT6762 processor. The
Xperia L4 also offers a wealth of
photography options, with three
cameras round the back (including a
13MP wide-angle lens, a 5MP ultra-
DYSON LIGHTCYCLE MORPH
£499 desk / £649 floor, dyson.co.uk
Not so long ago, just being able to
dim your lights seemed like the
epitome of cool. Technology has
advanced rapidly since then, though,
and Dyson’s new lamp can perform a
wide range of functions designed to
improve your home life and enhance
your wellbeing. Available for the desk
or floor, the Lightcycle Morph is an
app-controlled, manoeuvrable device
that can be used for a number of
purposes, whether that’s helping
with nighttime reading, providing
background ambience or highlighting
a favourite artwork. Every 60
seconds, sensors inside the lamp
Top 10
wide-angle lens and a 2MP depth
lens for those snazzy bokeh effects)
and an 8MP selfie camera at the
front. And the impressive spec is
completed by 64GB of internal
storage and a generous 3,580mAh
battery. This could be big this summer.
T3 SAYS: Sony’s new budget blower
IMAGE SOURCE: SONY
brings great specs for a low price.
TECH-O-METER
COOLNESS
INNOVATION
FEATURES
MASTER LOCK BIOMETRIC PADLOCK
£89, masterlock.eu
If you fancy sexing up your garden directional code should things go
shed, here’s something that could’ve awry. To frustrate would-be thieves
come straight out of a James Bond even more, the structure of the lock
movie: a padlock that’s activated by is as tough as old boots, comprising
fingerprint. Master Lock’s latest a durable, 56mm-wide metal body, a
device will recognise up to 10 9mm boron-alloy shackle and a
fingerprints, meaning your whole two-piece all-weather cover.
IMAGE SOURCE: MASTER LOCK
family – and quite possibly even the
dog – can gain access to the T3 SAYS: This cutting-edge lock will
lawnmower, cricket set or patio chairs leave burglars howling with frustration.
without having to fumble around with
keys or codes. Lights on the lock will
inform you if your fingerprint has TECH-O-METER
been accepted, or if the battery is COOLNESS
running low, while a keypad will INNOVATION
enable you to gain access via FEATURES
will intelligently track the amount of
daylight streaming into the room, the
task you’re doing and even your age
to ensure that you get the optimal
amount of luminance. And it’ll switch
itself off when you walk out, saving
you money on your electricity bill.
T3 SAYS: As smart lamps go, Dyson’s
IMAGE SOURCE: DYSON
new device is a leading light.
TECH-O-METER
COOLNESS
INNOVATION
FEATURES
A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 1 5
 Horizon

LAIDBACK TAILORING
When ‘athlesiure’ hit, tailoring fell by the wayside a tad. But now it’s CANALI SLUB LINEN SHIRT
Lightweight and breathable,
back, albeit in a much more relaxed sense, with these items in the mix Canali’s take on relaxed tailoring
looks smart with chinos and will
see you straight through from the
office to date night.
£235, mrporter.com

BARENA SLIM-FIT
BOUCLE BLAZER
Smarten up in a jiffy with Barena’s
textured blazer, wearing it over
crew neck tees, slim-fitting polo
tees or a button-down linen shirt.
£365, harrods.com

SUNSPEL PIQUÉ POLO SHIRT

The perfect polo for spring.
Sunspel’s shirt has a strong retro
IMAGE SOURCES: MR PORTER, HARRODS, MATCHES FASHION, TOPMAN

vibe, so let loose and team it with

your high-waisters and loafers.
£95, matchesfashion.com

NN07 JOE SLIM-FIT TAPERED

STRETCH-COTTON CHINOS
If you’re going to buy one pair
of chinos this season, make it
NN07’s, crafted from soft cotton.
They’re tapered, with the perfect
amount of stretch.
£120, mrporter.com

SELECTED HOMME BROWN

POPPER LIGHTWEIGHT JACKET
A sharp collar and easy-wearing
popper front check the tailoring
and leisure boxes comfortably,
while the pockets are also bang
on the utility trend.
£89, topman.com

MONEY NO OBJECT
La Mer The Renewal Oil
Even though we’ve escaped the icy grip The Renewal Oil is an award-winning
of winter and are mercifully heading facial and hair elixir that’s ideal for
into spring, your skin may still be a bit energising your complexion. The oil is
lacklustre. In addition to a regular routine of formulated with La Mer’s signature
exfoliating, facial masks and moisturising, Miracle Broth, which sounds awfully
facial oils are a great way to treat your skin pretentious but has a raft of sea-sourced
to some super-intensive nourishment, and vitamin-infused ingredients all
IMAGE SOURCE: LA MER

helping it to look plumper and hydrated. working to supercharge your skin. You
For men, facial oils are particularly can use this sweet and aromatic elixir to
beneficial as, when used long term, they nourish your beard, moustache and hair
soften your skin, making it easier for you to too, leaving both your skin and hair
shave – and not have such irritated skin looking healthier and shinier.
once your razor has passed over it. La Mer’s £180, spacenk.com

16 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0

WHICH WATCH
THE HOTTEST TIMEPIECES RIGHT NOW
CERTINA SUPER PH500M
With a bright orange dial and an innovative strap extension, this
watch is tailor-made for diving. Inside is a Nivachron hairspring,
which now sits at the very forefront of watch-making technology.
£795, certina.com
IMAGE SOURCES: CERTINA, CARL F BUCHERER, AVI-8, RAYMOND WEIL
AVI-8 SPITFIRE TYPE 300 AUTOMATIC
One for all historic aviation fans. The Type 300 uses the indexes,
hands and layout of the cockpit dials as a blueprint of the dial, while
the rotor is a carved out bird’s eye view silhouette of the Spitfire.
£335, avi-8.co.uk
Style
CARL F BUCHERER PATRAVI SCUBATEC BLACK
With water-resistance to 500m, certified chronometer precision,
and a strap made from recycled plastic, this watch is ready for
any adventure – above or under water.
£5,500, carl-f-bucherer.com
RAYMOND WEIL FREELANCER 2780
Get your greens with Raymond Weil’s spring-fresh timepiece,
featuring an exclusive inhouse movement, the Calibre RW1212;
it’s a nod to the postcode of the brand’s global HQ.
£1,895, raymond-weil.com
A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 17
 Horizon
HARLEY-DAVIDSON LIVEWIRE
Motorbike aficionado Robert Jones reports back from rural Spain where he’s been getting to grips
with Harley’s first electric bike, and it turns out to be one hell of a ride
ropping the right wrist on
the Harley-Davidson
D LiveWire is a perspective-
shattering experience. The
future of motorbikes suddenly is right
here, right now in the present, and the
feeling it generates as you scream at
the horizon is little short of symphonic.
And, for me, that horizon lies
beyond a twisting mountain road near
Antequera, Spain. I’ve been attending
Harley-Davidson’s 2020 launch event
IMAGE SOURCE: HARLEY-DAVIDSON
and, after riding a comprehensive
selection of the brand’s more
traditional bikes, both on the road and
off-road, we’re finishing off the final
day with a taste of the future, the
all-electric bike that Harley-Davidson
has spent nearly 10 years creating.
As someone who, truth be told,
does not have a strong brand affinity
to Harley-Davidson, and whose
perspective of the maker was very
1 8 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
much rumble and leather, the
LiveWire feels almost surreal, as if it
isn’t supposed to be here and certainly
not with a Harley-Davidson badge on
it. I think it fair to say that if you asked
100 people which motorbike brand
There’s no having to run up
to north of 120mph to get
anywhere near peak torque
– you just get it all, instantly
would produce the first game-
changing electric motorbike, then
hardly any would plump for the
famous American maker.
Which makes the leaning into a now
widening bend in the road, tucking in
to the LiveWire’s sleek naked frame,
hitting the exit line into the straight,
and then absolutely gunning it even
more spectacularly bonkers. I’ve
ridden fast bikes before, and I think
it fair to say that unless you are a
track day fiend with a garage full of
200bhp-plus hyper bikes, then the
acceleration the LiveWire delivers
(0-60mph in three seconds) will
leave you breathless.
That impact is without doubt largely
generated by the sheer amount of
torque generated by the bike’s
Revelation electric motor (86ft-lb), and
the fact that torque is all made
available at any stage. As the bike has
no traditional gearing, there’s no
having to run up to north of 120mph to
get anywhere near peak torque – you
just get it all, instantly.
The result of this is that when I first
get on the bike and roll the wrist I
fishtail the hell out of the LiveWire, with
it begging to put the intense power

down under my overzealous, used-to-
lesser-torque, unknowing hands.
Within minutes, though, I get a feeling
for the power this bike has to offer,
and can choose when to be so
dramatic off the line.
And, talking of dramatic, the
LiveWire is all sorts of theatrical, both
from its lack of sound when stationary
and the Tron Light Cycle screaming
whine when it moves. Harley-Davidson
has spent years, apparently, working
on just getting this sound right, since
otherwise – with the lack of a noise-
making combustion engine beneath
you, and instead just the bike’s electric
motor connected to a 15.5kWh
Rechargeable Energy Storage System
battery – when you engage the bike’s
power, you would hear nothing.
As someone who is used to meeting
up with friends to go riding, grouping
up at biking cafes and being used to
hearing the tick over of a large number
of motorbikes engines when stationary,
seeing a group of us sat on LiveWires
and being able to hear nothing but the
wind and ambient noises of rural Spain
is markedly odd. Of course, it is how
a bike sounds at speed that is the
more important part of the riding
experience, and as a fan of both sci-fi
and advanced technology, this is where
the LiveWire really nails it for me.
Auto
The Harley-Davidson LiveWire
is capable of accelerating to
60mph in just three seconds
As soon as you roll on the
accelerator, the LiveWire’s whine
begins to build. It’s high-pitched, but
seems to carry a more tumultuous
whooshing quality (like a jet engine),
which, especially at high speed,
synchronises perfectly in my mind with
what this bike is and the performance
experience it delivers. It made me feel
like the pilot of a futuristic piece of
military hardware and that, partnered
with its outrageous acceleration,
immediately placed the LiveWire right
at the top of my wish list.
Harley-Davidson has spent I slide through a series of tight
years, apparently, working climbing bends and it is here, where
big speed is not possible, that I also
on just getting the sound realise that the bike actually feels very
approachable and manoeuvrable. No
of the bike right one can say this bike is light, and at
230kg (509lb) it really isn’t; however
at no point did I feel it was heavy or
unwieldy, both on and off the bike. I’m
6ft 2in, so I am hardly a small chap, so
that is something to factor in, but I can
honestly say I was surprised at how
well the LiveWire handled and how
perfectly normal its weight felt.
The tight bends end, opening up
onto a plateau. After dropping the lid a
touch before a blink-and-you-miss-it
overtake of three vehicles, the LiveWire
screaming in my ears, making me feel
like Maverick from Top Gun (they
A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 19
 Horizon

LIVEWIRE
RIVALS

SUSPENSION
SHOWA forks
and shocks are
partnered with
Brembo Monoblock
front brakes
ZERO S
IMAGE SOURCE: ZERO MOTORCYCLES

Zero Motorcycles is based in

Santa Cruz, California, and
has been in the electric bike-
making game since 2006. Its
Zero S electric bike, which T3
recently put through its paces
in the Black Forest, Germany,
comes in three flavours: the
Streetfighter, the Dual Sport
and the Enduro.
zeromotorcycles.com
CAKE KALK&
Produced by innovative
Swedish electric bike maker
Cake, the Kalk& stands
out thanks to a super-light
weight (only 79kg) build,
IMAGE SOURCE: CAKE
should’ve ditched the Kawasaki for this
in the new film!), I pin it again and
watch as my peripheral vision melts
away into a high-speed blur of scrub
and background scenery. My god this
thing is properly fast! With the
LiveWire you can firmly kiss goodbye
to any lingering image of an electric
bike as some gutless scooter.
And, the thing is, the LiveWire
can deliver this sort of exhilarating,
futuristic experience for around 95
miles of run time in a combined,
stop-and-go situation, and up to 146
miles in a city riding environment.
Now, don’t get me wrong, if you rode
this bike aggressively and made use
of its stupendous acceleration and
torque in maximum fun mode, you’re
almost certainly going to get less
than that. But, and I don’t know about
you, I hardly ever travel more than 75
miles in one sitting on my bike, let
alone 95 or 146.

And, as Harley-Davidson is keen to

53-mile range (from a 10kW
motor) and ability to be fully
recharged off a standard
power socket in only two
and a half hours.
ridecake.com
ENERGICA
EVA RIBELLE
This Italian-made pugilist
delivers a rather impressive
IMAGE SOURCE: ENERGICA
point out, the LiveWire recharges to
80% capacity in 40 minutes, and 100%
in 60 with DC Fast Charge tech. For
me, though, if I were to own a LiveWire,
using it for my daily commute of 10
miles to work via the school run, and
then back again, I am quite confident
that I wouldn’t even need to rely on
Fast Charge to keep me free of range
“A real game-changer
anxiety and the bike always ready to from an iconic brand”
go. Even a trip to my favourite biking Matt Bolton, Editor
store, which is a 35-mile round trip
from my home, would still leave the really opened my eyes to just how
LiveWire with three-quarters of its exciting electric motorbikes can be.
battery left. That’s about 20 minutes It also proved to me just how much
back to full charge. Harley-Davidson seems to be hell bent
I think, what I’m trying to say, is that on powering into the future of riding
while obviously we all want longer with innovative new machines and
range from electric vehicles, and faster technology, which is something I never

top speed of 125mph,
something aided by its
159ft-lb of torque and 145hp.
The Energica Eva Ribelle’s
lithium-ion battery is also
good for an impressive
400km of city range, too.
energicamotor.com
charging times, I feel 95% of riders could
easily operate a LiveWire without any
issues in terms of range and charging.
So, overall, my experience riding
the Harley-Davidson LiveWire in the
hills surrounding Antequera was one
that I not only thoroughly enjoyed but,
as a rider of fast sports bikes, one that
thought it would’ve been on the
forefront of.
The price of the Harley-Davidson
LiveWire is clearly going to be a
sticking point for many right now, with
£28,995 not cheap to anyone but
those with very deep pockets.
However, we love top, game-changing

2 0 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
 Auto

BATTERY
A 15.5kWh
Rechargeable Energy
Storage System
delivers a range of 146
miles (city speeds)

DASH
A 109mm colour
touchscreen LCD keeps
you plugged in to the ride

MOTOR
The Revelation electric motor
produces 116Nm of torque and
78kW of power

technology here at T3 (our name, The LiveWire will currently set

after all, stands for Tomorrow’s you back almost £30,000
Technology Today) and we can safely
say that the LiveWire is just that, so
if you can afford it then it comes
wholeheartedly recommended.
The Harley-Davidson LiveWire
delivers a slice of the future of
motorbikes today, and it does so (price
aside), in my opinion, with very few
real-world caveats.
Hats off Harley-Davidson.

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 21
 Horizon

TRAVEL
PHOTOGRAPHY
KIT
DJI OSMO
POCKET
This dinky,
handheld three-
axis gimbal

IMAGE SOURCE: ANANTARA DESARU COAST RESORT AND VILLAS

camera is ideal
for filming
impromptu action
on your various
travels. The Osmo
Pocket shoots at a
moment’s notice,
IMAGE SOURCE: DJI

and captures 4K at 60fps,

plus it takes cool slo-mo
videos and 12MP stills. Edit
your video and stills on the
go via the DJI Mimo app.
£329, store.dji.com

VITAMIN SEA
CANON POWERSHOT
G5 X MARK II CATCH THE SUN
Canon’s compact travel
camera is suited to a wide Craving sun? Tamara Hinson recommends you head to one of these
range of lighting conditions, paradises to get a blast of heat and shake off your winter blues
making it an ideal companion
IMAGE SOURCE: CANON

for your various adventures.

It has a high-performing Want the good news? Spring is finally here!
one-inch sensor, captures 4K The bad news is that summer is still a long
video and 20.1MP stills, and way off. While we’re certainly not wishing
offers a view of the action your year away, there may be some among
through a tilting LCD screen. you who are desperate for a blast of proper
£849, canon.co.uk sunshine and heat following the icy depths
of winter. If that rings true for you, we have
just the dose of ‘vitamin sea’ you need…
MANFROTTO TRAVEL When it comes to long-haul winter sun,
CAMERA BACKPACK Malaysia is hard to beat. Start in Johor, a
Years ago, sunshine-soaked state known for beautiful
backpacks islands and wildlife-filled jungles. Johor is
designed also where you’ll find the Desaru Coast, a
specifically luxurious resort serving up beautiful beaches
to carry (17 kilometres of them), golf courses, water
cameras parks and spa hotels. Base yourself at the
were recently opened Anantara Desaru Coast
unwieldy Resort and Villas (pictured, from £171 per
IMAGE SOURCE: MANFROTTO
find this beautifully restored 1930s property,
which opened in January, in the heart of the
art deco district, just metres from the beach.
In recent years, Miami has transformed into
a true foodie’s paradise, and top of your
culinary wishlist should be a visit to the Time
Out Market Miami, an 18,000-square-foot
food hall filled with 21 vendors. Feed your
face with BBQ jackfruit sandwiches, double-
cherry ice cream, sake-steamed mussels
and a plethora of booze.
Finally, consider a visit to the Azores,
a cluster of volcanic islands in the mid-
Atlantic, 1,600km west of mainland Portugal.
Weekly Ryanair flights have slashed the cost
of getting there, although a word of warning
– the airline will launch additional flights to
the islands in June, so head there this spring

and heavy.
Not so with the Manfrotto
Advanced Camera and Laptop
Backpack, which has space
for your DSLR and other
kit, as well as an extendable
tripod pocket and an external
padded laptop pouch.
£143, manfrotto.com
night, anantara.com), a beachfront property
with a gorgeous spa and five restaurants –
our favourite is the Turmeric, thanks to its
authentic Malaysian cuisine.
Across the pond, there are more reasons
than ever to visit Miami this year, starting
with the achingly hip Greystone Miami Beach
Hotel (around $152/£138 per night for a
double, greystonemiamibeach.com). You’ll
to avoid the inevitable surge of tourists. One
of our favourite properties is the stunning
Azor Hotel (from £130 per night,
azorhotel.com) on São Miguel island. This
five-star property overlooks the Ponta
Delgada marina and makes the perfect base
for explorations further afield; nearby gems
include the blue flag Pópulo Beach and
Lagoa do Fogo, a spectacular crater lake.

2 2 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
 Fitness & Outdoors

DAY HIKING
GEAR

MERRELL MQM FLEX

2.0 GTX
MQM stands for moving
quickly in the mountains,

IMAGE SOURCE: NURVV

so have no worries about

IMAGE SOURCE: MERRELL

drafting this technical shoe
in for your fast and light day
hikes. A Gore-Tex membrane
keeps water out, while air
cushions in each heel absorb

GOT THE NURVV shock and boost stability on

uneven terrain.
£120, blacks.co.uk
LIFE IN THE FAST LANE
Want to run faster and reduce your chances of injury? Nurvv Run, OSPREY ARCHEON 25
a new biomechanics-based fitness tech, may help you do just that… If you want a
hiking backpack
Running is an invigorating way to improve rechargeable battery) slip into your existing that’s big on
your physical health and boost your mood, trainers. Once fitted, they utilise 32 sensors versatility
but what happens when you hit a plateau in to capture data from your feet at 1,000 yet gentle
terms of speed or distance? Also, is there a times per second per sensor, gathering stats on the
way to run while reducing risk of injury? relating to cadence, step length, footstrike environment,
There are plenty of wearables and apps that and balance to create your Running Health take a look
track your runs, but improver runners need score, which you can unpick in the at the
more to help them reach new heights. companion app (iOS, Android). Archeon,
Looking to do just that is Nurvv Run (£249, The aim is to help you understand how made from PFC-

IMAGE SOURCE: OSPREY

nurvv.com), a biomechanics-based app and
shoe insole combo that analyses your form
to help you understand just how sustainable
your current running habits are.
The lightweight insoles (available in six
sizes, and designed with a five-hour
your type of running affects your body, and free recycled nylon. Tough
to identify problem areas before they and wilderness ready, the
become serious. Through real-time coaching, Archeon 25 has a built-in
Nurvv Run also coaches you on form so that raincover, compression straps
you run better, giving you personalised for a comfier fit, and is water
speed and running technique workouts. reservoir compatible.
£150, ospreyeurope.com

MUDDY HELL 1,000 MILE ULTIMATE

TACTEL SOCK
WE’RE IN THE ARMY NOW Blisters ruin hikes, so
don’t be that person
Casio and the MoD have just released a new Mudmaster watch. who ventures up a
Question is, are you tough enough for it? mountain without
proper walking
Casio’s line of G-Shock Bluetooth Mudmaster socks. The
watches are built for life outdoors, so it’s a Ultimate
no-brainer for the brand to team up with the Tactel
Ministry of Defence to release this British Army Sock
IMAGE SOURCE: 1000 MILE

edition (£449, g-shock.co.uk). The stealth (available

IMAGE SOURCE: CASIO

black dial means it won’t attract unwanted in anklet and crew) are
attention in the wilds, while an updated Carbon made for trail running
Core Guard Structure and triple-layered first, so expect supreme
carbon-insert bezel make it as tough as it is sweat-wicking and day-
light. Features include location and activity- long comfort. Blister-
tracking, a mission log, location memory, free guaranteed.
sunrise and sunset data, and calories burned. £10, 1000mile.co.uk

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 2 3
 Horizon

HEALTHY
KITCHEN
TECH

NINJA FOODI
MULTI-COOKER
“The pressure cooker that
crisps” would be great in
your kitchen, as it functions
IMAGE SOURCE: NINJA

as a pressure cooker, slow

cooker, steamer and air fryer
(the latter thanks to Ninja’s
own TenderCrisp tech). It’ll
even sauté your veg and

IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY

grill your fish.
£179, ninjakitchen.com

VITAMIX ASCENT
A2300I
Fruit and veg-
packed soups
BUST THE DUST
and smoothies
are an easy
way to get
THE BIG SPRING CLEAN
extra nutrients Your home needs a deep clean at least once a year, and for most
into your diet, people this is the big spring clean. Claire Davies picks the right tech
and both are
easy to make
IMAGE SOURCE: VITAMIX

with this Spring cleaning tasks vary depending on
powerhouse who you ask, but they usually include your
blender. standard house chores (vacuuming,
A built-in digital timer dusting, mopping floors), plus turfing
ensures you never under- out and reorganising cupboards, deep-
or overprocess recipes. cleaning the fridge and washing windows.
£449, vitamix.com If you want a thorough spring clean,
you’re also looking at steam-cleaning
curtains, washing walls and skirting
LAKELAND MULTI boards, machine-washing duvets and
YOGHURT MAKER pillows, and flipping your mattress.
Boost your Most cleaning companies recommend
gut health by starting on the upper floor of your home (or
making your the back of your flat) and working your way
own yoghurt down. You’ll need a multi-surface cleaner,
in Lakeland’s microfibre cloths (use a damp one to remove
countertop dense pet hair from fabric-covered
machine. It’ll furniture), glass cleaner, tile/grout cleaner
make up to and toilet cleaner. Or you could draft in a
IMAGE SOURCE: LAKELAND
room it’s working in, sucking up dust and
debris from hard floors and carpeted areas.
It’ll let you know once it’s done, before
moving on to the next room (or returning
to its charging base if it needs more juice).
Want to make those hard floors shine? Try a
steam mop like the Shark Klick ’n’ Flip (£149,
sharkclean.co.uk). It works on hardwood,
marble, tile, lino and stone floors, and offers
three steam cleaning modes to kill up to
99.9% of common bacteria.
Cleaning windows and mirrors also
requires elbow grease, so take the edge off
with the Kärcher WV Anniversary Edition
(£44, kaercher.com/uk), a window and
mirror vacuum that cleans without leaving
unsightly streaks behind. Want to be sure
each room is as clean as it can be? Sit the
UV-C Mobile Room Steriliser (£89, uvc-

1.65 litres of
plain yoghurt
or one litre of Greek-style
yoghurt (it makes soft cheese
too), with a digital screen
enabling you to easily set the
time and temperature.
£24, lakeland.co.uk
small army of tech to make shorter work of
the more arduous spring cleaning tasks…
starting with the vacuuming.
After you have reorganised, cleansed and
dusted the room you’re in, set the iRobot
Roomba s9+ (£1,499, shop.irobot.co.uk) to
work. One of our favourite robot vacuum
cleaners, the s9+ uses smarts to navigate the
lightproducts.com) in the middle of any
room and it’ll remove airborne
contaminants, using UV-C light to kill
bacteria lingering on exposed surfaces.
Finally, don’t forget that when you’re
using cleaning products at home, you’re
increasing the levels of indoor air pollution,
so combat this by running an air purifier.

24 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
 Living

WASH AWAY YOUR CARES

If you’re overhauling just one room this year, make it the bathroom. There are many
trends afoot, from dramatic tiles and metallic pendant lights to feature mirrors

ANTIQUE CRACKLE METRO

BATHROOM TILES
Shaped tiles are ace for adding
impact if you don’t want to
commit to bold colours, though
if you’re game, mixing dark and
bright bathroom tiles are a big
win this year. These brick-shaped
ceramic tiles, created in a teal hue,
lend a handsome vintage vibe.
From £39 (per box),
wallsandfloors.co.uk

LARGE PINEAPPLE MIRROR

Feature mirrors are all over the
hottest bathroom designs for
2020, especially those with gold
or brass edging and trimmings.
Size-wise, the bigger the better.
For sheer drama, save some wall
space for this 100cm-tall mirror
with exotic pineapple-style top.
£245, bombayduck.com

SPA COTTON DOUBLE

BORDER TOWEL SET
If you’re not in the market to
transform your entire bathroom
yet want to introduce a little
something new, draft in some
coloured towels. Habitat’s Spa
Cotton range includes this set of
four (two bath, two hand towels)
in a mix of warm and cool hues;
the mustard and coral in particular
IMAGE SOURCE: WALLS AND FLOORS, BOMBAY DUCK, HABITAT, DAR LIGHTING

contrast well with darker walls.

£60, habitat.co.uk

THREE LIGHT BAR PENDANT

This classic pendant light ticks
all the boxes for 2020 bathroom
trends. More importantly, it’ll
throw a beautiful spread of bright
light around your bathroom, and
look incredibly handsome and
dramatic hanging from the ceiling.
£174, darlighting.co.uk

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 2 5
 Horizon
MEL GREENE, KENSINGTON
How can I cook smarter with limited kitchen space?
Our poor reader explains
A that they are stuck in a
typical affordable London
‘living space’, which basically
amounts to a shed-sized hovel with
only a twin electric hob and a
microwave to work with. Presuming
you’re not squashing a family in
ILLUSTRATIONS: STEPHEN KELLY
there, GaGu would first start by
thinking about streamlining the
tools. A multi-section skillet like the
VonShef All In One (£25) enables
you to cook multiple items on a
single burner, with defined
compartments that stop one
leaking over onto the other. Sure,
it’s gimmicky, and realistically it’s
most useful if you do the sensible
YOUR QUESTIONS TO: INBOX@T3.COM OR FACEBOOK.COM/T3MAG
26 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
T3’s hash slinger rustles up a fab
feast of tasty tech answers
thing and eat a full English
breakfast for every single meal,
but in a compact situation it’s a
practical choice.
For the other burner, Guru
would suggest Kitchen Craft’s
MasterClass Smart Space
saucepan set (£38.50), a nesting
selection of saucepans with a
single one-size-fits-all lid. The
It’s important not to overload
that postage-stamp-sized
worktop you have going on, so
don’t go heavy on the electricals
ABOVE handle is detachable, so when
With the right you’re not cooking the whole lot
tech, you can fits into a tidy 20x20cm package.
be a head chef GaGu knows it’s important not
even in the most to overload that postage-stamp-
cramped kitchen sized worktop you have going on,
so he’d suggest not going heavy on
the electricals. However, if you
were to choose one counter-
hogger, a multi-function cooker like
the Instant Pot 80 Duo (£100)
offers up a multitude of options in a
single unit. It’ll slow cook, pressure
cook, steam, sauté, cook rice and
even help you make yoghurt for all
those times you’re desperate for
yoghurt and don’t mind waiting
hours to cultivate the stuff yourself.
 Gadget guru

GARY TIVERTON, WELSHPOOL

Do you recommend that I

make my own gadgets?
Let’s be realistic. GaGu components, compared to around
A doesn’t think you’ll be able
to create your own iPhone.
£70 for the official equivalent.
Following a guide or two reveals
If the adventures of YouTube that this is basically Lego with 5-volt
channel Strange Parts are anything rails; you plug your components
to go by, even access to Shenzen’s together with teensy little wires
vast multi-floor emporiums of grey poking into a breadboard. Then you
market second-hand parts and a just assemble your code by copying
desk full of microscopes and reflow and tweaking likely looking chunks
solderers doesn’t make this even or using pre-prepared libraries, and
close to an easy task. But creating you’re done.
your own controllers? Fiddling Guru does have some
with electronics to make A Thing? programming experience – the kind
That is something you can which sent his university tutors into
absolutely do. It’s something even early retirement – but he reckons it
Guru can do, and his expertise in would be easy enough for even you
these matters extends mostly to to understand. Half the time you
breaking and ruining. don’t actually need to understand
Guru recently picked up an it. GaGu used a bunch of arcade
Arduino kit from Amazon, which is buttons to build a MIDI controller à
just about flooded with the things. la the Midi Fighter 3D (£170) using
It wasn’t an official Arduino, rather the alarmingly simple Control
one of the Chinese clones which Surface library (github.com/tttapa) ABOVE KAY WEST, GLASGOW
come in far cheaper – expect to and about eight lines of code. Just An Arduino kit:
pay around £40 for a big ol’ box get out there and have a go – as of arguably less of a How do I stop
with the compatible board itself the end of last year, you can even puzzle than your
and a whole host of tinkering make Alexa-enabled gadgets. router settings my kids peering
at my laptop
GADGET GURU’S MAGIC BOX screen?
Grandma Guru would have
Here’s a thing: have you noticed that the
US-only Wyze Cam ($20, pictured) and
HomeKit support – but
it’s very much an at your
A (and, indeed, did) put GaGu
in The Cage if she caught
UK-centric Neos Smartcam (£25) look own risk situation. Given him peeping. Thankfully times have
identical? They aren’t. Yes, they use the the pocket money price changed (and Guru’s lock-picking
same core hardware, but there are big of these cams, though, it skills have improved) so we can
differences in their firmware and big might be worth an think of more sensible solutions. In
differences in their apps; it turns out both experiment or two. this case, it’s a privacy filter, which
are simply rebadged and reprogrammed While GaGu will vastly cuts down the viewable
versions of the Xiaomi Xiaofang 1S maintain that Android angle of your screen and basically
(around £18). What is worse, you can’t tablets are one of the completely undoes many years of
flash, say, Wyze firmware onto a Neos biggest disappointments of the tech market hard engineering work done to
cam, because it’s tied to the MAC address until he is blue in the face, the junior improve flat panel displays.
of the hardware. members of the Guru household are doing 3M is your best choice. Their
That’s not to say that you can’t monkey their best to change his mind. Both invested filters (from £45-£100 depending
with the firmware at all. their Christmas and birthday money in the on the size of your screen) use
There’s a custom 2019 version of the surprisingly cheap microlouvers, basically little pointy
firmware available Amazon Fire HD 10 (£109-£149 depending filters that direct the light forward
(search Dafang Hacks) on spec and included ads). Guru is alarmed to your eyes and stop it going
that can add features to at how capable it is both at running apps side-to-side, reducing the viewable
(and get rid of a few and at shutting the pair of them up and, angle to around 60 degrees. You
annoyances of) both while it’s not what you’d call a proper can go cheaper, but GaGu can’t
the original and the Android tablet out of the box, installing vouch for the effectiveness of
rebadged cameras Google’s core apps is a five minute exercise. lower-tier filters, which means your
– even adding some A massive bargain – miles from an iPad, little one might get their eyes on
rudimentary certainly, but a fraction of the price. whatever horrific imagery you’re
trying to hide from them.

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 27
 Horizon
NEW MEDIA
NOW PLAYING
Guru finds the finest
media you need on
your various devices
NOT FOR RESALE
A documentary look into the
slow, painful decline (and, by
way of contrast, the surprising
resilience) of used game shops
in the digital age. Prime Video,
you are truly spoiling Guru.
[#]
Guru loves K-pop! He does!
LOONA’s latest six-tracker is as
sparkly and donky as it is dark
and over-produced, the perfect
accompaniment to a desk full of
BTS dolls and a slight headache.
XFL
Available on ESPN Player and
via the BT Sport Monthly
Pass, WWE’s Vince McMahon
presents his revived alternative
to the NFL, with even more
bombastic shenanigans.
2 8 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
PETER HARRIS,
SWANSEA
How do I
prevent calluses
when running?
There’s a three step process
A that starts with your shoes:
if you’re prone to such
issues, make sure you pick running
footwear wide enough that it gives
your toes plenty of room to wiggle
and fitted enough that it sits snugly
around your heel. Good socks,
ideally a polyester-cotton blend,
can also make a difference for
those with slightly sweatier feet.
Finally, don’t be afraid to put a
barrier, like a plaster, between your
toes and those places which might
rub. Doctor Guru, license
suspended, suggests sticking to
preventative action rather than any
ABOVE
potential home treatments. HARRY GOUGH,
Not really the
NEWPORT
kind of foot rubs
you want
How can I
DAVE, VIA EMAIL
protect my
Do you think
watch glass?
I should get a
Perhaps the question
folding phone? A should actually be ‘should
you’; while a pristine watch
You have foolishly forgone is a beautiful thing, watches are
A gadget advice and instead
asked for Guru’s opinion,
made for wearing, and if you’re too
terrified to even strap it onto your
and it is this: folding phones don’t wrist there’s not even much point in
feel, to him, quite worth jumping on owning that timepiece at all.
to yet. The compromises on overall Sure, there are plenty of plastic
sturdiness (remember, Guru’s house film protectors out there – expect
is always in at least two distinct to pay around £3 – that stick on to
stages of carnage) and price don’t any old watch crystal and protect it
seem worth the street cred of being from dings, but you’ll probably be
able to whip out a folder and okay without. On the other hand,
waggle it in your chump friends’ tempered glass screen protectors
faces. Some of the rest of the T3 for the more fragile screens of
team feel differently (discussions smart watches are a great thing,
of the Galaxy Fold usually involve and they’ll cost around a tenner.
some variation on the phrase
‘untapped potential’), and the idea
of a phone that doesn’t stick out of Don’t miss another
the top of your pocket is nice. But instalment of the
not for Guru just yet. legendary Gadget Guru!
SUBSCRIBE
The industry has already hit
upon a form factor that works, TODAY!
and it is now desperate to See p56
change it to avoid seeming stale

Duncan Bell is
past imperfect
Three interactions with retro tech make it
clear that the past ain’t what it used to be
sually in this column –
and my day-to-day life
U – I cover a diverse range
of topics. There’s
moaning about modern technology
and moaning about how tech
things ain’t like they used to be.
Well, this time out, I am completely
‘flipping the script’, as we say in the
hip-hop community, to moan about
old tech.
As anyone who’s ever been to a
school reunion or watched the TV
channel Dave will know, nothing
destroys nostalgia quite so quickly
as actually encountering the thing
you are nostalgic about. This month
I have had no fewer than three
interactions with the kind of ‘classic’
tech that people like to coo about
in bad online lists. And let me tell
you, people: if that was the golden
past, give me the Coronavirus-
ridden present any day.
Actually, as a side note, that
virus, although it’s been terrible for
those affected, has also had some
minor positive effects. Fears about
travelling and congregating in large
numbers in one place have put a
temporary halt to two of my most
disliked tech things: trade shows,
and launches where a series of
executive nerds in dad jeans read
about a new phone off an autocue.
Everyone loves retro gaming,
I am told. So when I was clearing
out the spare room and discovered
a PlayStation 3 and a pile of games,
I assumed a glittering road to riches
lay before me. Mint condition,
320GB hard drive, an array of 25
fine titles from GTA IV to Metal Gear
Solid: Guns of the Patriots; who
could resist that?
Imagine my disappointment
then, when I looked up online what I
could expect to earn from them.
Some of them were listed as being
worth one
penny. As if to
taunt me, some
of them still had
the price labels
showing what I paid for
them, and it was generally in
the region of £20 to £40 – and I
usually bought second hand!
Red hot CEX
I popped into the local branch of a
well-known buyer of ‘pre-loved’
gaming tech and asked if they’d be
interested in my mint condition,
320GB PS3… and the woman
laughed. Sure, she looked away, but
I could see she was chortling.
To be fair, when I set up the PS3
and tried to play a few of those
games, I could see why. I think the
fact that PS4 is not backwards
compatible and that many of those
games are part of franchises that
If that was the golden
past, give me the
Coronavirus-ridden
present any day
put out a slightly better version of
the same thing has also completely
killed their second-hand value. But
mainly it’s the fact that the graphics
are a bit crap, and the gameplay
kind of ponderous.
In a completely unrelated
development, I recently acquired a
VHS player. And when I say
‘acquired’ I mean ‘stole from my
elderly grandmother’. Well, where
else are you going to get a VCR
from? Bizarrely, I’d recently bought
Opinion
a film
that, for
various reasons, was only available
on VHS. No, it isn’t pornographic,
thank you.
This is where the cold, harsh
reality of retro technology became
really apparent. If you bought a
phone now for £50 that shot video
that looked like VHS, it would be
laughed off the face of the planet.
Although admittedly, millennials
might enjoy a VHS filter that made
their videos look amazingly shitty,
in a deliciously ironic fashion.
I put on my long-sought VHS
purchase with great excitement. I
loved watching videos cassettes
when I was a kid. But after
watching the colours all blow out
or mute, while tracking
interference caused backgrounds
to become a nightmarishly
strobing hellscape, with a
soundtrack that compressed into a
storm of hissing treble, I resolved
never to do that again.
Even that paled into minor
inconvenience when compared to
setting up a record player the
following week. No wonder the
‘vinyl revival’ is largely led by kids
who buy records to stick on their
walls, or rich, old guys who pay
someone else to set it up. Give me
Tidal any day. My conclusion? The
past is over. And it ain’t coming
back. Not in my house, anyways.
A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 2 9
 Hot 100

HOT 100
Meet the technology upgrades and gadgets that will have the
biggest impact on 2020, including essential buys, behind-the-
scenes developments and game-changing innovations
Words: Matt Bolton, Alex Cox, Claire Davies Photography: Neil Godwin

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 31
 Hot 100

100
SOLAR ORBITER
Talk about hot… Get ready
to learn a whole lot more
about our sun, as the
European Space Agency’s
instrument-packed orbiter
is set to take a peek at its
poles and learn more about
the way that big ball of gas
operates. Interesting, but
DOVRDFUXFLDOĆUVWVWHSLQ
properly preparing for the
Artemis Moon missions
1DVDLVDLPLQJWRODXQFK
LQb
98
THE DEATH OF
99 THE PASSWORD
Microsoft and Apple are
SMART PARCEL STORAGE determined to kill the
password, and for good
Staying in waiting for deliveries is so last reason: passwords are, it
decade. The new hotness: getting your parcels turns out, pretty insecure.
delivered securely and discreetly – you could Biometric security, the
opt for something like the Danby Parcel Guard, OLNHVRIĆQJHUSULQWDQGIDFH
but that’s pretty obvious. How about, instead, scanners, are going some
the Yale Smart Delivery Box (pictured)? It’s an way to plugging the gap, but
insulated and remotely lockable container that it’s device-based security
even has a lit-up release button on the inside that’s likely to become the
should a kid climb in. norm moving forward.
97
HOME ELEVATORS
When mobility becomes
an issue, some people can
effectively lose access to
WKHbWRSOHYHORIWKHLUKRPHV
As long as you’re willing
to cut a hole between
ćRRUVåDQGIUDQNO\LWèV
SUREDEO\ZRUWKLWbåWKDW
doesn’t have to be an issue
with something like the
Stiltz Duo+, a free-standing
electric lift powered entirely
IURPWKHbPDLQV1HDW
stiltz.co.uk

96
TOP GUN: MAVERICK
The Cruiser returns to the
cockpit for another sortie,
a somewhat incredible 34
\HDUVDIWHUWKHĆUVWĆOPDQG
naturally doesn’t look any
older. By now Maverick is an
experienced test pilot and
trainer, and Miles Teller’s
son-of-Goose character
is part of his class. Cue
airborne shenanigans and
incredible machinery shots
– this can be our number 96
on the Hot 100 any time.
95
FILMIC DOUBLETAKE
Modern iPhones are, it’s
fair to say, not short on
cameras. But why choose
between wide, ultrawide,
VHOĆHRUWHOHSKRWR":LWK
DoubleTake, you can capture
1080p streams from a pair
of those lenses at once,
giving you all the creative
options you need to edit
later on – or you can make
split screen or PiP videos
right there on your phone.
)UHHĆOPLFSURFRP
93
LAY-Z-SPA MILAN
AIRJET PLUS
94 Lay-Z-Spa’s thing is making
hot tubs affordable – its
MANTA 5 LQćDWDEOHWXEVFDQJR
anywhere, and then fold
The Manta 5 is a hydrofoil ebike, equipped with DZD\7KLVLVLWVĆUVWDSS
pedal assist, a 12mph top speed, and some of the connected tub, meaning
same technology used in high-end sailboats. Go you can check whether it’s
cycling, but on water. Practical? Psh, not a bit of up to temperature without
it, unless you happen to live on a private island going outside, or can set a
and need a way to commute to the shops for a schedule for it to heat to
bag of sugar. Fun? That’s more like it. right from the app.
eXNPDQWDFRP £599, lay-z-spa.co.uk

3 2 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
 Hot 100

92
SONOS ONE SL
+RZGR\RXLPSURYHRQWKHEHVWPXOWLURRPVSHDNHURQWKHPDUNHW"
2GGO\\RXPLJKWEHZHOOVHUYHGFXWWLQJRXWWKHPLFURSKRQHDQG
DVVXDJLQJHYHU\RQHèVSULYDF\FRQFHUQVåb6RQRVè2QH6/GRHVMXVWWKDW
VOLFLQJDFKXQNRIIWKHSULFHZLWKLWEXWGRHVQèWORVHDQ\RILWVRWKHU
VPDUWVRUDXGLRTXDOLW\3HUIHFWIRUVWDUWLQJ\RXUZLUHOHVVKRPH
£159, sonos.com

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 3 3
 Hot 100
91
RAZER ERACING
SIMULATOR
We don’t think you can take
this one home with you
(and your family probably
wouldn’t be over-pleased
if you did) but as a racing
game setup it’s impressive –
motorised seat and harness,
all the wheels and pedals
you can handle, and an
immense 128-inch screen
with a 202-degree curve.
UD]HUFRP
87
PERSONALISED
SUPPLEMENTS
The vitamin market is
worth $80 billion, and the
demand for personalised
supplements is big, with
companies like Bioniq and
Care/Of leading the pack.
Bespoke wellness starts
with an in-depth quiz or
blood test and ends with
a pot of custom pills or
powder to combat what
\RXèUHGHĆFLHQWLQ
3 4 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
90
XBOX’S CONTINUED
ACCESSIBILITY
SUPPORT
A while ago, Microsoft
released the Xbox Adaptive
Controller, which makes
gaming accessible to people
ZLWKPRWRUGLIĆFXOWLHV$
new clever attachment
lets people use wheelchair
joysticks to control games.
PLFURVRIWFRP
DEOHJDPHUVRUJ
86
REMOTE WORKING
Over 70% of the global
workforce works remotely
at least once a week.
$ćH[LEOHVFKHGXOHLV
WKHELJJHVWEHQHĆWEXW
loneliness is a major
downside. Stay socialised
and connected to your team
by getting regular in-person
meetings in the diary. Tech-
wise, a lightweight laptop
and capable smartphone
make it easier for you to
work smarter, anywhere.
88
iPAD PRO’S
89 NEXT UPDATE
The signs are building for a
COMFIER CAMPING new high-end tablet from
Apple being imminent.
This year, the camping world is laser-focused on With the last one being so
making life outdoors tempting to all by boosting monumentally good, with
your comfort with kit that’s easy to use and about as much power inside
laden with luxe touches. From Coleman’s as a MacBook Pro, we
starter glamping tent (pictured), the Octagon hope the rumours of a new
Blackout, through Outwell’s squishy 16cm-thick keyboard with trackpad,
'UHDPERDWVHOILQćDWLQJVOHHSPDWWR&DQHOOD turning it into more of a
Supreme sleeping bag, camping has never convertible, are true. Either
required less in the way of roughing it. way, it’s going to be fast.
84
CALM APP
Meditation and mindfulness
85 enhance our general
wellness, as well as helping
us manage symptoms of
MICRO ELECTRIC CARS anxiety, depression and
stress. Calm is a celebrity
The micro electric two-seater is the perfect favourite for practising
second car for our times. A great runabout, it mindfulness, and also for
offers fewer running costs, reduced weight – helping folks sleep better.
which leads to increased range – and is small The latter is helped by
enough to park anywhere. Whether it’s the Calm’s Bedtime Story
BMW-Isetta-like Micro Microlino or Toyota’s feature: relaxing tales read
ultra-compact BEV, it’s a size that makes sense – by actors and authors.
even Lewis Hamilton has one! )URPe)UHHFDOPFRP

82
SMART GLUCOSE
MONITORS
83 6PDOOHUFRPSDQLHVKDYH
EHHQWKURZLQJRXWDORWRI
HAPPIEST BABY SNOO JOXFRVHPRQLWRUVåWDNH
Hot 100
81
LG’S INDOOR
VEGETABLE GARDEN
7KHJURZ\RXURZQ
PRYHPHQWLVVHHLQJ
ERXQWLIXOHUJURZWKEXW
$VPDUWFULEWKDWPLJKWHYHQVDYH
\RXUVDQLW\,WRIIHUVXSDVRRWKLQJ
ZRPEPRWLRQDQGVRXQGFRPERDQG
UHVSRQGVWRIXVVLQJE\WZHDNLQJWKH
PRWLRQWKHUHèVDVSHFLDOVOHHSVDFNWR
NHHS\RXUEDE\VZDGGOHGDQGVDIHRQ
WKHLUEDFNDQG\RXFDQHYHQĆQGWKH
VHWWLQJV\RXUEDE\OLNHVE\FRQVXOWLQJ
WKHWUDFNLQJDSS*HWWKHPULJKWDQG
\RXPLJKWJHWZLQNV\RXUVHOI
£995, happiestbaby.co.uk
WKH*OXWUDFSLFWXUHG
DZHDUDEOHWKDWPL[HV
YLWDOVPRQLWRULQJZLWKD
VSULQNOHRI$,WRHVWLPDWH
\RXUEORRGVXJDUZLWKRXW
QHHGLQJWRWDNHDQ\EORRG
RUFHUDPLFVNLQJ.\RFHUDèV
SURWRW\SHFDUERK\GUDWH
PRQLWRUåbVRZHZRXOG
H[SHFWWKHWHFKWRERWK
LPSURYHDQGWUDQVLWLRQWR
ELJJHUQDPHVVRRQ
WKHUHèVQRUHDVRQIRUWKRVH
ZLWKRXWDVXLWDEOHSORW
RIODQGWRPLVVRXW/*èV
LQGRRUbJURZLQJFDELQHW
IHHOVDOPRVWOLNHDQDQWL
IULGJH,WJLYHV\RXUYHJ
WKHbSURSHUWHPSHUDWXUH
ZDWHUDQGQXWULHQWV
UHTXLUHGPHDQLQJ\RX
FDQbFXOWXUHDIXVVIUHH
FURSbDOO\HDUURXQG
£TBC, lg.com
A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 3 5
 Hot 100

80
BOSE NOISE CANCELLING
HEADPHONES 700
$EVROXWHO\IDQWDVWLFOHYHOQRLVH
FDQFHOOLQJVXSHUEORRNVRXWUDJHRXV
EDWWHU\OLIHDEULOOLDQWPLFURSKRQH
LQQRYDWLYHDXGLR$5H[SHULHQFHV
åZHVLPSO\FDQèWWKURZHQRXJK
VXSHUODWLYHVDW%RVHèVIDEXORXV
KHDGSKRQHV$QGJLYHQWKHLUPXVLF
UHSURGXFWLRQLVW\SLFDOO\ćDZOHVV
WKHVHPLJKWEHWKHRQO\KHDGSKRQHV
\RXHYHUQHHGIRUWUDYHORUQRW
£350, bose.co.uk

3 6 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
 Hot 100

79
SMART FABRICS
EVERYWHERE
Clever fabrics are all over,
and while you might expect
WKLQJVOLNHZDWHUSURRĆQJ
OLNH7KH1RUWK)DFHèV
Futurelight tech) or long-
lasting (see Ventile’s cotton
blend) there’s more: the
antibacterial Mizu Towel’s
(pictured) stripes change
colour when it’s time to
JLYHbLWDZDVK
78
MIRROR DIAGNOSIS
Smart mirrors have the potential to help us
diagnose and track changes in our body shape.
The HiMirror Mini tracks everything from
wrinkles to suspicious skin changes; meanwhile
WKH1DNHGIXOOOHQJWKPLUURUVFDQV\RXUZKROH
body in 3D to track any changes in fat, lean
mass and weight.
77
HYDRALOOP
It’s the little things that
count, and most households
waste the majority of water
that comes in. With the
Hydraloop home installed,
you’ll be able to recycle
85% of that water, helping
reduce your impact on the
HQYLURQPHQWåbHYHU\WKLQJ
from washing machine to
bath water, back in the loop.
)URPDSSUR[e
K\GUDORRSFRP
76
SLEEP NUMBER CLIMATE
360 SMART BED
6OHHS1XPEHUUHFNRQVLWV
Climate 360 Smart Bed
is a “revolution in health,”
designed to help you fall
asleep faster and for longer
by “actively cooling your
body during the night”. It
also helps you wake during
a natural part of your sleep
cycle (so no grogginess).
e7%&VOHHSQXPEHUFRP

75
EVIATION ALICE
Fuel-guzzling planes are
opening the jet set up to a
whole lot of criticism these
days, so a fully electric
plane was an inevitability.
Eviation’s Alice might not
be able to make a quick
turnaround, but the nine-
passenger three-prop plane
LVGXHWRPDNHLWVĆUVWćLJKW
this year, and its batteries
give it a 600-mile range.
HYLDWLRQFR
74 73
TWINKLY SMART EXOSKELETONS
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS Whether it’s helping the
disabled or giving manual
This year’s festive season workers superhuman
will be smart. LEDworks’ powers, the new crop of
Twinkly RGB lights can, AI-assisted exoskeletons
in conjunction with your looks set to make a real
phone’s camera, work out impact. Finally we can shed
exactly where they are on WKHOLPLWDWLRQVRIRXUćHVK\
the tree or wall, allowing forms. Sarcos Robotics’
you to map funky (and Guardian XO is a full-body,
previously impossible) battery-powered super suit;
positional effects. others will surely follow in
)URPeWZLQNO\FRP its robot footsteps.
72
MAC PRO
There are many ludicrous things about the
Mac Pro. Its design, for instance. Its price. Its
power. But this is not a machine for us mere
mortals. It’s a top-end marvel meant for those
who really need – and can afford – to have that
SRZHUDWWKHLUĆQJHUWLSV7KH0DFLVVWLOOWKH
creative platform of choice, and this beauty is
WKHbXOWLPDWHFUHDWLYHWRRO
)URPeDSSOHFRPXN

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 37
 Hot 100
71
GARDEN GYM PODS
*DUGHQRIĆFHSRGVKDYH
been around for while, but
this year’s trend leans more
towards garden gyms. The
initial outlay can be pricey,
but if you hate both gym
fees and working out in
front of others, having your
RZQĆWQHVVVWXGLRRXWVLGH
is tempting. For inspiration,
check out Bakers Timber
DQGWKH$IĆQLW\UDQJHDW
6PDUW*DUGHQ2IĆFHV
67
CYBERPUNK 2020
CD Projekt Red, the minds
behind the Witcher games,
turn their RPG muscles
towards a whole new
fantasy universe – the tech-
heavy human-augmented
world of Cyberpunk. Hotly
anticipated doesn’t begin
to cover it: this dark,
JULWW\bLPDJLQHGIXWXUH
ORRNVbVHWWRFRPSOHWHO\
UHGHĆQHWKHJHQUH$OOWKDW
plus a starring role from
Keanu Reeves.
cyberpunk.net
3 8 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
70
PLAYDATE
What is a games console?
Publisher Panic and
hardware developer
Teenage Engineering don’t
think the standard answer
is necessarily the right
one. Playdate is a platform
made for innovation, with
seasonal game releases, a
1-bit Memory LCD screen,
and a perplexing but
H[FLWLQJKDQGbFUDQNFRQWURO
$SSUR[eSOD\GDWH
66
SMART SHOWERS
Who doesn’t want
the ultimate shower
experience at the touch of
a button? Smart showers
are now getting much
more varied, with the
likes of SmarTap offering
app control so that you’re
able to create individual
custom shower presets,
and the new Kohler Moxie
Showerhead (pictured)
boasting a built-in
waterproof speaker with
$OH[DYRLFHVPDUWV
68
69 LITHIUM-SULPHUR
BATTERIES
TCL
Lithium-sulphur could be
This is the TV company to watch out for this year a revolution. Li-S batteries
åDOUHDG\ELJRYHUWKHSRQGDQGLQSDUWVRI$VLD have the potential to be
it brings cutting-edge technology at super-low cheaper, without as many
prices. Expect to see big mentions of its QLED harmful materials, and pack
screens this year (including an 8K model), and enough juice to power a
even pioneering mini-LED sets (see #3). SKRQHIRUĆYHGD\VåbDQG
WFOFRP they’re coming soon.
64
SMARTER CAR
COCKPITS
65 LCD’s recent hold on
the dashboard might be
GOOGLE BACKS FITBIT waning: witness Cadillac’s
delectable wide curved
Fitbit hasn’t had the easiest time in a tricky OLED, or the holographic
VPDUWZDWFKPDUNHWVXUURXQGHGE\$SSOHDW 3D displays being widely
WKHbWRSDQGDQXPEHURIFKHDSHUFRPSHWLWRUV tested. Not that LCD is
doing well at the bottom. But now the company dead, though; Bosch has
is in Google’s hands, giving the Big G access to developed a transparent
years of data and Fitbit access to a massive, smart visor that tracks your
VWDEOHEDFNHU&RXOGDQ$SSOH:DWFKEHDWHU eyes and blots out the sun
EHbRQWKHFDUGV" with black LCD. So it hasn’t
ĆWELWFRP been put in the shade yet…
 Hot 100

63
APPLE AIRPODS PRO
$SSOHèVQRLVHFDQFHOOLQJKHDGSKRQHVZHUHDOPRVW
LPSRVVLEOHWRĆQGLQVWRUHVRYHU&KULVWPDVDQG
WKHQXPEHU\RXVHHLQSHRSOHèVHDUVWHOOV\RXZK\
7KH\èUHQRWFKHDSEXWWKHLUPL[RIVPDUWGHVLJQ
JUHDWQRLVHUHGXFWLRQDQGIDQWDVWLFVRXQGTXDOLW\
KDVPDGHWKHPWKHKRWWHVWKHDGSKRQHVRIWKH\HDU
£249, apple.com

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 3 9
 Hot 100

62
GOOGLE PIXELBOOK GO
0DNLQJPRUHWKDQDIHZQRWVR
VXEWOHQRGVWRWKHGHVLJQODQJXDJH
RIFODVVLFSODVWLF$SSOH0DF%RRNV
*RRJOHèVODWHVWPDLQOLQHODSWRSZLWK
DLQFKWRXFKVFUHHQDQG$QGURLG
FRPSDWLELOLW\EHJVWREHFDUULHG
DURXQG,WKDVDJULSSDEOHWH[WXUHG
EDVHLWèVVXSHUOLJKWLWèOONHHSJRLQJ
IRUDVROLGKRXUVåbDQGLWVPHGLD
FKRSVDUHIXOO\XSJUDGHG
From £629, store.google.com

61
ADVANCED COOLING TECH
,URQLFDOO\FRROLQJ]RQHVDUHSUHWW\
KRWULJKWQRZWKH/*6LJQDWXUH
:LQH&RROHUFKLOOVGLIIHUHQWWLSSOHV
DWWKHSHUIHFWWHPSHUDWXUH3&VDUH
60
LENOVO SMART FRAME
'HYLFHVVXFKDVWKH1HVW+XEDQG
(FKR6KRZKDYHUHPLQGHGXVWKDW
GLJLWDOSKRWRIUDPHVDUHDFWXDOO\
ZKLVSHULWSUHWW\FRRO:KHWKHULWèV
59
ELECTRIC CAMPERVANS
/RYHRIFDPSHUYDQVDQGFRQFHUQ
IRUWKHHQYLURQPHQWJRKDQGLQ
KDQGåbWKHHOHFWULFFDPSHUYDQLV
WKHREYLRXVQH[WVWHS9:èV,'%X]]
VHJPHQWLQJWKHPVHOYHVIRURSWLPDO
FRPSRQHQWFRROLQJDQG6DPVXQJèV
&XEH5HIULJHUDWRUVHULHVDUHTXLHW
HQRXJKWREHNHSWE\WKHVRIDIRU
GULQNVRUEHGIRUFRVPHWLFV.
4 0 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
GLVSOD\LQJĆQHDUWRUVKRZLQJRII
WKDWVXSHUFXWHSKRWRRI\RXUGRJ
/HQRYRèVLQFK6PDUW)UDPHLVD
JUHDWZD\WRGRLW
Approx. £308, lenovo.com
SLFWXUHGLVOHDGLQJWKHFKDUJHIRU
EDWWHU\EXVVHVZLWKVXSHUVLPSOH
GULYLQJFRQWUROVDZLOGO\ćH[LEOH
LQWHULRUDQGVPDUWOLJKWLQJWKDW
FRPPXQLFDWHVZLWKSHGHVWULDQV
 Hot 100

58
AI UPSCALING
Ever-expanding TV brains
mean source resolution is
less important than ever:
$,XSVFDOLQJOLNHWKDWRI
Samsung’s Quantum chip,
isn’t just good for making
ĆOPORRNOLNHLWZDV
created yesterday. It’s an
essential you’ll seen on
every top TV this year, for
ĆOOLQJPDVVLYHVFUHHQVZLWK
smooth, glitch-free imagery
in 4K or even 8K.
56
CUSTOM BEAUTY
57 AND SKINCARE
NINTENDO SWITCH LITE Take a look at the L’Oreal
Perso (pictured), a device
7KH%LJ1èVĆUVWSDUW\WLWOHVLQFOXGLQJWKH that creates custom
EHVWb=HOGDJDPHHYHUWKHEHVW0DULRJDPH formulas for makeup based
HYHUbDQGWKHIRUWKFRPLQJDQGEULOOLDQWORRNLQJ on your complexion or
Animal Crossing: New Horizons) have made the what you’re wearing, and
6ZLWFKIRUPDQ\WKHĆQHVWFRQVROHRIWKLV the Opté Skincare System,
generation, power be damned. The handheld- which detects blemishes,
RQO\6ZLWFK/LWHIXUWKHUUHĆQHVLWLQWRDQ then dishes out the precise
absolute travel essential. amount of concealer that
eQLQWHQGRFRP you require.
55
CANON EOS R5
Canon’s mirrorless
cameras got off to a slightly
slow start compared to
Nikon’s, but the R5 is a
technological powerhouse
that rights this. The most
eye-catching feature is 8K
video recording, but 20fps
stills shooting with in-body
stabilisation on a full-frame
lens will make it formidable
on all fronts.
e7%&FDQRQFRXN

54
GARMIN
Can the Garmin juggernaut
be stopped? It’s on a roll in
WKHĆWQHVVZHDUDEOHVVHFWRU
putting out some incredible
and extra-intelligent
watches for runners, hikers,
swimmers and general
health fanatics alike. It’s got
things sewn up for regular
consumers and, with its
delectable Marq collection,
for the high end too.
JDUPLQFRP
53
SAMSUNG
ODYSSEY G9
Samsung’s banana-bent
Odyssey G9 truly surrounds
you with the action – its
bend matches the curve
of your vision. 49 inches
corner-to-corner, with a
1440p ultrawide resolution,
1ms response time and the
ability to handle 240Hz
signals, it’s astonishing.
e7%&VDPVXQJFRP
51
SURFING
52 7KLVVXPPHUVXUĆQJZLOO
debut as an Olympic sport,
BODY COMPOSITION SCALES and we’ll be glued to our
screens, watching the
If you want to measure your health and not just world’s most celebrated
your weight, swap out your standard bathroom surfers battle it out in Japan.
scales for a set of these. Body composition scales, 6XUĆQJLVXQEHOLHYDEO\
like the Tanita BC-401 (pictured) and Withings cool anyway, but after the
Body+, measure things like your muscle mass, summer Olympics are done,
visceral fat, body water percentage, metabolic we fully expect to see more
age, bone mineral mass and more, in addition to people than ever hitting
weight and BMI. their nearest surf break.

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 41
 Hot 100

50
SAMSUNG BALLIE
There’s always room
for something fun, and
Samsung’s Ballie is just that:
it’s a little ball-shaped robot
that follows you around,
snapping key moments
in your life and bleeping
adorably. Not that it’s not
smart – the voice-activated
VSKHUHFDQVSRWĆOWKDQGVHW
off your vacuum, act as a
ĆWQHVVDVVLVWDQWDQGPRUH
e7%&VDPVXQJFRP
48
BOEING 777X
With a Dreamliner-inspired
49 ultra-wide interior and
innovative folding tips at
the end of its composite
ANTIBACTERIAL TECH wings, the 777X isn’t just
iconic-looking. It’s a marker
Tech is waiting to take microscopic pests out. for the next generation of
From the UV-sanitised ChopBox chopping DLUFUDIW*(èVXOWUDHIĆFLHQW
board to the UV screen-cleaning tech of the GE9X engine joins that
PhoneSoap (pictured), bacteria’s days are advanced aerodynamics
numbered – and Otterbox’s antimicrobial package for a big reduction
screen protector might mean it never gets a in fuel use and emissions.
FKDQFHWRWDNHKROGLQWKHĆUVWSODFH ERHLQJFRP
47
SMART BLINDS
Now far cheaper (thanks
to Ikea’s, pictured) and
far easier to install and
connect than before,
smart blinds are worth a
ORRN$XWRPDWLQJOLJKWVLV
one thing, but automating
that natural light coming
into your home gives your
morning smart routines a
real shot in the arm – and
getting set for movie night
will never be the same.

46
VIZIO
Vizio has built its name
on kit that undercuts its
competitors, and it’s set
to make a big play for the
UK market. It started last
year with a pair of highly
affordable and really rather
excellent soundbars – could
this be the year we see Vizio
TVs crossing the pond? If
the high-end P-Series line
hits our shelves, expect
some serious ripples.
YL]LRFRP
45
ZAGG MOPHIE
POWERSTATION GO
$SRUWDEOHSKRQHFKDUJHU
WKDWèVVRPXFKPRUH$
high density, high output
44,400mWh battery and
(presumably) a whole
bunch of capacitors means
the Powerstation Go has
enough juice to jump start
your car, incorporates a
65W outlet, and even has a
Qi charger built in.
$SSUR[e]DJJFRP
43
SILK’N TOOTHWAVE
44 This brush, which employs
a pair of electrodes
LQLWVKHDGĆUHVUDGLR
VINTAGE-LOOKING SMART BULBS ZDYHVWXQHGWRDVSHFLĆF
frequency at your teeth,
:KLOHIDUPRUHHIĆFLHQWWKDQWKHLUSUHGHFHVVRUV gums, and even below
LED sucked the charm from lighting, at least the gumline to effectively
XQWLObĆODPHQWVW\OH/('VWXUQHGXSDQGGRXEOHG dissolve impurities and
down on the old-school looks. Now everyone break down plaque rather
from the big names in smart illumination than just preventing its
(such as Hue, pictured) and up-and-comers buildup. It’s the kind of
(like Germany’s Sengled) are bringing app wacky thing that could put
LQWHJUDWLRQbWRFODVV\EXOEVJLYLQJ\RXXOWLPDWH hygienists out of business.
control over your ambiance. eVLONQHX

42 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
 Hot 100

41
NARWAL ROBOT MOP
AND VACUUM
:KDWèVEHWWHUWKDQD
URERWYDFXXP"$URERW
YDFWKDWDOVRPRSVKDUG
VXUIDFHV7KH1DUZDOKDV
DVHOIFOHDQLQJIHDWXUHVR
LWèOOZDVKULQVHDQGGU\LWV
EXLOWLQPRSDIWHUXVH$V
IRUYDFXXPLQJLWèVGHVLJQHG
WRVXFNXSSHWKDLUGHEULV
DQGGXVWDQGZLOOIROORZD
FXVWRPćRRUSODQWRR
£615, narwalrobotics.com

40
MAXPRO CONNECTED
%XIĆQJXSGRHVQèWKDYH
WRPHDQFRPPLWWLQJ
WRDćRRUWKUHDWHQLQJ

42 FROOHFWLRQRIFODQJLQJLURQ
7KH0D[3UR&RQQHFWHG
RULJLQDOO\FDOOHG
FUJIFILM X-T200 0D[)LWLVDQDOOLQRQH
UHVLVWDQFHEDVHGWUDLQHU
5HGROHQWRIWKHFDPHUDVRI\RUHEXWGHĆQLWHO\QRVORXFK ZLWK%OXHWRRWKZRUNRXW
LQWKHLPDJLQJGHSDUWPHQWWKLVLVGHĆQLWLYHSURRIWKDWWKH WUDFNLQJDQGVHQVRUVRQ
SKRQHLVIDUIURPNLOOLQJRIIWKHGHGLFDWHGFDPHUD7KLVLV ERDUGDOOLQDKRYHUERDUG
VLPSO\EHWWHUXSGDWHG$)DQGVXSHULRUSHUIRUPDQFHLQ LQVSLUHGDQGHDVLO\VWRZHG
ORZOLJKWFRQGLWLRQVPHDQV\RXFDQFDSWXUHWKDWSHUIHFW IROGLQJNJSDFNDJH
VQDSLQDQLQVWDQW Around £500,
$URXQGeERG\RQO\IXMLĆOP[FRP PD[SURĆWQHVVFRP

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 4 3
 Hot 100

39
LIGHT(ER)WEIGHT DRONES
There’s now a licensing limit on drones
– if they top 250g, you’ll need to register
them. It’s no wonder DJI’s Mavic Mini
weighs a nose-thumbingly precise 249g,
is it? As more companies drop drones
that skirt the limit, you can expect to
VHHJUHDWHUHIĆFLHQF\H[WUDPLQLPLVHG
components, and the smaller end of the
market really – ahem – taking off.

4 4 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
 Hot 100

37
SEX TECH
38 Tech’s grip on the bedroom
is tightening, but not to
the point that it’ll hurt.
LEGO ISS Lelo’s developer-friendly
F1S male toy (pictured),
At last, Lego gives us the chance to clutch the Ella Wearable
together a big brick replica of the International Personal Massager, Ose’s
Space Station, complete with spacewalk 2QGDDQG%DFLåbDOOWR\V
PLFURĆJXUHDGHSOR\DEOHVDWHOOLWHDQGHYHQ which give you far more
a dinky space shuttle for docking fun. A true control over your under-
864-piece treat for space nerds and Lego the-sheets experiences
ĆHQGVbDOLNHDQGDJUHDWVKHOISLHFHZKHQ WKDQbHYHUEHIRUH&RXOG
\RXèUHbGRQHSOD\LQJDURXQG an app one day be a
£65, lego.com ORYHPDNLQJbHVVHQWLDO"
36
ALIENWARE
CONCEPT UFO
Usually we’d be sceptical,
but we see no reason
why the Concept UFO
wouldn’t be the model for
the future of portable PC
gaming. Real PC muscle in
a decidedly Switch-esque
shell, convertible and
carryable and ready to go in
an instant, on the platform
where big games are best.
alienware.com
35
JABRA ELITE 75T
Some have said these true
wireless buds are better
than the AirPods Pro;
some claim they’re the best
Bluetooth earbuds ever.
All we know is, these are
absolutely superb, whether
you’re listening to music,
making calls, or using the
transparency mode to
sneak an audio peek at your
surroundings – and the
HUJRQRPLFĆWLVH[FHOOHQW
£170, jabra.co.uk

34
HONDA E
Feels weird to say this
about a car, but the Honda
e is so cute, isn’t it? This
retro-styled electric tribute
to the original Civic is so
cheeky we just want to give
it a big hug. Problem is we’d
KDYHWRFDWFKLWĆUVW*LYHQ
its hyperspeed 0-30 times
from its electric motor
and highly manoeuvrable
chassis, that won’t be easy.
From £26,160, honda.co.uk
33
TOMBOT JENNIE
There’s been a lot of
talk about robots for
companionship recently; the
ultra-cute Jennie hits the
mark as a therapeutic pet
analogue for those unable
to take care of animals.
Developed to help Tombot
CEO Tom Stevens’ mother,
an Alzheimer’s patient, the
touch- and voice-sensitive
yapper is truly lifelike.
Around £345, tombot.com
32
SAMSUNG
AIRDRESSER
The AirDresser offers
revolution. It steams
clothes to kill germs and
blast through old smells,
it dries gently with less
shrinkage, it blasts dust off
garments, and even acts as
DGHKXPLGLĆHU,WKHOSV\RX
save water too, and cuts
down dry cleaning costs.
£1,999, samsung.com
31
BLUETOOTH TURNTABLES
What’s old is new, and vinyl’s ever-growing
resurgence brings with it a host of really rather
good turntables at all ends of the market, record
players that maintain that retro charm but don’t
ignore the connectivity of the present day. Audio-
Technica, Yahama (pictured), Sony, Pro-Ject
and even Cambridge Audio are on board with
Bluetooth – expect more to follow. See p66 for
more on these work.

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 45
 Hot 100

30
ALBI SMART WINE
DISPENSER
It seems our love affair
with smart wine gadgets
continues, as the app- and
voice controlled Albi was
hugely over-funded upon
debuting at Kickstarter.
The countertop device
preserves wine so that it
lasts for up to six months
after opening, storing it at
its optimum temperature.
£430, albicchiere.com
28
QUALCOMM
29 SNAPDRAGON 865
This chip is the beating
PRINKER S heart of basically every
upcoming Android device
Expect to see this at the top of many 2020 that matters. And for good
Christmas lists; the Prinker S takes temporary reason: combined with the
tattooing away from the domain of sponge- ;PRGHPWKHPXOWL
on transfers and into a totally custom world. OD\HUHGEULQJV*DV
Transfer an image from your phone via the norm. It also enables
%OXHWRRWKbDQGLWFDQSULQWLWGLUHFWO\RQWR Wi-Fi 6, 802.11ay and
your skin, using a safe ink that doesn’t need %OXHWRRWKDQGWKH*38
DbVDQGSDSHUVFUXEWRUHPRYHLW$QGLWèVLQVWDQW has been souped up.
Around £210, prinker-europe.com qualcomm.com
27
GOCYCLE GXI
An innovative wheel design
PHDQVWKH*;LFDQGURS
from fast to folded in just
10 seconds, and that’s just
the start of its skills. All the
wires (and the removable
battery, good for 50 miles)
are tucked inside the 17.5kg
frame, there’s predictive
gear shifting, a traction
controlled motor and a
cool KITT-like LED display.
Straight up design genius.
£3,699, gocycle.com

26
VIRTUAL PERSONAL
TRAINERS
Home workouts have
never been so pro, and
that’s thanks to a rise in the
number of virtual trainers
via apps for smartwatches,
mobiles and tablets, and
YLDOLYHĆWQHVVFODVVHVIRU
VSHFLĆFELWVRIKRPHJ\P
25
SMART LOCKS
*LYLQJ\RXWRWDOFRQWURORYHUZKRFDQRSHQ
the door, smart locks are getting smarter.
Everything from Netatmo’s Smart Door Lock
and its customisable, reprogrammable NFC
keys to tamper-proof devices from the likes
24
V-COPTR FALCON
Why waste battery spinning
four rotors when two will
do? Zero Zero’s Falcon
bicopter, inspired by the
V-22 Osprey military
aircraft, might just make
us reconsider our vision of
what a camera drone should
be. It totes a pair of cameras
for object avoidance and
23
IN-CAR VOICE
CONTROL
$SSOHèV&DU3OD\*RRJOHèV
Android Auto – they’ve
already made voice control
pretty much standard. Now
Amazon’s on it, pushing
Alexa support into a host of
devices from its own Echo
Auto (pictured) to dash
kit. The latter includes the RI6FKODJH<DOHDQG8OWLRQSLFWXUHGåbH[SHFW YLVXDOWUDFNLQJDQGFDQć\ cams, Anker’s Roav 12v
Peloton home exercise bike, to see a huge rise in the number of Bluetooth- for 50 whole minutes. phone chargers, and even
with 14 daily live classes to secured ingresses in the coming months – they’re Around £768, direct integration with the
pick from. one of this year’s most-desired buys. zerozerorobotics.com 2020 Audi range.

4 6 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
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22
5G LAPTOPS
)RUJHWĆJKWLQJZLWKKRWVSRWVRUWKURZLQJ\RXUGDWDWKURXJKLQDGHTXDWHDQG
SRWHQWLDOO\GDQJHURXVSXEOLF:L)LEHFDXVH*LQODSWRSVVXFKDVWKH/HQRYR
<RJD*SLFWXUHGRU+3(OLWH'UDJRQć\FDQEHDVIDVWDVDKRPHEURDGEDQG
connection and get you hooked up anywhere there’s a signal. New chipsets
ZKLFKPL[:L)LDQG*PHDQLWèVJRLQJWREHDFRPPRQVLJKWH[SDQGLQJDV
WKHQHWZRUNGRHV<RXèOOQHYHUEHRIćLQHLI\RXGRQèWZDQWWREH

21
HALF-LIFE: ALYX
Valve returns to the Half-Life universe at last with a major prequel
GHWDLOLQJWKHHYHQWVEHWZHHQWKHĆUVWWZRJDPHVåDQGWKLVWLPH
you’re battling the Combine in immersive free-movement VR form.
A title that could be transformative for the future of VR as a whole.
£46.50, steampowered.com
20
MICROLED
The heir apparent to OLED tech? Oh yeah. Doing away with the
backlight means unparalleled contrast, and the fact that a bezel
LVQèWUHTXLUHGPHDQVWKHUHèVćH[LELOLW\åb6DPVXQJèV7KH:DOO79
(pictured) allows for an expandable screen in the vein of professional
YLGHRZDOOV,WèVDOVRUXPRXUHGIRUIXWXUH$SSOH:DWFKHVVFUHHQV

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 47
 Hot 100

19
FOLDING PHONES
The potential of folding phones is massive, but they
got off to stuttering start with a mixed reception
IRUWKH6DPVXQJ*DOD[\)ROGDQGQRUHOHDVHKHUH
for the Huawei Mate X. But now we have clamshell
IROGHUVOLNHWKH0RWRUROD5D]UDQG6DPVXQJ=)OLS
and we have the upgraded Huawei Mate Xs (see
p10) coming – 2020 will see these phones go from
technology curio to truly desirable option.

4 8 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0

18
DUNE
Denis Villeneuve’s new
adaptation of Frank
+HUEHUWèVFODVVLFVFLĆQRYHO
– due towards the end of
the year – could prove to
be the most ambitious and
gorgeous movie ever made.
7KHUHèVDGDPQĆQHFDVWD
Hans Zimmer soundtrack,
16
NEXT-LEVEL
17 ACTION CAMERAS
8K TV Say goodbye to the classic
cuboid action cam; things
An Olympic year inevitably means a long jump are getting more extreme.
IRUWHFKåbDQGWKRVHVWULYLQJIRUKLJKHQGFRQWHQW 7DNH*R3URèV+HUR0$;
will be unsurprised to hear that perennially (pictured), a box which
forward-thinking Japanese broadcaster NHK brings 360 shooting to
ZLOOEHĆOPLQJWKH7RN\R*DPHVLQJORULRXV. the action market, or the
Hot 100
15
AIR PURIFIERS
6PDOOHUDLUSXULĆHUV\RX
FDQĆWDQ\ZKHUH\RX
need them are a big thing
this year, helping your
respiratory health. From
big home units to the tiny
Blueair Blue Pure 411
that’s made for cars, to
Dyson’s PureCool Me
and the potential for a string With a raft of new TVs on the way and the price Insta360 One R, a modular SLFWXUHGWKDWSXULĆHVDQG
RIbHTXDOO\VSLF\VHTXHOVLI premium quickly dropping off, 2020 is truly the 5.3K cam system with FRROVDLUDQGĆUHVLWMXVWDW
DOObJRHVZHOO1R6WLQJWKLV year that 8K blasts off. Oh, and BT has said it will a longbOLVWRISRWHQWLDOO\ \RXLQ\RXURIĆFHðZHFDQ
time, mind. show Premier League matches in 8K this year. essential accessories. all breathe easier in 2020.

14
LENOVO THINKPAD
FOLD X1
Lenovo is no stranger to
tablet-laptop hybrids, but
we were as surprised to see
the bendy-screened Fold
;DFWXDOO\HVFDSLQJWKH
company’s concept labs. It
may even end up being the
ĆUVWIROGDEOHODSWRSWRKLWWKH
market – and it could be a
VKRZFDVHIRU,QWHOèV/DNHĆHOG
3D processor, too.
Around £1,920, lenovo.com
13
TRUE WIRELESS
FOR LESS
Just one year matters.
Battery life is going up
and the price is coming
right down: around £100
seems to be the norm now
for great sets such as the
Lypertek Tevi (pictured),
with noise cancellation only
adding a small extra fee,
with the Amazon Echo Buds
feature Bose NC tech but
coming in under £120.
11
ONEPLUS
12 CONCEPT ONE
A handset that offers us
JBL BAR 9.1 a glimpse of phones to
come. It uses specially
Just about as compact as virtual surround can miniaturised electrochromic
be, the Bar 9.1 squashes full-on Dolby Atmos glass, just over a millimetre
audio, HDR passthrough and a whole stack thick, to completely mask
more connectivity into a standard soundbar the camera lens cluster until
shell. Standard apart from the rear speakers, you open the camera app, at
that is: they mount magnetically onto either end which point a current makes
to charge, and wirelessly assign themselves a the glass transparent. You
channel when you pull them off. can’t argue that’s not cool.
Around £760, jbl.com oneplus.com

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 49
 Hot 100

9
FORD GT LIQUID CARBON
Just look at it! Oh, apparently, we have to write more here. Fine, just
look at its new carbon shell with a clear coating so you can see the
ĆEUH/RRNDWLWVOLJKWHUWLWDQLXPH[KDXVWFDUERQZKHHOVDQGKS
WZLQWXUERHQJLQH/RRNDWWKHQHZUHDUGHVLJQZLWKPRUH
DLUćRZ7KHVDGSDUW"<RXèOOKDYHWRLPSRUWLW2KDQGLWFRVWVDERPE
$750,000, ford.com

10
HEART HEALTH
As it’s become clear that tech can be quite good at detecting
heart issues, innovative new options have sprung up. The
Apple Watch can detect irregular heart beats, Samsung has a
watch with a blood pressure sensor and check out the Omron
Complete as a smart base station for all heart health checking.
Tech to help you spot problems before they’re problems, orto
help stay on top of them, is becoming the norm.

8 NIKE ZOOMX VAPORFLY NEXT%
48-INCH OLED TVs
8QWLOWKLV\HDULQFKHVZDVWKHVPDOOHVWVL]H.2/('79\RXFRXOG
JHWEXWQRZVPDOOHUKRPHVFDQĆQDOO\JHWLQRQWKHPDMHVW\RI2/('
SLFWXUHTXDOLW\6RQ\DQG/*ZLOOKDYH79VLPPLQHQWO\DQG3KLOLSVLV
DOVRZRUNLQJRQRQH(YHQEHWWHUWKH\èOODOVREHWKHFKHDSHVWVHWVLQ
WKHLUUHVSHFWLYHUDQJHVPDNLQJWKHWHFKPRUHDIIRUGDEOHRYHUDOO
7
These are the shoes that people say make you instantly faster at
running. Can it really be true? Well, we tried them, and instantly
broke four(!) personal bests. They’re so comfortable and so
HIĆFLHQWWKDW\RXFDQIHHOKRZHDV\LWLVWRFRQWURO\RXUSDFHDQG
stamina – they unlock your full potential. Expect to see them on
all the best-equipped runners this year…
£239, nike.com

5 0 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
 Hot 100

6
SAMSUNG Q950TS
7KHćDJVKLS79LQ6DPVXQJèVUDQJHLVDERQDĆGHVWXQQHU$VLGH
from its HDR 4000-rated QLED screen (four times brighter than the
recommended brightness for high-end HDR!) and its unbelievably
detailed 8K screen with AI upscaling to make everything worthy of
WKDWbQXPEHURISL[HOVLWèVDOVRJRWRQHRIWKHPRVWH\HFDWFKLQJ79
designs ever, with a minuscule bezel on three sides that makes it look
OLNHbWKHLPDJHLVVXVSHQGHGLQWKHDLU,WèVLQFUHGLEO\WKLQWRRDQGKDV
DQbDUUD\RIVSHDNHUVDURXQGWKHVFUHHQJLYLQJPRUHRSHQ'VRXQG
HYHQbZLWKRXWDQ\DGGLWLRQDOVSHDNHUV

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 51
 Hot 100

5
E-SCOOTERS
In only a year or so, e-scooters have gone from ‘unlikely to be legal in the UK for years’ to ‘about
to become legal in a matter of weeks’. That they weren’t legal before didn’t really stop people
IURPXVLQJWKHPEXWDWOHDVWLWèOOEHRIĆFLDOQRZ(VFRRWHUVDUHLGHDOIRUJHWWLQJDURXQGWRZQV
thanks to 15.5mph top speeds and the fact they take up so little space to park (or can be folded
to stash somewhere). They’re a big hit in Europe already (especially in cities with good cycling
infrastructure), and the low price makes them a really useful – and fairly eco-friendly – transport
option. Check out options from Segway Ninebot and Xiaomi in particular.

52 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
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4
MICROSOFT DUO & NEO
7KHTXDOLW\RI0LFURVRIWèVUHFHQWKDUGZDUHDQGLWVWKRXJKWIXODSSURDFKWR
JHWWLQJVRIWZDUHUHDG\IRUWKLVGXDOVFUHHQSKRQHWKH'XRDQGWDEOHWWKH
1HRPDNHVXVWKLQNWKHVHZLOODUULYHZLWKPRUHSROLVKHGUHVXOWVWKDQHDUO\
IROGLQJSKRQHV0LFURVRIWDQQRXQFHGWKHPD\HDUEHIRUHWKH\èOOJRRQVDOH
VRWKDWWKHVRIWZDUHDQGDSSVFDQEHWZHDNHGDQGSHRSOHFDQUHDOO\JHWD
KDQGOHRQZKDWWKHDGYDQWDJHVDUHEHIRUHWKH\EX\WKH\èUHGXHDWWKHHQG
RIb)URPZKDWZHèYHVHHQVRIDUWKH\èUHWKHEHVWFDQGLGDWHVWKLV\HDU
WRJHQXLQHO\VKDNHXSDQGLPSURYHKRZZHJHWWKLQJVGRQH
microsoft.com

3
MINI-LED
7KLVLVWKHQH[WJHQHUDWLRQRI79WHFK\RXèUHOLNHO\WRDFWXDOO\EX\VRRQ
0LQL/('KHUHUHIHUVWRXVLQJVPDOOHU/('VIRUEDFNOLJKWVLQ/&'SDQHOV
VXFKDVWKRVHLQ4/('RU1DQRFHOOGLVSOD\V+DYLQJPRUHVPDOOHUOLJKWV
PHDQVWKHEDFNOLJKWVFDQJREULJKWHURYHUDOOEXWORFDOGLPPLQJFDQEH
PRUHSUHFLVHO\FRQWUROOHGVRWKHEDFNOLJKWFDQEHWXUQHGRIILQVHFWLRQV
WKDWQHHGWRJRGDUN,WVKRXOGPHDQ+'5FRQWUDVWWKDWèVZD\EH\RQG
ZKDWZHèUHXVHGWRQRZPDNLQJHYHU\WKLQJHYHQPRUHUHDOLVWLF$QGLWèV
QRWMXVWIRU79VåZHèYHVHHQLWXVHGLQ06,èV&UHDWRUODSWRSDQGLWèV
DVWRXQGLQJWKHUHOLNHKDYLQJDKLJKHQG79ZLWK\RXDWDOOWLPHV<RXèUH
going to see this in a lotRIKLJKTXDOLW\GLVSOD\VVRRQ

2
PLAYSTATION 5 & XBOX SERIES X
The next big leap in gaming is coming.
Microsoft is swinging for the digital fences
with the Series X, which promises four
times the processing power of the Xbox
One X, and twice the graphics grunt. The
PS5 is expected to not quite match that for
graphics, but both will support a range of
cutting-edge tech for faster loading speeds
and more realistic effects in everything
from lighting to AI to physics, and there’s
even 8K support. As for pricing, no one
is talking just yet, but rumours suggest
that we’re talking £450 at least for the
PS5 and more for the Series X. High
price won’t hold them back, though – the
world has been waiting for a big jump in
console gaming since the PS4 and Xbox
One came out back in 2013, and these will
absolutely be the hottest things available
at Christmas.

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 5 3
 Hot 100

1
5G
Last year was the arrival of 5G, but like all new technologies,
it needed time to settle in. A limited range of (more expensive)
phones and a slow roll-out in just a few areas of a few cities
meant that while it did offer the mind-blowing speeds promised,
not many people could take advantage of them. But now things
are accelerating: the number of locations from the networks
already in on the action is rocketing up all over the country, while
7KUHHLVĆQDOO\HQWHULQJWKHIUD\DQGDGGLQJSODFHVRILWVRZQ
with what it claims will be the fastest of all the 5G networks.
The plans are becoming more competitive as more companies
start to compete, including low-cost providers, and the phones
are becoming cheaper due to 5G support becoming the norm in
chips from the likes of Qualcomm (see #28). It’s likely that we’ll
JHWWKHĆUVW*L3KRQHDWWKHHQGRIWKLV\HDUWRRFHPHQWLQJLW
as a technology that’s in the mainstream. But it’s not just about
SKRQHVåZHèYHDOUHDG\ORRNHGDW*ODSWRSVDQGWKHĆUVW
5G tablet is already available courtesy of Samsung. We still won’t
see the revolution that 5G promises this year, but that can only
come once it’s ubiquitous. In 2020, that process will start, and
that’s why it takes the top spot in our list of the hottest tech this
year: you’re going to see more and more tech designed with it
in mind, since this is the year you can actually take advantage
of that. And let’s not forget why you want that – it’s because 5G
really is impossible to go back from once you’ve tried it. Having
ĆEUHEHDWLQJLQWHUQHWVSHHGVZKHUHYHU\RXDUHLVVRGHFDGHQW
so satisfying and so damn handy that it’s going to the one
upgrade everyone talks about in 2020.

5 4 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
 Hot 100

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 55
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A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 5 7
 State of the art

Game streaming
showdown 4K gaming with graphics set to max, and no need for downloads?
Welcome to the world of game streaming
Words: Gerald Lynch Photography: Neil Godwin

rom cassettes to cartridges, DVDs The platforms, like Sony’s PlayStation It’s not all plain sailing though – you’ll

F
to downloads, the way we get our
games is always changing. But the
next evolution may be the most
dramatic yet. What if there were no discs, no
downloads, and you could take your games
and saves with you wherever you went, and
play them on any device that has a screen and
a broadband connection?
That’s the dream of game streaming, with
companies like Google, Nvidia, Sony and
more battling it out to lay claim to this fertile
new gaming ground.
Now, Google’s Stadia and Nvidia’s GeForce
Now, store games on remote cloud servers,
letting you tap into them instantly over the
internet. Imagine a Netflix stream that you
control with a gamepad, and you’re on the
right track.
Powered by supercomputers, they let
you run even the most hardware-intensive
of PC games on a lowly smartphone or
underpowered laptop, as all you’re really
powering locally is the video stream coming
back from the services’ servers.
need a steady and fast internet connection,
lag between your button inputs and onscreen
action can be a problem, and the variety,
availability and quality of the games differs
greatly from platform catalogue to catalogue.
But the benefits are undeniable – imagine
getting halfway through a mission in Red
Dead Redemption 2 on your TV, then picking
it up moments later at the very same point on
your smartphone in the cafe down the road?
That’s a future that’s already very much here
– and these are the best services offering it.

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 59
 State of the art
WHAT’S ON TEST…
1 Google Stadia
Stadia is Google’s big play for the
hearts of gamers. It’s promising a
2 PlayStation Now
truly “post-console” platform, letting
you take AAA games anywhere
your phone, a Chrome browser or
Chromecast streaming dongle are,
with a smart lag-reducing control pad.
£119 (Premiere Edition),
Stadia Pro subscription (optional)
£8.99 per month,
store.google.com
SPECS
Up to 4K resolution, HDR, 60fps,
5.1 sound, 10Mbps broadband
connection required, 35Mbps
recommended, Mac / PC / TV
(Chromecast) and limited Android
smartphone support
6 0 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
Are you a PlayStation fanatic?
Disappointed you can’t get PS3
3 Nvidia GeForce Now
games on your PS4? PlayStation
Now lets you stream classic
PlayStation games to your PC or
console, as well as a top selection of
PS4 games, for a monthly fee. There
are around 700 PS4, PS3 and PS2
games to choose from, from a wide
range of genres.
£8.99 a month, £22.99 for
3 months, £49.99 for 12 months
(Subscription),
playstation.com
SPECS
PC and PS4 compatible, 5Mbps
broadband connection required,
720p resolution
Nvidia is a big name in PC graphics
cards, and it’s now a leader in
game streaming too. Letting you
stream AAA games from numerous
download stores to low-powered
devices, GeForce Now is a versatile
game streaming option.
Free tier (unlimited one-hour
sessions), £4.99 a month Founder’s
subscription (six-hour sessions,
RTX graphics, queue priority),
nvidia.com
SPECS
1080p resolution, 60fps, 10Mbps
broadband connection required,
50Mbps recommended, PC / Mac
/ Nvidia Shield / Android / Android
TV compatible

GOOGLE STADIA
The Google Stadia Premiere Edition includes one of the Wi-Fi-enabled Stadia
controllers plus a Chromecast Ultra for getting the games on your TV
Game streaming showdown
PRODUCT 01:
GOOGLE
STADIA
Google has the web-based tech know-
how, but does it have the games?
s there a more web-savvy company in the
I
world than Google? Doubtful. Its connected-
tech know-how, and long-established
experience in cloud-based software, should
make it expertly placed to lead the pack in cloud gaming.
But its initial offering with Stadia has some way to go to
meet the company’s early promises on the service.
First, what does Stadia get right? For starters, it
works well across platforms, streaming to a TV over
a Chromecast Ultra dongle, working on a Mac or PC
browser, and running AAA games from the cloud to select
Pixel Android mobile devices. It’s also the only service on
test running at 4K resolution (using a Chromecast Ultra
on TV) with high dynamic range (HDR) options enabled,
and uses a potentially innovative controller that aims to
reduce lag and latency by connecting directly to cloud
servers over Wi-Fi. Providing you meet the minimum
broadband requirements, it’s a smooth and stable
experience, and one that transitions well from device to
device. Visually, it’s comparable to a native, local gaming
experience (if not quite of the fidelity of the high-end,
newer home consoles), and though control can feel a tad
sluggish, it’s perfectly playable.
But there’s a lot missing too from Stadia’s lengthy,
initially pitched feature list, from in-game Google
While the games it offers
are top notch, they
number too few right now
Assistant guides to wider phone support. At present,
these features are missing in action, and while some have
always seemed optimistic at best, many were the key
defining features that looked set to separate Google from
the competition. In their absence, it feels like a beta test
– a solid base technically, with a well-presented UI, but
all together merely a foundation awaiting the flourishes
to make it stand out.
What’s more, while the games it offers are top notch
and the streams stable, they number too few for the time
being, and the pricing structure is steep. The unique
potential of the lag-reducing controller, with its dedicated
Google Assistant button, hasn’t been met – lag is still
present, and the Assistant button is currently all but
useless. And while 4K resolutions are hit, some titles don’t
seem to be achieving the detailed visual heights of their
console and PC counterparts.
Revisit Google Stadia in a year or two and it may be a
different story. But for now, Google Stadia feels more like
a vision of the future, rather than a present reality.
A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 61
 State of the art

PRODUCT 02: PLAYSTATION NOW

PLAYSTATION
NOW
Sony has the games, but the streaming
service is a little lacking
layStation Now takes an all-you-can-eat

P
approach to game streaming. For a flat rate of
£8.99 a month, you get unlimited streaming
access to hundreds of PlayStation games,
some from the current PS4 generation and a handful of
vintage PS2 titles, but the majority being older titles from
the PS3 era. Fire up the app, and there’s near-instant
access to more than 700 titles in total.
The quality of the catalogue is undeniable. Though it’s a
slowly rotating line-up (games stay on the service a long
time), stellar PS4 titles like Bloodborne, Uncharted: The
Lost Legacy and God of War have all featured on PS Now,
while the PS3 library is extensive, with the likes of Metal
Gear, Fallout 3 and Red Dead Redemption all available
instantly. There’s certainly some filler in there, but that’s
overshadowed by the good stuff. Though true backwards
compatibility with the PS3 for the PS4 would have been
better, having them all in one browsable app is great for
the curious game historian, and lets PC gamers tap into
titles previously exclusive to the Sony console.
But the streaming quality can be found lacking. For
starters, you’re limited to just a lowly 720p resolution –
seriously short of the 4K standard that Google Stadia has
now set, and that’s without mentioning the fact that
many of the PS4 titles have 4K options if played from a

There’s filler in there,

but that’s overshadowed
by the good stuff
disc or download on the premium PS4 Pro console. Sony
gets around this with the option of offering regular
downloads for a small number of PS4 games served up
through PlayStation Now, opening up their full range of
resolution settings. But that’s not much recompense for
anyone looking to play the majority of the games available.
Equally problematic is PlayStation Now’s propensity to
kick you out of a game if your network connection flags at
all. Other services have better provision for fluctuating
connectivity, whereas PlayStation Now seems all too
eager to send you back to a menu screen. Save your game,
and save it often, if you’re planning on playing through a
lengthy game using Sony’s service.
Price is worth considering too – £8.99 is fair for the
amount of games that can be accessed. But given you’re
limited to just two platform choices in the shape of the
PS4 and PC (Mac owners are left out in the cold), and
with no mobile option or high-resolution streaming
capabilities, PlayStation Now feels like a half-hearted PlayStation’s hardware is the most expensive to get started with here, if
inflexible, presentation of an otherwise generous line-up. you’re looking for a TV hook-up, but also plays regular games, of course

62 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0

NVIDIA GEFORCE NOW
Here, we’ve got the Nvidia Shield TV (which can do AI-based upscaling to 4K)
with the Shield controller, but you can use a huge range of controllers
Game streaming showdown
PRODUCT 03:
NVIDIA
GEFORCE
NOW
1YLGLDĆQGVWKHVZHHWVSRWEHWZHHQ
stable streaming and top game options
vidia’s been working the cloud gaming market
N
for a few years now, and those years of
experimentation have paid off. GeForce Now,
originally working on an all-you-can-play
subscription model, went back to the drawing board for a
lengthy beta testing phase. Launching officially in
February 2020, it’s now in the best shape it’s ever been in.
What sets GeForce Now apart today is its openness.
Nvidia has partnered with a selection of top PC gaming
download stores to allow you to play hundreds of their
games through its cloud service. So, if you buy a game
through Valve’s Steam, Blizzard’s BattleNet, Ubisoft’s
Uplay or a growing list of Epic Games Store titles, that one
purchase can be tied to your GeForce Now games list, too
– all you do is pay the reasonable £4.99 subscription cost
to stream them in from Nvidia’s cloud-based network.
The point of cloud gaming of course is that you don’t
need the high-powered hardware to enjoy top-notch
games, and Nvidia duly delivers. GeForce Now can let you
play high end PC games, not only on a low-powered PC,
but also on a Mac, Android phone and Nvidia’s Shield TV
Android set-top box (our preferred option). Nvidia
Nvidia delivers a very
stable, good-looking
stream, even at 60fps
auto-patches the games in the cloud so, while there’s rare
occasions where you may have to queue for a spot on its
servers, usually you’re right back into your games –
download free – within moments.
While Nvidia’s recommended broadband speed is high,
it delivers a very stable, good-looking stream, even at
60fps. Dip below the recommended speed and Nvidia will
scale the visuals well, doing all it can to maintain your
stream, and you can throttle more demanding settings
like resolution and framerate to ensure a good experience.
The only drawback is resolution – though it doesn’t yet
do 4K it’s still a respectable 1080p. Even with that slight
restriction, there’s a free tier of play too with GeForce
Now, letting you give the service a try, Spotify-style,
before committing to a fee. It does however cut access to
the more impressive RTX-enabled graphical features, and
limits play sessions to an hour long (though you can fire
up as many sessions as you like). It’s much more generous
than the competition in that regard, making for the most
comprehensive streaming service out there.
A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 6 3
 State of the art
VERDICT:
THE OVERALL
WINNER IS…
NVIDIA GEFORCE NOW
From free tier (unlimited one-hour sessions), nvidia.com
WE’RE IMPRESSED Nvidia
GeForce Now currently offers a
superb selection of games, offers
real game ownership once your
subscription ends, doesn’t care
which PC digital download store
you get your games from, and
streams stably at a good price.
WE’D IMPROVE A few missing
PC game stores, like GOG.com,
and higher resolution streaming
GOOGLE STADIA
£8.99 a month, store.google.com
2nd
5 TOP TIPS FOR SUPER SMOOTH GAME STREAMING
01 WIRED
CONNECTION
Have the option of hooking up
to a wired Ethernet connection?
Then use it – it will usually
RIIHUbDIDVWHUPRUHVWDEOH
FRQQHFWLRQbWRWKHJDPH
streaming servers, delivering
better picture quality and a
smoother gameplay experience.
02 WIRELESS
CONNECTION
If you’re on a mobile device, or
can’t get near enough to your
router to use a wired
6 4 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
options would make a great
service even better.
THE LAST WORD It’s not
perfect, but it’s the most
comprehensive and open game
streaming service available
WRGD\båDQGLVRQO\SRLVHGWR
JHWbEHWWHUDVPRUHJDPHVEHJLQ
to offer ray tracing.
WE’RE IMPRESSED Genuinely
smart transition from TV to PC
to smartphone AAA gaming,
with high graphical quality and a
smart, lag-reducing controller.
WE’D IMPROVE Promised
features are missing and Stadia
(for the time being) just doesn’t
have enough games overall.
THE LAST WORD One to
watch, but not ready just yet.
connection, try to make sure
you’re connecting to your router
over a 5GHz frequency, if
available. It allows for much
faster network connectivity,
making it a better choice for
streaming of any kind than a
2.4GHz option.
03 PAUSE YOUR
NETFLIX STREAMS
Game streaming services are
happy to hog your broadband
connection, and don’t like
having to share it with any other
service. If you’re looking to sit
1st
PLAYSTATION NOW
From £8.99 a month, playstation.com
3rd
down to an intense session,
make sure no one else at home
LVVWUHDPLQJPXVLFRUĆOPVRU
GRZQORDGLQJDQ\JLDQWĆOHV/HW
your greedy game streaming
platform of choice slurp all
those Mbps up.
04 RESOLUTION
ROLLBACK
If you’re still struggling to get
DbVWDEOHVWUHDPJRLQJWU\
dropping the resolution
GRZQbDbWDGåWKHPRUHSL[HOV
DbVWUHDPbLVSXVKLQJWKH
PRUHbLQWHQVLYHLWèVJRLQJWR
BEST ON
TEST
WE’RE IMPRESSED Simple to
set up and use; has hundreds of
games; offers the option for
downloading select titles if your
connection isn’t up to scratch.
WE’D IMPROVE Streaming
quality is the lowest on test; is
available on too few platforms
and can sometimes be stuttery.
THE LAST WORD Great games
deserving of better streaming.
EHbRQ\RXUbFRQQHFWLRQ0RVW
streaming services offer an
adaptive option, which scales
the image quality to match
WKHbFDSDELOLWLHVRI\RXU
broadband service.
05 HDR HEAVEN
If your game streaming service
of choice offers a HDR option
(the fancy new display tech that
delivers added vibrancy to light
and dark parts of a scene), leave
it on! HDR isn’t data intensive,
and shouldn’t affect the quality
of your stream.
 Game streaming showdown

5
ESSENTIAL
ADD-ONS
Everything you need to take your GeForce Now
game streaming sessions to the next level, from
Android set-top boxes to slick wireless mice

1
NVIDIA SHIELD PRO
01 GeForce Now may be available on PC,
02 Mac and smartphones, but the Nvidia
Shield is the best way to bring it to your
living room. This souped-up Android TV
streamer gives you access to loads of
$QGURLGJDPHVWRS79DQGĆOPVWUHDPLQJ
and rental services, and has smart AI
upscaling built in. The Pro version of the
Shield is our option of choice.
£199, nvidia.com

2
NVIDIA SHIELD
CONTROLLER
You can use any PC-compatible
gamepad with a Nvidia Shield or GeForce
Now on computers, but Shield owners
should consider Nvidia’s own Shield
controller. It’s a comfortable pad with great
EDWWHU\OLIHDQGDVHFUHWZHDSRQåDEXLOWLQ
mic for Google Assistant voice-activated
communication with your smart home.
£59, nvidia.com

03

3
ROCCAT SOVA
Want to play desktop games from your
sofa but sidestep RSI? The Sova is the
perfect solution. A chimaera of wrist wrest,
mouse pad and ergonomic keyboard, it’s ideal
for settling in for long play sessions; you can
even opt for a mechanical keyboard upgrade.
£119, roccat.org
04

4
LOGITECH G502
IMAGE SOURCES: NVIDIA, ROCCAT, LOGITECH, STEELSERIES

LIGHTSPEED WIRELESS
MOUSE
Need a mouse too? Gaming pointers don’t
come better than the G502 Lightspeed,
05 ZLWKbD'3,VHQVRUZLUHOHVV
connectivity, wireless charging and a whole
load of programmable buttons.
£129, logitech.com

5
STEELSERIES ARCTIS
PRO HEADSET
The SteelSeries Arctis Pro offers
audiophile-grade drivers, surround-sound
technology, dynamic lighting and one of the
best mics for chatting with teammates.
£179, steelseries.com

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 6 5
 The complete guide to…

6 6 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
 Wireless turntables

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO…

Wireless
turntables
These hard-working wireless turntables aren’t the dusty old
record players you might remember from your parents’ attic –
and the right model can make your favourite vinyl truly sing
Words: Olivia Tambini Photography: Neil Godwin

e are in the midst of a WHY VINYL? complicated setups and annoying

musical revolution, with Lovers of vinyl will often talk about cables – that is, until Bluetooth

W innovations in digital
music, streaming and
wireless connectivity dominating
the world of home audio over the
last decade.
However, many of us are looking
to the engineering of the past in our
quest to achieve audio nirvana,
hoping to find the perfect way to
combine modern convenience with
old-school cool. The answer?
Wireless turntables.
These incredible audio gadgets
give you all the palpable charm and
sonic fidelity of vinyl, without the
need for complicated setups and
annoying cables, using Bluetooth or
Wi-Fi to stream the music from your
record player to your speakers or
headphones wirelessly.
That means these days, you don’t
have to be an expert to indulge your
passion for vinyl, with super simple
setups making record players
accessible to everyone from
tech-savvy teens to those who
remember the first time turntables
came into vogue.
its ‘warm’ sound; music played from
a record often sounds richer, and
more immersive than digital MP3s
and even CDs.
This is because vinyl is a truly
lossless format – in other words, you
don’t miss out on the tiny details and
subtleties of the original recording,
which most digital music files can’t
fully convey. Lossy files like MP3 are
compressed, making it possible to
download them quickly, and store
lots of them on your laptop, mobile
phone or portable music player – but
for all that convenience, you lose a
great deal of the information stored
on the original recording.
As such, vinyl is a truer
representation of the exact
conditions in the recording studio,
and a better likeness of the artists’
true intentions – every scratch of the
guitar, every breath, and every
rhythmic nuance.
Of course, the record players of
old could never measure up to the
convenience of digital music
streaming, with all those
turntables came onto the scene.
These wireless record players cut
out the cords, transmitting your
tunes to your speakers or
headphones over Bluetooth – some
modern turntables are even capable
of broadcasting your music to your
speakers over your home’s Wi-Fi
network, offering an even better
quality wireless connection.
HOW IT WORKS
So, how do turntables – Bluetooth or
otherwise – actually work? To the
modern music lover, turntables can
be something of an enigma: how can
such rich sound be conjured up by a
needle tracing a plastic disc?
All modern turntables are
descended from Thomas Edison’s
phonograph, a sound recording
machine the inventor devised in
1877. This early sound recorder
featured a sheet of foil wrapped
around a hand-rotated wooden
cylinder; pressed against it was a
needle attached to a horn. As Edison
spoke into the horn, the resulting

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 67
 The complete guide to…
The top three…
WIRELESS
SPEAKERS
No turntable is complete
without some kick-ass
speakers to blast your tunes
– here are our top picks
01
KEF LSX WIRELESS SYSTEM
These modern-looking wireless stereo
speakers provide excellent sound quality
without the need for annoying cables – and
despite their compact size, offer enough
bass to pack a punch.
£999, uk.kef.com
02
BOWERS & WILKINS
FORMATION DUO
These snappy wireless stereo speakers
showcase the best of British brand Bowers
& Wilkins, with tight bass, precise trebles
and multi-room functionality.
£3,499, bowerswilkins.com
03
SONOS MOVE
Prefer to listen solo? The Sonos Move is
one of the best Bluetooth speakers you can
buy right now, with an expansive, multi-
directional sound and algorithmic smarts
that adapt its audio to its surroundings.
£399, sonos.com
6 8 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
vibrations moved the needle up and down,
creating a groove on the foil that recorded
the frequencies of his voice over time. When
repeating the process, the needle traced the
pattern, vibrated, and the noise was amplified
by the horn, recreating his voice exactly.
Today’s turntables follow a very similar
principle, with the needle (or stylus, if you
prefer) following the grooves in a vinyl
record as it spins to recreate the sound of the
recording. However, instead of a giant horn
to amplify the sound, modern record players
convert the vibrations from your record into
electrical signals, which are then amplified
by a preamp or phonostage. This powers the
speakers or headphones connected to the
turntable, creating a louder (and far cleaner)
sound than the phonographs and
gramophones of the early 20th century.
Bluetooth and wireless turntables swap
the physical cables that connect the record
player to your speakers or headphones for a
wireless connection, transmitting the
electrical signals from the phonostage over
Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Without the need for
cables, wireless turntables are easier to set
up than their wired siblings, and are often
cheaper too, as many manufacturers aim to
lure in vinyl novices with lower prices and
the convenience of Bluetooth connectivity.
There are a few downsides to opting for a
Bluetooth connection, however; while the
technology has advanced tremendously in
the past few years, some believe that the
audio quality still can’t match that of a wired
setup. This is because Bluetooth transmission
compresses audio files to fit in as much data
as possible over a low bandwidth, which
leads to a slight loss of detail. Connections
can also drop out, particularly if you have a
lot of Bluetooth devices being used in the
same area. Saying that, newer Bluetooth
codecs like aptX HD and aptX Adaptive offer
lower rates of compression and are capable of
transmitting Hi-Res Audio files over a
wireless connection – they’re also much
better at offering a stable connection.
Worried about a loss of quality? Wi-Fi-
enabled turntables allow for compressionless
audio transmission thanks to Wi-Fi’s higher
bandwidth compared to Bluetooth, and drop
outs are far less common – however, you
may find that you have to pay a little more
for wireless turntables that offer Wi-Fi
connectivity, as opposed to those that only
offer Bluetooth pairing.
CHOOSING THE BEST
So, how do you go about picking the best
wireless turntable for your needs? And what
exactly should you be looking for in your
new record player?
Well, there are a few key features you
should look out for when making your
decision. First up is price. Like all home
audio gadgets, Bluetooth turntables vary
massively in price, ranging from sub-£100
decks to top-of-the-range players that cost
well over £1,000.
While you might have to sacrifice the
premium finish and materials you’ll find in
expensive models, budget Bluetooth
turntables are often better suited to
beginners. That’s because cheaper record
players usually come pre-assembled, so you
Budget Bluetooth
turntables are often
better suited to
beginners
 Wireless turntables

T3 recommends... Whether you’re a complete novice or a seasoned audiophile,

choosing the best Bluetooth turntable for your needs can be tricky

THE BEST BLUETOOTH – especially with all those complicated names and daunting spec
lists. Everyone’s needs are different, and while some will be looking

TURNTABLES
From premium record players to budget-
friendly beginner decks, these are our faves
for the most premium, high-fidelity listening experience they can
afford, others will want a simple, user-friendly set-up the whole
family can enjoy. That’s why we’ve picked a selection of Bluetooth
turntables to get you started on your quest for audio nirvana. From
value record players for beginners to all-in-one streaming solutions,
we’ve picked best-in-class options for every situation.

RETRO SIMPLICITY QUALITY SOUND

PRO-JECT JUKE BOX E CAMBRIDGE AUDIO ALVA TT

Looking for a simple way to play
your vinyl? The Pro-Ject Juke Box
E could be the perfect solution.
This nifty audio gadget combines
minimalist retro looks and eye-
popping primary colours with all
the mod cons you could want from
your Bluetooth turntable, including
DEXLOWLQSKRQRVWDJHSUHDPSOLĆHU
DQGOLQHDPSOLĆHU-XVWFRQQHFWLW
to your wireless speakers (or hook
it up with a phono/line out), and
you’re good to go.
£369, project-audio.com
1RVDFULĆFHLQDXGLRTXDOLW\KHUH
The Cambridge Audio Alva TT
comes with support for aptX
HD Bluetooth, which means you
can stream your vinyl in hi-res
24-bit/48kHz. This is a premium
record player and looks it, thanks
WRDVWXQQLQJVPRN\JUH\ĆQLVKDQG
solid construction. Despite being
highly specced, the Alva TT should
be a breeze to set up; its built-in
phonostage means you won’t need
DQH[WHUQDODPSOLĆHU
£1,499, cambridgeaudio.com

OLD MEETS NEW FOR BEGINNERS

YAMAHA MUSICCAST VINYL 500 AUDIO-TECHNICA AT-LP60XBT

As well as spinning your records,
the MusicCast Vinyl 500 can
stream your favourite tunes,
thanks to built-in support for
Spotify, Qobuz, Tidal and Deezer.
In terms of wireless capabilities,
you can cast your vinyl to your
wireless speakers over Bluetooth
or your home’s Wi-Fi network using
Yamaha’s MusicCast standard. The
icing on the cake? If you have an
Alexa speaker, you can control this
turntable totally hands-free.
£429, europe.yamaha.com
Home audio equipment can be
expensive, but buying a Bluetooth
turntable doesn’t have to be.
Created by respected Japanese
brand Audio-Technica, the AT-
LP60XBT is a budget-friendly deck
that’s ideal for vinyl beginners,
thanks to its fully automatic design
and built-in phonostage. Sure, it’s
not the most luxurious turntable
we’ve used, but its simple design
and great price won’t put off
ćHGJOLQJUHFRUGFROOHFWRUV
£179, audio-technica.com

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 69
 The complete guide to…
can pretty much play your records straight
out the box; the further up the price band
you go, the more likely it is that you’ll need
to set up your turntable yourself.
If you’re set on ditching the cables, you’ll
need to look at the kind of wireless
connectivity you want your turntable to
offer. Want something cheap and cheerful?
Just be aware that the connection to your
speakers or headphones might not be
flawless. Concerned with preserving audio
quality above all else? Look out for Bluetooth
codecs like aptX HD and aptX Adaptive, or
search for a wireless turntable that can be
hooked up to your home’s Wi-Fi network.
For both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turntables,
you’ll need to make sure you have
compatible speakers – some Wi-Fi
turntables in particular are only compatible
PLAYERS 101: THE PARTS OF THE TURNTABLE
These are the terms you need to know to master your new Bluetooth turntable
While most modern Bluetooth turntables
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WKRVHbPRYLQJSDUWVFDQEHDOLWWOHGDXQWLQJ
This is especially true if you need to set up
your record player.
Most modern turntables, particularly at
the lower end of the price scale come
pre-assembled, but as they get more
expensive you can expect to set them up
yourself. Even if your new turntable comes
assembled right out the box, it’s important to
with speakers from the same brand that use
the same wireless technology.
You should also consider whether you
want a belt-drive or direct-drive turntable.
The latter are often used by DJs, as they allow
you to move the record back and forth to cue
and sync tracks, without damaging the
mechanisms of the turntable. For most
people, a belt-drive will be sufficient, as they
reduce the risk of noise from the motor that
spins the platter being picked up by the
needle and messing up your record’s sound.
It’s also well worth looking into how well
damped a Bluetooth turntable is before you
buy it. Damping is how manufacturers
reduce unwanted vibrations; this can be
done in a number of ways, including the use
of rubber feet to prop the base of the
turntable up and absorb these vibrations. If
Plinth – this is the base of your turntable.
Be sure to place it on a level surface to avoid
the mechanisms of your record player being
thrown off kilter.
Platter – the circular part of the turntable
that spins.
Belt drive – a thin rubber strap that
rotates the platter.
Tonearm – this is the part of the turntable
that holds the cartridge, guiding the stylus (or
needle, if you prefer) through the tiny
you opt for a cheaper model that isn’t
particularly well-damped, you can also
purchase your own damping kits that
consist of rubber-like strips of material that
fit into the recess beneath the platter.
Lots of modern turntables also come with
cool extras like built-in support for
streaming services, and USB outputs that
allow you to record your vinyl directly to
your computer or laptop. Bear in mind, these
additions will often bump up the price.
Last but not least, the look of your
turntable is a really important consideration;
after all, the right model could be a stunning
ornamental addition to your home. Lots of
modern turntables sport sleek, minimalist
Turntables can come
with cool extras like
built-in support for
streaming services
designs, with burnished metallic finishes
and glossy controls that wouldn’t look out of
place in any smart home. However, you can
still find plenty of familiar retro designs –
look out for suitcase record players from
brands like Crosley and Victrola if kitschy
vintage decor is your jam.
Whatever kind of Bluetooth turntable
you opt for, the choices really are endless
– and that’s incredibly comforting to
anyone who misses the tangible physicality
of vinyl, and the mildewy solace of
browsing a quiet record shop on a rainy
Sunday afternoon.
Cartridge – this is the small box-like
appendage that sits on the end of the
tonearm and contains the stylus. As the
platter spins the record, vibrations travel
through the stylus and into the cartridge,
ZKHUHDPDJQHWLFĆHOGFRQYHUWVWKLVNLQHWLF
energy into an electrical signal. The stylus is
usually made by a tiny piece of diamond
DWWDFKHGWRDćH[LEOHPHWDOVWULS
Preamp or phonostage – this isn’t always
included in the turntable itself (some models
have a basic idea of the different parts that grooves on your vinyl. If your turntable UHTXLUHDQH[WHUQDOSKRQRVWDJH,WDPSOLĆHV
make up the record player; after all, you may doesn’t come pre-assembled, you’ll need to the electrical signal from the cartridge, so you
as well embrace the geeky goodness of balance the tonearm so the stylus sits at the can hear the music when it reaches your
getting to know your latest gadget. correct point on your record. speaker or headphones.

7 0 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
 ON
SALE
NOW!

DIGITAL ON LI NE PR IN T
SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND SAVE!
www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/WHI/
 TESTED
Expert reviews and recommendations
WRKHOS\RXEX\ZLWKFRQĆGHQFH

Edited by Matt Bolton

74 78 79 80 82 84

SAMSUNG NOISE ALIENWARE 55 SUUNTO 7 WIRELESS THINKWARE

GALAXY S20 CANCELLING OLED SMART SPEAKERS Q800 PRO
ULTRA HEADPHONES

In T3, we feature only the finest gadgets out
there, and we believe that you – our loyal
reader – deserve only the best tech in your
life. We don’t want you to waste time, and
money, on inferior products, and that’s
exactly why our Tested section exists.
In here you’ll find only the latest and
hottest tech. Each product has been
handpicked and tested by T3’s experts.
HOW WE TEST
We only choose people with specialist THE SCORES EXPLAINED
knowledge for each test, so you know you’re
going to get an outcome based on many years Forget it
of experience in their respective field. Below average
As well as our traditional five-star rating
Good for the price
system (right), we also give out awards to
particularly exceptional gadgets, using the Very good all round
line-up below - so when you spot one of An exceptional,
these, you’ll know you’re onto a good thing. best-in-class product

Only the best products
åWKRVHWKDWVFRUHĆYH
PLATINUM stars – receive our
AWARD
Platinum Award
OUR AWARDS
This is given to winners This accolade, and For kit with exceptional
BEST ON of our group tests, so BEST FOR others like it, show you THE industrial design and
TEST you can see which is BATTERY which gear is best for DESIGN UHĆQHPHQWLQDGGLWLRQ
LIFE AWARD
the best at a glance VSHFLĆFIHDWXUHV to being a great buy

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 73
 Tested

Processor Samsung Exynos 990 Screen

6.9-inch OLED, 120Hz, 1440x3200
HDR10+ Memory 12GB/16GB Storage
128GB/512GB Battery 4,200mAh
Cameras 108MP, 48MP, 12MP, Time-of-
Flight camera rear; 40MP, PDAF front
OS Android 10.0, One UI 2.0 Dimensions
167x76x8.8mm Weight 221g

From £1,199
samsung.com

he Samsung Galaxy S20

T
Ultra is, technically, the
best Android phone on
the market today. It is a
phone with an impressive, versatile
camera system, hyper-premium
internal hardware suite, future-
proofed, next-gen 5G connectivity
and a huge and immersive screen.
How it achieves its dominance,
though, is quite base. These tech
weapons are wielded in a rather
unrefined way, and in some cases feel
powerful but a bit rough round the
edges and/or complete overkill. The

NE PLUS ULTRA price of this tech is also incredibly

high, making it a bit of a niche

Samsung Galaxy
proposition to our minds.
The S20 Ultra’s camera system is
probably its biggest unique selling
point, and so we will begin our

S20 Ultra
A bludgeoning hammer blow to Android rivals –
analysis of the phone here.
Samsung speaks about its rear
camera array as a “signature design
element” – something that helps
make the phone’s overall look and
allows it to be easily identified. And,

that comes with a hefty price tag when you flip the phone over, the one
thing it does is stand out.

74 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0

SELFIE-CENTRED
Samsung has bet big on the
S20 Ultra’s cameras; even
the front facing snapper can
capture sumptuous pictures
with a seriously powerful
40MP sensor
The noticeably pronounced
rectangular array (which will have to
be protected by a case to avoid scrapes
and nicks in our opinion) houses a
seriously powerful quad-camera
system, with a 108MP wide-angle
main snapper joined by 48MP
telephoto, 12MP ultra wide and
time-of-flight DepthVision lenses.
And, while we’re talking about the
rear array’s selection of lenses, the
phone’s new Single Take shooting
mode makes use of them all. In this
mode all the lenses are used when a
shot or video is taken and then, post
shot, the user is presented with a
variety of differing options (10 shots
and mini-videos), which sit all under
one entry in the phone’s image gallery.
The S20 Ultra also comes with
some pretty impressive zoom
functionality. From the furthest out
ultra-wide setting to 1x, through 5x,
10x, 30x and up to 100x, you have
plenty of range at your disposal when
shooting. And fidelity remains decent
at most zoom levels aside from 100x,
which seem to take on a soft-focus
watercolour finish. With a proper
tripod, we’re sure you could get some
half-decent images from it, but we
question its everyday usability.
images – naturally
Elsewhere, though, the S20 Ultra’s
camera system really does flex its
muscles. The amount of shooting
modes on offer is quite remarkable.
As well as a maximum freedom Pro
shooting mode, you’ve got a strong
panorama option, as well as dedicated
settings for food, nighttime and live
focus. As you would expect, you can
shoot in a variety of aspect ratios, too.
In terms of video, you can shoot at
a wide variety of resolutions up to 8K,
while the Ultra also delivers a Pro
video shooting mode, as well as
slow-mo, super slow-mo and
hyperlapse options. But while the
8K video shooting is a technical
achievement, and very nice to have,
the vast majority of people will not
get to enjoy it, as you’d need an 8K
screen to play it back at full fidelity
– though creating 4K video from this
8K source looks just excellent.
As you would absolutely expect,
the S20 Ultra delivers very strong
camera images, no matter what
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
SMOOTH OPERATOR
The S20 Ultra is a bezel-free
beauty that has an even
bigger screen than the huge
Samsung Galaxy Note+. On
top of this, its 120Hz display
is smooth as silk, leaving all
of its rivals in the dust
The S20 Ultra you’re shooting. Colour balance in
delivers excellent particular seems to be a strong point
quality camera and vibrancy is good, although there
is no getting away from the fact that
Samsung still seems to be leaning
towards quite heavy post-processing.
It’s a tad clumsy in our opinion and
can lead to sharp edges appearing a
little soft.
Lastly, in terms of camera system,
the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra comes
with a 40MP front-facing selfie
camera. This bad boy can, if you so
wish, capture your lovely mug in
40MP glory with or, for the brave,
without beauty mode activated.
The big screen
Pick up the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
and the first thing that you notice is
how large its screen is. At 6.9 inches,
it is a match for even the gargantuan
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+, which
comes with a 6.8-inch screen.
Side-by-side these two phones look
essentially the same in terms of size;
however when you pick them up
there is a noticeable weight
difference, with the Ultra feeling
A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 75
 Tested

LARGE AND IN CHARGE

A gargantuan 5,000mAh
battery means you can run the
Ultra’s 120Hz screen for between
a day and a day and a half on a
single charge
CURVY BEAUTY
While outweighing
siblings like the Note
– coming in at 221g to
the latter’s 196g – the
Ultra has softer lines,
having inherited the
S-series frame curves

heavier (221g) and denser than the
king-sized Note (196g).
In terms of design, though, we’re
very much in the same ballpark. The
main visual difference, at least from
the front, is that the Galaxy S20 Ultra
has more S-series wider frame
curves, giving it a slightly softer look.
When it comes to the display, you
cannot but be impressed by the size
and clarity of the Dynamic AMOLED
screen. It has a refresh rate of 120Hz,
which even outguns the gorgeousness
of the OnePlus 7T and OnePlus 7T
Pro panels, which are 90Hz, and that
along with HDR10+ and a sharp
Demanding 1440x3200 resolution means that
Android games anything you display looks stunning.
FDQbEHUXQZLWKRXW That 120Hz refresh rate means
any problems
that scrolling, app switching, UI
navigating and all animated elements
are liquid-butter smooth, and in
partnership with the slickness of
Android 10.0 and Samsung’s best-in-
class One UI 2 skin it truly delivers a
top-tier general usage experience.
Overall, the phone looks damn
good from the front – even though
there is basically no lovely waterfall
curve to its screen – and pretty ropey
from the back, largely thanks to that
bulky rear camera array.
In terms of internal hardware, as
you would expect from the range-
topping new hotness in a fresh
Samsung phone line-up, the Galaxy
S20 Ultra is stacked. It comes with
Samsung’s rapid Exynos 990 CPU (a
Snapdragon 865 in the US), an Adreno
650 GPU, a simply incredible 16GB of
RAM (in max-spec) and a chunky
512GB of internal storage space
(which can be expanded by microSD).
Despite not being a dedicated
gaming phone, it has more than
enough power to run even the most
graphically demanding Android
games without breaking sweat.

PRO ADD-ONS

SPIGEN NEO HYBRID CASE
With more expensive phones, you face the
dilemma of wanting to show it off while keeping
it safe. This case is the perfect compromise,
offering a slim form factor and showing off your
screen while defending it from drops.
£17.99, spigen.co.uk
GALAXY BUDS PLUS
6DPVXQJèV*DOD[\%XGV3OXVDUHZHOOĆWWHG
have improved mics for calls and offer an
amazing 11 hours of battery. Even better, you
can tweak the ambient sound, EQ and touch
controls through the app. No ANC, though.
£159, samsung.com
RAVPOWER PD PIONEER 20000
Given its power-hungry 120Hz screen, this
capacious power bank makes the perfect
companion for the Ultra. And thanks to its
spritely size and incredibly reasonable price,
it’s pocket friendly in several senses.
Around £39, ravpower.com

76 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0

Of course, such a ginormous
phone needs a large battery, too,
and thankfully Samsung has
actually made a decent stab at
handling this, as the S20 Ultra comes
loaded with a very large 5,000mAh
battery. This is one of the largest
battery capacities on the market
today in a mainstream phone.
So if you use it on its fresh out of
the box settings, which lock the screen
at a 60Hz refresh rate, with medium
usage you get a solid day-and-a-half
to two days usage out of the phone on
a single charge. If you turn on the
Ultra’s 120Hz mode, though – and
you really will want to – then that
battery life is reduced. With 120Hz
on, you’re very much looking at a day
to a day-and-a-half usage on a single
charge with medium usage.
Other tech of note included an
underscreen fingerprint reader
that works just as well as these
Samsung units have been doing for
the past few phone releases, 5G
support (there is no just 4G version
of the Ultra, with the one handset
supporting all network connections
up to and including 5G) and AKG-
tuned stereo loud speakers.
And, finally, before we reach the
verdict, let’s talk OS. The S20 Ultra
comes running Android 10 and
Samsung’s own One UI 2.0 skin. The
One UI remains the best-in-class
Android skin on the market and, as
you would expect, when partnered
with the super-slick and streamlined
Android 10 delivers a superb mobile
usage experience.
Loadsa money
As you’ve probably realised by now,
this really isn’t a phone for everyone,
and for more users than not, it will
simply be too much phone and too
much money to be worthy of serious
consideration. Unsurprisingly, you
really don’t need to spend north of
£1,199 (max spec is £1,399!) to get a
quality smartphone experience.
To beat the Ultra up due to its
very high price point seems to miss
the point somewhat. Shock horror,
a super expensive phone targeted
at Android phone enthusiasts isn’t
for everyone! But when you compare
what the S20 Ultra delivers to the
other hyper-premium and flagship
handsets on the market, and for
what cost, it crashes into the real
world somewhat.
These phones offer over 95% of the
experience that the S20 Ultra delivers
and do so for less money. This takes
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
BIG SHOT
The Ultra’s quad-camera
system is both its biggest
strength and weakness; its
astounding snaps come at
the cost of a very bulky array
This is a fantastic nothing away from the S20 Ultra’s
phone – and the abilities, but it does raise the
SULFHUHćHFWVWKDW important question of just how much
money one is prepared to pay for that
last few per cent.
Overall, it’s impossible not to
recommend the S20 Ultra, which
sets a new benchmark for 5G
Android phones. But we’d also say
this is one of the most niche variants
of a mainstream product Samsung
has ever made, and only tech
enthusiasts and serial first adopters
should consider it.
VERDICT
WE’RE IMPRESSED Huge 120Hz screen;
premium hardware; feature-packed camera.
WE’D IMPROVE The price; 120Hz impact on
battery life; may be better off with a Note 10+.
THE LAST WORD Rivals can’t stand mano-a-
mano with it; recommended if you can afford it.
Find the latest deals for the S20 Ultra at:
bit.ly/t3ultra
A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 7 7
 Tested
NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES
Philips PH805
£159, philips.co.uk
DESIGN & FEATURES
Well-specced for the price. You get up to 30 hours
of playback, plus a five-min charge for two hours
of use, though it’s annoying that it’s micro-USB,
not USB-C. Bluetooth 5 connectivity was solid
overall. They only really lack a smart pause.
USABILITY
They’re comfortable and light, but we’re not keen
on the controls here – a mix of buttons, an odd
switch and a touch panel. It’s too easy to change
the NC mode while putting them on. They also
sometimes struggled to reconnect to our phone.
SOUND QUALITY
While these won’t blow you away, they sound
superb for the money. The balance tends towards
quite a naturalist approach (compared to the PX7),
with rich bass and twinkling treble providing a
fulsome sound. Impressive stuff.
NOISE CANCELLATION
In most common cases (such as an office or on a
train) the noise cancellation here is as good as the
PX7, for half the price. Wind noise is its bane, but
that’s normal. There’s an ambient mode too,
naturally, and it all works incredibly well.
VERDICT
WE’RE IMPRESSED Simply brilliant value for
money; great noise cancellation and sound quality.
2nd WE’D IMPROVE We don’t love the control setup;
some (minor) connection foibles.
See more of the best noise cancelling headphones: bit.ly/ncht3
7 8 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
Bowers &
Wilkins PX7
£349, bowerswilkins.com
DESIGN & FEATURES
These are the better-looking of the two here.
Thirty hours of playback is great, as is USB-C
charging and a 15-min charge for five hours. They
auto-pause when you take them off or lift an
ear-cup. And there’s app connectivity, too.
USABILITY
The physical controls here are easy to get used to,
and the lighter weight and softer cushioning
compared to the B&W PX (which they replace) are
very welcome. The auto-pausing works great –
totally reliable, with no connection issues.
SOUND QUALITY
Compared to the more open and neutral Philips (or
Sony’s WH-1000XM3 competitor), these lean
towards a more rocky sound by default, punching
up the bass especially. The detail, liveliness and
power within that are all top-notch, though.
NOISE CANCELLATION
The noise cancellation here is just – just – behind
the Sony WH-1000XM3 for NC quality, though it’s
close enough as makes little odds. It handles wind
better than the Philips do, but otherwise they’re
largely on a par – both very good indeed.
VERDICT
WE’RE IMPRESSED Good looking; excellent
sounding; very good noise cancellation…
WE’D IMPROVE …but not quite the best in the
1st
business; sound balance may be too rocky for some.
 Alienware 55 OLED

THE BIG GAME

Alienware 55 OLED
This huge gaming monitor is a thing of true beauty

colour gamut of 98.5% DCI-P3 (in layman’s

£3,199 terms, super strong, vivid and accurate colour
dell.com reproduction), and “infinite contrast”. The
latter means it features OLED’s signature
pixel-by-pixel lighting and, as a result, an
ake this monitor/TV hybrid out of incredible contrast ratio (130,000:1 here).

T
the box – which is actually quite
hard considering that the top half
is exposed wafer-thin, super-light
OLED and the bottom is weighty chassis stuffed
full of silicon (total weight without stand is
25.5kg) – and the first thing that hits you is
how aesthetically pleasing it is.
A product of the maker’s new Alienware
Legend Industrial Design, the monitor boasts
a series of gentle but pronounced lines, which
are contrasted sharply by the scarily thin,
incredibly flat, near-bezel-free OLED panel,
which at certain angles looks literally pressed
to the monitor’s chassis.
Overall the build quality on this monitor is
absolutely first rate, with everything about it
showcasing an immaculate fit-and-finish
and radiating a sense of dense, well-made
quality. Classy just about sums it up.
But the reason this monitor costs so much
isn’t primarily because of its future-industrial
design; rather it’s that it comes with a simply
stunning 4K OLED panel that boasts a wide
On that point, though, it is necessary to
mention that the peak brightness on this
monitor is 400 nits. Currently the top OLED
TVs and HDR monitors on the market boast
peak brightness ratings of around 1,000 nits,
so if true HDR performance is a must then this
monitor doesn’t quite tick that box.
At this price (and size) this is obviously not
the gaming monitor that the vast majority of
gamers are going to ring up. The 55-inch bulk
means that only those who essentially need a
gaming-focused TV-sized screen in their setup
should apply. And even if you do need that, this
monitor is about to be seriously challenged by a
raft of new cheaper products like the recently
announced LG CX OLED, which will offer the
same sort of features like 120Hz refresh rates
and Nvidia G-Sync, with better brightness.
But, the thing is, the 55 OLED actually
delivers, at least in our opinion, the absolute
best performance in its (admittedly rather niche
right now) product class – it is truly top
technology embedded in a premium design.
VERDICT
WE’RE IMPRESSED Stunning
design; impressive OLED 4K
panel; 120Hz refresh rate.
WE’D IMPROVE A lot of money;
not an ideal HDR screen; could
buy a TV with gaming features.
THE LAST WORD If you want
a very large, TV-sized gaming
monitor, this is what you should
buy. It will be too much (in size
and price) for many gamers, but
that takes nothing away from its
stunning build and image quality.
See more of the world’s best
monitors at: bit.ly/t3monitors

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 79
 Tested
TRACK OF ALL TRADES
Suunto 7
Is the Suunto 7 a smartwatch,
DbUXQQLQJZDWFKDĆWQHVVWUDFNHU
or maybe all of the above?
8 0 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
Screen 454x454 AMOLED Processor
Glass *RULOODJODVVCase*ODVVĆEUH
UHLQIRUFHGSRO\DPLGHStrap6LOLFRQH
From £429
suunto.com
rap the Suunto 7 around
:
your wrist and what
catches your attention
straight away is the huge
screen. We’re used to big screens –
think the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro – but
the Suunto 7 still surprised us with
how vibrant the display looked.
The Suunto 7 offers more than
just a large screen: it comes with
downloadable offline maps, over
4XDOFRPP6QDSGUDJRQ:HDU
3100 Battery7UDLQLQJKRXUV
6PDUWZDWFKGD\VOS:HDU26
Dimensions 50x50x15.3mm
WeightJ
70 sport modes, music control and
all the smart functions you’d expect
from a Wear OS powered watch.
The catch? For one, you’ll have to
pay £429 for the privilege. It’s going
to have to work to justify starting at
more than the latest Apple Watch.
The Suunto 7’s hardware is all
about the touch-screen AMOLED
display, which is housed under a
Gorilla Glass screen. The display has
a 454x454 pixels resolution, good
enough to see images that have
been sent to you through WhatsApp
and with enough contrast and
brightness to be sharp under most
lighting conditions.

The watch uses a hybrid touch-
screen/four-button navigation, which
needs a little time to get used to.
You can swipe in either direction
from the main screen to access
different areas of the software.
To return, you swipe the opposite
direction, but if you went into any
sub-menus, you will have to swipe
right to return to the previous menu
and then the opposite direction to
return to the home screen. The
buttons on the right are also used for
accessing menus and to move up/
down in the menus as well.
If it sounds confusing, let us
assure you: it is.
Worse for wear
The new Suunto 7 is different from
previous Suunto watches because this
is the first model to feature Google’s
Wear OS, a move that brings along
a range of smart functionalities,
integrations and features, as well as
many of the frustrating aspects of
the operating system.
It is not standard vanilla Wear OS,
of course, and Suunto has included a
really potent feature as well: maps can
be downloaded into the watch and
THE ALTERNATIVES
APPLE WATCH
SERIES 5
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IDQWDVWLFbKHDOWKIHDWXUHV
DQGEURDGĆWQHVVbRSWLRQV
WKLVLVWKHSHUIHFWĆWQHVV
VPDUWZDWFKbDOOURXQGHUð
IRUL3KRQHXVHUV
£399, apple.com/uk
used offline, making navigation
more convenient. Naturally, you get
the Google Fit/Assistant/Pay/Play
integrations as well as many other
handy apps.
The duality of the Suunto 7 is
probably best explained by how
you can change and access
information about the watch on the
phone: Wear OS features – the tiles,
watch faces, integrated apps etc –
can be changed in the Wear OS app
while sport activities are fed into
the Suunto App.
It’s not impossible to get used to all
this but it gives one the impression
that Suunto launched the watch
before they managed to fully flesh out
how to integrate Wear OS into the
Suunto ecosystem.
The watch has over 70 sport modes
and this is an area where it really
shines. Granted, we haven’t tried
every single one of the modes, but
during cycling and running, the
sensors gave us precise readings.
The GPS isn’t hyper-precise:
following our path on the map in the
Suunto app, it seems like we ran
through buildings here and there
without noticing.
GARMIN
FENIX 6 PRO
Another mammoth
UXQQLQJZDWFKWKLV
HGJHVRXWWKH6XXQWR
WKDQNVWRLWVH[FHOOHQW
EXLOGTXDOLW\KLJK
SUHFLVLRQDQGVXSHULRU
menu system.
£599, garmin.com
Suunto 7
$VKDUSGLVSOD\ZLOO When you add it all up, it has
VKRZRIIWKLQJVOLNH plenty to offer: the sharp display,
the heart rate lots of smart functionality, a good
sensor and maps
heart-rate sensor and built-in GPS,
not to mention the offline maps.
Yet it occupies a strange space on
the fitness wearable market: it is too
expensive and overpowered to be a
fitness tracker and, to some degree,
too casual to be taken seriously as a
running watch. It is more expensive
than many of the latest Apple Watch
models and also its direct competitor,
the Garmin Venu.
We doubt many people would
choose a Suunto over an Apple Watch.
Once the price has dropped slightly,
we’ll recommend this strongly. But
right now, others are better.
VERDICT
WE’RE IMPRESSED /DUJH
VFUHHQGRZQORDGDEOHPDSV
:HDU26VPDUWIXQFWLRQDOLW\
WE’D IMPROVE Short
EDWWHU\OLIHH[SHQVLYHODJJ\
WRXFKVFUHHQFRQIXVLQJGXDODSS
control on phone.
THE LAST WORD :KLOHZH
ZHUHLPSUHVVHGZLWKWKHKXJH
GLVSOD\WKHRIćLQHPDSVDQGWKH
VHQVRUSUHFLVLRQWKH6XXQWR
doesn’t fully compensate for the
VKRUWFRPLQJVRILWVXVHULQWHUIDFH
See more of the best running
watches at: bit.ly/t3runwatch
A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 81
 Tested

Wireless smart speakers

:LWKWKHLUSUHPLXPTXDOLW\DXGLRDQGYRLFHDVVLVWDQWV
these speakers are shaking up audio on the go
:RUGV-RVK5XVVHOO3KRWRJUDSK\3KLO%DUNHU

BIG AND CLEVER PORTABLE AND PUNCHY

SONOS MOVE ULTIMATE EARS MEGABLAST

£399, sonos.com £269, ultimateears.com

At 3kg, you certainly won’t be taking a Sonos Move on a camping 7RRRIWHQJHWWLQJDPRUHPRELOHUXJJHGVSHDNHUPHDQVFRPSURPLVLQJ

trip: it’s more in its element at pool parties. But what this Alexa and
Google-capable smart speaker lacks in portability, it more than makes
up in sonic precision. Exuding bass with real substance, its presence
manages to outstrip its already ample size, while it handles treble with
UHDOĆQHVVH7KH0RYHèVIUHTXHQF\UHVSRQVHLVDOVRYHU\LPSUHVVLYH
cue up some classical or jazz and each instrument sounds crisp and
GLVWLQFW$QGLWV$XWRPDWLF7UXH3OD\WUXO\IHHOVOLNHVRQLFPDJLFHDFK
time you move the speaker, it recalibrates to its new surroundings,
VKUXJJLQJRIIHFKRH\VSDFHVDQGQHJDWLQJQHDUE\VXUIDFHVZLWKHDVH
on sound. Not so with Ultimate Ears Megablast. While it’s not able to
JRWRHWRWRHZLWKWKH6RQRV0RYHRU%RVH3RUWDEOH+RPH6SHDNHU
IRUSXUHTXDOLW\WKLVZLUHOHVVVSHDNHUSURYLGHVVHULRXVSXQFKZKLOH
being able to withstand both puddles and being shoved in a pack. It’s
not as warm as its larger rivals, but its excellent transient response
PHDQVLWFDQUDSLGO\VKLIWEHWZHHQEXUEOLQJEDVVDQGFOLFN\WUHEOHV
ZLWKRXWWKHPXGGLQHVVWKDWVRRIWHQDIIHFWVEDVV\VSHDNHUV,WèVDOVR
very obedient, with Alexa hearing and acting on commands without
IXVV%XWGRQèWSD\WKH553å\RXFDQJHWWKLVIRUDURXQGe

8 2 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
 Wireless smart speakers

ireless speakers Not only have companies control over your audio on the go,

W
have been a fixture
at garden parties
and campouts for
years. But taking audio outside
no longer means tolerating tinny
treble and wrestling with
pig-headed pairing procedures.
been upping the quality from
standard Bluetooth alone –
switching to the aptX codec and
offering Wi-Fi connectivity –
but many are making use of the
brains embedded in your home’s
smart speakers to offer you voice
via Alexa or Google Assistant.
We’ve brought together a
selection of the best, whether
you’re looking for a voice-ready
speaker that’s accident-proof or
one that has sumptuous sound
with smarts to match.

AFFORDABLE AUDIO PRO TONES ON THE GO

JBL LINK PORTABLE BOSE PORTABLE HOME SPEAKER

£129, uk.jbl.com £299, bose.co.uk

%\IDUWKHPRVWDIIRUGDEOHLQRXUVHOHFWLRQWKH-%//LQN3RUWDEOHLV
DVROLGRSWLRQIRUDQ\RQHORRNLQJIRUDVPDUWVSHDNHUWKH\FDQWDNH
RQWKHJR,WVEXLOGLVVWXUG\DQG,3;ZDWHUSURRI\HWLWèVOLJKWZHLJKW
HQRXJK\RXFRXOGHDVLO\WRVVLWLQDEDJDQGIRUJHWLWèVWKHUH:KHQ
LWFRPHVWRVRXQGWKH/LQN3RUWDEOHLVDELWćLPVLHULQWKHPLGUDQJH
compared to rivals in higher brackets and certain elements can get
ORVWZKHQWKHUHèVDORWJRLQJRQ:HDOVRKDGDIHZLVVXHVGXULQJ
VHWXSGHVSLWHEHLQJFRQQHFWHGRYHU$LU3OD\WKHVSHDNHUUHVROXWHO\
ZRXOGQèWPDNHDSHHSIRUVHYHUDOPLQXWHV2QHWRJRIRULISULFHDQG
Google Assistant matter more to you than really robust sound.
7KDQNVWRLWV,3;ZDWHUUHVLVWDQFHDQGUHODWLYHO\WULPNJIUDPH
LWèVFOHDU%RVHLVLQWHQGLQJWKLVWRVSHQGIDUPRUHWLPHRXWGRRUVWKDQ
WKH0RYH$QG\HWLWPDNHVYHU\IHZFRPSURPLVHVLQWHUPVRIVRXQG
LWèVZDUPDQGVPRRWKRIIHULQJUHVRQDQWEDVVWRQHVDQGSURGXFLQJ
YHU\RUJDQLFPLGVDQGWUHEOHV,WGRHVQèWTXLWHKDYHWKHJXWVRUWKH
EUDLQVRILWVULYDOWKHORZHQGLVVOLJKWO\OHVVZHOOURXQGHGZKLOHWKH
ODFNRIVSDFHVHQVLQJVPDUWVPHDQVLWèVRQO\DVJRRGDVLWVSODFHPHQW
It was also occasionally let down by its Alexa integration; the smart
DVVLVWDQWUHVSRQGVWRVRPHFRPPDQGVZLWK+$/OLNHREVWLQDF\%XW
IRUWKHEHVWFRPERRIćH[LELOLW\DQGĆGHOLW\WKLVLVWKHRQHWRJRIRU

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 8 3
 Tested
Thinkware Q800 Pro

CAM DUNK

Thinkware
Q800 Pro
This do-it-all dash cam
shoots in 2K and offers
DbZLGHUDQJHRIGULYHU
safety systems

From £249 The Q800 Pro has a large footprint compared

thinkware.com to most dash cams, but its relatively low profile
means it is subtle and neatly out of sight once
fitted to the windscreen using the included
ash cams come in all shapes and 3M adhesive. It should fit neatly behind the

D
sizes, and the Thinkware Q800 Pro
is certainly one of the largest on sale
today. It doesn’t have a display, but
makes up for this by offering QHD resolution
video, a wide range of driver safety features, and
the option of a secondary rear-facing camera.
Video quality is where the Q800 Pro sets
itself apart from much of the competition.
Unlike most other dash cams, which record
video at 1080p Full HD, the Q800 offers QHD.
This means a resolution of 2560x1440, which in
turn means sharper, higher-quality video with
key details like number plates being easier to see
than with an HD camera.
The Q800 Pro we were provided for review
came with an optional rear-facing camera,
which increases the price from £249 to £329,
and increases the included memory card from
16GB to 32GB. The secondary camera records
1080p resolution at 30 frames per second, so
isn’t quite as sharp as the front camera, but is
perfectly adequate for recording footage
through the rear windscreen.
rearview mirror of most cars, but if yours
already has a camera there for its own lane
departure warning system, then the dash cam
might have to sit in a more prominent position.
Despite its lack of display, the Q800 Pro has
a wide range of driver safety and assistance
features. These include its Super Night Vision
2.0, which brightens nighttime footage without
blowing out the highlights. Meanwhile, its
integrated GPS antenna means your location
and speed can be added to every video recorded,
along with the time and date.
The camera can also warn you about red
lights and speed cameras, as well as alerting you
if you drift out of your lane, or if it thinks you
are going to run into the vehicle ahead.
Ultimately, it depends what you want from
your dash cam. If all you want is a way to record
video in the event of a collision, there are many
cheaper, smaller and simpler options. But if you
want all of the driver assistance and safety
features offered by the Thinkware Q800 Pro,
then few others that fit the bill so well.
VERDICT
WE’RE IMPRESSED QHD video
recording; great build quality;
packed full of features.
WE’D IMPROVE :RQèWĆWQHDWO\
on every windscreen; too many
features for some; expensive.
THE LAST WORD The
Thinkware Q800 Pro is packed
full of features. It records at 2K
resolution and can be used with
a second rear-facing camera. But
the high price and huge feature
set might put some buyers off.
Find the best deals for the
Q800 Pro at: bit.ly/t3q800

8 4 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
 Future Publishing, Quay House,
The Ambury, Bath, BA1 1UA
EDITORIAL +44 (0)1225 442244
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T3 IS…
EDITOR MATT BOLTON
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FRIDAY
SENIOR CONTENT EDITOR CLAIRE DAVIES
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17 APRIL
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EDITORIAL & ART CONTRIBUTORS
'XQFDQ%HOO$OLVWDLU&KDUOWRQ$OH[b&R[5RE&URVVODQG3DXOb'LPHU\
Erlingur Einarsson, Ian Evenden, Spencer Hart, Tamara Hinson,
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ADVERTISING
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BEST TECH
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Luxury outdoor gear for comfortable camping

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New issue on sale now
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 INSIDE

BEST OF Smartphones
Cheap smartphones
88
88

THE BEST
Smartwatches 88
Hybrid smartwatches 89
Watches 89
Watches under £500 89
TVs 90
The world’s best tech, all in one place
TVs under £1,000 90
Edited by Matt Bolton Projectors 90
Soundbars 91
Streamers 91
Games consoles 91
Turntables 92
Streaming DACs 92
Multi-room speakers 92
Bluetooth speakers 93
Bluetooth headphones 93
True wireless headphones 93
Noise-cancelling headphones 94
Wired in-ear headphones 94
Wired over-ear headphones 94
Laptops 95
2-in-1 laptops 95
Tablets 95
Gaming laptops 96
Gaming headsets 96
4K monitors 96
Drones 97
Action cameras 97
Cheap action cameras 97
DSLR cameras 98
Mirrorless cameras 98
Compact cameras 98
Sat-navs 99
Dash cams 99
Electric bikes 99
Smart speakers 100
Smart bulbs 100
Smart thermostats 100
Smart plugs 101
Security cameras 101
Robot vacuums 101
Cordless vacuums 102
Washing machines 102
Dishwashers 102
Coffee machines 103
If you’re looking for the very best tech available MXVWWKHULJKWPL[RIIHDWXUHVDQGEXGJHWIRUZKDW
WRGD\\RXèYHGHĆQLWHO\FRPHWRWKHULJKWSODFH \RXQHHG7KHVHUDQNLQJVFRPHIURPUHDOWHVWLQJ Fridges 103
%HVWRIWKH%HVWLVWKHPRVWXVHIXOJDGJHW E\RXUWHDPRIH[SHUWVåWKH\èUHWKHSURGXFWV Ovens 103
EX\LQJJXLGH\RXZLOOHYHUHQFRXQWHU7RFUHDWH we’d choose for ourselves, and we can’t Electric shavers 104
it, we’ve extensively tested the best tech the UHFRPPHQGDQ\KLJKHUWKDQWKDW Electric toothbrushes 104
ZRUOGKDVWRRIIHUWREULQJ\RXURFNVROLG Look for the links above each category that
Beard trimmers 104
UHFRPPHQGDWLRQVIRU\RXUKRPHOLIHGDLO\ WDNH\RXWRWKHVDPHOLVWSOXVPRUHEH\RQGWKH
FRPPXWHDQGWKHWHFK\RXXVHDOOWKHWLPH WRSIRXUDQGPDQ\PRUHFDWHJRULHVDWT3.com, Fitness trackers 105
In 54 different categories, we’ve chosen the ZKHUHRXUSULFHFRPSDULVRQV\VWHPVKRZV\RX Running watches 105
WRSIRXUSURGXFWVVR\RXFDQFKRRVHRQHWKDWèV WKHFXUUHQWEHVWGHDOVIRUHYHU\SURGXFW Running headphones 105

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T3 87
 Best of the best

CHEAP
SMARTPHONES SMARTPHONES SMARTWATCHES
Find the lowest prices at: Find the lowest prices at: Find the lowest prices at:
t3.com/bestphone t3.com/bestcheapphone t3.com/bestsmartwatch

APPLE iPHONE 11 PRO SAMSUNG GALAXY S10E APPLE WATCH SERIES 5

From £1,049, apple.com/uk From £669, samsung.com/uk From £399, apple.com/uk

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 ĆWQHVVIHDWXUHV
that earns its Pro ĆWDQGĆQLVKJUHDW always-on screen
name. It’s a totally software and top and good apps
polished package. specs, it’s a deal. PDNHbLWHVVHQWLDO

SAMSUNG GALAXY S10+ GOOGLE PIXEL 3A SAMSUNG GALAXY

WATCH ACTIVE
From £899, samsung.com/uk From £399, store.google.com From £279, samsung.com
A premium build, 64GB of storage, Sleek and powerful,
LQFUHGLEOH,QĆQLW\2 always up-to-date this is the best
screen with Android with no smartwatch for
HDR10+, brilliant extra cruft, snappy Android users. The
rear triple camera performance and screen and design
system and blazing a truly brilliant are on par with the
performance in camera, all in a Apple Watch, while
Samsung’s slick new SDFNDJHWKDWGHĆQHV a collection of new
One UI make this ‘cheap and cheerful’ watch faces give it
the Android king. – it’s great value. DbPRGHUQHGJH

HUAWEI P30 PRO HONOR PLAY SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH

From £899, huawei.com From £279, hihonor.com From £239, samsung.com/uk

A revolutionary 5x Pitched as a gaming The circular screen
optical zoom (with phone, but it’s just with innovative
10x lossless hybrid an all-round brilliant rotating bezel is the
zoom) meets a 6.47- Android phone that’s best way to control a
inch OLED screen, a stone-cold bargain. smartwatch, and the
big battery, and It has a high-end slick Tizen software
ultra-fast processor processor, 6.3-inch is easy to use. It
for one of the screen, good rear looks good too, and
smartest Android cameras and a a battery life of up to
phones available. fantastic design. six days is ace.

ONEPLUS 7T PRO XIAOMI MI 9T PRO FOSSIL SPORT

From £699, oneplus.com/uk £399, mi.com/uk From £186, fossil.com/uk

This is one of A phone that marries Fossil’s fourth
the best-looking, ćDJVKLSOHYHOVSHFV generation of
highest-specced with a design that’s smartwatches serves
phones we’ve seen guaranteed to turn up what’s probably
this year – from the heads. Combine that the best Wear
SRSXSVHOĆHFDPHUD with a very appealing OS smartwatch
to the fantastic price and this quickly available to buy
6.67-inch screen, becomes a fantastic today. Capable and
the OnePlus 7T Pro all-round package wearable, with good
exudes quality. from Xiaomi. app support.

8 8 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0

HYBRID
SMARTWATCHES
Find the lowest prices at:
t3.com/besthybrid
WITHINGS STEEL HR SPORT
£190, withings.com
Featuring a heart-rate
monitor and the ability
to track 30 different
exercises, this is ideal for
ĆWQHVVIDQDWLFV,WèVZDWHU
resistant to 50 metres,
and the battery lasts
around 25 days.
WITHINGS MOVE ECG
£129, withings.com
Think a pricey Apple
Watch is needed to take
an ECG reading of your
heart? This can do that,
plus activity tracking and
sleep monitoring, with
a 12-month battery life,
for a really low price.
MONDAINE HELVETICA 1
£195, mondaine.com
Mondaine is most
famous for producing
watches which resemble
its classic Swiss Railways
clock, but the Helvetica
range is different. It
includes activity and
sleep tracking.
KRONABY SEKEL
£445, kronaby.com
Looking for more than
a pedometer? The Sekel
vibrates to alert you to
QRWLĆFDWLRQVRQ\RXU
phone, and there’s a
button which can be
programmed with IFTTT
to do loads.
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WATCHES
Find the lowest prices at:
t3.com/bestwatch
TAG HEUER AUTAVIA
£4,250, tagheuer.com
Part of TAG’s Heritage
range, the Autavia was
favoured by racing
drivers in the 1960s.
The vintage silver dial
features a retro Heuer
logo, and is encircled by
DbEODFNDOXPLQLXPEH]HO
TUDOR HERITAGE BLACK BAY
£2,630, tudorwatch.com
The Tudor Black Bay
might be the ideal piece
to start a “proper” watch
collection. It’s premium
but not too expensive,
it’s got history, and it’s a
very attractive, wearable,
everyday watch.
OMEGA SEAMASTER 300
£5,520, omegawatches.com
The 300 recalls its iconic
namesake, but has been
updated to include
Omega’s more modern
watch tech, including the
anti-magnetic Master
Co-Axial mechanical
movement inside.
BREITLING NAVITIMER B01
CHRONOGRAPH
£6,460, breitling.com
The Navitimer is
Breitling’s most
iconic collection. This
model boasts a 43mm
stainless steel case with
a transparent back,
showing off the self-
winding movement.
Best of the best
WATCHES
UNDER £500
Find the lowest prices at:
t3.com/bestwatch500
VICTORINOX I.N.O.X V
£459, victorinox.com
Having undergone 130
durability tests, this
watch will stand up to
anything you throw at
it. The paracord strap
hints at its adventurous
heritage, and it’s great
IRUDOOZULVWVL]HV
HAMILTON KHAKI FIELD
£375, hamiltonwatch.com
This is a faithful
recreation of its original
1960s forebearer and
is true to Hamilton’s
military heritage. The
38mm stainless steel
case is paired with a
durable NATO strap.
TISSOT QUICKSTER
CHRONOGRAPH
£295, tissotwatches.com
7KLVSDFNVD6ZLVVTXDUW]
movement with 1/10 of a
second counters, central
60-seconds chronograph
hand, and add/split
functionality. The case
LVbĆQLVKHGZLWKDVOHHN
PVD coating.
CHRISTOPHER WARD C5
MALVERN MK III
£495, christopherward.co.uk
This sleek dress watch
retains its classic British
design cues from older
models, but features
a new 39mm stainless
steel case with Fluid
‘light-catcher’ lines and
38 hours power reserve.
 Best of the best

TVs UNDER
TVs £1,000 PROJECTORS
Find the lowest prices at: Find the lowest prices at: Find the lowest prices at:
t3.com/besttv t3.com/besttv1000 t3.com/bestprojector

SAMSUNG Q90R SAMSUNG QE55Q6FNA ACER V7850

£3,800, samsung.com/uk £750, samsung.com/uk £1,699, acer.com

This stunning 2019 $PRGHObWKDW Acer really hit the
range-topper is was once £1,500, sweet spot here:
narrowly our top and at this price it’s VPDOOHQRXJKWRĆW
pick. QLED nearly irresistible. This 4K on a coffee table,
matches OLED for set runs the Tizen whisper-quiet in
cinematic visuals smart platform, and operation, and yet
in ideal lighting despite its slimness, still produces a
conditions but also there’s a fairly beefy bright, crisp HDR 4K
looks fantastic even 40w stereo sound picture of 70 to 110
in bright sunshine. system onboard. inches (at 3.5m).

LG C9 SONY KD-49XF9005 OPTOMA UHD40

£2,500, lg.com/uk £900, sony.com/uk £999, optoma.co.uk

A triumph of OLED If you want a TV 4K resolution and
evolution, improving that delivers sharp, HDR in a projector
every aspect of its colourful images, for this price is hard
performance thanks WKLVLVDĆQHVWDUW to beat. It doesn’t
to the addition of Combining 4K quite have the pop
DUWLĆFLDOLQWHOOLJHQFH X-Reality Pro image and HDR richness of
This is easily the processing with a more expensive sets,
smartest and most Triluminos panel, it’s but it’s way beyond
feature-packed 4K an ideal display for HD projectors at the
TV you can buy. 4K streaming. same price.

PANASONIC GZ950B SAMSUNG UE65NU7470 OPTOMA UHZ65

From £2,200, panasonic.com £750, samsung.com/uk £3,499, optoma.co.uk

Panasonic tunes This 4K 65-incher This is very aimed
its TVs to produce supports both at the proper AV
images exactly how regular HDR and enthusiast, but
WKHĆOPPDNHUV the newer open laser projection at
intended. A HDR10+ standard. this price makes it
true cinematic Edge-lit, with a worth it for anyone.
experience, and narrow bezel, it 4K HDR video is
a great-value mix comes with widely supremely rich, and
of big sound and spaced pedestal feet it can hit 120 inches
2/('bYLVLRQ and three HDMIs. from just 4m.

SONY AG9 PANASONIC TX-49FX750B EPSON EH-TW6700W

From £2,899, sony.com/uk £750, panasonic.com £999, epson.co.uk

The lastest OLED This 4K Pro HDR If you’re happy with
classic from Sony’s Panasonic is a great Full HD resolution,
‘Master’ range earns deal that offers this is the best
its grandiose title premium quality option, partly thanks
with superb native features on the to a super-easy setup
4K, upscaled HD inside while looking process. The image
imagery and very the elegant part quality is good, you
slick motion. The on the outside too just don’t get the
OS is full of smart thanks to the “Art & IXWXUHSURRĆQJRI
streaming options. *ODVVëĆQLVK HDR and 4K.

9 0 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
 Best of the best

GAMES
SOUNDBARS STREAMERS CONSOLES
Find the lowest prices at: Find the lowest prices at: Find the lowest prices at:
t3.com/bestsoundbar t3.com/beststreamer t3.com/bestconsole

SONOS BEAM ROKU STREAMING STICK+ MICROSOFT XBOX ONE X

£349, sonos.com £59, roku.com £449, xbox.com

If it were just a soundbar, The Swiss Army Knife With 4K, Dolby Atmos,
the Beam’s great audio of streaming delivers Ultra HD Blu-ray and
would still make it 4K HDR, isn’t locked to DIDLUO\FRPSDFWSURĆOH
top – but with Amazon a particular ecosystem, this is the best Xbox ever.
Alexa, Apple AirPlay 2 has tons of available apps It’s even more powerful
and support for a billion and is a joy to use. It’s than the PS4 Pro and
streaming services, it’s the best streamer for also a great home
IDQWDVWLFDOO\ćH[LEOH many people. entertainment hub.

Q ACOUSTICS M3 CHROMECAST ULTRA SONY PLAYSTATION 4 PRO

£229, qacoustics.co.uk £69, store.google.com £349, playstation.com

Want superb sound The Chromecast Ultra It’s still overkill if you
without a big price and is a receiver for phones don’t have a 4K TV,
unnecessary extras? Q and laptops and depends but with 2160p HDR
Acoustics’ M3 combines on them for control and gaming, the PS4 Pro
great simplicity and content – but it’s simple, delivers incredible
great sound. Impressive, versatile and compatible visuals and is smoother
affordable, and it wasn’t with iOS, Android, and faster than its non-
hit with the ugly stick. Windows and Mac. Pro siblings.

SONOS PLAYBASE AMAZON FIRE TV STICK 4K NINTENDO SWITCH

£639, sonos.com £34, amazon.co.uk £279, nintendo.co.uk

This soundbase sits 4K HDR for under £35 We love the Switch,
under your TV looking isn’t to be sniffed at. It’s which brings Nintendo’s
handsome but can put best suited to Prime great gaming pedigree
out anything from a subscribers and Google to genuinely stylish,
subtle and nuanced apps are absent, but premium-grade
performance to a it’s a very capable and hardware. Forget the
tsunami of sound affordable streamer specs: it’s all about the
through its many drivers. IRUb79DQGPRYLHV sheer joy of gaming.

SONY HT-ST5000 APPLE TV 4K MICROSOFT XBOX ONE S

£1,199, sony.co.uk £179, apple.com/uk £207, xbox.com

More premium than iTunes has the biggest The S is smaller, whiter
Sonos kit and with more source of 4K HDR and and much cheaper than
channels too. Build Dolby Atmos movies, its big brother, and while
quality is exceptional, and lots of other services you don’t get its sibling’s
and while there’s a fabric have apps here too. You super-powered specs
cover, we suggest you can also easily stream you still get Ultra HD
remove it and just drink to it from Macs and %OXUD\$ĆQHKRPH
in those drivers. L26bGHYLFHV entertainment hub.

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APP EDITION PRINT PRINT + DIGITAL

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BUNDLE
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 Best of the best

STREAMING MULTI-ROOM
TURNTABLES DACs SPEAKERS
Find the lowest prices at: Find the lowest prices at: Find the lowest prices at:
t3.com/bestturntable t3.com/bestdac t3.com/bestmultiroom

PRO-JECT ESSENTIAL III YAMAHA WXAD-10 NAIM MU-SO 2ND GENERATION

£250, project-audio.com £120, yamaha.co.uk £1,300 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
JORVVbĆQLVKHV own MusicCast. music experience.

CAMBRIDGE AUDIO ALVA TT GOOGLE CHROMECAST AUDIO SONOS ONE

£1,500, cambridgeaudio.com £30, google.co.uk £199, sonos.co.uk

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

£1,000, technics.com/uk £320, arcam.co.uk £1,000, 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
RIKRPHKLĆ: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\DXGLRĆOHV a turntable. There’s
excellent too. beamed its way. even Bluetooth too.

MCINTOSH MT2 iFI NANO iONE BOWERS & WILKINS

FORMATION DUO
£4,995, mcintoshlabs.com eLĆDXGLRFRP £3,500, bowerswilkins.com
This beautifully Just want to wring These may look
ĆQLVKHGGHFNLV 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\ĆOHVDQG specced, but not
pricey system. streams will shine. exactly affordable.

9 2 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
 Best of the best

BLUETOOTH BLUETOOTH TRUE WIRELESS

SPEAKERS HEADPHONES HEADPHONES
Find the lowest prices at: Find the lowest prices at: Find the lowest prices at:
t3.com/bestbluetooth t3.com/bestwireless t3.com/besttruewireless

BLUESOUND PULSE FLEX 2I AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-M50XBT BEATS POWERBEATS PRO

£299, bluesound.com £179, audio-technica.com £219, beatsbydre.com/uk

More than a Bluetooth Long battery life and If you want true wireless
speaker, with Wi-Fi and sound that’s closer to the buds with quality audio,
ethernet included this more neutral tones of hi- there’s almost nothing
is more like a portable ĆFDQVWKRXJKVWLOOZLWKD to match these, and the
Sonos. It’s AirPlay 2 slight extra kick of bass), ZD\WKH\ĆWPHDQVWKH\
compatible, and works plus great comfort levels, cannot fall out and get
with streaming services make these ideal for lost. Beats has knocked
and internet radio. losing yourself in music. LWbRXWRIWKHGDPQSDUN

AUDIO PRO ADDON C3 AKG Y50BT JABRA ELITE 65T

£220, audiopro.com £120, uk.akg.com £130, jabra.co.uk

$ĆQHEOHQGRIFODVVLF If you want an on- Jabra has solved most
Bluetooth portability, ear alternative to the of the problems that
high-quality audio and Marshalls, these ’phones bedevilled earlier true
Scandie style. Thanks to from AKG remain a great wireless buds. Sound
Wi-Fi, you can stream option. The sound is is great, connectivity
higher quality sounds punchy and the styling LVURFNVROLGWKHĆWLV
indoors, then revert to is pretty cool without secure but comfortable,
Bluetooth in the garden. WU\LQJbWRRKDUG and they’re discreet.

ULTIMATE EARS MEGABOOM 3 OPTOMA NUFORCE BE LIVE5 APPLE AIRPODS PRO

£169, ultimateears.com £89, optoma.co.uk £249, apple.com/uk

The best waterproof These slick earphones Great active noise
VSHDNHUåLWHYHQćRDWV offer incredible sound cancellation, a super-
– offers 20 hours of for the price, taking VHFXUHLQHDUĆWVZHDW
battery life and a hefty everything from pop to SURRĆQJDGDSWLYH(4
sound, perfect for classical in their stride. good battery life and
outdoor parties. It works They’re made to stay excellent audio quality
great for kitchen audio comfortable for their make these pricey but
duties, too. eight-hour battery life. technically brilliant buds.

CAMBRIDGE AUDIO YOYO M SOUNDMAGIC E11BT LYPERTEK TEVI

£300, cambridgeaudio.com £69, soundmagicheadphones.com £99, lypertek.com

The best Bluetooth These are as good as These are unbeatable
solution for audiophiles’ buds that cost twice as at this price – a discreet
DXGLRĆOHVWKLVLVDV\RX much. Audio is brilliant, design, decent battery
can see, a stereo pair. connectivity is rock solid, OLIHJRRGZDWHUSURRĆQJ
As such it’s more like a the necklace-style band stable connectivity and
FODVVLFKLĆV\VWHPEXW VWD\VVWDEOHDQGWKHĆWLV good sound make these
with the convenience comfortable and secure one hell of a bargain. The
RIbZLUHOHVVQHVV enough for exercise. best under £100.

T3 DELIVERED DIRECT TO YOUR DOOR

OR YOUR DEVICE WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE!
PLUS GET THE ISSUE EARLY WITH A PRINT SUBSCRIPTION
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 Best of the best

NOISE CANCELLING WIRED IN-EAR WIRED OVER-EAR

HEADPHONES HEADPHONES HEADPHONES
Find the lowest prices at: Find the lowest prices at: Find the lowest prices at:
t3.com/bestnoisecancelling t3.com/bestinear t3.com/bestoverear

SONY WH-1000XM3 FLARE AUDIO FLARE PRO 2HD BOWERS & WILKINS
P9 SIGNATURE
£329, sony.co.uk ećDUHDXGLRFRP £699, 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

£329, bowers-wilkins.co.uk eNOLSVFKFRP eDXGLRWHFKQLFDFRP

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 ćDWWHURUVDFULĆFH
cancelling and bass and a lively, sound quality for
accurate B&W HQJDJLQJbVRXQG 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
£299, sony.co.uk ećDUHDXGLRFRP eVHQQKHLVHUFRP
With the XM3 model Maintaining the The best sub-£200
replacing these, you quality of the Flares over-ear headphones
PLJKWEHDEOHWRĆQG 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

£299, apple.com eVRXQGPDJLFKHDGSKRQHVFRP £99, 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 £50? 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 closed backs mean
charge in 10 minutes RIbWKHFPDNH they’re less likely to
and they’re the best them the sonic annoy other people
sounding Beats so far. bargain of the year. when you commute.

94 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
 Best of the best

2-IN-1
LAPTOPS LAPTOPS TABLETS
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t3.com/bestlaptop t3.com/best2in1 t3.com/besttablet

ASUS VIVOBOOK S15 ASUS ZENBOOK FLIP 13 APPLE iPAD PRO 12.9 (2018)

£539, asus.com £800, asus.com From £969, apple.com/uk

This slim and super light The Zenbook Flip 13 The biggest iPad Pro is
laptop hits a wonderful might be the best laptop unbelievably powerful
sweet spot. With an Intel Asus has ever released. and slick, with an
Core i5, 4GB of RAM, Tooled up with an eighth- excellent screen, thin and
a 256GB SSD and a gen Intel Core processor, compact design, great
touchscreen ScreenPad, the tablet mode feels battery life and support
it represents wonderful great to use, thanks to a for the Apple Pencil.
mid-range value. responsive touchscreen. Pricey, but worth it.

DELL XPS 13 (2019) MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK 2 APPLE iPAD PRO 11 (2018)

£1,194, dell.com £1,149, microsoft.com From £769, apple.com/uk

The Dell XPS 13 is Pull the screen away Despite its smaller size,
thinner and more from the keyboard and the internals of the 11in
powerful than ever. Up it’s a tablet. Connect iPad Pro are the same
to 1TB of SSD storage, them for more graphics as the bigger version:
16GB of RAM, a 4K power and battery life. it’s supremely powerful,
screen and fast Intel A premium, fantastically it’s incredibly versatile,
chips help make it a top portable, and supremely in short, it’s an absolute
quality all-rounder. versatile system. beast of a tablet.

HP STREAM 14 MICROSOFT SURFACE GO APPLE iPAD AIR (2019)

£200, HP.com £350, microsoft.com From £479, apple.com/uk

Not the most powerful Microsoft’s 2-in-1 With a sharp, vibrant
laptop money can buy, forays have been a huge 10.5-inch screen, Apple
but truly astonishing success, revitalising Pencil support, powerful
value, the HP Stream the company’s image A12 Bionic processor
14 shows that you don’t as a serious hardware and thin, light body, this
have to spend a lot of maker. For a capable and a Pro in all but name, for
money to get a strong portable laptop, it’s hard a bargain price. The best
computing experience. to do better. all-rounder tablet.

MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK 2 ASUS CHROMEBOOK FLIP SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S6

£1,149, microsoft.com £450, asus.com £619, samsung.com

Available in 13- or 15- If you are shopping for a 7KHĆQHVW$QGURLG
inch sizes, with a 3:2 2-in-1, hybrid laptop with tablet, this delivers
screen that gives you anything but a premium DbV\VWHPZLWKDVKDUS
more height than other budget we recommend OLED screen, S Pen
laptops, and plenty of ORRNLQJDWWKH)OLSĆUVW stylus, excellent audio
power, this is a light and For the price it can’t credentials, powerful
fast machine that’s also be beaten as a 2-in-1 internals, and a neat
UHDOO\ćH[LEOH running ChromeOS. laptop-aping DeX mode.

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 Best of the best

GAMING GAMING 4K
LAPTOPS HEADSETS MONITORS
Find the lowest prices at: Find the lowest prices at: Find the lowest prices at:
t3.com/bestgaming t3.com/bestheadset t3.com/best4kmonitor

HP OMEN 15 STEELSERIES PHILIPS MOMENTUM

ARCTIS PRO WIRELESS 436M6VBPAB
£1,199, hp.com £299, steelseries.com £456, philips.co.uk
With the option of a The SteelSeries A simply massive
ray-tracing-capable Arctis Pro Wireless LQFKSDQHOZLWK
GeForce RTX 2070 LVVLPSO\DZHVRPH up to 1,000 nits
graphics chip, plus The dual-wireless RISHDNEULJKWQHVV
9th-gen Intel Core audio system DQGDPVUHVSRQVH
processors and up that allows for WLPH7KDQNVWRWKH
to 32GB of RAM, ERWK*+] Quantum Dot colour
this is the best and Bluetooth tech, images and
gaming laptop on simultaneously is videos have rich,
WKHbPDUNHW HVSHFLDOO\IDQWDVWLF YLYLGFRORXUV

ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS S GX701 LUCIDSOUND LS35X EIZO COLOREDGE CG319X

£3,199, asus.com/uk £148, lucidsound.com £3,989, ezioglobal.com

The combination of For quality wireless Equipped with a raft
a six-core processor audio on Xbox One, of high-end features
and top-of-the-line JDPHUVVKRXOGORRN this screen is ideal
Nvidia 2080 8GB here: it delivers for high-end photo
JUDSKLFVPDNHWKLV excellent audio DQGYLGHRZRUNDV
powerful beyond reproduction and well as general usage
belief, and yet it isn’t also connects DQGJDPLQJ6HULRXV
WKDWEXON\,WFRVWV directly to the hardware commands
but no-compromise console without any a serious premium
JDPLQJLVKHUH GRQJOHVRUFDEOHV SULFHKRZHYHU

ACER NITRO 5 LOGITECH G635 7.1 LIGHTSYNC SAMSUNG SPACE MONITOR

£750, acer.com £90, logitech.com £439, samsung.com/uk

A lower spec is Surround sound This marries a 32-
UHćHFWHGLQWKH audio, Lightsync for LQFKKLJKTXDOLW\.
ORZHUSULFH:LWK illuminating your panel with a unique
a Core 15, 8GB of play space, plenty of space-saving design–
RAM, 128GB SSD features and buttons it clips (safely) to the
plus a 1TB hard and compatibility UHDURI\RXUGHVN
drive and a Nvidia ZLWK3&36;ER[ so has effectively no
GeForce GTX 1660 One, and Nintendo IRRWSULQW,WèVHDVLO\
Ti 6GB, it’s still a Switch… what more adjustable, though –
SRWHQWSHUIRUPHU could you want? SHUIHFWIRUZRUN

MSI GS75 STEALTH 8SG ASTRO A50 GEN 4 DELL ULTRASHARP UP3216Q

£1,799, msi.com £300, astrogaming.com £1,175, dell.com

This wolf in sheep’s Comfortable on Dell’s high-end
clothing couples a the head, the A50 LQFK.GLVSOD\
GeForce RTX 2080 brings rich audio SDFNVLQDORWRI
with Max-Q Design to your ears at professional-grade
GPU with a Core any volume – bass, features for superb
i7-8750H CPU and trebles and mids FRORXUDFFXUDF\,W
32GB of RAM and all come through hits 99% Adobe RGB
a 17-inch display clearly, though coverage and 87%
to really aim for its QRLVHbFDQFHOOLQJ DCI-P3, delivering
ULYDOVèMXJXODUV FRXOGEHLPSURYHG JUHDWSLFWXUHTXDOLW\

96 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
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ACTION CHEAP ACTION

DRONES CAMERAS CAMERAS
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DJI MAVIC MINI GOPRO HERO8 BLACK GOPRO HERO7 WHITE

£369, dji.com/uk £379, gopro.com £179, gopro.com

$UJXDEO\WKHĆUVWKLJK GoPro’s latest sees The wallet-friendly
quality camera-carrying XSGDWHVHYHU\ZKHUH Hero7 White borrows
drone for the masses, Four virtual lenses get premium features from
the Mini is surprisingly \RXWKHLGHDOĆHOGRIYLHZ WKH+HUR%ODFN,GHDO
fast, nimble and stable for what you’re shooting, for part-time adrenaline
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DJI MAVIC AIR GOPRO HERO7 BLACK AKASO V50 X

£769, dji.com/uk £319, gopro.com £99, akasotech.com

The Mavic Air is a The waterproof Hero7 4K at 30fps for under
super-portable 4K Black makes capturing £100, plus two-inch
FDPHUDGURQH9LGHR pro-looking shots easier, touchscreen and image
quality from the camera thanks to HyperSmooth stabilisation? This is
mounted on a three-axis HOHFWURQLFVWDELOLVDWLRQ SURSHUEDQJIRUEXFN,W
gimbal is excellent, and 4K image quality is comes with accessories,
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RYZE TELLO DJI OSMO ACTION YI 4K

£89, ryzerobotics.com £329, dji.com/uk £119, yitechnology.com

This is a bargain – it uses With a cool front display Captures high-quality
'-,WHFKLQVLGHIRUćLJKW EXWPLVVLQJ6XSHU9LHZ footage even in low light,
stability, has a camera mode and live streaming, thanks to an LCE seven-
that takes HD video or DJI’s cam is ideal for layer all-glass lens and
5MP snaps, and hovers extreme sports types Sony Exmor-R IMX377
VWLOOIRUVHOĆHV,WFDQć\ DQGYORJJHUV,PDJH VHQVRU,WVKRRWV.DW
indoors or out, though is stabilisation is excellent, 30fps; buy a separate
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DJI MAVIC 2 PRO SJCAM SJ8 PRO OLFI ONE.FIVE WHITE

£1,349, dji.com/uk £166, amazon.co.uk eROĆFDPHUDFRP

While this doesn’t For 4K 60FPS footage This camera might lack
offer the same size to at less than half the 4K, but 1080p/60fps
power ratio as the Air, price of the Hero7 Black, and 720p/120fps video,
its 4K video and stills the SJ8 Pro is a worthy plus 16MP stills, are
capture are sensational, FRQWHQGHU7KH6RQ\ plenty for weekend
thanks to an on-board sensor is topped with an ZDUULRUV7KH2QH)LYH
Hasselblad camera and IOHQVZLWKDr White also comes with
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DSLR MIRRORLESS COMPACT

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NIKON D850 NIKON Z 6 SONY RX100 VII

£3,299, nikon.co.uk £1,899, nikon.co.uk £1,099, sony.co.uk

With a high- With a full-frame For the best image
resolution 45.4 24.5 megapixel quality in a pocket-
megapixel sensor, sensor, 12fps friendly body, look
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system, and a sturdy light performance on Sony’s reputation
body, you’ll never be and fantastic for high-quality
disappointed with handling, this creates premium compacts,
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create for you. a reasonable price. breaking the bank.

CANON EOS 7D MARK II SONY A9 PANASONIC TZ200

£1,430, canon.co.uk £3,699, sony.co.uk £629, panasonic.com

Trading up from an The A9 is expensive This might be
entry-level camera? but earns every the ideal travel
The 7D Mark II is penny by packing an companion, with a
the camera of your incredible 24.3MP versatile zoom lens
dreams. A superb full-frame sensor up to 15x, and a
all-rounder with capable of 20fps fantastic one-inch
a 20.2-megapixel shooting with sensor that captures
sensor and a host tracking autofocus bright, sharp images.
of features to suit the whole way. It’s a It’s also stylish and
DbYDULHW\RIQHHGV technical marvel. pocket-friendly.

NIKON D500 CANON EOS R CANON G5X MARK II

£1,699, nikon.co.uk £2,149, canon.co.uk £849, canon.co.uk

This solidly built The EOS R is This full-blown
camera is the classic Canon, but overhaul of the G5
SHUIHFWbFKRLFHIRU with some useful line brings a one-
those who like to twists, such as the inch 20MP sensor
shoot a little bit of touch-sensitive and a 5x optical
everything, thanks to multi function bar. zoom, plus 4K video
a brilliant autofocus Image quality is also recording, USB-C
system and glorious fantastic, thanks to battery charging and
image quality from the full-frame 30.3 burst shooting up to
its 20MP sensor. megapixel sensor. 30fps. Versatile.

NIKON D7500 PANASONIC S1R FUJIFILM X100F

£774, nikon.co.uk £2,899, panasonic.com eIXMLĆOPHXXN

This has the same Panasonic’s leap 7KH)XMLĆOP;)
sensor and image into full-frame is is as beautiful as it is
processor as the bigger than other capable. If the retro
D500 for less. You mirrorless systems, ORRNćRDWV\RXUERDW
still get fantastic and for now is fairly then the X100F is a
pics, but with a limited on the lens thing to behold. It’s
slightly slower front. But with compact, but packs a
autofocus (and a few 47.3MP to play with, large APS-C sensor
other changes). A it’ll be interesting to and a lovely 35mm
superb all-rounder. see it develop. f/2.0 lens.

9 8 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
 Best of the best

ELECTRIC
SAT-NAVS DASH CAMS BIKES
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TOMTOM GO PREMIUM NEXTBASE 522GW GOCYCLE GX

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This state-of-the-art sat The king of dash cams 0RUHVWXUG\DQGIXQWR
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VR\RXFDQFRQQHFW DVZHOODVEHLQJWKHĆUVW WKH*RF\FOHGRHVQèWIROG
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GARMIN DRIVESMART 61 LMT-S GARMIN DASH CAM 66W BROMPTON ELECTRIC

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VW\OHZLWKDELJGLVSOD\ ZLWKJRRGLPDJHTXDOLW\ fun too. The Brompton
OLIHWLPHWUDIĆFDQG H[WUDIHDWXUHVLQFOXGLQJ LVDKRRWDQGLI\RXèUH
maps (for Europe) and *36DQGVSHHGFDPHUD DFRPPXWHUWKHUHèVQR
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TOMTOM GO 6200 THINKWARE F800 PRO RAD POWER BIKES RADRHINO

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EXWQHYHUĆGGO\DQG GHVLJQWLPHODSVH DVPHUHO\DVHWRI
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Wi-Fi for most features. \RXUIHOORZGULYHUV furthest of destinations.

GARMIN DRIVELUXE 51 LMT-D MIO MIVUE J60 VANMOOF ELECTRIFIED S2

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SMART SMART SMART

SPEAKERS BULBS THERMOSTATS
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AMAZON ECHO PLUS PHILIPS HUE NEST THERMOSTAT E

£139, amazon.co.uk From £59, philips.co.uk £180, nest.com/uk

Thanks to its Hue dominates the This cheaper Nest
integrated Zigbee- smart lighting sector PRGHOGRHVQèWĆWDV
compliant smart for good reason: it’s much information
home hub, the Plus is a superb system with on its screen and
a great smart home the widest range of doesn’t feel as
starter. Never pay bulbs and a simple, premium, but that’s
the RRP, though: useful app. Rivals it. Same algorithm,
Amazon discounts may be cheaper but same Alexa and
Echos every time they can’t compete Google Home
LWbKDVDVDOH with Hue’s variety. compatibility.

SONOS ONE LIFX TADO SMART THERMOSTAT

£199, sonos.com From £19, lifx.com £99, tado.com

The Sonos One is a If you fancy a Hue Tado is very sociable:
superb standalone system but don’t it works with 95%
speaker with want to spend so of the systems out
integrated Alexa, much, LIFX has WKHUH,WèVćH[LEOH
EXWbWKHUHDOVHOOLQJ a strong product clever and supports
SRLQWLVLWVćH[LELOLW\ range and integrates a wide range of
use it as part of a with your favourite accessories too.
stereo pair or in a personal digital Price cuts have
multi-room Sonos assistant. Philips still made it even
audio system. wins, but only just. PRUHbHQWLFLQJ

AMAZON ECHO STUDIO IKEA TRÅDFRI NEST LEARNING THERMOSTAT

£189, amazon.co.uk From £13, ikea.com £220, nest.com/uk

With support for the Ikea’s Zigbee- Nest made smart
Dolby Atmos and compatible system thermostats sexy and
Sony 360 Reality doesn’t have the this third-gen model
Audio – as well as range of Hue, but looks great. It’s
Alexa, Amazon got if you prize control simple to use with
serious about sound over colour options good Google Home
here. Five drivers it’s stellar value for and Amazon Echo
give your music money and has some integration, but a
really rich, meaty great controllers tad pricey, especially
audio power. DQGbGLPPHUV with installation.

GOOGLE NEST HUB MAX EUFY LUMOS WHITE HIVE HEATING CONTROL

£219, store.google.com From £16, eufylife.com £179, hivehome.com

A big 10-inch screen, Eufy is just entering Imagine: British Gas
plus good-quality the market, so right in ‘exciting’ shocker.
VSHDNHUVWKDWFDQĆOO now there’s only a Hive is great: it’s
a room, make this white bulb out, but affordable, works
a Google Assistant it’s great: simple, well, and is part of a
device that can really with a polished app larger smart home
do anything. There’s and Alexa support system that includes
a camera for video for smarts. And no bulbs and security
calls, and it’s a smart hub needed – just options. This is an
home hub. pay for one and go. ideal way to jump in.

10 0 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0

SMART PLUGS
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BELKIN WEMO
INSIGHT SWITCH
£49, belkin.com
Belkin’s premium smart
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services from Amazon,
Apple and Google, and
can monitor your energy
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\RXWRFRQWURObDSSOLDQFHV
YLD\RXUSKRQH
HIVE ACTIVE PLUG
£39, hivehome.com
Similar to Belkin, Hive
can turn sockets on/
off via your phone, and
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DOVRZRUNVZLWK$OH[D
<RXQHHGD+LYH+XE
(£80) to use the Active
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KASA SMART WI-FI POWER
STRIP HS300
£40, tplink.com
With six smart outlets,
each with independent
control, as well as three
USB port connections
for small appliance
charging and power,
this delivers plenty of
ćH[LELOLW\DQGIHDWXUHV
TCP SMART WI-FI PLUG
£18, tcpsmart.eu
This offers app control,
plus Alexa and Google
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LWDOOUHOLDEO\DQGLVUHDOO\
easy to set up from
L3KRQHRU$QGURLG,WèV
a simple and solid plug,
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ARLO ULTRA
From £450 (one camera), arlo.com/uk
While it may look similar
to its competitors, it’s
when you open the Arlo
app that the quality
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sharpest security camera
we’ve seen in action, and
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RING STICK UP CAM
£180, en-uk.ring.com
Pretty much any feature
you could ask for is
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vision, motion detection
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NEOS SMARTCAM
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Offers 90% of what you
need from an indoor
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less than a quarter of the
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getting a smart camera,
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ARLO PRO 3
£550 (two cameras), arlo.com/uk
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the 4K resolution of
the Arlo Ultra, then the
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iROBOT ROOMBA I7+
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The i7+ is the i7 with an
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it if you hate emptying
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ROBOROCK S5
£459, en.roborock.com
At less than £500, this
is exceptional value,
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with navigation that’s
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WKHL,WJHWVUHJXODU
updates, and a new S6
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NEATO BOTVAC D7 CONNECTED
£799, neatorobotics.com
$QH[FHOOHQWURER
cleaner, with a range
of smart vacuuming
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5REXVWVXFWLRQWXUER
mode and an improved
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EUFY BOOSTIQ ROBOVAC 30C
£270, eufylife.com
You’ll need to fence
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&DVLWGRHVQèWXVH
DQLQWHUQDOPDSEXWIRU
the price this is a solid,
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LI\RXèYHJRWKDUGćRRUV
 Best of the best

CORDLESS WASHING
VACUUMS MACHINES DISHWASHERS
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DYSON V11 ABSOLUTE AEG 9000 SERIES L9FEC966R AEG COMFORTLIFT FSS62800P

£599, dyson.co.uk £899, aeg.co.uk £689, aeg.co.uk

The high-torque AEG delivers superb The award-winning
head, well-sized bin ćH[LEOHFOHDQLQJ ComfortLift drawer
and powerful suction effective water pulls out and rises up
make this the top softening and a for easy emptying,
sucker to get, and steam-cleaning which means
worth the ‘Dyson feature to reduce this is that rare
tax’. The Auto power your ironing pile. thing: an exciting
mode works well, ,WèVTXLHWHIĆFLHQW dishwasher. Cleaning
balancing battery and environmentally performance is good
and suction nicely. friendly, too. too, and it’s quiet.

VAX BLADE 2 MAX BOSCH SERIE 6 i-DOS MIELE G7150 SCVI

WAT286H0GB
£249, vax.co.uk £599, bosch-home.co.uk £1,150, miele.co.uk
This does everything Smooth, near-silent This 14-place unit
a Dyson does, for when running, and features the usual
less. It’s powerful designed with app- quality expected
enough to do a good connected features from Miele, but the
job on carpet and to make laundry easy. fully-integrated
KDUGćRRUVDOLNH The i-Dos function design is also perfect
although its shape holds detergent and if you want it to keep
and bulk make it softener for up to 20 DORZSURĆOH7KH
less effortless as washes – one less A+++ energy rating
DbKDQGKHOG thing to worry about! is impressive too.

DYSON V8 ABSOLUTE LG F4V910WTS BOSCH SMS67MW01G

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It might not have This 10kg drum runs Takes it up a notch
the sheer awesome like a dream thanks when it comes to
power of the V10, to the direct drive quality, practical
but it’s pretty close. motor, which means design and very
The V8 is still ahead it’s quiet too. There’s quiet operation.
of most rivals and an app, Alexa and There’s room for
it’s still a smart buy Google Assistant bSODFHVHWWLQJV
unless you need to connectivity, and DQGbDTXLFNZDVK
vacuum every room TurboWash tech that option that takes
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DYSON CYCLONE BEKO WTG1041B2 MIELE G6630SC

V10 ABSOLUTE
£449, dyson.co.uk £279, beko.co.uk £849, miele.co.uk
You get what you The eight useful Miele’s superbly
pay for: the V10 washing modes economical washing
is the state of the (including quick machine offers
cordless vacuum art cycles), huge 10kg open-drawer drying,
with unprecedented drum, 1,400rpm spin an easily adjustable
power, better speed, and easy-to- cutlery tray and
battery life and a use dial operation a new, versatile
bigger bin. It’s a little make this a keenly basket system. Wash
heavier than the priced machine for performance is well
Dyson V8, though. the family. and truly fantastic.

10 2 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0

COFFEE
MACHINES
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SAGE BY HESTON BLUMENTHAL
THE ORACLE TOUCH
£1,999, sageappliances.com
The Oracle Touch looks
like a barista-operated
machine, it produces
coffee like one, yet all
WKHFOHYHUVWXIIåGRVLQJ
tamping, extraction, milk
texturing, is done for you.
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SAGE BY HESTON BLUMENTHAL
BARISTA TOUCH
£999, sageappliances.com
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better frothed milk than
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the better buy for most
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milk at the same time is
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GAGGIA VELASCA
£466, gaggiadirect.com
The espresso and
lungo that the Velasca
make are as good as
anything you can buy
in most coffee shops. It
produces a reassuringly
old-fashioned, intense
ćDYRXUIRU\RXUEUHZ
MELITTA BARISTA TS SMART
£799, melitta.co.uk
)HDWXULQJWZREHDQ
hoppers (one for light,
one for dark), and a
backup container for
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YDULHWLHVRIFRIIHHDQG
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FRIDGES
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MIELE K 28202 D WS
£875, miele.co.uk
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FXSERDUGVDERYHWKLV
cooler should be top
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cooling keeps foodstuffs
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BOSCH SERIE 2 CLASSIXX
KSV29NW3PG
£599, bosch-home.co.uk
Looking for a mid-sized
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AEG RKE64021DX
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is the perfect option if
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anything really.
BOSCH KSV36VB3PG
£643, bosch-home.co.uk
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buy all your groceries
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to suit most spaces.
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OVENS
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£789, neff.co.uk
The unique Slide and
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it enables you to cook
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cross-contamination
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SIEMENS HB578A0S0B
£629, siemens.com/uk
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60 litres of space, so it’ll
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for big families. It heats
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cooking modes, a child
lock, telescopic runners
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BOSCH HBG634BS1B
£599, bosch-home.co.uk
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cooking estate and self-
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It’s particularly good
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consistent temperatures
for big batches.
MIELE H6160BP
£1,325, miele.co.uk
Miele’s ‘affordable’
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features. There’s
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MoisturePlus, and
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 Best of the best

ELECTRIC ELECTRIC BEARD

SHAVERS TOOTHBRUSHES TRIMMERS
Find the lowest prices at: Find the lowest prices at: Find the lowest prices at:
t3.com/bestshaver t3.com/besttoothbrush t3.com/besttrimmer

PHILIPS SERIES 9000 PRESTIGE PHILIPS SONICARE PHILIPS SERIES 9000 BT9297/13
DIAMONDCLEAN SONIC
£300, philips.co.uk £145, philips.co.uk £80, philips.co.uk
The best shaver This is a great The best trimmer
around has a silly toothbrush with for general beard
RRP (£430!) but is excellent cleaning maintenance,
available for around power, and an this has a largely
£300. It’s good for attractive but easily VXSHUćXRXVODVHU
sensitive skin, mows smashed glass (for ultra-straight
long stubble and is charger. It also edging, supposedly)
really close to the comes with a handy but also boasts
shave you get from travel case with WKHbYHU\EHVWEODGHV
traditional razors. 86%bSRZHU LQWKHEXVLQHVVb

PHILIPS SERIES 9000 S9211/26 ORAL-B GENIUS 9000 PANASONIC ER-GD60

£149, philips.co.uk £85, oralb.co.uk ebSDQDVRQLFFRXN

Much cheaper This is an extremely For slightly longer
than the Prestige, good electric beards, this is the
but with similar toothbrush with one to go for. Its
superb shaving a rather pointless unusual, ‘side-on’
performance. It smartphone app, but cutting action, where
doesn’t have the it does a great job of you pull the shaver
anti-friction coating, cleaning and comes through your hirsute
and is less adept at ZLWKIRXUåbIRXUå tresses more like a
longer stubble, but brush heads, so it’s a comb, soon becomes
LVbVWLOOEULOOLDQW bit of a bargain. second nature.

BRAUN SERIES 9 9296CC PHILIPS SONICARE 6100 PHILIPS ONEBLADE PRO

PROTECTIVECLEAN
£327, braun.com £89, philips.co.uk £50, philips.co.uk
This is Braun’s This is top value The best trimmer for
best and it’s great pick in the Sonicare those with sensitive
if you don’t shave range: not too pricey skin, this uses
daily. The Braun but not lacking any innovative OneBlade
laughs in the face of important features technology. It’s good
three-day growth, either. It’s very for both your face
and its retractable capable and still and your downstairs,
beard trimmer helps ZRUNVĆQHZLWKRXW although you may
VKDSHbZKDW\RX Philips’ expensive wish to change
GRQèWVKDYHbRII ‘smart’ brush heads. heads in between.

PANASONIC ES LV95 PHILIPS SONICARE BRAUN BT3040

£160, panasonic.com/uk
Don’t pay the £330
RRP: this superb
wet and dry winner
is widely discounted
and often available
for half the price.
At that price it’s a
bargain alternative
to much dearer
premium shavers.
DIAMONDCLEAN SMART SONIC
£145, philips.co.uk £26, braun.com
It’s hilariously This is a bargain
expensive and all-rounder, offering
monstrously over- 39 precision length
specced but this options with its
range topper looks combs, plus you
good and, more get a Gillette razor
importantly, it makes included for edging.
your teeth look The battery life isn’t
good. Shop around – great, but otherwise
don’t pay the RRP. this is a top deal.

10 4 T3 A P R I L 2 0 2 0

FITNESS
TRACKERS
Find the lowest prices at:
t3.com/bestfitness
FITBIT VERSA 2
eĆWELWFRP
7KHEHVWĆWQHVVWUDFNHU
cum-smartwatch you can
buy. It has Alexa built in,
its heartbeat and step
counting are reasonably
accurate, and it’s been
well designed in terms of
looks and usability.
FITBIT CHARGE 3
eĆWELWFRP
There’s no GPS and
the capacitive ‘button’
is a bit pants but this is
otherwise a textbook
tracker. Sleep, steps,
swims and serious
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handled with aplomb.
GARMIN VIVOSPORT
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Garmin’s rival to the
Charge 2 boasts GPS for
a similar price, but it also
has a dodgy interface
and some pointless
extra features. The core
functionality is good, and
it’s waterproof.
POLAR IGNITE
eSRODUFRP
Though mainly aimed at
runners, the Ignite can
track other activities,
and monitor your sleep
and heart rate too. You
get instant stats after
exercise, with deeper
analysis in the app.
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Best of the best
RUNNING RUNNING
WATCHES HEADPHONES
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t3.com/bestrunningwatch t3.com/bestrunningphones
GARMIN FORERUNNER BEATS POWERBEATS PRO
245 MUSIC
eJDUPLQFRP eEHDWVE\GUHFRPXN
The ultimate phone- These true wireless
free GPS running watch powerhouses absolutely
for the price-conscious crush their predecessors
runner. The battery can when it comes to quality
last up to seven days in of sound and security
smartwatch mode and RIĆW$OOEXWLPSRVVLEOH
VL[bKRXUVLQ*36PRGH to accidentally dislodge
with music. from your ears.
GARMIN FORERUNNER 945 JABRA ELITE ACTIVE 65T
eJDUPLQFRP eMDEUDFRXN
The Forerunner 945 These are the best-
has retained the look ĆWWLQJWUXHZLUHOHVVEXGV
and feel of the 935, we’ve tested. They’re
but inside it has been particularly good for
completely revamped. vigorous workouts and
There are new GPS chips don’t suffer too badly
and heart-rate sensors, from wind noise when
plus on-board maps. you’re out for a run.
POLAR VANTAGE V OPTOMA NUFORCE
BE SPORT 4
eSRODUFRP eRSWRPDFRXN
$SHFXOLDUćDJVKLS Running headphones
smartwatch, this has RIWHQVDFULĆFHVRXQG
some unique features quality. Not here. These
that might arouse the VRXQGVWXQQLQJĆWOLNH
runners out there, a glove and are great
especially the running value. The effective
power metric, measured sound isolation may be
on the wrist. DbELWPXFKIRUVRPH
GARMIN FENIX 6 SOUNDCORE SPIRIT
PRO TITANIUM SPORTS BY ANKER
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Rugged, but far from Our favourite budget
too heavy, the Fenix 6 UXQQLQJKHDGSKRQHVĆW
is especially good for brilliantly and are very
triathletes and trail waterproof and sweat-
runners. Expensive proof. Sound quality is
and over-specced, this acceptable rather than
demonstrates what astonishing, but we’ll
Garmin is capable of. forgive that.
:257+e
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There’s no shortage of rum in the world (thankfully), but there is short supply of this
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family-owned Flor de Cana. It would make a superb gift for rum connoisseurs, and comes
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