GADGETS / GAMES / GEAR

Reign
in the

30 GREAT
rain

GARDEN Spot

GADGETS
all the
birds Feel the
thrill of
the grill

Smart BBQs, portable speakers

and robo mowers for making
more of your summer Get the
party
started
APPLE
UPGRADES!
Powerhouse processors
for the iMac and iPad Pro Grow
perkier
Train plants
PLUS! your turf
bot
Top pet tech revealed
Sonos Roam reviewed
Do you need a dual-screen laptop?
& a very small action camera
Light
up the
Watch night
moonlit
KELSEYmedia
movies
£4.99 June 2021 www.stuff.tv
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3
 CONS 06.21
P8
HOT STUFF
06 The Hot Five
Apple iMac (M1)
Superpowered computer
Apple iPad Pro (M1)
Superpowered tablet
Urbanista Los Angeles
Sun-powered headphones
Polaroid Go
Shrink-powered instant camera
Transformers Optimus Prime
Auto-Converting Programmable
Robot (Collector’s Edition)
An Optimus Prime Transformer
that converts automatically and
is programmable and is a robot
and is an edition for the collector
14 Vital stats Sony Xperia 1 III
Best phone camera ever?
16 Stream
Including No Dalmatians Yet
18 Icon Beosound Emerge
An exceedingly bookish speaker
20 Games
Village of the damned impressive
22 Wheels Extreme E Odyssey 21
‘E’ is for eco, electric and “Eeeeh!”
24 Stuff meets Richard Browning
The real-life Icarus (wax-free)
THE LEGENDARY STUFF TOP TENS P82
4
P48
WIN!
p25
P60
TESTS FEATURES MAKING STUFF UP
29 First test Sonos Roam 32 Upvoted Editor-in-Chief
A classy wireless speaker, but no Bluetooth keyboards James Day
Head of News
bigger than a space-Toblerone Cut the cable to your screen (but Matt Tate
46 Tested LG OLED65G1 not literally, please) Head of Stuff Digital
An LG OLED TV, but even better 34 Cover feature Natalya Paul
48 Tested Huawei Mate X2 Garden gadgets Contributors
A folding phone, but desirable Tech can help you transform that Craig Grannell,
49 Tested Hydrow bleak wasteland into a miniature Tom Wiggins,
Sam Kieldsen,
Like Peloton, but on your backside BBQ-friendly Eden Adam Hay-Nicholls,
52 Tested Asus ZenBook Duo 14 44 Mini meme Alpay Dedezade,
A screen, but also another one Nature discovery apps Simon Lucas,
Basil Kronfli,
53 3 of the best Micro guitar amps And if you look over the fence, Leon Poultney,
Rock’n’roll, but in virtual silence there’s even more green stuff… Mike Jennings,
56 Tested Bang & Olufsen H95 54 Beta yourself Chris Barraclough,
Alan Wen,
Nice cans, but how much!? Game emulation Richard Purvis,
58 Tested Insta360 Go 2 Turn your life into a 24hr arcade, Ross Presly
An action cam, but how small!? no 10p coins required
Contact us
67 Tested Hisense A7200G 60 Pet tech stuff.ed@kelsey.co.uk
Hisense, but low price Mostly frivolous purchases to UK subscription and back issue
orderline: 01959 543747
69 Versus Gaming headsets make you forget that your house Overseas subscription orderline:
Immersive, but under £100 now smells of wee 0044 (0)1959 543747
Toll-free USA subscription
72 Tested Myzone MZ-Switch 70 Instant upgrades orderline: 1-888-777-0275
A tracker, but not chocolate chip iPhone 12 Pro UK customer service team:
01959 543747
75 Tested Asus ROG Phone 5 A deep dive into the secrets of Customer service email address:
subs@kelsey.co.uk
A smartphone, but for gaming Apple’s handsome handset Customer service and
76 Long-term test DJI FPV 98 Random access memories subscription postal address:
Stuff Customer Service Team,
A drone, but you’re in the cockpit Chromebook (2011) Kelsey Publishing Ltd,
The Granary, Downs Court,
78 Games When the world first realised ‘the Yalding Hill, Yalding, Maidstone,
Outriders, but It Takes Two cloud’ wasn’t just bad weather Kent ME18 6AL
6JGYQTNFoUƂTUVYKTGNGUU
RJQPGEJCTIGTYKVJ
TCFKCVKQPRTQVGEVKQP

8KUKVYYYUNGGRJCNQEQO

Charge your phone,

RTQVGEVCICKPUVTCFKCVKQP
Designed and Manufactured in the UK,
SleepHalo™ allows users to wirelessly
charge their mobile devices whilst
enjoying protection from the associated
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*QYKVYQTMU
SleepHalo™ is an inductive loop
wireless charger encased within a SleepHalo™
beautifully designed plastic enclosure
that incorporates Electro Magnetic Field £39.99
shielding.

The genius of SleepHalo™ is that it allows 5NGGR*CNQv6YKP2CEM

the wireless device to continue to operate,
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 Squad of
thunder
Two Thunderbolt ports
enable superfast data
transfer and allow you to
connect to external devices
like Apple’s 6K Pro Display
XDR. Wi-Fi 6 is also
supported.

6
 ALL THE
BIGGEST
STORIES FROM
PLANET TECH

Apped around
your finger
Thousands of programs,
including Photoshop, Office,
Twitter and Slack, are now
‘Universal apps’ that harness
the increased power and
efficiency of M1 and
macOS Big Sur.

Pass the
touchie
Touch ID makes its iMac
debut this year. Located on
the wireless Magic Keyboard,
it talks to the M1 chip via
an encrypted channel
to protect your
fingerprint data.
HOT
FIVE
#1
GOOD NEWS FOR
PEOPLE WHO
LOVE RAD HUES
Apple iMac (M1)
Apple gave the computing world the shake
it arguably needed last year when it said
goodbye to Intel and introduced a couple of
scarily accomplished MacBooks equipped
with its very own M1 chipset. And to
nobody’s surprise, the stationary Mac
has now followed suit.
Apple says its new M1 iMac will deliver up
to 85% faster CPU performance and up to
2x faster GPU performance, while allowing
users to edit up to five streams of 4K
footage simultaneously. And as well as
switching to powerful Apple silicon, the
completely redesigned iMac – just 11.5mm
thin – sports a 24in 4.5K display with 500
nits of brightness, True Tone and over a
billion colours.
You also get what Apple calls the best ever
speakers in a Mac and an improved 1080p
webcam. Perhaps tastiest of all, though, are
the colour options. No doubt inspired by
the early iMacs of the ’90s, the 2021 iMac
comes in green, yellow, orange, pink, purple,
blue or silver – with matching peripherals.
Filling out spreadsheets and mass-deleting
emails has never looked so hip.
As hot as… a mouse the colour of fire
from £1249 / apple.com

7
 H O T S T U F F

Do they know
its crispness?
The 2021 iPad Pro gains
Smart HDR 3 support for
the first time, using a new
processor to quickly focus
images and videos and nab
loads of detail even in
low light.

HOT
FIVE
#2
GOOD NEWS FOR
PEOPLE WHO
LOVE PAD VIEWS
Apple iPad Pro (M1)
Still reckon an iPad Pro’s not for proper
work? Apple begs to differ. Last year’s
model was impressive, but the 2021 Pro
packs an M1 chip that ups the flagship tab’s
CPU clout by 50% and the GPU by up to
40%, rivalling the fastest Macs.
And that’s not all. Fully embracing the ‘Pro’
part of the device’s name, Apple’s added
Thunderbolt for external displays, optional
5G, up to 2TB of storage and – on the 12.9in
model that starts at £999 – an XDR
display. This uses over 10,000 Mini LEDs,
versus the 72 LEDs in the previous model,
to ramp up brightness (1600 nits at peak)
and contrast when you’re doing creative
things… or skiving off and watching telly.
Well, you wouldn’t want to waste that
four-speaker audio system on mere
work now, would you?
The TrueDepth camera has been
revamped too, with a 12MP ultrawide
lens that has a 122° field of view. With
Apple’s machine-learning smarts, it can
keep you in shot during video calls – even
when you’re dancing about the place,
giddy with glee about your shiny new
pride and joy.
As hot as... 10,000 miniature suns
from £749 / apple.com

8
 H O T S T U F F
Knockin’ on
eleven’s door
Some people still prefer the
portability of the 11in iPad Pro,
but bear in mind you don’t get
the new Mini LED display on
that slab. We’re still talking
about one hell of a
screen, though.

ALSO NEW
FROM APPLE

Apple TV 4K
Hoping for an Apple TV
revolution? Too bad. The
revamped Apple TV (from
£169) looks identical to its
predecessor. Fortunately,
it has added grunt over
the 2017 unit, using the
A12 Bionic chip to beef up
graphics, video, audio and
gaming performance.
The little black box now
supports high-framerate
HDR and Dolby Vision
video; throw in a rethought
Siri Remote and this looks
a decent upgrade.

Keys me
please me
The Magic Keyboard
remains an arguably essential
add-on for using an iPad Pro
for work, its backlit keys and
ace trackpad turning the
tablet into a real laptop
alternative.
AirTag
Apple finally announced its
long-rumoured AirTags,
teeny trackers that make
use of the vast ‘Find My’
network Apple has built up
using its enormous iPhone
user base. The stainless
steel tags have IP67
water/dust-resistance
and a built-in speaker, and
can be attached to bags,
keys and other non-phone
stuff you definitely don’t
want to lose. They’re £29
each, or £99 for four.
9
 H O T S T U F F

Too little
noise?
As with most modern
noise-cancellers, the ANC
can be toggled on and off with
a button. Press it once to kill all
ambient sound, and again
to let the important
bits through.

HOT
FIVE
#3
WRING ME
SUNSHINE
Urbanista Los Angeles
When you think of LA, you probably think
of gated mansions, hilariously expensive
shops and a massive sign on a hillside. But
also year-round sunshine. It’s fitting, then,
that Urbanista has named what it dubs ‘the
world’s first self-charging solar-powered
headphones’ after the city.
These wireless cans are powered by
Powerfoyle solar cell material, which
converts light into electricity to deliver, in
theory, neverending battery life. An hour
outside in the sun returns three hours of
playtime… and if you’re worried about the
UK not holding up its end of the bargain,
you’ll be pleased to know that ambient
light also does the job. As long as you’re in
a well-lit room, the Los Angeles will keep
charging away – and leaving them by a
window for an hour when you’re not using
them should add another hour of charge.
It’s the plugless life we’ve been dreaming
about for yonks, all thanks to that big ball
of fire in the sky.
Beyond that, they offer pretty much
everything you’d expect from wireless
headphones at this price, like Bluetooth 5,
ANC, on-ear detection and voice support
via Siri and Google Assistant.
As hot as... a solar-powered barbecue
£169 / urbanista.com

10
 H O T S T U F F Welcome to
the bundle
An analogue cam’s not
much use without paper to
print on… so the Go is available
as part of a £129 starter set,
which bundles in a double
pack of the teeny
colour film.

HOT
FIVE
#4
TINY HAPPY
PEEP-PEARL
Polaroid Go
Commutes, credit card bills, jockeys: all
things that are much better when they’re
really small. And so are instant cameras, if
you want Polaroid’s opinion on the matter.
At just 10.5cm long, 8.4cm wide and
6.2cm tall, the Polaroid Go is a seriously
tiny travel-friendly snapper. Yeah, you
remember travel…
The world’s smallest analogue instant
camera features a newly developed
selfie mirror, a self-timer, a flash, and
easy-to-do double exposures. And while
its diminutive form might spark fears of
equally diddy battery life, Polaroid reckons
it’s got better stamina than its larger
predecessors. “How’s the film going to
squash into that tiny box?” we hear you
cry. Well, there’s also a new film and each
photo is only 2in across, barely half the size
of a regular instant snap.
Polaroid is calling the Go a wearable
camera, which presumably means you
Cell’s like can attach it to some kind of lanyard
teen spirit around your neck for quick on-the-go
Not quite ready to embrace access. Then again, in the promotional
a totally solar-powered material we were sent, one person
future? There’s a 50-hour appeared to be balancing theirs on their
battery that will quell any head, so feel free to get creative.
remaining juice-based As hot as... a selfie inside Mount Vesuvius
fears. You can charge £110 / uk.polaroid.com
it via USB-C.

11
 Weapon
of voice
Optimus Prime features
over 25 voice-activated
commands, including “Roll
out!”, “Convert!”, “Attack!”
and presumably “Escape
from that overly
inquisitive dog!”

HOT
FIVE
#5
AMAZIN’ PRIME
Transformers Optimus
Prime Auto-Converting
Programmable Robot
When Transformers toys first arrived, you
could convert them from vehicle to robot
by flipping them over and positioning their
limbs. Today’s versions are a little trickier,
quickly transforming owners from placid
bot-lovers into frustrated rage monsters.
But the new Transformers Optimus Prime
Auto-Converting Programmable Robot
(Collector’s Edition) gets around this in
cunning fashion.
Drawing on Robosen Robotics’ experience
in crafting high-end transforming robots,
this collaboration with Hasbro converts
itself, making good use of 27 servo motors
to rearrange its 50cm form.
For 700 bucks, that would be a cool but
expensive gimmick. Fortunately, this bot
goes further, coming to life as you reel off
voice commands and watch Optimus
respond by shooting imaginary
Decepticons with his signature blaster
and uttering worthy phrases in Peter
Cullen’s familiar tones.
Naturally there’s an app as well, for
programming and customising Optimus,
controlling him via the on-screen joystick…
or having him transform, roll out and check
Megatron’s not lurking by your bins.
As hot as… Megatron’s curry breath
$700 / shop.hasbro.com

12
 The rear camera
can also shoot 4K
HDR video at up to
60fps, or 120fps

OKAY
slow-mo.

ZOOMER
Sony Xperia 1 III
£tba (due early summer) / sony.co.uk

When it comes to taking

photos, the Xperia 1 III
aims to be top dog thanks
to a little help from Sony’s
Alpha camera division
ONow near, now far
Sony supplies many of its rivals with
camera sensors, but one thing it’s
kept back for itself is the Xperia 1 III’s
variable telephoto lens. It’s paired
with a 12MP sensor and instantly
switches between f/2.3 70mm and
f/2.8 105mm focal lengths, so you
can zoom in and out instantly and
still get pictures packed with detail.
There’s also AI super-resolution
zoom, which claims to restore
definition that’s lost when using
digital zoom.

ORelative waheys
Sony’s penchant for tall and thin
screens already makes its phones
stand out, but the 1 III also comes
with a world-first 4K HDR 120Hz
display. That’ll make the 6.5in OLED
a real treat for the peepers when
watching video, especially when
you throw in 240Hz motion-blur
reduction. This will also help with
gaming, although perhaps not as
much as the 240Hz touch-scanning
rate, which should mean your
fingers aren’t behind the on-screen
action. Throw in speakers that are
40% louder than its predecessor’s,
plus support for Sony’s 360 Reality
Audio format, and it’s shaping up to
be quite the entertainer.

OAnother Corning stoner

With power provided by the mighty
Snapdragon 888 5G processor,
12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of
storage, Sony hasn’t scrimped on
the vitals, plus there’s a 4500mAh
battery in there that you can bypass
when gaming while plugged in to
prevent things from overheating.
That might help to stop you from
dropping it… but if you do, there’s
Gorilla Glass Victus on the front,
plus it’s rated IP65/68 for general
toughness. Will all this be enough to
make up some ground on Samsung,
Apple and co? We’ll find out when it
goes on sale in the summer.

14
XTRA
XPERIAS
OXperia 5 III
If you like the sound of the
Xperia 1 III but could tolerate
a slightly lower-res screen with
slightly less sturdy glass, the
5 III is the one to go for. It’s about
identical in every other way, with
all the same fancy camera tech.
OXperia 10 III
There was a time when you had
to sacrifice things like 5G if you
bought a mid-range phone,
but then the Xperia 10 III arrived.
It has a 6in 21:9 FHD+ OLED
display that supports HDR,
and a 4500mAh battery.
OXperia Pro
Now available in the UK for
an eye-watering €2499, the
top-spec Xperia Pro can use its
6.5in 4K screen as a monitor for
a proper camera and livestream
what it shows over 5G. But
seriously, that price?
THE MAIN
CAMERA
SWITCHES
BETWEEN
70MM AND
105MM
Put your mind at wrist
FITBIT LUXE
Fitbit’s thinnest fitness tracker yet is inspired by jewellery design
techniques… but forget blingy Swarovski crystals, because the Luxe
is more ‘Indian yoga retreat’ than ‘Marbella beach club’. The emphasis
is on a holistic approach to fitness, taking into account sleep, stress
and nutrition, as well as all the regular stuff like calories and distance.
The only in-yer-face feature is the vivid AMOLED display, suitable
for smartphone notifications, but even that can easily be hushed.
Subscribe to Fitbit Premium (£7.99/m) and you’ll unlock benefits such
as guided meditation by none other than New Age champ Deepak
Chopra. It’s fully waterproof, for dunking yourself in the River Ganges.
£130 / fitbit.com
Slate bloomers
AMAZON FIRE HD 10
Amazon’s got new tablets. So. Many. New. Tablets. Kicking things off,
the latest Fire HD 10 (pictured) is thinner, lighter and more powerful. You
get an octa-core 2GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, uniform bezels, 12 hours
of battery life and a brighter full HD display. Not enough clout? The Fire
HD 10 Plus (£180) has 4GB of RAM and wireless charging. But won’t
somebody think of the children? Oh, wait, Amazon has. The next-gen
Fire HD 10 Kids (£200) ramps up battery life, adds USB-C and still comes
in that near-indestructible case. Finally, for older sprogs there’s the Fire
10 Kids Pro (£200) with extra content, a filtered browser and voice calling
to parent-approved contacts: “Hi Nan, we’ve just bought 15 new tablets!”
£150 / amazon.co.uk
15
 Spring is here, and you are free to go outside
for five minutes between bingewatches. Then
straight back to the telly for some of this…

The Underground The Woman in Domina

Railroad
This 10-part series from Moonlight
director Barry Jenkins follows the
fraught journey of an escaped
slave attempting to reach freedom
via a network of abolitionists and
safe havens running from the
South to Canada. Nothing to do
with the proposed extension of
the Bakerloo Line, then.
S1 / Amazon Prime Video, 14 May
the Window
Joe Wright’s psychological thriller
was supposed to come out in 2019,
and a delay is rarely a good sign; but
with a cast this talented (including
Amy Adams and Gary Oldman) we
maintain high hopes. Adams plays
a woman who thinks she witnesses
a murder, but is she just imagining
things? Let’s face it: probably not.
Film / Netflix, 14 May
Offering an alternative perspective
on the power struggles of ancient
Rome, this Sky series dramatises
the life and times of Livia Drusilla,
wife of emperor Augustus and, in
her day, the most powerful woman
in the world. By means of intrigue,
seduction, conspiracy and murder,
Livia ruthlessly maintains her
family’s status. Sounds delightful.
S1 / Sky/Now, 14 May

Love, Death & Robots The Nevers Cruella

Do you like androids, ultra-violence
and philosophising about free will,
intelligence and the very meaning
of life itself? A second batch of adult
animated sci-fi tales arrives on
Netflix and, if it’s anything like the
first one, it’ll be heavy on all of the
above. It should also display the
same broad swathe of animation
types as the original series.
S2 / Netflix, 14 May
In Victorian London, a group of
women find themselves given
strange, apparently magical talents
following a mysterious eclipse…
Creator Joss Whedon may have
departed under a murky cloud, and
early reaction from both critics and
viewers has been less than glowing,
but The Nevers has far too much
potential to dismiss just yet.
S1 / Sky/Now, 17 May
The world may not have been
crying out for a live-action Cruella
de Vil origin story, but we’ve got
one – and it actually looks great.
In a lavishly recreated 1970s
London, Emma Stone’s Estella
is a streetwise grifter dying to make
a splash in the fashion industry.
So, how does she get from there
to dalmatian-craving villainy?
Film / Disney+ Premier Access, 28 May

Army of the Dead Film / Netflix, 21 May

TH ISS ’T

Zack Snyder is a director who doesn’t always hit the mark: for every 300 or Dawn of the
M N
DO

Dead, there’s a Sucker Punch or Dawn of Justice. But his flair for OTT action sequences
looks to have found a suitable home in this, a blockbuster heist movie in which a Dirty
IS

Dozen-style mob of mercenaries venture into a post-apocalyptic Las Vegas to relieve

a casino vault of a few million dollars. The major snag? Sin City is now swarming with
zombies – and not the slow, shambling kind. Cue bullets, blood and undead tigers.

16
17

BANG & OLUFSEN BEOSOUND EMERGE
from £539 / bang-olufsen.com
That’s a nice-looking… book?
Nearly. B&O’s Beosound Emerge
speaker has been designed to
resemble a hardback: side panels
wrap around it like a book cover,
while the front wears its maker’s
logo like a name on the spine.
So is it like one of those novelty
birthday cards where you open
it and it starts playing Dua Lipa?
Er, no. There are touch-sensitive
buttons on the top, and you can
18
choose between oak and black
finishes. The general idea is that
the speaker can sit on a bookshelf
to blend in.
I’m guessing it goes louder than
a copy of Bleak House?
Beyond its camouflaging skills, the
Emerge promises sonic muscle
that belies its slenderness The
front-firing 37mm midrange driver
is mounted at an angle, along with
a 15mm soft-dome tweeter.
Room for a little bit of bass?
Oh yes, those drivers are teamed
with a 100mm side-firing woofer
that’s guided towards the back of
the speaker – with the result, B&O
assures us, being a truly room-filling
racket. The Emerge can be added
to an existing multiroom setup
that includes any Bang & Olufsen
connected speakers, while there’s
support for Apple AirPlay 2 and
Google Chromecast, plus Google
Assistant for hands-free control.
THE IDEA IS
THAT THE
SPEAKER
SITS ON A
BOOKSHELF
TO BLEND IN
Anything else I should know?
Well, books don’t ever become
outdated, and neither does the
Emerge. Like the Beosound Level
before it, it’s modular, and comes
with a connectivity hub that will
receive performance updates
for years to come but is also
replaceable should new tech
render it obsolete. We look forward
to the Emerge causing a stir at your
local public library soon – just don’t
accidentally return yours.

Don’t think 2S, it’s all right
DJI AIR 2S
Aerial photographers and videographers have a new tool to stick in
their bag – and it won’t have to be a very big bag. The DJI Air 2S is the
smallest camera drone yet to come with a 1in sensor on board, and it’s
able to capture 4K video at 60fps or 5.4K at 30fps as well as 20MP stills.
A three-axis gimbal keeps things steady, while video shooters have
the option to shoot in Hybrid Log Gamma or D-Log profiles for
maximum colour-grading scope, as well as H265 to conserve storage
capacity (there’s 8GB built in, plus a microSD slot). Battery life runs
to 31 minutes of airtime per charge, while an updated version of DJI’s
OcuSync transmission tech gives the Air 2S a range of up to 12km.
£899 / dji.com
DROP
EVERYTHING
& DOWNLOAD
Clap Hanz Golf
Apple Arcade (£5/m)
The Apple Arcade subscription service has
slowly but surely built itself an impressively
eclectic library of games… bolstered by a
huge update that Apple recently dropped
out of nowhere, which featured a number
of games from some industry big-hitters.
And the pick of the bunch, if you ask us, is
Clap Hanz Golf.
In all but name this is an Everybody’s
Golf title for Apple Arcade, marking the end
of developer Clap Hanz’s long exclusivity
deal with PlayStation. But don’t expect
an inferior knockoff. Like its predecessors,
the infectiously cheerful Clap Hanz Golf
hits that sweet spot between arcade and
simulation golf, with this iteration letting
you switch to a different character for each
hole. The new touch controls, meanwhile,
arguably make hitting a great shot even
more satisfying.

In-ear (tales of swanky Bowers)

BOWERS & WILKINS PI7
B&W doesn’t mess about when it comes to sound. So while its audio
adversaries have been churning out true wireless earbuds for a while,
the British hi-fi bods have bided their time – but the PI7s look to have
been very much worth the wait. The important stuff? Dual hybrid drive
units that work just like B&W’s top-notch speakers, plus quad amps
with advanced DSP that should ensure performance worth every
penny of that not inconsiderable pricetag. A six-mic array – three
in each bud – brings active noise-cancelling and calls, while the case
they charge in can be connected to a wired music source and transmit
wirelessly to the earphones – handy if you ever get on a plane again.
£349 / bowerswilkins.com

19
 G A M E S
FIRST PLAY RESIDENT EVIL VILLAGE PS5, PS4, XSX, XB1, PC
Creepy mansions, claustrophobic
corridors, a cramped train
carriage – quite often it’s the
oppressive setting that really
gives Resident Evil its fear factor.
But while the new instalment
switches things up by giving you
a village to explore in daylight, it
still knows it’s at its best when
you’re kept in the dark.
Exploration in Resident Evil
Village still requires finding the
[ Words Alan Wen ]
right keys or tools to access
different areas. The returning
first-person perspective from
Resident Evil 7 (as well as its
protagonist Ethan Winters,
20
this time on the search for his
newborn daughter) immerses
you in fear, not knowing what’s
around the corner as you’re
lured into dark spaces while
the eerie audio design has you
nervously on guard.
New threats include Lycans,
a zombie/werewolf hybrid
capable of clambering around
environments at a dangerous
pace. Fortunately, Ethan feels
well equipped to fight – and if
you defeat them they’ll even
drop money, which can be spent
in random pop-up shops set up
by an oddball merchant calling
himself The Duke, one of many
callbacks to Resident Evil 4.
But the horror elements have
not been diluted, especially as
you find yourself pursued by
some frighteningly invincible
foes – including vampire giantess
Lady Dimitrescu. Most terrifying
are her three daughters, who
can’t wait to feast on Ethan’s
fresh man-blood.
Oh, and they can transform
into a swarm of insects, flitting
in and out of form and making
a mockery of your bullets. If that
whets your appetite, look out for
the full review next issue.
 FIRST LOOK EMOTION-CAPTURE ANIMATION

LIFE IS STRANGE:
TRUE COLORS
PC, PS5, PS4, XSX, XB1
Life is Strange is a series that’s
married high concept with
big issues and managed to hit
fans right in the feels. So its
apt that in its latest game your
superpower is empathy.
For Alex, the protagonist
in True Colors, the power to
experience, absorb and
manipulate the emotions
of others – whether that’s
anger, sadness or something
from a whole unpredictable
range, expressed as strange
coloured auras – has been a
curse she’s tried to suppress
her whole life. But when her
brother dies in a suspicious
‘accident’, she finally has to
confront and use her powers
to uncover the secrets behind
the life of a seemingly idyllic
small town.
While the series has plenty
of heart, it’s also been held
back by varying quality in
writing, tone and animations.
Fortunately, with Deck Nine
(the studio behind the fine
prequel Before the Storm)
back on development duties,
bringing improved visuals
and fully motion-captured
performances, True Colors
looks set to give the series
the glow-up it needs.
And the best part is that,
instead of the long waits of
an episodic release that risk
losing momentum, the whole
game will be out in September.
So feel free to binge – but you
might want to make sure you
have a hankie nearby first.

BEST OF VR FOR ESCAPING REALITY

PAVLOV VR SONG IN THE SMOKE RESIDENT EVIL 4 VR

PC, PSVR2
With a new and improved VR headset
officially coming to PS5 (dubbed PSVR2
for now), one of the first confirmed titles
is co-op shooter Pavlov VR. While it’s
already available on other VR platforms,
Sony’s headset promises the fidelity and
controls to do it justice.
PC, Oculus, PSVR
Indie developer 17-Bit swaps classic
2D strategy and shooters for a bold new
frontier in this atmospheric survival VR
game. Battle the elements and the wild
by crafting medicine, arrowheads and
more, and see if you can survive this
world’s mysteries.
Oculus Quest 2
For anyone who’s disappointed that
Resident Evil Village won’t have a VR
mode, here’s something even better:
the all-time masterpiece RE4 is going
VR exclusively for Oculus Quest 2! As
the game’s iconic merchant would say,
“Ahh, I’ll buy that at a high price!”

INCOMING
JUNE
ORATCHET & CLANK: RIFT APART
OMARIO GOLF SUPER RUSH
OFINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE
OSCARLET NEXUS
JULY
OMONSTER HUNTER STORIES 2:
WINGS OF RUIN
OTHE LEGEND OF ZELDA:
SKYWARD SWORD HD

21
W H E E L S
Extreme E Odyssey 21
APOCALYPSE NEEEEOW
£N/A / extreme-e.com
This snarling beast is a particularly
fearless electric SUV called the
Odyssey 21 – and a bunch of them
are competing across challenging
terrains in the world’s most
endangered places. Welcome
to Extreme E, the latest venture
from the people behind F1’s
greener cousin, Formula E. But
XE takes the whale-saving to
another level. This is motorsport
meets National Geographic.
There’s no questioning the
calibre of the racers: rally legends
Carlos Sainz and Sebastien Loeb
are going up against Jenson Button,
22
This e-SUV can
race up 52° gradients.
Top speed is 124mph,
0-62mph takes 4.5s,
and range? Well… in
the first race it was
just 12 miles.
while Lewis Hamilton and Nico
Rosberg own teams and, uniquely,
the sport mandates an even gender
split across its nine teams – so
women compete alongside men,
including Britain’s Jamie Chadwick
and Catie Munnings.
But the green part of this deal is
every bit as serious. First of all, the
championship pledges to leave
each racing venue better than
it was found by creating ‘legacy
programmes’ tailored to help the
natural world.
To keep the carbon footprint to
a minimum, there are no spectators
Built by Spark
Racing Technology, the
Odyssey 21 is powered
by a 400kW (536bhp)
electric motor from
Williams Advanced
Engineering.
and teams are restricted to five
on-site technicians. ‘X Prix’ are
among the most remote sporting
events ever to be broadcast live, but
many of those involved are back in
London or Amsterdam.
There’s a medivac helicopter
on site in case something awful
happens, but overhead shots are
recorded by drones. The cars are
carried to the races aboard a ship
that runs on low-sulphur diesel
and provides scientific residencies
for ecological research.
Stuff attended the first race in
the Saudi Arabian desert, which
proved to be a tough affair with the
track flipping cars and tearing off
tyres. The new tech took a beating,
with suspension woes, overheating
batteries, power-steering failures
and one wrecked chassis. And the
next race in Senegal (29-30 May)
presents a completely different set
of challenges.
XE has set out to transcend
sport. It’s easy to be cynical about
EVs ripping through tortured
landscapes, but so far it’s a thrilling
spectacle – and actually has
diehard motorsport fans talking
about the climate crisis.

RACING TO SAVE THE PLANET: THE CALENDAR
DESERT X PRIX
ALULA, SAUDI ARABIA
Stuff witnessed the first
race, designed to heighten
awareness of the effects of
desertification (which could
[ Words Adam Hay-Nicholls ]
displace 700 million people).
The series has also set up
a conservation fund for
the Red Sea’s endangered
hawksbill turtles.
3-4 April
OCEAN X PRIX
LAC ROSE, SENEGAL
The next one takes place on
Africa’s Atlantic coast near
Dakar. Drivers will contend
with sandbars, saltbeds,
gravel and rocks, while
drawing attention to fragile
marine ecosystems. XE has
committed funds to plant a
million mangroves.
29-30 May
ARCTIC X PRIX
KANGERLUSSUAQ,
GREENLAND
Round 3 focuses on the
melting ice caps and rising
sea levels: scientists predict
there will be no summer
sea ice in the Arctic inside
a generation. XE’s cars will
race across land that was
until recently a glacier.
28-29 August
H O
AMAZON X PRIX
PARA, BRAZIL
Round 4 races around the
rainforest on the banks
of the Amazon – ground
zero for deforestation and
wildfires. Rainforests are
of course essential to life,
absorbing carbon dioxide
and releasing oxygen into
the atmosphere.
23-24 October
T S T U F F
Designed for impact,
the tubular frame is
steel alloy reinforced
with niobium. The
bodywork is made
from plant-based flax,
not carbon-fibre.
GLACIER X PRIX
TIERRA DEL FUEGO,
ARGENTINA
The finale takes place near
Ushuaia, the Patagonian
town known as ‘the end of
the world’ and the gateway
to Antarctica. Some of the
biggest consequences of
climate change are being
seen in the glaciers here.
11-12 December
23
 STUFF MEETS

Richard Browning
THE MAN BEHIND THE JET-PACK one you have to start all over
again to build the next one, so

FLYING SUIT ON WHAT IT’S LIKE

you can’t really replicate very
efficiently. Now we have a

TO BE A REAL-LIFE TONY STARK

Aviation is
in my blood.
One of my
grandfathers
was chief
executive
of Westland Helicopters, the
other was a wartime and civil
pilot, and my late father was
an aeronautical engineer.
I used to build model aircraft
when I was a kid, and even
when I spent 16 years working
for BP I never lost the passion
for taking on challenges.
It’s all down to human balance.
There’s a TED talk on YouTube
that shows all the ludicrous
experimental phases, but we
ended up with two engines
on each arm and a slightly
more powerful one on your
back. The three ‘legs’ of that
tripod give you stability but
it’s also a very useful way of
controlling flight: if you vector
the engines down you go up;
if you flare them you come
down again.
We’ve used head-up displays
for fuel and engine data.
It’s kind of cool but often quite
flaky and complicated. The
latest suit has got a little
pendant system wired in,
which is much more reliable
and the crew can use it when
you’re on the ground. AR tech
still needs to mature, a bit like
how smartphones did – early
smartphones would crash a
lot but they’re so robust and
brilliantly usable now.
I love how elegant modern
tech looks.
From the moment you
open the box it’s a rewarding
experience. Sam, who does
all our CAD work, is a massive
aesthetics enthusiast so
everything tends to look
cool and space-age. And
why not? We’re building flying
suits, right? We ride around
in a Tesla X now as one of our
deployment vehicles and
launch jetsuits out of the
falcon-wing doors. We don’t
have to do that, but it actually
works very well!
We love our Insta360 One X2
360° action cam.
It bamboozles people – even
the BBC don’t seem to know
they exist – and it’s made
so many fixed-angle GoPros
redundant. You just stick the
thing on a stalk, then it edits
out its own pole and films the
world – it’s just brilliant.
Nearly everything we make is
3D-printed now.
In the early days I used to rivet
and bolt aluminium extrusions
together. Once you’ve done
“WE RIDE AROUND IN A TESLA X
AND LAUNCH JETSUITS OUT OF
THE FALCON-WING DOORS”
little £2000 Ultimaker that
3D-prints smaller things, but
we also use companies that
have multi-million-pound
machines. It’s been an
enormous enabler to us.
The engines aren’t printed
but a lot of the housings and
the backpack structure are.
Innovation is about risks.
You might look like a fool, you
might hurt yourself and you
might run out of money –
maybe even all three – but
as an entrepreneur or inventor
you’ve got to just swallow
that. Stuff will go wrong more
often than it goes right, but
if you can keep making those
failures recoverable you can
keep progressing.
Richard Browning’s book
Taking on Gravity: A Guide
to Inventing the Impossible
from the Man Who Learned
to Fly is out now.

Flying is a bit like cycling.

When you ride a bicycle
you don’t consciously think
about trying to balance it, you
just think about where you
want to cycle to – flying is
as effortless as that. When
you’re flying you’re not
[ Interview Tom Wiggins Image Wonderhatch_Quintessentially ]

thinking about what you’re

doing, you’re just going
wherever your mind takes
you. It’s a pretty euphoric,
otherworldly experience.

I’ve flown in 33 countries.

We’ve flown in Dubai, South
Africa, China several times,
the Gold Coast of Australia,
Rio, across Europe and all over
America. Do I have a favourite?
Flying around the HMS Queen
Elizabeth aircraft carrier when
it was visiting the American
coast outside Washington DC
was pretty epic.

24
 TOTAL
PRIZE
FUND
£1080

WIN 1 OF 3 AUDIO PRO WIRELESS

SPEAKERS WORTH £360 EACH!
Gareth Southgate’s attacking options for the
Euros, chopsticks or cutlery at Wagamama, and HOW TO ENTER
the Phil Collins back catalogue: all fine examples Want to fill the room with Phil? Course
of being spoilt for choice… and when it comes you do. For a chance to win this month’s
to multiroom speakers, Audio Pro offers a similar competition, go to stuff.tv/win and
selection dilemma. answer this question:
Its latest C10 MkII wireless speaker (£360)
is compatible with Apple AirPlay 2, Google Cast WHICH BAND WAS
and its own app-based platform, leaving you
to choose how to build your multiroom setup.
PHIL COLLINS IN HURRY!
You can even change the look of the speaker by BEFORE GOING SOLO? COMPETITION
removing the magnetic fabric grille. The successor A… Genesis CLOSES
to the award-winning C10 also includes Spotify B… Revelation 17 JUNE
C… BTS 2021
Connect, along with support for every major
streaming service.
We’ve got Audio Pro C10 MkII speakers to give Terms & conditions: 1 Open to UK residents aged 18 or over.
2 Entries close 11.59pm, 17 June 2021. 3 Prizes are as stated.
away to three lucky readers, ready to transform 4 Prizes are non-transferable. 5 Only one entry per person.
your home audio in one fell swoop… but before Full Ts & Cs: kelsey.co.uk/competition-terms-conditions/
Promoter: Kelsey Publishing Ltd, The Granary, Downs Court,
you start dreaming of blasting out Sussudio in the Yalding Hill, Yalding, Maidstone, Kent ME18 6AL.
living room, visit audiopro.com for more info.

25
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 FIRST TEST SONOS ROAM

Boom,
shake
the
Roam
Sonos has made a truly
portable speaker fit
for chucking just about
anywhere – but can
it make a full-size noise?
£159 / stuff.tv/SonosRoam

he Sonos Roam is this

T esteemed audio company’s

first proper portable speaker.
Forget the Move, because
while it would love to claim that title (and
is a fantastic bit of kit in its own right),
the truth is its sheer heft puts it pretty
low down our list of boomers to sling
in a satchel.
The Move is an able beast but simply
too unwieldy for weekends away and
jaunts in the park… but the Roam is an
altogether more sensible proposition for
outdoor parties – and that’s not only due
to its physical dimensions.
Being clued up for both Wi-Fi and
Bluetooth, it’ll get on nicely with an
existing Sonos setup but has the nifty
addition of appealing to punters from
outside of the Sonos sphere – those
looking for a no-nonsense wireless
speaker without the need to use a
dedicated app.
This, then, might just be the brand’s
most accessible speaker yet – and it
arrives just in time for the summer. But
the sub-£200 porta-speaker market is
awash with strong rivals from Marshall,
JBL, Ultimate Ears and more, so Sonos
needs to cut through the noise.
Designed to stand either vertically or
horizontally, the robust Roam isn’t exactly
shouty in the design department, with a
metal mesh and rubberised matt plastic
finish; so it’s what’s inside that matters.
Does it stick to the same sweet audio
recipe as the rest of the Sonos range?

29
 4
2

1 Go hard or go Roam
The Roam has a refined aesthetic,
in keeping with the rest of the
Sonos family. It feels sturdy and
the rubberised ends are there to
absorb shock. The buttons are
physical to avoid accidental prods,
and there’s USB-C charging or
you can fuel it wirelessly.

2 Roam computer
Above the Sonos logo is a tiny
LED displaying connection status
and muting; a second LED on the
top indicates when microphones
are active. The final LED is found
at the bottom and shows power
and charge status. If it glows
orange, it’s thirsty.
3 Make yourself at Roam
Pairing is a doddle: control the
Roam from a streaming platform,
a podcast app or AirPlay 2. You’ve
got Alexa or Google Assistant
on voice duty, and automatic
Trueplay means it’ll tune its sound
to suit the environment, whether
you’re inside or outside.
4 She’s leaving Roam
Another choice feature is Sound
Swap, which switches audio to
the nearest Sonos speaker in the
vicinity. Press play/pause and
the Roam pings sound around
accordingly – useful if you wish
to express your right to Roam
without taking it with you.
5 Roam on the range
Connectivity remained rock solid
throughout our testing, as did
the seamless switch between
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, although
the claimed 10-hour battery life
is a stretch and it takes around
two hours to get it juiced up with
a full charge.

24 hours with
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2mins 11mins 15mins 45mins 1hr 4hrs 7hrs 8hrs 10hrs

30
 FIRST TEST SONOS ROAM

Tech specs
Audio 1x tweeter, 1x mid-woofer,
2x Class H amps
Connectivity Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2
Battery life Up to 10 hours
Water-resistance IP67
Dimensions 168x62x60mm, 430g

1 Green green grass of Roam

In, out, take it all about. How did the Sonos Roam
fare on our mini world tour to the park and back?

Q Roam comforts Q Roam front

For a Sonos, the sound
quality is really just OK.
But for a speaker of this
size and form factor, it’s
impressive. It might not
quite outweigh some of
the competition, but it
certainly matches them.
One thing this little box
doesn’t lack is bass: it
has a surprising amount
of low-end oomph for a
speaker so small. In fact
it’s a bit overzealous in
certain cases, requiring
some tweaks to the EQ.

Q Roam truths Q Roam and dry

Things are well balanced
in the mid-range, although
it does suffer in the higher
echelons, lacking a bit of
clarity. That bass really is
the boss here, especially
when you take the Roam
into the shower.
In reality, your mates in
the park are not likely to
hush the crowd to note
that vocals sound ever
so slightly dampened, and
on that basis the Roam is
a perfectly well-rounded
portable speaker.

Sonos should have made the Roam

years ago. Its portability alone should
be enough to see it shift plenty of
units, but it’s the bonus features like
automatic Trueplay and Sound Swap
. l,

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with solid sound that works well
across Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
12hrs 19hrs 21hrs 22hrs 24hrs

31
 UPVOTED
FOR HIPSTER TYPES
The fashionable fingerer
Apple Magic Keyboard
Like comfort food for Apple fans, the clean
and minimalistic Magic Keyboard brings
everything you’d expect to the table: a sleek
design, a solid mechanism and hassle-free
pairing with your Mac. It might lack bonus
features like backlighting, but at least it’ll last
a month or more between charges.
£99 / apple.com
FOR KEY WORKERS
The snowy smoothie
Razer Pro Type
The Pro Type is a pure-white productivity
powerhouse, with plenty of tricks crammed
beneath its Daz-dipped backlit keys. Its
mechanical switches promise a tactile
experience without the ear-splitting clacks
typically blasted out by mechanical rivals,
and it’ll play nice with up to four devices.
£140 / razer.com
FOR THE PLAYERS
The kaleidoscopic clicker
Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro
This Razer board has a super-speedy RF
wireless mode in addition to Bluetooth,
further proving that your losing streak is
down to human error alone. Media controls
are useful during de-frazzling breaks, while
the colourful RGB backlit keys help offset
the guilt of all those virtual murders.
£200 / razer.com
1 Dump the digits
You don’t necessarily need a desk-dominator. If
HOW TO you’re not a number-cruncher or gaming macro
enthusiast, save yourself some cash and ditch
DECIDE the numberpad for a ‘tenkeyless’ model.
32
The emoji enabler
Microsoft Designer Compact Keyboard
Microsoft’s answer to Apple weighs in at
just 288g and is small enough to slip into
any bag. But who cares? The best part is
that you can instantly summon any emoji
you desire thanks to a dedicated key (yes,
really). It also has the ability to easily snap
between three different devices.
£70 / microsoft.com
BLUETOOTH
KEYBOARDS
WFH’s got us plugging laptops
into TVs, but now we can’t
reach the keys – so Alpay
Dedezade picks out some
nifty button-bashers
The sofa surfer
Corsair K63
Gaming in the full glory of a living-room TV
setup is becoming more popular, especially
with the advent of low-refresh-rate tellies.
The K63 is part keyboard, part lap-tray,
with a built-in mousepad and soft-touch
wrist-rest. Can it also be used as a handy
snack tray? Sure. We won’t judge.
£70 / corsair.com
The noisy nostalgist
Azio Retro Classic
Want to ignore the aesthetic advances of
keyboards from the past several decades?
Get the loud and proud Azio Retro Classic.
Inspired by the typewriters of old, its round
mechanical keys bring an unapologetic
thwack to typing, while a durable aluminium
frame makes it feel luxurious and sturdy.
£161 / aziocorp.com
The angled appeaser
Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard
Your achy wrists deserve a break, and
Microsoft’s wavy board is the expert
masseuse they’re looking for. Its split design
lets your hands rest in a much more natural
position, reducing strain. And despite its
sensible purpose it’s a looker too, with
a luxurious Alcantara palm-rest.
£120 / microsoft.com
The turbo tapper
Logitech G915
Logitech’s Lightspeed tech aims to boost
you to the head of the esports pile thanks
to a 1ms response time (faster than many
wired keyboards). Aimed at gamers who
accept no compromises, it’s slim and light
too, with a set of programmable macro
buttons for an even bigger edge.
£210 / logitechg.com
2 Love the lights
Backlit keys are great for low-light work and
play. Gaming keyboards tend to go overkill with
full-on unicorn-vomit RGB lights, which will of
course make you play at least 20% better.
 UPVOTED

The crafty creator

Logitech Craft
The Craft is a festival of rounded edges, taking
in the keys as well as the body, without a single
corner in sight. This bold anti-pointiness look is
complemented by a Creative Input Dial that can
adapt to different functions depending on the
app you’re using. From changing the volume of
your music to altering brush sizes in Photoshop
and much more, it makes this an ideal choice for
fearlessly creative sorts.
£179 / logitech.com

3 Deploy the dongle 4 Consider the colours

Bluetooth is convenient, but it’s nice to have Mechanical keyboards come with different kinds
other options. Some fancy boards also offer of key switch. Red switches are super-sensitive,
wired and RF wireless dongle options, which can blue ones have more resistance so are better for
be handy for gamers looking for lower latency. typing, while brown is a happy medium.

33
 GARDEN GADGETS
PATIO
HANDS
TOGETHER
[ Words Tom Wiggins ]
Bare grills, lawn enforcers, al-fresco entertaining and ways to
spot a hungry robin – let’s hear it for the tech that helps make
your garden more than just somewhere to go for a sneaky fag
WEBER GENESIS II EX-315
ome people think a barbecue
S isn’t really a barbecue unless
you forage for the charcoal at
your nearest petrol station forecourt,
hunt down the meat on the wild
plains of your local high street, and
get it going with nothing more than
a box of Swan Vestas and enough
firelighters to ignite a bathful of
mayonnaise – but apparently using
gas is cheating.
To be honest, the LPG that powers
the EX-315 Smart Barbecue’s three
stainless steel burners is probably
the least techy thing about it, which
doesn’t bode well for the purists, but
34
leaves the rest of us plenty of room
to admire this absolute cathedral to
outdoor cooking.
We’ll meat again
As well as gas, the EX-315 is cooking
with Wi-Fi, which means you can
keep an eye on whatever’s sizzling
away without having to stand over
its porcelain-enamelled, cast-iron
cooking grates… or even open the
lid. It comes with an integrated meat
probe (plus the capacity to add a
second one) and works with Weber’s
Connect platform, which allows you to
use an app on your phone to monitor
temperature and cooking progress.
It’ll even send you notifications when
it’s time to serve your steaks or pull
your pork.
For those who prefer to do things
the old-fashioned way, there’s also
a built-in temperature display on the
front, plus an LED handle light and
illuminated control knobs in case you
get peckish after dark and decide to
fire it up for a midnight burger.
Sure, doing everything properly
from scratch might be more authentic,
but since when did stomachs care
about authenticity?
£1311 / weber.com
 GARDEN GADGETS

Grease
lightening
The EX-315 comes with
stainless steel Flavorizer
Bars, which are part of a
grease-management system
that channels the icky stuff
away from the burners
and into a special
container.

Rest
end grills
This barbie has stainless
steel tables on each side of
the grill, so you’ll always have
somewhere to rest your tongs;
but if you’d prefer some extra
cooking power, the EX-335
(£1521) has a side
burner too.

Dutch
in the void
With a cooking area of
4254cm2 there should be
enough space to feed the
whole family, plus you can
level-up your repertoire using
bits and bobs like pizza
stones, griddles and
a Dutch oven.
35
 GARDEN GADGETS

Go your Witness
bone way the thickness
The Dome’s dome is The Dome is densely
made of ceramic-coated insulated, with a 30mm floor
steel, so it’s designed to live that means the inside stays
outside all year round. Unlike hotter for longer and radiates
most barbecues, which tend the heat nicely around the
to be black only, you can oven. There’s room in
pick this olive or a there to cook a 16in
‘bone’ finish. pizza.

Stand
and do liver
The oven itself weighs
58kg, so you probably won’t
want to move it around too
much. To make it easier
to manoeuvre, there’s an
optional stand (£289) with
four wheels and some
36 handy shelves.
 GARDEN GADGETS

GRILL TALK
Ever since humans discovered how to make fire they’ve
cooked their dinner on it… but tech has moved on since PRO TIPS
then, so feast on these upgrades to your crusty setup

MORE KILLER GRILLERS

GOZNEY
DOME BBQ wisdom
from Dan
Cooper, pro chef
hen you think ‘barbecue’ you and Weber’s
W probably picture piles of gently
cremated bangers, dry beefy
head grill master
(@daniel
discs between cheap baps, and a cooperbbq)
sad-looking token veggie option.
But outdoor eating has come a long TRAEGER PRO 575 AQUAFORNO II TEPRO TORONTO
way in recent years – and Gozney’s Toot toot! All aboard If Vasily Zvyozdochkin, STEAK GRILL 1 USE THE LID
new Dome proves it. the chimney-packing, inventor of the iconic With a single ceramic People leave it to
Following (very) hot on the heels pellet-smoking Pro 575. stacking Russian dolls, infrared burner that’s collect rainwater
of Gozney’s Roccbox, the Dome is the This American-style had designed a BBQ, capable of reaching and dead leaves,
Bentley Continental of back-garden job burns compressed it’d probably have 800º in just two minutes, but restricting
pizza ovens. In fact, to call it a pizza chunks of wood that looked just like the this gas-powered grill oxygen reduces the
oven is to do the Dome a disservice. infuse your food with Aquaforno II. The can get you a perfectly risk of flare-ups,
While it will reach temperatures of up flavours such as hickory, telescopic design cooked chunk of sirloin stops all the flavour
to 500º – which is the kind of intense apple and mesquite. means it can be both in less time than it takes from blowing away
heat you need to get those crispy Smoking and slow collapsed for storage to fry an egg. The high and helps you to
leopard-spotted crusts – it also cooking are its greatest or separated out into heat seals in the flavour cook things evenly.
means you can sear steaks and strengths, and it comes its three parts, so you and sears the outside,
expertly char veg. with WiFire tech that can do everything from while a fat-collection
It’s massively versatile: turn the lets you keep on top of grilling and roasting to system makes it easy 2 GO INDIRECT
heat down and you can slow-roast things with an app. smoking and boiling. to dispose of the yuck. Indirect cooking
larger cuts of meat or fish; close the £899 / traegergrills.com £395 / aquaforno.com £300 / iwoot.com means having an
door and add smoking chips for some area with no heat
extra flavour; take your lockdown source under it, so
sourdough addiction to the next level you can turn the
with the integrated steam injector; middle burner off or
or even attach the cold smoker bank up the coals
attachment for salmon. and leave a ‘safe
zone’ in the centre.
Carnival of fuels If something takes
The standard Dome is wood-fired, more than 20
with a dial on the side to control the minutes to cook,
airflow and regulate the temperature go for indirect.
inside, but if you’d rather not rely so BODUM FYRKAT BERGHOFF LEO CHAR-BROIL
entirely on thermodynamics there’s If all you’re looking for TABLE BBQ GAS2COAL
also a dual-fuel model (£1199) that is a metal bowl to make Anyone who sees you Can’t choose between 3 THERM UP
adds a built-in gas burner; but both a fire in, you can’t go far cooking on the Leo may the convenience of So many people
work on exactly the same principles. wrong with a Fyrkat. Its well worry they’re about gas and the tradition think thermometers
To take the guesswork out, there’s modest 38cm diameter to be served eye of newt of charcoal? Try this belong in pro
also a digital thermometer display and means it’ll take you a and toe of frog; but with hybrid: if you’re feeling kitchens but that’s
two meat probes included. while to feed the five a cork lid that doubles ‘authentic’, just add the nonsense. They’re
Gozney also makes commercial thousand, but the matt as an adjustable base included tray, load it up very cheap and it
ovens for restaurants, which means finish and stainless steel to control airflow, it’s with ex-wood and use just means you’ve
the Dome has been created using legs make it look the suitable for grilling nicer the gas burners to ignite got complete
some serious know-how. Better business, it comes with scran too. All the bits are it. The airflow means it confidence in your
make sure you’ve got the cooking a lid to protect your removable, which makes actually burns from the food being cooked
skills to match. flames from gusts of it easier to scrub off the top, which offers more through properly.
from £999 / gozney.com wind, and the silicone traces of burnt snake. even heat distribution.
handle is heatproof. €199 / from £370 /
£120 / bodum.com berghoffworldwide.com charbroil.co.uk

37
 GARDEN GADGETS

SOIREE STYLES
Please don’t cram 30 friends into your tiny garden…
PRO TIPS but with outside the new inside, it pays to have your
open-air hospitality options on point just in case

M O R E PA R T Y S TA R T E R S
TRANSPARENT
LIGHT
Backyard cinema
hints from George SPEAKER
Wood, founder of
the Luna Cinema hile chin-stroking audiophiles
(lunadrivein
cinema.com)
W wang on about the ‘warmth’
of vinyl, if you’re after a music
source that actually looks like it gives
off heat you need one of Transparent’s
1 SET THE ASUS ZENBEAM PINTER B&O BEOLIT 20 Light Speakers.
SCREEN LATTE L1 It might look like some With its built-in leather Transparent’s designers started
If you haven’t got a With another summer sort of NASA fuel tank, handle and flat top, the by studying the qualities of an
white wall you can of football-related but the only thing the Beolit 20 looks a bit like actual candle: the light temperature,
string a bedsheet disappointment ahead Pinter (as in ‘pint’, not a futuristic drinks cooler; brightness and wax-drip velocity.
between two of us, it’s a good idea Harold) is going to power but you’ll only get aural OK, we made the last one up, but the
fence-posts, pull to have something is your next knees-up. refreshment out of movement of a real flame is one thing
it taut and project else you can rely on, Fill it with water, yeast this Bluetooth box. Six that sets it apart from artificial light
onto that. The so how about your and your choice of Fresh drivers and two 35W and makes the Light Speaker look
picture won’t be own backyard cinema? Press bev (anything amps give it plenty of convincingly like an old lantern – it’ll
brilliant but it’ll be Asus’s battery-powered from stout to cider) and oomph, plus it doubles even flicker in time with the music.
decent enough. projector has built-in it’ll make 10 pints in four as a wireless charging
10W speakers and can days. Just make sure plinth so you won’t even Knobs yer uncle
beam a 120in, 720p you get it started in time need to go inside to save Of course, candles don’t make much
2 DON’T START picture onto any nearby for your guests. your spluttering phone. noise, so Transparent combined its
TOO SOON flat surface. £75 / £450 / faux-flame in the base with a passive
Even with the £399 / asus.com thegreatergood.co.uk bang-olufsen.com 3in woofer and put a 2.5in full-range
most powerful driver in the dome-shaped top, which
projector you’re fires out 360° sound. That means the
still governed by Light Speaker comes with two knobs
sunset. At dusk (stop it): one to control the volume of
you start to get a your tunes and another for adjusting
picture so you can the brightness. With the latter at
set the scene a bit, its lowest it’ll glow like fiery embers,
but wait until it’s while at max it’ll look more like a
fully dark before standard fluorescent bulb, so you’ll
the film starts. have lighting conditions to match
everything from campfire strummers
MARSHALL PHILIPS HUE BIG BERTHA to high-energy bangers.
3 FEED INTO EMBERTON AMARANT MODULAR SOFA The Light Speaker only has 5W of
THE FILM Like red Ferraris or If you’re used to having BEAN BAG sound-pushing power to play with,
Food or drink white Apple earphones, smart bulbs throughout Sure, you could plant so that will limit the amount of full-on
can mirror the Marshall kit should your gaff, you don’t want your rear on some white outdoor raving it’s likely to inspire;
atmosphere of a always be black… but to downgrade when plastic patio furniture but with Bluetooth 5 on board you
film and it really we’ll make an exception it comes to outdoor like you’re getting can connect two of them to the same
enhances the for the brand’s smallest illumination. Philips has lobstered in Benidorm… source and use each Light Speaker
experience. Bluetooth speaker. It a range of garden-ready or you could recline in as a separate stereo channel. That
Everyone loves it won’t go loud enough Hue lights, but this real comfort on one of should give your capacity for both
when you screen to scare the neighbours is its latest addition: BB’s water-resistant audio and illumination a much-needed
The Big Lebowski but it sounds stonking a ground-based giganta-sacks. The boost, especially if you’ve been joined
and serve up White and will play for up to 20 weatherproof lightsaber sections zip together, so by a chin-stroker whose pretentious
Russians. hours. It’s also available that paints any large flat you can slip away if your ramblings you’re trying to drown out.
in green… and yes, black. surface with a wall of co-occupant gets dull. £270 / transpa.rent
£130 / marshall white or coloured light. from £279 /
headphones.com £130 / philips-hue.com bigberthaoriginal.com

38
 Slap GARDEN GADGETS
and pickle
The Light Speaker
obviously won’t actually heat
up, but it still comes with a
detachable handle to make
it easier to carry around. It
weighs 600g – about the
same as a jar of
gherkins.

At my
moist beautiful
While a real flame will
wave a white flag at the first
sign of water, the Light Speaker
has an IPX2 rating so it can
deal with a splash of rain or
two, although a full-on
soaking is still off
the cards.
Method
of module love
Transparent’s speakers
are all designed to be
modular, so any part can be
removed and repaired or
upgraded. It’s mainly an eco
thing, but it’s also just as
well considering the
prices…

39
 GARDEN GADGETS
Truth
to shower
There’s a Bosch Smart
Gardening app you can use
to control your M+ 700, but
it also works with IFTTT
and Alexa. Whatever you
get it to do, it’ll sack
it off if it looks Games
like rain. with frontiers
Unless you want to come
home to find your robot
trying to mow the bottom of
the pond or breaking for the
front gate, you’ll need to stake
out its territory using the
included perimeter
wire.

Climb
a believer
The M+ 700 has a trio of
19cm blades that can be set
at three different heights: 30,
40 or 50mm. It’ll cope with
slopes of up to 27%, which
shouldn’t be a problem
unless you live in
40 Teletubbyland.
 GARDEN GADGETS

SUPER GRASS
Because even the most green-fingered gardener wants
a helping hand – especially if it means robot minions PRO TIPS
doing the hard graft while you kick back with a beer

MORE FOLIAGE FETTLERS

BOSCH
INDEGO Lawncare
essentials with
M+ 700 Chris Coote,
robotics product
manager
ot all robot lawnmowers are at Bosch
N created equal. You might
think that, as long as there’s
(bosch-diy.com)
something out there showing the GARDENA HOZELOCK WORX LANDROID
blades of grass who’s boss, you can AQUABLOOM GREEN POWER S300 1 CLEAR UP
put your feet up; but there’s more to If you’ve got a balcony EVOLUTION It might feel a bit lazy Whether you’re
choosing an autonomous gardener or terrace full of plants THERMAL WEEDER to enlist a robot mower using a robot
than that. that need watering, Unless you’re Kurt when you’ve only got mower or a
The number in this Bosch mower’s this system takes Russell in The Thing, 300m2 to keep in check, traditional one,
name means it’s capable of patrolling some of the terrifying flamethrowers are but we’re not ones to remove any stones
gardens up to 700 square metres responsibility off your generally overkill for judge – especially if it or other hard
in size. If you’ve got less lawn to cut hands. With 14 different dealing with pests. But means you get to buy objects before you
there are other bots that are equally programmes and a call your fiery wand a more tech. The tank-like start. This reduces
well equipped for the job, but this is solar-powered pump, Thermal Weeder and S300 is designed for the chances of
the top dog in the Indego range. you just need to add a use its 600°C tip to smaller green spaces damaging yourself
And you don’t need one unbroken bucket of water and let deliver a thermal shock but still has all the extras or the mower.
expanse of green to get the best of it: the micro-drip irrigation to slay any straggly of a wider-roamer, such
its MultiArea capability means you can do its thing. It can deal intruders on your patio, as intelligent navigation
allocate up to three patches of grass with up to 20 plants. and that’s fine. and auto-scheduling. 2 RISE UP
to its territory and it’ll automatically £99 / gardena.com £60 / hozelock.com £500 / worx-uk.com When it’s dry, raise
take care of each one, as long as the the height of the
total area doesn’t exceed 700m2. cut on your mower,
as keeping the
Routing for you grass a bit longer
Rather than just bumbling about avoids weakening
randomly looking for grass to attack, it and encourages
its LogiCut intelligent routing calculates deeper rooting. Rule
the fastest, most efficient way around of thumb: aim to
your garden and mows in neat lines, remove only a third
pumping out the mulched cuttings of the grass blade
to help fertilise the soil. It can even at a time.
start each cut by going around the ORBIT B-HYVE NETRO KÄRCHER
edges and making sure they’re all CONTROLLER WHISPERER SENSOTIMER
neat and tidy. A bit like a smart Soil isn’t known for its ST 6 ECOLOGIC 3 OPEN UP
There are sensors on board to help thermostat for your chattiness, so you might Looking for something Avoid letting too
it avoid obstacles, but that doesn’t garden, this is a Wi-Fi need help if you want halfway between the many fallen leaves
mean you have to let things get controller for sprinkler to find out what things AquaBloom and the build up during the
out of hand underneath your garden systems. Its app gives are like (just) below the B-Hyve? Fix this little autumn months.
furniture – SpotMow mode allows it you control over the surface. Stick a Netro computer to an outside Thick layers block
to focus on smaller areas that don’t watering schedule, but Whisperer in the ground tap, stick the radio out the sunlight
get the treatment as part of its normal it also gets local weather and its sensors will sensor into the soil and and inhibit air
routine, so it can easily take care data and automatically collect data on moisture, it’ll ensure your garden’s circulation, which
of any newly exposed tufts when adjusts so your plants temperature and moisture level never makes it difficult for
everything gets put away at the end don’t drown. You can use sunlight conditions, falls below the preset the grass to breathe
of the summer. voice control via an Echo sending you notifications value. It checks every and grow.
£1149 / bosch-diy.com or other Alexa device. if any of your plants need 30 minutes, so nothing
£149 / special attention. will go thirsty for long.
waterirrigation.co.uk £60 / netrogarden.com £100 / kaercher.com

41
 GARDEN GADGETS

BEASTIE TOYS
Whether it’s furry, flying or far away, it doesn’t always
PRO TIPS have to go on the BBQ – here’s everything you need to
be a techy twitcher without turning your visitors into lunch

MORE WILD WONDERS

BIRD
Animal-spying
pointers from
Billy Heaney,
BUDDY
zoologist and hile your video doorbell will
nature presenter
(billyheaney.
W tell you about every peasant
who comes within 10 metres
co.uk) of your front doormat, there’s a
whole procession of visitors in your
BLINK OUTDOOR WILDLIFE EVE WEATHER back garden that have gone entirely
1 BE IN THE Blink’s nicely affordable ACOUSTICS ECHO The weather might not unrecorded. Stick a Bird Buddy out
RIGHT PLACE Outdoor cameras are METER TOUCH 2 be as cute as the local there, though, and you’ll be able to
Don’t focus on really designed to keep You already knew your fox family, but it’s not put together an identity parade of all
getting all of the an eye out for human phone was a camera, going to watch itself. the flappers that drop by.
garden in shot; intruders, but their mix satnav and general Eve’s weather station Equipped with a motion-activated
experiment with of AA battery power, HD procrastination station, keeps an eye on the camera that captures 5MP stills and
different locations. video with night vision but did you know it temperature, humidity 720p video, it has a 120° lens pointing
Find out what’s and handy boxy design could be a bat detector and barometric pressure straight at the dining plinth, so unless
sneaking in and out means they’re ideal for too? This gadget plugs in your garden, and you regularly get visits from an
of that hole in your snooping on wildlife. The into your phone or tablet records it over time albatross it should be able to fit
fence, or what’s app will ping you if one (Lightning or USB) and in an app. So you get every feather in. As well as snapping
using your pond. spots anything, and you listens in on ultrasonic a more accurate picture awesome avian close-ups, it’ll ping
can store videos in the bat banter, while an app of what the skies are your phone when a beak approaches
cloud for £2.50 a month. analyses and translates. likely to dump on you and allow you to watch your guest
2 BE THE from £100 / £199 / over the next 12 hours. chow down in real time – with a
BADGER blinkforhome.com wildlifeacoustics.com £62 / evehome.com reservoir of food that’s easy to refill
Once you’ve got it when the greedy tykes have finished
set up, do a test to stuffing themselves.
make sure you’ve
got your angles Titsville UK
right and the What sets the Bird Buddy apart from
camera’s pointing just strapping a camera to a regular
exactly where you bird table is the extra twitching
want. Walk (or skills provided by the app. It includes
crawl) past it. AI-powered identification smarts that
can recognise over 1000 species of
common bird, whether the camera
3 BE A MASTER BROWNING RECON VAONIS VESPERA CELESTRON catches a proper glimpse or the mic
BAITER FORCE ELITE HP4 If you’d rather look at SKYMASTER just hears what it’s singing (apparently
Springwatch often While the name makes what’s above the birds, PRO 20x80 corvids are partial to belting out the
use snacks to it sound like something this motorised smart Interested in the stars hits of Sheryl Crow).
attract animals… out of Call of Duty, telescope will point you but not quite €1499 Each new type that pays your Bird
but don’t feed Browning’s wildlife cams in the right direction. It interested? A pair of Buddy a visit will unlock a spotter’s
them crap. Use have been used on BBC uses your phone’s GPS binoculars might be badge to add to your virtual collection,
foods they would Springwatch – so the to work out exactly a better place to start. a bit like a real-life game of Pokemon
naturally come only thing it’ll shoot is where it is, while the Celestron’s waterproof but without the battles; plus the app
across, and be 1080p footage at 60fps. app lets you choose SkyMaster Pro 20x80s will give you tips on what to fill the
careful not to With its camo finish it’s what you want it to offer large lenses, 20x feeder with to attract each one… and
encourage easy to squirrel away, show you… before magnification and a no, the end slices of bread will not do.
unnatural and when triggered snapping celestial built-in tripod adaptor Don’t believe us? Check out the RSPB
behaviour. it’ll start to record in portraits using the for keeping things guidelines, you cheapskate.
a fraction of a second. highly sensitive 1/2.8in steady when you’re £135 / mybirdbuddy.com
£165 / browning Sony sensor inside. trying to inspect Uranus.
trailcameras.com €1499 / vaonis.com £230 / celestron.com

42
 GARDEN GADGETS
Here comes
the wren again
The Bird Buddy is of course
weather-resistant; and if
anything goes wrong with the
camera module or a new
version comes along, that
bit’s designed to be
replaceable.

I’ve got you Whole

under my siskin lotta dove
There are various optional The 6040mAh battery
mount options, including ones should last about a month
for fences and walls, plus you between charges, depending
can even add a solar-panel on how popular your garden is
roof or tempting suet-ball with the local birds. Try not
holder. Mmmm, to take it personally if
suet-balls.… yours lasts longer.

43
 APPS

Mini meme

GOING
OmyGarden
Assuming the British weather
doesn’t troll us by snowing right APP THE OBirdNET
Birdsong is mostly territorial
types yelling at each other. Still,

through summer, and assuming
you have a patch of land to plant
stuff in, this app helps you get
green-fingered. It provides
inspiration and ways to plan:
there’s a journal for noting
successes plus a plant library
to help you track what you shove
into the soil, how often it should
be watered, and whether you’ll
die if you eat some for dinner.
£free / iOS
COUNTRY
it sounds nice. With BirdNET, you
can record, select and analyse
such sounds to discover which
birds are nearby. It’s not quite
Shazam for birds (ChirpOMatic
Continuing our going-back-outside is closer), but the slightly fiddly
theme, here are the apps that can help interface is compensated by the
app’s impressive accuracy. (We
you rediscover the great outdoors and checked – to the point where we
its wonderful wildlife (plus pubs) can now identify a dozen British
bird chirps.)
£free / Android, iOS

OPlantNet OPicture Insect OiNaturalist OPub Walks

Shazam for plants? Well, they
don’t make any noise, so no.
What you do get here, though,
is a plant-specific reverse image
search. Shoot a few snaps, tell
the app whether it’s looking at
a leaf, a flower, a fruit or some
bark, and it’ll rifle through its
database to let you know what
you’re gawping at, have just
wrenched out of the ground
or are keen to munch on because
shiny berries are so pretty.
£free / Android, iOS
Is that beetle going to go for
your throat? Will that ant eat
your brains? OK, so the UK’s
mini-beasts aren’t that exciting
nor terribly dangerous, but
it can still be fun to figure out
what you’ve found while digging
through the dirt on a ramble. This
app provides handy descriptions
of what you snap and keeps
your finds in a gallery collection.
Just be mindful it’ll often ‘bug’
you to subscribe.
£free (IAP) / Android, iOS
This app urges you to become
a citizen scientist, scouring your
local area to record organisms
you find and share them with
the world. Or you can just be lazy
and take advantage of everyone
else’s hard work. Either way, you
can zoom into a map, tap a grid
to see what plants and critters
were once nearby, and then get
all miffed when you rock up for
a closer look and everything’s
gone into hiding.
£free / Android, iOS
If you think the outdoors can
only really be called ‘great’ if it
involves a beer garden, but are
nonetheless keen to take in
nature, this app gives you the
best of both: it’ll advise about
pubs that are close to idyllic
locations. You can then start
from a pub’s front door, head
off for a stroll (GPS ensuring you
won’t get horribly lost), and end
up back at the same pub having
worked up a nice thirst.
£free / Android, iOS

44
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 T E S T E D LG O L E D 6 5 G 1

Can’t stand me wow

LG has overhauled its TV tech and
even included the UK’s catch-up
services this time, only now it’s
forgotten something else: legs
£3000 / stuff.tv/65G1

Yes, there’s a lot about LG’s new

G1 OLED range that’s new and
exciting and intriguing. Yes, LG
has made changes to the OLED
panel itself, to the operating
system you use to interact with
it, to the processing protocols 1
that govern picture quality,
and even to the remote control.
Yet one question still needs
answering: Where does LG get
the nerve to charge three grand
for a television that doesn’t have
any feet?
As part of LG’s Gallery series,
the OLED65G1 is designed to be
hung on the wall. To make this
enticing, there’s none of the bulk
where the electronics normally
go and a consistent depth of
just 19.9mm. The wall-bracket
doesn’t add any depth either,
so it’s completely flush (which
is, incidentally, what you’ll need
[ Words Simon Lucas ]

to be to afford it).
The only thing all that doesn’t
explain is why LG charges £99
for feet should you want them.
Anyway, let’s watch some telly…

My art will go on
The OLED65G1 is minimal and
discreetly decorative. The bezel
is vanishingly thin (1), there’s no
room even for LG branding, and to
reinforce its ‘Gallery’ credentials it
can display framed artwork while
in standby. No arguing with the
way it’s built – even the panels
covering the cables feel robust.
Hang on to your Evo
LG’s new OLED Evo panel (2)
promises brighter, sharper
images, and greater power
efficiency. It uses an additional
green layer, a new ‘luminous’
element and narrower blue
and red wavelengths. There’s
a new processor too: the
Alpha 9 Gen4.
The day before you game
The new chip includes a big
AI element to upscale sub-4K
content, and AI Picture Pro, which
enhances specific areas of an
image for greater impact. If you
have a PS5 or Xbox Series X
you can rest easy here with four
HDMI 2.1 inputs and a lag time of,
at worst, 12ms.

A slim and Outstanding Great OS

handsome picture with a stack
telly quality… of apps
GOOD …but sound Picky about
MEH is less motion
EVIL impressive settings
Expensive…
even without
any feet

46
 Playing
with the noise
The LG can summon T E S T E D LG O L E D 6 5 G 1
60W of audio power,
divided between a 20W
subwoofer and four
full-range 10W
drivers.

Tech specs
Screen 65in 3840x2160 OLED OS webOS 6.0
Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5, Apple AirPlay 2,
Google Cast, 4x HDMI 2.1, 3x USB, optical
HDR formats HDR10 Pro, HLG, Dolby Vision
Dimensions 1446x830x19.9mm, 29kg

Catch up, look sharp

LG embarrassed itself by omitting the UK’s catch-up
TV services last year, but it’s made amends for 2021

Q Appy together Q Tune enough

LG’s 2021 tellies pack
webOS 6.0 and it’s a big
change. The interface
covers the entire screen,
and as well as Freeview
Play there’s a big selection
of apps including Netflix,
Amazon Prime Video,
3 Disney+ and Apple TV.
Less headline-worthy are
Now, Rakuten, Google Play
Movies plus audio options
from Spotify, Deezer,
Tidal and so on. It manages
a decent Dolby Atmos
soundtrack where
compatible, but it sounds
fundamentally boring.

Q A find of magic Q Scroll survivor

GOAT of many colours
Evo makes good on its promises,
making this LG’s best OLED TV
yet, and watching Thunder Force
with Dolby Vision on Netflix only
strengthens that case. Every
aspect of picture-making is
impressive here – colours are
vibrant, details sharp, contrasts
wide but not unnatural (3).
Creep on movin’
The only area where it doesn’t
prove masterful is motion control,
where every kind of content
requires a different ‘clarity’
setting. It’s an accomplished
upscaler, although inevitably
there are limits. If you’re watching
On The Buses on this, you need
to have a look at yourself instead.
The OS puts the emphasis
on recommendations, but
you’ll need to put in the
hours before it starts to
understand your viewing
habits. Navigation happens
using the latest version
of LG’s almost entirely
admirable Magic Remote.
The point-and-click
aspect remains, as does
the up/down scroll-wheel.
There’s a mic for voice
control, plus some ‘direct
access’ buttons, and it’s
more palm-friendly than
it used to be. There’s also
an app should you lose it.

£3k is a lot of money to pay for a television, even STUFF SAYS +++++
one as slim and well-specified as this, especially Probably LG’s best ever
when you take the humdrum audio quality into
account. But the OLED specialists have made
OLED… which means
good on the ‘Evo’ promise by serving up pictures it’s about as good
that exceed expectations… so maybe LG is entitled to charge an OLED as we can
what it thinks it can get away with. @OnlySimonLucas remember seeing

47
 T E S T E D H U AW E I M AT E X 2

After the fold rush

Huawei’s Mate X2 copies the flexible Samsung Z Fold2
but moves things on with a bigger screen, bolder
cameras and a kickstand for watching telly
£2095 (est) / stuff.tv/MateX2

QThis slender sliver is just 4.4mm

thin in tablet state and feels lovingly
made, with smooth glass curving
into a polished metal frame that
sits comfortably in the hand… and
Huawei has even added a beautiful
‘Flipstander’ vegan leather case
for easier perching, whether in
phone or tablet mode.

QUnfold the Mate X2 and the 8in

tablet’s 2480x2200 OLED screen
shines. With its size and 413ppi
resolution, it’s larger and sharper
than the 7.6in screen of the Galaxy
Z Fold2, although its 90Hz refresh
rate isn’t quite as smooth.

QThe same 50MP main camera

from the Mate 40 Pro delivers
fantastic detail, white balance and
dynamic range, even when lighting
isn’t ideal. For macro, the 16MP
ultrawide lacks a little white balance
but still grabs plenty of detail. Video Gawk on
is a steady 4K up to 60fps. Selfies are
captured at 16MP
QYes, Google Docs, Drive, Maps, using the phone’s outer
Play Store and YouTube (to name display ‘front’ camera, or
just a few) still won’t work. The you can opt to use the
Huawei alternatives are slick, but main camera when
not to everyone’s taste. Still, it does it’s unfolded.
have handy multitasking options
with split-screen support.

QIt benchmarks better than a

Snapdragon 865 phone, but worse
than the latest Snapdragon 888s.
You get an ample 4500mAh
battery and 55W fast charging,
but no wireless option.

Tech specs
Screen 8in 2480x2200 90Hz
OLED (unfolded), 6.45in 2700x1160 Q Danger nerd Q Zoomin’ highway
90Hz OLED (folded) Processor After a week of use, nothing This phone puts other foldables
Kirin 9000 RAM 8GB Storage Up about the Mate X2 left us too to shame in zoom power. It has
to 512GB OS Android 10 Cameras concerned about wear and tear. two telephotos, one with a 3x
50+16+12+8MP rear, 16MP front The flexible screen is plastic, but equivalent zoom and the other
Battery 4500mAh Dimensions given it’s protected most of the with a 10x equivalent. If you know
162x146x8.2mm (unfolded), time (when the phone’s shut), it camera-speak, that’s 17mm
162x75x14.7mm (folded), 295g seems pretty durable. ultrawide to 240mm — mighty.

STUFF SAYS The familiar Huawei issues aside, this is a fantastic foldable phone ++++,

Heart of fold: At the time of writing the Mate X2 is available in China only, but we expect that to
has this tech change. It’s a seriously special phone proving foldables have what it takes to handle
come of age the real world while delivering a killer user experience – well, at least it would if there
at last? were no crippling Google limitations holding it back. There’s no doubting the Mate X2
Basil Kronfli is niche, but it’s still an important landmark step in folding screen tech.

48
 TESTED HYDROW

What I go to scull for Blast away that beer belly in time for summer thanks
to a full-body workout on this, the muscle-mashing
machine that fancies itself as the Peloton of rowing
£2295 + £38/m / stuff.tv/Hydrow

QHydrow has bolted a 22in HD

touchscreen display onto a sleek
Every time rowing machine and encouraged
you row away users to row alongside pro athletes
The power stats on some of the world’s most
are calculated to give stunning bodies of water. This
accurate effort output, lung-bursting low-impact activity
seeing you climb up uses 86% of your body’s muscles
or fall down a with every stroke.
league table.
QA patented system uses
sensors and an electromagnetic
mechanism to digitally adjust drag.
The result is a massive reduction
in noise – good thing too, because
you’ll want to hear your instructors
from the front-facing speakers.

QEverything revolves around a

bespoke app from where you can
explore training sessions and live
classes. It’s very, very similar to
Peloton in style. Pair Bluetooth
headphones or speakers, sync
heart-rate monitors, or even use
the Hydrow app with other rowing
machines at the gym.

QClasses are split into Drive,

Sweat and Breathe. The first
pushes you to the limit, the second
builds endurance, the third relaxes
mind and body. The instructors are
pros, but it takes time to find one
you get on with. Most are rife with
waffle and motivational guff, and
the music isn’t quite there either.

QIf you don’t want the scintillating

chat, Journeys mode lets you take
a scenic and silent FPV row around
somewhere picturesque. It all adds
up to something far less drudgey
than most rowing machines.

Q Oar than a feeling Q Dancing in the seat Tech specs

The Hydrow’s frame is cleverly
conceived, with smooth lines
and contrasting metal surfaces
to ensure it looks and feels
premium. More importantly,
it looks like something you might
actually want in your house.
Posteriors will also thank the
comfort-orientated seat, while Display 22in 1920x1080
the webbing on foot-straps and touchscreen Audio 2x 3W
rowing handles is top-quality. But front-facing stereo speakers
it doesn’t fold away: you have to Connectivity Bluetooth 5,
tip it on its end, fastening it to a Wi-Fi, Ethernet Dimensions
wall via an optional kit. 2190x1200x640mm, 66kg

STUFF SAYS The best rowing machine we’ve used, just missing some pro polish ++++,

A top all-round The Hydrow is an excellent teacher, but technique is key to rowing success and could
punisher… once prove tricky compared to the ease of an exercise bike or treadmill. It’s also difficult to
you’ve found hydrate or adjust settings while rowing, as you generally need both hands on to get
your sea legs anywhere fast. But master your stroke and workouts can be fiendish, pushing more
Leon Poultney than just your lungs and legs. It’s a full-on session that tones as well as improving cardio.

49
 BETA YOURSELF
GAME EMULATION
If you love retro gaming but lack the space to store 57 old
consoles and home computers, Craig Grannell can help you
enjoy classic titles and systems by emulating them instead
THE BASICS
QLearn the lingo
Getting into emulation, it feels
like you have to master an
alien tongue before you can
find what you need. Broadly,
though, emulators are just
apps that mimic old hardware.
Some of them need BIOS files
(firmware used for hardware
initialisation) and you will also
need ROMs – virtual copies of
cartridges – although some
systems use tape or disk
images instead.
QFocus on faves
It’s fun to explore gaming’s
rich history through emulation,
but remember you want
to play games rather than
merely collect virtual copies.
So start with a few favourite
systems. And rather than
grabbing complete ROM
collections for each system,
Drop a ROM
ROMs are a bit of
an ethical grey area. So
whenever possible, buy
legit copies of readily
available classics or new
games for old systems,
like Hunter’s Moon.
50
focus on a handful of old
favourites and new releases
for cherished hardware.
QControl yourself
PC and Android are popular
platforms for emulation, but
neither a keyboard nor a slippy
touchscreen is a good way
to play old games – so use
controllers. For Android, try a
Razer Kishi (£80), which turns
your phone into something
like a PSP. On PC, consider an
adapter for plugging in classic
joysticks and gamepads.
QBake a Pi
Want a dedicated retro gaming
unit for your telly? Got time to
tinker? A Raspberry Pi is your
best bet. Operating systems
like RetroPie and Batocera are
designed for this stuff, and can
be swapped out by switching
the SD card. The Raspberry Pi
400 (£67) is the best way to
emulate old keyboard-based
computers like the C64.
QTake a cab
If you love arcade games,
emulate them using cabinets.
Quarter Arcade units (£130
each) are fixed to one title,
but are authentic and look
great; the AtGames Legends
Ultimate (£799) is full-size
and has 300 built-in games.
Beware cheaper units that
just play NES conversions.
PLAY ONLINE
QVisit the arcade
For a zero-effort intro to the
classics, try Internet Arcade
(archive.org/details/internet
arcade), which runs old titles
in a web browser. For MAME
games, press 5 to add a coin
and 1 to start. Use arrow keys
for directions and Ctrl, Alt and
Space for buttons.
QStream on
Antstream Arcade (antstream.
com) offers another online
option, streaming retro games
for free (with ads) or £10 a
month. Its catalogue is packed
full of classics and there
are game challenges and
worldwide leaderboards.

USE YOUR PHONE
QInstall emulators
Android’s open nature makes
it great for emulation on the go.
RetroArch (£free) is a neat app
that supports a huge range of
hardware, but Robert Broglia’s
paid emulators are better if
you’re interested in just one
or two old systems.
QFront up
Regardless of the emulator(s)
you decide to go for, consider
investing in a front-end
launcher to make it easier
to rummage through your
virtual collection and select
something to play. RESET
(£4.29) and DIG (from £free)
are both worth a look.
PLAY
ON PC
QRemember the MAME
MAME is a preservation project
to ensure vintage arcade
games aren’t lost forever.
The side effect: you can play
them. Just be mindful you’ll
need the right ROM sets for
the version of it you’re running.
QArch your browse
As on Android, the PC version
of RetroArch is recommended
for playing games across a
range of retro systems. But
don’t be afraid to delve into
standalone emulators like
Stella (Atari 2600) and Kega
Fusion (Mega Drive). Most PC
retro emulators are free.
QPrepare for launch
LaunchBox (from £free) gives
you a dazzling front-end that
helps you organise your game
collection and figure out what
to play – assuming you can
stop gawping at the artwork
for long enough.
GRAPPLE WITH APPLE
QMoan at iPhone
Apple’s restrictive App Store
gatekeeping means emulators
for iPhone are rare – iDOS 2
(£5) for PC games is the best
of them – but developers
are doing interesting things
with web apps like Eclipse
(eclipseemu.me).
QMac it up
Macs have no such limitations;
and while retro emulators
are rarer than on Windows,
that doesn’t matter when
OpenEmu (£free) exists. This
front-end/multi-platform
emulator is a rare example
of an emulator for Apple kit
that’s best in class.
HANDHELD
HEROES
EVERCADE
The quirkiest handheld
released in recent years,
Evercade seeks to bring
back the collectable
element of retro gaming.
Games are supplied on
multi-title cartridges
that slot into the console;
there are ace collections
from Atari, Namco, Mega
Cat and Codemasters.
£60 / evercade.co.uk
RG350M
There are dozens of
cheap retro-orientated
handhelds, but the
RG350M stands out
with its mix of quality
hardware, extensibility
and usability. It doesn’t
cope well with games
beyond the 16-bit era but
it’s a great portable unit
for vintage console titles.
£100 / anbernic.com
GPD WIN 2
This most audacious
handheld is a Windows
laptop with a Nintendo
DS’s form factor. It’ll run
AAA PC titles from a few
years back and so has
no issues with emulators.
Add the built-in controls
and you’ve a perfect (if
pricey) all-in-one.
from £400 / gpd.hk
51
 TESTED ASUS ZENBOOK DUO 14

Livin’ on a pair
Are two laptop screens really better than one?
Asus certainly thinks so, judging by its unique
laptop that doubles up on the full-width displays…

£1599 / stuff.tv/Duo14
The Asus ZenBook Duo 14
(sexy codename UX482EG)
is a groundbreaking machine
cramming two high-resolution 3
displays into its 14in frame. The
dual-screen design takes aim
at creatives who find one screen
restrictive, and the ZenBook
bolsters those displays with Intel
11th-gen internals and claims of
brilliant battery life.
In its dapper suit of dark blue
magnesium alloy it looks really
quite fantastic, and lifting the lid
engages two clever mechanisms
that kick it into life. The first is
the ErgoLift hinge, which lifts the
laptop’s rear upwards and angles
the keyboard towards you for
easier typing. The other tilts that
secondary display forwards to
improve viewing angles and let
air in to cool the components 2
below it.
[ Words Mike Jennings ]

It’s a smooth operator and the

build quality is excellent… but is
that uniquely expansive second
screen a genuine gamechanger
or a gimmick?

4
1

Slick thick Mean screen Angle wrangle

This Asus is slick, but adding a
second screen does introduce
compromises. It weighs 1.58kg
and is 17mm thick (1). Neither
figure is ruinous, but both compare
badly to the most popular small
creative notebook, the Apple
MacBook Pro 13in (see panel),
at 1.4kg and 15.6mm respectively.
That second display (2) is called
the ScreenPad Plus; it offers great
potential for creative applications.
It’s a 12.6in IPS touchscreen that
can hold timelines and controls
in creative apps, media and
chat tools, browser windows,
or anything else you don’t want
clogging up the main display.
The main 14in screen (3) is a 1080p
IPS touchscreen. Colour accuracy
is excellent, but both panels are
flawed. The ScreenPad’s low angle
makes it ideal for secondary apps
but it can be a bit washed out; the
main display nails sRGB imagery
but can’t handle Adobe RGB or
HDR colour gamuts.

Quality Decent Really

dual-screen features and impressive
design connectivity battery life
GOOD Keyboard
MEH can feel
cramped
EVIL Some of …and
its rivals are slimmer and
faster… lighter

52
 TESTED ASUS ZENBOOK DUO 14
Pen zen
Apps can snap
between the two
panels, and this laptop
also comes with a
4096-point stylus
for digital
scribbles.

Tech specs
Screens 14in 1920x1080 touchscreen IPS, 12.6in
1920x515 touchscreen IPS Processor 11th-gen
Core i7, GeForce MX450 GPU RAM 16GB OS
Windows 10 Storage 512GB Connectivity Wi-Fi 6,
Bluetooth 5, 3.5mm headphone, 2x Thunderbolt
4/USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x microSD Battery life Up
to 17hrs Dimensions 324x222x17mm, 1.58kg

ZenBook vs MacBook
With the ZenBook Duo in Apple MacBook Pro
territory, the pair have some scores to settle

Q Tab thumping Q Core slumping

The ZenBook will handle
mainstream photo-editing
and video work, other
creative tasks, all of your
Office apps and as many
browser tabs as you throw
at it – and the speedy SSD
means it boots and loads
apps quickly.
Overall, though, it isn’t a
speed freak. Geekbench
tests illustrate the gulf
here: in single-core and
multi-core tests it’s beaten
by Apple’s M1 chip – and
the 13in MacBook Pro is
no more expensive unless
you add extra memory.

Q Cell trumping Q Port plumping

Dissed wrist
Because of the ScreenPad, Asus
has had to push the keyboard and
trackpad forward (4). That means
little room to rest your wrists, a
single-height return key and tiny
cursor buttons. The buttons are
decent, with pleasing snap and
speed, but the cramped keyboard
takes some getting used to.
Mouse nous
The trackpad is so narrow that
one swipe over the pad doesn’t
allow the cursor to travel across
the whole display, and the two
buttons (5) are a little soft. It’s
another area where Apple wins…
although you can always solve
the ZenBook’s trackpad issues
by using a USB mouse.
Asus fights back with solid
battery life. Web browsing,
Office applications and
ScreenPad use gave us
over 11hrs, and disabling
the ScreenPad pushed
that up to a monster
16hrs. So it’s got more
juice than the MacBook.
It’s got two USB-C ports,
USB-A, HDMI, 3.5mm
audio and a microSD card
slot. The interior serves up
Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5 and
a Windows Hello webcam.
There’s no full-size SD
card reader, but this still
compares well to the Mac.

There’s a lot to like about this ZenBook: the STUFF SAYS ++++,
second screen offers huge possibilities and both A useful and innovative
displays have quality. It serves up great battery
life, solid internals and better connectivity than
addition for creative
its Apple rival. Just be aware that the ScreenPad workers, marred by
makes it heavier and thicker than the competition, and compromised ergonomics
hinders the keyboard and trackpad. @mikejjennings and dimensions

53
 DIGITAL EDITION

Available from shop.kelsey.co.uk/stuff

plus Readly and Pocketmags

BEST FOR
LIFELIKE
TONES
Fender Mustang Micro
What’s the story?
Rock and roll ain’t noise pollution? It is the
way we play it. So Fender’s dinky dongle
lets you cut out the whole loudness part
and send the sound of your clumsy noodling
straight to your ears. Loaded with 12 amps
and 12 FX combinations, it also has Bluetooth
for jamming along to your phone, while the
USB-C charging port doubles as a direct
recording output.
Is it any good?
Considering it’s a sub-£100 practice tool, the
audio quality coming out of this thing is really
quite spectacular. Navigating via buttons and
coloured LEDs is hardly ideal – and neither is
4hrs of battery life – but there’s a 3D realism
to both clean and overdriven tones that’ll
make you forget all that, especially with a dash
of tasteful tape delay or harmonic tremolo.
Price £90 / stuff.tv/MustangMicro
Stuff says +++++
Proper amp tones and quality effects in a
device the size of a biscuit – it’s a winner
Boss Pocket GT
What’s the story?
Looking like an extra-chunky smartphone, or
the remote control for that nuclear missile silo
you’ve been building in the loft, Boss’s silent
amp doesn’t have a jack plug so you’ll need
to use a guitar lead. But it does have a screen
for scrolling through presets and playback
buttons for following YouTube lessons on
a paired device. Best of all, you can load up
unlimited sounds from the Tone Studio app.
Is it any good?
First up, forget the YouTube controls – you
might as well use the ones on your phone or
tablet screen. But you can bank on Boss for
solid tones, and this gadget gives you easy
access to 99 factory presets that cover a huge
amount of stylistic ground. Battery life is again
just 4hrs, but there is a built-in tuner so even
your duff notes should sound tolerable.
Price £219 / stuff.tv/PocketGT
Stuff says ++++,
YouTube gimmickry aside, this is a fine
practice amp with loads of great effects
BEST FOR
RAW
ROCK
Blackstar AmPlug2 Fly
What’s the story?
Everything about Blackstar’s dongle is basic…
but at this price, frankly we’re happy it’s not
made of cardboard. You’re getting three amp
models (clean, crunch and lead) and three
effects (chorus, delay and reverb), and
somehow all of this is controlled via three
knobs and two tiny buttons. It runs on a pair
of AAA batteries, and there’s a mini-jack aux
input for playing along to your… iPod?
Is it any good?
If rock music is supposed to be rough and
ragged, the AmPlug2 Fly is true to the spirit
of punk: it’s a noisy operator and the clean
tones are nothing more than OK… but actually,
you can get some pretty smooth overdrive
on the two hotter channels. For no-nonsense
strummers on the go, this is a simple utility
device at a can’t-go-wrong price.
Price £40 / stuff.tv/AmPlug2
Stuff says ++++,
It’s the cheap option, but it might be the only
headphone amp you really need
55
 TESTED BANG & OLUFSEN H95

Twilight of the Pods

Remember being miffed at the price of a pair of
AirPods Max? Well, the Danes just hit us
with a ‘hold my beer’ moment…
£700 / stuff.tv/H95

QIf Stuff were celebrating 95

years of heritage in sound, we’d
just be glad we could still hear at
all. Bang & Olufsen has marked
the milestone with what looks
on the surface like a vanity project:
a crazy-expensive pair of folding Fool if you
ANC headphones made from pink it over
aluminium with magnetic lambskin No Apple-style gaudy
ear-cushions. colours here: your
options are black, light
QWhen buying a B&O product grey or a slightly more
you expect a certain level of blingy look called
quality, but even by the Danish Gold Tone.
company’s standards the H95s
are exquisitely built, not to mention
over 60g lighter than Apple’s
over-ears and with almost double
the battery life in ANC mode.

QThe headphones use a mix of

touch controls, buttons, and a pair
of glorious rotating dials on the
inside edge of the aluminium
housings – think of them like
oversize Apple Digital Crowns
extending all around the cans.
They make functions like increasing
the volume massively satisfying.

QTwo 40mm titanium drivers with

neodymium magnets are coupled
with Bluetooth 5.1 aptX for hi-res
audio and lagless synchronisation
of video content. Spatially they
sound quite exceptional, and a
smidge of over-excitement in the
high frequencies is easily rectified
with the app’s EQ.

QNoise-cancelling is adaptive and

can be adjusted with one of the
dials or through the app. In terms
of killing unwanted din they’re
on a par with the best in the
business… but then, at this price, Q Stow me the way Q Stay on these modes
anything less would be a disgrace. While Apple has been derided for Rather than being an additional
its cans’ bizarrely unprotective pain of a platform, the Bang &
Tech specs ‘bra’ case, the H95s fold neatly Olufsen app is a pleasant place
into a little aluminium suitcase to be and a home for every B&O
Connectivity Bluetooth 5 aptX, with a separate compartment for product you own. The EQ has
3.5mm, USB-C Battery life Up to the fabric charging cable, 3.5mm a lovely interface and there’s a
38hrs Weight 323g (case 500g) audio lead and flight adaptor. choice of preset listening modes.

STUFF SAYS Prepare to be bankrupted by the most luxurious ANC cans of all +++++

Sheer quality Apart from the dizzying price, which somehow makes Apple’s AirPods Max seem
for people who affordable, it’s impossible to fault the H95s. They use the best materials (unless
aren’t worried you’re a vegan), the controls are carefully considered, the app is a joy to use, and
about the maths their case actually protects them. Above all else, they sound immersive, dynamic
James Day and detailed… but are they worth two pairs of Sony’s WH-1000XM4s? Nah.

56
M
 T E S T E D I N S TA 3 6 0 G O 2
Chest the 2 of us
The world’s smallest hands-free action cam is kind
of a big deal – because it can magnetically float
on the front of your shirt while you get gnarly
£295 / stuff.tv/360Go2
One key to a killer action cam
is portability. If you’re barrelling
down the side of a mountain
faster than you can think, you
don’t want the camera recording
your ‘extreme’ sporting exploits
to be a distraction. Ideally, you
don’t want to feel like you’re
carrying one at all.
You also want it to record
sharp, detailed footage stable
enough to watch back later
without feeling like you’re going
to lose your lunch. So Insta360
has created a teeny tiny cam that
can cling to your chest, boosted
by FlowState stabilisation.
In fact, the Go 2 is so small
you could probably swallow
it. Obviously don’t do that, it’ll
taste disgusting; but being puny
in stature and with stacks of
bundled accessories to exploit
your adventures, this cute pod
[ Words Sam Kieldsen ]
could be a perfect partner for
capturing the events of summer
2021 without lumping a larger
camera around – and by that we
even mean a GoPro.
Excellent
image
stabilisation
GOOD
MEH
EVIL
58
Indie pendant’s day Pivot up or turn it loose
The Go 2 is primarily designed to The charging case is similarly
be attached to a magnetic pendant clever. It protects the Go 2, allows
under your top, allowing you to you to tweak settings, and works
walk, run, ride, surf or whatever as a mini tripod. Also bundled is a
while everything gets captured. magnetic rotating clip-mount that
No messing with harnesses or we found great for bike rides, and
awkward body mounts; simply a magnetic pivot stand that fixes
pluck it off and pop it back in its it to flat surfaces and doubles as
charging case when you’re done. a handle for underwater shooting.
Pressed to kill
With a front face that’s almost
entirely a clickable button (1), the
Go 2 is definitely pared back, but
it’s far too easy to press this by
mistake and halt recording when
you don’t want to. Imagine if you’d
just nailed a big windsurf jump
only to discover a stray finger had
banjaxed your recording.
Lapse and legends
With a 1/2.3in sensor (2) capable
of 1440p resolution at 50fps
and 120fps slo-mo at 1080p,
the Go 2 can record in HDR and
includes super-smooth timelapse
options. It also offers the ability to
adjust the field of view plus tweak
the white balance, colour profile
and other picture settings.
All within my handset
Options are accessible via the
charging case, but its two-button
controls make that a slow process.
It’s easier to fire up the app, pair
your phone and adjust everything
that way… though an iPhone must
have an A11 chip or later, while an
Android needs at least a Kirin 980, 1
Snapdragon 845 or Exynos 9810.
Tiny Loads of
lightweight accessories
build included
Bit too
reliant on
the app
Very Easy to hit
low stills button by
resolution mistake
 T E S T E D I N S TA 3 6 0 G O 2

2
Tech specs
Sensor 1/2.3in Video 1440p @ 50fps, 1080p @
120fps HDR Stills 2560x1440 ISO range 100-3200
Connectivity Bluetooth 5, USB-C Storage 32GB
Battery life Up to 30 mins video (150 mins with case)
Dimensions 53x24x21mm, 26.5g (63.5g with case)

Stabilise on the prize

The micro-sized Go 2 forfeits mindblowing 4K footage
to concentrate on keeping things on an even keel

Q Love resolution Q People get steady

While some might feel
disappointed at the lack
of 4K video, the Go 2’s tiny
sensor would doubtless
struggle to produce truly
detailed clips at such high
resolution; 1440p is plenty
with the superb FlowState
stabilisation.
You’ll see instantly what
a massive difference that
stabilisation makes to your
videos, especially with
TimeShift Hyperlapse
recordings. You can also
capture HDR content
without FlowState; that’s
limited to 25fps.

At the dive-in
No worries with Q Ticket to wide
going underwater: the The wide-angle lens
Go 2 is fully waterproof captures a huge arc in
to a depth of 4m front so it’s unlikely to
without the need for miss anything important,
a sealed external while the exposure
housing. metering fares quite well
even in tricky conditions.
Insta360 has achieved a
nice overall balance here.
Q Running to stand stills
While the footage certainly
isn’t class-leading, and we
spotted shimmering in the
skies of some of our test
clips, the results are pretty
impressive for a camera
of this size. It’s a shame
the stills are limited to
2560x1440, though.

At under £300 for the standard package, the Go 2 STUFF SAYS ++++,
is a good deal. You get a teeny waterproof action The Go 2 becomes our
cam with some of the slickest image stabilisation
around, a pocket-sized charging case and a
go-to micro action cam,
mountain of mounts. That’s not to say it’s perfect, but it’s not without its
though: the low-res stills and too-sensitive button mean drawbacks – especially
some might still find a GoPro a better bet. @samkieldsen if 4K is important to you

59
 PET TECH
CRITTER
TREAT
SYMPHONY Well, what’s the point in letting an animal (or animals) live in your
house if you can’t use it as an excuse to buy some fancy tech?
BiOrb Tube
from £140 / biorb.com
There’s nothing like coming
home to the unconditional
love of an affectionate
guppy. Fish are by far the
least annoying domestic
animals… and with over
three million UK households
reportedly taking in a new
pet since the start of the
pandemic, we just hope most
of them were smart enough
to choose companionship of
the aquatic kind.
But who’s got room for
one of those old-school
wall-filling aquariums?
Well, we haven’t, so we’re
quite enamoured with this
[ Words Richard Purvis ]
60
TETRA FREAK ON
Opt for the MCR version
and you get a remote for
its multicoloured lights.
You can set it to a natural
daily cycle… or go full
much more modern take disco and pretend your
on fishkeeping from BiOrb: fish are larging it.
a classy tubular affair that
holds 15, 30 or 35 litres of
water but is no more than
41cm in diameter.
Set on either a black or
white base, it comes with
all the usual bits including
a patented filter system
that should make it relatively
easy to keep clean. In fact,
the only hard part will be
keeping all the fish’s attention
long enough for a serious
discussion about which
plants, rocks and bits of old
wood they’ll share it with.
PET TECH

61
 PET TECH

KEYS TO THE KITTY

You can buy the set
outright for £170, but
you’ll still need to pay
£8/m to access the
tracking map. Pay less
up front and the cost of
the subscription rises.

PetTracer
from £40 (+ sub) / pettracer.co.uk

Cats just don’t like wearing image-conscious pet with

stuff. You’ll know this already
if you’ve ever tried to get
yours to tolerate a harness,
an anti-licking recovery cone
or a full-body Christmas
pirate costume.
This is a challenge for
the makers of feline GPS
tracking collars… and the
PetTracer might just be the
answer. No chunky lumps
of strapped-on gadgetry
here: the tech is all hidden
inside the collar itself, which
weighs just 34g and is
low-profile enough to avoid
any danger of landing your
self-esteem issues.
What’s that thing on the
left? Well, the tracker uses
radio as well as GPS, allowing
it to see through walls, and
this is the receiver. It picks
up your cat’s coordinates
and uploads them via your
home Wi-Fi so you can see
them on an online map.
The receiver also doubles
as a charging base, but you
shouldn’t need that too often:
the PetTracer’s patented tech
promises 30 days of battery
life. Which is impressive,
especially in cat years.
Wickedball
Once your cat has tortured
and killed every mouse
within a five-mile radius,
you might have to find
something else to keep
the adorable little mite
entertained. This should
do it: it’s a fully autonomous
chasing toy with automatic
obstacle detection and three
interaction levels.
£40 / wickedbone.co.uk

62

UP WITH THE TURDS
Yep, of course there’s an
app. It lets you tweak
settings, manually trigger
sifting cycles, check the
level of the waste drawer
and monitor your cat’s
toilet-visiting regularity.
Litter-Robot 3 Connect
£545 / litter-robot.com/uk
There’s not enough poo in
this magazine. Allow us to
redress the balance with this
intelligent self-cleaning litter
tray: smell-free, hassle-free,
and stylish enough to be the
faecal point of any modern
living room.
You might be wondering
how it works. Well, to start
with, your cat trots up the
little steps and does its
unmentionable business
in the usual way. Then, once
the Litter-Robot detects
that the coast is clear, it
begins its sifting cycle: the
whole central sphere rotates
slowly through 360°, allowing
the clean litter to trickle
through a grille while the
clumps of soiled stuff remain
and, a few seconds later,
slide down into the waste
drawer. Then, as the rotation
continues, the clean litter
falls back into the tray via
another grille, nice and level
for the next visit. Magic!
For obvious reasons you’ll
need to fill this with the kind
of litter that forms good solid
clumps… and you will have
to empty the waste drawer
every now and then, unless
you can train the cat to do it.
PET TECH
PetKit Cosy Pet Bed
It might look quite similar to
the robot litter tray, but you
will not be happy if your cat
coils one off in here – it’s
a temperature-controlled
bed, to ensure your furry
friend can always nod off
somewhere warm without
having to perch on a radiator.
An app lets you adjust the
temperature remotely.
£135 / petkit.co.uk
63
 PET TECH
HOUND AND VISION
The embedded SIM
covers both Europe and
North America; Pawfit
offers a choice of
subscription plans,
but they’re all less
than £5 a month.

Pawfit 2
£55 (+ sub) / pawfit.com

The best part of dog life is
when you let them off the
leash. It’s so uplifting to see
them charging off to play
with other dogs, roll around
in mud and eat vomit. But
the worst part is when
they’re having such a great
time they forget to come
back – and that’s where the
Pawfit 2 comes in.
Lightweight (30g) and
waterproof, this collar-worn
GPS device has a live tracking
mode that sends a location
update every five seconds.
You can also set it to ping
you a notification when your
dog leaves its preset safety
zone – and a built-in speaker
means you can keep up your
increasingly furious cries of
“FENTON! FENTON!” even
when the chase has moved
well out of earshot.
An in-built accelerometer
means you can also use it to
track activity – thus the ‘fit’
part of ‘Pawfit’ – with an app
that lets you monitor steps,
distance, calories burned
and active hours. Battery life
depends on GPS usage, but
expect six days tops. At least
you can rinse off all the mud
and vomit while it’s charging.
Paw Buddy
Speaking of filth… if you’ve
got a dog that goes outside,
you probably have a Mud
Daddy already. But this is
a much simpler and lighter
way to stop your hall carpet
being turned into a scene
from 1917. Just fill it with
water then squeeze while
combing or brushing those
puddle-dipped paws.
£13 / bootbuddy.com

64

CHEW WIN AGAIN
The rubber ‘tyres’ on the
ends come in blue or
white. Got a dog that
chews everything to
death? You can get a
spare set in blue, pink
or green for £29.
Wickedbone
£90 / wickedbone.co.uk
There’s something macabre
about dogs’ obsession with
bones, isn’t there? Still, this
one looks more cheerful
than anything they’ll find
in the flowerbeds of that
neighbour whose wife you
never see any more.
From the same people
behind the cat-distracting
Wickedball on p62, this
humerus-shaped toy
connects to your phone
via Bluetooth and lets you
steer it around the floor
with an on-screen joystick.
Even better, when you’re
not there (or just have
something better to do),
its interactive mode sees
it whizzing around the floor
autonomously like a sort of
robotic Adama Traore.
Battery life is rated at 40
minutes in drive mode (when
you’re controlling it), and 4hrs
when it’s doing its own thing.
It has a repertoire of flips,
spins and other moves, and
reacts differently according
to how it’s touched thanks to
what the makers ambitiously
call an ‘emotional system’.
Heck, you might as well just
get one of these and not
bother having a dog.
PET TECH
BOW-WOW ADD THIS…
Skymee Dog Camera
Treat Dispenser
If you’ve got a desperately
empty life, you’re welcome
to spend all day sitting in a
corner watching your dog
and occasionally throwing
it a biscuit. If not, you can
get this motion-detecting,
treat-dispensing spycam to
do it for you.
£120 /
smartpetdevices.co.uk
65
 REWILDING
[RIƁŹ<ŀğLD] VERB

Reawakening the wild in you.

ADVENTURE REDEFINED
EXPLORE OUR ADVENTURE-READY RANGE AT WIGGLE.CO.UK
 TESTED HISENSE R50A7200GTUK

Tune raker
The two down-firing
drivers are powered
by just 8W each. Well,
Hisense to kill
This entry-level TV is way cheaper than its
at least your pictures
aren’t in danger of big-name rivals, but does that make for a
being rattled off
the walls. giant-slaying bargain or a false economy?
£399 / stuff.tv/A7200G

QThe A7200G hasn’t been so

much ‘designed’ as ‘put together’…
and it’s all the better for it, because
it’s basically all screen with simple
screw-on feet. It’s businesslike
and built to last. Yes, it’s a bit of
a bloater, but if that’s the biggest
concession we can cope.

QA 4K LCD panel with full-array

LED backlighting explains the
depth of the chassis. It features
HLG and HDR10 compatibility,
but not HDR10+ or Dolby Vision.
Connectivity extends to dual-band
Wi-Fi and three HDMI 2.0 inputs,
one of which is ARC-enabled and
all of which can handle 4K at 60Hz.

QHaving Roku running the show

is a coup: the interface is clean
and extensive without being
exhausting. Freeview Play has
your broadcasting back, and the
likes of Disney+, Netflix and BT
Sport are present. Both the remote
and the Roku app work a treat for
casting, searching and voice control.

QCue up some 4K HDR content

and the Hisense makes the most
of it. Black tones are deep but
detailed, and white tones are clean
and equally information-rich. It’s
far from the brightest TV around,
but contrasts still pop. The overall
palette is wide-ranging and lifelike.

QWe’ve heard tellies that sound

Q From rougher with love
Even when upscaling from HD,
the Hisense keeps the good
news coming. As for DVDs (ask
your parents), The Wire looks
soft and indistinct yet edgy and
restless at the same time. Don’t
expect miracles, in other words.
worse… but not many. To its credit
it never sounds coarse, even
if you’re adventurous with the
volume; but equally, it never
sounds substantial or detailed.
Consider an affordable soundbar.
Q Die another play
Next-gen gamers should look Tech specs
elsewhere given this set’s lack
of HDMI 2.1 abilities. Owners of Screen 50in 3840x2160 LCD OS
legacy consoles shouldn’t have Roku TV Connectivity Wi-Fi, 3x
any qualms, however, with good HDMI, USB, optical, Ethernet HDR
picture quality and a response formats HDR10, HLG Dimensions
time of less than 40ms. 1127x656x86mm, 9.8kg

STUFF SAYS A perfectly good way to get a biggish screen at a little price +++++

No time to cry It’s all about the price here, right? Because in absolute terms, the R50A7200GTUK is
just because you compromised and flawed: it doesn’t sound great and it can let on-screen motion get
can’t afford a away from it. But in the context of cost, it’s very appealing indeed… and it has one of
fancy £1k telly the best smart TV interfaces of any ‘entry-level’ set around, even at twice this price.
Simon Lucas Still wary? There’s a 43in version available for just £349.

67
 CHAT TO US LIKE US
/joinstuff @stuffmag

SEE US RETWEET US
/stuffmagazine @stuffTV

Everywhere you are

Read it, like it, share it
 Assassin’s feed Doom external
A multipoint The inline remote
T connection lets can be used to
TES ER you connect to
an Xbox and phone
adjust the volume,
mute the mic and
INN simultaneously, so adjust the RGB
W you can listen to lighting of the VU
music or podcasts meters, while the
while still hearing electret condenser
in-game audio. mic is detachable.

Grand heft audio Can you bag a decent gaming headset for under £100?

Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset VS Meters Level Up

While we miss the rotating earcups you’ll find on some of its
rival headsets, we have few complaints about Microsoft’s
1. DESIGN
design. These black cans are unmistakably Xbox, and the
twistable dials used for adjusting the audio are super-slick.
Packing those instantly recognisable glowing VU meters,
the Level Ups feature an open-back design and come with
carbon, silver or red accents. Build quality is sturdy, but the
inline remote and need for a USB connection add a faff factor.

The chunky earpads offer plenty of padding and there isn’t
much weight on your head, but those fixed cups mean
2. COMFORT
you’re always aware of the headset’s rigidity. We like that
the arms offer a bit of resistance so they so don’t flap loose.
Fit is on the loose side, but that’s no bad thing if you need
to accommodate glasses or don’t want to feel hemmed in
during longer sessions. The foam cups offer a good balance
of comfort and immersion.

For a £90 headset the sound is pretty impressive, with a
low-end response so impactful we had to turn down the
3. SOUND
bass slightly in the Xbox’s EQ app. Windows Sonic, Dolby
Atmos and DTS Headphone:X are all supported.
Compatible with Windows, PlayStation and Xbox, the
secret Meters sauce is well suited to gaming. There’s no
Dolby Atmos here but you get beefy bass, a decent bash
at virtual 7.1 surround sound, and no noticeable lag.

1
2
Connectivity USB-C 3 Connectivity USB, 3.5mm
Audio 40mm drivers, Spatial Sound support Audio 50mm drivers, virtual 7.1 surround
Battery life Up to 15hrs Battery life N/A
Weight 312g Weight 320g
[ Words Matt Tate and James Day ]

O Price £90 / stuff.tv/XboxHeadset O Price £99 / stuff.tv/LevelUp

+++++ STUFF SAYS ++++,

Both provide an affordable power-up but Microsoft’s wireless audio edges it

69
 iPHONE 12 PRO
ONE
ANKER NANO
E… D
ES AD
TH ST
Yes, of course you’ll need a
R
FI
blinking charger – the 12 Pro
doesn’t come with one in
the box, and if you’ve got
an old iPhone charger you’ll
be looking at a snail-paced
5W power-up. Opt for an
Anker Nano and you can
get 20W charging speeds.
That means racing to a full
battery in around a third
of the time compared to
an iPhone 11 charger.
£17 / uk.anker.com
70
TWO
DJI AIR 2S
The iPhone 12 Pro’s camera
is fantastic, but one thing
it can’t do is take to the
heavens – until you hook
it up to the controller of a
DJI Air 2S. As the phone’s
stunning display streams
a view from the drone’s
1in sensor, splice and dice
your aerial 4K footage with
handheld clips from the
phone itself for the ultimate
production setup.
£899 / dji.com
THREE
HONOR BAND 6
If you don’t want to spend
a few hundred quid on an
Apple Watch, but still want
something that tracks your
heart rate, measures blood
oxygen levels and tells the
time, the new Honor Band 6
could be it. Despite looking
like a proper smartwatch it
only costs about as much as
a fitness band – and with 14
days’ battery, it puts pricier
alternatives to shame.
from £49 / hihonor.com

1 TURN ON THE TAPS
If you miss buttons and want
new ways to shortcut to your
favourite features, this iPhone
supports two actions triggered
by tapping the back of it – with
either a double or triple-tap.
To set these, find Accessibility
within the settings, select
Touch and choose what action
each sequence fires up. Our
winning combo? Screenshots
with a double tap, one-handed
mode with a single.
4 VAMP UP YOUR VIDEO
The iPhone 12 Pro’s camera is
a gem, not least for its standout
video capture. It can even film
HDR video at up to 60fps, with
support for Dolby Vision HDR.
To enable it, go into the camera
settings and select Record
Video; here you can toggle HDR
on or off. Just be aware that,
if the main screen you use to
watch videos doesn’t support
[ Words Basil Kronfli ]
the feature, it’s best to keep
HDR video capture off.
E… T
IS RY
ES GE
TH W T
…
TH EN
NO
TH
MEASURE
A new Lidar
sensor means
the iPhone 12 Pro
reads space better
than any Android.
2 SAY ‘LATER’ TO DATA 3 SKIP THE PIP Try it out with
the Measure app,
While 5G has been around for With a fancy new screen and pre-installed and
a couple of years now, it’s new crisp speakers, the 12 Pro is a available through
to iPhones. But 5G doesn’t just mighty movie player. Jump out the App Store.
mean faster data speeds; it also of whatever you’re watching £free
means faster battery drain. If to respond to a notification and
you’d prefer a phone that lasts your video will be squished into
versus a router in your pocket, a tiny floating video player over
you can turn 5G off. (This also the top. Handy, but nothing
stops you burning through your like a full-screen experience.
data allowance!) In the settings, If you don’t love dividing your
tap Mobile Data, then select attention, go into the settings,
Mobile Data Options, followed select General, then Picture in
by Voice & Data. Picture – and toggle it off. IKEA PLACE
Live your flat-pack
AR fantasy with
Ikea’s official Lidar
app. Will it fit or
won’t it? Put that
tape measure
away and drop
a virtual sofa in
your living room
to find out.
£free
5 HEAR ME RAW 6 STOP HEIF!
POLYCAM
The degree to which you can If you’ve never heard of HEIF Imagine you could
edit a standard ‘Shot on iPhone’ photos, it’s a new format that’s grab a 3D photo of
photo is limited – well, Apple’s much smarter than traditional any given scene
own auto-wizardry means your JPG. Loaded up with support then navigate
shots probably look ace already. for over a billion colours (10-bit), around it, peering
Still, if you’re a real photography photos captured in HEIF aren’t under surfaces
nut, the 12 Pro can shoot just richer, they’re also smaller and stepping
RAW photos. Again in camera in size. But the format doesn’t nearer to chosen
settings, select Formats and play nicely with all apps – so if objects. That’s
toggle on Apple ProRAW; an you run into compatibility issues, what Polycam
option to toggle RAW shooting go to that Formats menu again makes possible.
will now appear on screen when and switch from High Efficiency £free
you use the camera. to Most Compatible.
71
 T E S T E D M Y Z O N E M Z- S W I T C H
Total clips of the heart
This modular heart-rate tracker can be attached
to different parts of the body, while the app
gamifies your activity – yay, exhaustion is fun
£140 / stuff.tv/MZSwitch
It’s an argument that rages like
ketchup or mayo, Sonic or Mario,
and which Fun House twin you
fancy more: is a chest strap or
a wrist-worn heart-rate monitor
better? Myzone always used
to swear by the former, but its
interchangeable MZ-Switch now
embraces the latter too.
The answer to the questions
above is of course mayonnaise,
Sega is cooler than Nintendo,
and how could you pick between
Martina and Melanie? But the
tracker debate is harder to settle,
and so the MZ-Switch is out
to please everyone. Instead of
choosing between an ECG chest
strap and a PPG sensor shining
a light into your arm to measure
bloodflow, it does both.
Myzone claims this is a world
first. It admits that, while the
ECG is accurate to 99.4%, the
PPG sensor trails behind at 95%;
[ Words James Day ]
but as you’re about to discover,
it’s all about a balance between
accuracy and convenience
depending on the activity.
Versatile
fitness
tracking
GOOD Design
MEH is a bit
EVIL garish
72
Heart-shaped blocks
The MZ-Switch is made up of a
clip-in main sensor module with
adjustable chest, arm and wrist
straps (1). The plastic module is
the size of a two-pound coin and
light compared to a smartwatch,
while the straps are made from
a mix of flexible and conductive
soft-touch materials.
Glisten to your heart
On the front you’ll find a bright
colour-coded LED strip for quick
notifications of your Myzone
status (2) and a button for
switching between ECG and
PPG operation (3). On the back
are those all-important optical
sensors plus press-stud poppers
for attaching to the chest strap.
My heart will grow on
With league tables, competitions
and chat functionality the app
can be bewildering, but it’s
massively addictive – forget
to strap up before a workout
and it hardly feels worth carrying
on. It’s a bit like forgetting to swap
out your fantasy football captain
when they’re injured.
Accurate
heart-rate
readings
Heart and sole
The MZ-Switch
connects via Bluetooth
LE and ANT+ and will
store 36hrs of exercise
data if you leave
your phone
at home.
1
Fit playing games (with my heart)
Myzone’s app gamifies exercise:
you score effort points depending
on how hard your heart is working
against WHO guidelines. Once
your heart-rate capacity has
been assessed, you’re given
a golf-style handicap that
means everyone is theoretically
competing on a level playing field.
Shaky breaky heart
There are limitations. Go for a run
and Myzone won’t map it, so no
pace, distance or cadence – just
points scored, calories burned
and heart-rate data. Still, it plays
nicely with big apps like Strava,
MapMyRun and Apple Health,
plus Garmin devices, watchOS,
Tizen and Wear OS.
It’s a
massive
motivator
Forearm Other
strap is apps needed
fiddly for maps
 T E S T E D M Y Z O N E M Z- S W I T C H

Tech specs
Connectivity Bluetooth LE, ANT+
Sensors ECG, PPG Compatibility
Android, iOS, Tizen, Wear OS, Garmin
Water-resistance 10m Storage 36hrs
of data Battery life Up to 6 months

Your fleeting heart

The waterproof MZ-Switch is an awfully versatile
activity tracker once you get to grips with it

Q Chest say no Q I wrist again

If there’s one criticism
labelled at chest straps,
it’s that it feels like you’re
being kitted out for Laser
Quest every time you
want to record the results
of a lockdown walk. The
MZ-Switch makes you
feel like far less of a twonk.
That’s because the PPG
wrist strap is for non-grip
activities like running and
swimming. For exercise
involving heavy wrist
movements, like racket
sports, rowing or strength
training, switch to the PPG
forearm or ECG chest strap.

Q End of the mode Q All dried out

If you’re mixing things up
with a wrist-based PPG
run to get the blood
pumping before switching
to the ECG chest strap
for a nifty club pump,
a quick press of the
module’s button switches
between modes.
In theory this means no
downtime during the
switch. In practice it can
be a little fiddly, especially
as the conductive patches
on the chest strap
sometimes need
moistening before the
connection will kick in.

If you’re a gym poser rather than a workout STUFF SAYS +++++

grafter, the MZ-Switch is not for you. It doesn’t An addictive, convenient
look cool, it doesn’t have a fancy display to show
off to the Johnny Bravos, and app integration
and motivation-boosting
doesn’t extend to TikTok. It’s simply a versatile route to fitness without
activity tracker that pushes you to roll up your sleeves a Peloton PT crowing in
and go further without intimidation. @James_A_Day your ear

73
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We pick out the Choose from
best price for our roster of
every featured great-value
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Ever wondered what’s up with the links in Stuff? We’ve got a team of retail pros who
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a small commission. It’s that simple, and has no impact on how much you pay.

I wanna be your ROG
Q Trigger it out
The Air Triggers are ‘ultrasonic’
shoulder buttons that can be
mapped to perform any action
when tapped or stroked. They’re
a godsend for games like PUBG,
which awkwardly cram a gajillion
virtual buttons onto the screen.
STUFF SAYS Top specs and clever tools make this our favourite gaming phone +++++
Like a pocket
PlayStation that
can also take
pictures of cats
Chris Barraclough
TESTED ASUS ROG PHONE 5
With superpower specs and smart gaming
features, is this phone the antidote to
the next-gen console shortage?
£800 / stuff.tv/ROG5
QIt’s still seemingly impossible to
bag yourself a PS5 without paying
Kunai kick it? a scalper a kidney, so one solution
A side-mounted is a gaming-dedicated smartphone
USB port means for playing Fortnite on the khazi.
cables won’t disturb you The ROG Phone 5 might be the size
when playing. Or get of a tank and hardly any less showy,
the Kunai 3 Gamepad but it means business.
for a console-style
experience. QSamsung has custom-designed
a 6.78in AMOLED display that sits
behind Gorilla Glass Victus with
always-on HDR and impressive
colour accuracy. There’s a zippy
144Hz refresh rate and 300Hz
touch sampling too – every swipe
or tap is instantly registered.
QA Snapdragon 888 and 16GB of
RAM is beefier than a barrel of cows
and ensures the smooth running of
Android’s most demanding titles,
but there’s also an X Mode to max
out CPU and GPU performance.
Vainglory managed a median
126fps through a full match, with
pretty much zero fluctuation.
QMultiple cooling methods keep
the air flowing, and Esports Mode
blocks notifications and disables
features forbidden in tournaments,
such as the excellent Air Triggers.
QThe 65W-charging 6000mAh
battery might be a behemoth, but
those power-sapping components
mean you’ll only get a couple of
hours of Genshin Impact action
from a full charge. Ultra Durable
Mode scales back features to
extend battery life, but with a
serious impact on performance.
Tech specs
Q Respect your selfie
If streaming on Twitch is your Screen 6.78in 2448x1080 144Hz
thing, this phone can capture AMOLED Processor Snapdragon
your gurning mug with a 24MP 888 RAM 16GB Storage 256GB
selfie-cam. There’s a triple-lens OS Android 11 Cameras
rear setup: a bang-average 64+13+5MP rear, 24MP front
64MP primary sensor, a 13MP Battery 6000mAh Dimensions
ultrawide and a 5MP macro. 173x77x9.9mm, 239g
Serious about your mobile gaming? Want the best possible kit for blazing through
the most demanding Android titles out there? Well, look no further. Asus has expertly
blended premium hardware and cutting-edge gaming features to craft an obscenely
powerful smartphone that can take on anything, and even give decrepit old gits the
upper hand in bloodthirsty online battles. It ain’t cheap, but it’s worth every penny.
75
 TWO WEEKS WITH THE DJI FPV

Fright of the navigator

FPV drone flying is the quadcopter equivalent of piloting a stunt plane, so we handed
DJI’s debut effort to geeky daredevil Sam Kieldsen and told him not to destroy it
£1249 / stuff.tv/FPV

A rubber cover
below the camera
pulls up to reveal a
microSD card slot
and USB-C port.

DAY 01
Even within the drone nerddom, this seems to be the drone to gimbal guard, while the large makes wearing it for extended
FPV racing sits apart, jealously bring first-person-view antics battery slides into the back. The periods a breeze. There’s a
protected by sniffy gatekeepers. to the masses… but can it turn a propeller arms are fixed rather microSD slot, although recording
Designed for competitive racing noob into a seasoned racing pilot? than folding, and the props footage to the drone itself offers
and aerobatics, these are fast I’m confronted with the copter, themselves attach via a twist higher quality, plus a few controls,
and twitchy drones – paired with an FPV Goggles V2 headset, a of your hand. A lurid green body including a ‘5D button’ offering
goggles for a pilot’s-eye view of twin-stick controller plus spare cover is supplied to make it easier one-finger navigation of the
where you’re flying – that you parts and charging kit. to spot in the wild. on-screen menus.
usually build yourself. And a lack The drone is smaller than Build quality is superbly solid, The controller is lightweight
of anti-collision tech can end in expected, but exudes a menacing although scratches indicate and sturdy too, and removable
costly crashes. air thanks to a forward-hunched a previous reviewer pitched thumbsticks make it easy to
Enter the DJI FPV. Available fully poise and vaguely military finish. it into the ground on at least transport. There are buttons
built and big on safety features, A camera sits beneath a plastic one occasion – so it’s certainly to start and stop video recording,
crashable, but sturdy enough adjust the camera pitch, return
This seems to be the drone to bring to survive some impacts with to home, toggle flight modes,
cosmetic damage only. and engage the emergency
first-person-view antics to the masses, The headset is lightweight and brake. Preflight assembly is
but can it turn a noob into a racing pilot? comfortable, while the soft strap a simple, painless process.

76

01 06
02 05
03 04
Tech specs
Camera 12MP
1/2.3in CMOS
Video 4K @ 60fps,
1080 @ 120fps
Max speed
140kph
Range 10km
Max flight time
20mins
Dimensions
255x312x127 mm
(with props),
178x232x127mm
(without props),
795g
DAY 02
DJI recommends spending time
with a simulator before flying
for real, so I’ve fired up its Virtual
Flight app for a bit of training. This
Unreal Engine-powered game links
your phone with the controller and
headset to take you through the
controls and modes, then you get
to pilot a virtual drone around a few
locations. I’ve been flying DJI drones
for years, but this is different so
the app is vital prep.
DAY 03
Maiden flight time. Flipping the
controller to N (Normal) mode,
speed is limited, it hovers in place
when the controls are released,
and obstacle sensors are engaged.
I switch up to S (Sport) mode,
which increases speed, turns off
obstacle detection and makes
things much livelier. The FPV feels
responsive and easy to fly, even if
I’m too chicken to take it through
tight gaps. There’s a switch for
cruise control and the emergency
brake brings things to a very noisy
but almost immediate stop.
DAY 08
Today I’ve finally summoned up the
courage to test M (Manual) mode,
opening up a world of loops and
LO N G -T E R M T E S T
Donut of Truth™
01 Relatively safe to fly after 04 Image quality lags behind
some training other DJI drones
02 For an FPV drone it has 05 Gimbal doesn’t tilt enough
terrific battery life to level the horizon
03 Everything an FPV pilot 06 You can definitely crash it
needs in one box if you’re not concentrating
flips, turning off speed limitations,
and allowing the FPV to zip through
the air at up to 140kph. DJI claims a
maximum range of 10km, although
taking it out of visual range is
technically illegal. Here’s another
law: you have to bring one other
person with you when piloting
the FPV, as you can’t see it while
wearing the headset.
Video transmission is rock solid,
with an almost constant 1080p
feed beamed near-instantly
from the drone’s camera to the
headset’s crisp display. The
battery life of FPV drones has
hovered around the five-minute
mark, but DJI’s is good for around
20 minutes of flight time.
DAY 14
I’ve flown DJI’s new Air 2S and the
FPV isn’t a patch on its cheaper
cousin when it comes to dynamic
range, detail and smooth footage.
The FPV’s camera sensor is STUFF SAYS
smaller and it lacks three-way
stabilisation so major tilting results DJI has taken
in off-balance footage. thrilling FPV
But this is a groundbreaking
drone, bringing the notoriously
drone flights
difficult world of FPV flight to a to new, more
wider audience. Buy the box and
you’re basically good to go, but
accessible
be warned you’ll need hours of heights
practice before pulling off any ++++,
spectacular stuff.
77
 TESTED GAMES

PS4, PS5, XBX, XSX,

PC / stuff.tv/Outriders

Outriders
Come for the superpowers, stay for the loot… but if you’re looking for
a proper next-gen shooter, this one remains stubbornly old-school

he sci-fi premise of
T Outriders is humanity
looking for a fresh start
as your character lands on a lush
alien planet. Don’t get comfortable,
though, because then you’re
catapulted 30 years in the future
to find your new home has gone
to hell. Tsk, typical.
With the feel of a last-last-gen
cover shooter, it’s not the best
first impression – and you won’t
find an engrossing storyline – but
really you’re playing Outriders to
shoot things. The gunplay is Gears
of War solid, but it’s the added
superpowers – you get to choose
one – that make battles engaging.
There’s the Technomancer,
great for long-range support,
the fiery Pyromancer, and for
close-quarters havoc the Trickster
and Devastator.
Proactively aggressive play is
encouraged as killing enemies is
how you heal, and there’s a really
exciting balance of risk and reward
as you rush a mob while your
health is low. But it can be clunky,
with no jump button and a run that
doesn’t always register, while
getting behind cover (or vaulting
over it) can be just as sticky.
Even though you’re locked into
your class, there are plenty of skills
and buffs to unlock as you level up,
but you can only equip three skills
at a time. And don’t expect to
steamroll your way through, as
waves of enemies – from soldier
factions to the planet’s hostile
fauna – respond in kind.
Things continue to get more
challenging, with the enemy levels
rising as well as the regularity of
loot drops (see panel opposite).
Fortunately, you’re also free
to lower the tier if combat gets
overwhelming; for hardcore
players, striving to reach the
highest tier for the toughest
encounters and rarest loot will
be its own challenge.
Outriders isn’t going to win any
awards for originality; but once
the shooting starts and the mobs
rush in, you’ll have a right old time
fighting for your life with your
chosen superpower.
Alan Wen

STUFF SAYS Under the generic exterior is a deep, challenging and rewarding shooter ++++,
78

“My chosen superpower is
improvised poetry! Plus
stopping bullets and stuff.”
Great shooting and all, but
when was the last time that
hood had a proper wash?
TESTED GAMES
Thoroughly
moddin’ killy
As in Destiny, killing enemies
or opening chests brings the
possibility of colourful loot
popping up. At first you might
just be mindlessly swapping
out gear with whatever’s got
a higher number, but the depth
comes from modifying rare gear
you’ve dismantled.
For instance, you may be
rocking a powerful shotgun
or helmet, but its initial mods
don’t play to your strengths.
So you can swap these out
with something that works
to your playstyle. Conversely,
if you have a mod you really
liked in a weapon that’s now
under-powered, you can take
it apart and carry that mod over
to a higher-level weapon.
It’s that creativity that makes
Outriders’ endgame especially
rewarding, when you’re going
to need all the gear and skills
you can muster for tier-based
Expeditions. These high-level
missions have the toughest
enemies but also the chance
to score bundles of loot.
While teaming up is going
to be the best way to survive
the overwhelming odds, it’s
a shame those who do want
to brave it all on their own will
still have to be connected to
the game’s servers – with
all the issues that inevitably
entails, especially when online
games usually face network
glitches at launch.
79
 TESTED GAMES
It Takes Two
Quite possibly the most co-operative co-op game ever made, this
is a relentlessly inventive multiplayer that everyone should try
azelight Studios made a
H pretty big splash with its
first game, the story-led
co-op adventure A Way Out, but
its follow-up takes two-player
gaming to heights we’ve never
seen before. You and your partner
(both couch co-op and online
split-screen are supported) play
as May and Cody, a couple soon to
be divorced – that is, until they’re
transformed into their daughter’s
dolls and forced to work together
to return to human form.
Honestly, we’re not hugely keen
on the tonally inconsistent story,
with its simplistic take on a very
complex issue. May and Cody
bicker and banter away at every
opportunity but it feels a bit forced,
and the supporting cast is a mixed
bag. A talking military squirrel? Fine,
but we wish it had more screen
time than the almost impressively
annoying Dr Hakim, a living book
that awards you with new abilities
as you progress.
A playable Pixar film this is not,
then. But everything else about
It Takes Two is completely brilliant,
from its endlessly varied gameplay
STUFF SAYS A masterful co-op experience that will live long in the memory +++++
80
PS4, PS5, XBX, XSX,
PC / stuff.tv/ItTakesTwo
and expert weaving of new
mechanics into the platforming
action, to the many ways it tests
your individual gaming knowhow
and teamwork skills. Dr Hakim, the
This quest takes in a host of most irritating
different environments, from piece of
a predictably hazard-strewn stationery
workshop to a garden and then
since Office
inside one of its trees. Each new
chapter tends to introduce a Assistant.
gameplay twist or gadget to play
with, and the experience often
differs depending on who you’re
playing as. One character might
wield a flammable-honey-firing
bazooka, for example (just go
with it), while the other’s weapon
holds the matches that make it
go kaboom.
In a particularly thrilling section, You get to do
Cody pilots a plane while May is really stupid
thrown into a Street Fighter-esque stuff, like
2D game. There are competitive wasting your
mini-games dotted around time playing
the levels too, so it’s not all about
videogames.
teamwork. It Takes Two never runs
out of ideas, and if you can find
a willing partner there’s no more
enjoyable co-op game out there.
Matt Tate
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 TOP
NEW

HOT
BUY
TEN
This gadget has
leapt straight
outta testing
and into our
rankings.

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

BUY
UPDATE
Searing with
techy genius,
a product that’s A solid gold
set our hearts bargain.
aflame. Worth owning,
regardless of
cashflow.

Smartphones 83 Tablets, consoles 90

HOW
Headphones
Smartwatches,
fitness tech
84
85
Games
E-bikes etc, electric cars
Smart home
91
92
93
TO USE
Laptops
Speakers
TVs
86
87
88
VR headsets & games
Drones & action cams,
tech toys
94
95 THEM
Soundbars, 89 Cameras 96
streamers Budget buys 97

TIPS &
TRICKS
Enable ‘Start PiP
Automatically’ so you
can keep watching
videos while flipping
between apps.
Under ‘Face ID &
Passcode’, disable
‘Require Attention for
Face ID’. Now you can
keep your shades on.
Got AirPods Pro
or Max? Under their
Bluetooth settings,
tap ‘Spatial Audio’ for
fancy 3D immersion.
2 NEW
Oppo Find X3 Pro
£1100 / stuff.tv/X3Pro
In almost every respect, the X3 Pro
is a killer flagship phone. Oppo’s
software has taken a major leap
forward and the hardware is easily
on a par with Apple and Samsung.
If you want the best you pay the
premium… and the Find X3 Pro is
very much one of the best.
Stuff says +++++
It’s serious money, but it’s brilliantly
capable in just about every way
FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW PHONES, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/SMARTPHONES
3 4
Apple iPhone 12 Pro
from £999 / stuff.tv/12Pro
The achievements of the iPhone
12 Pro are evident everywhere…
but who actually needs them?
For some, the camera setup is
the selling point, but an extra £100
bags you an even better one on
the 12 Pro Max; and for the rest
of us, the iPhone 12 will do fine.
Stuff says +++++
Advanced photo skills make this an
iPhone for the few and not the many
83 SMARTPHONES TOP TENS
1 HOT
BUY
Apple iPhone 12
from £799 / stuff.tv/iPhone12
The demise of Samsung’s glorious Galaxy S20
5G left a space on the Stuff smartphone throne
(and its replacement didn’t even make the Top
Ten)… but don’t go thinking the iPhone 12 is only
our No1 phone by default. We loved the iPhone
11, and its successor carries a whole host of
improvements. If you can live without the
telephoto camera of the flagship 12 Pro (and
O Prices quoted are for handset only unless otherwise stated
most can), you should save yourself some cash
and get the 12 instead. In many ways it’s the
same phone.
Stuff says +++++
A top display and all the power you’ll
ever need in an iPhone
O NOW ADD THIS
Sandisk iXpand Flash Drive Go
Bump your iPhone’s storage capacity
by 64, 128 or 256GB with this tiny
Lightning flash drive.
from £36 / shop.westerndigital.com
NEW OnePlus 9 Pro
+++++from £829 / stuff.tv/OnePlus9Pro
With OnePlus’s best camera yet and a top display,
this is high-end hardware at a non-premium price.
Realme X50 Pro 5G
5 +++++£450 / stuff.tv/X50Pro
Realme’s high-spec, mid-price marvel makes for
a compelling alternative to a OnePlus.
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
6 +++++from £1099 / stuff.tv/12ProMax
The only choice if you want to fully Max your iPhone
experience… but not a big upgrade over the 12 Pro.
Apple iPhone 12 Mini
7 +++++from £699 / stuff.tv/12Mini
A 5.4in-screened cutie packing Apple’s lauded A14
Bionic chip and the same cameras as the iPhone 12.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
8
++++,from £1149 / stuff.tv/S21Ultra
Earns its ‘Ultra’ name owing to an incredible camera
array capturing moments other phones will miss.
OnePlus 9
9
NEW
++++,from £629 / stuff.tv/OnePlus9
A camera upgrade balances out a design downgrade
to ensure OnePlus is still easy to recommend.
Xiaomi Mi 11
10 ++++,from £749 / stuff.tv/Mi11
There are missteps, but with its cutting-edge
performance the Mi 11 trades blows with the best.
TOP TENS IN-EARS
1 HOT
BUY
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds
£250 / stuff.tv/QCE
They’re bulkier than the average in-ears and come with
a ridiculously large case, but otherwise the QC Earbuds are
difficult to knock. The noise-cancelling doesn’t do a disservice
to the esteemed QC name, it’s hugely customisable, and the
buds themselves sound great: bassier than you might expect,
but in a nicely rounded way that retains lots of detail. They’re at
the upper end where price is concerned – but if silence is what
you seek, you currently won’t find better.
Stuff says +++++
A fun listen with excellent noise-cancelling skills, these
are the best buds to stick in your ears
TO READ THE FULL REVIEWS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/IN-EAR-HEADPHONES & STUFF.TV/TOP-10/HEADPHONES
84
Sony WH-1000XM4
£299 / stuff.tv/XM4
With their balance of wearability, active noise-cancelling prowess
and audio performance, there hasn’t been a better package than
the Sony XM3s… until now. The XM4s look and sound almost
identical, but a range of new features – including Speak-to-Chat,
which stops the music when you start talking – aims to lure
you away from your current ’phones. If those are the XM3s (still
available at a super-low price, by the way), it’s tough to justify
the upgrade; but who’s going to knock Sony off its perch now?
Stuff says +++++
Not surprisingly given their heritage, these are the best
all-round noise-cancelling headphones you can buy
TOP TENS SMARTWATCHES
1 HOT
BUY
Samsung Galaxy Watch3
from £349 / stuff.tv/GW3
Sneaking into the top berth courtesy of a slightly underwhelming
Apple Watch update, Samsung’s gorgeous Watch3 is an easy
wearable to love. It’s superbly made and very attractive, and
the spinning bezel makes it a joy to use. Samsung’s Tizen OS
is slick too, with lots of customisation and shortcut options to
keep things feeling fresh – made all the better by a class-leading
screen. It also has all the fitness skills you’re ever likely to need,
with handy auto-tracking features.
Stuff says +++++
A beautiful and powerful piece of kit that you’ll be
proud to have on your wrist
Apple Watch Series 6
3 from £358 / stuff.tv/WatchS6
The Series 6 is a superb smartwatch with
ambitions to be a total wellness deity; but
while the new sensors are useful, they’re
not vital for most. This is a fine statement
gadget, but there are better deals to be had.
Stuff says ++++,
A great all-rounder, especially for iPhone users
Apple Watch SE
4 ++++,from £269 / stuff.tv/WatchSE
The most obvious alternative to the Watch
Series 6 – and it looks identical.
Oppo Watch
5 ++++,from £230 / stuff.tv/OW
This Apple Watch lookalike streamlines
Wear OS to go ahead of many rivals.
FOR THE FULL REVIEWS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/SMARTWATCHES & STUFF.TV/TOP-10/FITNESS-TRACKERS
85
Mi Smart Band 5
£27 / stuff.tv/MiBand5
With no installable apps, Xiaomi’s dinky wearable can’t stack up
to smartwatches or reply to notifications, but it can relay alerts
and track everything from sleep to workouts. It’s better than the
Mi Smart Band 4, thanks to a bigger and brighter screen, smarter
software and a charger that’s much less annoying. The slightly
reduced battery life really isn’t an issue – and with the addition
of activity, stress and menstrual cycle tracking, this is a sub-£30
gift that keeps giving.
Stuff says +++++
Fantastic value and decent features make this an easy
fitness tracker to recommend
Peloton Bike+
3 £2295 + £39/m / stuff.tv/PelPlus
A fitness phenomenon based around a
connected bike with a Full HD touchscreen
that streams live and on-demand training
sessions 24/7. The ‘+’ version brings some
useful upgrades, including a bigger screen.
Stuff says +++++
Peloton owners look smug for a reason
Wattbike Atom (Next Generation)
4 +++++£1899 / stuff.tv/WBAtom
With improved sensors, this is the benchmark
for serious indoor cyclists.
Slinger
5 +++++£780 / stuff.tv/Slinger
Finally, a tennis practice partner that genuinely
wants you to get better.
TOP TENS LAPTOPS
TIPS &
TRICKS
The Sidecar feature
on macOS Big Sur
lets you use an iPad
as a second display
for your MacBook.
2 3
Apple MacBook Pro 13in (M1)
from £1299 / stuff.tv/Pro13M1
The new M1 chip has given this
business-class performer an
injection of jet fuel. The 13in Pro
remains a sturdy notebook, but
its processing power is incredible.
Our review unit, with just 8GB of
RAM, left a higher-specced 2020
Intel MacBook Pro in the dust.
Stuff says +++++
Believe the hype: the Pro with an
M1 chip inside kicks big, big bottom
FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW LAPTOPS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/LAPTOPS
86
Apple charges a
hefty premium for
extra storage, so
1 HOT
consider a cheaper
external SSD.
4 +++++ from £2399 / stuff.tv/MacBookPro16
5 +++++ from £1399 / stuff.tv/Gram16
6 +++++ from £1599 / stuff.tv/XPS13
7 +++++ from £2200 / stuff.tv/BladePro17
8
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
from £795 / stuff.tv/SurfaceLap3
The Surface Laptop 3 seems plain
on paper – no second screen, no
9
graphics card, no hybrid hinge, no
fingerprint scanner – but Microsoft
has put supreme attention to detail
into every bit that matters. The
keyboard, the speakers and the
overall build quality are all superb.
Stuff says +++++
Forget frills and gimmicks: this
is everything a laptop should be
10
BUY
Apple MacBook
Air (M1)
from £999 / stuff.tv/AirM1
The early-2020 version was already the best
MacBook Air ever – and this one brings a real
step up in power. Apple’s amazing new M1
processor means that, for once, we aren’t
hankering after a Pro for video editing and
graphics-heavy gaming. It’s a pity about the
rubbish camera, but this is a stunning laptop
in every other respect.
Stuff says +++++
Our go-to MacBook just keeps getting
even go-to-er
O NOW ADD THIS
Anker PowerExpand 7-in-2 Hub
Turn the Air’s twin USB-C ports into
a media hub with a mix of HDMI, USB,
microSD and SD card connections.
£40 / uk.anker.com
Apple MacBook Pro 16in
Not just a bump up in screen size, but a serious
upgrade to the already top-class 15in Pro.
LG Gram 16
LG’s latest lightweight machine is slick, light and
well made – an impressive, versatile option.
Dell XPS 13
Style, portability, performance… there’s little else
out there that’s quite so well rounded.
Razer Blade Pro 17
Incredible power and quality make for a working
and gaming beast.
Huawei MateBook X Pro
+++++ from £799 / stuff.tv/MateBookXPro
Not massively better than the 2018 model, but
this is a real powerhouse of a Windows laptop.
Google Pixelbook Go
++++, from £629 / stuff.tv/PixelbookGo
A light and stylish touchscreen laptop built for
those who like to live and work in the cloud.
Asus ZenBook 14 UX425J
++++,from £900 / stuff.tv/ZenBook14
A laptop of evident quality in virtually every
department at a surprisingly low price.

TIPS &
TRICKS
You can control your
Move with the touch
controls on top, the
Sonos app, Google
Assistant or Alexa.
2 3
Sonos One
£179 / stuff.tv/SonosOne
The Sonos One is now a more
well-rounded device than it was
at launch, supporting Spotify with
voice control as well as Amazon
Music and TuneIn Radio, while the
early Alexa hiccups seem to have
been fixed. It’s a class apart from
the competition.
Stuff says +++++
A great balance of sound and smarts
for forward-thinking audio nerds
FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW HI-FI, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/HI-FI-STREAMING
87 SPEAKERS TOP TENS
Auto Trueplay adapts
the Move’s sound
to different rooms,
1 HOT
BUY
while the app offers
additional EQ tweaks. Sonos Move
£399 / stuff.tv/SonosMove
The Sonos range of wireless speakers had been
crying out for a battery-powered portable model
for ages – and finally our favourite multiroom
audio specialist caved in. Luckily, the Move was
worth the wait. Its adaptability and sound quality
mean it’s fine value for money, and a no-brainer
for anyone who’s already a fan of the brand.
This the speaker Sonos should have launched
years ago – and for even better portability, watch
out for the new Roam model reviewed on p29.
Stuff says +++++
Sonos finally gets up to speed with the
portable speaker craze, and in style
O NOW ADD THIS Primephonic
Bringing sexy Bach, this is streaming
for classical music. Niche, yes, but its
not-on-Spotify film and game scores
offer a great way into the genre.
from £9.99/month / primephonic.com
Devialet Phantom 1 108dB
4
NEW
+++++ £2790 each / stuff.tv/Phantom1
An insanely powerful lump of hi-fi magic, best
enjoyed in a neighbour-terrifying stereo pair.
Audio Pro Drumfire
5 +++++ £606 / stuff.tv/Drumfire
Large, loud and lots of fun, this is one of the most
absurd and grin-inducing wireless speakers ever.
B&W Formation Wedge
6 +++++ £900 / stuff.tv/BWWedge
Pricey, weird-looking… and a brilliant illustration
of what a wireless speaker is capable of.
Marshall Emberton
7 +++++ £130 / stuff.tv/Emberton
A tiny speaker that packs an unexpected punch
without scrimping on refinement.
JBL Flip 5 Eco
8
Naim Mu-so 2nd Generation +++++ £120 / stuff.tv/Flip5Eco
£1290 / stuff.tv/Mu-so2
A portable party speaker that does its bit for the
green cause while sounding fantastic.
The second Mu-so is a fuller,
richer, more detailed and louder
Q Acoustics Q Active 200
9
listen than the model it replaces,
with lots of added functionality, +++++ £1499 (pair) / stuff.tv/Q200
and is every bit as handsome and The Q Active 200s marry serious audiophile
decorative. It’s more than capable qualities with oodles of connectivity options.
of maintaining Naim’s position at
the front of the hi-fi pack.
Small Transparent Speaker
Stuff says +++++
Naim’s luxury wireless speaker
sequel is an improvement all round
10 +++++ £375 / stuff.tv/Transparent
Stylish, portable, loud enough for any bedside
table… and also available in matt black.
TOP TENS TVs 88

TIPS &
TRICKS
You can configure
this TV to work with
the voice assistant of
Samsung’s remote
is solar-powered, so
don’t lose it down the
AirPlay 2 integration
lets you stream or
share content from
1 HOT
BUY

your choice, not just

Samsung’s Bixby.
back of the sofa – it’s
dark down there.
Apple devices to the
big screen. Samsung
QE65QN95A
£2999 / stuff.tv/QN95A

This is Samsung’s single most expensive 4K

TV for 2021 (unless you buy a bigger version),
but the pictures justify the outlay. The Korean
giant’s implementation of the new Mini LED
tech is, on this evidence, something to be
reckoned with. It’s difficult to imagine how
any of the other sets that are incoming this
year could be better.
Stuff says +++++
This Mini LED television is a fearsomely
accomplished set – and the one to beat

O NOW ADD THIS

Samsung Q-Series soundbars
Pairing your QLED with one of
these is a stress-free way to get
3D object-based sound.
from £499 / samsung.com

2 3

Philips 48OLED+935 Philips 65OLED+984

£1499 / stuff.tv/OLED935 £2447 / stuff.tv/OLED984

A grand and a half for a 48in TV Moving up a substantial notch

is no one’s idea of a bargain. But
when you consider the level of
audio-visual fidelity this money
is buying, not to mention the
convenience of the integrated
soundbar, it’s hard to suggest the
48OLED+935 isn’t worth every
penny. Next-gen gamers may
lament the lack of HDMI 2.1, but
for anyone other than the most
ardent button-bashers the lovely
picture (with Ambilight) is quite
immersive enough.
in price as well as class, our
B
second-favourite Philips TV
offers outstanding picture
performance with universal
HDR support, and goes above
and beyond what we expect
from television sound thanks
to a custom-made speaker
system from British hi-fi brand
Bowers & Wilkins. Plus it looks
gorgeous in any living room,
particularly with that four-sided
Ambilight in full effect.
B

Stuff says +++++ Stuff says +++++

Expensive for its size, but the picture A television that goes big on design,
and sound are wonderful performance and sound

FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW TELEVISIONS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/TVs
 89
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar
£2199 / stuff.tv/AmbeoSoundbar
Utterly convincing Dolby Atmos and DTS:X 3D sound, ample
power and lots of inputs mean no other soundbar currently
available can perform feats with the solidity and confidence
of this Sennheiser. The sheer room-filling scale of this device’s
sound is remarkable, and it’s hard to think of any content
that wouldn’t benefit from being Ambeo’d. That’s why, as
well as being the biggest and the most expensive, it’s the
best you can buy.
Stuff says +++++
The Ambeo Soundbar is a big unit but the sound it
makes is bigger still
Sonos Arc
2 £799 / stuff.tv/SonosArc
Don’t expect this soundbar to do everything
a multi-speaker Dolby Atmos setup can do,
but its up-firing and side-firing drivers give
a real sense of scale for an immersively
cinematic TV-watching experience.
Stuff says +++++
Big-screen sound for your big-screen binges
BARGAIN
Roku Streambar
3 3
BUY
£130 / stuff.tv/Streambar
It’s a compact soundbar and a versatile
streaming stick in the same box – and both
parts of the deal work brilliantly well. This is
the simplest and cheapest way to upgrade
your TV’s sound and smarts in one go.
Stuff says +++++
A punchy little bar with built-in streaming skills
Sonos Beam
4 +++++£399 / stuff.tv/SonosBeam
Sonos’s great-value Alexa soundbar is
affordable and packed with smarts.
Yamaha SR-C20A
5 +++++£229 / stuff.tv/SRC20A
At 60cm wide, this is a little bit of a soundbar
that can do a little bit of everything.
FOR FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THE PRODUCTS IN OUR TOP TEN LISTINGS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10
STREAMERS TOP TENS
1 HOT
BUY
Sky TV
from £25/month + setup / stuff.tv/SkyTV
Already home to the biggest selection of 4K content, from
blockbuster films and original dramas to top-flight sport, Sky
has adopted a can’t-beat-’em-join-’em approach to streaming
by incorporating the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video,
Disney+ and BT Sport in its user-friendly interface. It’s also
restructured its packages to make them more affordable, while
multiroom and mobile options round off the most comprehensive
content system money can buy.
Stuff says +++++
Sky has come out fighting to move with the times and
its selection of shows is unrivalled
Amazon Fire TV Cube
2 £110 / stuff.tv/FireTVCube
The Fire TV interface is easy to use and all
the big catch-up services are available via
this tidy box – and best of all, Alexa voice
control works brilliantly. You’ll never have
to worry about losing the remote again!
Stuff says +++++
A marvel of voice control for your telly
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
£50 / stuff.tv/FireStick4K
This streaming stick offers 4K plus a faster
processor than the original Fire TV Stick,
and comes with an Alexa Voice Remote…
but look out also for the cheaper non-4K
version below, and the bargain Lite model.
Stuff says +++++
Simply a great 4K streaming stick
Chromecast with Google TV
4 +++++£60 / stuff.tv/ChromecastTV
A solid buy if you like Google’s casting tricks
but also want all your TV apps in one place.
Amazon Fire TV Stick
5 +++++£40 / stuff.tv/FireStick
A solid little HD streamer for all the best bits
of Amazon and more.
TOP TENS TABLETS
1 HOT
BUY
Apple iPad Air (2020)
from £579 / stuff.tv/iPadAir
The 4th-generation iPad Air ushers in big changes. It looks the
spit of an 11in iPad Pro (at least from the front), and supports
Apple’s snazzy Magic Keyboard and second-gen Pencil… and
the A14 chip makes it blazingly fast, leaving its predecessor in
the dust. Sure, there are compromises, but none are critical. So
if you were considering an iPad Pro but don’t care about audio
apps in portrait, a 12.9in display or more advanced cameras, save
yourself a couple of hundred quid and buy the new Air instead.
Stuff says +++++
Pointing to the iPad’s future rather than its past, this is
a meaningful, impressive, powerful Air update
Apple iPad Pro
2 2
UPDATE
from £769 / stuff.tv/iPadPro
With its huge and super-slick 120Hz Liquid
Retina screen, ludicrously speedy internals
and double-lens camera, this is one working
device to rule them all – at least until we’ve
tested the new M1 version on p8.
Stuff says +++++
Apple’s mega-tablet is a performance beast
Microsoft Surface Go 2
3 from £399 / stuff.tv/SurfaceGo2
The Surface Go 2 feels less user-friendly
and slick than an iPad, but pair it with the
optional Type Cover and it turns into a neat
mini-laptop. It’s also a surprisingly good way
to play games.
Stuff says +++++
Just enough power to be a genuine iPad rival
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+
4 ++++, from £799 / stuff.tv/TabS7Plus
A true iPad Pro alternative that brilliantly
balances productivity and entertainment.
Apple iPad (2020)
5 ++++, from £329 / stuff.tv/iPad2020
The A12 Bionic chip turns Apple’s cheapest
tab into an absolute powerhouse.
FOR FULL REVIEWS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/HOME-CINEMA & STUFF.TV/TOP-10/GAMES-MACHINES
90 CONSOLES TOP TENS
1 HOT
BUY
Sony PlayStation 5
£450 / stuff.tv/PS5
The PS5 is not a modest upgrade. Its hulking design means it’ll
make a bad first impression on some, but spend time playing it
and it’ll soon win you over – and then some. This is essentially a
high-spec gaming PC for the living room: stupendously powerful,
with greatly reduced loading times compared to the PS4. Most
last-gen titles will run fine, many with a boost, and the line-up of
new games is strong; we just hope developers make use of that
fascinating DualSense pad and its haptic feedback trickery.
Stuff says +++++
Huge power, clever hardware and a guarantee of great
games to come make the PS5 hard to resist
Nintendo Switch
£279 / stuff.tv/NintendoSwitch
Nintendo’s console earned a promotion in
our list after it impressed us with a growing
list of fantastic games. Plus, no other device
here offers the joy of portable gaming. Train
journeys will never be boring again.
Stuff says +++++
This 2-in-1 console is the real deal
Microsoft Xbox Series X
3 £450 / stuff.tv/XSX
A fully future-proofed machine that doesn’t
scrimp on specs or speed, the Series X just
wants more exclusive titles to make it sing.
Xbox Game Pass remains pretty much the
best streamed offering in gaming.
Stuff says ++++,
A beast of a console that needs more games
Microsoft Xbox Series S
4 ++++,£250 / stuff.tv/XSS
Delivers affordability without sacrificing key
features, but still falls short on new titles.
Evercade
5 ++++,£60 / stuff.tv/Evercade
Scratches the retro itch in all sorts of ways,
and for a price that won’t blast your budget.
 91 GAMES TOP TENS

1 HOT
BUY

The Last of Us Part II

£25 / PS4

Just as The Last of Us proved to be the perfect

swansong for the PS3 era, The Last of Us Part II
is a masterful triumph to see off the PS4 in style:
TIPS & a rare superior sequel that can be mentioned
TRICKS in the same breath as The Godfather Part II.
An unparalleled masterclass in everything it
Take your time does, with an extensive suite of accessibility
exploring – you’ll options that every game should adopt as
find key resources, the standard, it’s a game with a story that
notes, even some challenges us – and one we’ll be discussing
fun Easter eggs. long into the new console generation.

Not keen on all the Stuff says +++++

violence? A lot of Naughty Dog has done it again with
confrontations can this brutal, bleak and beautiful game
be avoided. Just look
out for sniffer dogs!
O OR PLAY THIS
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
A leaner and somewhat less
grim action adventure from
Naughty Dog, starring a pair
of kick-ass women.
£13 / PS4

Doom Eternal
2 3 4 +++++ from £12 / all platforms
A ferocious shooter that marries incredible
production values with cathartic ultraviolence.

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

5 +++++£45 / PS5, PS4
A visually stunning superhero romp, ideal for
showing off the power of your new PS5.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2

6 +++++from £26 / PS4, XB1, PC
A superb remake of two of the best sports
games ever committed to disc.

Final Fantasy VII Remake

7 +++++ £26 / PS4
The greatest remake of one of the all-time
greatest video games.

Monster Hunter Rise

Hades
from £25 / PC, Switch
Just when you think you’ve seen
all this hellish roguelite has to offer,
a new tweak yanks you out of
your comfort zone. It quickly
becomes very addictive… and
even if you’ll have to face numerous
setbacks, few games make you
feel so godly.
Stuff says +++++
Great even if you don’t like roguelites
…and if you do, it’s the best there is
8
NEW
Demon’s Souls +++++£40 / Switch
£69 / PS5
So many monsters and mechanics to feast
on – this is unmissable.
This is a lovingly attentive remake
that transforms an old game into
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
9
a next-gen must-play. It’s going
to make you work for it, as beneath +++++£40 / Switch
that shiny new coat it remains a A sleeper Mario classic + an experimental 3D
uniquely foreboding challenge, but offshoot = one hell of a package.
overcoming Demon’s Souls is its
own reward.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Stuff says +++++
A gorgeous and faithful remake of
a hugely influential cult classic
10 ++++,from £23 / Switch, XSX, XB1, PC
A sequel to get well and truly lost in, plucking
your heartstrings as it tests your gaming mettle.

FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW GAMES, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/GAMES
TOP TENS E-BIKES ETC
1 HOT
BUY
VanMoof S3
£1798 / stuff.tv/VanMoofS3
VanMoof’s second-gen S3 (or X3 if you’re under 5ft 8in) looks like
a normal bike, rides like a normal bike and, crucially, doesn’t cost
a ridiculous amount of cash. The chunky 50mm tyres, slightly
swooped bars and upright riding position all combine to make
it super-comfy, and 30 miles with the power assistance set to
level three (out of four) left us completely sweat-free with 20%
still in the tank. Plus, for such a looker, the S3 has a lot of tech
hidden away to make it a less than ideal target for thieves.
Stuff says +++++
This smart-looking e-bike offers a great ride, great
features and some genuinely useful security smarts
FOR UP-TO-DATE LISTINGS AND FULL REVIEWS OF ALL KINDS OF GADGETS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10
92 ELECTRIC CARS TOP TENS
1 HOT
BUY
Porsche Taycan
O Electric car prices include government plug-in car grant (PiCG)
from £70,690 / stuff.tv/Taycan
It was about time someone took the fight to Tesla, and boy has
Porsche delivered with the Taycan. This electric four-door saloon
is the EV that petrolheads have been waiting for. In full-fat Turbo S
flavour, the Taycan hits 62mph in 2.8 seconds – and adding more
drama to proceedings is how it shifts up through its two-speed
gearbox. The Taycan has a dynamism that can’t be matched
by other electric cars, with a surefootedness that encourages
you to press on.
Stuff says +++++
Big power, sports-car handling and lots of clever tech
make the Taycan the most exciting EV yet

TIPS &
TRICKS
The Echo’s built-in
Zigbee hub can hook
up hundreds of
smart home devices
without a bridge.
Pair a compatible
thermostat and the
Echo’s temperature
sensor can activate
the heating.
Alexa Flash Briefings
deliver bursts of
news or trivia;
choose from 5000
sources in the app.
2 3
Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen)
from £50 / stuff.tv/Dot
It can’t match a full-size smart
speaker for audio, but as a radio
and Alexa assistant for the bedside
or kitchen, this cutey gets the job
done. It’s worth paying £10 more
for the ‘with Clock’ version, which
adds extra functionality beyond
telling the time.
Stuff says +++++
With the optional clock, this is our
favourite bedside wondergadget
FOR FULL REVIEWS OF THE BEST SMART HOME DEVICES, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/SMART-HOME-DEVICES
93
1 HOT
Google Nest Mini
£49 / stuff.tv/NestMini
If you live in Google’s world (and
let’s face it, most of us do) then
the Nest Mini is the best, cheapest
way to get into the smart home
game. It’s a better bet than the
Echo Dot with Clock if you want
close integration with your Google
calendar and apps.
Stuff says +++++
Louder and cleverer than ever… and
it’ll only improve with updates
SMART HOME TOP TENS
BUY
Amazon Echo
(4th Gen)
£80 / stuff.tv/Echo
Having morphed from a cylinder to a sphere,
the latest Echo is an excellent newsreader,
weather forecaster, personal assistant and
intercom straight out of the box; but it’s now
also a capable speaker and a very accessible
smart home hub. It doesn’t sound as good as
the Sonos One or Apple HomePod for listening
to music, but it’s significantly smarter than both
and considerably cheaper too.
Stuff says +++++
An all-round upgrade that makes the
Echo a smarter speaker than ever
O NOW ADD THIS
Honeywell T6R
This Zigbee-enabled thermostat
is wireless so you can place it
where it’s most convenient.
£170 / amazon.co.uk
TOP TENS VR HEADSETS
1 HOT
BUY
Oculus Quest 2
from £299 / stuff.tv/Quest2
The original Quest felt almost too good to be true. Its successor
lacks the same wow factor, but you can’t argue with a better
display and processor – not to mention a lighter, more
comfortable build – for less money. Are there more powerful
headsets? Is motion sickness still an issue? Yes to both, but
superb tracking and a total absence of wires make this the VR
package to get… that is, unless you’re boycotting Facebook,
because you have to be logged in to use it.
Stuff says +++++
Not a complete reinvention, but our favourite VR
headset is now even better… and cheaper!
Valve Index
2 £919 / stuff.tv/ValveIndex
While not revolutionary, the Index carries
enough subtle upgrades to put it atop the
PC-based headset pack. Everything looks
fabulous and the controllers deliver the most
fluid-feeling VR interactions to date.
Stuff says ++++,
The best of the performance-PC VR options
HTC Vive Pro
3 £599 (headset only) / stuff.tv/HTCVivePro
No longer the top dog for high-end VR
using a PC, the Vive Pro remains a strong
headset thanks to its crisp screens and
comfy fit. But the Valve Index beats it for
sheer immersiveness.
Stuff says ++++,
Impressive, but not the best around in 2021
HTC Vive Cosmos
4 +++,,£699 / stuff.tv/Cosmos
A simple setup with potential for upgrades,
but tough to recommend at this price.
PlayStation VR
5 +++,,from £260 / stuff.tv/PSVR
Held back by niggling issues… let’s hope the
upcoming second-gen PSVR will fix those.
FOR FULL REVIEWS, AND TO EXPLORE MORE OF THE STUFF TOP TEN LISTS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10
94 VR GAMES TOP TENS
1 HOT
BUY
Half-Life: Alyx
from £41 / Oculus, Vive, Valve Index
Announcing Alyx as not only a ‘midquel’ but a VR exclusive got
some Half-Life diehards riled up… but in classic Valve fashion,
the end result is utterly brilliant. Alyx succeeds because its
universe just happens to be a perfect fit for the format. It’s also
larger and much more robust than most VR games, at a meaty
12-15 hours. And though it unfolds at a different kind of cadence
to past Half-Life games, it feels like a fully fledged solo campaign
and a key part of the franchise narrative.
Stuff says +++++
Valve’s beloved series returns… and offers one of the
strongest arguments to date for VR gaming
Beat Saber
2 from £23 / Oculus, Vive, PSVR
Gleefully swing your twin lightsabers to
chop blocks that are flung your way to the
thumping beat of a song. This game has
reinvented the rhythm genre for VR and it’s
glorious, especially on the cable-free Quest.
Stuff says +++++
A mesmerising musical melee
Star Wars: Squadrons
3 from £16 / Oculus, Vive, PSVR
Suit up and enter the cockpit in this dazzling
dogfighter, a robust Star Wars sim that
you can play fully in VR across the entire
experience – campaign missions and online
shootouts alike.
Stuff says ++++,
Spacey fun… and even better with a joystick
Pistol Whip
4 ++++,from £20 / Oculus, Vive, PSVR
Like John Wick meets EDM, this rhythmic
blaster makes you feel like a master assassin.
Population: One
5 ++++,from £23 / Oculus, Vive
Not as polished as Fortnite, but still a ripping
battle-royale shooter with chaotic action.
TOP TENS DRONES & ACTION CAMS 95

1 HOT
BUY

DJI Mini 2 Lego Mindstorms

£419 / stuff.tv/DJIMini2
Just light enough to avoid having to be registered with the CAA,
DJI’s latest pocket drone is a little beast that grabs stellar aerial
video. It’s also categorically the most intuitive drone Stuff has
ever used, with a controller that’s a multi-function marvel: the
basic stick controls are all you really need to get started, with
everything the camera sees displayed in real time on your phone
using the DJI Fly app. Best of all, unlike the old Mavic Mini, it’s
capable of shooting in 4K.
Robot Inventor
£330 / stuff.tv/Mindstorms
It’s clear Lego has prioritised immediacy and fun with its latest
build-your-own-bots kit, which lets you and/or your little ones
create five different coding-controlled mecha-beings. Yes, the
set lacks a proper screen and relies on a separate device for
programming; but it offers great clarity and scope, plus an attitude
that encourages tinkering… whatever your age.

Stuff says +++++ Stuff says +++++

Fly, shoot, repeat: DJI’s latest dinky drone soars above A fun, versatile set for Lego electronics newcomers
the competition and old hands alike

DJI Mavic Air 2 Sphero RVR

2 £769 / stuff.tv/MavicAir2
DJI has built on the platform of a simple
entry-level drone and thrown in a heap
2 £200 / stuff.tv/SpheroRVR
The RVR pulls off the balance between
serious coding and knockabout fun perfectly:
of pro features, so those dipping a toe into it’s an all-terrain vehicle that you can throw
aerial photography or videography no longer around without worrying about it breaking,
have to put up with mediocre content. but also has serious programming chops.
Stuff says +++++ Stuff says +++++
This is DJI’s finest sub-£1K flyer yet Enough fun to convert any coding-phobe

GoPro Hero9 Black NEW

3 £330 / stuff.tv/H9B
It’s bulkier than the Hero8 Black and needs
an add-on to match its ultra-wide video… but
better image detail, battery life and features
make this one of the most versatile bits of
filming and photography kit we’ve used.
Stuff says +++++
The pinnacle of action-cam excellence

GoPro Hero8 Black Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit

4 +++++£280 / stuff.tv/H8B
Overtaken by the Hero9 Black… but this is still
arguably a better option if you don’t need 5K.
4 ++++,£100 / stuff.tv/MKLive
AR software, real-life cars and course markers
turn your living room into a Mario Kart track.

Nextbase 622GW Lego Adventures with Mario

5 +++++£249 / stuff.tv/622GW
Much more than just a dash cam – and
bordering on a bargain.
5 ++++,from £50 / stuff.tv/LAMario
Basically Mario Maker in brick form; begin
with the essential Starter Course.

FOR FULL REVIEWS, AND TO EXPLORE MORE OF THE STUFF TOP TEN LISTS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10
TOP TENS CAMERAS
TIPS &
TRICKS
It’s easy to set up the
X-T4’s customisable
Q button: just hold it
down for a couple of
seconds for options.
Avoid those wonky
horizons by turning
on the built-in
on-screen level
in screen settings.
Fujifilm X Acquire is a
clever bit of PC/Mac
software that backs
up all your X-T4’s
custom settings.
2 3
Sony A7C
£1709 / stuff.tv/A7C
Putting full-frame sensors in small
bodies is one of Sony’s greatest
strengths, and the A7C minimises
things even further – but this is
a compact package with a lot of
imaging power. For photographers
and video makers who want
to carry everything with them
in a modest bag (or hanging
around their neck), the A7C
fits the bill better than any other
interchangeable-lens camera.
Stuff says +++++
Superb quality and full-frame
goodness from a half-pint camera
FOR FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW CAMERAS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/SYSTEM-CAMERAS
96
Sony A7 III
£1699 / stuff.tv/SonyA7iii
The A7 III manages to pack in a lot
of technology and desirability for
less than £2000. It’s a fantastic
all-rounder that’s well suited to
a bunch of shooting scenarios,
coping well with landscapes,
portraits, and even a little bit
of high-speed sport shooting.
As a camera design it’s admittedly
not the prettiest thing we’ve ever
seen, but it handles well for its
compact size.
Stuff says +++++
An excellent all-rounder that thrives
in low-light conditions
1 HOT
BUY
Fujifilm X-T4
£1549 / stuff.tv/XT4
The Fuji X-T4 might be the high-end mirrorless
camera of your dreams. Relatively affordable for
a flagship, it excels at stills and video thanks to
O System camera prices quoted are for body only unless otherwise stated
in-body image stabilisation, high-speed shooting
and 4K recording at up to 60fps. Rapid shooting
is backed up by fancy AF tricks that feel equally
fast and reliable, and even the battery life goes
above and beyond the usual standards. There’s
no doubting this is a worthy successor to the
already fabulous X-T3.
Stuff says +++++
A superbly capable mirrorless camera for
shooting pretty much anything in style
O NOW ADD THIS
Fujifilm XF 16-80mm f/4
This versatile lens covers a bigger
zoom range than most and adapts
to pretty much any requirements.
£699 / wexphotovideo.com
Nikon D780
4 +++++£1990 / stuff.tv/D780
An all-round DSLR that’s built like a tank and
borrows the best tricks of its mirrorless siblings.
Fujifilm X-T30
5 +++++£849 / stuff.tv/XT30
Does a brilliant job of distilling the X-T3’s appeal
into a cheaper, more compact body.
Canon EOS RP
6 +++++£1149 / stuff.tv/EOSRP
A full-frame mirrorless marvel that’s light enough
to not be a burden and offers top picture quality.
Fujifilm GFX 50R
7 +++++£3199 / stuff.tv/GFX50R
The ultimate image quality in a medium-format
camera that’s not too ridiculously huge to carry.
Nikon Z6
8
+++++£1549 / stuff.tv/Z6
A top-notch and reasonably sized mirrorless
camera from the optical experts.
Sony ZV-1
9
+++++£699 / stuff.tv/ZV1
With ace video and a flippable screen, Sony’s
clever compact is a vlogger’s dream.
Nikon Z50
10 +++++£929 / stuff.tv/Z50
One of the best APS-C cameras out there,
offering a multitude of pro-level features.

TIPS &
TRICKS
Fed up of yelling?
Alexa’s voice can
work like an intercom
with connected
Echo devices.
Alexa Voice
Shopping lets you
order from Amazon;
add a ‘voice code’ to
keep the kids off.
Dot at your bedside?
Saying “Alexa, turn on
whisper mode” will
stop it waking up
sleepyheads.
2 3
Sega Mega Drive Mini
£70 / stuff.tv/MegaDriveMini
There’ll always be rows over
whether Nintendo’s or Sega’s
games are better, but the Mega
Drive Mini wins in terms of the
faithful recreation of both hardware
and software. Low stock and rising
prices mean it might not stay on
this list much longer, though.
Stuff says +++++
Sega’s back – and this really is the
ultimate mini gaming machine
FOR FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THESE GADGETS, AND TO EXPLORE MORE TOP TEN LISTS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10
1 HOT
BUY
Amazon Echo Dot
(4th Gen)
from £50 / stuff.tv/Dot
This fabric-covered take on Marvin the paranoid
android in disguise as a Magic 8-Ball feels
playful yet classical. It can’t match a full-size
smart speaker for audio, but as a little radio
and an Alexa assistant for the bedside table
or kitchen worktop, this cutey gets the job
done. It’s worth paying £10 more for the ‘with
Clock’ version, which adds extra functionality
beyond telling the time.
Stuff says +++++
With the optional clock, this is our
favourite bedside wondergadget
O NOW ADD THIS
Sportlink Wall Mount
This minimalist acrylic mount for
the Dot will keep it clear from wet
surfaces in the bathroom or kitchen.
£13 / amazon.co.uk
Raspberry Pi 400
£94 / stuff.tv/Pi400
This DIY computer kit isn’t about
the work (or homework) it can
do, but what you can turn it into.
It’s an affordable standalone
programming rig, a hub for
electronics and a stashable
device that can become any
classic home computer in seconds.
Stuff says +++++
A superb gadget for hacking around
and exploring computing’s past
 Get me to the
search on time
Chromebooks swap Caps
Lock for a search key. In 2011,
long-time computer users
howled about this – but we
kind of wish every laptop
designer would pull
the same trick.

RANDOM ACCESS MEMORIES 2011

Chromebook
hromebook? You’re not talking That’s good, because people don’t like So laptops that only run browsers were a big

C about a shiny premium version

of Facebook, are you?
We are not. At least, we hope not,
because that would be deeply weird. Then
again, Chromebooks were pretty strange when
they first appeared. Google had imagined a
universe in which everything you’d ever want
to do on a computer would be squirted through
spending money or thinking. Did it work?
It depends who you ask. Pundits initially griped
that Chromebooks weren’t identical to their
existing laptops: they lacked ports, DVD drives
and even certain keys on the keyboard; they
only worked online and didn’t have the pro
apps that PC users liked. But about a year later,
these experts all changed their minds – in part
success! Why did no one see that coming?
Given that by 2011 millions of normal people
already lived online and only cared about
Netflix, YouTube, Google Docs and arguing
on social media, we really should have. Over
the following decade, Chromebooks carved
themselves out a sizeable niche; today they
run Android apps, let you do more offline, and
[ Words Craig Grannell ]

a web browser – specifically, Google Chrome.
They sold the concept by noting that people
wouldn’t have to spend money on applications
or think about safeguarding documents and
data by backing everything up.
because Chromebooks became ridiculously
cheap, but mostly because by that point the
things had been selling like hot tech-cakes
(especially in education) and the pundits had
all been proved decisively wrong.
can even rival Apple in terms of premium bling.
Mind you, cheaper models still chug along if you
have the audacity to leave open loads of tabs,
like normal people do. We probably should have
seen that coming too.

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