Gatvsvav

9000

9001 90

WIRELESS STREAMING AIRPLAY 2 MULTI-ROOM MUSICCAST BLUETOOTH

A new spin on a classic.

Whether adding music streaming to your existing hi-ďŹ setup or streaming your favourite record into any room, wirelessly, via another MusicCast speaker, the MusicCast VINYL 500 is designed for a new generation of audiophiles. au.yamaha.com

NEW iPAD PRO & MACBOOK AIR REVEALED!

UPGRADE YOUR

HOME TECH Winter 2020

Boost your workouts and stay healthy Get the best gear for your home office Keep the whole family entertained

TESTED

RATED

NEXT-GEN

Huawei P40 Pro

8K TV Samsung shows 8K is ready for prime time

FITNESS WATCHES FACE OFF Apple vs Fitbit

HOT!

TAG HEUER CONNECTED

vs Garmin

Smarts meet luxury

FOR ANY BUDGET 4K screens that will blow you away

OLED TVs with gorgeous colours Feature-rich sets at amazing prices

SAMSUNG S20 Top-end specs, low price

RATED HP Elite Dragonfly: the ultimate Windows laptop?

ISSN: 1445-2901

BEST TVs

RATED

ALL NEW | T5 TRUE WIRELESS EARPHONES

ONE SLEEK SET OF WIRELESS EARPHONES TO RULE THEM ALL. THE KLIPSCH T5 TRUE WIRELESS EARPHONES ARE THE ULTIMATE COMBINATION OF COMFORT, DESIGN, EFFICIENCY, AND LEGENDARY ACOUSTIC CLARITY.

klipsch.com.au

LEGENDARY SOUND. SINCE 1946.

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

CRANK IT UP Perhaps nothing better symbolises the precision of 3T for BMW Exploro than its Torno crank.

Weighing just 300g, its razor-thin 12mm proďŹ le is designed to slice through the air while its carbon axle is also directly integrated into the spider and drive-side crank arm, making for a stier and lighter design

3T FOR BM W EX PLORO Aside from having a truly cracking name – to T3’s ears at least – 3T also has the rep of making some of the lightest-weight bikes out there. This means that its collaboration with BMW, a brand synonymous with performance, quality and comfort, was always destined to be something of a humdinger. The 3T for BMW Exploro brings the best of the former’s Exploro gravel bike range and adds the engineering panache one would expect from a Beemer. Not only does it have an aerodynamically optimised unidirectional prepreg carbon frame, it also comes with Fulcrum wheels and Schwalbe G-One Speed tyres to maximise grip no matter what your speed. It also offers excellent control, coming with Shimano GRX shift DQG EUDNH OHYHUV UHDU GHUDLOOHXU DQG ćDW PRXQW K\GUDXOLF GLVF EUDNHV $QG LWèV QRW ODFNLQJ LQ SROLVK HLWKHU LW FRPHV ZLWK DQ exclusive Brooks saddle and leather handlebar tape to match, as well as a deliciously understated colour scheme.

Around $2,700, 3tforbmw.bike

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W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 3

The team

Future Publishing Australia, PO Box 1077 Mount Street, North Sydney, NSW 2059 Tel: 02 9955 2677 Fax: 02 9955 2688 Email: ben.mansill@futurenet.com Web: www.t3.com/au | www.techradar.com Editorial Editor: Ben Mansill ben.mansill@futurenet.com Creative Director: Troy Coleman troy.coleman@futurenet.com Contributors Matt Bolton, Nick Odantzis, Claire Davies, Paul Dimery, Craig Stewart, Chris Barnes, James Jarvis, Warren Brown, Duncan Bell, Joe Branston, Alex Cox, Olly Curtis, Ian Evenden, Neil Godwin, Steve May, Steve Jarratt, Danny Phillips, Sam Taylor, Chris Barnes, Becca Caddy, Spencer Hart, Russell Lewin, Joby Sessions, Jordan Erica Webber, Michelle McLaren Photography All copyrights and trademarks are recognised and respected Advertising Senior Advertising Manager: Lewis Preece lewis.preece@futurenet.com Management Managing Director: Neville Daniels Sales Director: Paul Marttila Printed in Australia by IVE Distributed in Australia and NZ by Ovato ovato.com.au ISSN 1445-2901 About the magazine T3 is published by Future Publishing Australia. All articles in this magazine are copyright of Future Plc group company, UK 2018. All rights reserved. Distributed in Australia and NZ

by Gordon and Gotch www.gordongotch.com.au. Printed by Webstar www.bluestargroup. com.au. All contents copyright Future Publishing (Overseas) Ltd, trading as Future Publishing Australia copyright 2018.

We are committed to only using magazine paper which is derived from responsibly managed, certified forestry and chlorine-free manufacture. The paper in this magazine was sourced and produced from sustainable managed forests, conforming to strict environmental and socioeconomic standards. The manufacturing paper mill holds full FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or PEFC certification and accreditation All contents Š 2018 Future Publishing Australia or published under licence. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any way without the prior written permission of the publisher. Future Publishing Limited (company number 2008885) is registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All information contained in this publication is for information only and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. Future cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information.

You are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers directly with regard to the price of products/services referred to in this publication. Apps and websites mentioned in this publication are not under our control. We are not responsible for their contents or any other changes or updates to them. This magazine is fully independent and not affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein.

If you submit material to us, you warrant that you own the material and/or have the necessary rights/permissions to supply the material and you automatically grant Future and its licensees a licence to publish your submission in whole or in part in any/all issues and/ or editions of publications, in any format published worldwide and on associated websites, social media channels and associated products. Any material you submit is sent at your own risk and, although every care is taken, neither Future nor its employees, agents, subcontractors or licensees shall be liable for loss or damage. We assume all unsolicited material is for publication unless otherwise stated, and reserve the right to edit, amend, adapt all submissions.

Privacy statement If you provide information about yourself this will be used to provide you with products or services you have requested. We may supply your information to contractors to enable us to do this. Future Publishing Australia will also use your information to inform you of other publications, products, services and events. Future Publishing Australia may also give your information to organisations that are providing special prizes or offers and are clearly associated with the Reader Offer. Unless you tell us not to, Future Publishing Australia may give your information to other organisations that may use it to inform you of other products, services or events. If you would like to gain access to the information Future Publishing Australia holds about you, please contact us.

Future plc is a public company quoted on the London Stock Exchange (symbol: FUTR) www.futureplc.com

4 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

Chief executive Zillah Byng-Thorne Non-executive chairman Richard Huntingford Chief financial officer Penny Ladkin-Brand Tel +44 (0)1225 442 244

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Welcome

Editor’s letter If there’s one thing Australians have proved themselves most adept at, during this crazy lockdown time, it’s buying stuff. While siting around bored at home – what’s one to do? Get more toys! That’s what.

At first, there was the panic-buying rush to upgrade the home office. Chairs, desks, a big new monitor – these are all items that went fast. Now, our attention is turning to less sensible spending.

And rightly so. We all need a bit of pampering right now and the delights a new bit of gear can bring are marvellously distracting.

In this issue, as always, we’ve gone to town (not literally… nobody does that anymore…) and rounded up a tonne of gadgets and goodies for your pleasure. There’s best TVs – and heck, we sure are watching a whole lot more of that lately, so perhaps consider going up a notch. That said, some of the 8K giants here represent a pretty sizeable investment, but there are always bargains to be found.

Our Best Tech feature casts a wider net, with cool stuff for work and play, and if you’re being good to yourself and getting out and about then we’ve gone deep with the best fitness watches to keep track of your mighty achievements.

It’s an exciting issue, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did making it!

Ben Mansill, Editor ben.mansill@futurenet.com

T3’S MISSION T3’s mission is to help you find the best products for every area of your tech lifestyle. From traditional gadget buys like phones and TVs to connected home security and sports sensors, if it can make your life better, we’re here to make sure you get the right one for you.

The products we feature are chosen by our expert writers, with years of experience in their key areas. We wouldn’t recommend something we wouldn’t be happy to live with ourselves – the tat is filtered out long before we print a page.

This goes for reviews too – you won’t us wasting your time with products you don’t need to know about.

More than that, our aim is to make sure you get the most out of the things you buy, with in-depth guides to complex tech areas, tips on making better use of products, and recommendations for add-ons that make your favourite gadgets even better.

We’re here to help you find things you’ll really love, and that make your life easier. Because we can all do with that.

OUR AWARDS

PLATINUM AWARD

THE DESIGN AWARD

BEST FOR BATTERY LIFE

BEST ON TEST

Only a five-star review earn a product our prestigious Platinum Award

We give this only to tech that stands out for stunning aesthetics or a clever build

This award, and others like it, are given for exceptional performance in a key feature

The winners of our group tests earn this accolade, showing them to be top tier

Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 5

Contents

Contents 048

BEST TECH FOR EVERYTHING

Live better under lockdown, with the greatest home JDGJHWV IRU ZRUNLQJ VPDUW JHWWLQJ ĆW and entertaining the whole family

026

BEST TVs FOR ANY BUDGET

Discover the top TVs 2020 has to offer, from amazing 8K sets to walletfriendly wonders

034

COMPLETE GUIDE TO LEARNING PIANO

There’s never been a better WLPH WR PDVWHU WLFNOLQJ WKH LYRULHV +HUHèV WKH best gear to get you started

038

STATE OF THE ART The latest mirrorless cameras bring DSLR quality to more portable (and affordable) bodies

6 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

040

STATE OF THE ART 7KH EHVW ĆWQHVV ZDWFKHV DUH SXW WKURXJK WKHLU SDFHV å ZKLFK ZLOO WRS WKH SRGLXP DQG WDNH JROG" Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

Contents

008

074

HORIZON

TESTED

008

061

HORIZON

HP ELITE DRAGONFLY

Our round up of the coolest new gadgets on the horizon.

016 STYLE 6ZLVK ZDWFKHV WKDW PDNH a statement.

018 AUTO Cruise in comfort with the 5ROOV 5R\FH &XOOLQDQ %ODFN %DGJH (GLWLRQ

019 FITNESS & OUTDOORS 3XOO DKHDG ZLWK WKH * 6KRFN UXQQLQJ ZDWFK DQG WKHVH KL WHFK racing trainers

020 GADGET GURU Grow greener grass, do up your GHVN DQG VKDUH LQ D QHZ WZLVW RQ wristwear

024

BEST OF THE BEST

062 SAMSUNG Q950TS With a sumptuous 8K display, amazing AI upscaling and almost invisible bezels, is this the best TV ever?

066 ARLO PRO 3

068 SAMSUNG GALAXY S20 The company’s new affordable ćDJVKLS KDV 8OWUD HVTXH IHDWXUHV DW D PRUH DFFHVVLEOH SULFH

070

084

ONEPLUS 8 PRO

YOUR IN-DEPTH BUYER’S GUIDE

Offering a 120Hz, HDR10+, QHD+ screen, this may be 2020’s finest flagship – minus the usual markup

074

2XU JLDQW EX\HUèV JXLGH KHOSV \RX ĆQG the world’s best gadgets, from top tellies to DSLRs to car tech – all tested

by T3’s team of tech experts!

MACBOOK AIR Fixing the keyboard and the price, Apple has nixed all our criticisms

TALKING TECH

076

'XQFDQ %HOO RQ WKH ODWHVW ORFNGRZQ PXVW KDYHV ERJ SDSHU and hot tubs

NEXTBASE 322GW

077 IMOU RANGER IQ

078 HUAWEI P40 PRO Can an excellent screen and camera VDYH +XDZHLèV ćDJVKLS IURP LWV ODFN RI Google Play Store access?

010 Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

082 TAG HEUER CONNECTED A seriously premium smartwatch

082 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 7

Horizon

The best new tech heading your way Edited by Josh Russell

APPLE IPHONE SE From $529, apple.com/au At the precise time OnePlus was blowing us away with the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro, and right about the time news of the Pixel 4a was emerging, Apple remembered that mid-range phones are a thing and reminded us just what it can do with devices that don’t cost the earth.

No wheels have been reinvented: the Cupertino wizards have simply taken the 2017 iPhone 8 body and crammed it with modern-day hardware, in the same vein as the previous SE, which squashed itself into an iPhone 5 shell.

But oh, what a selection of components.

There’s a generous HDR10-capable 4.7” Retina display, complete with Touch ID security on the home button and a glass – not plastic – case rear. Wireless charging has made it in, along with fast charging to get you up to 50% battery in 30 minutes. There’s Wi-Fi 6, too – though no 5G quite yet.

The core package is where this shines the most. Apple might have looked back in time for the case, but it’s pulled the A13 Bionic processor right out of today’s kit, giving the iPhone SE a tremendous amount of power for its size. As for the camera, it uses a 12 megapixel, f/1.8 sensor, which Apple boldly claims is “the best single-camera system ever in an iPhone”.

Yes, it doesn’t look spectacular. It looks like an iPhone 8 from 2017. But if power, performance and longevity are higher on your list than thin bezels, this is an absolutely amazing little phone.

TECH-O-METER

SCREEN TEST Apple knows what it’s doing with LCD displays.

The 326ppi Retina HD display in the iPhone SE is pretty damn colourful, and it can display HDR10 and Dolby Vision content as it was meant to be seen.

“Ideal for those who don’t have to have the very latest iPhone” Josh Russell

8 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

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Top 10

FRONTING UP There’s a full camera package on offer here; the selfie cam is another class-beater, with a 7MP sensor and f/2.2 aperture ensuring you’ll be beautifully captured.

HIGH-WATER MARK With an IP67 rating, the new iPhone SE is equipped to spend half an hour completely submerged in a metre of water. We wouldn’t swim with it, but that’s yet another feather in its cap – and another shot fired at its mid-range rivals.

IMAGE SOURCE: APPLE

ALL-SEEING EYE The rear camera – which looks to be a Night-Sightless version of the iPhone 11 cam – can shoot in 4K at 60FPS, and uses those photo-centric features of the A13 Bionic to pull off Smart HDR and fancy portrait lighting effects.

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W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 9

Horizon Top 10

SONY DUALSENSE $TBC, playstation.com

IMAGE SOURCE: SONY

Sony’s PS5 reveal is running at a trickle. We’ve seen specs, we’ve seen a (likely bogus) render of the main console, and now we’re seeing the DualSense, the most radical controller change Sony has made, well, ever. Borrowing from the design language of the PSVR headset and dialling up the sci-fi, it subtly tweaks just about every long-established aspect of DualShocks of old. There are new curves, designed to make the controller feel smaller than it looks, and that two-tone design begs for future customisation options. There are re-angled adaptive triggers, which can ramp up in tension as games require, a built-in microphone array and speaker, and haptic feedback to pipe game actions directly to your fingers and thumbs.

There’s even a mysterious ‘Create’ button where the Share button used to be.

T3 SAYS: We can’t wait to get our hands on it.

TECH-O-METER

RAZER BLADE 15 From $2,399, razer.com

T3 SAYS: Razer is just spoiling us now.

TECH-O-METER

1 0 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

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IMAGE SOURCE: RAZER

Razer’s unibody laptops have long been little gems – and with a new generation of mobile graphics comes a highly desirable upgrade to the jewel in its crown. The newest Blade 15 comes in Base and Advanced varieties; each carries a tenth-gen Intel Core chip within its aluminium unibody shell. You can, depending on your spend, dial in anything from a GTX 1660 Ti to a RTX 2080 SUPER which is, let’s be frank, a rather ridiculous spec for a laptop this size; good job the Advanced model has vapor chamber cooling to keep everything in check.

And we’ve not even mentioned the screen, a 15.6” OLED that runs at 144Hz in the base model and a stupendous 300Hz if you go advanced. The ultimate in laptop luxury – but you can more than double that base price for the fully specced-up version.

Grand Seiko Sydney Boutique Shop 2026C Westfield Sydney, Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 tel. (02) 9805 4775 www.grand-seiko.com

Melbourne Boutique Shop T1, Centrepoint, 264-274 Little Collins Street Melbourne VIC 3000 tel: (03) 9644 5510

Horizon

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S6 LITE From $649, samsung.com/au

IMAGE SOURCE: SAMSUNG

Similar in price to the iPad 10.2, this might finally be the tablet that solves the large-screen Android equation – powerful enough, cheap enough, beautifully presented, and carrying only small compromises compared to its bigger brother. You still get a 10.4” screen and an S-pen with which to doodle on it, in a 7mm thick slab with an as-yet unconfirmed flavour of Exynos processor at the helm and LTE as a paid option. Just as we’ve gotten used to a lack of headphone jack, Samsung has brought it back for this mid-range companion to the jackless S6, and while 64GB storage seems a tiny bit small for a tablet so technically adept at media playback (particularly when 128GB is available elsewhere) we reckon Samsung has got the balance just right with this one.

T3 SAYS: Get onboard for the return of the jack.

TECH-O-METER

GIANT TCR ADVANCED SL 2021 $TBC, giant-bicycles.com

T3 SAYS: If money is no object, race to it.

TECH-O-METER

1 2 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

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IMAGE SOURCE: GIANT

TCR, a race-winning bike line that’s been evolving since 1998, stands for Total Compact Road. With its 2021 iteration, Giant could realistically add a whole bunch more letters to the iconic racer’s acronym. How about ‘U’, for ultralight? The entire carbon fibre frame, weaved together and mixed with a carbon nanotube resin, now weighs in at just 765g; Giant even claims to have shaved 65g by using a new paint process. ‘S’ for speed? It’s said to be 34 seconds faster over 50km at 200 watts.

We’ll offer up an extra ‘T’ for toughness, too, since there’s a vastly superior transmission stiffness compared to its rivals, and carbonbonded components. It’ll likely cost you a packet for the complete disc-braked package, but what price can you put on superior pace?

Top 10

iPAD PRO From $1,329, apple.com/au Many of us are going to be working at home for the foreseeable future, so we might as well have something decent to do it on. Apple has refreshed two of its most iconic portable work devices – the MacBook Air and the iPad Pro. The latter still comes in 11-inch or 12.9-inch versions, but now boasts Apple’s new A12Z Bionic chip – which apparently makes it “faster and more powerful than most Windows laptops”. The camera set-up has been upgraded with a new 10MP Ultra Wide lens (to go alongside the existing 12MP Wide snapper).

A LiDAR Scanner brings awesome depthsensing and AR capabilities to the party. And new, studio-quality mics deliver an audio experience that’s more immersive than ever.

IMAGE SOURCE: APPLE

T3 SAYS: When it comes to features, Apple’s new iPad Pro leaves no stone unturned. The only things missing are a bell and a whistle.

TECH-O-METER

APPLE MACBOOK AIR From $1,599, apple.com/au

T3 SAYS: The new MacBook Air range is faster, greener… and a damn sight nicer to type on.

TECH-O-METER

Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 1 3

IMAGE SOURCE: APPLE

For its second upgrade of the month, Apple has made a number of tweaks to its MacBook Air range. The new laptops are heavier and thicker than their 2019 equivalents, but only slightly. Where you’ll really notice the difference is in the power department – the 2020 line-up packs the latest 10th generation Intel Core processors (up to an i7), with Apple claiming that they deliver up to twice the CPU speed of their predecessors, not to mention up to 80% faster graphics performance. The new models also offer a lot more storage (from 256GB) and are greener than ever before, encased as they are in 100% recycled aluminium. There’s also the addition of a Magic Keyboard. First seen on the 16-inch MacBook Pro, it delivers a typing experience that’s both comfortable and quiet.

Horizon

SHURE AONIC 215 TRUE WIRELESS $TBC, shure.com the drivers from their wireless modules and plug in a cable. The same is true the other way, too – you’ll soon be able to pick up the wireless Secure Fit Adapter standalone and plug it into any of Shure’s modular ear buds.

T3 SAYS: Next gen design borne from professional roots? Exciting.

IMAGE SOURCE: SHURE

Musicians and audio engineers rely on Shure’s kit for reliable, flawless sound reproduction. With the AONIC 215, the company is pulling down decades of in-ear monitoring experience and dropping it into the consumer sector. The fit should be no surprise, with a looped design that will keep them firmly embedded no matter how energetic your Beyoncé impression is, and sound isolation (but not ANC) to keep the outside world at bay. They’re versatile: if you manage to burn through the 8-hour battery and expend the 32 hours in the charging case, you can detach

TECH-O-METER COOLNESS INNOVATION FEATURES

LEGO ADVENTURE WITH MARIO STARTER COURSE $102, lego.com obstacles and collectables that combines to make an interactive coin-collecting adventure, with more sets on the way. It might be aimed at kids, but you’ll have to forgive us for expressing our AFOL tendencies here: this looks really, really cool.

T3 SAYS: Wa-hoo! Lego is onto a winner here – bring on August.

TECH-O-METER COOLNESS INNOVATION FEATURES

IMAGE SOURCE: LEGO

Nintendo’s greatest icon meets Denmark’s finest export, as the iconic moustachioed Italian is immortalised in ABS at last. Lego hasn’t skimped on the smarts: our plastic hero gets three integrated LCD screens giving him the ability to emote through his eyes, mouth and belly, a speaker with which to output Charles Martinet’s signature yelps, and a whole bunch of sensors. Mario knows what colour block he’s standing on, he has an accelerometer and gyroscope, and Bluetooth connectivity to an accompanying app. And then there’s the set itself, a modular collection of

CHEF IQ SMART COOKER $TBC, chefiq.com

1 4 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

than other methods. There’s even a pressure release valve, so it’ll safely stop itself at the end of the cycle.

You can also steam, sauté and slow cook, all with app control, and see how far along your meal is from delicious completion.

T3 SAYS: One-pot meals made even easier? Smells like a recipe for success.

IMAGE SOURCE: CHEF IQ

The CHEF iQ Smart Cooker does those basic smart things that practically every other smart cooker does, like walking you through recipes and pinging your phone when the food’s done, but it does a lot more besides. It has an integrated scale for precise measurement of ingredients, a whole bunch of different functions you can trigger remotely or using its integrated touch screen, automated app-uploaded cooking cycles based on the recipe you’re preparing and, given that it’s a pressure cooker, it’s capable of getting those meals done 70% faster

TECH-O-METER COOLNESS INNOVATION FEATURES Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

Horizon Style

WHICH WATCH

THE HOTTEST TIMEPIECES RIGHT NOW

IMAGE SOURCES: TUDOR, PORSCHE DESIGN, GLASHÜTTE, CHRISTOPHER WARD

TUDOR, PELAGOS LHD

PORSCHE DESIGN, 1919 CHRONOTIMER FLYBACK BLUE

Waterproof to 500m, the “left-handed” version of the Pelagos is produced as a numbered series and features a modified manufacture movement with a winding stem on the left side.

Following the approach of Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, who focused on form and function, this Chrono features a titanium case and houses the movement ‘Werk 01.200’.

$5,600, tudorwatch.com

$8,140, porsche-design.com

GLASHÜTTE ORIGINAL, SIXTIES

CHRISTOPHER WARD, C65 GMT WORLDTIMER

Featuring a new glacier blue dial with a delicate sunray finish, this watch celebrates the style and elegance of the 1960s. Inside is the modern Calibre 39-52, with a 40-hour power reserve.

Allowing you to stay synced with different time zones across the world, this new C65 features a GMT hand and a bi-directional worldtimer bezel showing 24 international cities.

$7,400, glashuette-original.com

$1,485, au.christopherward.com

1 6 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

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Horizon Cars

ROAD TRIP ESSENTIALS

Look cool behind the wheel (and shield your eyes) with these shades from Austrian eyewear designer brand, Silhouette. They’re comfortable, stylish and feature brand-new features to protect your vision, including an anti-glare coating and the brand’s own light management technology. $490, silhouette.com

IMAGE SOURCE: CABEAU

CABEAU EVOLUTION S3 PILLOW Looking for a little extra comfort? You’ll want the Cabeau Evolution Pillow.

It’s one of the plushest out there, making you feel truly relaxed even on the bumpiest of rides. It packs down small too, making it the ideal travel pillow to stash in your car. $44, cabeau.com

IMAGE SOURCE: THE NORTH FACE

THE NORTH FACE BASE CAMP DUFFEL This bag is trusted by travellers and adventurers from the Himalayas to urban metropolises. It’s made from water-resistant ballistic nylon, and it’s incredibly durable and hard-wearing.

There’s even a zipped pocket for separating dirty shoes or wet clothes. $159, thenorthface.com.au 1 8 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

IMAGE SOURCE: ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS

IMAGE SOURCE: SILHOUETTE

SILHOUETTE TITAN ACCENT SUNGLASSES

CAR TREK

KING OF THE ROAD TRIP With a route in the GPS, T3’s Spencer Hart takes the Rolls-Royce Cullinan for a run If you’re planning the ultimate road trip, you, of course, need the ultimate car to go along with it. Look no further than the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge Edition – the pinnacle when it comes to super-luxury SUVs, combining comfort with genuine practicality, on-road refinement and off-road capability.

Before you experience all of that, though, you’ll be greeted by the Cullinan’s imposing design. Not only is this one of the largest cars on the road; in Black Badge guise, with blacked-out chrome and a black Spirit of Ecstasy, this is also one with the most intimidating. It helps give this Rolls-Royce a more youthful, dynamic personality.

Climb inside, press the button to close the doors, and you’re surrounded by meticulous craftsmanship, the highlight of which is the Starlight Headliner, which is a reflection of the sky at night, handwoven with 1,344 fibre optic lights with shooting stars that dart at random over the occupants. It’s a truly wonderful place to be, with seats so comfortable you won’t mind spending long hours and countless miles in them.

The Cullinan is built on Rolls-Royce’s proprietary all-aluminium architecture that debuted with the Phantom. This not only delivers extraordinary on-road comfort but allows the Cullinan to be fitted with all-wheel drive and four-wheel steering. This came in useful on snow-covered roads, but also means, if you’re daring enough, you can take your Cullinan off-road.

Start the engine and you’ll soon realise that the Black Badge is no ordinary Cullinan.

Rolls-Royce engineers have amplified the car’s 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 with an entirely new exhaust system, growling into life with a deep, authoritative “basso profundo”. The engine has been tweaked to generate an extra 29PS, creating a total output of 600PS, and a further 50NM of torque, bringing the total to 900NM. The result is an extremely well-mannered tourer at low speeds and a thrilling driver’s tool when pressed.

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge is available to commission now, with prices starting from$760,000.

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Horizon Fitness

HI-TECH RUNNING SHOES

IMAGE SOURCE: ADIDAS

IMAGE SOURCE: CASIO

ADIDAS ADIZERO PRO The latest iteration of the Adizero franchise brings the whole new Lightstrike cushioning system to the table as well as an integrated Carbitex carbon-plate, embedded in the midsole.

The DSP outsole, combined with the Continental rubber compound, provides traction, flexibility and durability. $200, adidas.com.au

WATCH OUT ASICS METARACER

IT’S ALL RUN AND GAMES

Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

run and metrics like elapsed time, distance, pace, calories burned, heart rate, maximum heart rate, aerobic training effect, anaerobic training effect, and so on.

It uses a peculiar memory-in-pixel (MIP) LCD screen. The high-definition monochrome display is an interesting choice and something that will most likely set the Casio apart from its competition. There are plenty of data screens on the watch itself and even more data to pore over in the upcoming Casio app.

All the included tech does come at a cost: the watch is a bit on the heavy side, weighing approximately 110 grams. The Casio is also rather bulky too, although it being the member of the G-Shock family, we can’t say this feature was unexpected.

As for battery life, the G-Shock can track 14 hours worth of exercising with the GPS on and will last in ‘time mode’ for about 12 months. Using the USB charger, the watch charges up from 0 to 100 in two and a half hours, but there is also a solar-charging system that “harnesses the power of any light source for reliable watch operation with minimal impact to the environment”.

NEW BALANCE FUELCELL TC IMAGE SOURCE: NEW BALANCE

The market for fitness wearables is getting bigger every year, making it more appealing to traditional watch companies like Casio to enter. Casio is far from a newcomer to digital watches, but we were yet to see a full-blown fitness watch from them, up until recently.

The new Casio G-Shock GBD-H1000 ($849, g-shockaustralia.com.au) is one of the most intriguing running watches we’ve seen in a while, taking a different approach to the likes of Garmin and Polar.

The new G-Shock is shock-resistant, water-rated to 200 metres, and has a very decent GPS chip that uses multiple satellite systems (GPS/GLONASS/QZSS). The watch also houses a range of sensors, including an optical heart rate sensor, a magnetic sensor (compass), a pressure sensor (altimeter) and an acceleration sensor (pedometer). There is also a temperature sensor in there.

It can also give you a VO2 max estimate, evaluate training status and fitness level and measure training load as well as recovery time. And this running watch has a memory, too, although not for storing music: the G-Shock can store up to 100 runs in its training log, also up to 140 lap records per

IMAGE SOURCE: ASICS

The new Casio G-Shock GBD-H1000 running watch is here with memory-in-pixel screen and solar charging

Asics’ most advanced longdistance racing shoe yet, the Metaracer uses an updated version of Guidesole, the super-responsive sole system, aided by a carbon plate for improved responsiveness.

The Flytefoam midsole is lightweight and makes landings softer and running more responsive. $TBC, asics.com

The New Balance FuelCell TC follows the tried-andtested formula of carbonenhanced road running shoes: increased stack height, a full-length internal carbon fibre plate and a tight-fitting breathable upper. The suede collar around the ankle reduces chafing. $280, sportsshoes.com W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 1 9

Horizon

T3’s outdoors and indoors expert lets us into his shed of knowledge

TONY GUY

How can I revive my lawn?

Let Guru tell you a secret: he did not open the door to the rear grounds of Guru Towers even once between November and late March. Not to pick up the patio furniture strewn over the lawn by the wind. Not to clear up the toys dumped there

by Gurus Jr and II, or to let in a mewling cat too lazy to go around to the front door. And certainly not for any hard work.

Now that the sun is shining (and Guru is unable to leave his grounds owing to nature’s cruel whims) he’s begrudgingly restarted garden duties. His custom lawnmower shed (a Keter Artisan 11x7) contains one

ILLUSTRATIONS: STEPHEN KELLY

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fancy orange ride-on Stihl RT 4082 for his largest lawns, a petrolpowered Hyundai HYM510SPE for when he wants to threaten those smaller lawns with something that looks like it escaped from a Transformers film, and Honda’s excellent robotic Miimo HRM310 for those regular moments when Guru would much rather sit on his rear

ABOVE The grass is always greener?

That’s because the other side listened to Guru

Now that the sun is shining (and Guru is unable to leave his grounds) he’s begrudgingly restarted garden duties

than actually do anything manual.

GaGu has spoken before of the benefits of the scarifier, basically a balls-out bladed turborake that turns the horizontal cut of the lawnmower vertical and rips up all your undergrowth at the start of the season – the Bosch AVR 1100 seems to be the best around. Sure, you’ll kick yourself for spending $350 on one, but you’ll unkick yourself later when your grass has been given enough light and nitrogen to grow without the moss hogging it all. Slap some seed down, stop worrying, and enjoy.

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: INBOX@T3.COM OR FACEBOOK.COM/T3MAG 2 0 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

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Gadget guru

ALEX ARCHBOLD

What can I do to my desk to make working easier?

Don’t be afraid to give your brain a break. Guru has been doing that for nigh-on 40 years and it hasn’t done him any harm. It was at this point in writing that GaGu went off to hunt for studies that say procrastination is a good thing, and it turns out (after an hour’s searching, punctuated by a visit to YouTube and a sojourn away from the desk to find a cat to pet and eat some delicious Dairy Milk chocolate) that psychologists aren’t inclined to find evidence to support it.

They (and this is the nebulous ‘they’, rather than psychologists) do say a tidy desk means a tidy mind, but the opposite is also true; it’s imperative to get yourself into beneficial habits. Something as simple as a sticky note with that general morning routine on it – clean desk, properly position monitors, adjust nether regions – could be enough to remind you to do the right thing.

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Proper posture can also help; a decent office chair will turn that lazy slouch into an upright and alert pose. Guru can’t help but recommend the stiff, posturefriendly yet remarkably comfortable Noblechairs HERO ($549), which has positively adjusted his own floppy spine over the past year.

Many swear by standing desks, which do away with that potential for laziness entirely; Guru has a converter (a Yo-yo DESK Mini) although he found it made him more inclined to go and wander off to the kitchen. Your results may vary.

Really, though, it’s about your own ability to focus. Do what works for you: put a picture of your kids on your desk, run the Pomodoro technique to give yourself adequate breaks, install some kind of procrastination-stopper on your computer. Separate work from fun.

You’ll get there.

ABOVE “Mr Jones, please shove me down your throat. No, for heaven’s sake, not up there!”

GADGET GURU’S MAGIC BOX Hot news, at least if you’re in the region of GaGu’s right front pocket: his trusty Nokia 8 developed an irritating fault in which the home button started activating on its own, and it has therefore met its doom courtesy of the heavy iron end of Guru’s Gadget Corrector 3000. Guru didn’t have an awful lot of cash on hand with which to pick up a new Android handset, but his bargain nose was truly a-sniffin’ when he found the Google Pixel 3a XL for just 300 bones.

Last-gen it may be, but only just, and the sacrifices from the big boy 3 (no water resistance, wireless charging, or metal-andglass build) aren’t deal-breakers.

Oh, and that camera is everything it’s cracked up to be.

Long-term test results now for

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GaGu’s last-gen non-LTE Ticwatch Pro, and reader they are not good. What started as a promising and very cheap Android smart watch quickly morphed into a laggy, stuttering heap of battery-sucking junk, so annoyingly slow that Guru actually stopped wearing a watch for a while. The trick, if there is one, is to disable every piece of software from parent company Mobvoi, which does make things a little smoother. Not the easiest task, if you’re not used to tampering with the guttyworks of Android devices. Guru’s fingers are hovering dangerously over the ‘install a custom ROM’ button, so he’ll let you know if anything comes of that.

It’s worth noting, though, that later versions of the Ticwatch Pro are reportedly much smoother, thanks to the extra RAM doled out to the 4G/LTE edition and the total overhaul of the recently-issued (and slimmed down) 2020 version.

PAUL ROSE

Can I automate my medicine in some way?

Notice how most of Guru’s answers start with a long and rambling ‘same here’ story? Funny that. Anyway, Guru is always reminded when he hasn’t taken his gut medicines, because the broken valves of his stomach allow incredible volumes of stomach acid to squirt merrily up to his throat. Lovely, eh?

UK company Pivotell sells a bunch of stuff (branded PivoTell, with that all-important capital T) which adds the barest amount of technology to the compartmentalised pill boxes your mum uses, allowing you to automatically dispense your pills based on the day. It also sells pill reminders and watches, which are things your phone already does, though they’re great for the elderly and those with diminishing faculties. It probably is best to rely on your phone: Medisafe (free with IAPs) helps you track what you need to take, when it’s due and, as long as you remember to use it, tracks whether you’ve already had your dose.

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W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 2 1

Horizon

NEW MEDIA

NOW PLAYING Guru finds the finest media you need on your various devices

TIGER KING Oh lordy, if you have not seen this you must see it, it is so good. A deserved Netflix docu-drama hit, centred on some totally weird and, er, interesting people.

KAY SILVERMAN

I want new wristwear!

The right watch can be a wallet too. Guru doesn’t want to get too generic, but you can’t go wrong with the latest Apple Watch and its Apple Pay credentials. It’ll cover your fitness, time-telling and contactless payment needs in one.

It is debatable, given that you have a phone, whether a watch is essential. So wear something that covers those functions a watch does not: The Friendly Swede’s paracord survival bracelets (from around $20) look badass and give you a lengthy strand of cord rated at 227kg. You never know when you might need to unravel and rig up a tent. Guru suggests just before bedtime, but it’s up to you.

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T LESLIE

Can I deep fry my own dinner?

LA COURSE Bon Voyage Organisation’s album of French electronic world-disco is the antidote for absolutely everything wrong ever, and Guru cannot get enough of it. Glorious music.

INVASION OF THE BLOOD FARMERS “The budget was $24,000. The cast was paid in beer.” Eight bottles of stage blood later, you’ve got a silly Amazon Prime schlocker on your hands.

2 2 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

While the kale-conscious might clap you rudely round the head and steer you towards an air fryer, Guru also knows that such devices are often hit-or-miss; they’ll hit your food with heat, but you’ll miss properly fried foods. Heart health be damned: sometimes you need a treat.

VonShef’s 1.5L deep fryer is functional and small enough that it doesn’t dominate your kitchen surfaces, though its limited capacity means it’s not supersuitable for a family. On the other hand, Magimix’s 11596 Pro 350 looks professional, has a three-loop heating system for good consistency, and drowns your food in a full 3L of oil.

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ABOVE Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a... dude with a wrist-cord can

OWAIN FARROW

Why doesn’t my old smart TV work anymore?

Your smart TV, like most ‘smart’ things, has been given a limited shelf life by its static internals and the evolution of software and content. Perhaps it has had firmware foisted upon it that its poor guts can’t stomach (iPhone users know this one well); if it hasn’t, then it’s going to be behind the curve on what content providers expect.

There is no solution. Buy a new TV if you must, or rely on the smart functions of something you can plug into it rather than those built into the TV itself. This is a topic that riles Guru, so he’ll stop there before he says something libellous.

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Air fryers are often hit-or-miss; they’ll hit your food with heat, but you’ll miss properly fried foods. Heart health be damned

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Beautiful sound in every room.

Wireless, voice-controlled music in every room – packed in a beautiful design.

The new Harman Kardon Citation Series offers numerous combinations for premium quality home audio and home cinema entertainment. Available in Black and Grey.

Hey Google Available at

Horizon Opinion

Duncan Bell is on lockdown

The great hot tub frenzy of 2020 and why you should always stockpile dishwasher tablets o it’s been a bit of a weird few months. I know that because the last count, I hav had 12,037 emails that begin “ ar [insert name] I hope you and y r loved ones are safe and well d ing this crazy time.” Then, pleasan ries having been dispensed with, t add: “We have a new phone ch harger that would be great for you to write about on techradar.com, [na e] In some ways, the Great Lockdown of 2020 was a gift, to those of us who remained healthy.

I’d also get emails from work contacts I actually do know, asking if I was going to write something about those headphones they sent me three weeks ago. I would say, “Sorry, it’s been a crazy time,” and they would just say, “Yes, it is terrible, I hope you and yours are well and safe, at this crazy time.” Suckers.

Of course, this crisis will have a terrible and long-lasting impact on most parts of the tech world.

Product development has been stalled, this year’s big launches will be way less successful than they would have been and certain sectors – hi-fi, for instance – have been put under awful pressure.

The ironic thing is, though, that certain brands must have done extremely well out of it all. At T3.com we’ve seen record traffic, as a captive audience of extremely bored people desperately looked for stuff to buy. It’s certainly not only been makers of toilet roll who have benefitted from the craziness.

With hindsight, loo roll was the canary in the coal mine that warned us all the world was about to go mad. The sight of people wrestling over Andrex is a disturbing one that will linger long in the shared

S

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mory.

Personal , I di not ockpile that. ct the only thing stockpiled was shwasher tablets. I figure sh comes to shove, I can w arse with anything, but I sure as ll am not going back to doing the shes manually. No way. ‘full lockdown’ approache anothe hi I slightly pan about was record player styluses.

No, really. I bought a new turntable just before it all kicked off, and it did not come with a cartridge.

I ended up getting one just in time, with the help of AudioTechnica. I had to call up a woman working from her kitchen and pay for it over the phone, which isn’t something I’ve done for a while.

Disaster averted, though.

buying

“Loo roll was the canary in the coal mine that warned us all the world was about to go mad” While I was probably among a small handful of people desperate to buy a record player cartridge, I know that lots of tech things immediately began to sell out.

Certain products were as soughtafter as gold, or quilted bum wipes.

Some of these things made perfect sense – hair clippers and home gym equipment, for instance.

Another great irony of this period has been that I’ve found myself editing a lot of online stories about

i nt and not so as to avoid ‘lockdown weight gain’.

But in order to do that, I’ve had to push aside vast swathes of empties from my kitchen table, in order to make space for both my laptop and my now enormous gut.

Some of the sell-out items came more out of left field. Have you ever considered buying a hot tub before? No, me neither. But a run of hot days in early spring, coupled with the stark realisation that the garden was gonna get a lot of use this year, sent them flying off shelves. I did a roundup of where you could buy hot tubs – the Pulitzer Prize is nailed on, I’m sure – and it immediately started doing a load of traffic that did not let up until all of the hot tubs in Britain had sold out.

There was a lot of talk of people using bots to snap up sought-after items, with a view to reselling them at a fat profit. So maybe all the hot tubs ended up in one guy’s garage, just as the hot spell came to an end.

Watch out for them on eBay. Hopefully by the time you read this, the worst will be over and the ‘situation’ more stabilised. I’m writing this one on the day we go to press. Not because I’m lazy, you understand. It’s just been a crazy time. Stay safe.

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We’re For Creators

®

Best TVs for every budget

8K TVs Behold the most glorious goggle boxes you’ve ever seen

THE CASE FOR 8K IS IT FINALLY TIME TO UPGRADE? With pixel counts of 7680x4320, 8K TVs carry four times as much resolution as 4K ones. While this level of resolution is arguably not necessary on screens smaller than 65 inches, it removes all sense of image structure on large screens, leaving you with pictures that look unprecedentedly immersive and lifelike. Provided, anyway, that a TV has the colour, light and motion quality to unleash all those pixels’ full potential.

There aren’t many native 8K sources yet, alas. Which isn’t surprising given the amount of data 8K video eats up. However, there’s talk of the next generation of games consoles providing at least a little 8K support. YouTube already carries a few 8K videos, and various streaming services – including Rakuten and chili. tv – have said they intend to introduce 8K streams soon. Samsung’s latest S20 phones let you make your own 8K movies as well.

Also, contrary to expectation, the best 8K TVs are proving remarkably good at turning 4K sources into 8K. The end results often look both more detailed and clean than they do in their native 4K form. This means that 8K TVs can deliver picture benefits now, rather than only in some distant future where 8K content is common.

LG OLED88Z9 No, we haven’t accidentally stuck an extra ‘9’ on the LG OLED88Z9’s price. It really does cost a buck short of sixty grand. If you happen to have that sort of cash lying around, though, there is a good reason why the OLED88Z9 costs so much more than the other sets featured here: it uses an OLED screen.

Unlike LCD TVs, where external backlights are shared across many pixels at once, each pixel in an OLED TV makes its own light and colour. Which proves particularly handy when you’re talking about pixels as tiny and numerous as those you get in an 8K TV. In dark scenes especially, where rival LCD screens would have to compromise either the intensity of bright highlights or the darkness of blacks, the OLED88Z9 gives full expression to even tiny details.

OLED viewing angles are peerless too, while the way OLED technology allows an 88-inch screen to sit on a chassis that’s just a few millimetres deep seems to defy physics in a breathtaking way.

$59,999, lg.com 2 6 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

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8K TVs

SONY KD-85ZG9

SAMSUNG QE75Q950TS

Sony’s debut 8K TV is a typically emphatic effort from the Japanese brand, where its native 8K resolution is just one of many groundbreaking charms.

It’s also, for instance, the brightest TV ever, getting close to the 4,000-nit brightness peaks found on some of the most aggressive HDR sources out there. It thus has the potential to show such full-on HDR images completely natively, without having to ‘remap’ them to lower brightness levels like other TVs do. The extreme brightness also means that daylight HDR scenes look unprecedentedly lifelike and convincing, while colours look vibrant and refined.

Despite this, the technology Sony uses to give the 85ZG9 a wider viewing angle compromises its contrast a little, and means you can sometimes see backlight ‘blooming’ around stand-out bright objects. But for many this will seem a small price to pay for the 85ZG9’s really extraordinary sharpness, detail and brightness.

The Samsung QE75Q950TS’s picture quality is jaw-dropping, delivering in full on the almost uncanny realism that’s 8K’s trademark. Even better, it uses new deep learning and AI technology to turn the 4K and HD sources you’ll still mostly be watching into 8K more convincingly than any TV before it.

Its QLED Quantum Dot colour technology also helps it deliver unmatched extremes of brightness and colour with aggressive high dynamic range (HDR) images. At the same time, a new backlighting system, which controls the current as well as the voltage used to light the TV’s 480 separately controlled zones of LEDs, provides the most deep and controlled black colours ever seen on an LCD TV. Add in an innovative ‘Object Motion Tracking’ sound system that places sound effects in precisely the right place on the screen, along with a wealth of gaming features, and the Samsung QE75Q950TS is the very definition of a cutting edge TV.

$19,999, sony.com.au Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

$11,595, samsung.com W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 2 7

Best TVs for every budget

OLED TVs It’s all about the pixels with these stunning beauties

OLEDUCATION WHAT EXACTLY DOES ‘OLED’ MEAN? While OLED TVs can’t get as cheap as LCD TVs can, they have a good excuse. Namely that each and every pixel in an OLED screen produces its own light and colour. LCD TVs, on the other hand, share external lights across many hundreds or thousands of pixels at once.

OLED TVs can therefore deliver peerless local contrast – as in, the darkest pixel in a picture can sit right alongside the brightest without either ‘polluting’ the other. This makes OLED technology uniquely capable of handling dark images – and, therefore, a firm favourite with home cinema fans. OLED screens can also be watched from any angle without colour or contrast taking a hit, and in recent years have got much brighter than many predicted they would.

That said, even the brightest OLED TV – the Panasonic 65HZ2000 – only manages 1000 nits of peak light output while some LCD screens hit three or even four times that. But while this arguably gives LCDs an advantage with very bright HDR footage and in bright rooms, OLED’s black levels look extremely beautiful in a dark room setting, while its local contrast abilities ensure that pictures have plenty of intensity.

Concerns remain over the potential for OLED TVs to suffer permanent image retention if exposed to static image elements over extended periods of time. While OLED manufacturers still provide warnings about this issue, though, it thankfully seems to become much less common with every passing OLED generation.

PANASONIC TH-65GZ1500U The panels at the heart of pretty much every OLED TV hail from the same source: LG Display. So differences between different OLED TVs typically boil down to design and processing.

The Panasonic TX-65GZ, though, is different. This one incorporates a proprietary hardware innovation that lets it run around 25-30% brighter than other OLED TVs. In today’s high dynamic range world this really matters – especially given that brightness is the one performance area where OLED TVs fall short of premium LCD TVs. Panasonic’s technology also apparently delivers this extra brightness without making the 65GZ more susceptible to permanent image retention.

Video processing comes tuned by an actual Hollywood colourist, and the unerringly accurate pictures are joined by a built-in Dolby Atmos sound system complete with up-firing speakers. There’s even support for both the Dolby Vision and HDR10+ premium HDR picture formats, whereas most brands only support one or the other.

$3,459, panasonic.com.au 2 8 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

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8K TVs

PHILIPS 55OLED804

LG OLED55CX

The 55OLED804 is another TV that goes the extra mile to stand out from the OLED pack. Its design, in particular, is a true original, thanks to Philips’ unique Ambilight technology. This uses LEDs arranged behind three of the TV’s four edges to cast out coloured light that can even match the colour content of what you’re watching. It sounds gimmicky, but used on gentle settings Ambilight can actually be surprisingly immersive.

The 55OLED804’s ‘light show’ isn’t there to distract you from any picture weaknesses, either. On the contrary, the set comes packing Philips’ P5 picture processor – so called because it applies dozens of different steps to boost what Philips sees as the five key pillars of picture quality: source detection, contrast, colour, sharpness and motion. This results in some of the best OLED pictures we’ve seen.

Add decent Dolby Atmos sound and support for both the HDR10+ and Dolby Vision HDR formats to the mix, and it’s difficult to see what more you could expect for the price.

LG started the whole big-screen OLED market, and is still responsible for most of the OLED TVs that end up in people’s homes.

Part of this success is down to price. LG has always led the way on making OLED TVs cheaper, and the 55-inch OLED55CX continues that trend. Its asking price really doesn’t feel much to pay for a new TV that combines premium OLED screen technology with LG’s latest processing and features.

This processing delivers better handling of near-black content than previous LG OLEDs, as well as more uniform colour management across the screen; better motion performance; and increased sharpness with both native 4K and upscaled HD sources.

It’s also a great companion for the next generation of games consoles. It has no less than four full-capacity HDMI 2.1 ports, for instance, allowing 4K gaming at frame rates up to 120 Hz. It also supports the Nvidia G-Sync variable refresh rate system, while in Game mode it takes barely 15ms to render its pictures.

$2,320, philips.com.au Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

$4,495, lg.com W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 2 9

Best TVs for every budget

Mid-range marvels Quality sets that offer a great bang for your buck

SET PRIORITIES TO PICK THE RIGHT TV, CONSIDER YOUR NEEDS While the mid-range TV segment typically gives you the best value for your investment, it’s also the most complicated area for TV buyers to negotiate. Mid-range models can’t give you everything like high-end TVs can, so they have to pick and choose their strengths.

With this in mind, try and figure out as accurately as possible what you most need from your TV before you even start your search. Think, for instance, about how bright your room typically is when you watch TV. If it’s bright, a good LCD model may suit you best. If it’s dark or you regularly turn off the lights to watch a film, a budget OLED may suit you best.

If you have wide seating positions to accommodate, an IPS LCD might be sensible. If you don’t, a VA panel may deliver the better all-round pictures.

If you’re likely to use a TV for gaming as well as watching TV, look for fast response times and features like variable refresh rate support and auto low latency mode switching.

Consider how many connections you need and, finally, what picture attributes – brightness, contrast, colour, sharpness and so on – you value the most. With this last point in mind, you’ll probably find it helpful to keep an eye on T3’s TV reviews!

SAMSUNG QE55Q70T The QE55Q70T is the cheapest point at which you can ‘sensibly’ get your hands on Samsung’s QLED technology. QLED uses metalwrapped Quantum Dots to produce colour, enabling Samsung TVs to run more brightly and with a wider colour range. While you can buy cheaper 2020 QLED models than the Q70Ts, those lack the brightness to do QLED justice.

The QE55Q70T actually combines QLED with new Dual LED technology to enhance colour and contrast. Dual LED combines two light sources running at different light ‘temperatures’ to deliver much more control over light and colour tone than you usually get with edge-lit LED TVs. The result is a bright, punchy, exceptionally sharp picture that gives you a spectacular HDR performance. Strong gaming features – including an exceptionally low 10ms response time – seal the deal.

$2,299, samsung.com/au 3 0 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

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8K TVs

SONY 55X85G

LG 55NANO906

While Samsung’s QE55Q70T shows how good edge-lit LED TVs can get, some AV fans prefer direct LED lighting – where the LEDs sit directly behind the screen – as this approach tends to improve contrast and colour control.

Cue Sony’s 55X85G. This combines direct lighting with a local dimming system, where separate parts of the backlight can be illuminated independently of each other – the first time such a backlight system has appeared at such an affordable level of Sony’s TV range. The direct backlighting also unlocks the brand’s X-Motion Clarity feature, which manipulates brightness frame by frame and even image element by image element to improve motion sharpness.

Smart features come courtesy of Android 9.0 (or Pie, if you prefer a food name). There’s plenty of content on there – and it delivers built-in Google Assistant voice control support, too.

While LG’s OLED TVs are routinely hard to resist, its LCD TVs have historically not fared as well. Their preference for IPS technology over the rival VA approach has caused distracting contrast and backlight problems that IPS’s advantage of wider viewing angles hasn’t provided enough compensation for.

The 55NANO906, though, finally combines IPS’s viewing angle advantage with a truly effective backlight system. By greatly improving how power is distributed around the image, dark scenes and areas now look much less grey and flat than they did on 2019’s equivalent LG model. You can see far more details in dark areas, too.

Black colours can still get deeper on the best VA panels. For its money, though, the 55NANO906 is a game-changer for LG, and a brilliant option for anyone with a big household or awkwardly shaped room where ‘head on’ viewing isn’t always an option.

$1,499, sony.com.au Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

$TBA (approx $2,500 expected), lg.com W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 3 1

Best TVs for every budget

Bargain TVs Affordable boxes that won’t break the bank

SCREEN SAVER CHOOSING A LOW-COST SUPERSTAR On one hand, buying a budget TV – maybe for a second room – is easier than buying a mid-range or high end one. After all, you’ll surely be going into it understanding that any budget TV you end up with will come with some performance and/or feature strings attached.

At the same time, though, the variations between different budget sets can be truly extreme. Especially now we have high dynamic range to think about. Really no true budget TV has enough brightness or colour range to handle the demands of HDR properly, so you’re invariably looking at a kind of damage limitation exercise. So much so that short of budget TVs just not bothering to offer HDR support at all, which wouldn’t actually be a bad option, how well a particular budget TV ‘maps’ HDR to its screen’s capabilities is the single most important thing to look for when trying to pick a performance-led budget TV. The budget TV market is complicated by its mixture of ‘true’ budget TVs and sets that started out as lower mid-range models but have benefited from a price cut or two.

Obviously you’ll typically do better with one of the latter if you can find one – though the Hisense Roku TV shows that straightforward budget TVs can also have lots going for them.

HISENSE ROKU TV 55 The amount of quality and features this Hisense Roku TV (or R50B7120 to give it its more boring name) gives you for under $600 beggars belief.

For starters, its 4K pictures are remarkably good for its price.

Surprisingly, it uses a direct LED lighting system, rather than an edge-lit one, helping it deliver an unusually respectable contrast performance. It also provides a handy selection of HDR picture modes that let you choose your preferred balance between peak and ‘average’ brightness. Such HDR flexibility is essential, really, on budget TVs – but precious few rival models offer it. Similarly, while the Hisense Roku TV can’t deliver a wide range of colours, those it can look consistently natural by budget TV standards.

What really seals the deal, though, is the R50B7120’s Roku smart system. This offers a mountain of apps, all accessible within a no-nonsense, easy to use and impressively slick operating system.

$599, hisense.com 3 2 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

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8K TVs

PANASONIC GX600

SAMSUNG 55RU7020

One advantage of buying a budget TV from a brand that’s been involved with TVs as long as Panasonic has is that you can get ‘drip down’ technology. Tech, in other words, that was once only found on high-end TVs, but has gradually seeped down to cheaper models.

This is exactly why the GX600 is so attractive. Its 4K picture processing engine is derived from much more expensive TV hits from Panasonic’s back catalogue.

Combined with the GX600’s unusually talented backlight controls, the processor delivers pictures that try to track as closely as possible the colour, contrast and sharpness designed by the filmmakers in their mastering suites.

The results don’t look as punchy as those of some rival budget TVs, but the balance and refinement on show is very impressive.

Especially if you feed it a source that unlocks its support – unusual at this price level – for the premium HDR10+ HDR format.

Inevitably for its price, the 55RU7020 doesn’t get Samsung’s QLED technology. But while this means it lacks the colour richness and brightness that are QLED’s trademarks, it doesn’t stop the set from delivering better contrast, colour and sharpness than the vast majority of the sub-$1,000 TV world.

As is almost always the case with Samsung LCD TVs, the 55RU7020 uses a VA panel rather than an IPS one. So viewing angles are a little limited, but contrast is well above par.

In fact, while it’s under $700 now, it cost much more when it first launched a few months ago. So it’s kind of cheated its way on to our list (not that we’re complaining!), and this means you’re really getting a lower mid-range level of performance at a budget price.

It’s not just a hit with its pictures, either. It also carries the same version of Samsung’s latest proprietary smart TV platform, meaning you get the same massive library of apps and easy to follow interface.

$790, panasonic.com Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

$640, samsung.com W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 3 3

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Learning piano

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO…

Learning piano

With many of us locked down at home, now seems like a good time to start learning piano. But where’s best to start and what kind of keyboard or digital piano is best?

Words: Daniel Goldman

he unprecedented situation of life under lockdown has led many of us to search for new ways to pass the time and learn new skills; learning a musical instrument could be just the antidote you need to these strange and uncertain times. In fact, many of us have always wanted to learn a new (or additional instrument) so now there’s really no excuse.

Whether it be drums, piano, keyboard, guitar or anything else you have always wanted to be able to play, there are lots of great resources out there to help, in the form of pre-recorded lessons or one to one tuition from professionals (on Zoom or Skype). Even famous musicians are now allowing you into their previously hidden worlds to pass on their secret recipes for becoming a great instrumentalist.

I’ve been playing piano since the age of five – so almost 40 years now!

– and that one decision by my folks to start me off with piano lessons (despite my initial resistance!) was literally life changing and has

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defined my entire musical career.

I meet many people who say to me “I wish I could play like you” or “I used to play a bit and wish I hadn’t stopped” and I have to admit my heart sinks when I hear this.

Having the ability to play any instrument is such a huge game changer for anyone’s mental health, cognitive abilities and general happiness at any age and it can help you through tough times, provide joy too and connect you to people and the world in ways you never thought possible. Along with all the people you meet through your connection with music and your instrument, whether that be other musicians in bands, or educators, dancers, artists and other creatives, there is no time like the present to start on – or rejoin – the path to learning an instrument.

WHY PICK PIANO? But why go for a piano or keyboard and not another instrument? Well, firstly, the piano is a relatively easy instrument to learn with a pretty shallow learning curve – though of

course, like anything, to be really great you need to really put in the hours. There’s also a ton of great learning resources out there for people of all ages/abilities, including books, apps and videos. Compared to string instruments where you have to contort your hands into all sorts of unnatural feeling positions (at first) and where you have to physically make contact with the string with your hands to create the sound, the piano keyboard does a lot of the ‘heavy lifting’ work for you. In the most basic way, all you have to you is press a lever (the key), which then triggers a hammer (real or virtual in software) that hits a string and hey presto you’re off.

Essentially, the way a piano or keyboard works means that anyone from a toddler to a pensioner can make a decent sound by simply pressing a key and listening to the beautiful note that rings out.

Piano keys are also comfy and nicely spaced for our human hands (again unlike the guitar) and so as a starter instrument it’s ideal. The piano keyboard is a thing of absolute

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The complete guide to‌ The top three‌

GEAR & APPS TO IMPROVE YOUR PLAYING

We can’t guarantee this idyllic location along with the keyboard, but you never know‌

With these tools, you’ll be channelling Chopin and mimicking Mozart in no time at all 01

FLOWKEY Flowkey is an app for computers and iOS/ Android devices. It’s fully interactive, gives you live feedback, allows you to slow down/speed up sections for practice and is endorsed by teachers and pianists. )UHH ZLWK LQ DSS SXUFKDVHV ćRZNH\ FRP

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LUMI Roli will soon be helping budding pianists practise their craft with the release of Lumi, a keyboard with light-up keys and partnered app that teach you technique and new songs. $tbc, playlumi.com

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SKOOVE Skoove enables you to play along to songs and lessons on your phone, tablet or desktop. Its built-in AI listens to your playing and shapes your learning.

From US$9.99 a month, skoove.com 3 6 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

genius, not just physically but visually too; it’s very easy to visualise how chords and scales are built and how everything relates.

Once you’ve learnt how to play one octave then you’ve learnt all the octaves: they are all the same spatially but just at dierent pitches.

What’s more, the piano keyboard (whether in an acoustic piano, electric piano, keyboard or piano app) has become a ubiquitous ‘industry standard’ interface because of its clear visual feedback and ease of use. Many of our homes will have some sort of keyboard and most commercial or home studios will have a synth-action unweighted keyboard or a weighted piano-like keyboard, either with its own sounds built in or to use as a MIDI controller connected (via USB, Bluetooth or a MIDI cable) to a computer running music software.

KEY CONSIDERATIONS When starting out, most of us often don’t have the $5k+ budget to buy a decent acoustic piano. So for your ďŹ rst approaches at learning piano you’ll likely want to start o with a good quality keyboard or digital piano.

However, whilst unweighted keyboards are good for learning the notes and theory, and often have tons of sounds and features, for learning piano you need to build technique, so full-size weighted keys are ideal. It’s imperative that ďŹ nger strength and dexterity is taken seriously (even for younger players) as the more exercise you give your ďŹ ngers, the ďŹ tter they will become and the more capable they will be for every musical task in the future. Whilst the smaller or unweighted synth action keys found on most keyboards are undoubtedly easier to push down, they don’t give your ďŹ ngers the workout they need to build strength and accuracy and if you end up graduating to a real acoustic piano, you will likely struggle.

Now that we have established that the ideal instrument to learn on (if you can’t aord or don’t have room for an acoustic) is a weighted digital piano with full-size keys rather than a keyboard with lightweight or smaller keys, it’s important to work out what you really need feature-wise in order to make learning fun and engaging.

The ďŹ rst consideration is your budget.

Expect to pay $400-$600 for a decent unweighted portable keyboard and upwards of $1,000 for a weighted digital piano.

Action-wise, keep in mind some like a heavier feeling keyboard whilst others prefer lighter-feeling keys. Again, it’s ideal if you can get to a store (after this present lockdown has ended) that has several of the leading brands on display so that you can make an informed choice. Be aware that buying sight unseen online for yourself – or for someone else – is risky, as the keyboard action may feel too heavy and end up impeding your/their learning. Thankfully, the leading brands in keyboards and digital home pianos, such as Korg, Yamaha, Casio, Roland and Kawai, generally have nicely balanced weighted actions that feel very piano-like, so if you have to buy sight unseen I would always try to go with a longestablished brand. Also, many of these bigger manufacturers have learning/support apps that work in sync with their digital

The best instrument to learn on is a digital piano with full-size weighted keys Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

Learning piano T3 recommends...

THE BEST DIGITAL PIANOS FOR BEGINNERS Our pick of the best instruments for a range of needs and budgets

THE REAL FEEL

ROLAND FP-30 The FP-30 offers a ton of useful functionality at a fair price. First off, its full-size 88-key ‘Ivory Touch’ keyboard adds a grain to the surface of the keys for a more piano-like feel. Coupled with 2 x 11 watt speakers, 35

decent ‘bread and butter sounds’, Bluetooth connectivity, an ideas UHFRUGHU SOD\EDFN RI DXGLR ĆOHV from USB stick, dual headphone jacks and a microphone input, there’s a lot to work with. $959, roland.com

As we’ve already mentioned, keyboards and digital pianos can vary wildly, from slight and portable with a focused feature set, to beefy all-in-ones with sizeable speakers and no end of bells and whistles.

Picking the perfect piano for your needs shares more in common with selecting a new smartphone than it does choosing an acoustic instrument, as the sound, functionality and play style each oers is as unique as the potential pianist playing them.

To help you out, we’ve put together a medley of some of the best pianos and keyboards available for beginner and intermediate players, highlighting each of their respective fortes.

LIGHT KEYS, LOW COST

YAMAHA NP-32 PIAGGERO For those who might struggle with fully weighted keys but still ZDQW IXOO VL]H NH\V VWDQGDUG ĆQJHU spacing. The 76 keys here still have enough resistance for practising and accurate playing. In addition, there are features for beginners

too. There are 10 good basic sounds onboard, a metronome for timing practice, it’s battery powerable and has a built-in recorder. $ JUHDW OHDUQLQJ SLDQR RQ WKH ZD\ to fully weighted keys. $399, au.yamaha.com

BALANCED SCALES

BIG PLAYER

CASIO PRIVIA PX-S1000

KORG SP280-BK

Casio’s weighted actions are generally nicely balanced. This particular model has plenty for beginners and more experienced players, including 18 high-quality sounds onboard. It’s fairly light, has a scaled hammer action keyboard

(acoustic pianos feel heavier at the low end and lighter at the top), split and layer functionality, two front-mounted headphone sockets, Bluetooth, metronome and 60 built-in practice exercises. $979, casio-intl.com/asia/en

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Korg produces quality machines full of great sounds and this is no different. It’s a little more exciting looking compared to others and fairly portable. The keyboard has 88 notes with a hammer action and the loud 22 watt speakers

face you, giving a nice immersive sound. There are 30 layer-able sounds onboard from Korg’s wellrespected library and it comes with a piano stand, music stand, pedal and two headphone sockets. $1,279, korg.com W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 3 7

The complete guide to…

and another person (teacher, sibling, friend etc) to play together at any time of day or night without annoying others in your house (or your neighbours).

Other must-haves include a metronome, which can provide an audio and/or visual click on screen for practising timing and scales. Whenever I teach or advise my students about practising, it’s essential to have solid rhythmic support and a metronome can provide this and will help no-end long term with your timing. If the digital keyboard/piano has built-in beats and auto-accompaniment, this can serve the same function yet also be a lot more fun than just listening to a boring click. Beats and

Learning how to play an instrument is good for many things, including your mental health

keyboards and pianos via Bluetooth or USB so be sure to check out whether the piano has good learning resources included, or at least a discounted subscription.

In addition, always try to get a heightadjustable stool (that can accommodate two people) included with your keyboard/piano.

One big problem I come across (as a player and teacher of piano myself) is bad posture caused by sitting at the incorrect distance and height, which can lead to all manner of back or neck problems and ultimately lead to poor technique. Next, make sure your keyboard or digital piano has an adjustable music rack for putting sheet music or an iPad on: not all of them include this.

Then be sure not to overlook the speaker system onboard. Is it loud enough? Does it sound warm and lush or horrible and tinny?

You have to decide these points for yourself but you’ll know when your ears are smiling when you test in person or audition sound clips. In addition, you have to make sure that any keyboard/digital piano fits within its surroundings but thankfully most manufacturers offer a variety of finishes, from gloss black and white to wood.

In terms of the sounds, a broad range of bread and butter sounds is important (organ, strings, guitars, woodwinds, brass, clav etc) but the most important thing is a great piano sound. EQ and reverb are also great for customising sounds and the ability to layer two sounds is handy too.

In addition, a pair of audio outputs is necessary if you want to record or connect to a mixing desk/PA system and having two headphone sockets enables your good self

It’s essential to have solid rhythmic support and a metronome helps auto accompaniment will improve your timing, get you listening and improvising (and on the path to jamming with real humans) and allow you to work on your harmonic language/ideas too.

Finally, the ability to record your performances to internal memory as audio, an external memory stick, or an onboard sequencer is very handy. These features all allow you to record yourself, then listen back and hear where you are going wrong: this will only aid and speed up the learning process and as a bonus you can show off your performances to your friends and family too.

TIPS FOR LEARNING PIANO FASTER Learning piano needn’t take forever: here are some tips for speedy learning 1 Firstly, select an instrument that feels good, sounds good and inspires you to play: you can’t underestimate how important this is to keep you engaged with learning.

2 Next up, from the start of the learning process, sit comfortably at the piano, don’t hunch over and always play from your fingers, not your wrists or arms. Economy of movement is also important: if you are having to move your hands, wrists and arms loads that’s wasted energy. Relax your arms and body and let your fingers do the work.

3 Use a metronome at all times to give you a rhythmic framework when practising. If you practise or play without a timing reference 3 8 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

you will find it much harder and slower to learn. Don’t overlook timing!

4 Start with learning scales as soon as possible to aid technique and note reading too. Scales are a tried and tested way to improve your playing, technique and stamina.

5 If you envisage yourself doing exams, then try and start on an approved syllabus then you won’t find you’ve wasted any time: there are approved classical (and also jazz routes now too) to cater for all tastes.

6 Whilst there are many apps out there for learning, real sheet music and books are still as valid as ever. They are tried and tested.

7 There’s nothing wrong with a paper and

pen either and it’s great to develop your theory and to be able to write music physically with a pen and paper: it’s a very useful skill that many pro musicians still rely on and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon!

8 As well as having your head in apps and books, remember that just sitting down and playing without constraints is massively important. Try composing your own tunes, jam along to your favourite music, record yourself/listen back, or jam with friends online over Skype, FaceTime or Zoom.

9 Don’t forget that one to one tuition with a reputable teacher will always help too.

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State of the art Fitness watches

Fitness watches

Fitness watches can give you an enormous amount of insight into your track and workout performance. But which ones go that extra mile for active people?

Photography: Neil Godwin

top-quality running watch will be a real step up if you have only used fitness trackers before.

Unlike fitness trackers, running watches have a range of advanced features such as built-in GPS, more accurate wristbased optical heart rate sensors and plenty of available sport modes. They also provide detailed running metrics in real time, like pace and cadence, that can help you better your running technique on the fly.

Running watches have long been suitable, to varying degrees, for tracking

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your prowess in the gym; the reason they’re now often known as fitness watches is that brands explicitly design them for multiple sports and activities – not just gym but hiking, cycling, paddle boarding and a host of other fitness-friendly activities. As well as all this, high-end models can often be used for navigation, thanks to their offline map function.

However, you don’t necessarily need to opt for a pure sports watch. For more casual users, a decent smartwatch will provide all the fitness features they need, and also do a

whole range of other things that ‘proper’ running watches cannot do.

And if affordability is more your concern than umpteen different activity modes or tweeting out mid-workout humblebrags, there are plenty more wallet-friendly watches that will enable you to track your runs, monitor your vitals and more besides.

Clearly there’s a lot of choice on offer. To make it easier to decide which is the best option for you, we’re taking a look at the best in each of these three categories and seeing how they compare head-to-head.

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State of the art

WHAT’S ON TEST…

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Fitbit Versa 2 While Fitbit’s entrance into the fitness smartwatch market lagged a little behind its rivals Garmin and Apple, with the Versa series it has carved out its niche at the more affordable end of the market.

Offering improved battery life, Alexaintegration and even Oxygen-level tracking, the Versa 2 has become the one to watch for the cash-conscious.

But does it offer good value compared to more full-featured competitors? $279, fitbit.com/au

SPECS DISPLAY 300 x 300 AMOLED BATTERY LIFE 5+ days CASE Aluminium DIMENSIONS 25.07x25.07x12.7mm WEIGHT 40g

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Garmin Forerunner 945 When it comes to fitness tech, Garmin usually races ahead of the pack. And so it’s reasonable to expect its flagship running watch, the Forerunner 945, to leave rivals eating its dust. Certainly, with its great battery life, full-colour maps and absurd variety of fitness features, it’s a premium product – but it comes at undeniably premium price. $859, garmin.com

SPECS DISPLAY 240 x 240 pixels BATTERY LIFE Smartwatch mode: up to 2 weeks; GPS mode with music: up to 10 hours CASE Fibre-reinforced polymer DIMENSIONS 47x47x13.7mm WEIGHT 50g

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Apple Watch Series 5 We can’t not mention the device that helped spawn the category.

While Apple’s device is a generalist compared to brands like Garmin and Fitbit, it has consistently offered great health and fitness features.

Not only that but it offers enough smart functionality to justify its place on your wrist 24/7.

From $649, apple.com/au

SPECS DISPLAY 40mm: 324 x 394 pixels; 44mm: 368 x 448 pixels BATTERY LIFE Up to 18 hours CASE Aluminium / stainless steel / titanium / ceramic DIMENSIONS 40x34x10.74mm / 44x38x10.74mm WEIGHT 30.8g - 47.8g

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Fitness watches PRODUCT 01:

FITBIT VERSA 2

FITBIT VERSA 2 Fitbit has made strides in the running watch market – but has it been enough? he new Fitbit Versa 2 looks to be the most stylish and versatile Fitbit to date. It adds Alexa, a brighter screen, a better battery and a more refined look to the Versa version 1.

Its AMOLED screen looks great – really bright and attractive – and it can be set to ‘always on mode’. You’re finally able to just see your heart rate while working out, without having to flick your wrist to turn on the screen.

Amazon Alexa offers the usual news, music, weather, smart home controls and Fitbit control via an Alexa ‘Skill’ – you can, ‘Tell Fitbit to start a run’ for instance.

Interestingly, Alexa is activated with a button-push rather than a wake word, and its responses appear on screen in text form rather than being spoken.

When it comes to the new and improved battery, the Versa 2 boasts what Fitbit calls 5+ day battery life; you could consider that a 25% improvement over its predecessor’s 4+ day battery life.

While we’re predominantly focusing on fitness features, the Versa 2 has decent sleep tracking. Not only does it rate the quality of your sleep out of 100 but, as of February 2020, Fitbit rolled out its ‘Estimated Oxygen Variation Graph’ feature. Generated from data sourced from the red and infrared sensors on the Versa 2, it alerts you to ‘short-term variations in the oxygen levels in your

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Runs, hikes and rides have to be tracked via your phone’s GPS

As with the original Versa, it’s swim-proof and water resistant to 50m, despite the addition of a mic for Alexa activation Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

bloodstream’ which ‘may indicate variations in your breathing during sleep’.

However, those who are more into fitness than wellness or sleepiness are serviced by Fitbit’s usual mix of automatic activity tracking, all-day and exercise heart rate tracking and ‘15+ goal-based exercise modes’. Runs, hikes and rides have to be tracked via your phone’s GPS – there’s no GPS built in to the watch itself.

Alas, just like the original Versa and Versa Lite, Versa 2 is not one for the more large-wristed gent. You don’t have to be Popeye for it to look quite comically small on your arm. But for most women, smaller men and those who like small watches for whatever reason, it’s great.

Everything has been refined to look sharper and sexier, with a pleasingly buffed, anodised aluminium finish.

In terms of fit and finish, as long as you are not large of wrist this is easily the most stylish Fitbit to date, and that AMOLED screen really pops. The usual Fitbit suite of features is fine as far as it goes but to unlock its real value, you’ll need a subscription to Fitbit’s premium service.

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State of the art PRODUCT 02:

GARMIN FORERUNNER 945

GARMIN FORERUNNER 945

Garmin’s sport watch may take the gold – in terms of both prizes and price utting a premium price tag on a product is a bold move and, to justify it, brands really have to go the extra mile. But for our money – and yours – Garmin’s sports watch the Forerunner 945 justifies it.

Sure, at $859, it’s pricier than a Fitbit but this is a watch that will help you get really fit, not just count steps and track a few light workouts. Built for triathletes, the 945 is suitable for anyone who’s serious about fitness but wants something slim and stylish too.

Probably the Forerunner 945’s most notable upgrade is the increased battery life. Thanks to the new Sony GPS chip and firmware updates, it lasts for 60 hours in UltraTrac mode, which switches off the GPS when not in use. If you want the GPS on all the time, you will get 10 hours out of the battery. Put it in smartwatch mode, with GPS off, and it’s good for up to two weeks.

If you like listening to music while exercising but don’t want to take your phone, the watch’s Spotify support will make your heart skip a beat. You can store up to 1,000 songs (synced playlists or uploaded MP3s) on it. Just connect your running headphones and you’re good to go.

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It’s able to track dozens of activities away from the track, road and pool It also boasts full-colour maps, making navigation in both urban and trail environments way easier.

The optical sensors on the back of the watch can detect heart rate and pulse more precisely than before, helping it to track VO2Max metrics even better. More interesting still, the ‘Training Load Focus’ function sorts your recent training history into different categories based on activity structure and intensity – this could be a genuine step forward in training for races.

The watch is compatible with Garmin’s smart heartrate strap for runners, and its waterproof one for swimmers, and can also pair with Garmin power meters to function as a surprisingly sophisticated, wristmounted bike computer.

However, it’s also able to track dozens of activities away from the track, road and pool. It’s great for weight training, interval tracking, treadmill running and anything else you can do at the gym. It really is the ultimate fitness watch with pro features that Apple Watch can’t currently match.

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While it’s built for triathletes, the Forerunner 945 is perfect for anyone serious about fitness, combining great tracking with a solid build quality Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

Fitness watches PRODUCT 03:

APPLE WATCH SERIES 5

APPLE WATCH SERIES 5 Apple’s all-conquering smartwatch is also an excellent fitness wearable lthough it’s not explicitly a fitness device, Apple Watch must presumably be the world’s most popular fitness wearable by now. Some people buy it specifically to track steps, runs and more; others buy it as smartwatch and then may or may not use the exercise features.

The latest incarnation adds very little over the Series 4 – the main non-aesthetic addition is the option of an always-on screen. For workouts, this is actually quite the boon, as it means you can immediately view your heart rate and other metrics, without having to activate the screen by turning your wrist.

The down side is that battery life is reduced, but then the device’s battery life has always been quite poor compared to Fitbit or Garmin. That’s why it doesn’t incorporate sleep tracking; it’s expected that you’ll be charging your Watch overnight.

Apple’s fitness game remains very strong, so long as you keep its battery topped up. Of course it does step counting, but there is also an excellent heart-rate tracker, as well as one for blood oxygen measuring. There are some moans about the pulse sensor online – everyone seems to

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Its fitness game remains strong, so long as you keep its battery topped up

The Apple Watch Series 5 already offers peerless heart-rate, blood oxygen and step tracking but download a few third-party apps to make it better still Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

get different results from wrist heart tracking – but we’ve always found it to be excellent. Calorie burn estimates seem consistently accurate, where most fitness trackers’ seem rather fanciful at times. In fact, we’ve done a bit of lab testing and found the Apple Watch’s calorie burn estimates to be remarkably similar to those shown by proper sports-medicine equipment, which you have to concede is quite impressive.

Accurate GPS, consistently good exercise detection and the ability to stream music via Bluetooth make it a great running and workout watch. Of course, if you are not on Wi-Fi, you will need to use a 4G connection to stream, but there is also the option to store playlists on the Watch, if you don’t want to use up your data allowance.

Apple’s own workout app doesn’t have some of the more advanced training metrics that Garmin offers, but via third party apps and sensors, the Watch can rival even the best fitness watches for sophistication, handling running, gym workouts and swimming with aplomb. One for the sporty type who likes to mix their activities, then.

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State of the art VERDICT:

1st

THE OVERALL WINNER IS…

BEST ON TEST

GARMIN FORERUNNER 945 )URP JDUPLQ FRP

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APPLE WATCH SERIES 5

FITBIT VERSA 2

From $649, apple.com/au

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2nd

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WE’RE IMPRESSED Improved anodised aluminium lightweight design; always-on AMOLED GLVSOD\ LPSURYHG EDWWHU\ OLIH WE’D IMPROVE Lacks GPS; only suits slighter wrists; more OLPLWHG IHDWXUHV WKDQ LWV ULYDOV THE LAST WORD The best Fitbit ĆWQHVV ZDWFK WR GDWH EXW QRW \HW taking a bite out of Apple and *DUPLQèV OHDG

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02 OLD OR NEW? 7KH EHVW UXQQLQJ ZDWFK IURP ODVW \HDU LV VWLOO QRW WKH ZRUVW RSWLRQ WKLV \HDU 0DQ\ IHDWXUHV RI QHZHU PRGHOV WULFNOH GRZQ WR ROGHU RQHV WKURXJK VRIWZDUH XSGDWHV (VSHFLDOO\ LI WKH QHZ PRGHO FDPH RXW YHU\ UHFHQWO\ WKH ROGHU PRGHOV ZLOO SURYLGH PRUH VWDEOH SHUIRUPDQFH DW OHDVW DW WKH EHJLQQLQJ

03 WHICH FEATURES DO YOU NEED? 2IćLQH PDSV DUH JUHDW EXW QRW PDQ\ SHRSOH ZLOO XVH WKHP IRU

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DOVR WHQG WR FRQVXPH PRUH battery power.

04 BATTERY LIFE

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05 FIT AND ERGONOMICS

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Fitness watches

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SAUCONY INTERVAL 9-INCH 2-1 SHORTS

01

/RQJ WKRXJK WKH\ PLJKW EH WKH 6DXFRQ\ ,QWHUYDO LQFK 6KRUWV DUH YHU\ FRPIRUWDEOH WR ZHDU DQG GRQèW UHVWULFW \RXU PRYHPHQW GXULQJ UXQQLQJ 7KH LQWHJUDWHG FRPSUHVVLRQ OLQLQJ KDV D ODUJH VOLS LQ SRFNHW IRU SKRQHV DV ZHOO $180, saucony.com

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BROOKS STEALTH SHORT SLEEVE

%UHDWKDEOH DQG ZHOO ĆWWHG %URRNV 6WHDOWK 6KRUW 6OHHYH WHH DOVR ZLFNV DZD\ VZHDW DQG LV GHVLJQHG WR PLQLPLVH FRQVWULFWLRQ RU FKDĆQJ 7KH LGHDO FKRLFH DV WKH ZHDWKHU JUDGXDOO\ ZDUPV XS $25, brooksrunning.com

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BEATS BY DR DRE POWERBEATS PRO

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POLAR H10 HEART RATE SENSOR

)RU VKHHU VRXQG TXDOLW\ DQG WKH ZD\ WKH\ DUH DOO EXW LPSRVVLEOH WR DFFLGHQWDOO\ GLVORGJH IURP \RXU HDUV 3RZHUEHDWV 3UR DUH WKH JROG VWDQGDUG RI ZLUHOHVV EXGV IRU ZHDULQJ LQ WKH J\P DQG IRU UXQQLQJ %X\ VRPH ZRXOG EH RXU DGYLFH $308, beatsbydre.com

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7KH êPRVW DFFXUDWH KHDUW UDWH VHQVRU LQ 3RODUèV KLVWRU\ë DSSDUHQWO\ WKH 3RODU + FDQ PRQLWRU \RXU WLFNHU H[WUHPHO\ DFFXUDWHO\ ,W HYHQ KDV EXLOW LQ PHPRU\ IRU RQH H[HUFLVH VR \RX FDQ ZUDS LW DURXQG \RXU FKHVW VWDUW WKH VHVVLRQ LQ WKH DSS DQG WKHQ OHDYH \RXU SKRQH EHKLQG $139, polar.com

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05 Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

NIKE REACT INFINITY RUN

7KH 1LNH 5HDFW ,QĆQLW\ 5XQ GHOLYHU RQ WKHLU SURPLVH RIIHULQJ SOHQW\ RI VXSSRUW LQ RUGHU WR SURWHFW \RX IURP LQMXU\ 7KH 9DSRUć\ OLNH URFNHU VROH JHRPHWU\ PHUJHV ODQGLQJ DQG WDNH RII LQWR RQH VPRRWK WUDQVLWLRQ 9HU\ OLWWOH HQHUJ\ LV ORVW DQG \RXU OHJV ZLOO IHHO IUHVKHU IRU ORQJHU $229, nike.com W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 4 5

IMAGE SOURCES: SAUCONY, BROOKS, BEATS, POLAR, NIKE

5

ESSENTIAL ADD-ONS

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W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 47

Best tech for everything

EVERYTHING Discover the greatest gadgets for working smart, getting fit, expressing yourself and entertaining the whole family Words: Alex Cox Photography: Neil Godwin

4 8 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

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Best tech for everything

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W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 4 9

Best tech for everything

CREATING

Cracking gadgets for crafting beautiful things 1 1

MAC PRO

Okay, it’s prohibitively priced (and looks like a cheese grater), but that’s not the point: if you want a creative workstation with the muscle to do anything and everything without missing a beat, Apple’s exquisitely designed and supremely capable powerhouse is it. It’s upgradeable, too, which is a big bonus.

From $9,999, apple.com/au

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CANON EOS 90D

Making a highly compelling argument for the continued existence of DSLRs in an increasingly mirrorless world, this is a weighty and highly capable camera with a whole lot of exciting IXQFWLRQDOLW\ LQVLGH QRW OHDVW RI ZKLFK LV LWV full-frame 4K shooting, which helps make the most of your lenses. $1,550, canon.com.au

3

GOPRO MAX

Taking compactness to the extreme, the Max is GoPro without the compromise. While the Hero 8 Black is a marginally better choice if you’re looking for resolution, this does 360 shooting, has a rear screen, stabilises incredibly, ingeniously levels horizons, and doesn’t skimp on the shooting modes. $699, gopro.com

4

KORG WAVESTATE

Resurrecting the classic Wavestation synth of old with a fresh 21st-century twist, this compact 37-key keyboard, which runs four sequenced sound layers at once along with a KRVW RI ĆOWHUV DQG HIIHFWV LV DOO DERXW RIIHULQJ up new options for sound exploration. $1,125, korg.com

5

NETGEAR MEURAL CANVAS II

Though Netgear very much pushes the Meural Canvas II’s ability to pull from a 30,000 strong collection of artworks (with a subscription), we’d say the gorgeous digital frame is the perfect showcase for your own creations, whether they be family photographs or personal masterpieces. )URP QHWJHDU FRP DX

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ORBA

What is a musical instrument? Artiphon’s Orba, MXVW RXW RI LWV .LFNVWDUWHU SKDVH UHGHĆQHV WKH rules. Tap it, tilt it, move it around, and your hand motions are translated into sound through its integrated synth. It’s just as capable as a MIDI controller, too.

7%& DUWLSKRQ FRP 5 0 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

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Creating

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WACOM ONE CREATIVE PEN DISPLAY Bringing pen-on-screen art down to the hobbyist price point, Wacom’s 13.3� One tablet can detect 4,096 levels of sensitivity, 60 degrees of pen tilt, and even connects to some Android phones. However you want to express your creativity, it’s a perfect choice. $599, wacom.com

8

LEICA SL2

Taking the foundation of the Panasonic Lumix S1R and coating it in a thick, delicious layer of /HLFD ĆQHU\ DQG SUHFLVLRQ WKH 6/ LV D WUXO\ incredible mirrorless snapper. Super fast, great at keeping out stray light, and perfect for video übDOWKRXJK \RXèOO QHHG D IDW ZDOOHW $9,849, leica-camera.com

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BOOX NOTE 2

Powerful, extendable, and packed to the rafters with battery life, the Android 9.0-toting Note LV D VROLG ĂŤ H LQN DOWHUQDWLYH WR SHQ DQG paper. Great for sketching, PDF wrangling, reading, or even (in a pinch) using as a second monitor via its USB 3 connection. $940, boox.com

10

10 SONY RX100 VII For pro-level photography in a pocket SDFNDJH bORRN QR IXUWKHU WKDQ 6RQ\èV VOHHSHU ZKLFK FDQ DXWRIRFXV LQ MXVW VHFRQGV and track the eyes not just of humans but of DQLPDOVbWRR $ SURSHUO\ VPDUW FDPHUD ZLWK D IDVW VHQVRU DQG D UHPDUNDEO\ ćH[LEOH PP =HLVV ]RRP OHQV $1,649, sony.com.au Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 5 1

Best tech for everything

/,67(1,1*

$PS XS \RXU DXGLR DQG OHW \RXU PXVLF FDUU\ \RX DZD\ 1

CAMBRIDGE AUDIO MELOMANIA 1

1

Cambridge Audio’s true wireless bullet buds GR H[DFWO\ ZKDW WKH\ QHHG WR RIIHU VSHOOELQGLQJ VRXQG DQG FRPIRUWDEOH VW\OLQJ LQ DQ XOWUD FRPSDFW SDFNDJH IRU D SULFH WKDW DW OHDVW QH[W WR VWURQJ FRPSHWLWLRQ IURP ELJJHU QDPHV OLNH $SSOH DQG 6RQ\ VHHPV YHU\ DWWUDFWLYH LQGHHG $ ZLQQHU $278, cambridgeaudio.com

2

RUARK MR1 MK2

:KDW 5XDUN GRHV ZLWK VSHDNHUV LV QRWKLQJ VKRUW RI ZLWFKFUDIW 7KLV LV D FRPSDFW VHW SHUIHFW IRU D ERRNVKHOI RU D GHVN EXW SLSLQJ PXVLF WKURXJK WKH 05 0N UHYHDOV LWèV VR PXFK PRUH \RX JHW ORXG ULFK FOHDU DXGLR ZLWK UHDO GHSWK +RQHVWO\ ZK\ JR DQ\ ELJJHU" $699, ruarkaudio.com

3

AIRPODS PRO

$SSOHèV EHVW $LU3RGV \HW E\ D ORQJ FKDON DQG WKDQNV WR WKHLU SUHVVXUH HTXDOLVDWLRQ ,3; UDWLQJ DQG WUDQVSDUHQF\ HTXLSSHG $1& WKH SHUIHFW SDUWQHU IRU ZKHQ \RX QHHG HLWKHU WR EORFN WKH ZRUOG RXW FRPSOHWHO\ RU JR IRU D ELJ VZHDW\ UXQ DQG OHW D OLWWOH VRXQG LQ $349, apple.com/au

4

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AUDIO-TECHNICA AT-LP5X

:HèUH ZHOO DZDUH RI WKH WHPSWDWLRQ WR VSHQG WKURXJK WKH QRVH IRU D KLJK TXDOLW\ WXUQWDEOH EXW WKHUHèV DEVROXWHO\ QR QHHG WKH XQDVVXPLQJ VW\OH DQG SULFH RI WKH $XGLR 7HFKQLFD $7 /3 [ GRHV QRWKLQJ WR PDVN LWV ZLGH H[FLWLQJ VRXQG 7KHUHèV 86% RXWSXW WRR ZKLFK LV DOZD\V KHOSIXO $599, audio-technica.com

2

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NAIM MU-SO 2ND GENERATION 2QH OLVWHQ WR 1DLPèV UHĆQHG DOO LQ RQH DXGLR VROXWLRQ DQG ZLUHOHVV VSHDNHU GHYHORSHG LQ FROODERUDWLRQ ZLWK WKH )UHQFK VRXQG VFLHQWLVWV DW )RFDO LV DOO LW WDNHV 7KLV LV DQ XWWHUO\ VSHFWDFXODU FUHDWLRQ RQH WKDW EULQJV QHZ OLIH WR VRXQG DQG GRHV DQ LQFUHGLEOH DPRXQW LQ D FRPSDFW VKHOO $2,295, naimaudio.com

6

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LINN SERIES 3

$V LWV SULFH VXJJHVWV WKLV LV VRPHWKLQJ YHU\ VSHFLDO 7KH 6HULHV FRPELQHV ZLGH UDQJLQJ KL UHV DQG VWUHDPLQJ VXSSRUW /LQQèV GHVLJQ H[SHUWLVH DQG WKH FRPSDQ\èV IUHTXHQF\ GHOD\LQJ ([DNW DXGLR WHFK WR FUHDWH WKH ĆQHVW ZLUHOHVV VSHDNHU \RXèUH HYHU OLNHO\ WR KHDU $5,700, linn.co.uk 5 2 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

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Listen 6 7

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SENNHEISER MOMENTUM 3 WIRELESS The ANC headphone market is a war zone right now, and every weapon Sony, Bose, B&W et al put out is better than the last. Winning the arms race right now? Sennheiser. These pack clarity and rhythm into a comfortable collapsible package that belongs on your ears. $620, sennheiser.com

8

ECHO STUDIO

$PD]RQèV KLJKHVW HQG (FKR SDFNV ĆYH VSHDNHUV into its shell, with 3D audio and Atmos support along with the smart home and voice control features you’d expect from such a device. Good enough to best the ace Homepod? We’d say so. $329, amazon.com.au

9

TECHNICS SL-G700

Realistically there are few clamouring to add 6$&' SOD\EDFN IDFLOLWLHV WR WKHLU KL Ć EXW DV an added extra to just about the best audio streamer you can buy, we’d argue it’s not such a bad thing. Technics’ SL-G700 is as precise and powerful as it is visually understated. $tbc, technics.com

10

10 WHARFEDALE LINTON HERITAGE If you want a massive, open-ended sound from your stereo, Wharfedale’s modern-engineered but classically-styled speakers are the way to go. They’re big (but not too big), with a huge DPRXQW RI GHWDLO DQG UHDO URRP ĆOOLQJ VFDOH $2,799, wharfedale.com.au Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 5 3

Best tech for everything

WATCHING

Feel like you’ve escaped into another world for the evening 1

PHILIPS OLED754

Solid from top to toe, including its basically bezel-free 4K HDR panel, its P5 processor and its superb audio package, the OLED754 is Philips’ entry-level OLED but you’d be forgiven for being fooled otherwise. $tbc, philips.com

2

1

FIRE TV STICK 4K

Now that Amazon and Google have made up and are playing nice, the YouTube-capable Fire TV Stick 4K has cemented itself as the premier plug-and-play media streamer. It’s app-rich, handles 4K like it’s nothing, and is fully compatible with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. $69, amazon.com.au

3

BENQ HT3550

Massively contrasty and highly detailed, with a powerful 4K HDR engine backing it XS %HQ4èV SURMHFWRU LV ZKDW DOO SURMHFWRUV should be. It’s best in low light, but it’s fully capable wherever you choose to put it and with a vertical lens shift, you can get minutely GHWDLOHG ZLWK \RXU SLFWXUH WZHDNV $3,789, benq.com

4

SONY HT-X8500

Sony’s sound virtualisation tech is such that this 2.1 Atmos/DTS:X soundbar throws 7.1.2 sound all over the room even without a laundry list of cones. It’s got an integrated sub, too, so it’s compact enough to bring cinematic sound to HYHQ WKH PRVW ELMRX RI OLYLQJ URRPV $595, sony.com.au

5

SENNHEISER AMBEO

Five high-quality tweeters, six long-throw woofers throwing out bass as low as 30Hz, WZR WRS ĆUHUV DQG )UDXQKRIHUèV ODWHVW ' sound protocols tying it all together makes for one remarkable soundbar, whether you’re GULYLQJ '76 ; 03(* + 'ROE\ $WPRV RU anything else. $3,999, sennheiser.com

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PHILIPS HUE PLAY HDMI

Hue has long worked with Philips’ own $PELOLJKW ZKLFK SURMHFWV FRORXUHG OLJKW DW WKH edge of a TV to expand its picture. But why stop there? The Hue Play sniffs HDMI signals to turn your whole Hue-infused front room into a massive glow-up of screen-linked colour, making for a glorious, immersive spectacle. $345, meethue.com

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Watch

5

7 6

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FOCAL CHORA 826-D

8

Home cinema is made so much better E\ $WPRV åbDQG $WPRV WKURXJK )RFDOèV KLJKO\ WXQHG DQG IUDQNO\ JRUJHRXV ćRRUVWDQGHUV KDV QHYHU VRXQGHG EHWWHU 6XSHU OLJKW EXW XOWUD ULJLG 6ODWHĆEHU FRQHV PHDQ SRZHU and delicacy in equal measure, and the build quality is superb. $4,000 (pair), focal.com

8

WD MY CLOUD HOME DUO $OO WKDW PHGLD KDV WR OLYH VRPHZKHUH DQG :'èV KHIW\ 7% 1$6 WXUQV VWRUDJH LQWR DQ DEVROXWH EUHH]H :KHWKHU LWèV D JDUJDQWXDQ . PRYLH FROOHFWLRQ RU D KRVW RI KL UHV PXVLF \RXèOO EH DEOH WR DFFHVV LW DQ\ZKHUH RQ WKH QHWZRUN ZLWK HQRXJK VSDFH WR last you years. $349, westerndigital.com

9

9 DENON AVR-X3600H 'ULYLQJ DQ LPPHUVLYH KRPH FLQHPD H[SHULHQFH GHPDQGV DQ DPS ZLWK VNLOO 'HQRQ GRHVQèW GLVDSSRLQW ZLWK WKH $95 ; + D PDMRU XSJUDGH WR LWV SUHYLRXV JHQHUDWLRQ UHFHLYHU WKDW RIIHUV : FKDQQHOV $WPRV +HLJKW 9LUWXDOLVDWLRQ DQG WLJKW snappy audio response. $2,399, denon.com

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W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 5 5

Best tech for everything

ENTERTAINING Keep your mind – and your family – occupied while stuck inside 1

NINTENDO SWITCH ANIMAL CROSSING EDITION

1

The Switch Lite is amazing for travel, but the full-fat Switch still tops our list if you’re doing your gaming at home and Nintendo has done something wonderful with the cute-asD EXWWRQ Animal Crossing special edition, which includes the quietly upgraded battery of the second Switch release. $842, nintendo.com.au

2

VALVE INDEX

Obtaining one isn’t the easiest thing in the ZRUOG ZKHQ WKH\ JR XS RQ VDOH RQ 6WHDP WKH\ WHQG WR VHOO RXW LQ VHFRQGV EXW WKHUHèV JRRG reason for that. This the ultimate top-end home 95 H[SHULHQFH DQG ĆWWLQJO\ LW FRPHV ZLWK D free copy of Half-Life Alyx too. $tbc, steampowered.com

3

AMAZON FIRE HD 10 KIDS EDITION /RZ HQG WHFKQRORJ\ KDV ĆQDOO\ FDXJKW XS ZLWK high-end ambition, as Amazon’s kid-friendly version of the Fire 10 HD does amazing things on a tight budget. It’s a solid and, frankly, incredibly good tablet for the money and tough enough to take whatever the \RXQJVWHUV FDQ WKURZ DW LW $315, amazon.com.au

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2

LOGITECH G PRO

Tenkeyless, so it doesn’t hog any desk space, and toting the tactile version of Logi’s excellent Romer-G keyswitches, this absolutely earns its ‘Pro’ moniker; whether you’re typing out a document or toting it around to esports WRXUQDPHQWV WKLV LV D WUHDW IRU \RXU ĆQJHUV $219, logitechg.com

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ANOTHER AWARD-WINNING AUTOFOCUS LENS… …FROM THE COMPANY THAT PERFECTED THE MANUAL FOCUS LENS

Samyang has built its reputation on making affordable high-performance manual focus lenses for both photography and cinematography, but it seems we’re also pretty good at building autofocus lenses as well.

Our AF 14mm f/2.8 ultra-wide prime in the Canon RF mirrorless mount is the latest Samyang lens to win a coveted TIPA World Award. It has been judged Best Mirrorless Wide-Angle Prime Lens and praised by the TIPA judges for its “…unique point-of-view and perspective, enabling many creative effects”. Equally noteworthy are the weather-sealed external design, minimum focusing distance of just 20 centimetres, provision of a rear filter holder and the legendary Samyang build quality.

Visit www.maxxum.com.au

Best tech for everything

FITNESS

6WUHWFK DQG ćH[ ZLWKRXW KDYLQJ WR YHQWXUH RXW 1 1

NEO 2T SMART

The Neo 2 Smart has been in our buying guide for an age, but this updated version of the bike add-on ups the power, drops the noise, and even offers true ride feel, simulating the experience of pedalling over cobbles or gravel DV \RX WUDLQ LQ \RXU ORXQJH 3UHWW\ XQLTXH EXW certainly not cheap. $1,989, 99, bikes.com.au

2

2

BOWFLEX MAX TRAINER M8

Not really a stepper, not really a cross trainer, but hovering at a midpoint that apparently provides maximum muscle actuation, the Max Trainer M8 is the ultimate cardio machine in half the space of a treadmill. It will absolutely, positively, kick you in the rear.

ERZćH[ FRP

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3

BOWFLEX 2-24 KG SELECTTECH DUMBBELLS The equipment required for some serious clanging and banging doesn’t have to take up half of your home gym. Selecting your desired dumbbell weight on the SelectTech dials means you get the equivalent of 15 sets of weights in RQH QR FOXWWHU DQG SUHWW\ PXFK SHUIHFW IRU D ZKROH ERG\ ZRUNRXW ERZćH[ FRP

4

4

ADIDAS ADIZERO PRO

7KH $GL]HUR LV D UHFRUG EUHDNLQJ VKRH DQG the Pro takes it to the next level. A more VWDEOH PLGVROH D IDWLJXH ĆJKWLQJ KHHO $GLGDVèV WKLQQHVW HYHU XSSHU DQG HYHQ D FDUERQ ĆEUH SODWH WXQHG WR ćH[ DW | SHUIHFW IRU H[WUD spring. It should be coming mid-May, at a price way below the competition.

Around $245, adidas.com.au

5

FITBIT CHARGE 3

Oh, sure, there are brilliant watches that also GR ĆWQHVV EXW WKH &KDUJH LV D ĆWQHVV WUDFNHU that also does watch things. Its extensive set of features mean it remains a top choice, whether you’re hitting the streets hard or just want to know how well you sleep. ĆWELW FRP

6

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TECHNOGYM BIKE FORMA

Gym favourites come and go but nothing beats D JRRG VWDWLF ELNH DQG WKLV LV D YHU\ JRRG static bike. It’s about as close to a gym bike as \RXèUH OLNHO\ WR ĆQG LQ WKH KRPH VXSHU VWDEOH hyper-quiet, and smart enough for some serious constant heart rate training.

WHFKQRJ\P FRP 5 8 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

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Getting around

GETTING AROUND Once you can travel again, make sure you really relish it 1

KINDLE

1

It’s amazing, but perhaps unsurprising, that the Kindle has changed so little and endured so long: it’s just such a good way to read. If you’re stuck on a train for an hour each way, you’ll be glad of the glare-free brain food and the battery won’t let you down. $139, amazon.com.au

2

ACER SWIFT 5

Compact enough for a train table (or a lap, if that’s what it takes) but absolutely rammed with power, Acer’s latest take on the Swift 5 gives you a tenth-gen Intel CPU, a great full HD IPS screen, an extensive battery, and does it all in a tight 1.5cm, 1kg package. $1,799, acer.com.au

3

2

BOARDMAN ADV 8.9E

Built on a tried and tested frame, Boardman’s adventure-ready (but no less brilliant in the city) ebike tacks on the Fazua Evation drive system, giving you a huge 60Nm torque with which to tackle those potentially troublesome hills and up to 90km range if you dial down the assistance. $tbc, boardmanbikes.com/au

4

3

SEGWAY NINEBOT ES4

We’ll wait patiently for the law on electric scooters to change; until it does, we’ll be zipping around on the handsome, app-connected ES4 exclusively on private roads. It positively glides, with front and rear suspension, an 30kph top speed, and a battery that can manage a more than reasonable 45km. $999, segway.com

5

PROVIZ SWITCH

Be safe, be seen, be protected from the elements (but ventilated enough that you don’t turn into a sweaty mess), and be pleased you bought one of the brightest reversible cycling jackets there is on the market. That grey in the picture? It turns the brightest white if you’re hit by a headlight. $215, provizsports.com

6

GARMIN DRIVESMART 65 MT-S

Your car might already have sat-nav built in, but it’s unlikely to be as sharp and clever as that which Garmin can offer. A fantastic slimEH]HO VFUHHQ OLYH WUDIĆF XSGDWHV YRLFH FRQWURO exceptional lane advice – whether you’re commuting or taking a road trip, it’s an even better travel companion than Ray Mears. $385, garmin.com Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

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W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 5 9

TESTED Expert reviews and recommendations WR KHOS \RX EX\ ZLWK FRQĆGHQFH

Edited by Josh Russell

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HP ELITE DRAGONFLY

SAMSUNG Q950TS

ARLO PRO 3

SAMSUNG GALAXY S20

ONEPLUS 8 PRO

APPLE MACBOOK AIR

NEXTBASE 322GW

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IMOU RANGER IQ

HUAWEI P40 PRO

OPPO FIND X2 PRO

TAG HEUER CONNECTED

HOW WE TEST In T3, we feature only the ďŹ nest gadgets out there, and we believe that you – our loyal reader – deserve only the best tech in your life. We don’t want you to waste time, and money, on inferior products, and that’s exactly why our Tested section exists.

In here you’ll ďŹ nd only the latest and hottest tech. Each product has been handpicked and tested by T3’s experts.

We only choose people with specialist knowledge for each test, so you know you’re going to get an outcome based on many years of experience in their respective ďŹ eld.

As well as our traditional ďŹ ve-star rating system (right), we also give out awards to particularly exceptional gadgets, using the line-up below - so when you spot one of these, you’ll know you’re onto a good thing.

THE SCORES EXPLAINED Forget it Below average Good for the price Very good all round An exceptional, best-in-class product

OUR AWARDS Only the best products ü WKRVH WKDW VFRUH ĆYH PLATINUM stars – receive our AWARD Platinum Award

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This is given to winners BEST ON of our group tests, so TEST you can see which is the best at a glance

BEST FOR BATTERY LIFE

This accolade, and others like it, show you which gear is best for VSHFLĆF IHDWXUHV

THE DESIGN AWARD

For kit with exceptional industrial design and UHĆQHPHQW LQ DGGLWLRQ to being a great buy

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Tested HP Elite Dragonfly

SUPERFLY

HP Elite Dragonfly A gorgeous screen and a slight build make this a great choice for business people on the go From $3,395 hp.com he HP Elite Dragonfly is making a strong claim to be one of the best Windows laptops of the moment.

With a beautifully well-designed chassis, a keyboard that’s a pleasure to type on, a gorgeous display and some top-tier specs, it’s going to take some beating.

Ostensibly designed for business types, it’s actually a great laptop for anyone – or at least anyone who can afford it, because all of this polish and power doesn’t come cheap. Even at its premium price though, we’d say you’re getting plenty in return for your money.

This is primarily a laptop, but it does double duty as a 2-in-1 if you need it to. That means the superb-looking display folds right over against the keyboard when necessary. It’s not very practical, but you can use it as a tablet, at a push; you can also prop it up in a tent mode if you want to sit back and enjoy some Netflix or YouTube videos.

The Elite Dragonfly does really well to cram a 13.3-inch (1,920 x 1,080 pixel) display into a laptop so compact and so light. That display is

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bright, vivid and sharp, with bezels you’ll hardly notice: whether you’re ploughing through rows of spreadsheets or watching movies, it’s a fantastic screen. You can also ramp up the display to a 4K resolution, if you want (and you have some extra cash to spare). Audio isn’t anything special, but it’ll do for what you need it for, unless you’re thinking about running a small disco with it.

The magnesium-based, dark blue chassis is a joy to look at and to handle, and the typing experience is one of the best we’ve come across too. The trackpad can’t quite match the keyboard in terms of quality and sensitivity, but it’s fine.

A shout out too for the battery life, which is excellent – we put this through a 12-hour workday and it still had some juice left at the end. And if you’re not on it all the time, it’ll last you well into two or three days.

Overall, the looks, the finish and the lightness definitely make the HP Elite Dragonfly worthy of your attention. It oozes style and feels premium in use, and you can add to that the very good specs and the excellent battery life on offer. There are a few categories where it is just good rather than very good – the graphics, the audio, the trackpad – but really these are minor annoyances that don’t detract much from what’s a really good overall package.

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Excellent looks; superb screen; long battery life.

WE’D IMPROVE Average audio; trackpad could be better; no discrete graphics.

THE LAST WORD The HP Elite Dragonfly isn’t for everyone, but it looks great and ticks a lot of boxes for power users on the go.

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Tested

Display sizes 65, 75, 85 inches Panel 7680 x 4320 QLED Operating system Samsung / Tizen HDR HLG, HDR10, HDR10+ Inputs 4x HDMI (inc 1 x HDMI 2.1), 3 x USB, ethernet Dimensions 940x1650x15mm Weight 36kg

GR8 K

Samsung Q950TS An utterly astounding TV – the best we’ve ever tried, in fact. %XWbLWèOO FRVW \Dð

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From $3,995 (65”) samsung.com he Q950TS is Samsung’s latest attempt to sell you something you didn’t know you wanted. 8K is still struggling to find its place in the world – the idea of 33 million pixels of detail (compared to the suddenly minuscule 8 million pixels of 4K) certainly sounds tempting, but there isn’t a stack of 8K content available to watch, and it won’t suddenly appear.

But Samsung sees a world that isn’t so reliant on content being the exact

T

right format for your screen – it’s aiming to make its 8K TVs the best 4K TVs you can buy. AI upscaling technology is intended to make Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and anything else you watch look appreciably better – more detailed, and more lifelike – than even the best 4K TVs can manage.

Can it be true?

The Q950TS is Samsung’s flagship 8K QLED range for 2020. It’s available in 65-inch and 85-inch screen sizes as well as the $5,995 75-inch variant we’re testing here.

As far as features go, the 75Q950TS is as fully loaded as you’d expect a flagship TV from a global brand to be.

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Samsung Q950TS

CUTTING EDGE Samsung has long been trimming bezels in its flagships but the Q950TS’s are just 2mm wide, making them effectively invisible at the normal viewing distance

The Samsung has dual-band Wi-Fi on board, of course, and as far as physical connections go you’re looking at four HDMI inputs (one of which is HDMI 2.1-compliant), three USB sockets, RF and satellite TV aerial posts, an ethernet input and a digital optical output. What’s especially pleasing and convenient about them, though, is the fact that Samsung has taken them off the TV. All connectivity and related hardware, including power, is housed in a fairly big box called One Connect, which joins to the screen itself using a single, slim umbilical cable. So the Q950TS is less problematic to wall-mount, and looks less cluttered once it’s up there, than any other massive TV you care to mention.

There is actually a variant of the Samsung Q950TS series called the Q900TS, which will be available in the UK. It’s exactly the same for image quality and technology, but doesn’t include the external One Connect box – instead, all the ports are on the TV, like with most sets.

This makes the TV a bit thicker, but it

will also be cheaper.

Every HDR standard bar Dolby Vision is catered for here, and the Samsung’s ability to control each of its 480 zones of backlighting down to an individual level means the Q950TS has the best chance of delivering deep, lustrous black tones and bright, clean whites even if they’re sharing the same scene.

As far as sound goes, Samsung has taken steps to address criticism of the audio quality of its 2019 8K TVs. Here it’s deployed something called ‘Object Motion Tracking +’ – it’s basically an array of eight speaker drivers arranged around the screen. The idea is to offer a bigger sonic presentation than is usually associated with flatscreen TVs, and offer a degree of audio tracking of on-screen motion at the same time. Of course, anyone with £8K for a TV burning a hole in their pocket really ought to be budgeting for a sound system, especially since these speakers prove to be the TV’s only misstep – they’re hard, flat and bright to the point of discomfort. This uncompromising

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While 8K material is rare, the Q950TS upscales 4K footage superbly

sonic signature is about as inappropriate for the luxuriousness of the images it accompanies as it’s possible to imagine.

Picture performance As already mentioned, native 8K content is conspicuous only by its absence. So the fact that the few minutes of USB-mounted 8K stuff this review TV came with looks stunning in its detail levels, strength of contrasts and effortlessly controlled motion is, frankly, neither here nor there. What this needs to do is upscale 4K and Full HD content to the sort of standard that’s going to make this price tag seem reasonable. And it does.

No matter if you feed in 4K stuff from Netflix, from Amazon Prime Video or via an Ultra HD Blu-ray player, it absolutely maximises the potential of the content. A lot of this remarkable show of strength is down to the work Samsung has done with AI and machine learning, and it’s complemented no end by the quality of the TV’s backlighting. Because it’s W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 6 3

Testted

THE REAL THIN The Q950TS is a consistent 15mm deep across the whole of its chassis – so slimmer than a laptop

a full-array screen, with lighting behind its pixels across the entirety of the screen rather than just around the edges (as some less capable, and less expensive, screens deploy), the Samsung is able to exhibit real dexterity when it comes to the light and shade of the pictures it produces.

There are 480 discrete zones where it can dim the backlight to make blacks in that part of the image look truly black. That’s a lot of dimming zones, and to be able to control each of them individually is notable.

What it means for the viewer is that the screen can generate intense

BLACK MAGIC With 480 discrete zones for its backlighting, the screen can generate both intense peak brightness levels and black tones are that are deep and glossy

Given Samsung has removed as many of the ports from the back of the tv as possible, there’s no OLED-style bulge here

peak brightness levels far, far beyond what any OLED TV can achieve, keeping white tones bright, clean and detailed while avoiding bleaching.

It also means black tones are deep and glossy, yet alive with nuance and detail. And it means the Q950TS can do this even when the blacks and the whites are sharing the same screen.

Allied to a gratifying lack of reflectiveness from the screen itself, plus excellent off-axis viewing quality, it means the Samsung looks accomplished right from the off.

And in every other aspect of picture-making too, the Q950TS just

flat-out impresses. It can provide a remarkably extensive colour palette, so no nuance of shade is too fine to escape it. It serves up skin-tones and textures confidently. It handles motion, both rapid and leisurely, with complete authority.

Step down in quality to some bog-standard Full HD via BBC iPlayer or a 1920x1080 Blu-ray disc and the Samsung is, if anything, even more impressive. There’s not the absolute confidence in evidence as with 4K material, naturally enough – edges can shimmer, slow-panning movement lacks a little certainty, and

THE ALTERNATIVES

SAMSUNG Q90R

SAMSUNG Q800T

SONY MASTER SERIES ZG9 G9

The top 2019 4K QLED TV has almost as good processing smarts, and similarly spectacular HDR performance, for several thousands less.

This TV is on its way out, though – grab one while you can!

From $6,295 (75”), samsung.com/au

There’s a cheaper 8K Samsung TV coming in 2020. This one has the same great QLED panel and processing, but a less advanced backlight – not as bright, and with fewer dimming zones.

Still great for bigger sizes, still dazzling.

From $5,495 (65”), samsung.com/au

Sony’s equivalent of this TV – mixing its best LCD tech with supreme backlighting for astounding HDR, is a beast. 85 inches is its smallest size – you can go for a 98-inch model too. It’s an incredible TV, though.

From $19,995, sony.com/au

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Samsung Q950TS

SOUNDING OFF Despite its array of eight speaker drivers arranged around the screen, audio is bright and brittle – the set’s one bum note

picture noise escalates from a rumour to a mild, but definite, fact.

But consider this: the Q950TS is taking just over 2 million pixels’worth of information and turning it into a picture of over 33 million pixels. Bear that in mind and the slight softness and relative lack of detail in these images is trifling.

Design & usability The design of the Q950TS is notable for a couple of reasons. Of course, all anyone wants from their pricey new TV is as much screen as they can accommodate and little of anything else – and the Samsung delivers.

Its bezel is an astonishingly brief 2mm wide, which means it is – to all intents and purposes – invisible when you’re sitting an appropriate distance from the screen.

And the depth of the chassis is almost as remarkable. Because Samsung’s QLED technology requires backlighting, it will never be as eye-poppingly slim as the OLED alternatives it wishes to usurp. But because Samsung has taken as much of the electrical gubbins out of the frame and put it in the One Connect box instead, there is no OLED-style bulge or extrusion here. Instead, the

Q950TS is a consistent 15mm deep across the whole of its chassis. So while it’s not phone slim, it’s slimmer than a laptop.

Control is via a small, weighty remote control featuring only as many buttons as is essential. It feels upmarket in the hand, and Samsung has somehow managed to make the button-presses feel expensive, which is no easy feat. And it’s also possible to operate the Q950TS using Amazon Alexa voice-control, with Google Assistant in the pipeline too.

No matter how you choose to operate the screen, though, you’ll be accessing one of the most agreeable user interfaces in all of TV-land. This OS is logical, rapid, intuitive, sensibly laid out and easy to customise – and it features each and every worthwhile catch-up TV/streaming service app (up to and including Apple TV with AirPlay 2, and Disney+) as well as a stack of less high-profile alternatives.

There’s no doubt the Samsung Q950TS is a niche choice. It’s madly expensive and it’s specified well in excess of any mainstream standard of stream or broadcast.

And yet the Q950TS makes a compelling case for itself: it’s big, yet discreet by the usual big TV

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Samsung’s ‘Object Motion Tracking +’ is intended to offer bigger sonic presentation and a degree of audio tracking

standards, and it makes 4K content look better than the majority of flagship 4K TVs can manage. As promised, it is the best 4K TV on the planet right at this moment – being an 8K TV too is almost a bonus. It’s a stunning demonstration of the current state of the TV art.

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Endlessly watchable images; superb 4K upscaling; incredible HDR. WE’D IMPROVE Frighteningly expensive; sounds unyieldingly hard and thin.

THE LAST WORD Expensive, but you can see it all on-screen. Elevates movies to a new level.

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Tested

Max. video resolution 2560x1440 Lens field of view 160° Battery life 3-6 months Features Motion detection, colour night vision, 12x digital zoom, two-way talk, spotlight Works with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit Operating temperature -20 to 45°C

ARLO ARLO!

Arlo Pro 3 A comprehensive, very smart security solution, but do you need to spend this much?

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$799 (2 Camera Kit) arlo.com/au

or some time, Arlo has been the pinnacle of smart security camera tech for the home. It comes down to how easy it makes it to place cameras indoors or outdoors, totally wirelessly, with easy control and management from a single app.

They’re expensive, but worth it.

Everything we’ve said above is still very true, and this newest version of

F

the Arlo setup improves even further, adding more detailed HDR video, colour night vision, a built-in siren, improved two-way talk thanks to noise cancellation, and better wireless range and battery life.

Many of these features are seen in the Arlo Ultra, which is the 4K version of this (the Pro 3 is QHD), which is even more expensive.

Really, though, the resolution of these cameras should be enough for most people – there’s enough detail for them to automatically zoom in when they detect motion, and track it across the frame, which is a cool and clever touch.

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Arlo Pro 3

That motion detection is a key part of Arlo’s appeal – it’s packed with clever detection, options and ways to use them smartly. It can dierentiate between humans, animals, general motion and it can even spot packages.

This all proved fairly accurate in our time with the cameras. You can also set motion zones, so that if your front camera is facing a public place, you can exclude that from the detection, and only get notiďŹ cations if people come into your garden, say.

There’s a huge amount of power to customise how you want these cameras to operate within the app, which is both the Arlo’s strength and a slight weakness. It’s extremely easy to set them up (we actually had a glitch during setup, but it all ďŹ xed itself without any intervention), and then set simple modes such as arming for motion detection when you’re away from home, and turning o when you’re back. But we created a system where even at home, we still got notiďŹ cations of people coming to our front door, so we wouldn’t miss packages during isolation. It worked great‌ but we had to google how to do it, because we wouldn’t have guessed

how it worked in the app alone.

When you know what you’re doing, the possibilities are glorious‌ but there’s a learning curve to things beyond the more basic.

Making full use of smart features also requires an Arlo subscription, though this is $4.49 per month, which is not unreasonable. It comes with a three-month trial, which is also pretty good.

Scrub the hub?

A key part of the Arlo system is the hub, which the cameras connect to, rather than your Wi-Fi. The hub plugs into your router, and handles multi-camera management and cloud connectivity, and in this version enables Apple HomeKit support.

It does its job well, but it adds expense, and does have a downside: the Arlo camera we put at the back of the house had a limited connection to the hub – it worked, but was slower to respond. But we have a big mesh Wi-Fi network – if it had been on the Wi-Fi instead of its own connection, this wouldn’t have been the case.

Everything else the cameras promised proved to work well, too –

THE ALTERNATIVES BLINK XT2

ARLO ULTRA

:LWK S )XOO +' YLGHR ZHDWKHUSURRĆQJ motion detection with activity zones, zones two two-year year battery life, multi-cam support, two-way talk, this offers a cheaper ZD\ WR JHW DbIXOO VPDUWbVHWXS From $383, amazon.com.au

Want to get even n more serious?

This setup offers the same features as the P Pro 3, but adds 4K HDR video, and a wider 180-degree lens to the cameras.

From $359, arlo.com/au

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Attractive features include night vision in colour

they have an integrated spotlight that gives out a good blast, the colour night vision adds a useful level of extra ďŹ delity, the two-way talk is distinctly clearer for telling couriers where to drop your parcels, and the promised battery life of three to six months looks right based on our few weeks with it. The 160-degree ďŹ eld of view was more than enough for us, but whether you need more is an individual thing.

But a two-camera plus hub set is $799! A single camera is $469! The Arlo Pro 3 is truly excellent, but you need to really want the power and exibility it oers.

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Excellent image quality; smart motion features; tons of clever options; two-way talk; battery life.

WE’D IMPROVE Hub isn’t always the best option; hard to make use of all its power options; really expensive.

THE LAST WORD Really, most of the Arlo Pro 3’s faults are that it might just be too much camera for you. But that’s a real concern – it’s great, but you may not need it.

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Tested

CPU Exynos 990 / Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 GPU Adreno 650 Screen 6.2-inch, HDR10+, 120Hz,1440 x 3200 AMOLED 120Hz Memory 8GB/12GB Storage 128GB Battery 4,000mAh Cameras 64MP, 12MP, 12MP rear; 10MP front OS Android 10.0, One UI 2.0 Dimensions 151x69.1x7.9mm Weight 163g

20/20 VISION

Samsung Galaxy S20 With a slick 120Hz AMOLED screen and an impressive range of cameras, the S20 is a true Android powerhouse From $1,199 samsung.com t 6.2 inches the Samsung Galaxy S20 is hardly the biggest phone in Samsung’s lineup. With the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus and S20 Ultra looming over it, it’s not even the biggest in its own range.

Nevertheless, the practically bezelless screen, interrupted only by a tiny punch-hole, is more than enough for everyday tasks and looks great, even if it’s not the sumptuous widescreen movie and gaming experience you could find on the S20 Ultra.

However, at 6.2” it’s almost unfair to compare it to the massive Ultra.

The S20’s AMOLED screen is crisp and clear, displaying HQ YouTube videos, movies and games alike with no softness. Likewise, the speaker offers great power with very little of that “tinny” nature smartphone speakers can so often have.

Although it’s not as expansive as the rest of the range, the screen more than holds its own. The 120Hz refresh rate provides clean, silky-smooth

A

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Samsung Galaxy S20

movement as we swipe through the phone’s home screen options. It’s hard to describe just how good this is: the slick motion almost feels tactile as you slide through screens and scroll through apps.

The big picture Samsung has placed great stock in the camera equipment of all three devices, and they don’t disappoint.

The 12MP ultra-wide and wideangle lenses and the 64MP main camera present a combination that’s clear and responsive with excellent colour balance. The wide angles proved great when capturing group shots and scenery snaps.

Even without the S20 Ultra’s massive 108MP, exceptionally ďŹ ne points can be captured in mid-range shots, with the time-of-ight sensor conveying depth as well as detail.

While its 8K video functionality is a technical marvel, most people (those without an 8K TV) won’t get to enjoy it to its fullest extent.

The punch-hole selďŹ e camera’s 10MP sensor is a far cry from the Ultra’s massive 40MP front-facing camera. Consequently, you’ll ďŹ nd it

diďŹƒcult to pick out background details. However, we’re nitpicking: the excellence of the rear-facing camera module more than osets these slight discrepancies.

Now comes the guts. The three models in the Samsung Galaxy S20 range are all equipped with the same processor, the Exynos 990 CPU (a Snapdragon 865 in the US), and an Adreno 650 GPU. It’s a powerful pocket rocket, able to process complex ďŹ les without breaking a sweat. With less work to do in the S20 than the S20 Ultra, the phone whistles along at lightning speeds.

The phone packs a 4,000mAh battery, which will do at the very least a full day of moderate use, but it’s not quite the 5,000mAh workhorse of the S20 Ultra. Given that the S20 has a lot of the S20 Ultra’s most premium features, battery life does suer as a result of this.

The phone also includes the now-familiar underscreen ďŹ ngerprint sensor and facial recognition of its predecessors. However, the ďŹ ngerprint sensor is quite sluggish, sometimes even taking three or four tries before unlocking eectively.

THE ALTERNATIVES APPLE iPHONE 11

ONEPLUS 7T PRO

Getting a premium feeling iPhone doesn’t mean SD\LQJ ćDJVKLS SULFHV the iPhone 11 offers a 1792x828 6.1� screen, dual 12MP wide and ultra wide cameras.

From $1,199, apple.com/ au

Offering a 6.67� 90Hz screen, 256GB storage and a 48 MP main, a 16 MP ultra-wide, and an 8 MP telephoto camera, the 7T Pro gives a whole lotta bang for YHU\ OLWWOH EXFN $879, oneplus.com

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7KH *DOD[\ 6 KDV powerful insides DQG D UHDOO\ JUHDW FDPHUD V\VWHP

Audio on calls usually came out crystal clear on both ends, but we did have issues with the speaker phone functionality, as the mic struggled to pick up our voices clearly from more than a metre away, while indoors.

The Samsung Galaxy S20 is, without a shadow of a doubt, an excellent agship smartphone. Is it perfect? No. Is it too much phone for some? Yes. Is it awesome, packed full of great features, with a really enjoyable design and UI? Yes. For users that want an awesome 5G Android agship and either don’t care about 100x zoom cameras or don’t want to shell out over $1,500 for a phone, the Samsung Galaxy S20 is among the best phones on the market.

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Incredible AMOLED screen; supports all 5G standards; ultra-premium chipset; camera bursting with features.

WE’D IMPROVE Niggles with speaker phone and under-screen ĆQJHUSULQW XQORFN EDWWHU\ OLIH suffers with its high performance.

THE LAST WORD $UJXDEO\ better value than the S20 Ultra, ZLWK D JRUJHRXV SUHPLXP GLVSOD\ intuitive UI and impressive photographic capabilities.

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Tested

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 GPU Adreno 650 Screen 120Hz QHD+ 6.78-inch Fluid AMOLED Memory 12GB Storage 256GB Battery 4,510mAh Cameras 48MP + 48MP + 8MP + 5MP rear; 16MP front OS Android 10 \ Oxygen OS 10.5 Dimensions 165.3x74.35x8.5mm Weight 199g

From $1,499 oneplus.com

here OnePlus phones have, in the past, taken down rival flagships by delivering superb core functionality, the OnePlus 8 Pro does so while also delivering a wellrounded package of advanced features. It also has, without a shadow of doubt, the best screen that has ever been put on a smartphone. It is jaw-droppingly beautiful.

How special is it? How does a 120Hz refresh rate and a QHD+ resolution of 3168 x 1440 sound? And, what’s more, that 120Hz QHD+ screen is also HDR10+ certified. Yes, we’re talking a proper god-tier display here and one that smokes everything else on the market today.

Indeed, unless Huawei or Samsung pull something pretty darn special out of their hats with their Note 20 and Mate 40 ranges later in the year, right now we honestly can’t see this display being beaten in 2020.

Other phones have delivered 120Hz, QHD+ and HDR10+ in part but none to date has offered them all up at once. For example, even the mighty

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ONE LOVE

OnePlus 8 Pro Not only the best phone that OnePlus has ever made, but also one of the best Android phones period 70 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

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OnePlus 8 Pro

IF IT AIN’T BROKE Carrying over much of the design flair that made the 7T Pro so gorgeous, the 8 Pro has a vertically mounted camera array and stunning curved frame and display

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra could only offer a 120Hz refresh rate with a FHD resolution, meaning if you wanted to run its screen at its most rapid you had to take a hit in visual quality.

That compromise is not necessary here with the OnePlus 8 Pro’s 6.78-inch Fluid AMOLED panel (which is also capable of a maximum brightness of 1,300 nits!) and the phone delivers this no compromise experience without battery issues.

In terms of design, the most notable changes from late last year’s OnePlus 7T Pro is that the pop-up selfie camera has now been replaced with an in-screen pin-hole camera, which is located in the top left hand corner of the display.

The pin-hole is, as they go, very small and unobtrusive – both when watching full screen videos and playing games we can’t say that we noticed it at all.

Elsewhere, the OnePlus 8 Pro does carry over much of the same aesthetic of the 7T Pro, though, with a vertically mounted and centrally positioned rear camera array, gorgeous curved

FAST ONE With a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and an Adreno 650 GPU, the 8 Pro moves seriously quickly – and with a touch sensitivity of 240Hz, it has lightningfast reactions to your input

glass display, and cool-to-the-touch frame and backplate.

The phone’s volume rocker is located on the left hand side, while power and OnePlus’ now traditional silent/vibrate/ring switch is located on the right hand side. USB Type-C handles power and data transfer and is flanked on the bottom edge by the phone’s SIM card slot (which, yes, can take 5G SIM cards).

Smooth operator OnePlus has never disappointed in terms of core hardware and that is how the brand attained its reputation as a cult favourite that produces flagship-killing handsets.

And, as you would expect from its new flagship, the OnePlus 8 Pro does not disappoint, coming loaded with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 system on a chip, 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, an Adreno 650 GPU, and 256GB of UFS3.0 internal storage space.

The RAM alone is 30% faster than before, and is partnered with the best Android SoC in the business (25% performance boost over the previous

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The 8 Pro is super fast if you want to game, browse the net or watch videos

chipset), a rapid mobile GPU, as well as that fat wodge of UFS3.0 flash storage, which also delivers much enhanced read and write speeds. The OnePlus 8 Pro is astonishingly quick.

Indeed, when these components come together with the aforementioned 120Hz, QHD+, HDR10+ screen, the phrase “buttery smooth” doesn’t even cut it in describing just how rapid, slick and smooth every application is.

From simple UI navigation, right through to playing games, browsing the internet, watching videos and taking and browsing videos and images, the OnePlus 8 Pro is faster and slicker than any other phone we’ve used to date.

Software-wise the OnePlus 8 Pro runs Android 10 and Oxygen OS 10.5, which is OnePlus’ own light skinning.

This user interface combo runs like a dream on the handset and is super fast and responsive under the finger (the screen has a touch sensitivity of 240Hz and uses a technique called Motion Estimation Motion Compensation to deliver this).

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d

DIVINE DISPLAY This screen speaks for itself – with a 120Hz refresh rate, QHD+ resolution and HDR10+, it’s the finest we’ve seen in a smartphone to date

SUPER CHARGE Not only does it have a whopping 4,510 mAh battery but OnePlus’s new WarpCharge 30 Wireless charger can charge it 50% in just 23 minutes

Ever hing Ever ng abo b ut th One nePlus u 8 us Pro is just so slick it’s almost surreal.

The phone is eye-bleedingly quick and, in terms of performance, blew us away.

And that is saying nothing of the fact that the OnePlus 8 Pro delivers full 5G network connectivity (Qualcomm X55 modem) too, meaning that your data downloading and streaming can now be as blisteringly fast as your handset’s hardware. Best phone screen ever + smoking hot, flagship-grade internal hardware + 5G = [drooling noises]...

While hardware and performance have always been strong points for

The two 48MP shooters offer crisp LPDJHV DQG ĆQH colour reproduction

OneP ePluss tho oug u h camerra system ems have, traditionally, been an area where it has been beaten by rivals.

Grand cam In terms of tech, OnePlus serves up a rear camera array loaded with a 48MP main snapper (Sony IMX 689), 48MP wide-angle (Sony IMX 586), 8MP telephoto, and 5MP photo chromatic colour filter. In terms of zoom you get a rather standard 3x zoom and 30x digital zoom. In terms of those two 48MP shooters, you get some really nice results. Image crispness and colour reproduction is good, while

noise is also minimal; focus time was also very fast.

Macro photography was also a pleasure, with the OnePlus 8 Pro accurately capturing fine details up close. Vibrancy and low-light functionality is still beaten by a few top-tier rivals in our opinion, but overall the results it delivers are really strong.

This handset offers the best photography OnePlus has managed to date, and the phone’s UltraShot HDR function, which smartly merges multiple shot frames into one image for optimal colour, light, sharpness

PRO ADD-ONS

ONEPLUS BUMPER CASE KARBON

RHA TRUECONNECT

With a Kevlar body, this will keep an 8 Pro safe from knocks and scratches while not obscuring its svelte form. And, as a bonus, it’s compatible with OnePlus’s Warp Charge Wireless charger, so you can still quickly juice up your phone. $37, oneplus.com

Want a similar mix of premium specs and reasonable price in the headphones you pair with your 8 Pro? Then you could do worse than RHA’s TrueConnect headphones, which offer affordable audiophile quality sound. $187, rha-audio.com

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ONEPLUS WARP CHARGE 30 WIRELESS CHARGER Batteries are very much included with the 8 Pro but pick this up to take full advantage of them. Providing 30W wireless charging, it will charge half the battery in 30 minutes. $100, oneplus.com Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

OnePlus 8 Pro

SOLID SNAPPER The 48MP main, 48MP wideangle and 8MP telephoto cameras don’t outshine Samsung’s S20 Ultra – but they’re decent nonetheless

etc is largely responsible for that. For regular guys and girls who just want to point and capture the world around them, we think it is well pitched.

In terms of zoom, though, things are very much par for the course here, and the OnePlus 8 Pro is beaten quite comfortably by rival flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra and Huawei P30 Pro. At 0.6x, 1x and 3x, image quality remains high. However, as soon as you stray into the digital zoom levels, culminating in the max-zoom 30x, image quality nose-dives. What you are shooting is discernible but there’s no way anyone is printing out those images to stick on their wall.

However, every other aspect you might want from a smartphone camera system is delivered, such as a wide-variety of shooting modes (time-lapse, panorama, portrait, nightscape and pro), a suite of strong lenses, and a fast and easily navigable camera system UI. Lastly, in terms of camera system, the OnePlus 8 Pro supplies the ability to capture video at 4K resolution and with optical image stabilisation. It also has a tri-mic setup for audio zoom, meaning that you can now better capture audio at distance when

shooting. Other video functions of note include the phone’s Slow Motion shooting modes, which allow footage to be captured at 720p 480fps or 1080p 240FPS. In terms of features, this OnePlus phone now delivers wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, which were things not offered by the maker’s past devices. Once again, these are welcome additions and help the Pro really stand out as a proper flagship phone.

Where the OnePlus 8 Pro also joins the true flagship top table is in its battery, which makes a jump up from the OnePlus 7’s 4,000 mAh battery to a stacked 4,510 mAh unit. This stack of cells grants the phone proper use-all-day functionality with all its bells and whistles turned on. The phone can also be charged from 1% to 50% charge in just 23 minutes if you buy OnePlus’s new WarpCharge 30 Wireless charger.

OnePlus has said many times over the years that the thing that separates it from other brands is that it actually listens to the fan base and evolves their phones in line with their input.

Well, the OnePlus 8 Pro feels like the best example of this process to date, and one where things that had

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The phone delivers wireless charging and reverse wireless charging

been levelled against the maker for years have been well and truly fixed.

So, OnePlus finishes its journey to the big leagues, to the proper flagship phone table, offering not just its usual fantastic mix of rapid hardware, slick software and eye for design detail, but also a full suite of advanced smartphone features and a strong camera system, too.

And it does all this while also offering a genuine piece of razzmatazz: a smartphone screen that will simply leave your jaw on the floor.

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Astonishing 120Hz, QHD+ screen; rapid internal hardware; buttery smooth OS. WE’D IMPROVE Better cameras elsewhere.

THE LAST WORD Mind-blowing performance with the best smartphone display ever.

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Tested

Processor 1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i3 / 1.1GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 Memory 8GB Storage 256GB/512GB Screen 13.3-inch 2560x1600 Retina display Battery 49.9Wh Connectivity 2x Thunderbolt 3, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 5 Dimensions 304.1.2x212.4x16.1mm Weight 1.29kg

AIR TIGHT

Apple MacBook Air Apple has made its cheapest laptop cheaper, more powerful and fixed its biggest flaw 74 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

From $1,599 apple.com/au fter its resurrection a few years ago, the MacBook Air has reclaimed its throne as Apple’s cheapest laptop, but this new version drives home that price isn’t everything anyway. It’s also simply one of the most useable laptops you can buy, and nails the core stuff that makes a laptop a comfortable, reliable companion.

It starts from $1,599, which is the model we’re testing. That’s a price drop compared to previous versions,

A

but nothing has been cut for that – in fact there have been various upgrades.

The base model includes 256GB of storage instead of the 128GB that the last Air came with. Meanwhile, the next model up, which costs $1,999, gives you a quad-core processor instead of dual-core, and doubles the storage to 512GB. Both models come with 8GB of RAM, which is fine for standard use, but if you want to really future proof it, or plan to work with very large documents, stepping up to 16GB (the maximum) would be a safe plan.

The new entry-level Air’s processor is an Intel Core i3 dual-core

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Apple MacBook Air

chip, running at 1.1GHz. This doesn’t make it sound like a speed-demon‌ and it isn’t. But it is plenty fast enough for average use, and because it’s a new-gen chip, it gets more than respectable scores in benchmarks. It feels more than fast enough in real life too, for work such as document editing, light editing of photos and browsing the web.

When it comes to multi-core performance – for tasks such as compressing ďŹ les or video exports – this is clearly a weaker machine but it still doesn’t ďŹ nd itself totally embarrassed by its own quad-core bigger brother.

Finally, battery life here is decent but not exceptional. Apple says you can get 11 hours out of it but you’d have to be working really lightly to achieve that. We found six or seven hours was more typical, though it does vary a lot by task.

The MacBook Air 2020’s screen hasn’t changed from the previous model, which is no problem with us.

It’s a 2560x1600 Retina display; that’s impressively high-res compared to the competition at this price, which tend to be Full HD (1920x1080).

It looks perfectly sharp from a standard viewing distance, and is bright enough to overcome reections well. It’s also pleasingly colourful. The MacBook Pro 13-inch’s screen is about 20% brighter, and we do wish this could have that extra vibrancy. But it really isn’t a problem – it looks great as is and colours are highly accurate.

The keyboard should be much more popular than Apple’s previous ç%XWWHUć\è RQH

Hot keys The main thing you should know is the backlit keyboard on the new MacBook Air is just excellent.

Introduced a few years ago, Apple’s ‘Buttery’ keyboards were very divisive. Not only was the feel of them unpopular, they seem to have reliability issues, failing more often than Apple’s previous keyboards.

The last MacBook Air still had one of these keyboards, but this model doesn’t. You’ve got a new key type with more travel, and a dierent mechanism that should prove more reliable. It feels great to type on and it’s no problem for accuracy either. It deďŹ nitely doesn’t feel cramped.

But we need to end on a gripe.

Apple has improved the microphones in the MacBook Air for clearer voice

THE ALTERNATIVES DELL XPS 13

HP ENVY 13

Want Apple-esque design but with D PRUHbSRZHUIXO processor? This is the laptop for you, packing an Intel Core i5. It only starts with 8GB 5$0 DQGb *% EXW \RX FDQ DGG PRUH ĂĽ QRW WR mention a 4K display.

From $2,549, dell.com

7KH +3 (QY\ offers the strongest specs in its bracket for the least amount of cash, giving you an Intel Core i5 quadcore processor, 8GB memory, a 256GB SSD and Bang & Olufsen speakers. $1,799, hp.com

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chat but the webcam here is an ancient 720p aair. Its quality rapidly degrades in anything but the best light. It’s so strange that having a beautiful premium Mac laptop means you’re the person with the muddiest feed on the Zoom call, but here we are.

With the new MacBook Air, Apple has dispatched our two biggest issues with the previous model – the uncertain keyboard and the lack of storage – by improving them both, and then cutting the price as a bonus.

In that regard alone, it’s a hugely successful product, and it gets a really strong recommendation from us. It is not only the Mac that best suits most people, it’s also one of the best laptop choices overall.

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Very fast for general use; great new keyboard; stronger processor and graphics.

WE’D IMPROVE Poor webcam; dual-core power not enough for some; pretty average battery life.

THE LAST WORD The Apple MacBook Air 2020 is an excellent thin-and-light laptop, and this price cut makes it great YDOXH $SSOH KDV Ć[HG LWV NH\ ćDZV OHDYLQJ RQO\ D IHZ PLQRU gripes behind.

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Tested Nextbase 322GW

HOT CAM!

Nextbase 322GW The 322GW sits in the middle of Nextbase’s dash cam range – but is it the one you should buy? $249 nextbase.com ash cams vary widely in design, price and functionality, with some offering 4K video or an entire suite of driver assistance features. Others are much simpler but perhaps lack the crisp video quality you need to record video detailed enough to be used as evidence after an accident.

Thankfully, there is a halfway house, a sweet spot in the dash cam range. The Nextbase 322GW slots neatly into this segment.

First up, the most important aspect of any dash cam – video quality. Here, it shines brightly, thanks to 1080p Full HD video resolution at 60 frames per second. This means you get enough pixels to produce a clear image, and a fast enough frame rate to make video smooth.

Much like the rest of Nextbase’s GW range of dash cams, the 322GW is fairly compact, has a touchscreen display on the back, and a smart magnetic mounting system. The camera measures 47 x 85 x 45mm, weighs 82g, and the LED display is 2.5 inches.

While there is a USB power port on the camera itself, the included power cable also

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plugs into the windscreen mount. This makes it very easy to remove and replace the camera, as you just pull it away from the magnetic mount and away you go. There’s also an HDMI-out port for plugging in a rear-facing camera, if you want to buy that too.

The 322GW includes Nextbase’s Emergency SOS feature, which uses a connection to your smartphone to call the emergency services and give them your precise location if an accident is detected and you don’t respond.

There’s also a parking mode, where the camera enters a low-power mode that uses the internal battery and will only fire into life when it detects some movement, such as something pranging your car while exiting the adjacent parking space.

Finally, GPS is included for logging your precise location, speed and direction of travel.

All of this data can be added to every video the camera records, if you so wish. Integrated GPS like this makes for a more seamless process than connecting to your smartphone.

If your budget for a dash cam is just under $250, then you really can’t go all that wrong with the Nextbase 322GW. It’s easy to use, produces high-quality Full HD video at 60fps, and the Emergency SOS feature could be genuinely life-saving.

VERDICT

WE’RE IMPRESSED Good video quality; excellent mounting system; integrated GPS; emergency SOS feature.

WE’D IMPROVE Design not as sleek as it could be; lacks driver assistance features.

THE LAST WORD Full HD video, an ingenious magnetic mounting system and its emergency SOS feature make for an excellent dash cam.

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Tested Imou Ranger IQ

VIEW LOOK

Imou Ranger IQ Affordable security cam that does some things well $tbc imoulife.com here’s a lot of smart camera tech crammed into this little sphere.

The Ranger IQ is a smart security camera with motors so that the lens can pan and tilt, following a person around the room if it spots them (and returning to its original position after). That’s paired with being able to identify humans, so it won’t track the cat, unless you want it to. It also has two-way communication, so that you can yell at the burglar/cat from anywhere. You can view footage from it live (and can control the camera’s view) in the app or via Alexa/Google Assistant, and it will notify you and record video when it detects motion.

There are smart features connected to the motion detection, beyond just the panning of the camera. You can choose specific zones in the frame you want it to monitor (so that it can ignore a window, for example), and you can set the sensitivity. It doesn’t have face detection, though; it’s due to be added later, we’re told.

The packed feature list is rounded out by colour night vision, geofencing (so it can turn

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off motion notifications when you’re home), offline storage on microSD cards as well as paid cloud storage, a siren, a privacy mode (that turns the lens down so the camera can’t see anything), and a noise sensor that you can adjust the sensitivity for, so it could be only loud enough to hear alarms in the house.

It’s a packed list, and everything worked well for us. The HD video quality is good, the app is quick to respond and load cloud video, the alerts arrive in timely fashion… functionally, it’s great.

But we struggled with the app. Again, it works fine – it’s snappy and reliable – but we found the way it lays out its options to be quite unintuitive – actually finding all of the features above to customise and activate them left us scratching our heads a lot. There were also some instances of the English on the app being imperfect, which can confuse things further.

And while it’s excellent value in terms of features per pound, it weirdly might do too much. There are smart cameras with these features but without the rotating lens (still with wide fields of view, though) for half the price.

Or even with the moving lens, but without advanced night vision. Do you need all these features? If so, and you don’t mind the app issues we’ve mentioned, we recommend this.

But there are easier, simpler options.

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Excellent features for the money; works really well; video quality is good.

WE’D IMPROVE Not always clear where to find things in the app; some small language issues; feature list might be overkill.

THE LAST WORD If you don’t mind about figuring out an app’s layout, add a star – this works really well, and is good value. But it’s a little too confusing to call it a slam-dunk recommendation.

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Tested

Processor HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G Octa-Core GPU 16-Core Mali-G76 Screen 6.58-inch, 2640x1200 90Hz OLED Memory 8GB Storage 256GB Battery 4200mAh Cameras 50MP wide angle, 40MP ultra-wide angle, 12MP telephoto and 3D depth sensing camera rear; 32MP and depth camera front OS Android 9.0, OneUI Dimensions 158.2x72.6x8.95mm Weight 209g

PRO SO

Huawei P40 Pro A superior screen and camera can’t ameliorate this flawed beauty’s still embryonic AppGallery From $1,599 consumer.huawei.com he biggest hurdle to anybody picking up the Huawei P40 Pro is something that is largely out of Huawei’s hands – the fact that it no longer has access to Google apps or services, including the Play Store itself. That means anyone moving from another Android phone is going to find the transition to the P40 Pro less than seamless.

With no Google Play Store to deliver apps and games, Huawei is currently rapidly developing and fleshing out its own Huawei AppGallery. It does not, though, have many of the apps that we have all become used to on Android handsets.

For example, WhatsApp, eBay, Uber, Instagram and many other popular apps just aren’t available.

You can use Huawei’s Phone Clone application when initially setting up the phone, which transfers pretty much all the apps, accounts, contacts and information from your old phone.

Start trying to use those apps,

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Huawei P40 Pro

though, and further issues can arise, with some apps, like Twitter, crashing whenever we tried to launch them.

There are alternatives – for example downloading apps directly from their own sites as APK files or using Aptoide, a third-party app store. But the lack of security screening makes the former a bit of a crapshoot, while the latter route is perhaps too technical and timeconsuming for the average user.

However, design-wise the Huawei P40 Pro merges a mature, powerful aesthetic with a beautiful, spacious screen. At 209 grams it feels sturdy and well-made, with its narrow and thin dimensions added to in a sculpted symphony of glass and aluminium.

The OLED screen on the P40 Pro, which glides into the truly minimal bezeling of the handset, is also a stunner, and while it doesn’t quite match the god-tier screen equipped on the OnePlus 8 Pro, its 6.58 inches look bright and sharp to the eye.

Huawei has been leading in terms of camera technology over the past few years and the P40 Pro continues that with aplomb. A quad rear system made by camera specialists Leica sees

the handset equipped with a 50MP f/1,9 23mm main unit, a 12MP, f/3.4 125mm telephoto, 40MP f/1.8 ultra-wide and a ToF 3D depth sensor.

These are, naturally, partnered with Leica optics and an LED flash.

Round the front, the P40 Pro comes with a dual 32MP f/2,2 26mm camera with in-built ToF sensor.

Video maxes out at 4K/60fps on the rear and, amazingly, on the front too.

Simply put, if you want the best camera phone on the market today then the Huawei P40 Pro is it.

Hardware’s the party With a HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G SoC installed, as well as a Mali-G76 MP16 GPU, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS3.0 storage, the P40 Pro offers impressive performance.

Indeed, only the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra returned higher benchmark scores in Sling Shot Extreme, with the P40 Pro’s 5,660 and 5,443 comparing slightly lower than the Ultra’s 6,765 and 6,212. And in the real-world, the Huawei P40 crushed any application we could throw at it.

Lastly, in terms of performance, the P40 Pro’s brilliant 4,200mAh

THE ALTERNATIVES ONEPLUS 8 PRO If you’ve already read our review on page 70, you’ll already know how much we rate this phone. With a slick 120Hz, QHD+ screen and lightning fast hardware, it’s D WUXH ćDJVKLS å ZLWKRXW the markup.

From $1,499, oneplus.com Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au

SAMSUNG GALAXY S20 While it lacks the 108MP camera system and behemoth battery of its big Ultra brother, the S20 packs a lot of WKH VDPH SRZHU å IRU $400 less. $1,199

With a quad rear system made by Leica, the P40 Pro is the best camera phone on the market today

battery once more delivers the goods, with even the phone’s 5G connection capabilities and 90Hz screen failing to drag it below a solid day and half.

All in all, the hardware is truly top tier. There’s 5G connectivity, a battery that runs and runs, a beautiful and large screen, an elegant design, a slick operating system and a raft of flagship-level extras. It is a phone enthusiast’s dream in so many ways.

But that inability to access the Google Play store, as well as Google’s services, in the end undermines the P40 Pro. Yes, you can get round much of it by investing some time tinkering and hacking, but you can’t get round all of it, and that just isn’t good enough for a lot of users.

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Superb 90Hz OLED display; powerful hardware; god-tier camera.

WE’D IMPROVE No Google Play Store, apps or services; Huawei AppGallery still in infancy.

THE LAST WORD Huawei’s AppGallery just isn’t where it needs to be yet. But for tech enthusiasts who don’t mind doing a little tinkering to get it up and running, it is a very well equipped ćDJVKLS SKRQH

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Tested

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 GPU Adreno 650 Screen 6.7inch, 120Hz, 3168x1440 pixels OLED Memory 12GB Storage 512GB Battery 4,260mAh, 65W fast-charging Cameras 48MP, 48MP, 13MP rear; 32MP front OS ColorOS 7.0 based on Android 10.0 Dimensions 165.2x74.4x9.5mm Weight 200g

FIND BLOWER

Oppo Find X2 Pro Oppo’s latest is a top-notch handset with one of the best smartphone screens out there $1,630 oppo.com

ppo is putting great stock in the Find X2 Pro’s incredible 6.7” display.

Much has been made by the company of the QHD+ screen, which houses its “True Billion Colour Display” technology, said to be able to create depth and detail within colour like never before.

Well, it lives up to the hype. It is a sumptuous screen, and the butterysmooth 120Hz refresh rate is as good as advertised, whether putting the screen through its paces watching movies, simple vlogs or games footage, which the screen supports with up to 60FPS (the standard high-quality gaming framerate).

Due to the 20:9 ratio, the phone is well-suited to cinematics: it’s always a pleasure to watch a great scene fill its huge screen and see the slick motion and deep colour settings in action. It’s great in everyday use, too: with a 240Hz touch sampling rate, it’s sensitive and responsive, with no noticeable drag when scrolling.

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Oppo Find X2 Pro

The display was never anything less than magnificent. We’d comfortably call it the phone’s best feature, which on a phone this good is definitely saying something.

The only negative was the area where the curved screen meets the rest of the phone’s casing on the long edges: there is a small sharp lip of raised screen, which wouldn’t take much more than a glancing blow to cause damage to the phone’s display.

However, this is a nitpick.

Behind the screen The X2 Pro’s rear camera array consists of a 48MP wide-angle lens, a 48MP ultra-wide angle and a periscope 13MP telephoto lens with up to 60x digital zoom. It doesn’t quite live up to the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra’s frankly Brobdingnagian 100x “space zoom” functionality, but we’re not sure it really needs to.

At the full 60x digital zoom, there’s not a lot of detail worth taking a photo with. At mid-range, the camera shines, with its wide-angle and ultra-wide angle capturing beautiful scenic shots and eye-popping colours.

The camera’s 48MP sensor, the Sony

IMX689, works with the phone’s Ultra Vision camera system’s algorithm to create great photos and consistent colours even in low light.

It’s able to record footage in stunning 4K. However, one small niggle is the inability to continue recording and switch to the ultra wide-angle lens, as 4K recording is limited to the primary lens.

The X2 Pro is based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, the same 5G chipset as the Samsung Galaxy S20 series, and that should give you an indication of the phenomenal performance available here. With 12GB RAM at your disposal, it’s powerful and fast, processing high-resolution photos, editing videos and performing everyday tasks with speed and ease.

Its ColorOS 7.1 goes a long way here. It’s ergonomic and userfriendly, allowing you to get where you need to go with minimal fuss. The setup is a breeze and it’s easy to use.

The battery is where things could have really fallen down. With a gargantuan 120Hz, super-bright screen gobbling up power, the 4,260Hz battery could have taken a

THE T HE A ALTERNATIVES LTER APPLE iPHONE 11 PRO

SAMSUNG GALAXY S20 U TRA

Packing the best screen and camera on any iPhone to date, plus the fastest processor and a beautiful high-quality build, and you’ve got a phone that earns its Pro name.

From $1,749, apple.com

If you can splash a bit more cash, the S20 Ultra offers the mosstt impressive camera, internal hardware and screen on the mar et.

From $2,249, samsung.com

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There are numerous camera lenses, and the X2 can shoot in stunning 4K

real hit during the day. Surprisingly, it doesn’t, retaining charge all day with conservative use. Constant use is another matter, but the saving grace is Oppo’s 65W fast-charging tech: after an hour’s charge, it will see the average user through the day.

The Oppo Find X2 Pro is one of the best screens we’ve ever seen on one of the fastest Android handsets we’ve ever used, combined with the best price for a premium smartphone this year. It doesn’t always outstrip its competitors in the performance or camera stakes, but it’s an eyecatching, high-spec, wonderful handset. One of the best phones of 2020 has just arrived, and we’re not even halfway through the year.

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Next-level display; top spec innards; great quality camera.

WE’D IMPROVE No wireless charging; high-end screen really drains the battery.

THE LAST WORD A phenomenal phone, and the best-value toptier Android handset in 2020 so far. Even if the camera can’t hold up to its Samsung rival, you’ll EH KDUG SUHVVHG WR ĆQG D EHWWHU phone for the same price.

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Tested TAG Heuer Connected

FINEST HEUER

TAG Heuer Connected With an always-on screen and new sports-tracking features, this is TAG Heuer’s best smartwatch From $2,600 tagheuer.com he first thing you’ll notice about the new TAG Heuer Connected is the refined design. The case is now completely circular, resulting in a design that feels more compact and looks more like a traditional watch.

To build on this, TAG Heuer has added physical buttons that resemble chrono pushers.

Sitting in-between them is a rotating crown, which acts as a power button, as well as an additional way to scroll through the OS. In terms of size, at 45mm diameter and 13.5mm thick, the watch is on the larger side, but thanks to a relatively short lug-to-lug width, it doesn’t feel oversized.

The front features a flush OLED touchscreen protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.

It’s 1.39 inches and has a resolution of 454 x 454 pixels. We found it clear and easy to read.

Inside it is a 430mAh battery optimised to last up to six hours of sports tracking using GPS, heart-rate monitoring and streaming music.

There’s now a greater focus on fitness and sports tracking in the Connected. The headline

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addition is the new heart-rate sensor, made of high-tech resin and integrated into the case back. This optimises the tracking of calories burned, while the built-in GPS measures your position during workouts and can calculate different performance metrics. The watch also includes a compass for direction, as well as an accelerometer and gyroscope.

However, it lacks certain health or wellness features. For example, the latest Apple Watch features things like excessive noise detection, menstrual cycle tracking and fall detection, while the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 can measure your stress levels. The Connect is currently lagging behind slightly.

TAG Heuer has also designed a new set of watch faces for the 2020 Connected, all taking inspiration from the brand’s timekeeping heritage. Each of these faces can be personalised, but currently there are just five and the collection feels a little sparse. TAG Heuer has hinted more faces will be released over time.

It’s difficult not to like the new TAG Heuer Connected – it’s the brand’s most accomplished smartwatch to date. It’s great looking and feeling and is the closest a smartwatch has come to feeling like a ‘proper’ mechanical wristwatch.

If you’re looking for a luxury Android smartwatch – this is the best option out there.

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Unmistakable TAG Heuer design; luxury construction; comfortable to wear; strong sports tracking.

WE’D IMPROVE Battery life could be better; only one size option; lacks wellness features.

THE LAST WORD The most luxurious Android Wear smartwatch on the market.

If you’re looking for a luxury Android smartwatch – this is the one for you.

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Best of the best

BEST OF THE BEST The world’s best tech, all in one place Edited by Josh Russell

INSIDE

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Smartphones

85

Watches

86

TVs

87

Projectors

87

Soundbars

88

Media streaming

88

Turntables

89

Speakers

89

Bluetooth headphones

90

Laptops and 2-in-1s

92

Gaming gear

93

Action cams

74

Drones

74

Cameras

95

Bikes

96

Beard trimmers

88

Fitness trackers

89

Running watches

89

Running headphones

89

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Best of the best

SMARTPHONES

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au APPLE iPHONE 11

From $1,199, apple.com/au A 6.1-inch HDR Liquid Retina display, Apple’s A13 Bionic chipset, 3GB of RAM, a 3,110 mAh battery, and upwards of 64GB. Apple has really surpassed its rivals with the iPhone 11.

ONEPLUS 8 PRO

CHEAP SMARTPHONES

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au NOKIA 7.2

SMARTWATCHES

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APPLE WATCH SERIES 5

From $499, nokia.com One of the most recent and one of the best phones in Nokia’s current range, bringing with it a generous screen, capable internals DQG D YHU\ ĆQH UHDU camera too – led by a 48MP sensor.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S10E

From $649, apple.com/au This truly straddles the line between tech and fashion; it’s not just the bestlooking smartwatch, but its health and ĆWQHVV IHDWXUHV always-on screen and good apps PDNH LW HVVHQWLDO

SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH ACTIVE2

From $1,199, oneplus.com A simply jawdropping handset that delivers across the board.

It is, simply put, WKH EHVW SKRQH on the market for those shopping IRU D SUHPLXP Android handset.

From $849, samsung.com/au The modestly sized and pocket-friendly 5.8-inch screen on the S10e is a breath of fresh air.

With Samsung’s impeccable levels of ĆW DQG ĆQLVK JUHDW software and top specs, it’s a deal.

From $350, samsung.com/au Sleek and powerful, this is the best smartwatch for Android users. The screen and design are on par with the Apple Watch, while a collection of new watch faces give it DbPRGHUQ HGJH

SAMSUNG GALAXY S20 ULTRA

GOOGLE PIXEL 3A

SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH

From $1,879, samsung.com/au Samsung has really gone to town here, from the 100x digital zoom on the rear camera to the huge 6.9-inch AMOLED display around the front. It’s the priciest of the S20 models, and it shows.

SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 10 From $999, samsung.com With its absolutely stunning 6.3-inch Super AMOLED screen, powerful internal hardware, and advanced S Pen digital stylus, there isn’t an area where the Note 10 doesn’t punch hard.

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From $799, store.google.com 64GB of storage, always up-to-date Android with no extra cruft, snappy performance and a truly brilliant camera, all in a SDFNDJH WKDW GHĆQHV ‘cheap and cheerful’ – it’s great value.

MOTO G8 POWER From $335, motorola.com If you’re looking for a phone that gives you a lot of bang for your buck then you simply can’t go wrong with the Moto G8 Power.

The big selling point here is that huge 5,000mAh (threeday!) battery.

From $349, samsung.com/au The circular screen with innovative rotating bezel is the best way to control a smartwatch, and the slick Tizen software is easy to use. It looks good too, and a battery life of up to six days is ace.

FOSSIL SPORT From $199, fossil.com Fossil’s fourth generation of smartwatches serves up what’s probably the best Wear OS smartwatch available to buy today. Capable and wearable, with good app support.

W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 8 5

Best of the best

HYBRID SMARTWATCHES

WATCHES

WATCHES UNDER $1,000

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

WITHINGS STEEL HR SPORT

TAG HEUER AUTAVIA

VICTORINOX I.N.O.X V

$269, withings.com

$5,550, tagheuer.com 3DUW RI 7$*èV Heritage range, the Autavia was favoured by racing GULYHUV LQ WKH V The vintage silver dial features a retro Heuer logo, and is HQFLUFOHG E\ D EODFN DOXPLQLXP EH]HO

Featuring a heartrate monitor and the ability to track 30 different exercises, this is ideal for ĆWQHVV IDQDWLFV ,WèV water resistant to 50 metres, and the battery lasts around GD\V

WITHINGS MOVE ECG $245, withings.com Think a pricey Apple Watch is needed to take an ECG reading of your heart? This can do that, plus activity tracking and sleep monitoring, with a 12-month battery life, for a UHDOO\ ORZ SULFH

MONDAINE HELVETICA 1 $485, mondaine.com Mondaine is most famous for producing watches which resemble its classic Swiss Railways clock, but the Helvetica UDQJH LV GLIIHUHQW ,W includes activity and VOHHS WUDFNLQJ

KRONABY SEKEL

TUDOR HERITAGE BLACK BAY

OMEGA SEAMASTER 300 $6,890, omegawatches.com The 300 recalls its iconic namesake, but has been updated to include 2PHJDèV PRUH modern watch tech, including the antimagnetic Master Co-Axial mechanical PRYHPHQW LQVLGH

$6,850, breitling.com Looking for more than a pedometer?

The Sekel vibrates to alert you to QRWLĆFDWLRQV RQ \RXU SKRQH DQG WKHUHèV a button which can be programmed with ,)777 WR GR loads

Having undergone 130 durability tests, this watch will stand up to anything you WKURZ DW LW 7KH paracord strap hints at its adventurous KHULWDJH DQG LWèV great for all wrist VL]HV

HAMILTON KHAKI FIELD

$5,925, tudorwatch.com $595, hamiltonwatch.com The Tudor Black This is a faithful Bay might be the recreation of its ideal piece to start original 1960s a “properâ€? watch forebearer and is FROOHFWLRQ ,WèV WUXH WR +DPLOWRQèV premium but not too PLOLWDU\ KHULWDJH H[SHQVLYH LWèV JRW 7KH PP VWDLQOHVV KLVWRU\ DQG LWèV D YHU\ steel case is paired attractive, wearable, with a durable NATO HYHU\GD\ ZDWFK VWUDS

BREITLING NAVITIMER B01 CHRONOGRAPH

$485, kronaby.com

8 6 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

$599, victorinox.com

The Navitimer is %UHLWOLQJèV PRVW LFRQLF FROOHFWLRQ This model boasts a 43mm stainless steel case with a transparent back, showing off the selfZLQGLQJ PRYHPHQW

TISSOT QUICKSTER CHRONOGRAPH $600, tissotwatches.com This packs a Swiss quartz movement with 1/10 of a second counters, central 60-seconds chronograph hand, and add/split IXQFWLRQDOLW\ 7KH FDVH LVbĆQLVKHG ZLWK D VOHHN 39' FRDWLQJ

CHRISTOPHER WARD C5 MALVERN MK III $900, au.christopherward.com This sleek dress watch retains its classic British design cues from older models, but features a new 39mm stainless steel case with Fluid ‘lightFDWFKHUè OLQHV DQG KRXUV SRZHU UHVHUYH

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Best of the best

VALUE TVs

TVs

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

SAMSUNG 75Q950TS

SAMSUNG QA55Q80R

$11,649, samsung.com/au Samsung’s 2020 ćDJVKLS 79 LV RXU QHZ SLFN IRU WKH EHVW 79 \RX FDQ EX\ HYHQ WKRXJK . FRQWHQW LV UDUH WKDQNV WR WKH ZD\ LW WDNHV .

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SAMSUNG Q80T

$2,295, samsung.com/au 3LFNLQJ XS WKLV 79 IRU D VRQJ ZKLOH VWRFNV ODVW PLJKW EH WKH EHVW YDOXH $9 EX\ \RX FDQ PDNH ULJKW QRZ ,WV KXJH EULJKWQHVV LV PDWFKHG ZLWK WKH OXVK FRORXUV RI 4/('

PANASONIC TX-58GX800T

$2,195, samsung.com/au 7KH EHVW UHDVRQ \HW WR EX\ D . 4/(' ,W ERDVWV VXSHUE +'5 LPDJHV RXWVKLQLQJ ULYDO 2/('V ZKHQ LW FRPHV WR SHDN +'5 EULJKWQHVV DQG RIIHULQJ FRQYLQFLQJ EODFN OHYHO SHUIRUPDQFH

$tbc, panasonic.com

PANASONIC TX-55GZ2000

SAMSUNG QE49Q70R

$tbc, panasonic.com )HDWXULQJ DQ 2/(' SDQHO DEOH WR UXQ EULJKWHU WKDQ ULYDOV DQG EXLOW LQ XSĆULQJ 'ROE\ $WPRV HQDEOHG VSHDNHUV 6FDUFLW\ LQ WKH $XVVLH PDUNHW PDNHV LW KDUG WR ĆQG EXW \RX FRXOG JHW D GHDO

LG OLED55C9

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ACER V7850 $3,377, acer.com $FHU UHDOO\ KLW WKH VZHHW VSRW KHUH VPDOO HQRXJK WR ĆW RQ D FRIIHH WDEOH ZKLVSHU TXLHW LQ RSHUDWLRQ DQG \HW VWLOO SURGXFHV D EULJKW FULVS +'5 .

SLFWXUH RI WR LQFKHV DW P

OPTOMA UHD50

:LWK 3DQDVRQLF SXOOLQJ RXW RI WKH $XVWUDOLDQ PDUNHW IRU 79V UHFHQWO\ WKHVH DUH KDUG WR ĆQG EXW \RX FDQ SLFN RQH XS IRU D VRQJ LI \RX JHW OXFN\ DQG WKH SULFH FRXOG EH RU OHVV

$1,799, samsung.com/au 7KLV LQFK FKDUPHU KDV DOPRVW HYHU\WKLQJ RIIHUHG RQ SULFLHU 4/(' VFUHHQV ,W KDV D SLFWXUH WKDW OD\V EDUH HYHQ WKH ĆQHVW GHWDLOV DQG JHQHUDWHV GHHSO\ LQN\ EODFN WRQHV

. UHVROXWLRQ DQG +'5 LQ D SURMHFWRU IRU WKLV SULFH LV KDUG WR EHDW ,W GRHVQèW TXLWH KDYH WKH SRS DQG +'5 ULFKQHVV RI PRUH H[SHQVLYH VHWV EXW LWèV ZD\ EH\RQG +' SURMHFWRUV DW WKH VDPH SULFH

OPTOMA UHZ65 $8,999, optoma.com 7KLV LV YHU\ DLPHG DW WKH SURSHU $9 HQWKXVLDVW EXW ODVHU SURMHFWLRQ DW WKLV SULFH PDNHV LW ZRUWK LW IRU DQ\RQH . +'5 YLGHR LV VXSUHPHO\ ULFK DQG LW FDQ KLW LQFKHV IURP MXVW P

EPSON EH-TW6700W

$1,395, sony.com.au 3UREDEO\ WKH EHVW EDQJ IRU EXFN 79 RQ WKH PDUNHW ULJKW QRZ ,W RIIHUV KLJK HQG 2/(' LPDJH TXDOLW\ DQG SURFHVVLQJ EXW ZLWKRXW D KLJK HQG SULFH WDJ $QG LWèV VWLOO SDFNHG ZLWK IHDWXUHV

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

$2,199, optoma.com

SONY X80H

$2,495, lg.com

PROJECTORS

$2,349, epson.com.au (YHU\WKLQJ \RX PLJKW H[SHFW IURP D 6RQ\ SURGXFW PLQXV WKH SULFH 6HUYLQJ XS ORYHO\ SLFWXUHV LWèV D PDVWHU RI FRORXU WHPSHUDWXUH DQG EDODQFH DQG JLYHV EODFN WRQHV SOHQW\ RIbGHWDLO

,I \RXèUH KDSS\ ZLWK )XOO +' UHVROXWLRQ WKLV LV WKH EHVW RSWLRQ SDUWO\ WKDQNV WR D VXSHU HDV\ VHWXS SURFHVV 7KH LPDJH TXDOLW\ LV JRRG \RX MXVW GRQèW JHW WKH IXWXUH SURRĆQJ RI +'5 DQG .

W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 8 7

Best of the best

SOUNDBARS

STREAMERS

GAMES CONSOLES

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Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

SONOS BEAM

ROKU STREAMING STICK+

MICROSOFT XBOX ONE X

$545, sonos.com

$201, roku.com If it were just a soundbar, the Beam’s great audio would still make it top – but with Amazon Alexa, Apple AirPlay 2 and support for a billion streaming services, it’s fantastically ćH[LEOH

SAMSUNG HW-Q90R

$549, xbox.com The Swiss Army Knife of streaming delivers 4K HDR, isn’t locked to a particular ecosystem, has tons of available apps and LV D MR\ WR XVH ,WèV the best streamer IRU PDQ\ SHRSOH

AMAZON FIRE TV STICK 4K

$1,429, samsung.com/au This setup gives you not only a large soundbar at the front, but also a subwoofer and two wireless rear speaker units – it’s a full surround system, but without all the PHVV\ FDEOHV

$90, amazon.com.au

VIZIO 5.1.2 DOLBY ATMOS SOUNDBAR SB36512-F6

CHROMECAST ULTRA

$tbc, vizio.com

It’s still overkill if you don’t have a 4K 79 EXW ZLWK S HDR gaming, the PS4 Pro delivers incredible visuals and is smoother and faster than its non3UR VLEOLQJV

NINTENDO SWITCH $665, nintendo.com.au We love the Switch, which brings Nintendo’s great gaming pedigree to genuinely stylish, premium-grade KDUGZDUH )RUJHW the specs: it’s all about the sheer joy RI JDPLQJ

The Chromecast Ultra is a receiver for phone and laptops and depend on them for control and content – but it’s simp e, versatile and compati le with iOS, Android, :LQGRZV DQG 0DF

NVIDIA SHIELD TV $289, nvidia.com Despite being a simple stereo setup (with integrated subwoofer, which really does deliver impressive bass), Sony’s digital processing claims to UHSOLFDWH D Dolby Atmos VXUURXQG V\VWHP

8 8 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

$499, playstation.com

$98, store.google.com

$599, sony.com.au

SONY PLAYSTATION 4 PRO

4K HDR for under £35 isn’t to be sniffed DW ,WèV EHVW VXLWHG WR Prime subscribers and Google apps are absent, but it’s a very capable and affordable streamer IRU 79 DQG PRYLHV

A 36-inch soundbar delivering the front channels and with WZR XSĆULQJ GULYHUV for Dolby Atmos, a wirelessly connected subwoofer for bass, and two rear VSHDNHUV

SONY HT-X8500

With 4K, Dolby Atmos, Ultra HD Blu-ray and a fairly FRPSDFW SURĆOH this is the best ;ER[ HYHU ,WèV HYHQ more powerful than the PS4 Pro and also a great home HQWHUWDLQPHQW KXE

MICROSOFT XBOX ONE S $467, xbox.com

Offers an AIpowered upscaler, which converts HD footage to sharp 4K incredibly well, and support for Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and GeForce Now, Nvidia’s cloud JDPLQJ V\VWHP

The S is smaller, whiter and much cheaper than its big brother, and while you don’t get its sibling’s superpowered specs you still get Ultra HD %OX UD\ $ ĆQH KRPH HQWHUWDLQPHQW KXE

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Best of the best

TURNTABLES

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

PRO-JECT ESSENTIAL III $566, project-audio.com Really sounds great for the money, with an expansive and enjoyable sound across a range of genres and volume levels. It also looks very pleasing, in a variety of high JORVV ĆQLVKHV

CAMBRIDGE AUDIO ALVA TT

STREAMING DACs

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au YAMAHA WXAD-10 $188, yamaha.com.au

MULTI-ROOM SPEAKERS

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

NAIM MU-SO 2ND GENERATION $2,390 naimaudio.com

This Yamaha lets you stream everything from Bluetooth to hi-res audio, with support for AirPlay, most of your favourite streaming services and, of course Yamaha’s own MusicCast.

GOOGLE CHROMECAST AUDIO

Mu-So 2 crushes its competition. An awesome, thumping wall of sound and reliable, versatile software platform and streaming support make for the perfect 21st-century music experience.

SONOS ONE

$2,999, cambridgeaudio.com This Bluetooth turntable is a real game changer. It uses an exhausting array of analogueto-digital trickery, plus aptX HD to give hi-res/better-thanCD-quality sound, and all wirelessly.

$59, store.google.com/au A somewhat less audiophile solution perhaps, but so simple and so cheap.

Suddenly, all your Android phone’s music (plus Google’s apps on iOS) can be beamed to your audio setup.

$299, sonos.com

TECHNICS SL-1210GR

ARCAM RDAC

RUARK R5

$2,479, technics.com

$945, arcam.co.uk The iconic DJ turntable reimagined as a lustworthy slab RI KRPH KL Ć :KLOH we wouldn’t take this out clubbing, it’s the ultimate deck for gently maturing ravers, and sounds excellent too.

MCINTOSH MT2 $9,495, mcintoshlabs.com This beautifully ĆQLVKHG GHFN LV perfect for vinyl addicts. It’ll wring an incredible amount of detail out of your records, without needing to be plugged into a crazily pricey system.

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For those who stream via AirPlay and UPNP, this is ever so hard to beat.

It’s essentially a very high quality DAC, and gives a real boost to any decent TXDOLW\ DXGLR ĆOHV beamed its way.

iFI NANO iONE

Sonos One is compatible with every music service ever, multi-room connectivity is fab, and Alexa comes built in as an added bonus. Many pricier Sonos speakers then await you‌

$1,999, ruarkaudio.com Like a mini system for the 21st century, Ruark’s R5 chucks in a CD player, DAB and FM radios and two extra inputs, including one preamped for use with a turntable. There’s even Bluetooth too.

BOWERS & WILKINS FORMATION DUO

LĆ DXGLR FRP Just want to wring the very most out of Bluetooth? This fagpacket-sized DAC is your new friend.

Even the shonkiest MP3 gets a polish, and your higher TXDOLW\ ĆOHV DQG streams will shine.

$6,400, bowerswilkins.com These may look like Bender from Futurama but sound like God yodelling in your ear. The only wireless choice for any real audiophiles out there: highly specced, but not exactly affordable.

W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 8 9

Best of the best

BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS

BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES

TRUE WIRELESS HEADPHONES

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

BLUESOUND PULSE FLEX 2I

AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-M50XBT

JABRA ELITE 65T

$629, bluesound.com More than a Bluetooth speaker, with Wi-Fi and ethernet included this is more like a portable Sonos. It’s AirPlay 2 compatible, and works with streaming services and internet radio.

AUDIO PRO ADDON C3 $475, audiopro.com

$199, audio-technica.com Long battery life and sound that’s closer to the more neutral WRQHV RI KL Ć FDQV (though still with a slight extra kick of bass), plus great comfort levels, make these ideal for losing yourself in music.

AKG Y50BT

ULTIMATE EARS MEGABOOM 3 $225, ultimateears.com The best waterproof speaker – it even ćRDWV å RIIHUV hours of battery life and a hefty sound, perfect for outdoor parties. It works great for kitchen audio duties, too.

CAMBRIDGE AUDIO YOYO M

Jabra has solved most of the problems that bedevilled earlier true wireless buds.

Sound is great, connectivity is rock VROLG WKH ĆW LV VHFXUH but comfortable, and they’re discreet.

RHA TRUECONNECT $187, rha-audio.com

$228, au.akg.com $ ĆQH EOHQG RI FODVVLF Bluetooth portability, high-quality audio and Scandie style.

Thanks to Wi-Fi, you can stream higher quality sounds indoors, then revert to Bluetooth in the garden.

$249, jabra.com.au

If you want an on-ear alternative to the Marshalls, these ’phones from AKG remain a great option.

The sound is punchy and the styling is pretty cool without WU\LQJ WRR KDUG

OPTOMA NUFORCE BE LIVE5

Among the best sounding true wireless efforts so far. They sound musical and accurate compared to rivals and add sweatSURRĆQJ IRU UXQQHUV cyclists and gym goers.

APPLE AIRPODS $319, apple.com/au

$120, optoma.com

These offer nifty Siri control, a long battery life and great call quality.

They don’t have ANC or audiophile level sound – but are much more affordable than their 3URbFRXQWHUSDUWV

These slick earphones offer incredible sound for the price, taking everything from pop t classical in their stride.

They’re made to stay comfortable for their eight-hour battery life.

SOUNDMAGIC E11BT

SENNHEISER MOMENTUM TRUE WIRELESS

$435, cambridgeaudio.com $94, soundmagicheadphones.com The best Bluetooth These are as good as solution for buds that cost twice audiophiles’ audio as much. Audio is ĆOHV WKLV LV DV \RX FDQ brilliant, connectivity see, a stereo pair. As is rock solid, the such it’s more like a necklace-style band FODVVLF KL Ć V\VWHP EXW stays stable, and the with the convenience ĆW LV FRPIRUWDEOH RIbZLUHOHVVQHVV and secure enough for exercise.

$499, sennheiser.com

9 0 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

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Arguably the best audio of any AirPod rival to date. The build quality feels premium and Bluetooth connectivity is rock solid. The most premium true wireless experience so far.

Best of the best

NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au SONY WH-1000XM3

WIRED IN-EAR HEADPHONES

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

FLARE AUDIO FLARE PRO 2HD WEF ćDUHDXGLR FRP

$369, sony.com.au

These are both wired and wireless – the in-ear bit has a cable to a DAC box, which you can then play music through over Bluetooth or by plugging in. The sound is fantastic – huge and nuanced.

With 30-hour battery life, very quick charging, Google Assistant, amazing bass response and an incredibly clever noise cancellation processor, these are superb headphones.

BOWERS & WILKINS PX $545, bowers-wilkins.com With useful motionsensing features, the stylish PXes have variable noise cancelling and accurate B&W sound. We think the Sonys are slightly better, but you may well disagree.

SONY WH-1000XM2

KLIPSCH R6I II

With the XM3 model replacing these, you PLJKW EH DEOH WR ĆQG them cheap – and if you can, you’ll get impressive noise cancellation and brilliant sound in a comfortable body.

They’re still ace.

BEATS STUDIO3 WIRELESS $369, apple.com/au These Beats deliver exceptional noise cancellation that reacts very well to all kinds of environments, they get three hours of charge in 10 minutes and they’re the best sounding Beats so far.

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Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au BOWERS & WILKINS P9 SIGNATURE

$1,249, bowers-wilkins.com The P9s don’t just sound wonderful with hi-res audio.

They do a stellar job with poor quality music, such as compressed MP3s.

You can have any colour you like as long as it’s brown.

AUDIO TECHNICA ATH-A1000Z

NOLSVFK FRP A more comfortable alternative to in-ear monitors, the R6i IIs deliver lots of bass and a lively, HQJDJLQJ VRXQG It’s maybe a little bass-heavy for older music, but it’s great for modern stuff.

FLARE AUDIO FLARES JET 3

DXGLRWHFKQLFD FRP Forget about MP3s or EDM: these headphones don’t ćDWWHU RU VDFULĆFH sound quality for bass. But if you give them a good amp and a good sound source they do incredible things.

SENNHEISER MOMENTUM 2.0 AROUND EAR VHQQKHLVHU FRP

ćDUHDXGLR FRP

$369, sony.com.au

WIRED OVER-EAR HEADPHONES

Maintaining the quality of the Flares Pro (see Bluetooth headphones), removing the DAC element and thereby slashing the price, these audiophile inear headphones are a tremendous option.

SOUNDMAGIC E11C VRXQGPDJLFKHDGSKRQHV FRP Can we really be recommending a pair of headphones for $100? Yes we can! The grown-up sound quality and exemplary comfort RIbWKH F PDNH them the sonic bargain of the year.

The best sub-$400 over-ear headphones aren’t too picky about sonic sources.

They don’t quite have the frequency range of our more expensive picks but they’re well built and good for the price.

BOWERS & WILKINS P5 SERIES 2 $369, bowers-wilkins.com The little sisters of the mighty P9s deliver a beautifully warm and spacious sound for a lot less money, and their closed backs mean they’re less likely to annoy other people when you commute.

W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 9 1

Best of the best

LAPTOPS

2-IN-1 LAPTOPS

TABLETS

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

ASUS VIVOBOOK S15

ASUS ZENBOOK FLIP 13

APPLE IPAD AIR (2019)

$1,398, asus.com

$1,899, asus.com This slim and super light laptop hits a wonderful sweet spot. With an Intel Core i5, 4GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and a touchscreen ScreenPad, it represents wonderful mid-range value.

DELL XPS 13 (2019) From $2,548, dell.com The Dell XPS 13 is thinner and more powerful than ever.

Up to 1TB of SSD storage, 16GB of RAM, a 4K screen and fast Intel chips help make it a top quality all-rounder.

HP STREAM 14

The Zenbook Flip 13 might be the best laptop Asus has ever released. Tooled up with an eighth-gen Intel Core processor, the tablet mode feels great to use, thanks to a responsive touchscreen.

MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK 2

APPLE IPAD 10.2 (2019)

From $529, apple.com/au A whole lot of Apple tablet for Microsoft’s 2-in-1 not much money, forays have been a hu e it offers Apple success, revitalising Pencil support and the company’s image the latest iPadOS as a serious hardware software. Perfect if maker. For a capable an you want top tablet portable laptop, it’s har performance on to do better.

DbEXGJHW

From $919, microsoft.com Not the most powerful laptop money can buy, but truly astonishing value, the HP Stream 14 shows that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a strong computing H[SHULHQFH

MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK 2 From $1,867, microsoft.com Available in 13- or 15-inch sizes, with a 3:2 screen that gives you more height than other laptops, and plenty of power, this is a light and fast machine that’s also UHDOO\ ćH[LEOH

9 2 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

APPLE IPAD PRO 12.9 (2018)

From $1,867, microsoft.com From $1,649, apple.com/au Pull the screen away The biggest iPad from the keyboard Pro is unbelievably and it’s a tablet. powerful and slick, Connect them for ZLWK DQ H[FHOOHQW more graphics power screen, thin and and battery life. A compact design, premium, fantastically great battery life portable, and and support for the supremely versatile Apple Pencil. Pricey, system. but worth it.

MICROSOFT SURFACE GO

$tbc, HP.com

From $779, apple.com/au With a sharp, vibrant 10.5-inch screen, Apple Pencil support, powerful A12 Bionic processor and thin, light body, this is a Pro in all but name, for a bargain price.

The best all-rounder tablet.

ASUS CHROMEBOOK FLIP $996, asus.com/au

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S6 $999, samsung.com

If you are shopping for a 2-in-1, hybrid laptop with anything but a premium budget we recommend looking DW WKH )OLS ĆUVW )RU the price it can’t be beaten as a 2-in-1 running ChromeOS.

7KH ĆQHVW $QGURLG tablet, this delivers DbV\VWHP ZLWK D VKDUS OLED screen, S Pen VW\OXV H[FHOOHQW DXGLR credentials, powerful internals, and a neat laptop-aping DeX mode.

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Best of the best

GAMING LAPTOPS

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au HP OMEN 15

GAMING HEADSETS

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au STEELSERIES ARCTIS PRO WIRELESS

$2,399, hp.com

$539, steelseries.com With the option of a ray-tracing-capable GeForce RTX 2070 graphics chip, plus 9th-gen Intel Core processors and up to 32GB of RAM, this is the best gaming laptop on WKH PDUNHW

ASUS ROG STRIX SCAR 15

LUCIDSOUND LS35X

TURTLE BEACH ELITE ATLAS AERO

EIZO COLOREDGE CG319X

Equipped with a raft of high-end features, this screen is ideal for high-end photo DQG YLGHR ZRUN DV well as general usage DQG JDPLQJ 6HULRXV hardware commands a serious premium SULFH KRZHYHU

For quality wireless audio on Xbox One, JDPHUV VKRXOG ORRN here: it delivers excellent audio reproduction and also connects directly to the console without any GRQJOHV RU FDEOHV

$269, turtlebeach.com A lower spec is UHćHFWHG LQ WKH ZHU SULFH :LWK ORZ 15, 8GB of a Core C AM, 128GB SSD RA us a 1TB hard plu drive and a Nvidia eForce GTX 1660 Ge Ti 6GB, it’s still a SRWHQW SHUIRUPHU

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$ SOXFN\ GLVSOD\ sporting an impressive HDR 600 UDWLQJ DQG D [ UHVROXWLRQ ,WèV DOVR VKRFNLQJO\ affordable, when you FRQVLGHU LWèV D LQFK GLVSOD\ ZLWK .

DQG +'5 VXSSRUW

$8,119, ezioglobal.com

ACER NITRO 5

From $3,297, msi.com.au This wolf in sheep’s clothing couples a GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design GPU with a Core i7-8750H CPU and 32GB of RAM and a 17-inch display to really aim for its ULYDOVè MXJXODUV

PHILIPS BRILLIANCE 328P

The SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless LV VLPSO\ DZHVRPH The dual-wireless audio system that allows for ERWK *+] and Bluetooth simultaneously is HVSHFLDOO\ IDQWDVWLF

$249, lucidsound.com

MSI GS75 STEALTH 8SG

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

$699, philips.com.au

From $1,799, asus.com/au It’s crammed with powerful FRPSRQHQWV ORRNV the part, and will play any game ZLWKRXW D VZHDW You’re going to pay a lot for this laptop, but if you’ve got the FDVK LWèV ZRUWK LW

$1,899, acer.com

4K MONITORS

SAMSUNG U28E590D $499, samsung.com/au

Partners an understated and mature aesthetic with high-end build quality and top-rate DXGLR UHSURGXFWLRQ Allows audiophilelevel customisation through the Control 6WXGLR DSS

LOGITECH G635 7.1 LIGHTSYNC $199, logitech.com

Delivers a super-fast 1ms response time, 170-degree viewing angles and a 1000:1 FRQWUDVW UDWLR <RX donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get quite as PXFK VL]H DV RWKHU models, but it cuts very few corners KLWWLQJ LWV ORZ SULFH

HP Z27 $849, store.hp.com

Surround sound audio, Lightsync for illuminating your play space, plenty of features and buttons and compatibility ZLWK 3& 36 ;ER[ One, and Nintendo Switchâ&#x20AC;¦ what more could you want?

The HP Z27 not only ORRNV IDQWDVWLF å with excellent colour reproduction and a [ SL[HO UHVROWXLRQ å LW DOVR comes with a USB-C port so you can charge devices while \RXèUH ZRUNLQJ

W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 9 3

Best of the best

DRONES

ACTION CAMERAS

CHEAP ACTION CAMERAS

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

DJI MAVIC MINI

GOPRO HERO8 BLACK

GOPRO HERO7 WHITE

$799, dji.com/au

$599, gopro.com $UJXDEO\ WKH Ä&#x2020;UVW high-quality cameracarrying drone for WKH PDVVHV WKH 0LQL LV VXUSULVLQJO\ IDVW QLPEOH DQG VWDEOH LQ Ä&#x2021;LJKW DQG ZHLJKV J VK\ RI WKH &$$èV J UHJLVWUDWLRQ regulation.

DJI MAVIC AIR

*R3URèV ODWHVW VHHV XSGDWHV HYHU\ZKHUH )RXU YLUWXDO OHQVHV get you the ideal Ä&#x2020;HOG RI YLHZ IRU ZKDW \RXèUH VKRRWLQJ DQG QH[W JHQ YLGHR VWDELOLVDWLRQ NHHSV LW VWDEOH DQG FULVS

GOPRO HERO7 BLACK

$1,299, dji.com/au

$498, gopro.com 7KH 0DYLF $LU LV D VXSHU SRUWDEOH . camera drone. Video quality from the camera mounted on D WKUHH D[LV JLPEDO LV H[FHOOHQW DQG LWèV VR VLPSOH WR FRQWURO EHJLQQHUV JUDVS LW IDVW

RYZE TELLO

POTENSIC A20 MINI DRONE $80, potensic.com

AKASO V50 X

7KH ZDWHUSURRI +HUR %ODFN PDNHV FDSWXULQJ SUR ORRNLQJ VKRWV HDVLHU WKDQNV WR +\SHU6PRRWK electronic VWDELOLVDWLRQ .

LPDJH TXDOLW\ LV H[FHOOHQW DQG WKHUHèV VOLFN ISV UHFRUGLQJ

$389, dji.com/au With a cool front GLVSOD\ EXW PLVVLQJ 6XSHU9LHZ PRGH DQG OLYH VWUHDPLQJ '-,èV FDP LV LGHDO IRU H[WUHPH VSRUWV W\SHV DQG YORJJHUV ,PDJH VWDELOLVDWLRQ LV H[FHOOHQW DQG LWèV HDV\ WR XVH

GOPRO MAX

. DW ISV IRU XQGHU SOXV WZR LQFK WRXFKVFUHHQ DQG LPDJH VWDELOLVDWLRQ" 7KLV LV SURSHU EDQJ IRU EXFN ,W FRPHV ZLWK DFFHVVRULHV LQFOXGLQJ ZDWHUSURRI KRXVLQJ DQG UHPRWH

YI 4K $233, yitechnology.com &DSWXUHV KLJK TXDOLW\ IRRWDJH HYHQ LQ ORZ OLJKW WKDQNV WR DQ /&( VHYHQ OD\HU DOO JODVV OHQV DQG 6RQ\ ([PRU 5 ,0; VHQVRU ,W VKRRWV . DW ISV EX\ D VHSDUDWH FDVH IRU ZDWHUSURRÄ&#x2020;QJ

OLFI ONE.FIVE BLACK (2ND GEN) WEF ROÄ&#x2020;FDPHUD FRP

$699, gopro.com $ JUHDW RSWLRQ IRU NLGV NHHQ WR WU\ RXW WKHLU GURQH VNLOOV IRU WKH Ä&#x2020;UVW WLPH 7KHUH DUH ZHOO SURWHFWHG SURSHOOHUV DQ HPHUJHQF\ VWRS EXWWRQ DQG DQ XQLJQRUDEOH ORZ SRZHU DODUP

7KH ZDOOHW IULHQGO\ +HUR :KLWH ERUURZV SUHPLXP IHDWXUHV from the Hero7 Black. ,GHDO IRU SDUW WLPH DGUHQDOLQH MXQNLHV QHHGLQJ D VLPSOH +' FDPHUD WKDW VKRRWV YouTube-ready footage.

$159, akasotech.com

DJI OSMO ACTION

$119, ryzerobotics.com 7KLV LV D EDUJDLQ Ã¥ LW XVHV '-, WHFK LQVLGH IRU Ä&#x2021;LJKW VWDELOLW\ KDV D FDPHUD WKDW WDNHV +' YLGHR RU 03 VQDSV DQG KRYHUV VWLOO IRU VHOÄ&#x2020;HV ,W FDQ Ä&#x2021;\ LQGRRUV RU RXW WKRXJK LV WRR OLJKW IRU ZLQG\ GD\V

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$288, gopro.com

$GGUHVVHV WKH LVVXHV WKDW PDUUHG *R3URèV original 360-camera å WKH )XVLRQ å DQG ERDVWV VRPH RI WKH +HUR %ODFNèV H[FHOOHQW YLGHR FDSWXUH IDFLOLWLHV DQG LQWXLWLYH XVHU interface.

$ EXOJLQJ EDJ RI EDQJV IRU D UHODWLYHO\ VPDOO QXPEHU RI EXFNV ,WèV VWDELOLVHG FDQ VKRRW LQ . WDNH 03 SKRWRV LV ZDWHUSURRI WR PHWUHV DQG FDQ UHFRUG VORZ PRWLRQ DW ISV

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Best of the best

DSLR CAMERAS

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au NIKON D850

MIRRORLESS CAMERAS

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au NIKON Z 6

$4,399, nikon.com.au

CANON EOS 7D MARK II $1,699, canon.com.au

$1,899, sony.com.au With a full-frame 24.5 megapixel sensor, 12fps continuous shooting, phenomenal lowlight performance and fantastic handling, this creates incredible images for a reasonable price.

SONY A9

Trading up from an entry-level camera?

The 7D Mark II is the camera of your dreams. A superb all-rounder with a 20.2-megapixel sensor and a host of features to suit D YDULHW\ RI QHHGV

$899, panasonic.com The A9 is expensive but earns every penny by packing an incredible 24.3MP full-frame sensor capable of 20fps shooting with tracking autofocus the whole way. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a technical marvel.

CANON EOS R

$1,899, nikon.com.au

$1,899, nikon.com.au This has the same sensor and image processor as the D500 for less. You still get fantastic pics, but with a slightly slower autofocus (and a few other changes). A superb all-rounder.

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This might be the ideal travel companion, with a versatile zoom lens up to 15x, and a fantastic one-inch sensor that captures bright, sharp images.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also stylish and pocket-friendly.

CANON G5X MARK II

$2,898, canon.com.au This solidly built camera is the SHUIHFWbFKRLFH IRU those who like to shoot a little bit of everything, thanks to a brilliant autofocus system and glorious image quality from its 20MP sensor.

NIKON D7500

For the best image quality in a pocketfriendly body, look here. The RX100 VII continues to build on Sonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reputation for high-quality premium compacts, and does so without breaking the bank.

PANASONIC TZ200

$4,399, sony.com.au

NIKON D500

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au SONY RX100 VII

$2,240, nikon.com.au With a highresolution 45.4 megapixel sensor, 4K video capture, a 153-point AF system, and a sturdy body, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never be disappointed with what the D850 can create for you.

COMPACT CAMERAS

$1,100, canon.com.au The EOS R is classic Canon, but with some useful twists, such as the touch-sensitive multi function bar.

Image quality is also fantastic, thanks to the full-frame 30.3 megapixel sensor.

This full-blown overhaul of the G5 line brings a oneinch 20MP sensor and a 5x optical zoom, plus 4K video recording, USB-C battery charging and burst shooting up to 30fps. Versatile.

PANASONIC S1R

FUJIFILM X100F

$4,220, panasonic.com

IXMLÄ&#x2020;OP FRP DX Panasonicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leap into full-frame is bigger than other mirrorless systems, and for now is fairly limited on the lens front. But with 47.3MP to play with, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be interesting to see it develop.

7KH )XMLÄ&#x2020;OP ; ) is as beautiful as it is capable. If the retro ORRN Ä&#x2021;RDWV \RXU ERDW then the X100F is a thing to behold. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compact, but packs a large APS-C sensor and a lovely 35mm f/2.0 lens.

W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 9 5

Best of the best

GPS

DASH CAMS

ELECTRIC BIKES

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

Find the lowest prices at: getprice.com.au

TOMTOM GO PREMIUM

NEXTBASE 522GW

VANMOOF S3

$449, tomtom.com

$399, nextbase.com This state-of-the-art sat nav links with IFTTT, so you can connect to home devices, interact with personal digital assistants, get QRWLÄ&#x2020;FDWLRQV DQG share location and arrival data.

GARMIN DRIVESMART 61 LMT-S $245, garmin.com

The king of dash cams in 2019 nails the basics as well as EHLQJ RQH RI WKH Ä&#x2020;UVW dash cams available with Alexa built in. It will also alert emergency services to the location of an accident.

GARMIN DASH CAM 66W $228, garmin.com

This sleek sat-nav has substance to match its style, with a big display, OLIHWLPH WUDIÄ&#x2020;F DQG maps and useful points of interest information courtesy RI 7ULS$GYLVRU

TOMTOM GO 620

$509, thinkware.com

$495, garmin.com

More sturdy and fun to ride than the Brompton, the Gocycle doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fold up as neatly, but you can still take it on the train. With power algorithms tweaked by ex-F1 types, it feels like a proper bike.

BROMPTON ELECTRIC $tbc, brompton.com

With an almost invisible design, time-lapse recording and a great night mode, this is a good stealthy option if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re worried more about vandalism or theft than your fellow drivers.

MIO MIVUE J60

Ebikes arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just about tech. They should be fun too.

The Brompton is a hoot, and if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a commuter thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no better: it munches miles and then folds to an incredibly tiny size.

GTECH EBIKE CITY

$tbc, mio.com A petite 12.9cm screen is good for smaller cars, but this nav is still packed with features, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, speed DOHUWV WUDIÄ&#x2020;F battery backup and European maps.

GOCYCLE GX

This fantastic little cam earns its place on this list with good image quality, extra features including GPS and speed camera warnings, and a quite attractive design.

Video is 1440p, in a 180° angle.

Packed with features EXW QHYHU Ä&#x2020;GGO\ DQG with Google and Siri support, this is a really good mobile companion too. The price includes lifetime updates via Wi-Fi for most features.

GARMIN DRIVELUXE 51 LMT-D

This Dutch hipster brand has taken the S2, which was excellent, and made it better. If you can Ä&#x2020;QG RQH LWèV XVXDOO\ discounted. How could we not make it our best electric bike?

$5,499, gocycle.com

THINKWARE Q800 PRO

$282, tomtom.com

9 6 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

$tbc, vanmoof.com

$tbc, gtech.co.uk This neat little camera mounts behind your rearYLHZ PLUURU EXW Ä&#x2020;WV in GPS, Wi-Fi, night mode, lane departure warning, collision warning, and more â&#x20AC;&#x201C; SOXVbFOHDU 1080p video.

Cheaper and simpler than the bikes above, and ideal for beginners or those on a budget. There are more powerful electric bikes, but Gtech has pulled off a surprise winner with this.

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LUXURIES Exclusive gifts to seriously spoil yourself

If your timekeeping is all at sea (and you have ample cash to splash), navigate your way towards this nautically themed luxury watch winder by Rapport London. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inspired by the devices used by old sea captains to keep their watches ticking as accurately as possible â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a must for navigational purposes, naturally. The handsome Captainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mono Watch Winder FRPHV LQ D KDQG Ä&#x2020;QLVKHG SROLVKHG PDKRJDQ\ FDELQHW ZLWK EUDVV FRUQHU SURWHFWLRQ GHWDLOV and a soft-feel beige velvet interior, all of which add to the luxe feel. A leather-covered holder HQVXUHV WKDW \RXU WLPHSLHFH VWD\V Ä&#x2020;UPO\ LQ SODFH ZKLOH LWèV EHLQJ ZRXQG SURYLGLQJ D VDIH haven for your watch when it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t on your wrist. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even a lock and foldaway handles for when you want to take the watch winder on holiday or use it on a business trip. $1,500, rapportlondon.com

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W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 T3 97

H A S S E L B L A D 907 X SPEC I A L EDITION (ON THE MO ON SINC E 1969) 2QH RI WKH ELJJHVW EHQHÄ&#x2020;WV RI RSWLQJ IRU D PLUURUOHVV FDPHUD LV JHWWLQJ DOO RI WKH TXDOLW\ RI DQ 6/5 LQ D PXFK PRUH FRPSDFW IRUP IDFWRU &HOHEUDWLQJ WKH WK DQQLYHUVDU\ RI KXPDQLW\èV Ä&#x2020;UVW SKRWRV IURP WKH VXUIDFH RI WKH 0RRQ DQG WKH +DVVHOEODG FDPHUD XVHG WR WDNH WKHP WKH ; 6SHFLDO (GLWLRQ WDNHV WKLV WR LWV ORJLFDO FRQFOXVLRQ EHFRPLQJ WKH FRPSDQ\èV VPDOOHVW PHGLXP IRUPDW FDPHUD ERG\ HYHU 1RW RQO\ GRHV LW KDYH D PDJQLÄ&#x2020;FHQW 03 &026 PHGLXP IRUPDW VHQVRU DQG D YDVW VWRS G\QDPLF UDQJH LW FDQ DOVR FDSWXUH ELW 5$: LPDJHV DQG IXOO UHVROXWLRQ -3(*V $GGLWLRQDOO\ LW KDV D WRXFK DQG WLOW ISV UHDU GLVSOD\ WKDW RIIHUV D VLON\ OLYH YLHZ RI \RXU VXEMHFW )LQDOO\ JLYHQ LW ZHLJKV LQ DW MXVW J XVLQJ LW ZLOO IHHO OLNH \RXèUH VQDSSLQJ DZD\ XQGHU 0RRQ JUDYLW\ US$7,499, hasselblad.com

9 8 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0

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