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WATERPROOF JACKETS TO TAME WINTER

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GAMECHANGER The tech that’s so cutting edge, \RXèUH ULVNLQJ \RXU ĆQJHUV just turning this page

STEADY ON To keep the Bubble stable (and to also stop you throwing up), Fly-By-Wire tech constantly measures the position of the boat. his information is sent to the flaps on the foils, to expertly balance the vessel

S E A BU B B L E S B U B B L E TA X I With around four billion cars expected to be on the road by 2050, congestion and pollution are only going to get worse. A group of aeronautical engineers in France don’t like the sound of this, so they have come up with a very clever solution to the problem. Say bonjour, then, to the Bubble Taxi, a revolutionary water-based car that runs on a 2x10-watt battery that’s recharged by the sun, wind and water while the vessel is docked. The Bubble also uses the same hydrofoil technology found in the speed record-smashing Hydroptère trimaran to elevate itself above the waves once it reaches seven knots. The result is a zero-noise, zero-waves ride that promises to get you to work quicker, and with minimal motion sickness. You ZRQèW HYHQ KDYH WR PDNH VPDOO WDON ZLWK WKH GULYHU LQ WKLV DSS HQDEOHG ĆYH SDVVHQJHU FDU DV WKHUH LV QR GULYHU Ã¥ VLPSO\ KDLO it via the Bubble Taxi app and off you go. The company behind the innovation, Seabubbles, hopes to have the taxi operating ZLWKLQ FLWLHV ZLWKLQ WKH QH[W ĆYH \HDUV 7DON DERXW HOHYDWLQJ \RXU GDLO\ FRPPXWH £tbc, seabubbles.fr

N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 3

Meet the team

Meet the team

MEET OUR ADVERTISING TEAM Get in touch to see what T3 can do for your brand! COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR ADAM GILSENAN adam.gilsenan@futurenet.com +44 (0)7432 609945

MATT BOLTON Editor Matt’s been expanding his screens this month, putting the bigger iPhone XS Max (p90) and Apple Watch Series 4 (p79) to the test. He can see everything now. Yes, even that. Watch it, you.

CLAIRE DAVIES Senior Content Editor Claire got the scoop on how a cutting-edge speaker gets made (p49) with a trip to Devialet’s Paris HQ. “It’s a tough job,” she said, “But someone’s got to do it, as long as that person is me.”

JO GULLIVER Senior Art Editor Armed with the info in our complete guide to drones (p82), Jo wants one to take one to festivals for dramatic crowd shots. She says it’s not dangerous, since everyone’ll be too drunk to feel pain…

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR ANDREW TILBURY andrew.tilbury@futurenet.com, +44 (0)1225 687144 ADVERTISING DIRECTOR RICHARD HEMMINGS richard.hemmings@futurenet.com, +44 (0)1225 687615 ACCOUNT DIRECTOR TRACEY HENDLE tracey.hendle@futurenet.com, +44 (0)1225 687469

MICHELLE MCLAREN Art Editor After our round-up of smart LED strip lights (p60), Michelle wants to add mood lighting to her desk. It’s like a WUDIĆF OLJKW V\VWHP DSSURDFK if green, avoid if red, bring a WHD LI EOXH (IĆFLHQW

KIMBERLEY BALLARD Production Editor 7UDYHO DĆFLRQDGR .LPEHUOH\ is a fan of our big-zoom compact cameras (p96). They mean she can capture lovely architecture shots without having to leave places that serve coffee and pastries.

ANDREW WESTBROOK Operations Editor Andy was delighted to try our powerful 2-in-1 laptops (p64). He can get his work done and watch a movie while washing up (the only times he watch uninterrupted) on a nice big screen.

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PAUL DOUGLAS Global Editor-in-Chief, T3.com Paul’s always said his TV sound didn’t come in enough dimensions, so our 4K Dolby Atmos gear guide (p34) will truly immerse him in the Strictly atmosphere.

DUNCAN BELL Lifestyle Editor, T3.com As a cycling commuter, our round-up of high-tech waterproof jackets (p100) has come at the perfect time for Duncan. His main issue is that a jacket only really solves half the problem.

SPENCER HART Product & Style Editor, T3.com Having tried previous Samsung watches, Spencer was excited to test the new Galaxy Watch (p81). The best bit? It’s kept the rotating bezel. No, it’s seriously great.

ROB JONES Tech & Gaming Editor, T3.com Rob took a look at the Sony XZ3 phone (p98) for us. He’s been taking 4K HDR video of everything and marvelling at how “life-like” things are that are right in front of him…

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Welcome

Editor’s letter The nights are getting dark, and the days are getting rainy, so it’s time to hide indoors and work your way WKURXJK KDOI RI 1HWćL[ 2I FRXUVH WKLV SUHVHQWV \RX ZLWK DQ H[FHOOHQW H[FXVH WR XSJUDGH \RXU OLYLQJ URRP VHWXS to make the most of the latest and great AV tech. 1RZ WKDW . LV ĆUPO\ HQWUHQFKHG WKH QH[W ELJ XSJUDGH that makes a genuine difference to your viewing experience is Dolby Atmos. If you get a setup that adds height as well as surround sound, movies really do become a cinematic event, even when you’re at home on your tatty old couch. Our feature on p34 is designed to make it easy for you to choose the home cinema upgrades that best suit you. Elsewhere, I think smartwatches are going to be a hugely popular present this Christmas. The Apple Watch Series 4 made a big splash with its new health features, and even if others don’t have identical tools, a lot of people are coming round to the advantage of heart tracking and health monitoring. We’ve put six of the latest-generation watches to the test (p75), all which have their own advantages. This issue, we were also delighted to go behind the scenes to see how Devialet created its luxury new speaker (p49). The mix of tech know-how and craftsmanship in this kind of thing fascinates me, and I hope you enjoy it too!

Matt Bolton, Editor matthew.bolton@futurenet.com Tweet me @matthewbbolton

T3’S MISSION Our mission is to bring you the clearest recommendations ZHbFDQ Ã¥ DQG WKDW PHDQV D JUHDW GHDO RI KDUG ZRUN KDSSHQV before a product even reaches our pages! Because we only feature products the T3 team would KDSSLO\ XVH RXUVHOYHV ZH HQG XS GLVFDUGLQJ D VLJQLĆFDQW QXPEHU RI RSWLRQV LQ HDFK FDWHJRU\ EHIRUH VHWWOLQJ RQ D ĆQDO shortlist to review. We select only the best of the best for RXUb7HVWHG VHFWLRQ WKHbJHDU ZH NQRZ \RXèOO ZDQW WR VHULRXVO\ consider purchasing. And that should mean an end to you

having to undertake hours of painstaking research and product comparisons. You won’t see any duff products, but you will come away with clarity on which one is the best in its category or for DbVSHFLĆF WDVN RXU DZDUGV EDGJHV VHH EHORZ HQVXUH WKDW everything T3 recommends is clearly highlighted on the page. It goes without saying that every product in our review VHFWLRQ DVbEHHQ WKRURXJKO\ WHVWHG E\ RXU WHDP RI H[SHUWV HQDEOLQJ \RXbWR EX\ ZLWK WRWDO FRQĆGHQFH

OUR AWARDS PLATINUM AWARD

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Only the best products – WKRVH WKDW VFRUH ĆYH VWDUV – receive our coveted Platinum Award

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Contents

Contents

HORIZON 010

034

TOP 10 Get some early Christmas wishlist inspiration with this month’s hottest gadget drops, including Google Pixel 3, DbZHH UHWUR VW\OH 3OD\6WDWLRQ DQG 'XDOLWèV tasty new Hotel Chocolat maker

ULTIMATE 4K & DOLBY ATMOS SETUPS Creating your own home cinema has never been easier RU PRUH DIIRUGDEOH Here’s how to do it, regardless of your chosen room size and budget…

020

STYLE New winter boots are here! Team them ZLWK 6DLQW /DXUHQWèV GDSSHU +DLU\ 0LOLWDU\ Coat and your favourite scarf

022

AUTO This month we take an early look at Audi’s LQFUHGLEOH QHZ HOHFWULF 689 DQG ĆQG RXW why it laughs in the face of wing mirrors

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FITNESS & OUTDOORS ([SORUH PRXQWDLQV ZLQWHU ORQJ ZLWK RXU expert’s guide to cold weather hiking gear

025

TRAVEL Escape to the country this month with QRW RQH EXW WKUHH VXSHU FRV\ FRWWDJH UHWUHDWV ULJKW KHUH LQ WKH 8.

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PURE SOUND

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STATE OF THE ART

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COMPLETE GUIDE TO DRONES

Make work more HQMR\DEOH ZLWK WKH EHVW WZR LQ RQH laptops that are actually affordable

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LIVING %HDW WKH DXWXPQ ZLQWHU FKLOO E\ FRRNLQJ your favourite cold weather dishes using some of our favourite kitchen gadgets

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GADGET GURU T3’s tech expert answers all of your JDGJHW IRFXVHG TXHVWLRQV

031

TALKING TECH 'XQFDQ %HOOèV GLVFRYHUHG VRPHWKLQJ VR revolutionary, even his jaded journalist self couldn’t help feeling excited

6 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

Fancy a smartwatch powered by your own body heat? Or a watch that could save your life? Extend your wrist this way…

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Contents

WIN! A WATTBIKE ATOM INDOOR BIKE TRAINER his T3 Award winner is “the smartest indoor bike on the planet�, and this issue we have one to give away!

HOME 056

THE SETUP We show you how to use the Bosch 6HFXULW\ 6WDUWHU .LW WR PDNH \RXU smart home even more secure

059

UPGRADE You’ll be spending more time indoors throughout winter, so ensure the air \RXèUH EUHDWKLQJ LV KHDOWK\ 7KH Netatmo Velux Active can help

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APPLE iPHONE XS MAX 6R $SSOH KDV MRLQHG WKH JLDQW VFUHHQ EULJDGH %XW LV WKLV ODUJHU SKRQH UHDOO\ worth shouting home about?

WORTH ÂŁ1,599

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PHILIPS OLED 803 ,WèV DQRWKHU $PELOLJKW LQIXVHG VWXQQHU featuring a slew of serious tech for a very reasonable price

096

PANASONIC TZ200 VS SONY RX100 VI 2XU OHQV LV ELJJHU WKDQ \RXUV <HV ZH had fun pitting two zoom compacts against one other, and reckon you’ll have just as much fun using ’em

BEST OF THE BEST 105

YOUR IN-DEPTH BUYER’S GUIDE :DQW WR NQRZ ZKDW WKH EHVW WRS HQG WHOO\ LV" 2U WKH EHVW ĆUVW WLPH '6/5" Or the best wireless headphones? Our JLDQW EX\HUèV JXLGH KHOSV \RX ĆQG WKH world’s best and only the best!

060

HOME TEST Add pools of ambient lighting to accent areas in your home with the EHVW VPDUW /(' VWULS OLJKWLQJ NLWV

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100

062

WEATHERPROOF JACKETS

Our resident experts dish out the DQVZHUV WR \RXU VPDUW KRPH TXHULHV

Protect yourself from winter rain and ZLQG ZLWK VL[ RI WKH PRVW KLJK WHFK weatherproof jackets around

SMART HOME SURGERY

8 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

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046

Horizon

The best new tech heading your way Edited by Claire Davies

GOOGLE PIXEL 3 From £739, store.google.com

The Google Pixel 2 wowed us with its camera prowess last year (it’s arguably still the best on the market a year later), so we relished the chance to get our hands on the Pixel 3 ahead of its launch. We wanted to see whether the rest of the phone matched it, and if Google had worked even more magic with the camera. The Pixel 3 retains the two-tone, matte, softly curved design that was evident on last year’s range. With its aluminium frame, it feels smooth and premium in the hand. The 5.5-inch model that we tried eschews fashion by not including a notch in the screen, but the bigger 6.3-inch Pixel 3 XL does have a chunky section cut out of the display. Both are OLED displays, as you’d expect for a flagship phone like this. In the hand, the Pixel 3’s screen is crisp and bright, and comes with a larger screen-to-body ratio than the Pixel 2. Despite only being a tad bigger than last year’s model, it feels far more spacious to the eye. Hardware-wise, things are modestly flagship, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 CPU paired with 4GB of RAM. Storage space is 64GB or 128GB, while the Pixel 3’s battery is 2,915mAh, which maybe seems a tad low, but it depends on how Google uses it. The Pixel 3’s camera system consists of a 12.2MP dual-pixel array with autofocus and phase detection. You also get optical and electronic image stabilisation. The rear camera features shutter-lag-free HDR+, which leads to incredibly bright, well-lit photos. Shooting in low light is, therefore, an even more pleasant experience, and we were

10 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

impressed with its shooting capabilities from the get-go. This will be the system to beat. The Top Shot feature is particularly noteworthy. Thanks to the camera’s built-in AI, the Pixel 3 can recognise poor photos and suggest alternate takes of each shot. This helps to heavily minimise the number of duff photos taken. Timing is everything with photography, and Top Shot makes it easier to get that right. LOUD AND CLEAR In terms of audio, while the headphone jack remains absent, the Pixel 3’s speakers are 40 per cent louder than last year’s range. The Pixel 3 comes running Android 9.0 Pie out of the box, and is fully integrated with Google Assistant. After trying the Pixel 3, we couldn’t help but come away with the feeling that this might be the ideal phone for users who don’t buy into the ‘bigger screen is better’ movement that’s currently dominant in the industry. We’ve got no problem with big smartphones, but there’s no doubt that the Pixel 3’s screen seems perfectly in sync with its overall design language and hardware, offering an Apple-like understanding that the whole experience trumps spec peaks – especially when the experience is this premium.

TECH-O-METER

Top 10

STAND AND DELIVER Google has added Qi wireless charging capability for the first time. It’s launched the Pixel Stand, which wirelessly juices your phone, but also changes the interface so that it becomes a Google Assistant voice home hub when it’s docked

MORE IS MORE The screen is now 5.5 inches, up from five inches last year. It doesn’t feel different in the hand, but that little smidge of extra space does balance well between the nice visibility of bigger phones and the onehanded usability of smaller ones

N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 11

Horizon Top 10

MOVIE MAGIC The Pixel 3’s camera is capable of 4K recording at 30fps, 1080p recording at 30fps, 60fps and 120fps, and 720p at 30fps, 60fps and 240fps. But it’s a shame not to have 960fps or HDR – the light capabilities are ideal for them

DOUBLE VISION There are twin front cameras, both 8.1MP, and one of which has a variable aperture. The dual-cam system means selfie portrait mode shots will be better than ever

GOING XL The bigger phone is effectively identical to the regular Pixel 3, just with a 6.3-inch screen and beefier battery. And yes, there’s a notch. There’s an art to good notch design, and we’re not sure this counts – it looks much chunkier than the gentle cut-out of the iPhone XS

“Quality build, speed and amazing cameras – this looks like the real deal” Matt Bolton, Editor

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Horizon Top 10

ACER SWIFT 7 £TBC, acer.com The former Manchester United captain Roy Keane once said that he never basked in the glory of a famous victory, preferring to focus on the next match right away. Well, Acer has followed suit; a matter of months after wowing tech fans with the Swift 7 – claimed to be the world’s thinnest laptop – the firm’s announced details of a new iteration, due in 2019. This time around, the onus is on overall size reduction – the next-gen Swift 7 is 15 per cent smaller and 0.3kg lighter. Acer has rather brilliantly achieved this not by compromising on power (it packs an impressive 8th-gen Intel Core i7 processor), but by scything the screen bezels down to a teeny 4.27mm, meaning you still get a lovely 14 inches of display. We think that’s what you call the best of both worlds. T3 SAYS: Smaller and lighter with the same spec as before. What’s not to like?

TECH-O-METER

PLAYSTATION CLASSIC £89.99, playstation.com Whether it’s cinemas revisiting iconic movies or ’80s boy bands coming out of retirement for one final tour, nostalgia is big business. And 24 years after the first PlayStation hit the shelves, Sony is targeting sentimental gamers with a Mini-Me recreation of its trailblazing 32-bit fun box. 45 per cent smaller than its ’90s ancestor, the PlayStation Classic does away with the original console’s disc loader and offers 20 preloaded retro titles, including Tekken 3, Final Fantasy VII and Jumping Flash. Other upgrades include a HDMI connection, a virtual memory card (so you can save your games without having to faff around with physical cartridges), and two controllers. The Classic is due out on 3 December, just in time for some throwback thrills on Christmas Day. T3 SAYS: This diddy version of the ’90s console is a real blast/shoot/punch from the past.

TECH-O-METER

14 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

Horizon Top 10

OCULUS QUEST £TBC, oculus.com Mark Zuckerberg, owner of Oculus’ parent company Facebook, has made no secret of his ambition to bring virtual reality to the masses. And, after a slow-ish start, that vision is picking up momentum. This year’s Oculus Go showed that it was possible to enjoy decent-quality VR gaming without a PC or smartphone, and the Oculus Quest – due in spring 2019 – should offer more flexibility. As well as trumping the Go’s storage capabilities, providing 64GB, it’ll offer six degrees of freedom (meaning you can walk around your physical environment). But unlike the Rift, it won’t need external sensors to facilitate this, as four built-in sensors will ensure that you don’t bump into anything. With 50 app games expected to accompany the launch, Oculus has next summer virtually sewn up. T3 SAYS: Oculus’ new headset gives you more freedom than ever to explore new worlds.

TECH-O-METER

HOTEL CHOCOLAT VELVETISER £89.99, hotelchocolat.com/uk How often have you tried to recreate that delicious hot chocolate they sell at your local coffee house, only for it to end up tasting like someone dipped a Curly Wurly in a mug of hot water for a few seconds? It’s time to say goodbye to those lame endeavours, as highstreet confectioner Hotel Chocolat has teamed up with Dualit to launch the Velvetiser, a natty device that makes ‘barista-grade’ hot chocolate at the touch of a button. Available in three different colours, including limited edition copper, the Velvetiser gobbles up single-serve pouches containing pure grated chocolate (in a range of five flavours). Three minutes later it spews out a sumptuously smooth beverage Willy Wonka would approve of. T3 SAYS: With Dualit’s tech chops behind it, this gadget is one for the Christmas wish list.

TECH-O-METER

16 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

Horizon

MARSHALL MINOR II BLUETOOTH £119.99, marshallheadphones.com In the same way that a rock band might take an age to produce their second album (we’re looking at you, Stone Roses), Marshall has left it seven years to follow up its original pair of Minor in-ears. What took so long? Aesthetically, these aren’t too dissimilar to their predecessors. Scratch beneath the surface, though, and you will start to see why the amp manufacturer is making such a major deal about the new Minors. Bluetooth Qualcomm aptX tech offers wireless connectivity; an innovative ear-fit system should ensure the buds stay in your ears; and custom-tuned 14.2mm dynamic drivers provide a broad sound spectrum. Marshall is also promising 12 hours of listening from a single charge. That should be enough to get you through the first two Yes albums. T3 SAYS: Whether you’re a runner or a rocker, these earbuds will keep you in plenty of tunes.

TECH-O-METER

D-LINK PRO WIRE-FREE CAMERA KIT £441.99, eu.dlink.com With Christmas on its way, your home will no doubt be filling up with valuables that need watching over. Thankfully, D-Link has just launched a new home security system to keep watch over your homestead. As the name suggests, the D-Link Pro Wire-Free Camera Kit is a wireless setup containing a hub and two weatherproof 1080p security cams that can be placed pretty much anywhere, thanks to the included magnetic mounts. D-Link promises ‘months of operation on a single charge’, which is impressive when you consider the many other features on offer: 4x zoom, advance motion detection and infrared night visibility. Oh, and Alexa and Google compatibility, plus two-way audio and smartphone alerts. T3 SAYS: Christmas is a time for peace of mind, and D-Link’s camera looks all set to provide it.

TECH-O-METER

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Top 10

AMAZON ECHO SUB £119.99, amazon.co.uk One of the biggest draws with Amazon’s Echo Plus and Echo Dot upgrades is that both speakers are now louder and bassier than they were before – but let’s face it, they still wouldn’t cut the mustard at a packed house party. To help you get a bit more boom, Amazon has launched its first subwoofer. Pairing wirelessly with either the Echo or the Echo Plus – or with two for a stereo setup – this footstool-sized speaker packs a 100-watt class D amplifier and a six-inch downward-firing woofer to fill whichever room its in with immersive, 360-degree sound,

and the kind of deep, throbbing bass that makes you think you’re going to wet yourself (or worse). Ask Alexa for a bit of funky house or some classic hip-hop, Snoop Dogg style, and take your Echo listening to the next level. T3 SAYS: The look is drab, but the option to boost the sound of an Echo speaker will be welcomed by many.

TECH-O-METER COOLNESS INNOVATION FEATURES

AMAZON ECHO PLUS (2ND GEN) £139.99, amazon.co.uk Ask Alexa who the wealthiest person in the world is right now, and she’ll tell you it’s Jeff Bezos. Amazon’s head honcho is worth $150 billion – and he’s about to become even richer thanks to all these new launches. One of the most notable sees Amazon’s premium Alexa speaker, the Echo Plus, get a refurb. Looks-wise, it’s more like the secondgen Echo, and now looks like that speaker’s chubbier cousin, while beefier bass and clearer acoustics should provide a more satisfactory listening experience. Also new in this edition is a built-in temperature

sensor, which means you can ask Alexa how warm or cold your room is, and even program it to automatically adjust your home’s heating system when those degrees dip beneath a certain level. T3 SAYS: There’s some promising new features here, so we hope they work as well as they claim to.

TECH-O-METER COOLNESS INNOVATION FEATURES

AMAZON ECHO DOT (2ND GEN) £49.99, amazon.co.uk The Echo Dot has been neck-andneck with Google’s Home Mini as the world’s best-selling smart speaker, so it’s no surprise that Amazon has given its baby Alexa device a refresh in time for the lucrative festive shopping season. Like the Echo Plus upgrade, the all-new Dot gets more rounded contours and a stylish fabric cover. To our eyes, it now looks more like a teeny pouffé than a speaker, but at least it’ll blend in with your home furnishings. It also joins the Echo Plus in getting more volume and enhanced sound quality which, considering the price tag won’t be

changing, makes it a bit of a steal. Whether or not this latest Echo Dot is better than its identically priced rival is irrelevant – it’s newer, and that should be enough to put it at the top of your kids’ Christmas wish list. T3 SAYS: Now with more muscle and better clothes, the Echo Dot is an attractive stocking filler.

TECH-O-METER COOLNESS INNOVATION FEATURES

N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 19

Horizon

GIVE IT THE BOOT Step out in style this autumn with a great pair of transitional boots, pairing them with everything from jeans to suits and even smart sweats

OFFICINE CREATIVE BROGUE BOOTS Be ready for inclement weather with these hard-wearing brogues from Officine Creative. They lend themselves beautifully to a smart-casual style. £475, mrporter.com GRENSON CHELSEA BOOTS The chelsea is an all-rounder, yet Grenson has managed to extend the silhouette even further here. The subtle styling helps them bed in with a variety of outfits. £210, matchesfashion.co PAUL SMITH JARMAN BOOTS

For shoes that match just as well with a suit as with jeans, try these ultra-supple calf leather boots from Paul Smith. £350, farfetch.com BELSTAFF ALPERTON 2.0 BOOTS

These waxed leather boots are rugged enough for weekends in the countryside, and play nicely with neutrals and earthier tones. £425, belstaff.co.uk RED WING CLASSIC MOC TOE BOOTS Boots aren’t always comfortable, yet the round toes on these Mocs will keep you comfy all winter. Best worn with more casual outfits. £250, harveynichols.com

WHICH WATCH

THE HOTTEST TIMEPIECES RIGHT NOW BRAUN AW 10 EVO

CALVIN KLEIN SWING

BAUME HRS LIMITED EDITION

The iconic AW 10, Braun’s first wristwatch designed by Dietrich Lubs and Dieter Rams, has been updated for more modern tastes while still sticking to the original blueprint.

The fashion brand’s first step into ‘proper’ watchmaking, this stylish timepiece features a stunning automatic movement, showen off with a skeleton dial and transparent caseback.

Baume and legendary skateboarder Erik Ellington have teamed up to make this watch from used skateboard decks. Each timepiece from the collection will be utterly unique.

£250, braun-clocks.com

£549, calvinklein.co.uk

2 0 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

£TBC, baumewatches.com

Style

DRESS LIKE

TOM HARDY Steal the Venom star’s perfectly laidback, casual style with this easy-wear selection THE JACKET Tom Hardy makes every film premiere look effortless, just as he does here in this simple yet hugely versatile bomber. Flex just as well in an all-black J.Lindeberg Thom Gravity Bomber (£200, asos.com). THE JEANS Denim is a true staple of Tom’s wardrobe, and he often bases outfits around it. Go for a similar look to the ones pictured here by choosing a pair of Slim Jeans from Tom Ford (£520, mrporter.com). THE SHOES Hardy wears these essential beige and white Nikes with aplomb, showing that the right sneakers can elevate your look too. Step out just like Hardy with suede Air Max 1s (£126, farfetch.com).

MONEY NO OBJECT Saint Laurent Hairy Military Coat While military style never goes out of fashion, this cozy coat from Saint Laurent has the benefit of being stylish yet practical enough to stay in heavy rotation. Double-breasted and detailed with gold metal buttons and a leather lapel, you can brave the coming winter by pairing it with jeans and boots (see opposite page) for a look that’s timeless, cosy and indulgent. $6,590 (£5,022), ysl.com

DRESS IT UP

BLACK TIE FOR THE MODERN MAN Personal stylist Daniel Johnson explains how to do formal party wear the right way As we head into this year’s party season, it’s important to be aware of the basics of evening wear and black tie in order to achieve the right look for formal events. In a nutshell, black tie is a strict dress code comprising a black two-piece suit. But how can you work with black tie’s nuanced etiquette, while still maintaining a cool, modern edge to your outfit that helps you feel comfortable and more yourself? To make this task easier, T3 reached out to renowned London-based personal stylist Daniel Johnson (daniel-johnson.com). He’s worked with brands including Saint Laurent, Moncler and Berluti, and has appeared on BBC2’s Millionaires Gift Guide and the BBC World News in a segment entitled, ‘Is the Suit Dead?’ “As with all the best food and music, simplicity is the key,” Daniel explains when asked how to approach black tie for the modern man. “You should prepare well in advance, and make sure you’ve taken your suit to the alterations tailor to have it fitted just right.” Among the various elements of a black tie outfit, Johnson’s recommendations include an “adjustable self-tie bow tie, polished patent leather shoes, along with a silver-cased watch with an alligator strap to match silver cufflinks.” But rather than allowing yourself to get caught up in all the pomp of these formal events, Johnson advises keeping it low-key from the start: “As black tie events are very rare these days, some men can be inclined to go all out and wear all the flash trimmings, big pocket squares, over-ruffled bow ties and so on,” he says. “Pare it back, keep it discreet.” N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 21

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STYLISH DRIVING ACCESSORIES

TOD’S GOMMINO DRIVING SHOES Comfortable as a slipper on the foot, these navy suede slip-ons look stylish and have a full black rubber sole, which provides extra grip when driving – and when you’re navigating icy winter pavements to get to your car. £320, store.tods.co

RIPARO MOTORSPORTS SOFT LEATHER DRIVING GLOVES hanks to a mesh-perforated leather design, these are suitable for wear during cold and warm weather. hey’re available in four different colours and multiple sizes, and feature a snap button at the wrist for a secure fit. £37.99, amazon.co.uk

MAUI JIM WIKI WIKI SUNGLASSES POLARISED Due to the warm bronze lens colour, these are ideal for everyday driving and changing light conditions. he lenses are polarised, too, so you won’t have to worry about the glare from light reflecting off surfaces or cars. £255, sunglasshut.com/uk 2 2 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

ELECTRIC DREAMS

MEET THE SUV OF THE FUTURE he German marque’s first ultra-slick, all-electric vehicle is so forward looking, it doesn’t even need wing mirrors You can almost hear Doc Brown telling Marty McFly: “Wing mirrors? Where we’re going, we don’t need wing mirrors!” Or something. But the car you’re looking at isn’t from the future. No, this is the Audi e-tron (from £70,805; audi.co.uk) and it goes on sale early next year. In place of good old-fashioned wing mirrors, the German marque’s first standalone all-electric model, a five-seater SUV, boasts a pair of cameras that transmit a live video feed to interactive OLED displays inside the doors. With various pre-programmed settings (motorway, turning, parking), a zoom feature and the ability to aim the cameras in totally different directions, you can enjoy

unprecedented ease of manoeuvrability. Replacing mirrors with cameras also reduces the e-tron’s drag rating, contributing to a Tesla-rivalling 248-mile range per charge. Performance is equally impressive, with an electric drive unit on each axle helping the e-tron to achieve 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds, as well as a top speed of 127mph. The gadgetry continues in the cockpit, with two MMI touchscreens replacing traditional dials for some pizzazz, and an on-board SIM providing updates from the web and intelligent route planning. Audi has promised 12 electric vehicles by 2025. If their first stab is anything to go by, the e-car future looks very bright indeed.

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TRUE WIRELESS EARBUDS

BOSE SOUNDSPORT FREE EARBUDS his Bose bud-tip nozzle has been engineered to spread contact evenly around the inside of your ear, while the fin naturally fits your lug’s upper ridge. hey simply don’t fall out, whatever you’re doing, are super-comfortable and sound great too. £179.95, bose.co.uk

SONY WF-1000X Whether you’re travelling, talking or walking, Adaptive Sound Control detects your activity and adjusts the ambient sound settings. hese buds auto power on; noise cancellation is benchmark quality; and preferences can be customised in-app. £180, sony.co.uk

COLD WEATHER HIKING GEAR Outdoors journalist Damian Hall selects the best kit to combat all weathers on your winter walks

GARMIN FENIX 5 PLUS Rugged yet premium, the new Fenix 5 Plus has best-in-test mapping and GPS tracking, wrist HR, smart connectivity, plus music playback. £699.99, garmin.com

BLACK DIAMOND DISTANCE CARBON Z TREKKING POLES Impressively light, these poles fold away neatly and are strong and durable too. £130, eu.blackdiamond equipment.com

INOV-8 PROTEC-SHELL WATERPROOF JACKET Feel bulletproof in this threelayer, 20,000 HH waterproof. Streamline tech on the cuffs keeps water off your hands. £270, inov-8.com

SALOMON OUTLINE MID GTX Deep lugs, a protective toe cap and full Gore-Tex. Trainer-like comfort ready for both hillside and urban adventures. £130, salomon.com

PETZL NAO+ The NAO+ boasts 750 lumens, while reactive lighting adjusts brightness according to ambient conditions. £154.99, petzl.com

ALL TOOLED UP It’s knives at the ready as two multi-tools face off LEATHERMAN MUT EOD £239.95, leatherman.co.uk

JABRA ELITE 65T As well as excellent wind noise perception, the Jabra Sound+ app enables full sound customisation: voice assistant, music profiles, how much ambient noise you want to hear, and battery life, plus predefined settings for different situations. £149.99, jabra.co.uk 24 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

From a beefy field blade, fuse-wire and cutters, to cap crimpers, a carbon scraper, bolt override tool and a replaceable C4 punch, the Leatherman MUT EOD is versatile and super-rugged. Stainless steel, bronze and black oxide combine to provide 15 tools in an intriguing design, topped with a 25-year warranty.

VICTORINOX SWISSTOOL X PLUS RATCHET £210, victorinox.com

From numerous screwdrivers to a wire cutter, and a woodsaw to a bottle opener, a metal file to a chisel, the SwissTool X Plus Ratchet’s super-compact design houses 29 tools and a whopping 38 functions. Elegant but practical, the multi-tool comes with a tasteful leather pouch and a (priceless) lifetime warranty.

HEAD-TO -HEAD WINNER

Travel

LANGUAGE TRANSLATORS

ILI TRANSLATION Ever been lost for words when dining or shopping abroad? Speak into the handheld ili and it will instantly translate what you’ve said, and without the need for Wi-Fi. At the moment it handles English to Spanish, Japanese or Mandarin. £151, iamili.com/us

WAVERLY LABS PILOT

HOUSE WARMING

CURL UP AND GET COSY Regroup now ahead of the hectic festive season with a country cottage retreat, hand-picked by travel writer Simon Horsford What better way to put aside memories of a blazing hot summer and get a boost before the Christmas onslaught than with a couple of nights in an idyllic country bolt-hole? Here are three very different places where you can hunker down by a log fire after a long, rambling walk through the countryside and a couple of pints in the local pub… Cornwall is our first choice, and the best time to visit is out of season when it’s a little quieter. For a real escape, either the cabin or the observatory at Halzephron House, near Gunwalloe, are perfect. Set in four acres and with glorious ocean views, these beautifully styled cottages are ideal for two people. There are three great beaches nearby and a

terrific pub, The Halzephron Inn (from £250 for three nights, halzephronhouse.co.uk). Walkers with a passion for the Lake District should head to Bank End Cottage at Ennerdale. Set on a farm, this snug cottage sleeps four, has underfloor heating and bags of character – it dates back to the 17th century (from £275 for three nights, sallyscottages.co.uk). Finally, for the truly romantic, how about an old shepherd’s hut set in an orchard? The Scrumpy Shepherd near Woodbridge in Suffolk is exquisitely designed and fully equipped, and even has a fire pit outside for toasting marshmallows (from £254 for three nights, suffolkhideaways.co.uk).

Here’s a neat way to tune into another language: when you to listen to someone talking in a language you don’t understand, the Pilot can translate listen in and translate. You can also share a secondary earbud with that person so that you can converse. 15 languages are currently supported. £151, waverlylabs.com

BRAGI THE DASH PRO When used in tandem with the iTranslate app, the customised Bragi he Dash Pro enables you to converse in up to 40 languages. You can also use it to listen to music and to track your activities. £114, bragi.com N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 2 5

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SWEET DREAMS Sleep tech to beat the winter blues

LUMIE BODYCLOCK SHINE 300 Soaking up the sun’s rays helps boost your mood and productivity. With Lumie’s sunshine mimicker you can create an artificial sunrise or sunset and adjust the length, plus choose between 14 sleep and wake sounds. £125, lumie.com

BEDJET 3 Not content with launching a climate-control system that lets you programme your optimal temperature for each hour of the night, the bods behind the BedJet have now added Alexa voice control, an app and a colour-screen remote control. from $399 (£307), bedjet.com

HOT STUFF

KITCHEN TECH YOU’LL WARM TO Beat the autumn chill with some tasty and toasty tucker, all prepped and cooked by the finest kitchen tech available this season With temperatures falling, the best way to warm your cockles this autumn is with some hearty nosh. Happily, the latest kitchen gadgets enable you to easily “do a Delia”, even if you have the culinary talents of a roasted turnip. Worktop ovens usually remind us of crummy student digs and burnt Pop-Tarts. That’s not the case with the June Oven (pictured, $599/£455, juneoven.com), though, which boasts more than 100 step-by-step programmes, smartphone connectivity – so you can set your dinner cooking on your way home – and automatic software updates for easy food prepping.

If you get into a stew rustling up hotpots, try the Tefal Cook4Me+ Connect (£319.99, tefal.co.uk). Bluetooth smarts enable you to beam recipes from the accompanying app, and it’ll guide you through the preparation in real time. It’s also super-fast, so expect tasty curries and rich puddings in minutes. Finally, spend some dough on the Lakeland White Compact 1lb Daily Loaf Bread Maker (£64.99, lakeland.co.uk) and you can choose from 11 mouthwatering presets, with everything from crusty French to wholemeal. It even features a Delay Start feature, so you can have that freshly baked bread ready for when you wake up.

WINE AND DINE

CORAVIN MODEL ELEVEN Watch your grape-loving pals go green with envy when you wheel out this connected wine-preservation gadget… LECTROFAN EVO Whoever coined the phrase ‘sleeping soundly’ must’ve had the EVO in mind. his little device emits a range of scientifically developed sounds – from white, pink and brown noise to crashing ocean waves – to help you doze off naturally. $60 (£45), soundofsleep.com 26 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

We’re not keen on needles, but in recent years we’ve made an exception for Coravin’s clever contraptions that use a slender spike to extract wine from a bottle without having to uncork it. The company’s latest edition, the Model Eleven (£899, coravin.com), takes things up another level. The luxury wine device features an LED display that switches to green when the wine is ready to be poured. It also connects via Bluetooth to the Coravin Moments app, where you can discover which movies, food and music would go best with your chosen bottle.

Living

DOWN TO THE WOODS Allow leafy glens and wild fauna and flora to be your interior guides this season, mixing dramatic tones with delicate new neutrals LAND OF MILK AND HONEY WALLPAPER WALL MURAL Statement walls are a fast and fun way to transform a living space, and this delicate grey mural is a doddle to place. It brings an enchanting quality to AW18’s woodland interior theme, and provides the ideal backdrop for dramatic pieces of furniture. From £150, woodchipandmagnolia.co.uk RABBIT EARS LAMP

Hare lamps are everywhere this season, and this playful take is one of our favourites. From tip to base the lamp measures 77cm tall (W36xD36), making it the perfect showstopper for your console table. £165, alexanderandpearl.co.uk SONG THRUSH CUSHION

This handmade cushion features an original Particle Press painting depicting a range of birds native to Cornwall. A feather-filled pad is included, and the cushion comes in two sizes: 30x30 or 45x45cm. £45, particlepress.com VELJEKSET MUG Designed as part of the Finland Centenary celebrations, the earthy Veljekset Mug is the ideal vessel from which to sip your daily brew. We love those hand-drawn depictions of the common flora and fauna found in Finland. £14.50, abodeliving.co.uk

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GADGET GURU

T3’s resident Duracell bunny keeps going and going and going

STEPHEN MUIR, TRING

What’s the best smartwatch for battery life? Allow GaGu the indulgence of laying a textual wreath for the now-deceased Pebble, a properly smart watch line which typically lasted a good few days before sputtering out. It may not have had the flash of the Apple Watch or the skills of Android Wear slash Samsung Gear, but darn: those things had staying power. Although new owner (and killer) Fitbit is yet to properly exploit the E-ink tech and customisable interface that gave the Pebble its popularity, something along those lines could be a good option if you’re averse to charging regularly. The dinky Fitbit Alta HR (£120), for

ILLUSTRATIONS: STEPHEN KELLY

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example, can muster around seven days on a charge, but its smartness is limited to basic notification alerts and the standard suite of fitnessmonitoring metrics. So let us look at the definitelysmart end of the line. Guru is yet to wrap Series 4 of the Apple Watch (from £399) around his hairy sausage wrists, but our review

ABOVE It’s just our luck to run out of battery when we need it the most

Guru has yet to wrap the Series 4 Apple Watch around his hairy sausage wrists, but our review says it beats its stated 18-hours

(p79) says it beats its stated battery life by a long way – it can go three or four days easily. This is done mostly through cheating, switching the screen off unless you very deliberately turn your wrist, but GaGu loves a dodge so he offers a pass on this one. Android-wise, GaGu can’t stop eyeing up the TicWatch Pro (around £230, p80), which uses two displays. There’s an OLED for all the fancy business, and a more standard LCD on top which does the job of telling time, giving it a good 48 hours of staying power – and using ‘essential mode’ could stretch that up to 30 days.

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: INBOX@T3.COM OR FACEBOOK.COM/T3MAG 2 8 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

Gadget guru

TARA GODWIN, ISLE OF SHEPPEY

I’m pregnant. Can tech help me name my baby? One of Big Daddy GaGu’s more unusual requests, this one, but he’s happy to help. There are many sites online with big lists of baby names, which Guru is sure you’re already acquainted with. They generally consist of a difficult-to-navigate catalogue, with the perceived or historical meaning of each name attached; research is recommended before you make a decision. If it’s a boy, for instance, you can avoid calling him Gideon (‘Stump for a hand’) or Kennedy (derived from the Gaelic for ‘ugly head’). And if you’re having a girl, Guru would avoid the name Portia, given that it essentially means ‘pig’. Info from the Office of National Statistics (ons.gov.uk) will help clue you in on the most- and least-used names from the last year. Not that this should influence your decision, but if you don’t want your kid to be the fourth Olivia or Oliver in class, it might be best to look near the bottom of the list.

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Parents of prospective NFL players, or those looking for more originality, might want to generate something completely fresh. You could try name-generator.org.uk (which includes the hilarious question ‘Do you care if your baby can never fit his/her name on a form?’) although its suggestions are often rather conventional and useless. Using the tool at behindthename.com/random, on the other hand, offers up results based on heritage or other criteria – Guru selected ‘wrestler’, and will definitely be naming his next child ‘Rhinoquake Doubleslam’. If your problem is not so much originality as consensus, install the app Babyname (£free, but some features locked behind IAP) on yours and your partner’s phones, then go full Tinder on it. Swipe right on the names you like, and it’ll generate a list of your matches, hopefully before the little blighter makes its way outside.

ABOVE You want to name your baby, but just stay away from Twitter quizzes

GADGET GURU’S MAGIC BOX GaGu’s commentary on just about every crazy thing going on in the tech world around the time of writing follows: Alexaaddled Microwave, no, but maybe yes depending on if he can truly shout at a robot to excite the molecules of microwave pizzas; Oculus without a proper computer, yes, but that would depend on if it’s actually any good and Guru suspects it’ll be bad; new iPhones, hmm. GaGu isn’t tempted to spend over a thousand pounds upgrading his Apple pocket, but he wouldn’t moan if an iPhone XS Max landed there. Your favourite Gadget Uncle does love a puzzle, as any of you who’ve woken up in the morning to find your combination locks randomly opened will know. He’s particularly fond of the Rubik’s Cube, which is why the Bluetooth-toting GoCube ($69) got a chunk of his Kickstarter money.

It’ll track every tiny motion of its solves on a connected device, and prove to GaGu just why his poor brain can’t keep up with the soft spaghetti bundles inside the skulls of ‘the youth’. Kids, with their memes and their dabs and their flossing, will never know the true joy of the original PlayStation. Except they will, apparently, as Sony has dived head first into the dirty old bucket marked ‘Christmas Rarity’ and announced the PlayStation Classic. It’s like a dinky PlayStation (that doesn’t play discs) with USB controllers and everything. As long as it’s not as iffy as the Neo Geo Classic, GaGu will be reasonably happy for Ol’ Saint Nick to lob one at him on December 25th, if only so he can learn that nostalgia ain’t what it used to be, and that his Tekken 3 skills have fallen off somewhat.

MAX HARRISON, FORDINGBRIDGE

Can I go smart with my garden lights? Not content with colouring your rooms a gaudy shade of pink, both Philips and LIFX have set their sights on gussying up your outdoor space, with a host of ludicrous bulbs leaving their labs all the time, from path-friendly pedestals to bigger wall lights. So yes, you certainly can, and you can automate them in exactly the way you’d work with internal lighting. Those are cute – GaGu doesn’t mean to sneer, it’s just his default mode – but you can get slightly more smart if you’re thinking practically. The Ring Spotlight Battery (£120) is just one example: it’s a camera with motion detection, it’s a PIR-driven LED security light, it’s a burglar alarm, and it’s a two-way audio system if you’d prefer to spook intruders (or barbeque guests) with whispered ghost noises. Netatmo’s Presence (£209) outdoor camera is similar, with a nice big floodlight and great video capture quality.

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NEW MEDIA

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

THE GARDENS BETWEEN his breathtaking game from he Voxel Agents transports you to a series of small islands, where you use time, team work and the objects around you to solve the puzzles you find.

STUART LLOYD, WAPPING

What do I need to make music? Guru thinks you should buy a zither or a balalaika. But Guru’s editors insist that obscure stringed instruments do not fit the category of ‘gadget’, so he’ll make a slightly more sensible suggestion: get a MIDI keyboard. That’s the only thing you’ll need to start your computer belching out sounds. There are countless free VST synths, and a number of DAWs available too – make Pro Tools First your first (arf) port of call. Don’t entirely cheap out on it. A better keyboard gets you pads and sliders to play with too. Look for pressure sensitivity and aftertouch and get at least 61 keys. M-Audio’s Oxygen 61 (£139) is adequate, and comes with software too.

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OLIVER WESTBROOK, GLASGOW

What can I do with an old iPod? CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA If you need something spooky to watch on Halloween, put on Netflix’s horror retelling of Sabrina, which sees the young witch take on Madam Satan.

BLACKBIRD One of comic books’ biggest talents, artist Jen Bartel, teams up with writer Sam Humphries for this neon-drenched slice of California gothic. A new series from Image, issue #1 is out now.

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ABOVE A MIDI is all you need to make some glorious music. What do you mean you prefer the violin?

It’s so tempting to bin things (or throw them in a dangerous pile, ahem) when something prettier comes along. It is particularly tempting when the manufacturer ensures they’re almost untinkerable, and Apple has done the Apple thing with its old touch-wheel iPods. GaGu says ‘almost’, because at least one team has burrowed in deep enough to offer up new software. Rockbox (rockbox.org) adds a whole bunch of features, support for more audio codecs, more granular volume control and more. It supports most models of older iPod, and a host more devices too. It’ll even make your iPod run Doom. Of course it will.

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If you want to make music, a MIDI keyboard is the only thing you need to start your computer belching out sounds

KEITH MCCLOUGHLIN, HAY-ON-WYE

Why is my AM radio reception so poor? You really should have jumped to DAB+ by now, you know. Seriously. Unless you rely on some obscure AM station that doesn’t also broadcast on digital, there’s no reason not to. Presuming your luddite tendencies are so strong that you only read T3 to get angry at everything new, the answer, according to Guru’s extensive secret survey of your premises, is that your house is full of switching power supplies, in the form of (for example) phone chargers. These spew out RF interference; switch a few off at the wall, and you should find your signal improves fast.

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Opinion

Duncan Bell sees the future here’s no innovation in mobile anymore? How about a phone that can recognise cheeses? he problem with doing my job is that it becomes more difficult to find any tech that’s truly new, or to experience something really unique. You get ever so jaded after 57 phone and wearable launches. However, last week I saw something truly awesome, at a truly unusual event. And now I am going to tell you about that. Have you heard of BASF? If you’re above a certain age, you’ll remember their cassette tapes – the ’70s and ’80s answer to Spotify. It’s actually a German mega-corporation, and the world’s largest purveyor of chemicals. It made over ¤64 billion in 2017. Now, it was throwing an event in London’s Covent Garden that promised something new, mysterious, glamorous and techy. Who could resist?

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Ammonia is not sexy The first thing I couldn’t help noticing on arrival was that the people organising the event all seemed stressed as hell. One of them even whispered to me that, “They’re very demanding!” Well they are, aren’t they? The Germans. There then unfolded a bizarre evening out, where I found myself having dinner sat next to the CEO of a chemicals giant that turns over 64 billion Euros. Martin Brudermüller; very nice chap. What I found flattering about this was that, while I wouldn’t go out of my way to curry favour with giant chemicals firms, this giant chemicals firm was very keen to curry favour with me. Okay, not me personally, but me as an emissary from the glamorous twin worlds of tech and media.

“Ammonia is ammonia!” Martin said at one point. “Ammonia is not sexy!” which seemed like a fair point. We all had plenty of time to talk, the Germans and me – and the Instagrammers, vloggers and bloggers who made up the rest of the night’s audience. That’s because dinner took a staggering amount of time to arrive. Hours. Then a fire alarm went off, and wouldn’t stop for 20 minutes, because it turned out nobody knew the deactivation code. So there we were, sitting politely but hungrily toying with our wine, at a launch thrown by a 64-billionEuro chemicals giant, while a deafening alarm went off and the room filled with smoke – although not so much smoke that anyone

We were sitting there when a deafening fire alarm went off and the room filled with smoke moved a muscle towards the exit. Hungry people are ever so hard to dislodge from the dinner table. With the Germans and the kitchen chaos, it was a bit like being in an episode of Fawlty Towers. Perhaps the social media people were all tweeting, “Been waiting an hour for my main course and now the kitchen’s on fire #BASF”. Oh. You want to know about the product? Yes, sorry. So, the product BASF subsidiary trinamiX was

launching had the rather brilliantly German name of Herztstück™, and Herztstück™ is something new, all right. It’s a tiny sensor that BASF wants to put in third-party devices, with smartphones the natural favourite. You can point it at cheese and it’ll tell you if it’s vegan or dairy. At the launch demo, it could do that, and recognise the difference between sugar and various types of artificial sweetener. In the future, it could do more. It could tell law enforcement officers whether that suspicious powder is actually narcotics – and tell criminals how pure it is. Or tell you if that market-stall tie is really silk. The most obvious use would be recognising allergens and pathogens in food, and telling you definitively when food has gone off. As such, it could save lives and reduce food waste. Sure at the moment, it mainly does cheese and sweeteners, but what BASF has invented here is the Tricorder from Star Trek. Something able to recognise anything just by using infra-red light, and magic. When, one day, you find yourself pointing your iPhone XXIII at a watch and saying, “That’s not real gold Rolex, what are you trying to pull here?” remember you read it here first. Now, where’s my dessert? N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 31

Ultimate 4K & Dolby Atmos setups

Ultimate 4K & Dolby Atmos setups Words: Steve May Photography: Neil Godwin

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Ultimate 4K & Dolby Atmos setups

Creating your home cinema isn’t as complicated as you’d think, and you can do it on pretty much any budget and for any room size. Here’s how… hanks to the glorious summer we had this year, your TV gear has probably felt a bit neglected while you’ve been enjoying outdoor walks, sport, gardening and, of course, drinking. But now the weather is turning, the clocks are changing, and huddling around the warmth of a glowing OLED is a more enticing way to spend an evening. But if you’re going to enjoy more movies and TV, you want to make sure it’s in the best quality possible.

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It’s a perfect time, then, to upgrade your home cinema setup. here’s a lot going on with TV and audio right now, and with the right new tech, you could make a huge difference to your living room. 2018 is definitely the year of OLED – the richness of the HDR images these TV panels can produce is astounding, and they’re now available for really reasonable prices. Even if you go with a different tech, including LCD or projector, a high-quality 4K HDR set looks like nothing you’ve ever seen before.

And with Dolby Atmos, home cinema audio is getting an upgrade just as impactful as 4K. he addition of height to the 3D surround sound mix creates a whole new level of immersion, and is a massive upgrade to previous systems. And we know not everyone can fit in a huge set of speakers, so we’ve got the best soundbars too. We’ll take you through the options, section by section, suggesting the best options for all budgets and needs, so you can build your ultimate setup.

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Ultimate 4K & Dolby Atmos setups

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DOLBY VISION OLED HERO

TRIPPING THE AMBILIGHT FANTASTIC

LG C8 (OLED55C8 )

PHILIPS 43PUS6753

LG’s 55-inch C8 OLED is the very model of a modern major ćDWVFUHHQ ,WV ZHE26 VPDUW SODWIRUP ERDVWV DOO WKH VWUHDPLQJ services you could want, augmented by LG ThinQ AI voice control for improved search. Thanks to an Alpha 9 intelligent processor, picture TXDOLW\ LV EUHDWKWDNLQJO\ ĆQH ZLWK FRSLRXV GHWDLO H[FHOOHQW FRORXU and perfect blacks. HDR coverage includes DolbyVision, HDR10 and +/* ,W HYHQ KDV D 'ROE\ $WPRV HQDEOHG 1HWćL[ DSS RQERDUG £1,999, lg.com

You don’t need to spend loads to own a spectacular screen. This 43-incher offers both 2160p resolution with HDR compatibility and Philips’ trademark Ambilight mood lighting. LED bulbs on the rear cast colour across your wall, mimicking onscreen action or displaying a cool static hue. The set can even be incorporated into a Philips Hue smart lighting system. There’s also an effective smart platform, with DOO WKH UHTXLUHG VWUHDPLQJ VHUYLFHV SOXV D IXOO ĆVWIXO RI FDWFK XS 79 £429, philips.com

“ALEXA, PLAY MOVIES�

TIME TO GO 8K

OPTOMA UHD51A ALEXA 4K PROJECTOR

JVC DLA-NX9

Alexa can now turn on your home cinema projector, but that’s not the only reason to love this UHD-capable Optoma. This compact projector doesn’t just look crystal clear with 4K content, it’s also compatible with 3D too. TVs may have given up on the third dimension, but you can carry on watching your 3D Blu-rays on the bigger screen. The UHD51A is bright, with cinematic contrast. Operating noise is low, as long as you stick to the Eco lamp setting. £1,499, optoma.co.uk

If you’ve got the budget and the space, why not leapfrog 4K and go straight to 8K? This stunning JVC D-ILA projector couples native 4K projection with 8K e-shift technology. Crafty pixel shifting delivers an image resolution of 7680x4320. There’s no native 8K content to watch, of course, but this solution delivers a sharper image with 4K. A variety of light scattering and diffraction tech improves brightness and black levels. The end result rivals commercial cinemas for clarity. £18,600, jvckenwood.com/en

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TVs and projectors

HOLLYWOOD TUNED PANASONIC TX-65FZ952B To ensure this 65-inch Freeview Play OLED ćDJVKLS RIIHUHG EORFNEXVWHU LPDJH TXDOLW\ Panasonic enlisted Hollywood creatives WR ĆQH WXQH LWV SHUIRUPDQFH $ 7UXH Cinema mode replicates the same image characteristics of a Hollywood mastering monitor. The set uses the brand’s HCX Studio Colour video processor, and boasts innovative Dynamic LUT technology for XQEHDWDEOH FRORXU ĆGHOLW\ +'5 VXSSRUW covers HDR10, HLG and HDR10+. It’s not just a stunning picture performer, though. The FZ952 comes with an integrated Dynamic Blade Speaker, designed by Technics audio engineers. £3,499 panasonic.com

N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 37

Ultimate 4K & Dolby Atmos setups

Soundbars With the screen sorted, it’s time for sound. Hey, there’s no point investing in great visuals if you skimp on audio

TOTAL 3D AUDIO SOLUTION SAMSUNG HW-N950 DOLBY ATMOS Compatible with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, this 3D audio soundbar with wireless rear speakers and subwoofer is the real cinematic deal. Using both height and width GULYHUV SOXV ZLUHOHVV XSĆULQJ UHDU VSHDNHUV LW RIIHUV a genuinely immersive 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos listening experience. Other niceties include 4K input switching, high-res audio support and Amazon Alexa voice control. Probably the nearest you’ll get to the power and presence of an AV receiver and separate Dolby Atmos speaker system, with a soundbar. £1,499, samsung.com

ATMOS FOR OLED

DOLBY ATMOS LITE

LG SKY10Y

SONY HT-ZF9

Styled to match LG’s 2018 65-inch OLED TV range, this premium VRXQGEDU LV D EXON\ EHDVW &RQĆJXUHG IRU D $WPRV VRXQGVWDJH LW ERDVWV WZR XSZDUG ĆULQJ KHLJKW VSHDNHUV DQG LV SDUWQHUHG ZLWK a wireless sub. Designed in partnership with Meridian Audio, the soundstage is wide and high, and there’s a huge sense of detail. £899, lg.com

Sony uses DSP audio processing to deliver Dolby Atmos with this 3.1 soundbar and subwoofer system that sounds 3D. We love the ZF9 because it sounds impressive virtually anywhere, no matter how large or small your room. Connections include two HDMI inputs, and Chromecast audio is integrated, making streaming a doddle. £650, sony.co.uk

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Soundbars

“ALEXA, PLAY DAMN LOUD”

SONOS SIMPLICITY

POLK COMMAND BAR

SONOS PLAYBASE

Smarter than the average stereo soundbar, Polk’s Command Bar has full Alexa functionality, and even has room to accommodate a Fire TV streaming stick. If you need more, there are a couple of HDMI inputs and an optical digital audio input, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are builtin. The subwoofer delivers booming budget sound. £349, polk.com

The Sonos Playbase stands 58mm high and incorporates 10 drivers DQG RQH ZRRIHU 7KH JODVV ĆOOHG SRO\FDUERQDWH H[WHULRU ORRNV beautiful and offers enormous sonic width and depth. There’s no HDMI input, just a digital audio optical connection, but the Playbase functions just like any other connected Sonos multi-room speaker. £599, sonos.com N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 3 9

Ultimate 4K & Dolby Atmos setups

Speakers The right speakers make a world of difference to your home cinema array, as these beauties demonstrate…

QUALITY COMPACT CINEMA SOUND

LIFESTYLE DOLBY ATMOS SYSTEM

Q ACOUSTICS 7000i

FOCAL SIB EVO 5.1.2

Space isn’t an issue with this diminutive 5.1 sub/sat system from Q Acoustics. The ultra-compact 7000i satellites sound crisp and tight, while the matching wireless subwoofer, with its seven-inch cone, is slim and powerful. Together they make a formidable surround sound V\VWHP 4 $FRXVWLFV GRHVQèW PDNH D VSHFLĆF $WPRV L VSHDNHU but we’ve discovered that two additional satellite speakers, angled high above the seating position, will create a very convincing Atmos effect, so you can always upgrade as and when. £899 (for a 5.1 package), qacoustics.co.uk

Focal’s Sib Evo is a dedicated Dolby Atmos sound system with true GHVLJQHU VW\OH DQG KL Ć SHGLJUHH VR LW VRXQGV DV JRRG DV LW ORRNV $ 5.1.2 Atmos setup, the system comprises two compact left/right 6LE (YR 'ROE\ $WPRV VSHDNHUV ZKLFK IHDWXUH D IURQW ĆULQJ VSHDNHU GULYHU DQG DQ DGGLWLRQDO PP çXS ĆUHUè IRU $WPRV SOXV WKUHH VOLJKWO\ smaller Sib Evo satellites for rear-surround duties and centre channel, with a Cub Evo subwoofer. The system is deeply immersive and a thriller with high-octane action movies. £1,099, focal.com/en

EXPANDABLE SMART SPEAKERS

HIGH-END HOME THEATRE

HARMAN KARDON CITATION

DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY BP9000 SERIES

A modular smart speaker solution, the Citation Series is designed for both multi-channel home cinemas and multi-room streaming audio. Embracing a cool Scandi industrial design, the speakers come wrapped in grey or black wool acoustic fabric from Kvadrat. They’re also compatible with Google Assistant and have Chromecast built in. Combine the Citation 3.0 (sound) Bar, with Citation surround speakers and wireless subwoofer for a home cinema sound system that’s literally smarter than the competition. £1,900 for the system, harmankardon.com

7KLV FRQWHPSRUDU\ ORXGVSHDNHU V\VWHP IURP 86 EUDQG 'HĆQLWLYH Technology is all about huge home theatre audio. Both the BP9040 ćRRUVWDQGHUV DQG &6 FHQWUH VSHDNHU FRPH ZLWK EXLOW LQ HLJKW inch subwoofers, so there’s no need for standalone room shakers. A pop-off top plate on the stereo pair accommodates a plug-in Dolby $WPRV $ XSĆULQJ PRGXOH 5HDU GXWLHV DUH KDQGOHG E\ D SDLU RI SR9040 surround speakers. Partner this selection with a premium Dolby Atmos AV receiver and you’re guaranteed seismic shockwaves. e IRU WKH V\VWHP GHĆQLWLYHWHFKQRORJ\ FR XN

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Speakers

MID-RANGE DOLBY ATMOS JAMO S807 HCS ATMOS 5.1.2 Key to Danish brand Jamo’s home cinema loudspeaker proposition LV WKH 6 $70 D 'ROE\ $WPRV XSĆULQJ PRGXOH WKDW FDQ EH DGGHG WR LWV VHOHFW 6WXGLR VSHDNHUV 7KH 6 ćRRUVWDQGHUV KDYH PHWDO connectors that allow the Atmos module to be attached without ugly additional cabling. The system’s not only neat, but expandable. Start with a 5.1.2 package comprising a Jamo S807 HCS set with Atmos toppers and S808 subwoofer, then add additional speakers and Atmos modules for if you want to expand your sound. From £699, jamo.co.uk

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Ultimate Dolby 4K setups

DOLBY VISION 4K STREAMER APPLE TV The latest version of Apple’s streamer is an AV powerhouse, able to stream movies in both Dolby Vision 4K HDR and with Dolby Atmos sound. There’s a sprightly A10X Fusion chip beneath the lid, and Siri’s on hand when you want to chat. Beyond iTunes, you also JHW 1HWćL[ $PD]RQ 3ULPH 9LGHR %%& L3OD\HU ,79 +XE 1RZ 79 Sky News, My5, BT TV and YouTube. For those playing in Apple’s VDQGER[ WKLV LV D SUDFWLFDO DOWHUQDWLYH WR D 8+' %OX UD\ SOD\HU £179, apple.com

Streamers Now that we’ve nailed the visuals and sound, it’s time to hook you up with super-fast streaming and epic content

ALL FUN, NO FUSS

HIGH-RES AUDIO PLAYBACK

ROKU STREAMING STICK PLUS

GOOGLE CHROMECAST ULTRA

Thanks to a bulletproof user interface, this UHD streamer is a pleasure to use. There’s no Ethernet, but the supplied USB power lead doubles as a Wi-Fi antenna. A single HDMI plugs into your TV or $9 UHFHLYHU 1HWćL[ <RX7XEH DQG $PD]RQ DUH DOO DYDLODEOH LQ . DQG HDR where available, and there’s a full complement of catch-up TV. £80, roku.com

The smartest of Google’s Chromecast dongles, the Ultra supports 4K and HDR streaming over Wi-Fi. Usability is the key difference between the Ultra and other streaming boxes. There’s wide support IRU &KURPHFDVW FRPSDWLEOH DSSV LQFOXGLQJ <RX7XEH DQG 1HWćL[ $QG as it uses a Wi-Fi connection, it also offers high-res audio playback. £69, store.google.com

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Streamers and AV receivers

AV receivers 7KLV LVQèW WKH VH[LHVW FLQHPD EX\ \RXèOO HYHU PDNH EXW LWèV essential to a surround speaker setup, so let’s get it right

THE AUDIOPHILE CHOICE

POWERHOUSE HOME THEATRE

MARANTZ SR7013 DOLBY ATMOS 5.1.4 AVR

DENON AVR-X4500 DOLBY ATMOS 5.1.4 AVR

2IIHULQJ D FODVVLFDOO\ UHĆQHG 0DUDQW] VRQLF DSSURDFK WKH 65 LV D QLQH FKDQQHO ' DXGLR DPSOLĆHU ZLWK FKDQQHO SURFHVVLQJ tuned for movies and high-res audio. The brand’s sweet HDAM DPSOLĆHU WHFK HQVXUHV VXSUHPH PXVLFDOLW\ ZKLOH D GRXEOH OD\HU copper-plated chassis combats resonance during movie soundtracks. £1,749, marantz.co.uk

:LWK QLQH EUDZQ\ FKDQQHOV RI DPSOLĆFDWLRQ WKLV ELJ 'HQRQ RSHQV the door to either 5.1.4 or 7.1.2 Atmos surround. More impressively, it can decode 11 channels (7.1.4) if you add an additional stereo DPSOLĆHU %XLOW DURXQG D [ : SRZHU SODQW DXGLR TXDOLW\ LV FULVS and detailed, and connectivity is top class with eight HDMI inputs. £1,499, denon.co.uk

DSP MEETS DOLBY ATMOS SONY STR-DN1080 DOLBY ATMOS AV RECEIVER This Atmos AVR delivers enveloping home cinema sound without a hefty price tag. A 5.1.2 design, it uses clever DSP processing to add a virtual rear channel to your home theatre. The power output is a solid 7x165W, and those phantom rears help swell the soundstage. With six 4K-ready HDMI inputs, you won’t run out of inputs, and built-in Chromecast supports easy streaming. £550, sony.co.uk

N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 4 3

Ultimate 4K & Dolby Atmos setups

Blu-ray players With your home cinema nearly ready, you’ll want something to play Blu-rays on. Here are our top picks…

PREMIUM DISC SPINNER

CUT-PRICE 4K BLU-RAY

PIONEER UDP-LX800

PANASONIC DP-UB420

Built like a battleship, this high-end 4K UHD deck elevates disc playback to another level. With peerless build and best-in-class componentry, no expense has been spared. A 4.6mm double-layer composite chassis tips the scales at 10.3kg, thwarting resonance, and the analogue audio section adopts a pure audiophile design. Whether you’re playing Dolby Vision UHD discs or spinning Super Audio CDs, no other deck does it better. Just don’t drop one on your foot. £2,200, pioneer.com

This budget UHD disc player may have a paper-thin build, but beneath the hood it boasts the same impressive HCX image video processing as higher models. Image quality is sensational for the price, both with 4K HDR discs and regular Blu-ray discs. The deck is FRPSDWLEOH ZLWK +LJK 5HV $XGLR ELW )/$& DQG '6' ĆOHV DQG DOVR KDV 1HWćL[ $PD]RQ 3ULPH 9LGHR DQG <RX7XEH RQERDUG ,I \RX GRQèW need audiophile disc playback, it’s a proper bargain. £250, panasonic.co.uk

THE GAMER’S CHOICE XBOX ONE X Microsoft’s bleeding-edge games console is a surprisingly adept UHD Blu-ray player. Navigation isn’t as slick as you would get from a dedicated player, but there’s no shortfall in performance. UHD Blu-rays look pin-sharp, and Dolby Atmos 3D sound is available via a dedicated Dolby app. The deck is also well-equipped for 4K streaming services. The 1HWćL[ DSS VXSSRUWV 'ROE\ 9LVLRQ VWUHDPV DQG of course, native 4K gameplay with Dolby Atmos JDPHbDXGLR LV JORULRXV IXQ £449, xbox.com

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Blu-ray players and movies

Movies Finally, now is the time to kick back and enjoy your home cinema with a great movie or (in this case) nine HDR SHOWCASES

READY PLAYER ONE

BLACK PANTHER

STAR TREK: DISCOVERY

Steven Spielberg’s pop culture nostalgia ride makes extravagant use of wide colour and dynamic HDR. And the opening race sequence is an audiovisual eye-popper. (Blu-ray, iTunes)

Marvel’s superhero hit oozes 4K eye candy, thanks to ace VFX. Vibranium-powered weapons sizzle brightly, and T’Challa’s costume harbours so much near-black detail. (Blu-ray)

Discovery may ‘only’ be presented in 1080p, but the addition of exquisite lighting and ambitious visual effects go boldly where no other Trek TV show has gone before. 1HWćL[

BEST 4K REMASTERS

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND 40TH ANNIVERSARY )UHVKO\ UHPDVWHUHG 6SLHOEHUJèV VFL Ć FODVVLF has never looked better. This edition unlocks hitherto unseen detail, while the use of HDR adds almost three-dimensional depth. (Blu-ray, iTunes)

THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY

APOLLO 13

Christopher Nolan’s Gotham gamechanger JHWV D ZHOFRPH . XSGDWH $OO ĆOPV KDYH their moments, but that scene-setting IMAXlensed bank robbery in The Dark Knight exhibits sensational detail. (Blu-ray, iTunes)

Ron Howard’s white-knuckle retelling of the disastrous Apollo 13 moon mission is given fresh clarity in this superb 4K restoration. HDR ensures deep space is ominously black, the crippled Apollo craft glinting in contrast. (Blu-ray, iTunes)

BEST DOLBY ATMOS

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI

JOHN WICK

A QUIET PLACE

You’ll feel the force with this 4K disc. Inventive sound design and copious space battles ensure thrilling dynamics – and when the Imperial Star Destroyer blows, even your neighbours will know about it. (Blu-ray)

If you want a 3D soundmix that’s as explosive as it is immersive, you won’t go wrong with Wick. Keanu Reeve’s anti-hero blasts his way through most of the running time, ensuring every sound channel gets a workout. (Blu-ray, iTunes)

$ KRUURU ĆOP SUHGLFDWHG RQ VLOHQFH VHHPV like an odd choice, but this is a masterclass in subtle effects, such as whispered breaths and rustling leaves. And when the bass does hit, you’ll jump out of your skin! (Blu-ray, iTunes) N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 45

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N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 47

Pure sound

Pure sound What does it take to create the world’s most powerful ultra-compact speaker? Devialet invited T3 to its Paris HQ to reveal all‌ Words: Claire Davies Photography: Olly Curtis

N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 49

Pure sound

hat music do you want to listen to? Scratch that. Here’s a more pertinent question: how do you want to feel when you listen to that music? Isn’t it interesting how, along the way in our fervour to try better speakers or fancier headphones, we often forget why we buy this stuff: to listen to our favourite music. To feel something, perhaps. Music has always been a conduit for emotion, but the quality of the devices we listen on can either intensify that emotion or strangle it. There are tons of speaker companies in the world, and many produce great sound. Arguably, though, few focus on it quite as intently as award-winning French audio specialist Devialet. And when we say intently, we mean this: pure sound, accessible to all (one day), is the reason this company exists. When Devialet contacted us to say they were launching a new speaker and would T3 like to be among the first to hear it, we knew it was a no-brainer. We loved the original Devialet Phantom (now renamed the Classic Phantom), released in 2015, and hoped for something of a similar quality from Devialet’s new speaker. We weren’t going to be disappointed…

W

MINI SIZE, MAX POWER We’re sitting in a spacious meeting room at Devialet’s modern-looking HQ in central Paris. Early morning sun is beating in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, fresh pastries and juice are being passed around, and Devialet’s new speaker is currently hidden beneath a black box perched at the end of our eight-seater table. The mystery speaker is playing Ben Harper, and the sound is full and rich.

TECH SPECS Price From £990 Power and volume 600W 95 dB SPL (Reactor 600), 900W 98dB SPL (Reactor 900) Dimensions 219mm(L) x157mm(W) x168mm(H) Weight 10lbs Range 18Hz-21Khz Audio formats HE-AAC (V1), AAC (16 to 320 kbit/s), WMA (16-bit), MP3, MP3 VBR,WAV, Apple Lossless, AIFF, FLAC, Vorbis and Opus 5 0 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

‘Did they choose this track because it sounds especially good on the new speaker?’ We whisper conspiratorially to one another. However, we weren’t expecting the sight that greets us when product manager Joachim Fritsch turns up the volume, then lifts the lid of the box… Inside sits a baby Phantom. It’s so dinky, so elegantly beautiful, we can’t help but squeal. Devialet’s stunning new audiophile grade speaker is called the Phantom Reactor. The culmination of three years of R&D, the Reactor packs in all of the company’s award-winning tech, despite being a quarter of the size of the Classic Phantom. It even squeezes in some new features (keep reading).

The Reactor is the next step towards everyone having an affordable, incredible-sounding audio device at home.” Affordable can be interpreted in many ways, though, depending on your available income. “The Reactor is Devialet’s first personal Phantom,” elaborates Emmanuel Nardin, Devialet cofounder and Product and Design Director. “The concept behind the Reactor’s size is that it belongs to you and your home – it can go anywhere.”

DEATH TO DISTORTION As we all know, a bad speaker can make a masterpiece sound like it’s being played through a tin can,

THE REACTOR IS AS LOUD AS A SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, YET SMALL ENOUGH TO HOLD The Reactor comes in two guises: the Reactor 600 and the Reactor 900, which look identical. While the 600 reaches an impressive 95dB, the 900 hits 98dB thanks to 900 watts of peak power. Although it’s a far cry from the frankly scary 4,500 watts of power found in the top of the range Phantom Premier Gold, it’s hugely impressive considering how much smaller the Reactor is in comparison. Franck Lebouchard, Devialet’s CEO, tells us, “The Phantom Reactor is a key step towards our ultimate goal, which is for millions of people to have this pure Devialet sound. To reach that goal we need to get our sound into smaller, and more affordable, devices.

whereas a great speaker puts you in the studio, sitting in front of the singer, with the entire band surrounding you. The Phantom Reactor is a great speaker. Small stature, big sound… Just think of it as the audio tech equivalent of Lady Gaga. Precision engineered down to the last millimetre, the Reactor sports a smooth spherical form housing two push-push woofers and one full-range speaker, all working in harmony to deliver an unforgettable sound experience. Fun fact: Devialet says the Reactor is powerful enough to match a symphony orchestra playing at full force, yet small enough that you can hold it one-handed. ‘No distortion, no background noise, no saturation’. That’s the unofficial mantra among Devialet’s 100 or so engineers. Little surprise, then, that the sound produced by the Reactor really feels like it’s being true to the artist, showing incredible new detail in your favourite tracks. You can stream music easily too, as the Bluetooth Reactor offers Spotify Connect and Apple AirPlay support at launch. Chromecast and AirPlay 2 support will be available further down the line via a software update, and stereo-pairing will become available in the first half of 2019. The Reactor is controlled via the Devialet app, or by pressing the controls arranged on top of the speaker; a new feature designed especially for the Reactor.

Devialet Phantom Reactor

The Devialet factory, an hour outside of Paris, has this awesomely futuristic acoustic chamber where all Reactor speakers are tested before release

“WITH THE PHANTOM REACTOR WE ARE BREAKING MANY BARRIERS: SIZE, PRICE, PORTABILITY”

So, how did Devialet pull all of this off in such an ultra-compact product? “It was three years of problems,” laughs Pierre-Emmanuel Calmel, co-founder, CTO and inventor of Devialet’s Analogue Digital Hybrid technology. “One of the main challenges was squeezing all of that tech into the product without any compromise in sound quality and performance. We were not able to just

reproduce the solution used in the first Phantom, so we had to design transducers and a third-generation chipset for the Reactor. “When I started Devialet, we didn’t have access to state-of-the-art miniaturisation technology. Because the first Phantom was a success, now we have access to this technology. So the Reactor is a continuation of the story, of the success, but with more integrated functionality. With Reactor we are breaking many barriers: size, price, portability.” The Reactor started out in the form of a five-litre mock-up model, then four. “The mock-up for the three-litre speaker was exactly the one you now see, just a little smaller. So from the intention to the final product, what we got is exactly what we wanted,” reveals Pierre-Emmanuel. “It’s not easy to achieve that. Every small modification has a huge impact

ABOVE LEFT AND ABOVE Frank Lebouchard, CEO of Devialet; Emmanuel Nardin, co-founder, Product and Design Director, and the man who makes Devialet’s speakers look so damn gorgeous

N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 51

Pure sound

on the product, and each time you have an issue with design, the easiest solution is to increase the size of the product or to reduce performance. We didn’t do either with Reactor. This was also the reason why it took so long to design, and why you have this wow reaction when you listen to the speaker for the first time.”

ALL THE FEELS Someone has been foolish enough to leave T3 alone with the Reactor for a while, so we fire up the app and blast out some Sia, John Mayer, Metallica… It’s all handled brilliantly, and it’s impressively loud for such a small speaker, thanks to Devialet’s arsenal of award-winning tech: Heart Bass Implosion, Speaker Active Matching, Active Cospherical Engine, and Analogue Digital Hybrid (see the box below for more about these), the latter patented by PierreEmmanuel in 2004. “Prior to that we had analogue amplification,” he remembers. “It produces good sound quality, but it generates a lot of heat, which means you can’t make a powerful, compact product.” The Reactor’s diminutive size also posed challenges for Emmanuel Nardin. “With Phantom you need to dissipate heat, so it was really difficult to keep the look of a smaller product while ensuring you’re still dissipating the right amount of heat,” he explains. “We had to find that balance to ensure the Reactor remained a very beautiful speaker without looking like an air conditioning unit. “The original Phantom is very round and looks like a balloon,” laughs Emmanuel. “We wanted the Reactor

“WE HAD TO ENSURE THE REACTOR DIDN’T LOOK LIKE AN AIR CONDITIONING UNIT” to be more spherical. We had to keep what makes the Phantom so special, of course, with those iconic lines on each side of the speaker, but we completely redesigned the back unit. So the Reactor is put together differently. It goes from back to front instead of from side to side, which was very difficult for us to do.

“Because it’s a smaller product, we also had to improve the joinings between all parts. We didn’t want a line down the middle because Reactor is smaller and we wanted to take care of the small details. The first Phantom was also a little wobbly, so for the Reactor we created a simple base that’s very stable.”

AN ARSENAL OF TECH A quick tour of the technology behind the Reactor’s pure sound The entire Phantom range is based on four key technologies: Analogue Digital Hybrid (ADH), Devialet’s innovation in sound amplification, combining Class A analogue amplification with the power of Class D digital tech; Speaker Active Matching (SAM), the mathematical model that ensures perfect control of speakers and high acoustic fidelity; Heart Bass Implosion (HBI), the process that emits bass sounds with unreal depth and physical impact; and Active Cospherical Engine (ACE), the acoustic form to reproduce a sound and diffuse its energy linearly in all directions. 52 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

Devialet Phantom Reactor

FAR LEFT Pierre-Emmanuel Calmel, cofounder, CTO and the tech lead behind the Reactor’s incredible sound The high-tech, custom-built factory line for the Reactor can produce 4,000 speakers a week

“PURE SOUND IS OUR PRIORITY. THAT’S WHY WE GET UP EACH MORNING” Designing the Reactor involved epic collaboration between the design and engineering teams, with many sessions needed to try and figure out how to infuse such a raft of premium tech into a significantly smaller yet elegantly simple body. “The initial drawings were easy because the inspiration was already there from the original Phantom,” Emmanuel recalls. “It took three or four iterations to reach the final design.”

ORIGIN OF SOUND Devialet was founded in 2007, with its first commercial and critical success taking the shape of the Expert Pro audio system. It was (and still is) a true audiophile product, with an eyewatering price tag to match. Considering Devialet’s high-end reputation from the get-go, in 2013 the company ran a rather provocative

advert stating, ‘One day, everyone will own a Devialet’. So it seems that the end goal has always been to produce smaller, more ‘affordable’ sources of Devialet’s pure sound. “Our goal, one way or another, is to have Devialet sound in every product that produces sound,” confirms Pierre-Emmanuel. “To do that we have two distinct paths: our own products, which will eventually become smaller and more affordable, generation after generation, and our licensing program.” The fruits of said program are already starting to ripen, thanks to noteworthy collaborations with the likes of Renault and its future-gazing Symbioz concept car, and Sky, with the release of the Sky Soundbox. Again, Devialet’s current version of affordable might be different to yours – and it might change over the years to come, as their devices get smaller

still. Right now, it comes down to how much you value audiophile-grade sound, or whether you’re happy with less nuanced audio as long as you keep some change in your pocket. “Our strongest belief is that the purest sound provides you with incredible emotion and joy,” adds Franck, wrapping up our visit to the Devialet HQ. “Because we so strongly believe this, our dream is that Devialet sound will be wherever you need it: at home with Phantom, one day in your car, one day in your headphones, in your laptop, in your smartphone. It’s going to take time, because with each device we’re going smaller and that’s more challenging.” And if you’re wondering why Devialet has so far snubbed the smart speaker trend, the answer is this: “Our route is focused on providing pure sound,” Franck clarifies. “That said, you can connect the Reactor to any Alexa device. So you can ‘bundle’ it with a smart speaker for voice control. Will we one day introduce AI in our products? Probably, but it’s not our priority. Pure sound is. That’s our dream. That’s why we get up each morning and do this.” N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 5 3

HOME Get the complete smart home lifestyle Edited by Claire Davies

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THE SETUP Ahead of winter, now is the time to increase the security of your home, which is why this month we’re showing you how to use the Bosch Security Starter Kit

UPGRADE During the cold months you’re indoors more, so it’s important to ensure the air you breathe is healthy. The Velux Active air monitoring system can help

HOME TEST Add some ambient lighting throughout your kitchen, behind your TV, and even along your stairs with the best smart LED strip lighting kits

SMART HOME SURGERY Got some smart home questions that need smart answers? Then you’re in luck, as our connected home gadget experts are on hand to help you N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 55

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THE SETUP

Each issue, we show you how to set up a key piece of connected-home tech. This month‌ Bosch Smart Home Security Starter Kit

PROTECTION RACKET The Bosch Smart Home Security Starter Kit includes a Smart Home Controller, the central hub for your smart home devices. Also bundled is a door/window contact sensor that detects unauthorised activity at your chosen entry point; an intelligent motion detector that scans the room for movement; and a smart smoke detector designed to alert you to DQ\ ĆUH ULVNV ,W DOVR GRXEOHV DV DQ intruder alarm.

5 6 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

he Setup

THE LIGHTS ARE ON‌ One of the Bosch Smart Home Controller’s coolest features is Presence Simulation, which is ideal if you spend a lot of time away from home and want to deter intruders with a ‘we’re home’ look. With Philips Hue lighting and smart plugs connected, the Controller can intermittently switch lights on and off in different rooms, or turn on the radio in your absence. You can control your Presence Simulation schedule via the Bosch Smart Home app.

PROTECT YOUR ASSETS WITH BOSCH’S SMART HOME SECURITY KIT Take control of your home security and smart home devices Of all the tricks that smart tech can perform, home security has to be one of the most SUDFWLFDO :LWK VR PDQ\ JDGJHWV ĆOOLQJ RXU homes, it’s increasingly important to protect your digital bounty from the threat of intruders DQG WKH ULVN RI ĆUH Though full home security systems can set you back some serious dough, Bosch’s new Smart Home Security Starter Kit (£349.95, bosch-smarthome.com) is an easy way to protect key areas of your pad. It comprises a Smart Home Controller, the central hub for all your smart home devices, a door/window contact sensor for detecting if a door or window has been opened, plus an intelligent motion detector and a smoke detector. Additional sensors and detectors can be added to the system as your needs change or you move to a bigger property. The sleek Smart Home Controller takes minutes to set up, connecting directly to your Wi-Fi router. Once installed, the free Bosch Smart Home app (iOS/Android) guides you, step by step, through linking additional smart devices and placing them around your home. Handily, Bosch gives you the option of mounting your devices using screws, or with less invasive sticky strips. These are ideal if you’re renting and would rather not make holes in the wall. ,Q LVRODWLRQ HDFK GHYLFH QRWLĆHV \RXU smartphone when triggered, providing peace of mind when you’re away from home. The fun really begins when you start customising the system via the Bosch Smart Home app: set up the smoke detector to sound an alarm to scare off intruders/cats when the motion detector or window contact sensor is triggered, or delve into the Automation menu to activate motion GHWHFWLRQ RQO\ DW VSHFLĆF WLPHV VXFK DV ZKHQ you’re in bed. It’s possible to buddy the Smart Home Controller with other smart home devices, including Bosch’s own smart Radiator Thermostat and 360-degree Indoor Camera. Bosch’s clever Presence Simulation function can automatically control connected devices, like your Philips Hue lighting and a DAB radio connected to a smart plug, to make it look as though you’re at home, even when you’re not.

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THREE SAFE ALTERNATIVES TO THE BOSCH KIT Not sure about Bosch? Give these systems a whirl

DON’T BE ALARMED Setting up the Bosch Smart Home Security Starter Kit is a doddle. Then it’s time to start customising‌

YALE SMART HOME $/$50 .,7 Alarm and disarm your home via Yale’s all-in-one kit, with central hub, alarm, keypad and motion detectors. It is compatible with Yale’s smart locks and cameras. £299, yale.co.uk

01

3$1$621,& +20( 6$)(7< 67$57(5 .,7 3/86 Scare off intruders with Panasonic’s loud siren, which works with the included sensors to keep tabs on NH\ DUHDV RI \RXU KRPH <RXèOO ĆQG D hub, indoor siren, motion detector and window/door sensor. ÂŁ159, panasonic.com/uk

03

GET THE APP

SCAN THE QR CODE

SET UP THE CONTROLLER

Before plugging in your Smart Home Controller, you’ll need to download the Bosch Smart Home app (iOS/Android). This is the key to setting up everything in your Home Security Starter Kit. Fire up the app for a complete guide to everything from registering your controller to syncing the motion sensor.

Inside the Smart Home &RQWUROOHU ER[ \RXèOO ĆQG D 45 code. From the Bosch Smart Home app, scan the code using your smartphone or tablet’s camera. The app will recognise the controller and walk you through the registration and setup process. Don’t panic if \RXèYH PLVODLG WKH 45 FRGH DV there’s a manual option too.

Push the button on top of the controller until the cloud and QHWZRUN /('V ćDVK \RXU mobile device will connect with it. At this stage your software may need updating via the app. This can take up to 30 minutes – plenty of time to work out where you want to position the sensors.

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LET’S GET PERSONAL

With your Smart Home Controller good to go, it’s time to connect your bundled motion detector, smoke detector and door/window contact sensor, and start protecting your castle. Select the device from the menu in the app and follow the guidelines for installation and placement.

Use Automation to dial in VSHFLĆF SDUDPHWHUV IRU \RXU devices, such as sounding an alarm when the motion GHWHFWRU LV WULJJHUHG DW VSHFLĆF times, or set up Presence Simulation to automatically trigger your Philips Hue lighting and make your home look occupied, even when you’re out.

&2&221 6(&85,7< CAMERA SYSTEM This indoor security camera uses AI and Subsound infrared tech to learn the sound signature of your home, listening out for unusual activity in all rooms, not just the one it’s in. £159, cocoon.life

SAYS‌

“Security is one of the areas smart home tech really boosts right from day one. his set is the perfect place to begin, and then you can grow out with extra gear and smart features to make sure your home is totally safe.� CLAIRE DAVIES, SENIOR CONTENT EDITOR

5 8 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

Once you’ve chosen the rooms in which you want to place your Smart Home Security devices – that’s your smoke detector, door/window contact and motion sensor – you’ll need to select these locations from the app. Undecided? You can add more rooms and devices at any time.

Upgrade

HOME UPGRADE

A breath of fresh air With winter approaching, it’s time to ensure the air inside your home is clean and healthy. Here’s how to do it without breaking a sweat‌ Netatmo’s Velux Active kit is easy to install, so you can access better home health with just a few taps of your phone

Here in Britain we’re a nation of hermits, with recent research indicating that we spend around 90 per cent of our lives in the great indoors. Add in the fact that the average adult is said to breathe in 15,000 litres of air a day, and the importance of having good quality oxygen breezing around your house becomes all-too apparent. But how are you meant to tell what’s good air and what’s not? Well, you don’t have to. Why? Because Velux has teamed up with Netatmo to launch a brilliant system that does exactly that. Not only will the Velux Active (£200, velux.co.uk) use sensors to continuously monitor the temperature, humidity and

Velux Active will open or close your windows automatically to ensure you get clean, fresh air throughout your home CO2 concentration inside your home (which would be interesting but, let’s face it, kinda pointless), it’ll open or close your roof windows, blinds and shutters accordingly, to ensure your lungs are getting the optimal intake at all times.

Worried that you’ll never get a say in how and when your house is ventilated? Don’t be, as the Velux Active works with Apple HomeKit (Android compatibility hasn’t been established yet), meaning you can take full control of the situation via a simple app on your iPhone or iPad, or by speaking the relevant voice command in Siri’s direction. This clever system won’t just improve your health and comfort, either‌ With recent studies suggesting that poor air quality can reduce productivity in the RIĆFH E\ DV PXFK DV SHU FHQW WKH Velux Active promises to give home workers and students the boost they need to meet their deadlines. N O V E M B ER 2 01 8 T3 59

Home

+20( TEST

The best LED light strips We hunt down the best mood makers for illuminating kitchen cabinets, behind the TV, or wherever your home needs a subtle glow FLASHY AND FUN

UNDERSTATED BRILLIANCE

LIFX Z

PHILIPS HUE LIGHTSTRIP PLUS

£79.99, uk.lifx.com

£69.99, meethue.com

We’ve come to expect a certain level of quality and design from LIFX, and the company’s LED strips don’t disappoint. 3ODVWLF SURWHFWHG WKH LQGLYLGXDO VWULSV Ã¥bWKHUH DUH WZR PHWUH ORQJ VHJPHQWV LQ WKH ER[ ZKLFK GDLV\ FKDLQ WRJHWKHU Ã¥ DUH FXUYHG DQG SLQQHG LQ VXFK D ZD\ DV WR PDNH WKHP impossible to plug in incorrectly. That extra design for something you’ll presumably only do once? That’s quality. The RXWSXW LV VLPLODUO\ FRQVLGHUHG ZLWK GHQVHO\ SDFNHG WZLQ /(' VHWV DORQJ WKH OHQJWK RI WKH VWULS Ã¥ RQH ZKLWH VSHFWUXP RQH 5*% Ã¥ RIIHULQJ D KLJKO\ WZHDNDEOH DQG SOHDVDQW OLJKW WKDW GRGJHV PRVW EULJKW RU GDUN VSRWV <HV WKLV LV SULFHG WRZDUGV WKH KLJKHU HQG RI WKH PDUNHW EXW WKDW H[WUD LQYHVWPHQW LV ZRUWK WKH FRQYHQLHQFH RI KXEOHVV RSHUDWLRQ SOXV WKH FRQĆJXUDELOLW\ DQG ćH[LELOLW\ WKDW /,);èV DSS RIIHUV

Although Philips’ legacy of requiring a hub for its bulbs FRQWLQXHV WR VHUYH LW ZHOO LQ WHUPV RI UHOLDELOLW\ DQG VPDUW GHYLFH FRPSDWLELOLW\ ZH FDQèW KHOS EXW ZLQFH DW WKH FRPELQHG SULFH IRU WKRVH ZKR KDYH QRW \HW ERXJKW LQWR WKH +XH HFRV\VWHP ,I WKLV LV \RXU ĆUVW GHYLFH LQ WKH OLQH \RXèOO QHHG WR invest more than £100 to get up and running. That said, as \RX PLJKW H[SHFW IRU WKH LQYHVWPHQW WKLV ZHOO EXLOW VWULS KDV VNLOOV WKH WKUHH /(' PDNHXS RI HDFK RI WKH OLJKW QRGHV PHDQV it manages the best colour range on offer here, though those LEDs are so far apart they’re almost in different postcodes. 'HSHQGLQJ RQ \RXU FKRVHQ FRORXU WKLV FDQ PDNH WKH RXWSXW D tad uneven. Philips’ mobile app is excellent, offering up the ĆQH FRQWURO \RXèG H[SHFW DQG +XHèV =LJEHH VXSSRUW PHDQV LWèV RQH RI WKH PRVW ZHOO VXSSRUWHG SODWIRUPV RXW WKHUH

BEST ON TEST

PLATINUM AWARD

VERDICT T3 SAYS Great software, great design, great light output, and with no hub required. LIFX knows smart lighting and it really shows here.

6 0 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

VERDICT T3 SAYS hree LEDs doesn’t mean three times the range, but it does mean the LightStrip Plus is a master of colour reproduction and customised ambiance.

he best LED light strips

HOW TO GET THE MOST FROM YOUR LED STRIPS STICK AND TWIST

KEEP ’EM SEPARATED

MEASURE ONCE, CUT TWICE

Sketch out where your lights are going before you put them up. Factor in corners, as strips won’t bend beyond 90 degrees. Preview your layout before peeling off the backing and make sure the surface is clean because you only have one shot.

LEDs placed against a wall mean bursts of colour, so, for a softer look, stick the strip a few inches away from the surface it’ll be projecting onto. And make sure they’re hidden away, because you don’t want 20 LEDs staring you in the face.

Most LED strips can be cut with scissors, at marked points, to ensure you’re running at the correct length. Bundling up any excess LEDs at one end, leading to an ugly bright point, is completely unacceptable. You’ve been warned!

ONE FOR APPLE FANS

CHEAP AND CHEERFUL

OSRAM SMART+ HK FLEX 3P MULTICOLOR

VEHO KASA LED LIGHT STRIP £29.99, veho-kasa.com

£60, osram-lamps.com :KLOH 2VUDP GRHV SURGXFH =LJEHH VXSSRUWLQJ OLJKW VWULSV WKLV YHUVLRQ LV JHDUHG WRZDUGV WKH $SSOH PDUNHW VXSSRUWLQJ RQO\ +RPH.LW YLD %OXHWRRWK 7KDWèV FDVWLQJ D PXFK QDUURZHU QHW WKDQ LWV RSSRQHQWV KHUH VRbLI \RXèUH QRW IULHQGO\ ZLWK 6LUL RU $SSOH +RPH ORRN DW WKH RWKHU RSWLRQV 2VUDPèV NLW LV D WZLQ /(' VHWXS VSRUWLQJ ZKLWH VSHFWUXP DQG 5*% ODPSV and the strip is split in the box into three individual sections. ,WèV WULPPDEOH WR ĆW WKRXJK WKHUHèV OLWWOH GHVLJQ ćDLU /LJKW output from the Flex is nice, convincingly jumping through RGB shades, and it’s plenty responsive, though at 10W it’s a shade dimmer than the competition. Oh, and its Bluetooth UDQJH LV ZHOO %OXHWRRWK UDQJH PHDQLQJ LWèV QHYHU JRLQJ WR PDWFK D :L )L FRQQHFWHG OLJKW LQ WHUPV RI ćH[LELOLW\

VERDICT T3 SAYS Only compatible with Apple HomeKit, which does hurt it, but Osram’s strip shines in the white spectrum and handles RGB shades with aplomb.

Veho’s solution is the least dramatic of those on offer here, DQG SHUKDSV WKH OHDVW RYHUEORZQ LWèV DQ XQSURWHFWHG VWULS RI 5*% RQO\ /('V ZLWK D %OXHWRRWK FRQWUROOHU 7KDW GRHV PHDQ PDNLQJ VRPH VDFULĆFHV ERWK LQ WHUPV RI SRVLWLRQLQJ GRQèW JHW èHP ZHW DQG H[SHFWDWLRQV 7KH ODFN RI ZKLWH VSHFWUXP OLJKWV PHDQV WKH GHIDXOW ZKLWH PRGH WUHQGV KHDYLO\ WRZDUGV the blue, and Veho’s app is, to put it mildly, a little hard to QDYLJDWH Ã¥bDQG WR SXW LW KDUVKO\ LWèV D ELW UXEELVK ,W GRHV KRZHYHU ZRUN DW OHDVW RQFH WKH DSS KDV IRXQG WKH %OXHWRRWK VWULS DQG JLYHQ WKH JHQHURXV 0 ORQJ VWULS DQG KRZ compact the controller is, this is an absolute bargain. In fact, it’s cheaper than most single smart bulbs, let alone LED strips KDOI LWV OHQJWK ,WèV WULPPDEOH WRR VR VDFULĆFLQJ D IHZ LQFKHV KHUH PD\ VWLQJ OHVV WKDQ FXWWLQJ D FKXQN IURP D +XH VWULS

VERDICT T3 SAYS A rough-and-ready light strip with a few kinks to work out, but at this price it’s one that you should absolutely consider.

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SMART HOME SURGERY Your connected-home queries answered by T3’s experts

LOUIE HARRIS, BRIGHTON

Q I’m organising a house party for my partner’s 40th

birthday. What tech do I need to make it a success?

MATT BOLTON REPLIES: How much are you looking to invest, Louie? Because there’s truly a sliding scale of kit that you could lean on here. Start with the atmosphere. Sharp multi-room audio is a must to avoid clashing sounds. Scattering a few units of the deliciously rich Sonos One (£195, sonos.com) around is the perfect choice, particularly as its Alexa functionality means it’ll be useful later on…

A

Similarly, lighting can make or break a house party. If you’re not one for feature lighting, something like the LIFX Beam (£199, lifx.com) might not be the sharpest investment, but switching your ceiling lights for something that can pull double duty as both party mood lighting and practical family illumination is a good choice. We’d opt for the ever-reliable Philips Hue Colour Ambiance Starter Kit (£169.99, philips.co.uk), in Party mode.

Everything else will likely be on the kitchen end of the equation. Maybe a smart fridge, like the Samsung Family Hub (£3,499, samsung.com/uk), which has cameras inside to monitor remaining booze levels, and a tech-infused oven like the Samsung NV73J9WIFI (£1,299) to keep an eye on those nibbles. And don’t forget the morning after – use a Dyson 360 Eye (£799, dyson.com) to clean up while you nurse that hangover.

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: inbox@t3.com or www.facebook.com/T3mag 62 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

Smart home surgery

ALAN GREEN, TROWBRIDGE

Q I’d like to buy a smart speaker

but I’m paranoid about hackers. ALEX COX REPLIES: Smart speakers do listen, but they don’t listen to everything. To save power (and perhaps your blushes) they wait for their trigger word, and neither Google Assistant nor Alexa make any record of what’s being said until they have been directly activated. $W WKDW SRLQW WKLQJV JHW D WDG ĆVKLHU Delving into your Google or Alexa record, \RXèOO ĆQG DQ DUFKLYH RI HYHU\WKLQJ WKDWèV been asked of those assistants, often ZLWK UHFRUGLQJV RI WKH VSHFLĆF DXGLR WKDW triggered those actions. This can be handy if you’re having trouble getting an assistant to comply with your demands,

A

ELLIE MORSE, NORWICH

Q Is there a

but it’s equally worrying to some, so make sure you have those accounts fully locked down with a strong password and layers of authentication. Every smart speaker worth its salt has an off switch for its microphone, which in theory disables audio interaction. This is far from convenient if you’re going to use a smart assistant regularly, but useful if you’d rather avoid the potential of accidentally triggering a response. If you want a more obvious marker that your speaker’s ears are shut, Pure’s DiscovR (£229) can be closed. Just push down the top to disconnect the mic and bury Alexa’s nosy head in the sand.

thermostat that monitors indoor climate too? CLAIRE DAVIES REPLIES: There are a number of sensors out there that can watch out for air quality. Eve’s recently revised Room (£89), for example, will alert you should the humidity get too high, as will the rather beautiful second edition of the Awair (£159). If you’re already online with a smart thermostat, you may be able to link it up to one of these devices using HomeKit or IFTTT, cutting the heating when things get too parched, or even WULJJHULQJ D KXPLGLĆHU KRRNHG XS WR D smart plug. At the very least, you’ll be able to make your own assessment about when a window needs to be opened. However, we can do slightly better than that‌ Tado’s upgraded V3+ suite, which includes its main Smart Thermostat (£199, tado.com) and satellite Smart Radiator Thermostats (£119), features Air Comfort, a built-in air quality monitoring system that can intelligently analyse what’s going on in the air inside and out. If the pollen’s high, or rush hour pollution spikes, Tado’s app will advise you to close the window. If you need to ventilate, it’ll tell you that. You don’t need to completely replace your thermostat, if that’s too much; you could opt for a radiator module in the rooms you’re most often in. Subscribe to the Auto-Assist skill (£2.99 per month) and Tado’s Air Comfort system will automatically take charge of your heating to match the conditions that suit you.

A

SMART LIGHT SWITCHES Control the lighting in your home with a smart switch Clumsily reaching for an app on your phone can be, depending on the tightness of your jeans, a pretty stupid way to tweak your lights. So go old-school with your newschool bulbs and use a smart switch. Philips does a pair for Hue (the £18 Wireless Dimmer and the £50 Smart Tap Switch, philips.co.uk), or you can go broader and use a Flic (from e ćLF LR RU /RJLWHFK 3RS (around £80, logitech.com) to control lights from various manufacturers and other devices too. Alternatively, go the other way: if you don’t have

VPDUW EXOEV ZLULQJ LQ WKH /LJKWZDYH RF Switch (from ÂŁ60, plus the controller, lightwavef.com) adds Wi-Fi smarts to any old dumb lights.

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State of the Art

Feeling flexible Work smarter and faster with our trio of premium two-in-one laptops, each designed to offer the ultimate in computing versatility Words: Alex Cox Photography: Neil Godwin

WHAT’S ON TEST…

1 2 3

Lenovo Yoga 730-15IKB An all-rounder with great specs for the price… And Lenovo certainly knows its way around the two-in-one world. £1,499, lenovo.com

Microsoft Surface Book 2 This lean machine hits the high-end, with a detachable screen, unique design and incredible specs on paper. £2,549, microsoft.com

Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 A convertible model that hinges on its display, with an attractive slimline design and Dell’s impeccable credentials behind it. £1,699, dell.com

6 4 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

1

Two-in-one laptops

3

2

he laptop is dead: long live the laptop. Now begins the new reign of the two-in-one. Doubling the potential and doubling the flexibility, the theory is that two-in-one laptops make quick work of tons of tasks, and can roam from the desk to the lap to the, er, bath. Pull off the screen or flip it over, and you’ve got a tablet that does whatever a tablet can, but you get more. More ports, a physical keyboard, a bigger slice of battery life… In short, everything a tablet lacks.

T

Realistically, even if all you want is a Windows tablet, the two-in-one market is the place to look. It’s where the action is. And while Microsoft’s handle on Windows 10’s tablet mode has certainly strengthened over recent upgrades, you’d likely still rue the purchase of a tablet-only device if you were attempting to use it for work. Typing on a touchscreen is unintuitive, and somehow propping up your device while dangling a cable to a keyboard (or even using a typing cover) is invariably unpleasant.

here are double-duty machines that sit on lower rungs of the ladder than those we’ve collected here, but this being State of the Art, there’s a heavy measure of prestige to the particular devices we’ve chosen. hey can work hard, they can play hard, and each boast incredible specs so that you can make sure you’re milking every ounce of your hard-earned money out of them. And if you’re of an arty persuasion, a two-in-one with maximum muscle means the most lag-free drawing experience possible. N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 6 5

State of the Art TEST 01:

LENOVO YOGA 730-15IKB

DESIGN It’s the thought (and the laptop’s construction) that counts icrosoft’s Surface Book 2 is striking and unusual; even in pictures, you can sense something dierent about this machine that’s found nowhere else in the market, and in person it’s more remarkable. Its corrugated hinge, for a start, is absolutely ingenious. It’s lower, keyboard-side, than the main base of the laptop section, making room for a ventilation port, and it’s sturdy enough to position the screen at every useful angle. Tap an on-keyboard key, and an internal mechanism releases its ďŹ rm grip on that 15-inch 3:2 ratio tablet; place it back on, and the base ďŹ res up within a second or two. It’s weighty, particularly as a full package, but every aspect is very polished. Even the severe edges are oset by a delicate curve on either side of the base. Dell’s lean is more towards the classic two-in-one design, with a screen that ips back to tuck the keyboard underneath; this gives it a greater range of motion than Microsoft’s hinge, but it’s sti enough that the screen doesn’t op about at all. Its ventilation system, also exhausting through a vent behind the screen, is cleverly

M

he corrugated hinge on the Microsoft Surface 2 is absolutely ingenious engineered, and there’s a textured ďŹ nish to the keyboard surround that, while not oensive, doesn’t have quite the same class. No machine here is noticeably thinner than the other, but there’s plenty on display in terms of smoke and mirrors. Microsoft’s tapering proďŹ le, for example, squashes its front end down, but Lenovo’s microscopically slimmer screen section gives this ip-back two-in-one a thinner feel, particularly when closed. It also means that, unlike Dell’s insistence on sticking with USB 3 ports – a blessing and a curse in equal measure – the Yoga joins the Surface Book in featuring full-sized ports. Given the almost identical dimensions of Dell and Lenovo’s machines, we’re not quite sure why Dell couldn’t have included more versatile connectors here. It couldn’t just be because USB 3 is what all the cool kids are doing, could it? 6 6 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

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SPECS CPU Intel Core i7-8550U 1.8GHz GPU Nvidia Geforce GTX 1050 4GB STORAGE 512GB SSD RAM 16GB DISPLAY 15.6-inch 3840x2160 SIZE 17.2x360x249mm WEIGHT 1.89 kg

TEST 01: WINNER

MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK 2 The Surface 2 isn’t just a solid laptop. It’s supremely exible, incredibly desirable and massively innovative.

Two-in-one laptops

MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK 2

DELL XPS 15 2-IN-1

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SPECS

SPECS

CPU Intel Core i7-8650 2.1GHz CPU Nvidia Geforce GTX 1060 6GB STORAGE 512GB SSD RAM 16GB DISPLAY 15-inch 3240×2160 SIZE 23x343x251mm WEIGHT 1.89kg

CPU Intel Core i5-8305G 2.8GHz GPU AMD RX Vega M STORAGE 256GB SSD RAM 8GB DISPLAY 15-inch 1920x1080 SIZE 16x354x235mm WEIGHT 1.97kg

THIS IS WHAT IT ALL HINGES ON… MICROSOFT’S REDESIGNED SCREEN-HOLDING MECHANISM IS A STROKE OF DESIGN GENIUS

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N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 67

State of the Art TEST 02:

POWER

LENOVO YOGA 730-15IKB

7LPH WR ĆQG RXW LI WKHVH PDFKLQHV KDYH the necessary muscle where it counts pace matters, and there are different ways of dealing with it. You could pull off dirty tricks with curves, or you could use intelligent solutions. Dell has picked the latter, partnering with Intel to bolster its slimline frame with the company’s really rather neat 8th-gen Core processors, which pack discreet AMD Vega graphics right onto the chipset. hat’s a space (and heat) saving measure that makes sense. It’s not the fastest GPU you’ll find, but it’s a vast step up from the lackluster on board graphics engines of the past, and performed well in our tests. It’s certainly meaty enough to deal with the lower resolution of the XPS 15, and we never saw it falter in general use. It’s even possible to game on it, if you cut a few corners. Microsoft’s solution to the space issue seems to be to throttle the Surface Book 2 somewhat, because despite some serious hardware – this 15-inch edition packs in an impressively speedy 8th-gen Core i7, and even manages a completely credible discreet graphics solution (at least when the tablet section is docked) in the form of a mobile Geforce GTX 1060 with 6GB GDRAM – it

S

MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK 2

DELL XPS 15 2-IN-1

he graphics performance of the Lenovo topped the sharper Surface Book 2 delivered disappointing benchmark results. You can game on this machine, but you might not get the sort of performance you’d expect out of it. It’s not exactly lacking, but the i7 CPU in our test machine only just beat out the lower-end i5 of Dell’s effort. Lenovo does slightly less with the graphics features of the Yoga, sticking with the GTX 1050 chipset paired with 4GB of GDRAM. hat said, we suspect Lenovo has had to do less to calm it down; the touch and pen input is seamless, and graphics performance topped the supposedly sharper hardware of the Surface Book 2. We’ll admit this was a surprise, but Lenovo’s neat package, even rocking a ULV processor, keeps up admirably, and does an incredible job considering its lower price. One thing to note: this thing goes from whisper quiet to jet engine loud once you start asking it difficult questions. 6 8 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

TEST 02: WINNER

LENOVO YOGA 730-15IKB Well, there’s a surprise! Squeaking through our tests by a narrow margin, despite its lower price, Lenovo’s machine proved its chops with aplomb.

Two-in-one laptops

LENOVO YOGA 730-15IKB

TEST 03:

SCREEN Only a perfect panel will do, so let’s see how our three machines measure up lthough, as you’ve seen so far, we’re thoroughly wowed by Microsoft’s Surface 2 design, we’re not exactly upset that we can’t remove the InfinityEdge display from the base of the XPS in the same way. Why? Because it’s an InfinityEdge display and they are, quite frankly, peerless. his thing is beautifully lit, astonishingly broad in terms of both size and colour gamut, and it’s brighter than many clusters of stars. he bottom bezel does let it down, though; while the other edges are as tight as you’d expect, the base is a whopper and obvious when working in tablet mode. It’s also the only machine here with a 1080p display, though a higher-tier model is available with the 4K pixel quotient and a Core i7 chip. We could accuse the Yoga 730 of aping the XPS’ design (or perhaps vice versa). And we will: they’re incredibly close in terms of hardware layout, but putting the two next to each other shows that Dell’s small advantages really do make a big difference. Lenovo’s screen is nowhere near as spectacular. It retains the large bottom bezel, thickens up the other edges just slightly, and doesn’t have

A

MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK 2

DELL XPS 15 2-IN-1

he screen on the Dell XPS 15 is beautifully lit and astonishingly broad

TEST 03: WINNER

DELL XPS 15 2-IN-1 The resolution isn’t up to the same level as the others, but we won’t be swayed here: this was our favourite panel of the three by some margin. So there.

the same wow factor. You’re not getting a bad screen, by any means – the viewing angles are fantastic, its UHD resolution is better, and there’s a pressure-sensitive stylus included – but we weren’t blown away. he argument for Microsoft’s panel comes mostly back to that design conversation, because this is not a screen. It’s a proper tablet, with tablet bezels and everything a tablet needs built into it. Removing it and using it on your lap cuts the battery life, drops you down to Intel HD graphics and hinders its ports, sure, but neither of the others is that flexible. You can use it in tablet mode with the base attached, which is awesome, and Microsoft’s choice of an unusual 3:2 ratio works well. However, the panel itself isn’t the best. It’s a touch washed out and a little dimmer than both rivals. Like-for-like, it’s our least favourite of the bunch. N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 69

State of the Art VERDICT:

1st

THE OVERALL WINNER IS… MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK 2 £2,549, microsoft.com WE’RE IMPRESSED There is QRbODSWRS WDEOHW RU WZR LQ RQH currently out there with the same combination of versatility, theoretical power and design brilliance that Microsoft has managed to pack into the Surface Book 2. It’s delectable. WE’D IMPROVE Given its UDWKHU H[WUHPH SULFH WKH overall performance in synthetic

tests was disappointingly low. It’s a shame Microsoft has had to pull on the reigns so much. THE FINAL WORD For work or mild play, if you can afford it, this is top-end stuff that you’ll never ZDQW WR EH ZLWKRXW ([SDQG LW with Microsoft’s design tools and it’ll become an artist’s dream.

LENOVO YOGA 730-15IKB

DELL XPS 15 2-IN-1

£1,499, lenovo.com

£1,699, dell.com

2nd

WE’RE IMPRESSED For the price, this is a package that more than coughs up the goods for SHUIRUPDQFH DQG ćH[LELOLW\ WE’D IMPROVE This feels more like a solid attempt than a true winner. It’s not disappointing, but QRW H[FLWLQJ HLWKHU THE FINAL WORD Priced well, specced well, and equipped well, the Yoga 730 is a great machine.

3rd

WE’RE IMPRESSED Dell’s display is incredible, and it does a heck of a lot with those Vega internal graphics. WE’D IMPROVE The design could have been given a touch more sheen, and the model is notably lower-end. THE FINAL WORD A machine that says ‘quality’ as soon as you switch it on, and doesn’t stop.

SIX WAYS TO GET MORE FROM YOUR SURFACE BOOK 2 01 DROP THE BRIGHTNESS 2ND\ ZHèYH JRQH RQ DW JUHDW OHQJWK DERXW WKH EULOOLDQFH RI 'HOOèV ,QĆQLW\(GJH GLVSOD\ 6WHS WKDW EULJKWQHVV GRZQ D OLWWOH DQG \RXèOO SXOO D ELW PRUH H[WUD EDWWHU\ OLIH RXW RI \RXU PDFKLQH Ã¥ SHUIHFW LI \RXèUH EURZVLQJ WKH ZHE RQ \RXU ODS

02 TAKE A PEN TO IT Using an active pen – Lenovo LQFOXGHV RQH ZLWK LWV PDFKLQH while it’s an optional add-on (for a cost) from Microsoft and Dell 7 0 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

åbPHDQV KDYLQJ D PXFK JUHDWHU WDEOHW PRGH GUDZLQJ H[SHULHQFH ,WèV QRW MXVW D FDVH RI KDYLQJ SLQSRLQW DFFXUDF\ $Q DFWLYH SHQ PHDQV WKDW \RX KDYH SUHVVXUH VHQVLWLYLW\ JLYLQJ \RXU strokes a sense of weight and helping the whole experience feel more like pen on paper.

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-XVW GRQèW SXVK WRR KDUG EHFDXVH \RX FRXOG RYHUFRPH the force of the hinge.

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05 KEEP IT LAPTOP Don’t forget that these PDFKLQHV DUH IRU DOO LQWHQWV DQG SXUSRVHV SURSHU ODSWRSV WRR 6R GRQèW IRUFH \RXUVHOI WR XVH D WRXFKVFUHHQ LI LW GRHVQèW PDNH VHQVH Ã¥ SRNLQJ DW \RXU VFUHHQ DOO GD\ LV D JRRG ZD\ WR HQG XS ZLWK DQ DJJUDYDWHG VKRXOGHU

06 USE TABLET MODE ,W PLJKW EH WHPSWLQJ WR NHHS LW UDZ EXW RSWLQJ LQ WR :LQGRZV èV 7DEOHW 0RGH PDNHV VHQVH 1R PRUH SHFNLQJ DW GLDORJXH ER[HV ZLWK \RXU ĆQJHUWLSV

Two-in-one laptops

5 01

ESSENTIAL ADD-ONS Stock up on these stylish accessories and tools to PDNH \RXU 6XUIDFH %RRN H[SHULHQFH HYHQ EHWWHU

1

02

MICROSOFT SURFACE PEN PLATINUM

3DLQIXOO\ H[SHQVLYH SHUKDSV EXW Microsoft’s pressure- and tilt-sensitive Surface Pen is a superb way to get digital ink onto your screen. Replaceable tips give you precisely the feel you’re after, from pen to pencil and beyond. £99.99, microsoft.com

2

INATECK 15-15.4 INCH LAPTOP SLEEVE BRIEFCASE

03

The outer shell of the Surface Book isn’t particularly delicate, but you wouldn’t just want to toss it into a bag and be done with it. Prevent irreversible scratches and protect those sharp corners with a soft, classy case that comes with ĆYH OD\HUV RI GHYLFH SURWHFWLRQ £18.99, amazon.co.uk

3

JRC BODY GUARD STICKERS

4

MICROSOFT SURFACE DIAL

5

MICROSOFT SURFACE ARC OPTICAL MOUSE

Stickers? On a Surface Book 2? Well, these aren’t the nerdy stickers you’ll see on the lids of battered old laptops. No, these are protective polyester shields for all surfaces, right down to the keyboard surround. Feeling somewhat fancy? Opt for a colour change. £17.99, amazon.co.uk

Place it on the screen and twist: everything from pinpoint controls in apps like Photoshop, to a volume control to smooth scrolling through web pages, happens, GHSHQGLQJ RQ WKH FRQWH[W ZLWK EXPS\ KDSWLF feedback ensuring you hit the right mark. £89.99, microsoft.com

04

05 Microsoft’s touchpad is pretty great, but VOLGLQJ \RXU ĆQJHU DURXQG D UHFWDQJOH LVQèW WKH best way to work. With the company’s VRPHZKDW RYHU GHVLJQHG VQDS ćDW PRXVH LQ your bag, you’ll be ready to point properly whenever the mood takes you. £79.99, microsoft.com N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 71

Tech Innovation for the Future

Building big ideas T3 teamed up with TechRadar and Honor to help foster the next great tech idea, with a series of inspiring forums and £10,000 of funding for a prize-winning concept his was a competition with a life-changing prize. Back in July, we partnered with TechRadar and Honor to launch a competition where we asked students and recent graduates to come up with a brilliant tech idea, with a first prize of £10,000. he competition was part of our Tech Innovation for the Future project, which included events in

T

7 2 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

Newcastle and London hosting innovative thinkers, and around 100 thought-provoking articles posted to our innovation hub at T3.com. For the competition, we were looking for ideas for apps, software services and hardware with the potential to solve real-life problems and improve people’s lives. he response to our competition was fantastic, with entries flooding in from all over the country, which

made for some lively discussions on the judging panel made up of journalists from T3 and TechRadar. We chose the T3 Awards, which were held at the Ministry of Sound on 27 September, as the venue to announce the competition winner and two runners-up, so that as well as picking up a massive cheque, the winners could enjoy entertainment from DJ Yoda and Johnny Borrell, who played at the event.

Building big ideas

And the winner is...

AMILAH CHOUDHURY Seek will help you ďŹ nd amazing new experiences wherever you are ,Q ĆUVW SODFH FROOHFWLQJ D SUL]H RI e ZDV $PLODK &KRXGKXU\ IURP /RQGRQ $PLODK FDPH XS ZLWK DQ LGHD IRU DQ DSS WKDW KHOSV SHRSOH discover new things to do in the area around them. ĂŞ6RPH RI WKH PRVW UHZDUGLQJ H[SHULHQFHV FRPH IURP VSRQWDQHLW\ ĂĽ IURP GLVFRYHULQJ H[SORULQJ DQG UHYHOOLQJ LQ WKH DPELJXLW\ RI WKH XQH[SHFWHG ZKLFK WKLV DSS ZLOO KHOS SHRSOH WR DFKLHYH ĂŤ $PLODK ZURWH

In second place was Andrew Garbett with hinkActive.io. hinkActive uses inexpensive activity trackers and pseudonymous avatars to help 8-11 year olds keep ďŹ t while learning about data privacy at the same time. “he technology has been designed speciďŹ cally for group activity tracking for primary school children and focuses on pseudonymity as an approach to managing privacy of personal data. It also promotes social interactions between children to enhance data literacy and understanding of activity tracking data,â€? explains

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Andrew. “Our goal is to reduce national obesity levels in primary school children and provide children with the tools and skills necessary to understand their data-driven life, and prepare them for an active and healthy life into adulthood.� hinkActive.io has had two successful deployments with the Newcastle United Foundation and the team recently deployed the technology in a local secondary school. Andrew says the next steps are to rapidly expand on three dimensions: regional and national growth in Premier League Football,

entrance into Premier League Rugby, and development for health and wellbeing programmes for the workplace. We wish Andrew’s project the best of luck! In third place, the judges chose SOSight by Suleman Sujad. SOSight is a concept for a free emergency services app which would allow a user to easily contact the police, ambulance, ďŹ re department and other rescue services, sending photos or video footage of their location to aid with their rescue. What a great idea – we’re surprised that it doesn’t already exist! N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 73

Time after time

Time after time Boost your wrist-based smarts and style with our review round-up of six key next-gen smartwatches Words: Becca Caddy, Spencer Hart Photography: Neil Godwin

N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 75

Time after time

Michael Kors Access Runway A fully capable smartwatch that’s also big on style This beautiful timepiece is designed for people who want a capable smartwatch wrapped up in a stylish package. Yes it looks similar to previous iterations from Michael Kors, but it’s had a tech boost. With a 41mm circular design, the watch suits smaller wrists and is aimed primarily at women. Its stainless steel casing comes in silver, gold or rose gold, with a choice of stainless steel and silicone straps. The design is bold, but not as glitzy as previous smartwatches from the brand. We think the simpler design makes a statement while being effortlessly stylish. The 1.19-inch touchscreen display has a super-bright 390X390 resolution, and you can even customise the watch faces.

76 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

The Access Runway is also on hand to track your workouts, thanks to Google Fit. Fitness features include GPS for tracking outdoor activities, a swim-proof rating for hitting the pool, and heart rate tracking for dishing out enhanced fitness data. The watch also serves up notifications to your wrist and offers built-in mobile payments thanks to an NFC chip. The only downside is that smart tech eats up a lot of battery, which is likely to last between 12 and 24 hours depending on use. If you’re willing to charge it nightly, this is a reliable, fashion-forward smartwatch with good fitness tracking. From £349, michaelkors.co.uk

Matrix PowerWatch X

Matrix PowerWatch X This future-gazing model uses heat-powered tech Imagine never having to plug in and charge your gadgets ever again. That’s the thinking behind this futuristic smartwatch, which boasts an infinite battery life because it runs off your body heat. The watch uses the difference between your skin temperature and the ambient air temperature to generate a current that charges the watch. That means no more running out of power. This watch is truly innovative, and we reckon you’ll be seeing more of this type of tech in the future, which is why we wanted to show it to you. Unfortunately, we don’t think its performance lives up to its potential yet. The Matrix PowerWatch X is a simple smartwatch with an always-on LCD display and a screen that you control via

buttons on the side of the watch. There’s no bright touchscreen here, so you’re out of luck on that score. You can use the watch to tell the time, to track steps and do basic fitness and sleep tracking. It also prompts you if you receive a notification to your phone, but you won’t be able to read it on your screen like you would with others. Design-wise it looks durable, and with a 50mm diameter and 13.5mm thickness it’s very chunky. That style might appeal to some, but will be off-putting for many. The Matrix bodes well for body-powered tech, but right now it’s only a decent option for those who are accepting of a basic smartwatch experience. From $279 / £212, powerwatch.com

N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 7 7

Time after time

Fossil Q Venture HR A stylish and sporty option for everyday wear Part of the most recent generation of smartwatches from Fossil, the Q Venture HR is the brand’s new female-focused design. Running on Wear OS, the smartwatch boasts a lot of added tech, including a heart rate tracker, GPS and support for Google Play, which means it now competes with some of the best smartwatches around. With a premium build and a circular design, it’s the perfect combination of ease and style. The Q Venture HR comes in a variety of colour tones and offers a choice of strap combinations, including stainless steel and leather. There are also different bezel options to select from. The Q Venture HR has a 40mm stainless steel casing that’s 13mm thick, making it a great option for smaller wrists. That

7 8 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

high-resolution display looks great in all kinds of lighting, and you can scroll through menus using the crown or two programmable buttons on the side. As well as looking the part, Fossil’s smartwatch is a great fitness companion, tracking a range of activities. It also has untethered GPS for running, cycling and hiking, waterproofing up to 30m, and a built-in heart rate sensor for adding further fitness data to your workouts. Power-wise, the battery lasts between 12 and 24 hours, depending on use. If you have smaller wrists and you’re on the hunt for a smartwatch that’s versatile and perfect for everyday wear, this is one of the best options out there. From £249, fossil.com

Apple Watch Series 4

Apple Watch Series 4 The world’s best smartwatch takes a big leap forward The first change in the Apple Watch’s design since its inception brings 30 per cent larger screens that extend closer to the edge of the body (it looks very iPhone X), with a slightly thinner chassis. The smaller Series 4 screen is now bigger than the largest Series 3 screen, which makes the smaller size tempting for more people. A petite change in the curve underneath makes it feel less bulky to wear, even though the 40mm and 44mm sizes are marginally larger than the Series 3. It has extra feedback now when you use the Digital Crown: it ‘clicks’ pleasingly as you turn it, so it’s easy to track your scrolling by feel. The side button is now flush to the case, which we’re less keen on, since it’s much harder to find Apple Pay in a rush.

Apple’s mighty smartwatch is incredibly fast in use, and there’s a fantastic range of apps for it, though notifications and Siri are still your most likely ways to interact (and both work well here). Battery life can be three to four days with standard use. The new, second-generation heart rate sensor seems to be less prone to errors of high and low readings, yet still lags behind a chest strap for true accuracy. A built-in ECG capable of detecting abnormal heart rhythm is an amazing tool to have, but you can’t use it yet (regulatory approval is pending). The fall detection (asking if you need an ambulance after a tumble) turns it into a smartwatch that could save lives. £399, apple.com/uk

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Time after time

TicWatch Pro Affordability and increased battery life for the win The clever part in this watch is its dualdisplay screen, which pairs a transparent LCD with an OLED display, layered on top of each other. The OLED is employed for a full suite of smartwatch features. The low-power LCD screen displays less information, yet still packs in the time, date, battery level, step count and heart rate when you push the right button. If the TicWatch is running low on power, you can use just the LCD screen, giving you a fair amount of smart functionality. Using the OLED screen gives you around two days of battery life, but the LCD can keep it going for a week or so. All very impressive, and the good build quality is nice but chunky. Sadly, the screen doesn’t fare so well in bright sunlight.

8 0 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

The TicWatch Pro is a Wear OS watch, so it’s fully Android compatible. There’s no rotating bezel or crown for navigation, but one of the buttons is programmable – we chose to make it trigger Android Pay. However, this is not the smoothest experience overall: there are often stutters and a bit of lag in use, and you need to use both the Wear app and Mobvoi’s app to make the most of all of the features. The latter offers some good activity tracking features, though, again, this isn’t much of a sports watch. If you like the overall style and want a watch that’ll keep going, this is good, but it’s not as slick as some of the others. £219.99, mobvoi.com

Samsung Galaxy Watch

BEST FOR ANDROID

Samsung Galaxy Watch The slickest smartwatch yet for Android users Samsung’s stylish sequel to the Gear Sport should appeal to a broad audience. It comes in 42mm or 46mm sizes, with a circular screen and design that mimics traditional watches – though it doesn’t match the Apple Watch for build quality. However, the Galaxy Watch works great, with a rotating bezel and two buttons providing an excellent way of navigating its various apps and menus. The bezel also has a satisfying click when rotated. Testing the smaller model got us two to three days of battery life, while the larger version lasted four to five days. The Galaxy Watch uses Samsung’s Tizen operating system, which we find to be the slickest of them all – it’s so simple and smooth to get around. However, a

drastic lack of app support means it’s also the Galaxy Watch’s biggest downfall. There are improved health and fitness features compared to previous models. It won’t replace a Garmin for hardcore tracking, but it’s good for eyeballing workouts and general exercise. Bixby is here as a voice assistant, but it’s almost useless – we’d rather Google Assistant. There’s lots to love on the Galaxy watch, but it doesn’t reach the potential some of the very best smartwatches. Apple Watch can pay for your coffee, give you calendar notifications on your wrist and potentially save your life. The Galaxy Watch is good, but it doesn’t come close to Apple. From £279, samsung.com

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he complete guide to‌

8 2 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

Drones

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO…

Drones

With drone technology evolving at a breakneck pace and a wide array of options hitting the market, there really hasn’t been a better time to take to the skies Words: Damien McFerran Photography: Olly Curtis

ot so long ago, the idea of flying a drone through the air sounded like something you’d only find in a sci-fi novel. Rapid advances in technology over the past decade have created a market packed with options that cater for budding aviators of all skill levels. If you just want to capture long-distance selfies on your next sunny holiday, then there’s a drone for that. Perhaps you’re a pro-level photographer or filmmaker who wants to capture high-quality aerial stills and footage – drones make these things possible within a realistic budget, whereas a few years back you’d need to rent a helicopter as well as the equipment to achieve the same results. here’s even a thriving sub-set of drones aimed at people who value thrillseeking over anything else; drone racing is a burgeoning pastime which is supported by a wide selection of products and even professional leagues. Drones – or ‘Unmanned Aerial Vehicles’ as they’re more formally known – have actually been around

N

for a lot longer than you might assume. he term ‘drone’ was first used in relation to the Fairey Queen remote-controlled reconnaissance aircraft, of which three were built in the 1920s. he idea of unmanned aircraft was, of course, incredibly appealing to military and naval experts, because it meant human lives didn’t have to be at risk during dangerous missions. As drone technology and the materials used to build them have matured over the last few decades, the concept of miniature UAVs has become a reality. Along with this, there have been rapid improvements in things like flight control, power supply and drone construction – all which have culminated in the consumer-level drone market that we know today.

DRONE ORIGINS Despite the dazzling array of different UAVs, most drones conform to the same basic design principles. Four propellers – one pair rotating clockwise and the other counter-clockwise – are powered by motors controlled by a

central processing unit that interprets commands from the user and turns them into accurate and responsive movement, even when the unit is being buffed by strong winds. In the past, many drones utilised rotary DC motors, but more manufacturers have now adopted brushless motors due to their durability, power and reliability. Another key component of the drone is the gyroscope. Most devices sold today have at least a three-axis (or 3D) gyro. During flight, a drone is constantly being subjected to forces such as wind resistance and gravity itself, not to mention your own – often erratic – commands. he internal gyro can detect even tiny differences in orientation and feeds data back to the drone’s central computer, which allows it to adjust the propellers and maintain a steady course – something it does multiple times every second. A three-axis gyro can measure roll (front to back), pitch (side to side) and yaw (vertical), but many modern devices are equipped with a more advanced ‘six-axis’ gyro; this adds an

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he complete guide to‌ The top three‌

NEXT-LEVEL DRONE ACCESSORIES here’s loads of extra gear to go along with your drone. Here are some essentials you’ll want to invest in 01

A SPARE BATTERY Given that many drones are only capable of ć\LQJ IRU D IHZ PLQXWHV EHIRUH WKHLU SRZHU cells are depleted, a spare battery – if you FDQ ĆW RQH ü LV D PXVW :LWK RQH \RX FDQ swap on-site and get back in the air quickly.

02

FPV HEADSET This isn’t a feature that’s common to all drones, but those that have it are instantly more appealing. Using your smartphone in the same way as a Samsung Gear VR, you can see a drone’s view of the world below.

03

PROPELLER GUARDS Those propellers can potentially cause harm to objects and people. A set of guards will not only prevent nasty nicks, but also protect the drone’s blades from damage. 8 4 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

accelerometer, which means it can also detect static acceleration (due to gravity) and the amount of dynamic acceleration during ight. his makes for a more assured ride and means the drone can detect when it’s approaching the ground and execute safety precautions accordingly. If you want a drone that promises the smoothest ight, looking out for a six-axis gyro is a must. If there’s one common complaint that all UAVs share, it’s stamina. Battery life continues to be a weakness in drones of all shapes and sizes, so don’t expect to get more than a few minutes of usage out of pocketsized examples. Even at the upper end of the scale, your ight time is never going to be measured in hours, although a lot of drones come with removable batteries so you can land, replace the power cell and take o again without having to wait to recharge. Advances in power eďŹƒciency and motors are happening all the time, and manufacturers are ďŹ nding ways of gaining a few more valuable minutes with each hardware revision. However, this is likely to be a weakness in this sector for a while yet.

PICK THE RIGHT DRONE FOR YOU Despite the basic similarities between these machines, not all drones are created equal. At the lower end of the market you’ll ďŹ nd plenty of cheap and cheerful options that give novices the chance to get their heads around the idea of ying a UAV. A good example is the Parrot Mambo, a tiny drone that’s pitched as a beginner-level product and has even been utilised in a classroom environment in conjunction with the coding platform Tynker. Featuring connectivity with companion smartphone apps, these budget drones are sometimes equipped with low-resolution cameras but lack advanced features; they’re best used indoors where

their small size and low speed won’t get bullied by the elements. he next level up is dominated by compact but powerful folding drones, designed to oer a wide range of features in a form factor that’s small enough to be carried around with ease. Examples such as the recently released DJI Mavic 2 Pro showcase just how versatile this sector of the drone market has become in recent years; its gimbal-stabilised camera can shoot 4K video, making it seriously attractive for amateur ďŹ lmmakers who want to get some verticality in their work. Speaking of which, a gimbal – which, in case you were wondering, is a pivoting mount that rotates about all three axes, giving the camera its own stabilisation separate from the the drone’s – is a feature that you’ll certainly want to have if you intend to shoot video while your drone’s up in the air. It allows the camera to remain steady even when the drone itself is changing direction, and is a massive improvement on the often disappointing digital stabilisation systems that’s incorporated into small drones. At the upper end of the ‘prosumer’ drone market, you’ll ďŹ nd units that cost thousands of pounds and come with their own hulking ight cases. hese high-end examples are also packed with features such as collision

You’ll want a gimbal if you intended to shoot video while the drone’s ying

Drones

T3 recommends...

NEW TO DRONES? THERE’S A UAV FOR U Drones come in all shapes, sizes and prices. Here are our picks of the most common types

FOLDING DRONE

DJI MAVIC AIR 6PDOO HQRXJK WR IROG XS DQG ĆW LQ your pocket, the DJI Mavic Air is a potent tool when it comes to aerial photography and movie-making. It houses a three-axis mechanical gimbal for super-smooth video recording and boasts 4K capture.

1080p 120 fps slow-motion video is also included, and photos are enhanced by HDR support. Meanwhile, the dedicated remote control connects with your smartphone to keep costs down. ÂŁ769, dji.com

While some drones are arguably more versatile than others, there’s no single option that covers all of the bases. Serious photographers won’t be very happy with a basic model that’s built for personal amusement more than anything else, and those who want to race their drone won’t be happy with a device that’s been created with taking the perfect selďŹ e in mind. You’ve got to pick the right model for the job at hand, and think about what you want to achieve before you go shopping. To help with this we’ve divided the drone market into four basic categories. he four examples picked here are among the best in their respective sector, so shop with conďŹ dence.

SELFIE DRONE

AIRSELFIE 2 This tiny UAV is truly pocketsized and comes equipped with a 12-megapixel camera for HD shots; make no mistake about it, WKH $LU6HOĆH LV WKH XOWLPDWH KROLGD\ companion. With a 20-metre height ceiling, unique anti-

vibration technology and autohover mode, this is the drone for you if you’re looking to capture the YHU\ EHVW VHOĆH VKRWV $QG DW MXVW 80 grams, it’ll slip into your bag almost unnoticed. £249, Smartech @ Selfridges.com

PHOTOGRAPHY DRONE

RACING DRONE

DJI MAVIC 2 PRO

WALKERA F210 3D EDITION

'-,èV ćDJVKLS GURQH GRHVQèW FRPH cheap. But for that price you JHW KDOI DQ KRXU RI ćLJKW WLPH advanced obstacle avoidance GXULQJ DXWRQRPRXV ćLJKW D Hasselblad-made, high-end camera; and cutting-edge video

and image-capture options, all in a unit that folds down for easy transportation. There are more pro options – the DJI Inspire 2 being the most notable – but this is one of the best in the business. £1,299, dji.com

It might look like a rather LQWLPLGDWLQJ ć\LQJ URERW WKDWèV been transported from the future, but the Walkera F210 3D is one of the best racing drones money can buy. It offers a rugged and light FDUERQ ĆEUH ERG\ ORZ ODWHQF\

camera feed for seeing what it sees instantly, and astonishing agility and responsiveness. This is all commanded by the dedicated and super-comfortable DEVO 7 remote control. e ć\LQJWHFK FR XN N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 8 5

he complete guide to‌ Drones require serious dedication and skill in order to y. Out of the box, they also need a lot of tinkering and additional work to get the most out of them – it’s little wonder then that drone racers are just as enthusiastic and committed as people who race cars, bikes or any other vehicle. It’s tempting to look at the drone market and assume that there’s one device which will suit everyone, but as any seasoned tech consumer knows, that’s rarely the case with any electronic product. Before you lay out your cash, be sure you know precisely what you want from your drone – if it’s just a bit of casual ying then you’ll be ďŹ ne buying a low-end model with a primitive camera.

detection and GPS, and often come with their own dedicated remote controller. A decent global positioning system is pretty important when the device you’re sending hundreds of feet up into the air costs as much as a small family car; many modern drones utilise both GPS (the American standard) and GLONASS (the Russian equivalent), which allows for more accurate positioning. he ‘return to home’ command – a feature that is by no means exclusive to upper-tier UAVs – becomes even more important with such expensive devices; you may also ďŹ nd that they come equipped with automatic ight patterns which allow you to focus on getting the best images and video while the drone itself does all the ying. Drone technology has recently converged quite nearly with another emerging tech –

virtual reality. Some drones on oer – such as the Parrot Bebop 2 Power – oer an optional headset which allows you to see the world from the drone’s camera, ying it as if you were sitting inside it.

RACE TO THE FINISH Given their speed and manoeuvrability, it should come as no great shock to learn that drone racing is a very popular pastime. Racing drones focus on speed and responsiveness and also cast aside aesthetic charm in favour of creating something that moves faster than the competition. While even the most advanced drone can typically be handled by a novice and may even come with a beginner’s option which automates certain features and limits the distance it can travel from the operator, racing drones

he device you’re sending up in the air costs as much as a small family car Should you wish to harness the power of your UAV to make smooth 4K video for a professional portfolio, then you’re going to have to lay out a little more cash – as well as put the hours in to master ying the thing and taking the best footage. If thrill-seeking is more your desire, then a racing drone is the obvious choice – but expect to spend the same amount of time tinkering with your unit as people who race remote-control cars and model planes, if not more. Whichever example you choose, this is an incredibly exciting and rapidly-evolving area of tech that’s only going to get better.

DRONES IN THE UK: THE LAW he potential for harm has forced the government to tighten up drone laws Drones are wonderful things, but like most tech, they can be used for nefarious activities. The obvious dangers involved with remotely controlling a large, sky-bound object have predictably encouraged governments around the world to slap down restrictions on UAV RZQHUV DQG QH[W \HDU VLJQLĆFDQW FKDQJHV ZLOO come into force in UK drone law. From 30th November 2019, any drone that weighs over 250g will need to be registered with the Civil Aviation Authority and owners need to successfully pass online safety tests; failure to do both of these things will become a criminal offence with a £1,000 ĆQH DWWDFKHG ,Q DGGLWLRQ WR WKLV DV RI WK 8 6 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

July this year, the existing 400ft (120m) legal maximum height will be applied to any drone weighing between 250g and 7kg – though if \RXU GURQH LV ĆWWHG ZLWK D ĆUVW SHUVRQ YLHZ tech (like the Parrot Bebop 2 Power and its optional FPV headset) then the height restriction increases to 1,000 feet. Furthermore, the law states that drones must remain at least 50 metres away from people and private property, and 150 metres from congested areas and organised open-air assemblies of more than 1,000 people. There will be a 1km exclusion zone around airports, licensed aerodromes and government aerodromes, though this doesn’t apply to

unlicensed aerodromes and countrysideEDVHG ĆHOG VWULSV XVHG E\ OLJKW DLUFUDIW 3ULVRQV DUH GHHPHG WR EH QR ć\ ]RQHV DV drones can be used to transport contraband. Anyone caught ignoring such exclusion zones FRXOG IDFH D ĆQH RI XS WR e RU XS WR ĆYH years in prison. The UK government’s also currently debating whether to apply age limits to drone operators. ,I \RX LQWHQG WR SXUFKDVH D GURQH ć\ within the boundaries of the law – as more drones are sold we may well see more complex rules and regulations being implemented, along with harsher penalties for those who choose to wilfully ignore them.

OUT NOW!

Discover the next gadget that will change your life, in a technology magazine custom-designed for iPad

GET A FREE TRIAL IN OUR APP Search the iOS App Store for ‘T3’ ALSO ON

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

Edited by Claire Davies

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100

APPLE iPHONE XS MAX

PHILIPS OLED 803

PANASONIC TZ200 VS SONY RX100 VI

DJI MAVIC 2 PRO

SONY XPERIA XZ3

WEATHERPROOF JACKETS

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

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

N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 8 9

Tested

Screen 6.5-inch 2688x1242 OLED Processor A12 Bionic Storage 64BG/256GB/512GB Cameras 12MP telephoto and wide-angle rear, 7MP True Depth front Battery capacity 3,179mAh Dimensions 157.5x77.4x7.7mm Weight 208g Connectivity Apple Lightning port, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0

From ÂŁ1,099 apple.com/uk

or the last few years, when there’s been a ‘plus’-sized iPhone, the bigger one has always been better. The screen size is a matter of personal preference, but they’ve also had signiďŹ cantly better battery life and dual cameras instead of single-lens aairs. That all changes with the release of the iPhone XS models. The 5.8-inch iPhone XS and 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max are the same phone in dierent sizes, so apart from talk of physical dimensions, this is eectively our review of both.

F

MAX FACTOR

Apple iPhone XS Max The iPhone joins the giant phone trend with this 6.5-inch PRQVWHU EXWbLV LW D ELJ HQRXJK UHDVRQ WR XSJUDGH" 9 0 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

Beauty factor We might as well start by looking at that screen. he 2688x1242 OLED screen is absolutely stunning, leading the ďŹ eld in vibrancy and colours without question, even if the 6.4-inch Samsung Note9 actually has it beaten for sharpness. When things are this high-res, it’s not a problem. Watching movies on the screen is especially impressive: all of Apple’s OLED phones support Dolby Vision, which is the most advanced kind of

Apple iPhone XS Max

TOP SIX The 6.5-inch screen is amazing for video, especially Dolby 9LVLRQ +'5 IURP 1HWćL[ RU iTunes. If you like to watch on your commute, it’s a real bonus

SPEAKER POWER Stereo speakers (one in the notch, one on the bottom) give real stereo separation when watching videos, and are better than a cheap Bluetooth speaker for music

HDR, and is supported by Netflix and iTunes movies, so there’s plenty of content. Firing up a blockbuster that makes the most of the dynamic range on offer here puts most TVs to shame – the depth of the blacks and richness of the colours is gripping. As an added bonus, the stereo speakers actually give you true left and right separation if you’re using them, so you can hear things move in space as they travel across the screen. Good headphones will always be better, but the speakers are so clear, loud and well-balanced that this really doesn’t seem like a bad way to watch something. hey’re among the most impressive we’ve heard, though the Razer phone’s amazing Atmos speakers still has them beat, since they somehow also added in height, despite coming from a phone you’re holding in front of you. Obviously, the bigger screen of the XS Max makes this experience that much more spectacular than the regular XS (which is the exact same size and resolution as the X before it). But otherwise, the difference

between using the bigger version of the phone and the smaller isn’t that pronounced – even less than we’d assumed, to be honest.

Tall order A very important piece of context here is that your reviewer is a 6' 3" man, and therefore in possession of hands that are not exactly small. Moving from an iPhone X to the Max wasn’t the huge jump we expected. We could still type one-handed with only a tiny adjustment to grip, and reaching across the phone to use universal ‘back’ swipe was fine. Reaching up to the top of the screen became a lot more of a hassle, and we had to use our pinky for supporting the phone more, but none of these left us feeling uncomfortable. However, the Max is at the edge of what we can use one-handed. Giving the two phones to other people, it doesn’t take a big size difference before the Max is too much. Which is fine – that’s why Apple makes two sizes – but outside of making videos and photos look even

Yes, the iPhone XS looks the same as the iPhone X. But bigger, in this case

bigger and better, we have to say that we didn’t find that the bigger screen of the Max did much for us. he idea is that, like the Plus phones before it, apps can make better use of the bigger screen. Turn an email or calendar to landscape and you get a split view, with a view of your email inbox on the left, say, and a pane showing the selected email’s contents on the right. We know that some power users swear by this, and hated that the 5.8-inch iPhone X didn’t have it, but we have to say that we’ve never found it essential. On the Samsung Note9, the bigger screen is used for two apps at once, and though they may be quite cramped, anyone can find this useful in a pinch. We wouldn’t say the same about the Max. Which isn’t a knock against it – we’ve already explained how some apps use the screen, and almost any app can just show more stuff, potentially – but we’re saying don’t get a bigger screen expecting to be an automatic productivity boost. he smaller, easier-to-handle model may actually be faster to use. N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 91

Tested

WIDE LOAD The wide-angle lens on the XS (both models) actually has a wider, uh, angle than previous models, so can squeeze a little more into each frame

GOLD LUSH We absolutely love Apple’s QHZ JROG ĆQLVK RQ ERWK the iPhones and the Watch Series 4. It’s not blingy, but it does make a statement

Apple has promised that the Max gets better battery life than the 5.8-inch XS model, especially since it includes Apple’s biggest battery ever in a phone. It says the XS Max should last an hour longer than the XS, but Apple’s estimates are usually conservative. In our experience, the Max can deďŹ nitely last a full day of heavy use, though some tasks (4G hotspotting, or very intense games) will cut hours o easily. Basically, it’s as good as the equivalent phones from competitors, but no better. Incidentally, Apple has once again made the world’s most powerful

The glass back is a GLIIHUHQW ĆQLVK WR the gold edge, but complements it perfectly

phone processor, but it’s starting to feel like overkill: the iPhone X was damn fast, and the XS is super slick as well, no surprise.

A new image One area of improvement Apple has, if anything, underplayed compared to last year’s model is the camera. A much bigger (over 30 per cent) sensor captures lots more light, while the new extra-powerful processor does further AI analysis of scenes as you shoot them, resulting in a big leap forward in quality. Low-light shooting in particular is now on a par

with the incredible Google Pixel 2 camera – it picks up light and details that were just fuzzy before. And for bright images, you get even more vibrant colours and crisp outlines. (Apple used to favour its photos coming out quite neutral, but this time seems to have followed Samsung down the path of processing the colours to be quite saturated.) Apple calls its handling of light and shadows ‘Smart HDR’, which helps to avoid shots where exposing for bright sunlight means you really can’t see anything in the shadows, or vice versa. It combines multiple shots into

ESSENTIAL ADD-ONS

GEAR4 CRYSTAL PALACE

SONY WH-1000XM3

NATIVE UNION DROP WIRELESS

A nice-looking phone needs a case that shows it off, and keeps it in one (unscratched) piece. This see-through case can take a battering – we think its D3O tech is the best in the business for protection with minimal bulk. £29, gear4.com

If you are going to while away some travelling hours by watching a movie on the Max’s glorious screen, get some equally impressive headphones. These are as good as it gets for noise cancelling, and sound fantastic. £319, sony.co.uk

This wireless charging pad is a cut above when it comes to design. The fabric look is very in for tech right now, but the silicon tread pattern on top keeps your phone locked in place while it’s charging. £49, nativeunion.com

9 2 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

Apple iPhone XS Max

A BIT OF TOUGH Apple says the XS models have the most durable glass ever on a phone. Our pals at tomsguide.com even dropped one 11 feet onto concrete without any damage

one final version where both are exposed correctly, more like how the eye perceives it. he effect is often mind-blowing, producing shots that feel impossible (because they actually were in the old cameras). However, this is kind of how the Pixel 2 makes its shots look so good, and actually we think that phone still does it better – Apple’s come out just a little on the flat side, while Google’s keep a little more dynamic range in the shadows, which gives them a tad more depth and ‘mood’. his is partly a personal thing, admittedly, but hopefully a little bit of software tweaking could make Apple’s even more pleasing. here’s a new upgrade to the Portrait Mode feature that enables you to choose how blurry the background of your shots should be, which works really well, and gives a nice dose of artistic control to the feature. Intriguingly and somewhat confusingly, you can now record video in HDR… kind of. Apple calls it “extended dynamic range” instead of HDR. he effect is the same, and looks truly fab – in high-contrast video, you get dramatic light mixing with deep shadow, and in more balanced shots, there’s just an extra level of

detail that’s revealed by the way the system works. But you can’t view this anywhere else. Apple isn’t using any HDR standard for this (hence the name change), so it gets flattened if you upload the video anywhere else. Sony’s phones record HDR in the HLG format, which is supported by YouTube and loads of TVs, which would be preferable.

Just face it We should also mention that Face ID has been updated (including the ability to add a second face), and we did find it even more reliable than the iPhone X for this feature – in our experience, it’s gone from excellent to practically perfect. But it’s only a small change, it has to be said. In the past, Apple’s S phones have always been a little faster and more refined, like this year, but have also had a big new feature, such as Siri or Touch ID. he lack of that this year can definitely be felt. Don’t get us wrong: the iPhone X just won our award as the best phone of the previous 12 months, and this is an even better version of that, so it’s a truly phenomenal phone. But if you went for the iPhone X, we don’t think

Face ID scanning has been upgraded. The difference is small, but solid

there’s enough here to warrant an upgrade. he camera is a big step up, no doubt, but it’s the only thing. If you’re on an older iPhone though, don’t hesitate to pick this phone up. he Max in particular is massively expensive, but we don’t think you’ll regret spending the money: the stainless steel and glass build quality is second to none (and has been made tougher than ever), and the 512GB storage option is welcome.

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Fantastic new camera; absolutely stunning screen; great stereo speakers; needlessly fast performance. WE’D IMPROVE iOS could make more of the 6.5-inch screen; battery life is merely standard. THE LAST WORD Apple’s most advanced phone gets even better. A small upgrade over last year, yes, but a simply brilliant device.

Learn how to get more out of your new iPhone XS Max: bit.ly/ 2PrNMin

N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 9 3

Tested

Display sizes 55 or 65 inches Panel 3840x2160 OLED Image processor P5 Perfect Picture Engine OS Android Nougat Audio 2.1-channel 50W Connectivity 4x HDMI, 2x USB, component, headphone out, Wi-Fi, Ethernet Dimensions 1227.8x705.6x49.3mm

From £1,999 philips.co.uk hen it comes to picture processing, there’s a fine line between art and science, even in the best TVs: over-cranked enhancement may be a turn-on for techies, but, for the rest of us, the end result is often difficult to watch. Philips has found the sweet spot with its latest P5 image processor, which makes standard dynamic range HD look almost as good as 4K HDR.

W

AMBI-DEXTROUS

Philips 803 Seriously vibrant imagery makes this fantastic Ambilight screen a superb option for non-purists 94 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

Style and substance Available in 55- and 65-inch sets (we tested the latter), the 803 is a typically stylish Philips creation. It’s minimalist but upmarket, with a virtually edge-to-edge glass front. Connections include four 4K-capable HDMI inputs with HDCP 2.2 support,

which should be enough for your average living-room setup. he TV comes with two remotes. One is a crazy-thin Bluetooth wand featuring (probably) the world’s smallest touchpad. he other is a more conventional remote, albeit one with a keypad on the reverse. Whatever you watch (be it sports, movies or The One Show), images are smoother than a hipster’s latte. here’s also been an upgrade to the TV’s digital noise reduction, in order to reduce smearing caused when detail is misinterpreted. Images look remarkably clean at all times. Explore the All Settings menu and you will discover a host of imageprocessing adjustments. Your first port of call should be the advanced menu, where you’ll find the set’s Perfect Natural Reality mode. his is exclusive to Philips’ newest TVs, and it’s a doozy to use. he mode makes everyday SDR TV look more dynamic. Although coated

Philips 803

in secret sauce, we do know it uses an intelligent contrast algorithm to enhance brightness, sharpness and contrast. It’s often quite subtle, but this is no bad thing. When appropriate, such as a character lit with spotlights, the image is imbued with HDR-like intensity. Interestingly, when you switch Perfect Natural Reality off, the entire frame brightens. It quickly becomes clear that PNR isn’t simply peaking highlights, it’s also bringing down other aspects of the image to create greater contrast. For the best results, keep the setting on Minimum. he set has various image modes, and while all give a crisp, authentic 2160p image, the set’s various HDR options can have a pronounced impact on performance. he HDR Movie mode would actually be our last choice when watching a UHD movie. It’s just too muted for its own good. HDR Vivid adds a lot of style, if you’re craving extra pizzazz. his isn’t about the creators or any of that: this is visual showmanship. As for peak brightness, the set’s HDR performance is in line with the competition at the same price, so HDR

is great. he 803 supports HDR10, HLG and HDR10+. Audio quality is surprisingly punchy, given the telly’s slender form factor. A rear woofer, aided by two passive radiators, delivers a solid bass response, while a new oval mid-range driver and soft dome tweeter improve stereo separation. Philips’ more upmarket OLED903 has a stunning Bowers & Wilkins sound system built in, and this isn’t as good as that, but you can get by without a soundbar upgrade right away.

The Philips 803 boasts a razor-slim design and decent connectivity options

On the inside he 803 runs stock Android N. his isn’t exactly elegant, but the quadcore processor keeps it snappy. here’s no Freeview Play tuner (just Freeview HD), and catch-up is limited to BBC iPlayer. Streaming services include Netflix and Amazon Prime Video (both of which are 4K HDR capable), plus YouTube (4K), Google Play, Rakuten TV and others. Happily, Philips is promising an early software upgrade to Android Oreo, which looks to be much nicer and has Google Assistant built in. here’s an Alexa app, too.

VERDICT

THE OTHER OPTIONS LG C8 LG’s mid-range OLED features an advanced picture engine and latest-generation OLED screen. It’s also a fantastic TV. If you want the best HDR image, its Dolby Vision support might make it your best pick. From 1,999, lg.com

Ambilight, a Philips staple, is present here on three sides. his mood-lighting technology has been around for yonks but never gets old. It can be used to mimic the hues of onscreen action, follow the beat of music, or simply provide a colour wash for lighter walls. We’re fans. Overall, the 803 is a mouthwatering OLED prospect. Sharp design, great images – including when working with less-thanpristine sources, crucially – and with the always-tantalising bonus of Ambilight, it has the chops to rival the likes of LG’s C8 and Sony’s AF8. If you watch a lot of regular TV, and like your movies as eye-catching as possible, the 803 is a brilliant buy.

SONY AF8 This T3 Award winner is our favourite telly right now. Beautiful OLED images, amazing upscaling to 4K, motion processing and impressive sound make it a technical marvel. From £2,299, sony.co.uk

WE’RE IMPRESSED SDRboosting Perfect Natural Reality is fantastic; Ambilight really adds to the mood; it has great audio for such a thin screen. WE’D IMPROVE Limited catchup TV; no Dolby Vision HDR. THE LAST WORD With a supremely smart image processor, snazzy design and Ambilight, the 803 is Philips’ best OLED TV yet – and the price (by OLED standards) is also highly appealing.

Find the best deals for this TV at: bit.ly/philips803

N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 9 5

Tested

ZOOM COMPACTS

Panasonic TZ200 £729, panasonic.com

£1,149, sony.co.uk

FEATURES Like the Sony, you get a big one-inch, 20MP sensor, but the 24-360mm equivalent lens provides a 15x zoom. You also get a touchscreen and EVF, and 4K recording. he two cameras are very evenly matched, despite the price difference.

FEATURES his 20MP camera has a big price and the features to match. he 24-200mm equivalent lens gets near a 10x zoom, and the image processor comes from Sony’s pro-level A9 camera. here’s a touchscreen, electronic viewfinder, and 4K video recording.

DESIGN & HANDLING It’s bigger than the Sony, but the textured grip helps keep it steady. he controls are grouped for one-handed use, and are pretty clearly marked and easy to use. here’s an adjustment ring on the lens too, for tweaks while shooting.

DESIGN & HANDLING his is unbelievably small given its features. So it’s great for portability, though not the easiest to handle. he controls are a little small too. he EVF pops out of the body when needed, ready to use right away. he tilting touchscreen is really useful.

PERFORMANCE he Light Speed autofocus system lives up to its name in good light throughout the zoom range, though it isn’t great when taking fast-paced action shots. he battery is rated for 300 shots when using the EVF – again, good for a day out.

PERFORMANCE he power of Sony’s image processor means shooting feels really slick. Autofocus is always fast and you can tap to focus rapidly on the touchscreen. he battery is rated for 240 shots, so should last a day. he small size makes it easy to carry a spare.

IMAGE QUALITY he TZ200 handles itself well, but to keep noise low there’s a bit too much smoothing for us in JPEGs. Pics are well detailed and vibrant, but sharpness suffers at the end of the zoom range. Dynamic range is handled solidly.

IMAGE QUALITY You get a shorter zoom range here than the TZ200, but the sharpness is much better, so it’s actually a more usable zoom in many ways. Colours are lovely, noise is low, and the metering balances exposure really well automatically. Top stuff.

VERDICT

2nd

Sony RX100 VI

WE’RE IMPRESSED Great 15x zoom; good handling and controls; impressive images. WE’D IMPROVE Sharpness at longer zooms is weak; image smoothing can be frustrating.

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Outstanding picture quality; portable body with tilting screen; high-end features. WE’D IMPROVE Slightly awkward handling; limited zoom compared to TZ200; average battery life.

What about non-compacts? See the best at: bit.ly/t3bestcam

96 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

1st

DJI Mavic 2 Pro

FLYING HIGH

DJI Mavic 2 Pro Hasselblad and DJI have combined forces to create the ultimate imaging drone, but is this collaboration more hype than substance? £1,349 dji.com ew drones have gathered as much excitement as the DJI Mavic 2 Pro, and it’s all down to the presence of a Hasselblad camera. The Mavic is already popular with photographers due to its foldable design that fits neatly in backpacks. So the size of the original was perfect, but the gimbal and camera were somewhat limited in terms of visual quality and stabilisation. Pull the Mavic 2 Pro from the box and the upgrades are instantly apparent. he new drone weighs more (173g, to be exact), highlighting the improved materials for a premium feel. Setup is quick, and the battery and propellers click smoothly into place. Mobile is hardwired into the controller, the app and firmware are easy to update, then there’s a short wait for the Mavic to lock on GPS. With checks complete, a swipe of the app is all that’s needed to take off. It’s impressively stable and a quick jolt of the

F

sticks shows just how solid the drone is in flight. Our first test is the Point of Interest mode. A couple of taps on the app and the drone starts circling around our chosen location. You can adjust the speed via the controller. Next is Hyperlapse, a stabilised motion timelapse, and ActiveTrack 2.0, where the drone follows you (or your featured subject) as you move around. Each mode is precise, and does what we want with absolute stability. here are no issues or errors. Likewise, while testing the various stills modes, we found that Panoramic and HDR Pro 2 were the most responsive and precise. It takes another swipe to land the 2 Pro, leaving us to review the captured footage on our laptop. Upon opening the images, we’re struck by the huge difference the new camera makes. Photos are clean and detailed, and despite the lower light there’s no noise. Video footage also looks clean and detailed. he gimbal locks the camera in the air with such stability, it’s hard to believe this video has come from a drone. Suffice to say, DJI has knocked it out of the park with the Mavic 2 Pro, creating the new must-have drone for aerial photographers.

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Outstanding quality footage, comparable with drones that are twice the price. WE’D IMPROVE Fiddly rubber cover on ports; not very light QRUbFKHDS THE LAST WORD The camera lives up to the Hasselblad brand, DQG WKH 0DYLF 3UR èV ćLJKW performance is impressive, making DJI’s latest drone ideal for pro aerial photography.

Beginner drone more your level? Try these: bit.ly/t3starterdrones

N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 9 7

Tested

Screen 6-inch 1440x2880 OLED Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 RAM 4GB Storage 64GB Rear camera 19MP Front camera 13MP Battery 3,300mAh Dimensions 158x73x9.9mm Weight 193 grams

Fast-forward six months, and Sony has returned with the Xperia XZ3, a new device that has re-engineered that phone’s DNA to produce a handset that, at least on the outside, looks different to its predecessors. Has Sony produced a flagship killer that returns it to the top table, or has the device got lost in its evolutionary leap forward?

A modern, lithe design

BRAVO, BRAVIA

Sony Xperia XZ3 Can a Bravia-engineered display return Sony Mobile to the big time once again? 9 8 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

From £699 sonymobile.com here’s no doubting the Sony Xperia XZ2 was a technical powerhouse when released earlier in 2018, yet it fell down in terms of design, aesthetic and software, which still needed work to bring them up to a level where they could compete with the flagship Android devices.

T

Pleasingly, the Sony Xperia XZ3 has had a total redesign, with a tall new 18:9 form factor, Samsung-style curved display, and lush new aluminium frame. he phone feels very premium, and has a pleasingly dense presence in the hand. he aluminium frame is constructed from the same grade of metal as aircraft, and it certainly feels the part, radiating a coolness and rigidity that more plastic-heavy phones can lack. he rear of the phone features a shiny gloss backplate, while the layout of the phone’s rear camera and circular fingerprint reader remain in the same central locations as on the XZ2 range. he fingerprint sensor positioning is okay, though we do prefer facial recognition these days most of the time, to be honest.

Sony Xperia XZ3

he XZ3 does not feature a 3.5mm headphone jack, but retains the series’ dedicated physical camera button, which is located on the lower right-hand side of the phone. Power and volume buttons, as well as a USB Type-C port, complete the package. It’s hard to say the Sony Xperia XZ3 doesn’t look similar to the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, but it is still a step forward from the slightly dated one that was evident on the XZ2.

A screen like no other Without doubt the highlight for the Sony Xperia XZ3 is its new six-inch, 18:9 QHD+ (1,440x2,880) HDR screen. his has been designed in conjunction with Sony’s Bravia engineering team, who design the screen for the ďŹ rm’s top-end TV sets, and the results are absolutely stunning. Brightness and colour depth is top-tier, going toe to toe with the premium panel on the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, HTC U12+ and yes, even the new iPhone XS. Watching HDR content is jaw dropping. Indeed, this XZ3’s screen exceeds almost all rivals in terms of peak vibrancy, and it was a pleasure to play

mobile games such as Tekken, as well as streaming HDR movies from Netix, which really popped. his new OLED screen also features some very advanced tech, including X-Reality for Mobile, a Dynamic Contrast Enhancer and Triluminos Display for mobile. hese really make the XZ3’s screen an absolute powerhouse in terms of visuals. he XZ3 is equipped with a similar hardware package to the XZ2. You get a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 CPU, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage space, and a 3,300mAh battery which, alas, returned very average real-worldusage longevity. his is a agshiplevel, but it’s fair to say it’s outgunned by phones like the OnePlus 6 and Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

7KH FXUYHG ĆQLVK feels great in the hand, and we love the lush colour

functionality, which lets you make a series of tapping and swiping gestures on either side of the phone’s frame to actuate certain things like opening apps and taking pictures, in a similar manner to HTC’s Edge Sense. Unfortunately, while Side Sense does work, it is far from bulletproof in terms of actuation and speed. Is it useful extra everyday functionality? Yes, but we doubt most users will use the full range of available inputs. Lastly, the Sony Xperia XZ3 comes running Android 9.0 Pie out of the box, which is a major plus point for the phone. Pie is cleaner and faster than Oreo, and really helps make this heavily overhauled new Xperia feel modern and fresh.

Clever camera You also get the same 19MP rear camera on the XZ3 that was in the XZ2. It is capable of 4K HDR video recording (which is compatible with YouTube for sharing), and can capture super slow-motion footage (960fps) at 1080p, still a best-in-world feature. One of the big new plays on the Xperia XZ3 is its new Side Sense

THE OTHER OPTIONS SAMSUNG GALAXY S9

HTC U12+

The phone that, arguably, Sony has been most inspired by when it was building the new XZ3, the Samsung Galaxy S9 is nearly identical in terms of core hardware spec, and is D TXDOLW\ DOO URXQG ćDJVKLS Android phone. From £679, samsung.com/uk

A high-end, premium Android ćDJVKLS IRU WHFK HQWKXVLDVWV the HTC U12+ delivers very strong hardware, a top-rate dual-lens rear camera system, and a brace of experimental, non-mechanical haptic buttons, too. From £699, htc.com/uk

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED The OLED screen is an absolute stunner, and the whole thing feels super-fast and premium to use; 4K HDR video recording is great. WE’D IMPROVE $ EHHĆHU battery and dual-lens camera system would be welcome. THE LAST WORD A near allround technical showcase. The screen is great and the internal hardware powerful, but we’d like DbPRUH ćH[LEOH FDPHUD

Meet more of the best Android phones at: bit.ly/t3bestand

N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 9 9

Tested

Weatherproof jackets Shrug off the elements with these elite all-weather jackets Words: Nick Odantzis Photography: Neil Godwin

BEST FOR WEIGHT

WEATHER- AND ADVENTURE-PROOF

MINIMAL JACKET, MAXIMUM GAIN

ONE JACKET TO RULE THEM ALL

ARC’TERYX BETA AR JACKET

MONTANE MINIMUS 777

£480, arcteryx.com

£230, montane.co.uk

THE NORTH FACE APEX FLEX GTX 2.0 £250, thenorthface.co.uk

Arc’Teryx’s offering is a three-layer jacket with high-end Gore-Tex Pro innards, and it feels bombproof. Which it nearly is, featuring a toughened exterior, as well as HQKDQFHG ZDWHUSURRĆQJ DQG EUHDWKDELOLW\ (with added armpit zips). Although hardy, it’s also light for a three-layer, and it’s URRP\ GHVSLWH WKH DWKOHWLF ĆW ZKLFK LV DEOH to accommodate a helmet under the hood (extra layers for extra warmth). Get past WKH ELJ SULFH WDJ DQG \RX ZRQèW ĆQG D PRUH capable jacket for outdoor adventures.

10 0 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

The clue to this jacket’s purpose is in its name: the Minimus is, erm, minimal. At 140g LWèV RYHU D ĆIWK RI WKH ZHLJKW RI WKH 7KH North Face offering. Its three-layer Pertex Shield+ might be wafer-like, but offers excellent water resistance as well as ample sweat-wicking, and it can be scrunched up to the size of a tennis ball and stowed away. The Minimus is perfect for arduous Alpine activities, as its articulated arms, toughened seams and under-helmet hood make it particularly well-suited to rock climbing.

At a glance, you could mistake TNF’s all-weather jacket for a hoodie. While it boasts a tough three-layer Gore-Tex shell for superlative wind and rain protection, the soft-knit outer fabric is luxuriously soft, and the stretch-knit liner feels great DJDLQVW WKH VNLQ DFWLQJ OLNH D WKLQ ćHHFH for enhanced warmth. Lighter than its predecessor, the Apex Flex is still weighty at 800g, but breathability is good and pit vents DLG FRROLQJ 7KH ĆW LV QLJK RQ SHUIHFW

Weatherproof jackets

f there’s one garment that should be at the top of your technical clothing list, it’s an all-weather jacket. Of all the types of attire out there, this is the piece you’ll rely on time and again, especially when you live

I

in the UK with our level of unpredictable weather. A good weatherproof jacket should, at the very minimum, keep you dry when it rains, and it should also be breathable for when you’re active. But one kind of weatherproof jacket doesn’t fit

every scenario – different jackets address different needs. In this test we have six of the best. Some are more packable than others, some more breathable, some more waterproof, and each of them use specific technical materials to get the job done.

BEST FOR

THE EARTH

SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE

ECO-FRIENDLY WEATHER BEATER

THE RAMBLER’S FAVOURITE

PATAGONIA TORRENTSHELL

COLUMBIA OUTDRY EX ECO SHELL

BERGHAUS HILLWALKER

£120, eu.patagonia.com

£160, berghaus.com

£180, columbiasportswear.co.uk Like many of Patagonia’s ethically produced garments, the Torrentshell is made of recycled fabric. Unlike Columbia’s effort, it doesn’t feel like it. A conventional 2.5-layer H2No fabric houses a breathable and waterproof membrane, topped off with a ':5 ĆQLVK <RX GRQèW JHW WKH VDPH VRUW RI protection as a three-layer type jacket, but the Torrentshell’s 343g weight is light(ish) DQG LW SDFNV GRZQ VPDOO 7KH ĆW LV ĆQH DQG breathability is aided by pit zips, but this is one for casual country walks, not epic hikes.

&ROXPELDèV DOO ZHDWKHU MDFNHW LV D FHUWLĆHG eco warrior. While the Marigold-esque feel won’t suit alll tastes, you can’t argue with its planet-saving credentials. The Ex Eco Shell is made entirely from recycled content, with no water used to dye the material. Unlike most other jackets, the Outdry features a waterproof and breathable membrane on the outside, so there’s no need to re-apply DWR when it wears of, making it one that will see you right for the long-haul.

The Berghaus Hillwalker comes across like a modern take on the wax cotton jacket, and suits leisurely rambles in the countryside. Mild-mannered, sure, but \RX JHW WRS QRWFK ZDWHUSURRĆQJ DQG breathability thanks to Gore-Tex. As a two-layer type, the performance isn’t on par with a three-layer, but what you do get is a light insulated lining, big front pockets and soft-lined handwarmer pockets, which is what you want when you’re out in the cold. The downside? The sleeves could be longer.

N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 101

Competition

WIN! A WATTBIKE ATOM, “THE SMARTEST INDOOR BIKE ON THE PLANETâ€? his T3 Award-winning smart bike is the ultimate way to boost your training, regardless of the weather outside, and we have one to give away! Training throughout the wet and cold months is hardgoing even for the most dedicated cyclists‌ Unless, of course, you have a Wattbike Atom. This ultra-smart indoor bike provides you with a realistic training session whenever you want it, and we have one to give away. The Atom is renowned for replicating the sensation of riding on the road, enabling you to enhance your training and to gain valuable insight into your riding style. It’s designed to be used with your tablet or smartphone, with resistance and power output either controlled manually or available to be pre-programmed. The bike wirelessly interacts with the likes of Strava and TrainingPeaks, plus GPS devices and heart-rate monitors. You can also sync it with training platforms like Zwift and TrainerRoad. Accuracy is assured, too, as the Atom operates with +/-2 per cent accuracy across a 0-2,000W power range. Data is sampled 100 times per second during your training session, then automatically uploaded to your personal Wattbike Hub page. There are some killer training modes to explore via the Wattbike Hub, such as Climb mode, which offers six pre-loaded climbs including Mont Ventoux. Using Strava GPS and simulations from VeloViewer, the Atom’s resistance changes automatically to match the gradient on your virtual ride, providing you with an enjoyably realistic experience. Elsewhere, an analysis tool called Polar View works to improve your pedalling efficiency and power output, and a Pedalling Effectiveness Score helps you assess the impact of changes in pedalling technique. Find out more at wattbike.com, or see below for your chance to win‌

WORTH ÂŁ1,599!

To enter, simply answer the following question:

HOW MANY TIMES PER SECOND DOES THE ATOM SAMPLE DATA FROM YOUR TRAINING SESSION? 50 150 100 Enter today at: bit.ly/wattcomp

10 2 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

7KH FRPSHWLWLRQ FORVHV 1RYHPEHU %\ WDNLQJ SDUW \RXbDJUHH WR EH ERXQG E\ WKH FRPSHWLWLRQ UXOHV futureplc.com/competition-rules. Entries must be received by midnight on 24 November 2018 (UK time). Open to UK residents aged 18 years and over. There will be one winner, entitled to one Wattbike Atom. The prize is non-transferable and non-refundable. There is no cash alternative.

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T3 IS… EDITOR MATT BOLTON matthew.bolton@futurenet.com SENIOR CONTENT EDITOR CLAIRE DAVIES claire.davies@futurenet.com ART EDITOR MICHELLE MCLAREN michelle.mclaren@futurenet.com OPERATIONS EDITOR ANDREW WESTBROOK andrew.westbrook@futurenet.com

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Samsung’s 8K TV gets a full review The traditional watches you must own Six top smart speakers rated The best 4K camera drones on test

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S 18 D 20 EN ER ER B FF M O ECE D 31

T3 AWARDS 2018: SPECIAL ISSUE

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

If you’re looking for the very best tech available today, you have GHĆQLWHO\ FRPH WR WKH ULJKW SODFH %HVW RI WKH %HVW LV WKH PRVW useful gadget-buying guide you ZLOO HYHU HQFRXQWHU 7R FUHDWH LW ZHèYH UXWKOHVVO\ ĆOWHUHG GRZQ WR WKH ELJJHVW JURXSV WR EULQJ \RX URFN VROLG UHFRPPHQGDWLRQV IRU \RXU KRPH OLIH GDLO\ FRPPXWH DQG WKH WHFK \RX XVH DOO WKH WLPH :LWKLQ HDFK RI WKRVH JURXSV we’ve got a dozen categories for NH\ WHFK EX\V :HèYH SLFNHG RQH SURGXFW IRU HYHU\ FDWHJRU\ WKDW we think is the best you can get on balance, taking into account SULFH TXDOLW\ DQG IHDWXUHV VR LWèV easy to know what you need in \RXU OLIH You should also check out T3.com ZKHUH \RXèOO ĆQG HYHQ PRUH FDWHJRULHV LI \RXèUH ORRNLQJ IRU VRPHWKLQJ WKDW LVQèW KHUH )URP ELJ EXGJHW EX\V WR WKH little (but essential) accessories, ZHèYH JRW \RX FRYHUHG

INSIDE 106

ENTERTAINMENT

107

AUDIO

108

LIFESTYLE

109

AUTO

110

SMART HOME

111

LIVING

112

COMPUTING

113

TRAVEL & OUTDOORS

N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 10 5

Best of the best BEST OF…

ENTERTAINMENT

However serious you are about your TV, movies and gaming setups, we’ve got the perfect buys for a tricked-out living room OLED 4K TV

VALUE 4K TV SONY AF8 Sony’s next-gen 4K HDR TV looks fantastic thanks to its OLED display and advanced image processing. Because of ingenious tech that uses the screen itself as a speaker, it also sounds superb. From £2,499, sony.co.uk

TOP-END 4K TV

PHILIPS 43PUS6262 Combining UHD resolution with Philips’ patented Ambilight mood lighting, this is D VXUH ĆUH FURZG SOHDVHU ,PDJH TXDOLW\ LV excellent for the price, with crisp Pixel Plus 4K detail and punchy HDR contrast. From £329, philips.co.uk

4K HDR PROJECTOR OPTOMA UHZ65 This projector brings cinema-like laser 4K projector to the home for an affordable price, meaning giant-screen Ultra HD detail with the richness of HDR. It’s unbeatable for home movie magic. £4,499, optoma.co.uk

LG W8 With an incredible 2.75mm thin screen and a 4.2-channel soundbar, this is a stunner. But there’s also a new brain that takes image quality to a whole new level. It’s more like a window than a screen. From £5,999, lg.com

VALUE 4K BLU-RAY PLAYER

TOP-END 4K BLU-RAY PLAYER

XBOX ONE S Yes, this is primarily a games console, but it’s a damn good UHD Blu-ray player too. Budget 4K players from other brands still cost around the same as this, but you can’t stick a game in them. £199, microsoft.com

4K STREAMER

PANASONIC DMP-UB900 The 4K and HDR pictures from this unit are out of this world, packing incredible colour depth and detail in Ultra HD (and making everything else look fantastic, too) to elevate your home cinema experience. £399, panasonic.com

UNIVERSAL REMOTE LOGITECH HARMONY ELITE A dual-purpose remote, as at home in your hands as it is sat in the corner of your living room, controlling everything from your TV to your lighting. You can even control it from a phone app! £279, logitech.com

APPLE TV 4K The only streaming box capable of highend Dolby Vision HDR and 4K, with the biggest library of 4K HDR movies via iTunes, as well as streaming from Amazon, iPlayer, Now TV and loads more. £179, amazon.co.uk

TV SOUNDBAR

AV RECEIVER SONOS BEAM Not only is this a superb-sounding TV speaker, with an excellent mode for enhancing dialogue, it’s multi-room ready with Sonos’ other products, supports Apple AirPlay, and has Alexa built-in. £399, sonos.com

PORTABLE GAMES CONSOLE NINTENDO SWITCH Not the most powerful current-gen console, but with Nintendo’s legendary JDPHV OLQH XS DQG WKH ćH[LELOLW\ WR SOD\ LQ VWDFNV RI GLIIHUHQW FRQWURO FRQĆJXUDWLRQV it’s the best portable machine you can buy. £279, nintendo.com 10 6 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

MARANTZ NR1608 Small enough for any setup but packing in features, this receiver offers 7.2-channel surround, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X 3D audio, eight 4K 60Hz HDMI ports, Wi-Fi music playback and smart 4K upscaling. £595, marantz.co.uk

4K GAMES CONSOLE XBOX ONE X The most powerful console ever is a true technical marvel, capable of astonishing graphics in native 4K and HDR, and Dolby Atmos 3D sound. It even includes highquality 4K Blu-ray playback. £449, xbox.com/en-gb

Best of the best BEST OF…

AUDIO

From wireless convenience to audiophile heaven, this is the gear you need to make the most of your favourite music MULTI-ROOM SPEAKERS

WI-FI SPEAKER

SONOS ONE Pound for pound, this is a hell of a lot RI VSHDNHU IRU \RXU PRQH\ HDVLO\ ĆOOLQJ a room, and expandable through the YHUVDWLOH 6RQRV VSHDNHU UDQJH %XLOW LQ $OH[D VXSSRUW FOLQFKHV LW IRU 6RQRV £199, sonos.com

PORTABLE BLUETOOTH SPEAKER

NAIM MU-SO ,WèV H[SHQVLYH EXW WKHUH MXVW LVQèW D EHWWHU sounding or looking wireless speaker for WKH SULFH 7KH VRXQG LV PRQXPHQWDOO\ excellent, and it supports a solid range RIbVWUHDPLQJ RSWLRQV £1,199, naimaudio.com

WIRELESS OVER-EAR HEADPHONES BOWERS & WILKINS PX These stylish headphones are also technical marvels, boasting adjustable QRLVH FDQFHOODWLRQ YLD DQ DSS 7KH\ SDXVH automatically when you take them off, ODVW DJHV DQG VRXQG DEVROXWHO\ IDQWDVWLF £329, bowers-wilkins.co.uk

CAMBRIDGE AUDIO YOYO M These portable speakers are made for wireless stereo sound and come as a pair WKRXJK \RX FDQ XVH RQH RQ LWV RZQ 7KH\ offer punchy audio in an impressively ZLGH VRXQG ĆHOG DQG ORRN JUHDW WRR £249, cambridgeaudio.com

WIRELESS IN-EAR HEADPHONES

WIRED OVER-EAR HEADPHONES BOWERS & WILKINS P9 SIGNATURE These are open-backed headphones, so they let sound in and out, but the quality is astounding, especially through a serious headphone DAC/amp setup – and they’re ZRQGHUIXO ZLWK FRPSUHVVHG PXVLF WRR £699, bowers-wilkins.co.uk

BOSE SOUNDSPORT FREE These are great all-rounder headphones, ZLWK WKH ERQXV RI WUXH ZLUHOHVV IUHHGRP They sound great, are sweat-proof for H[HUFLVH KDYH D KHDOWK\ ĆYH KRXU EDWWHU\ OLIH SHU FKDUJH DQG DUH D JRRG SULFH £179, bose.co.uk

WIRED IN-EAR HEADPHONES

PORTABLE HIGH-RES PLAYER

KEF M100 This blend of KEF’s traditional audiophile instincts with comfortable contemporary styling is a fantastic product, great value, and the best in-ear headphones, pound IRUbSRXQG WKDW \RX FDQ JHW £89, uk.kef.com

HI-FI STREAMER

ASTELL & KERN KANN A substantial audio device at nearly 300g, EXW RQH WKDW GRHV LQFUHGLEOH WKLQJV ,WèV D DAC in its own right, it’s an astonishing hi-res player, and its massive battery will NHHS \RX URFNLQJ IRU GD\V RQ HQG £899, astellnkern.com

BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS NAIM UNITI ATOM An immensely stylish streamer with a great screen, that’s compatible with a KRVW RI PXVLF VWUHDPLQJ VHUYLFHV ,WèOO play anything on your network and via &KURPHFDVW $LU3OD\ DQG %OXHWRRWK DSW; £1,999, naimaudio.com

HI-FI STEREO AMP CAMBRIDGE AUDIO AZUR 851A Nine easily selected inputs and Cambridge $XGLRèV RZQ SDWHQWHG &ODVV ;' DPSOLĆHU design combine to make this a truly unique and special amp, one that FDQ VWDQG XS WR DQ\ PXVLFDO WHVW £1,400, cambridgeaudio.com

KEF LS50 WIRELESS Adding wireless smarts and built-in DPSOLĆFDWLRQ WR .()èV EULOOLDQW 8QL4 drivers makes these not only sound DPD]LQJ EXW WKH\èUH VXSHU ćH[LEOH WRbSODFH DQG SOD\ DQ\ PXVLF WRR £1,999 (pair), uk.kef.com

TURNTABLE AUDIO-TECHNICA AT-LP5 Pouring 60 years of turntable expertise into one device, Audio-Technica’s AT-LP5 will give you vinyl pleasure for years, thanks to its glorious audio quality, tankOLNH EXLOG DQG 86% RXWSXW IXWXUH SURRĆQJ £329, eu.audio-technica.com N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 107

Best of the best BEST OF…

LIFESTYLE

Kit yourself out with the ultimate in personal technology. This is the stuff you use every day, so make sure you get it spot on with our picks ANDROID PHONE

PREMIUM PHONE

SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE9 The huge 6.4-inch screen on this phone is perfect for productivity, thanks to splitscreen apps and the S-Pen. It’s really fast, has great battery life, a fantastic camera, DQG \RX FDQ ĆOO LW ZLWK 7% RI VWRUDJH From £899, samsung.com

MID-RANGE PHONE

APPLE iPHONE XS Apple improves on last year’s near-perfect iPhone X with a faster processor, better battery life, an amazing new camera that shoots excellently in low light, top speakers, and a bigger 6.5-inch size. From £999, apple.com/uk

VALUE PHONE HONOR PLAY You get some incredibly tasty technology in the Honor Play, including the rapid Kirin 970 processor, 4GB of RAM, and a very spacious 6.3-inch FHD+ screen. It feels like a phone that costs three times more. £279, hihonor.co.uk

HONOR 10 There’s power to spare in the Honor 10, WKDQNV WR D ćDJVKLS JUDGH SURFHVVRU DQG the device’s integration of AI across the phone is hugely impressive. Add to that a super-stylish design, and it’s a winner. £399, hihonor.com/uk

HYBRID WATCH

SMARTWATCH APPLE WATCH SERIES 4 Beautiful big screens, a thinner design, cellular connectivity, great battery life DQG JURXQGEUHDNLQJ KHDOWK DQG ĆWQHVV features make this the essential techy timepiece… for iPhone users only, alas. From £399, apple.com/uk

ANALOGUE WATCH

MISFIT PHASE Smartwatch functionality without the screen – all the alerts, connectivity and activity tracking you desire, packed into a stunning and completely inconspicuous analogue watch with a six-month battery. )URP e PLVĆW FRP

FITNESS TRACKER FITBIT CHARGE 2 It’s not the most feature-packed tracker on the market, but it wins out for comfort and amazing app support that can make LW SDUW RI D FRPSOHWH ĆWQHVV SURJUDP DV LWbWUDFNV VOHHS VWHSV GLVWDQFH DQG PRUH e ĆWELW FRP

TUDOR BLACK BAY GMT Sporting a bold 41mm steel case and distinctive blue and burgundy bezel, the Black Bay GMT can keep track of not one, not two, but three time zones. It’s ideal for those who often travel internationally. £2,790, tudorwatch.com

BLUETOOTH TRACKER TILE SLIM A tiny keyring-sized square that helps your phone keep tabs on your wallet and vice versa, with a selection of ringtones, a year’s battery life, and the endurance to last a lifetime sitting in your back pocket. £30, thetileapp.com

ELECTRIC RAZOR PHILIPS SERIES 9000 PRESTIGE This razor is incredibly comfortable to use, almost feeling like it’s just wishing WKHbVWXEEOH DZD\ DV LW JRHV RYHU \RXU IDFH Ã¥ EXW WKH KDLU GHĆQLWHO\ JRHV HYHQ ZKHQ you’re dealing with a few days of growth. £420, philips.co.uk 10 8 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

EREADER KINDLE OASIS 8OWUD WKLQ OLJKWHU WKDQ D ćLPV\ SDSHUEDFN and weighted to be held in one hand, the Oasis takes digital reading to the next level. Clip on the leather charging cover and you’re set for months of books. £269, amazon.co.uk

ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH PHILIPS SONICARE DIAMONDCLEAN SONIC Whiten and polish with the vibrations from this versatile brush, which whips your toothpaste into a bubbly frenzy to get between your teeth more effectively. £149, philips.co.uk

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AUTO

Get the best driving experience possible. No matter whether you tend to go for two wheels or four, these are the top vehicles and accessories around FAMILY CAR

FUN CAR AUDI Q7 E-TRON The Q7 is ice-cool, uncompromising and UXWKOHVVO\ HIĆFLHQW 7KH VSDFLRXV VHYHQ seater has all of the entertainment and technology to make long journeys as smooth and comfortable as possible. From £65,750, audi.co.uk

CITY ELECTRIC CAR

ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE Aston Martin’s most affordable vehicle is also its most fun. A stunning design, amazing agility and the raucous four-litre V8 engine will have you grinning from the moment you slip behind the wheel. From £120,900, astonmartin.com

LONG-RANGE ELECTRIC CAR JAGUAR I-PACE A T3 Award winner. Jaguar focused on PDNLQJ LWV ĆUVW DOO HOHFWULF YHKLFOH LQWR the very best car it could be, with an impressive 300-mile range, 394bhp to all four wheels, and a smart interior. From £63,495, jaguar.co.uk

BMW i3 The i3 is a responsive, highly practical electric runabout packed with connectivity options and enough power in its 170bhp motor to hit 62mph in just 7.3 seconds. Perfect for a daily commute. From £30,250, bmw.co.uk

SMART CONNECTOR

SAT-NAV

LOGITECH ZEROTOUCH Transform your Android phone into an Alexa-powered voice assistant for your car. This car holder connects to your phone over Bluetooth to provide voice and gesture control when driving. £49, logitech.com

DASH CAM

TOMTOM GO 6200 Sat-nav brought bang up to date, with pinperfect mapping joined by on-board Wi-Fi, a data SIM to keep you up to date with WKH WUDIĆF DQG IXOO KDQGV IUHH IDFLOLWLHV for your phone, including narrated alerts. £239, tomtom.com

IN-CAR CHARGING BELKIN ROAD ROCKSTAR Plug this into your car charger to create two USB ports for juicing up your devices at the front... And with a six-foot cable that extends to the back with another two USB ports, everyone can charge up. £29.99, belkin.com/uk

GARMIN DASH CAM 55 Constantly watching the road, the Dash Cam 55 does more than record footage and save it in case of an incident. Driverawareness warnings will tell you if you’re too close or veering out of your lane. £109, garmin.com

ELECTRIC BIKE

ELECTRIC FOLDING BIKE BROMPTON ELECTRIC Brompton’s expertise means this folds down super small, but still gives you that ebike oomph. Adaptive power level tech means it automatically gives you the amount of assistance you need. From £2,595, brompton.com

GTECH EBIKE CITY A budget-friendly ebike that’s impressively lightweight. There are two levels of assist to help you power up hills, or to speed up your journey if you’re in a hurry. Handsdown, this is a great commuter bike. £995, gtech.co.uk

SMART HELMET

BIKE-NAV LIVALL SMART HELMET A connected helmet with turn signals, speakers for safe Bluetooth calling, ridetracking facilities to keep you pushing harder, and an SOS alert which detects impacts and shares your location. £90, livall.com

BEELINE BIKE COMPASS More of a traditional navigation device than a modern one, the backlit E-Ink display of the Beeline constantly points to your destination and tells you how far precisely you have left to ride. £99, beeline.co N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 10 9

Best of the best BEST OF…

SMART HOME

Upgrade your house with the best tech for monitoring security, saving energy and controlling everything from one place VOICE ASSISTANT

SMART LIGHTING SYSTEM

AMAZON ECHO Alexa is everywhere these days, but nowhere is Amazon’s AI more at home than in its Echo. It couples an awesome array microphone with pleasing design for the perfect assistant experience. £89, amazon.co.uk

SMART DOORBELL

PHILIPS HUE Philips is the big name in smart lighting, WKDQNV WR D ćH[LEOH H[SDQGDEOH V\VWHP Great app control, clever lighting options and integrations with other smart home devices make it the brightest of the bunch. From £50 (starter kit), philips.co.uk

SMART SECURITY Y-CAM PROTECT Y-Cam’s smart networked alarm supports up to 32 sensors and alerts your phone if it detects motion, or doors or windows are breached – and the built-in battery and phone SIM means it works in a blackout. £149, y-cam.com

RING VIDEO DOORBELL 2 Part motion-detecting security camera, part ring-anywhere doorbell, the Video Doorbell 2 alerts you via your smartphone when you have a visitor – and you can two-way talk even if you’re not home. £179, ring.com

LIFESTYLE WI-FI CAMERA

SMART SECURITY CAMERA

LOGITECH CIRCLE 2 WIRED No smart home cam is as fun to use as this – instead of CCTV, it’s more like a Fitbit of home monitoring. It provides a sped-up ‘brief’ of the day, two-way communication, has a 180° camera and Alexa control. £149, logitech.com

DOOR & WINDOW SENSORS

NETGEAR ARLO PRO With a battery lasting months inside each camera, the Arlo system does away with the painful process of wiring your security cameras, and you get seven-day cloud storage of motion-detected recordings. £470 (two cameras), netgear.co.uk

SMART LOCK YALE CONEXIS L1 Unlock your front door with a key fob, a phone tag or using Yale’s cool Bluetooth Twist and Go tech – just turn your phone GHJUHHV DQG \RXèUH LQ 3$ FHUWLĆHG for security, and tamper-proof, too. £230, yale.co.uk

HIVE WINDOW OR DOOR SENSOR Super-simple to install, reasonably priced, and highly inconspicuous once they’re up, Hive’s sensors are a great addition to an existing Hive set-up and there’s even one in the Hive starter pack. £29 each, hivehome.com

SMART PLUG

WEATHER STATION NETATMO WEATHER STATION Netatmo’s outdoor sensor pulls in metrics about temperature, humidity and more, but it’s the indoor sensor, which keeps tabs on the air quality and CO2 levels in your home, completes the package. £120, netatmo.com/en-GB

BELKIN WEMO INSIGHT This isn’t just a way to switch your devices on and off (though it does do that); the WeMo also keeps close tabs on your energy usage, so you can see just how much that tumble dryer is costing you. £29, belkin.com/uk

SMART HUB

THERMOSTAT NEST LEARNING THERMOSTAT This is a crowded market, but Nest’s quality app, clever preference-learning tech and automatic energy-saving options push it to the top for us. Plus the 3rd-gen Nest looks amazing on the wall. £200, nest.com 110 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

AMAZON ECHO PLUS (2ND GEN) The Echo Plus isn’t just Alexa and Dolby 360° speakers – its built-in hub can discover and control tech from Philips Hue, Samsung SmartThings, Hive and others directly as your smart hub. £139, amazon.co.uk

Best of the best BEST OF…

LIVING

The home and garden technology that makes life easier, from cooking and cleaning to lifestyle luxuries COFFEE MAKER

KETTLE SAGE BY HESTON BLUMENTHAL THE ORACLE TOUCH $ VOHHN PDFKLQH EULQJLQJ EDULVWD OHYHO FRIIHH PDNLQJ WR \RXU KRPH ZLWK WKH KDUG SDUW KDQGOHG DXWRPDWLFDOO\ <RX FDQ DOVR JR PDQXDO DQG WKH UHVXOWV DUH MXVW DV WDVW\ £1,999, sageappliances.co.uk

COOKER

SAGE BY HESTON BLUMENTHAL SMART KETTLE 7KH SHUIHFW FXS RI WHD UHTXLUHV FDUHIXO WHPSHUDWXUH FRQWURO 7KH 6DJH NHWWOH RIIHUV ĆYH RSWLRQV DQG FDQ NHHS LWVHOI QLFHO\ ZDUP IRU PLQXWHV £89, sageappliances.co.uk

MICROWAVE SAMSUNG MS28J5215AS 7KH PRVW DWWUDFWLYH PHWDO ER[ \RXU NLWFKHQ FRXQWHU KDV HYHU VHHQ å LW DOPRVW ORRNV OLNH D *DOD[\ 6 å ZLWK D KRVW RI VHWWLQJV VXFK DV D GHRGRULVDWLRQ EODVW IRU SXUJLQJ WKH VFHQW RI ODVW QLJKWèV PHDO £139, samsung.com/uk

RANGEMASTER ELISE 110 :DQW WKH YHUVDWLOLW\ RI JDV KREV DQG WKH UHOLDELOLW\ RI DQ HOHFWULF RYHQ" 7KLV GXDO IXHO UDQJH LV WKH XOWLPDWH LQ NLWFKHQ FRQYHQLHQFH ZLWK VL[ VROLG EXUQHUV WZR RYHQV DQG D JULOO ZLWK JOLGH RXW DFWLRQ £2,379, rangemaster.co.uk

DEHUMIDIFIER

PURIFIER MEACO 25L ULTRA LOW ENERGY DEHUMIDIFIER 7KLV VPDOO XQLW FDQ GUDJ OLWUHV RI ZDWHU RXW RI WKH DLU LQ D GD\ SHUIHFW IRU GU\LQJ FORWKHV LQGRRUV ZLWKRXW WKH ULVN RI PRXOG RU FRQGHQVDWLRQ UXLQLQJ \RXU ZLQGRZV £299, meaco.com

WASHING MACHINE AEG 9000 SERIES L9FEC966R 7KLV IDQWDVWLF FOHDQHU LQWURGXFHV D VDOW GLVSHQVHU WR FORWKHV ZDVKLQJ VRIWHQLQJ WKH ZDWHU IRU EHWWHU UHVXOWV ,W DOVR UXQV TXLHWO\ DQG LV UDWHG $ HQHUJ\ HIĆFLHQW $OO IRU D YHU\ UHDVRQDEOH SULFH WRR £929, aeg.co.uk

ROBOT VACUUM

PHILIPS AC3256 AIR PURIFIER 3KLOLSVè GHYLFH GRHVQèW MXVW GR D JUHDW MRE RI FOHDQLQJ WKH DLU LQ \RXU URRP LW OHWV \RX NQRZ WKH FXUUHQW TXDOLW\ DW D JODQFH ZLWK LWV JORZLQJ FRORXUHG ULQJ ,I LW WXUQV UHG LWèV WLPH WR FOHDU RXW IRU D ZKLOHð £339, philips.com

DISHWASHER AEG COMFORTLIFT FSS62800P &RPIRUW/LIW PHDQV MXVW WKDW 3XOO RXW WKH ERWWRP UDFN DQG LW ULVHV XS WR PHHW \RX PHDQLQJ \RX ZRQèW QHHG WR EHQG WR ĆOO WKLV $ UDWHG ZDVKHU ,W HYHQ RSHQV WKH GRRU DW WKH HQG RI WKH F\FOH WR OHW RII VWHDP £989, aeg.co.uk

MANUAL VACUUM NEATO BOTVAC CONNECTED D7 7KLV UDSLGO\ FOHDUV KDUG ćRRUV DQG FDUSHWV LWV ' VKDSH KHOSLQJ LW JHW LQWR FRUQHUV ,W VHQGV \RXU SKRQH D PDS RI ZKHUH LWèV FOHDQHG DQG \RX FDQ VHW çQR JRè DUHDV ,W ZRUNV ZLWK $OH[D DQG *RRJOH +RPH £679, amazon.co.uk

ROBOT LAWNMOWER ROBOMOW RS635 1RW D EODGH RI JUDVV RXW RI SODFH SDUWLFXODUO\ RQFH WKH 5RERPRZ DFWLYDWHV LWV HGJH PRGH :LWK FP FXWWLQJ ZLGWK DQG XS WR PLQXWHVè ZRUN WLPH RQ D FKDUJH LWèOO FRYHU HYHQ WKH ODUJHVW ODZQV From £2,199, robomow.com

DYSON BIG BALL ANIMAL 2 :KDW '\VRQ KDV JRW VSRW RQ KHUH LV WKH ZHLJKW RI WKH %LJ %DOO F\OLQGHU DQG KRZ LW QDYLJDWHV DQG EDODQFHV å ULJKWLQJ LWVHOI HYHQ 6XFWLRQ LV H[HPSODU\ DQG WKHUHèV D YDULDQW IRU SHW KDLU LI \RX QHHG LW £299, dyson.co.uk

PRESSURE WASHER KÄRCHER K7 %\ XVLQJ PXOWLSOH SUHVVXUH OD\HUV DQG DQ DGMXVWDEOH VSUD\ ODQFH .¦UFKHUèV SUHPLXP ZDWHU EODVWHU FOHDQV HIĆFLHQWO\ DQG TXLFNO\ ZLWK HQRXJK RSWLRQV DYDLODEOH WR VFUXE MXVW DERXW DQ\ VXUIDFH RU YHKLFOH £569, kaercher.com N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 111

Best of the best BEST OF…

COMPUTING

From gaming paradise to mobile workhorses to tablets with laptop power, these computer and accessory picks will increase your productivity ULTRAPORTABLE LAPTOP

PRO LAPTOP

HP SPECTRE 13 4K An incredibly thin, light and beautiful laptop, with a dense, high-end 4K panel. Despite being 1cm thick, it doesn’t skimp on the power either, thanks to an Intel Core i7 processor. From £1,599, hp.com

GAMING LAPTOP

MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK 2 15 7KLV VXSHU ćH[LEOH ODSWRS EULQJV KXJH Intel quad-core power and Nvidia GTX 1060 graphics to a thin frame, but also WKHbDELOLW\ WR GHWDFK WKH VFUHHQ DQG XVH LWbDV D JHQHURXVO\ VL]HG LQFK WDEOHW £2,349, microsoft.com

GAMING PC ALIENWARE AREA 51 THREADRIPPER Enjoy a colossal performance with up to a 16-core overclocked CPU and Dual AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 graphics (top-end model) in this unusual casing, which holds parts at 45° DQJOHV IRU EHWWHU DLUćRZ From £2,149, dell.com

ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS GX501 This is an amazing piece of engineering. Despite being incredibly thin and light (2.2kg), it packs insanely powerful Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 graphics, a quad-core processor, and a 120Hz 1080p display. £2,799, asus.com

4K MONITOR

ALL-IN-ONE APPLE iMAC WITH 5K RETINA DISPLAY There’s never been a screen like this. Big enough for every task, detailed, bright, colourful, and it happens to have a Mac stuffed in the back of it as well. From £1,749, apple.com/uk

GAMING HEADSET

SAMSUNG U28E590D Everyone’s getting in on the 4K game, but Samsung’s 28-inch panel is yet to be bested. A 1ms response time means it’s perfect for even twitchy games, and 60Hz 4K action is just a DisplayPort away. £300, samsung.com/uk

MECHANICAL KEYBOARD RAZER BLACKWIDOW CHROMA V2 Razer’s special own mechanical switches (promised to last for 80 million hits) make this ideal for gaming or typing. It comes ZLWK IXOO\ SURJUDPPDEOH NH\V DQG ĆYH custom media keys. A premium package. £165, razer.com

STEELSERIES ARCTIS PRO WIRELESS This brilliant PC and PS4 headset supports dual wireless streaming over Bluetooth and 2.4GHz simultaneously, lossless audio, has swappable batteries, and is super lightweight and comfortable. £139, steelseries.dk

GAMING MOUSE

PREMIUM TABLET APPLE iPAD PRO The iPad Pro is more than a tablet. It’s a creative toolkit, a processing powerhouse, and an essential addition to any mobile ZRUNćRZ ZKHWKHU \RX RSW IRU WKH 10.5-inch or 12.9-inch model. From £619, apple.com/uk

RAZER DEATHADDER ELITE Razer’s Chroma-lit mouse is ultraergonomic for even the most awkward hands, and its Omron switches (good for 50 million clicks, apparently) are only bested by the 16,000 CPI optical sensor. £69, razerzone.com/gb-en

MID-RANGE TABLET APPLE iPAD 9.7 Apple’s cheaper iPad has a super-fast A10 processor, a vibrant 9.7-inch 2048x1536 GLVSOD\ DQG D ZHDOWK RI WDEOHW VSHFLĆF apps and games that run great. It also supports the excellent Apple Pencil stylus. From £319, apple.com/uk 11 2 T3 N O V E M B ER 2 018

VALUE TABLET AMAZON FIRE HD 8 While it’s a budget device, don’t expect budget performance. The Fire HD 8 offers up everything you need for a smooth experience, and enough muscle to deal with anything you can throw at it. From £80, amazon.co.uk

Best of the best BEST OF…

TRAVEL & OUTDOORS Whether you’re off for a holiday or just hitting the running trail, get the most from your trips with these amazing tech buys ENTRY-LEVEL DSLR

FULL-FRAME DSLR

CANON EOS 800D The 800D gets great features from &DQRQèV SUR OLQH LQFOXGLQJ D VQDSS\ SRLQW $) V\VWHP WRS EXLOG TXDOLW\ articulating screen and, most importantly, IDQWDVWLF LPDJH TXDOLW\ $ WRS DOO URXQGHU From £609, canon.co.uk

MIRRORLESS CAMERA

NIKON D850 This 45.7-megapixel camera takes full advantage of its big full-frame sensor to produce truly astounding images. On top of that, it’s packed with great features, DQGbLV HDV\ WR KDQGOH 3UHWW\ PXFK SHUIHFW £3,499, nikon.com

COMPACT CAMERA SONY RX100 VI If you want the ultimate in pocket-sized LPDJH TXDOLW\ WKLV LV LW $ ODUJH RQH LQFK sensor is joined by an ace 24-200mm lens, UHWUDFWDEOH HOHFWURQLF YLHZĆQGHU WLOWLQJ WRXFKVFUHHQ DQG JORULRXV SLFWXUH TXDOLW\ £659, sony.co.uk

SONY A9 It’s so expensive, but it earns every penny by packing an incredible 24.2-megapixel full-frame sensor, with 20fps shooting while tracking autofocus the whole way. It’s a technical and imaging marvel. £4,299, sony.co.uk

ACTION CAMERA GOPRO HERO7 BLACK On top of classic GoPro toughness and . ISV LPDJH TXDOLW\ WKLV DGGV LPDJH stabilisation that makes recordings super smooth. It has voice control, a touchscreen, and is waterproof to 10m. £399, gopro.com

RUNNING WATCH GARMIN FORERUNNER 645 MUSIC Garmin is the king of sports watches. Fast GPS and oodles of useful data (especially with a connected Garmin chest strap), plus music storage and playback to Bluetooth headphones, make this a winner. £399, garmin.com

BATTERY PACK

CAMERA DRONE DJI MAVIC AIR Enjoy pro-level aerial photos and video, regardless of your skill level. A three-axis gimbal keeps the Mavic Air’s 4K camera VWDEOH ZLWK D UDQJH RI DXWR ćLJKW DQG tracking modes delivering brilliant results. £769, dji.com

WATERPROOF PORTABLE SPEAKER UE WONDERBOOM $V DW KRPH RQ WKH EHDFK RU ćRDWLQJ LQ WKH pool than it would be in your kitchen, the 8( :RQGHUERRP JHQHUDWHV D GHJUHH VRXQG IURP LWV WLQ\ ,3; UDWHG VKHOO 8S WRbWHQ KRXUV RI EDWWHU\ OLIH LV JUHDW WRR £79, ultimateears.com

CHARGING CABLE ANKER POWERCORE 20000 Being away from a power socket doesn’t mean you’re away from power. Anker’s battery pack can charge an iPhone 7 seven times, determine the best way to charge your devices, and weighs only 350g. £29, anker.com/uk

BACK-UP PHONE

STK BINARY 3 There’s no universal charging port on modern gadgets, but there is a universal cable – this has adapters for compatibility ZLWK PLFUR 86% 86% & DQG /LJKWQLQJ with brilliant braiding so it won’t fray. £30, stklife.com

UNIVERSAL CHARGER NOKIA 3310 The 3310 will win no awards for its tech, that’s true. But for a bargain price like this, with a battery that goes on and on, it’s the perfect second phone to chuck in a bag when you’re hitting the great outdoors. £49, nokia.com

MU WORLDWIDE TRAVELLER DUO Two ports for a pair of devices that can charge at once, a range of foldable plug pin connectors for different countries, and the thinnest design we’ve seen for Db86% ZDOO FKDUJHU £34, themu.co.uk N O V E M B ER 2 018 T3 113

VICES

Guilty pleasures to seriously spoil yourself

C ZE C H & S PE A K E N E ROL I BATH OIL We enjoy a Matey bubble bath as much as the next person, but for a truly opulent soak you’ll have to dig a little (okay, a lot) deeper into your pocket. Yes, Czech & Speake’s Neroli Bath Oil costs a pretty penny, but it does hail from London’s swanky Jermyn Street, and it does contain the kind of ingredients that’ll have your jaded limbs tingling like your grandma at a Tom Jones concert. Citrus fruit notes provide sweet fragrance, $IULFDQ RUDQJH ćRZHU WKH ULFK PRLVWXULVDWLRQ 7KHQ there’s ylang-ylang, an essential oil extracted from the blossoms of an exotic Asian tree that’s reputed to promote relaxation and lower blood pressure. It’s also famed for its aphrodisiac properties… So, er, all you need now is a bath big enough for two. £125 czechandspeake.com

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D E L U X E

THE MOST LUXURIOUS AND BRILLIANTLY ENGINEERED HI-FI IN THE WORLD

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CONTENTS

S P E A K E R S

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Fill your rooms with the most sumptuous sound possible, from speakers made like works of art

A M P L I F I E R S

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Get that all-important power to the speakers with these amps that treat your favourite tracks like royalty

T U R N T A B L E S

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Making records sound as good as they should takes decades of know-how and extreme engineering

WE L COM E V I N Y L A C C E S S O R I E S

Music has the capacity to elevate the soul, and the finest hi-fi equipment has the capacity to elevate music. When unbelievable engineering finds every

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finger on a string or intake of breath on a record, it

Bring the best out of your wax and turntables with add-ons as finely crafted as your favourite albums

humanises tracks in a way that gives them new life. This is the deluxe music experience. P L A Y E R S

–– Team T3

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CONTRIBUTORS Editor

Senior Content Editor

Matthew Bolton

Claire Davies

Production Editor

Art Editor

Kimberley Ballard

Michelle McLaren

Global Editor-in-Chief

Senior Art Editor

Paul Douglas

Jo Gulliver

FREE WITH ISSUE 288 OF T3 MAGAZINE. NOT TO BE SOLD SEPARATELY

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No matter what your source of music is, these players will transform plain recordings into a beautiful live show

H E A D P H O N E S

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Listen to your most-loved music in the most spectacular quality possible, anywhere, any time

P O R T A B L E

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Get uncompromised audio quality wherever you are with these supreme portable music players

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SPEAKERS

SPEAKERS Fill your rooms with the most sumptuous sound possible, from speakers made with more care than half the exhibits in the V&A

1 B&W 805 Series

Diamond Prestige

Bowers & Wilkins’ 800 Series Diamond speakers were already some of the most advanced out there, featuring the signature head unit made from a single piece of aluminium (to avoid colouration of the sound from the cabinet), and a tweeter dome made of diamond. The Prestige comes in a Santos Rosewood finish that takes four weeks alone to complete. £19,500 per pair, bowers-wilkins.co.uk

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2 Monitor Audio

PL500 Platinum II

The Platinum II series includes speakers that make for a glorious home cinema setup, but the biggest speakers in the range will blow you away with its music prowess too. Seven drivers in a three-way configuration fill the six-foot body, weighing 100kg each. It’s finished in wood, with 11 layers of clear gloss piano lacquer and an Inglestone leather face. £8,999 per pair, monitoraudio.com

3 Wilson Audio TuneTot

Staking their claim as the world’s best bookshelf speakers, these are heavily customisable (both in terms of aesthetics and acoustics) when you buy. Built by the same team who made the hyper-advanced £700,000 WAMM Master Chronosonic speakers, these may be smaller than the other options here, but don’t think they’re not a technical tour de force. From £10,998 per pair, absolutesounds.com

4 MartinLogan Neolith

Electrostatic speakers use a fine membrane vibrated by static charge, rather than dynamic magnets like other speakers, to produce sound with total accuracy in the mid and high range. These are the most advanced speakers of their kind, with the biggestever electrostatic surface. The addition of twin woofers in the base add equal punch and clarity in the low-end. £79,500 per pair, absolutesounds.com

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SPEAKERS

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Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 90 At 8,200 watts of power per speaker, the BeoLab 90 is by far the most powerful speaker from the venerable Danish brand. The key thing is that the BeoLab 90 isn’t designed just for carefully planned listening rooms – it’s full of processing tech to make its 18 drivers and 14 amplification channels adapt their sound to the room it’s in. This means you’ll get perfect reproduction of your music no matter the shape of the room or what’s cluttering it up. In B&O style, it comes in a range of fabrics and woods to give its geometric shape the perfect finish. £57,295, bang-olufsen.com

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1 Q Acoustics

Concept 500

Q Acoustics wanted to show that it could compete with the best when it came to audiophile speakers, and it delivered in spades. The design is simple, but the sound is as rich and complex as it comes. A special Gelcore material keeps the cabinet vibration-free, while a huge amount of engineering effort has gone into making the most of its triple-driver setup. £4,000 per pair, qacoustics.co.uk

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SPEAKERS

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2 Klipsch

Klipschorn AK6

The only speaker line to be in continuous production for 65 years, these are handmade to order when you buy one. A horn-loaded tweeter is extra efficient and clear, while a mid-range driver and 15-inch woofer give a fullrange sound built to emulate hearing music live. At 128cm high, they’re practically furniture, but they come in elegant wood finishes. £17,500 per pair, henleyaudio.co.uk

3 Burmester

Signature BC350

We’re absolutely in love with the imposing milled aluminium and walnut design of these speakers, which weigh 350kg each. They’re a three-way design, with two bass drivers, two mid-range drivers and two tweeters, one of which is placed on top of the unit for a more spacious presentation. They have two different sound modes too: one for purity, one for fun. $295,000 per pair, burmester.de/en

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PMC Fact Fenestria

PMC has taken the avoidance of unwanted vibration to the next level here. The sides of the speakers move in opposition to vibrations to cancel them out, in a technique borrowed from earthquake-prone buildings. The floating silver section is called the nest, and it keeps the mid-range driver and tweeter isolated from the low-frequency drivers in the cabinet, for perfect clarity. £45,000 per pair, pmc-speakers.com

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SPEAKERS

Sonus faber Aida Hand-crafted in Vicenza, and employing the lutelike cabinet shape that Sonus faber favours, these huge seven-driver speakers are just about as luxurious as it gets. The curved design manages the energy created by the drivers, aided by a suspended mass inside the cabinet, which absorbs vibration – skyscrapers use the same system on a much bigger scale. You can use dials on the back to tune the sounds to your taste, too, keeping it natural or gently sculpting it. £94,500 per pair, absolutesounds.com

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AM PLIFIERS

AMPLIFIERS Get that all-important power to the speakers with these incredible amps that treat your favourite tracks like royalty

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McIntosh MC462

The most powerful stereo amp to date from an iconic hi-fi maker, the MC462 delivers 450 watts of power to any loudspeaker. The chunky McIntosh look is intact: green details, black body and a silver finish match the brand’s other gear. Dynamic headroom has been improved over previous amps, so it can handle big swings in dynamics without any distortion creeping in. £12,495, mcintoshlabs.com

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2 dCS Bartók DAC

with headphone amplifier

Not only is this a fantastic headphone amp, driving high-end cans beautifully, it’s also a DAC, using a chip from dCS’s flagship range to bring your digital tunes to analogue life. Power regulation and twin mains transformers keep the DAC and amp from interfering with each other. It even has streaming tech built in, and DXD upsampling, so any song sounds fantastic. £11,999, absolutesounds.com

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Naim Statement

This is a showpiece from one of the most advanced audio companies on the planet. The three 2001-like monoliths comprise a preamp and two power amps. Each power amp delivers 746 watts of power to a speaker, and weighs 101kg. This is for pushing impeccable audio to the most high-end speakers on the planet while looking incredibly stylish. It definitely does all of that and more. £125,000, naimaudio.com

4 PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium HP

PrimaLuna’s aim is to make tube amps as simple and inspiring as possible. At 250 watts, this is one of the most powerful tube amps in the world, and sounds absolutely fantastic. But it also includes little touches like a red light next to each valve to warn you if it’s failed, with the amp going into protection mode if one does, to avoid damage. It also works as a headphone amp at the push of a button. £3,398, absolutesounds.com

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AMPLIFIERS

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Chord Electronics Ultima power amp This brand-new pre-amp and power amp system from Chord Electronics is the first new circuit topology from the British maker since it began in 1988. This means it’s been three decades in the making, and it’s been worth it. Each Ultima mono power amp (pictured here with Chord’s reference-quality DAVE DAC) pushes 1,000 watts – and that huge amount of power sits nicely with its remarkable design, which looks like it could be a futuristic reactor in a movie. £30,000, chordelectronics.co.uk

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Sony DMP-Z1

This is technically a portable music player, but it’s so big and heavy that really it’s a headphone amp and player with a battery. A 1,500mW amp can power the most demanding headphones, while dual DACs provide excellent stereo imaging. The beautiful dial on the front is gold-plated and finished to perfection. It even has a filter to mimic the richness of vinyl in your digital tracks. $7,900, sony.co.uk

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AM PLIFIERS

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2 Audio Research VT80SE

The VT80SE combines Audio Research’s quest for the finest sound with the desire to make it easy to make music sound better. Using specially produced tubes that are matched in tight tolerances, it’s built to exacting expectations. The tubes used here are usually found in even higher-end amps – but you can switch them for others, and it automatically adjusts. £9,998, absolutesounds.com

3 Dan D’Agostino Relentless

Each of these monoblock power amps is capable of a colossal 1,500W of juice. If there’s a speaker on the planet it can’t drive, we haven’t met it. An all-new low-distortion input stage and amplification stages that aren’t affected by the demands of the speaker keep the music at its best. Better reinforce your floor, though: each one weighs 220kg. £275,000 per pair, absolutesounds.com

4 Cambridge

Audio Edge A

Created for Cambridge Audio’s 50th anniversary, this integrated amp was engineered with a focus solely on audio quality, not price or specs. A new toroidal transformer design cancels EM interference while a short signal path puts the sound through fewer components. Capacitors have also been replaced by an active circuit. The result is 100W of amazing sound quality. £4,500, cambridgeaudio.com

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TURNTABLES

TURNTA BLES Making records sound as good as they should takes decades of know-how and extreme engineering – and these have both

1 Pro-Ject

Signature 10

Made with a plinth of MDF and metal particulate to act as a sturdy base, with a platter that runs silently on an inverted ceramic ball bearing with magnetic suspension, this packs in all of Pro-Ject’s considerable experience. The Signature tonearm design uses special alloys to create a tube with plenty of damping inside, but including custom oil-damped bearing helps keep the musicality strong. £3,999, henleyaudio.co.uk

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EAT Forte

This beast weighs 65kg, and is a hefty 70cm wide, all in the service of a vibrationfree experience, of course. The platter is made of two alloys of different densities, for better energy absorption. The motor is a separate unit, and is connected using a special silicon string. The black and brown leather version is classy, but we love that white and mint combo. From £6,900, absolutesounds.com

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McIntosh MT2

Despite being outfitted with McIntosh’s signature imposing looks, this is its more beginner-friendly turntable. Tracking force, anti-skate force, cartridge overhang and arm height are all preset in the factory, so it’s practically plug ’n’ play – though you’ll still need a phono pre-amp to plug it into. The tonearm is constructed from dural-aluminium with damping materials. £4,995, mcintoshlabs.com

4 Burmester

Signature 175

Made of cast aluminium with a brass core, featuring four AC drive motors, a nineinch aluminium and carbon fibre tonearm, integrated phono stage with technology derived from Burmester’s 100 Phono, a separate power supply, and magnetically decoupled feet, this engagingly shiny turntable clocks in at 60kg. A bitumen coating on the reverse of the platter helps damping further. $45,000, burmester.de/en

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TURNTABLES

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VPI Avenger Reference With a name like this, it’s a good thing the technology is smart enough for Tony Stark’s listening room. Layers of acrylic and aluminium in the chassis have damping material between them, while the separate rim drive motor turns an advanced magnetic platter system with a ring clamp to help keep warped records flat. The feet have been carefully engineered, too: aluminium knurled cones sit in a Delrin isolation pad. £20,000, renaissanceaudio.co.uk

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TURNTABLES

TechDAS Air Force Two Premium

The ‘Premium’ in this name seems wildly unnecessary given the price and, well, a look at the thing. The ‘Air Force’ part is the key, though: compressed air is used as the bearing for the platter, and for the suspension, avoiding vibrations through a lack of contact. Even better, a vacuum on the platter can suck records flat to avoid problems from warped favourites. £46,998, absolutesounds.com

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Mark Levinson 515

This brand has been making luxury hi-fi for 45 years, but this is the first turntable it’s ever released – the first one worthy of putting its name on, it says. It’s based on a vinyl-wrapped and highly damped MDF and aluminium sandwich main chassis, supported by machined Delrin and aluminium feet with a vibration-damping polymer. A 3D-printed tonearm with integral headshell and stainless steel counterweight should get every drop of detail out of your wax. The hefty aluminium platter rotates on an inverted bearing, which uses a stainless steel shaft spinning in a phosphor bronze bushing, for precise rotation. From £10,000, marklevinson.com

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V I N Y L AC C ESSOR IES

V IN Y L ACCES SOR IES Bring the best out of your records and turntables with add-ons as finely crafted as your favourite albums

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EAT E-Glo Petit

Many of the best turntables don’t include phono stages, because their focus is just on getting the tracks off the record as cleanly as possible. A phono stage takes the music signals the turntable creates and boosts them to a level ready for an amp to use. Making sure that it stays clear and sounds fantastic is a challenge, but this compact phono achieves it using careful power management and twin valves, with loads of control over impedance and capacitance for tailoring the signal. £1,249, absolutesounds.com

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SAT CF1-12

Every part of a record player has to be top quality in a serious setup, including the tonearm – and quality doesn’t get any more top than this. Stainless steel pillars and yokes connect to a carbon fibre arm tube, with a headshell design made from carbon fibre and aluminium. The layers of the carbon fibre are hand-laid, and each arm has a unique texture as a result. Every arm is precision machined to the same exact spec, for perfect final results. £44,500, absolutesounds.com

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Ortofon MC Century cartridge

To celebrate Ortofon’s 100th anniversary, 100 of these amazing cartridges are being made. The housing is a single piece of titanium, built layer on layer from fine particles, with a highly controlled density. The stylus itself is Ortofon’s flagship Replicant 100 unit, made from the finest diamond. For the first time, the stylus is mounted onto a diamond cantilever, with the low mass and high rigidity acting as the perfect connection between stylus and armature. £8,500, henleyaudio.co.uk

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PLAYERS

PL AY E R S No matter what your preferred source of music, these players will transform recordings into a beautiful live show

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Naim ND 555

What kind of attention to detail does this kind of money get you? How about a streamer in which the exact tightness of the bolts that hold the Faraday cage (to protect the streaming module from interference) were carefully calculated. For actual streaming, aptX, AirPlay, Roon, Tidal and more are all included. Oh, don’t forget the super-clean £6,999 external power supply. £12,999, naimaudio.com

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Premium SA-10

Marantz’s high-end disc players have the habit of becoming legendary, and this deserves to continue the streak. CD, SACD and music DVD-ROMs are all welcome here. The premium player reads using a customdesigned transport, and handles DAC duties using a special 1-bit conversion process. A built-in headphone amp adds extra flexibility in your home hi-fi setup, too. £5,999, marantz.co.uk

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Quad Artera Play+

The silver design of the Play+ is a huge hit with us, as is the ESS Sabre DAC that powers its ability to turn CDs into fantastically rich stereo soundscapes. With USB input, it can handle PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz, and up to DSD256. Data from the discs is buffered before feeding asynchronously, to reduce time errors. A built-in preamp means you can plug this straight into your power amp. £1,199, quad-hifi.co.uk

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Metaxas & Sins GQT

Reel-to-reel tape will never have the kind of revival vinyl has, but its incredible fidelity for recording means it still has a dedicated following. This is a recorder and playback unit for 1/4-inch tape, at 15 inches per second. Based on the Stellavox SM8, it’s been engineered by the most experienced people in the business to be the best example of an exalted tech. It’s expected to cost £20k. £TBC, metaxas.uk

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PLAYERS

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Meridian Reference 808v6 Signature CD Player Built to complement Meridian’s Reference active speakers (a pair of the flagship DSP8000s is a cool £48k), this CD player has a pre-amp built in, while the Reference speakers have their own power amps, so you just hook them straight up and you’re away. In another system, it only needs connecting to a power amp of your choice. Make sure you choose something that befits the impeccable refinement and detail this player deserves. £11,000, meridian-audio.com

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PLAYERS

1 PrimaLuna ProLogue Premium CD Player

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If you love the feel of classic analogue gear, but don’t want to lose the convenience of digital music, then you’ve come to the right page. PrimaLuna’s expertise with tubes means that whether you play CDs or files over USB, they’re given a richness that only glass can provide. Even the jitterreduction system is based on vacuum tubes (two of them, in fact), which PrimaLuna calls SuperTubeClock. £2,998, absolutesounds.com

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Kalista DreamPlay Stream

The makers of possibly the finest CD player on the planet turn their hands to streaming here, in a stylish black box that looks like a UFO (with an optional tripod stand that matches other DreamPlay products). It’s bursting with ways to stream, including AirPlay, Tidal, Roon, Spotify, and DLNA. The high-end built-in DAC then takes care of turning it to analogue, and when connected over RCA or USB, you’ll have an utterly pristine source of music. £19,998, absolutesounds.com

3 Simaudio

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MOON 390

This generously equipped machine features a network streamer, DAC, pre-amp, headphone amp and MM/MC phono stage. These make it an essential stop between just about any kind of music source and your amp. DSD, PCM and MQA files are all supported, as is streaming music over Tidal Masters, Qobuz Sublime+ and good ol’ aptX Bluetooth. £5,300, simaudio.com

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HEADPHONES

HEADPHONES Listen to your most-loved music in the most spectacular quality possible, anywhere, any time

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AKG N5005

The reference-quality nature of these in-ear headphones comes from their five-driver hybrid design. One dynamic driver and quadbalanced armature drivers in each ear bring you the music just as it was in the studio. You can tailor the sound to taste, though: filters let you adjust the frequencies to colour the sound the way you prefer. It comes with both wires and a Bluetooth option. £799, akg.com

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HifiMan Susvara

Planar magnetic headphones can produce more precise audio than regular ’phones, but have their own issues: the magnet structure that drives them can interfere with the sound. The Susvara uses magnets that are acoustically invisible, so you get nothing but purity. The driver itself is a millionth of a millimetre thick – everything about this screams precision engineering. £5,295, hifiman.com

3 Audio-Technica ATH-ADX5000

The Japanese masters of hi-fi have designed these open-backed headphones to carefully optimise the airflow around the 58mm driver. The driver itself combines as many components as possible into one unit, to reduce vibrations. The end results are packed into a magnesium frame, with soft Alcantara earpads and headband, all hand-assembled in Tokyo with an artisan’s finesse. £1,990, audio-technica.com

4 Ultimate Ears UE-18+ Pro

Perhaps the ultimate in in-ear monitors, these are loved by musicians for live and studio performances, but why wouldn’t you want your music to sound exactly like the original performance too? The shape is moulded to perfectly fit your ear, blocking all outside sound. It uses UE’s unique True Tone drivers for an extended frequence range, and the brand’s speciallytuned sound engine. £1,725, ultimateears.com

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HEADPHONES

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Dior Homme x Sennheiser Home Bundle For years, headphones have been at the intersection of fashion and audio, so if you want the best of both, you need the biggest names in both to come together. The Home Bundle gets you no fewer than three different high-end Sennheiser headphones (the HD 800 S pictured here, the PXC 550 wireless noise-cancelling model and the IE 800 in-ear ones), plus the HDVD 800 headphone amp (also pictured) – all styled specially by Dior, in carefully chosen materials. You get matching storage furniture, finished in the same materials too, as well as travel pouches for the PXC 550 and IE 800, to keep that Dior look pristine. £7,600, sennheiser.com

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HEADPHONES

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oBravo EAMT-1s

The hybrid driver technology in these headphones mixes an 8mm Air Motion Transformer (AMT) tweeter with a 10mm Neodymium Dynamic Driver (NDD). Working together, they’re capable of reaching lows of 15Hz and highs of 45kHz – a wider range than just about anything else. They’re sensitive enough to be used with smartphones, but you’ll probably want something with a bit more oomph to get the most out of them. £3,699, obravoaudio.com

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QUAD ERA-1

In all of its 80-year history of cutting-edge audio creations, these are Quad’s first headphones, so you know they’ll be special. They’re planar magnetic, so a precisely arranged series of magnets makes a diaphragm thinner than a human hair vibrate with incredible precision. This is backed by Quad’s nonlinear vibrationsuppression technology. The ERA-1s are designed to be less heavy than is common with planar headphones, too. £599, quad-hifi.co.uk

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Audeze LCD-4z

Audeze has been making class-leading planar magnetic headphones for years, but these type of headphone can be hard to drive properly. This newest model is built to bring the highest-end audio performance to smartphones and other portable devices without a headphone amp. It also leans into this new focus on portability by swapping out the heavy wood exterior of the original LCD-4 for lighter magnesium. £3,599, audeze.com

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PORTABLES

PORTA BLES Get uncompromised audio quality wherever you are with these supreme portable music players

1 Astell & Kern

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A&ultima SP1000M

Astell & Kern’s trademark angled edges give this player a sense of style, but it’s the substance that you’ll be paying all this money for. Twin DACs each handle a side of the stereo sound, while a specially designed layout with a short signal path keeps noise and interference to a minimum. High-res PCM audio and quad-rate DSD are supported, and there’s aptX Bluetooth for high-quality wireless playback. £1,999, astellnkern.com

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iFi xDSD

Cowon Plenue 2

Packing an impressive AK4497EQ DAC (the same as used in the A&ultima above) and a SoundPlus amplifier, plus an Ultra Precision Dual Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator (TCXO) Clock, this is made to reveal extreme detail in your music. (PCM and DSD files are good to go here, of course.) The industrial design is big, chunky and reassuring – despite the touchscreen controls, this feels like classic hi-fi in your pocket. £1,100, cowonglobal.com

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Given the other products in this mag, you might be thinking we’ve missed a digit off the price here. The xDSD may be least expensive thing here, but it’s certainly deluxe in how it elevates other products. You’ve spent huge money on a phone you carry everywhere, you put your favourite lossless tracks on… but are you going to play them through its DAC? Of course not. This wireless DAC and headphone amp can have CD-quality audio streamed to it over aptX, or you can connect over USB and optical. You can even tweak the sound to deliver tighter bass, or a wider soundstage. £399, ifi-audio.com

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