9000
9001
HUAWEI P30 PRO: CAMERA REVOLUTION
OUTDOOR GADGET SPECIAL Tech to help you skip the lawnmowing, enjoy the garden, or survive the wilds
BLUETOOTH TURNTABLES
58 Top buys under £100
Classic sound, no wires: 3 decks rated
SMARTEST NEW WAYS TO COMMUTE
TESTED
Electric vehicles to beat traffic jams, road tax and fuel bills
SAMSUNG GALAXY S10+
Why it’s the best Android phone you can buy
5 WATCHES TO DIE FOR
2019’s most desirable new timepieces
RATED
CANON EOS RP
This small camera puts DSLRs to shame
SHOWSTOPPER Gadgets that showcase the very best that design and technology have to offer
WORTH THE WEIGHT Aston Martin has pulled out all the stops to keep the Valkyrie’s weight down, even doing away with its traditional badge in favour of a chemically etched aluminium emblem that’s thinner than a human hair
A STON M A RTIN VA L K Y R IE For years, Aston Martin has been the favourite car manufacturer of a certain Mr Bond. With its latest launch, though, the British marque seems more to have set its sights on selling to Batman. A street-legal, hybrid-electric ‘hypercar’ designed in conjunction with Red Bull Racing legend Adrian Newey, the jaw-dropping Valkyrie boasts an otherworldly aesthetic that would likely appeal to the Caped Crusader – and it has the performance to match. The Cosworth-developed 6.5-litre V12 HQJLQH GHOLYHUV DQ DZHVRPH EKS DQG ZKLOH WKH H[DFW VSHHG ĆJXUHV KDG \HW WR EH UHOHDVHG DW WKH WLPH RI ZULWLQJ LWèV reckoned that the electric motor could help jettison the car to a 0-60 time of around 2.5 seconds. The Valkyrie is light as a IHDWKHU WRR å LWV HUJRQRPLF FDUERQ ĆEUH EXLOG KHOSV LW WR DFKLHYH D SRZHU WR ZHLJKW UDWLR RI 1R ZRUG RQ SULFLQJ \HW EXWbMXVW DUH EHLQJ SURGXFHG VR WKHUHèV D FKDQFH \RX PLJKW QHHG %UXFH :D\QHèV ĆQDQFLDO FORXW WR EX\ RQH £TBC, astonmartin.com
Meet the team
Meet the team
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Welcome
Editor’s letter The outdoor tech features we’ve got this issue (p29) were incredibly well-timed from our point of view, because the weather turned beautiful as we were ĆQLVKLQJ WKHP DQG ZH ZHUH DEOH WR WDNH D ORDG RI RXU own advice about spending more time enjoying time RXWGRRUV DQG OHVV WLPH SXWWLQJ LQ KDUG ZRUN We’re covering both relaxing in the garden and getting away from civilisation, but also the biggest change that’s coming for commuters: personal electric vehicles (p50). For journeys of a few miles, these often prove much faster than cars, and won’t get you as hot and sweaty as a push bike – the right one could save you hours of travelling per week! One of my favourite tech trends of the last few years is Bluetooth becoming a more common thing for turntables to include, and we’ve got spinners like this on p59. They free \RX IURP QHHGLQJ D WUDGLWLRQDO KL Ć VHWXS LI \RX ZDQW WKDW vinyl sound – you can put the turntable anywhere, and can connect wireless speakers, headphones or even a Bluetooth adapter (p82) on your amp or receiver. The season of great phones is coming thick and fast now å QRW RQO\ FDQ \RX ĆQG RXU GHĆQLWLYH UHYLHZ RI WKH 6DPVXQJ 6 WKLV LVVXH S EXW DOVR RXU ĆUVW ORRN DW WKH +XDZHL P30 Pro (p8). It’s a good time to be in the market.
Matt Bolton, Editor matthew.bolton@futurenet.com Tweet me @matthewbbolton
T3’S MISSION Our mission is to bring you the clearest recommendations ZHbFDQ å 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
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M AY 2 019 T3 5
Contents
Contents 029
LIVE LIFE OUTDOORS
Spring is here, so now is the time to enjoy spending more time outdoors. Whether for you that means hiking or gardening, we have WKHbWHFK WR KHOS \RX GR LW
059 6 T3 M AY 2 019
STATE OF THE ART
We test out three stylish wireless turntables, at a range of budgets, to see which is top of the pops
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THE NEW MOVEMENT
Meet this year’s hottest new watches, including a OHJHQGDU\ è V SURWRW\SH WKDWèV ĆQDOO\ FRPH WR OLIH
Contents
WIN! A VANGO TAIGA 600XL AIR TENT FOR FAMILY CAMPING HORIZON 008
TOP 10
Meet the supercar you’d kill to own, /*èV PLG UDQJH 2/(' PDVWHU DQG *DUPLQèV QHZ FODVV\ VPDUWZDWFKHV
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A SPRING CLEAN SETUP
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AUDIO TECHNICA M50XBT VS MARSHALL MONITOR BT
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FITNESS & OUTDOORS
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HI-FI STREAMING ADAPTERS
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AND SAVE BIG MONEY Get the latest offers
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M A Y 2 0 1 9 T3 7
Horizon
The best new tech heading your way Edited by Claire Davies
HUAWEI P30 PRO From £899, huawei The P20 Pro was one of the stand-out phones of last year, and its successor upgrades pretty much everything. The screen is now a 6.47-inch OLED with HDR support and a wider P3 colour gamut, the powerful Kirin 980 chip from the Mate 20 Pro powers it, the notch is reduced to just a drop, and then there’s the cameras… The Leica quad system is a whole new setup, and in our early tests with the phone, it’s clear that this is a hugely impressive and impossibly versatile camera – photographs are scalpel sharp and burst with colour. The real star of the show is the zoom function, though: the P30 Pro has a 5x optical zoom built into its telephoto lens (using a periscope system), and when that combines with the other cameras, it gives a 10x ‘hybrid’ zoom that Huawei claims is “lossless” thanks to AI trickery. We’ve been trying it, and the results are incredible – it seems to work a little better on things like text than people, which look a tad over-sharpened, but are still a million times better than using a digital-only zoom. We’ve only been able to use it briefly so far, but it feels so slick, and so full of technology, that we’re more excited about it than any non-folding handset this year. A phone with no compromises? Here we go.
TECH-O-METER
Part of the new camera system is a different type of sensor: instead of the usual RGB pixels, the P30 Pro uses RYYB (red-yellowyellow-blue), because yellow pixels can take in twice as much light as their green equivalents
“Huawei ticked all the boxes, and then just kept ticking. This phone looks incredible” Matt Bolton, Editor
8 T3 M AY 2 019
Top 10
HIGH-TECH DISPLAY There’s more to the gorgeous screen than meets the eye… There’s a hidden fingerprint sensor underneath, and it uses acoustic surface tech to turn the whole thing into a powerful speaker (Sony’s highend OLED TVs use similar tech)
SOFT ON SOFTWARE The only small reservation we had in our early testing is that Huawei’s EMUI software over Android 9 isn’t as pretty and slick as the new One UI on the Samsung S10+ (p74)
POWER PACK The 4,200mAh is very generously sized, though you’d hope so when the phone is this big. Like the Mate 20 Pro, it feature reverse wireless charging, so you can juice up your wirelessly-charged headphones, or another phone or anything else, from the P30 Pro by placing the other device on its back
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Horizon
PININFARINA BATTISTA ¤2,000,000 (approx £1,700,000), pininfarina.com Remember how mind-blowing it was when the first 1,000-horsepower car was revealed? Ah, what a time of innocence. This nuclear power plant of an electric car has an individual motor driving each wheel, developing a total of 1,900bhp. For perspective, that’s 10 times the grunt of an Audi A6. It can make 0-60 in under two seconds, and will hit over 200mph at top speed. Pininfarina has been helping the likes of Porsche design cars for 90 years, but this is the first time it’s produced a vehicle of its own. It plans to make 150 of the jaw-dropping Battista, with deliveries starting in Europe in late 2020, so you’d best start planning the bank heist you’ll need to be able to afford one. T3 SAYS: Bow before your new electric hypercar overlord. We can’t wait to glimpse one on our next holiday to Monte Carlo…
TECH-O-METER
LG C9 £TBC, lg.com As sure as night follows day, or Strictly follows the Lottery, LG has released this year’s update to its fantastic OLED TV line-up. As usual, the sweet spot is the C9, which includes the top-tier 4K HDR panel tech and next-gen image processing you get from more expensive models in the range, but with less built-in audio prowess (Just Add Soundbar). As well as the incredible contrast you expect from OLED, it also uses AI to process the image, adjusting the picture on the fly to better match the content you’re watching, so everything looks as rich and realistic as possible. It’s also got Alexa and Google Assistant built-in, as well as the nextgen HDMI 2.1 connector. You can get it in 55-, 65- or 77-inch versions, and it’s likely to start in the £2,500-£3,000 range when it arrives soon. T3 SAYS: LG is the mid-range OLED master, and this looks like another winner.
TECH-O-METER
10 T3 M AY 2 019
Top 10
APPLE iPAD AIR From £479, apple.com/uk No, iPad watchers, this page has not fallen through a time warp from 2013. The iPad Air name has been resurrected for Apple’s latest tablet, which features a 10.5-inch screen and A12 Bionic processor for serious power. The screen is a 2224x1668 LCD with wide-colour support and Apple’s excellent True Tone tech, which adjusts the white balance to match the ambient lighting in the room, so it’s more comfortable to use. There’s also Apple Pencil support, Touch ID security, and it comes in 64GB or 256GB options. There’s also a Smart Keyboard Cover option for typing. On top of this, Apple also announced a new iPad Mini, which has pretty much identical specs (other than the smaller 7.9-inch, 2048x1536 display). T3 SAYS: Apple looks like it’s hit a sweet spot here: you get most of what an iPad Pro gives you, but for a lot less. A mobile working dream.
TECH-O-METER
FUJIFILM X-T30 £849 (body only), fujifilm.com Staking its claim as the perfect travel camera, Fuji’s new snapper is a seriously impressive mix of portability and quality. It’s pretty much a smaller and cheaper version of the X-T3, which came out last year to high praise. You get the same 26MP sensor, image processor, autofocus and continuous shooting modes in both cams, but the X-T30 is missing a few of the higherend options of the X-T3. It still comes with a range of physical controls you can tweak easily if you know what you’re doing, and a dedicated auto mode if you want the camera to do the hard bit. We’ve taken it for a spin, and it’s an excellent bit of kit – light, tough (with a metal body) and stylish, and it shoots fantastic pics. The 4K video (which originally captures at 6K, for higher quality) is also killer. T3 SAYS: Make room in your suitcase for a very cool, and very capable, camera.
TECH-O-METER
M AY 2 019 T3 11
Horizon
GARMIN MARQ From £1,399, garmin.com Rolex, Omega, Breitling… Garmin? These connected watches are made using traditional timepiece manufacturing techniques and design, but with Garmin’s tech inside. The collection is comprised of the Marq Aviator, Marq Driver, Marq Captain, Marq Expedition and Marq Athlete, each designed and engineered for those inspired by their passion in flying, racing, sailing, exploring and fitness, respectively. Each watch differs ever so subtly, including with features specific to the different disciplines. They’re all built from titanium, and feature domed sapphire crystal displays for ultimate scratch resistance. Inside, they have GPS, heart-rate sensors, activity tracking, music playback and mapping – they’re still Garmins. T3 SAYS: This is a really good-looking set of watches, with the full Garmin smarts built in. Expensive, sure, but what fine timepiece isn’t?
TECH-O-METER
APPLE AIRPODS (2019) From £159, apple.com The second-gen true wireless headphones from Apple aren’t quite updated enough to be called ‘AirPods 2’, but they do have a handy batch of upgrades over the original. There’s a new chip inside that supports Bluetooth 5 and should be twice as fast switching between different devices, and 50% faster at connecting phone calls, while also giving longer talk time (though listening time is the same at five hours per charge, with 24 hours of listening total when charging from the case). They also add ‘Hey Siri’ support, so you can just say that to trigger Apple’s assistant and order your iPhone to do things. You can also get them with a case that charges using Qi wireless power for £199, or buy the case only for your old AirPods for £79. T3 SAYS: Less of an update than we were hoping for, but they were already some of the best in class, so all improvements are welcome.
TECH-O-METER
1 2 T3 M AY 2 019
Top 10
ARCADE1UP STREET FIGHTER II CABINET £399, arcade1up.com Bring the stick-mashing, buttonclacking joy of youth back into your house with Arcade1Up’s affordable gaming cabinets. Standing at four feet tall, with original button layouts (for two players) and a colour screen, you get the proper experience. The range includes Rampage, Space Invaders and Asteroids, among others, but our pick is easily this SFII cabinet, which actually comes with three versions of the game (Turbo, Championship Edition and The New Challengers), so you choose the one you have the most affinity for. More game options are due in 2019,
including Golden Tee and Mortal Kombat (which includes the first three games in the series). For this price, you could kit out a whole room with your favourites and start charging for entry. T3 SAYS: Not only do these arcade cabinets look the part, they feel like the real thing too. Sweet nostalgia.
TECH-O-METER COOLNESS INNOVATION FEATURES
FOCAL STELLIA £2,799, focal.com Open-backed headphones sound more natural than closed-back ones, which is why a lot of hi-fi companies staunchly stick with them. But they also let in tons of outside sound, so this better sound is more theoretical than anything if you use them outside of a silent listening room. Focal has long made some of the most impressive open-backed headphones out there, but it’s finally caved and started making closedback models, so you can enjoy its brilliant combination of beryllium drivers and copper voice coils without also hearing every
conversation around you. They look the part, too; we love the circle patterns. They’re really comfortable to wear for a long time thanks to memory foam and leather ear pads – and wear them at length you will, because they sound incredible. T3 SAYS: Focal quality you can use on the train? It’s about time.
TECH-O-METER COOLNESS INNOVATION FEATURES
FITBIT VERSA LITE £149, fitbit.com The bargain smartwatch wars are hotting up! Fitbit’s new wearable focuses on the two biggest things people buy smartwatches for – notifications and activity tracking – and goes all in on those for a low price. The Versa Lite is waterproof down to 50m (swim tracking is one of the cut features, though), has a heart-rate sensor, and calculates your VO2 Max during workouts, which it uses as a rough guide to overall fitness levels. You also get sleep tracking, plus the competitive Fitbit social stuff that helped make the brand big in the first place. There’s
no GPS for tracking runs (it can use your phone’s), and the action is easy to control using the touchscreen. We’ve had a play with this and it feels like Fitbit’s got the basics right. At this price, it could be a big hit. T3 SAYS: All the essentials in a nice package. For a lot of people, this is all the smartwatch they’ll need.
TECH-O-METER COOLNESS INNOVATION FEATURES M AY 2 019 T3 13
Horizon
WE CAN BUILD YOU
A SPRING CLEAN SETUP Take the strain out of spring cleaning your home with our pick of time-saving, dust-busting tech
THE READER
THE EXPERT
Carla Morris Carla wants to do a big spring clean and is looking for easy to use, lightweight tech that either does the cleaning for her (and does it well), or tackles the jobs she hates the most.
Chris Barnes Tech journalist Chris loves nothing better than cleaning his house. So much so, he recently took on a T3 challenge to see if tech was a match for his elbow grease (it was).
1
iROBOT ROOMBA i7+
Tick hoovering off your to-do list. The Roomba i7+ harnesses Imprint Smart Mapping to learn the layout of your home, so your only job is to program a cleaning schedule within the Roomba app – your robot buddy will do the rest. Aside from powerful suction, what sets the i7+ apart is its Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal system. Once full, the vac offloads its cargo directly into the Clean Base, which only needs emptying every 30 loads. £899, shop.irobot.co.uk
2
SONICSCRUBBER
If Doctor Who needed to deep clean the TARDIS, she’d definitely use a Sonic Scrubber. This handheld powerhouse delivers 10,000 oscillations per minute through a choice of five cleaning heads to swiftly uproot grime, tackling everywhere from your bath, oven and fridge, to underloved areas like shower heads and that bit you missed behind the kitchen tap (don’t worry, we won’t tell).
4
KÄRCHER WINDOW VAC
There are just two simple steps standing between you and gleaming glass with the ace Window Vac. To begin, give your windows, mirrors or tiles a wipe down with Kärcher’s fancy cleaning solution using the supplied microfibre cloth. Then, marvel as the handheld Vac sucks away the dirty water and removes all streaks. You’ll be done in minutes. £50, kaercher.com/uk
5
VAX STEAM FRESH POWER CLEANER PLUS
Hard floors need love too, but mopping can be back-breaking work. The solution? Steam! The Vax Steam Fresh power mop attacks dirt with a mix of detergent and hot steam to annihilate bacteria and leave your floors looking and smelling like new. There’s also a handheld mode for smaller jobs such as cleaning your oven, or you can fit the extension to tackle pesky out-of-reach spots. £99, vax.co.uk
£18, sonicscrubber.co.uk
3
DYSON PURE COOL DESK
6
SHARK CORDLESS HANDHELD VAC
While your intentions are good, the chemicals in the cleaning products you use to freshen up your pad only add to the pollutants already clogging up the air in your home. Fire up Dyson’s desktop purifier to remove 99.5% of ultra-fine airborne particles, circulate healthy air and maintain that spring clean sheen all year round.
While the Roomba i7+ can take care of your floors, it can’t navigate into those high-up and hard-to-reach spots like stairs or spider-y shelves. Buddy it up with the always-ready Shark Cordless Handheld Vac and dust and dirt won’t stand a chance. Shark’s rechargeable device comes with dual batteries, meaning double the suckage time.
£399, dyson.co.uk
£179, sharkclean.eu/uk
1 4 T3 M AY 2 0 1 9
We can build you…
SAYS… “A spoonful of tech helps the cleaning go much, much faster…” Claire Davies, Senior Content Editor
M AY 2 019 T3 1 5
Horizon
TRUE BLUE
Denim is rarely out of fashion, but this spring and summer, bleached and lighter washes are having a moment in the sun
RALPH LAUREN BUTTONDOWN CHAMBRAY SHIRT You can wear a chambray buttoned or open, making it a versatile and reliable addition to your spring repertoire. £109, farfetch.com ACNE STUDIOS NORTH SKINNY-FIT DENIM JEANS The light wash on these jeans from Acne fades nicely from the hems. Mix with white or go for darker shades of blue. £220, mrporter.com TODD SNYDER SELVEDGE DENIM JACKET Get this Japanese-style jacket in ‘dad wash’ as your ideal spring outer layer. The quality selvedge denim is also a plus. £220, toddsnyder.com FRAME L’HOMME CUT-OFF DENIM SHORTS It’s spring and so that means the time to invest in denim cut-offs has arrived. Made in the United States, the distressed construction here is a winner. £185, matchesfashion.com RAG AND BONE MARILYN BASEBALL CAP You don’t necessarily need streetwear style to wear this cap, but it will definitely add sporty vibes to your rotation. £101, shop.nordstrom.com
WHICH WATCH
THE HOTTEST TIMEPIECES RIGHT NOW G-SHOCK MTG-B1000
HAMILTON KHAKI FIELD MURPH
SWATCH FLYMAGIC
Manufactured from ‘unbreakable’ stainless steel, carbon fibre, and very tough sapphire glass, this watch will keep accurate time anywhere in the world using the Connected Engine module.
A beautiful reproduction of the watch featured in Interstellar. The Khaki Field Murph is strictly limited to 2,555 pieces (because one hour on planet Miller equals 2,555 Earth days).
The first watch to feature the innovative material ‘Nivachron’. Its anti-magnetic properties keep the watch ticking accurately, while the funky, reversed design helps you stand out from the crowd.
£750, g-shock.co.uk
£835, hamiltonwatch.com
£1,500, swatch.com
16 T3 M AY 2 019
Style
DRESS LIKE
DEV PATEL Lift your layering game this spring with inspo from The Wedding Guest actor’s stylebook THE JACKET This quilted bomber is the standout piece in Dev’s outfit and catches the eye with its texture and tonal colouring. Grab a similar jacket with the Barbour Astern Quilted Jacket (£159, barbour.com/uk). THE ROLLNECK Add some comfort to your outfit with a cosy polo neck in grey to offset the jacket. Try it with the Canali Mélange Merino Wool Rollneck Sweater (£180, mrporter.com). THE BOOTS A slick pair of military-style boots perfectly finishes this ensemble. Perhaps match in black for a stronger look. Selected Homme has a fine pair just like it with the Lace-Up Ankle Boots (£110, zalando.co.uk).
MONEY NO OBJECT Salvatore Ferragamo Zipped Leather Jacket First revealed as part of Salvatore Ferragamo’s AW18 collection, this stunning leather jacket can serve as both a statement piece and a practical core element of your transitional layering setup this spring. It’s also bang on for the vintage trend. Constructed using silk twill, premium wool, leather and shearling, this jacket will open up an array of matching choices with the rest of your wardrobe. £3,129, farfetch.com
STYLE CONSCIOUS
HOW TO DRESS SMART-CASUAL Stylist Nicole Page gives the scoop on how to manage a delicate balancing act The phrase ‘smart-casual’ gets thrown around well too often when we talk about style. While we dress this way often in our daily lives, when do we think about what smart-casual actually is? With many interpretations out there on how smart – or how casual – smart-casual should be, T3 spoke with London-based personal stylist Nicole Page (nicolepagestylist.com) to find out what the tricks are. While smart-casual can be intentionally ambiguous, straddling the line between somewhat sharp and certainly informal is a balancing act. “Always match your belt to your shoes, don’t worry too much about tonal differences, just make sure that both are matching for a more cohesive look,” Page says. “With regards to a shirt, always keep these plain and in neutral colours; should you want print then opt for narrow stripes. The less fuss the better. Keep it simple and classic.” Another key smart-casual item is the blazer, says Page, which can be dressed up or down easily – especially one in a neutral colour. “You will be able to coordinate your wardrobe so much more efficiently when you have the basics first and in neutral tones,” Page explains. “A tailored blazer is a must-have in any man’s wardrobe.” So what exactly is a reliable smartcasual outfit? According to Page, building one out of classic pieces in neutral tones will keep you covered should you be dressing for a birthday party, an interview, or everything in between. Her recommendations are going for dark denim slim-fit jeans; a white slim-fit shirt; navy chunky knit cardigan; a dark-grey blazer along with a brown belt, and brown lace-up boots. You know it makes sense. M AY 2 019 T3 17
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RIDE AND SHINE AUTOGLYM SUPER RESIN POLISH This awardwinning polish is the ideal starting point for looking after your car. When applied to a freshly washed and dried car, the polish will gently clean and condition paintwork. It also restores gloss to dull and faded areas, giving your car a new lease of life. £13, halfords.com
T-CUT RAPID SCRATCH REMOVER Formulated to help remove scratches, scuffs and other blemishes from your car’s paintwork. Use it after your car is washed, but before you polish or wax, and only on damaged areas. Work it into the paint using a circular motion, and you should see light scratches disappear. £8.90, amazon.co.uk
TYRED OUT
THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE Ever wanted to manoeuvre a car like a movie daredevil? Well, buckle up, as Paul Dimery checks out the UK’s best stunt driver experiences If your idea of stunt driving is the donuts you used to pull around the supermarket car park, we have news for you: there are much cooler tricks you can perform in your motor. It’s best to avoid trying to do a corkscrew jump along the bypass, but there are numerous companies offering stunt-driving experiences for all skill levels. The Silverstone race track provides an inspiring backdrop for Top Gear star Paul Swift’s Ultimate Stunt Driving Experience (from £249, silverstone.co.uk). Thrill-seekers can jump behind the wheel of various performance cars to learn moves like the J-turn (reverse spin) and high-speed parallel
parking. The price even includes a demonstration by the experts. If you like The Italian Job, you’ll love Stunt Drive UK’s Ultimate Stunt Driving (£125, stuntdriveuk.com) experience. Based in Essex and Herefordshire, it gives you the opportunity to try out five different tricks in a Mini. Your instructor will even show you how to drive on two wheels. Already packing some stunt driving skills? Then perhaps Birmingham’s Incredible Auto Circus (£99, motorracinglive.co.uk) is for you; it’ll pit you against fellow stunt fans in contraptions such as a double-decker car, a Reliant Robin and a shopping trolley racer.
MEGUIARS SHINE MICROFIBER TOWELS
PLUGGED IN
Designed to absorb double the amount of water than a normal towel, these doublesided antiscratch towels are ideal for use when washing your car windows by hand, and for removing car wax and polish residue. The microfiber material is soft yet durable, leaving a streakand swirl-free finish. £7, meguiars.co.uk
ELECTRIC DREAMS
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The Geneva Motor Show 2019 showcased some scintillating e-cars for 2019, proving there’s never been a better time to convert The Geneva Motor Show offered rich pickings for electric cars. Take the Polestar 2 (from £35,000, polestar.com), for example. Basically, it’s a Tesla Model 3 made by Volvo, promising 275 miles of range from a 408bhp motor. We were also taken with the Alfa Romeo Tonale (£TBC, alfaromeo.co.uk), the Italian car maker’s first plug-in hybrid and mid-size SUV. And we can’t wait to try the Audi E-Tron (from £71,490, audi.co.uk), an all-electric SUV with Matrix LED lights, virtual door mirrors and Adaptive Cruise Control boosting your on-road safety.
Travel
FREQUENT FLYER TECH
SONY WH-1000XM3 The best noise-cancelling headphones on the planet have tech for optimising the sound when flying. The 30hour battery will last even the longest of hauls, and you can easily let in outside sound for when you need to ask for another champagne. £329, sony.co.uk
HUAWEI MATEBOOK X PRO
TREE’S COMPANY
GO DOWN TO THE WOODS
One way to while away time on a flight is to work or watch movies. And with a 91% screen-to-body ratio, the Matebook X Pro is easy on the eyes in many ways. Its slim style is also a godsend when you’re travelling with minimal cabin baggage. £1,499, huawei.com/uk
For those times when you can’t ‘adult’ anymore, travel journalist Tamara Hinson is on hand with some treehouse breaks Devon’s Treetops Treehouse, described as a ‘multi-storey wooden palace’, is how tree houses should be – rambling and wild, but still wonderfully comfortable. Supported by ancient oak branches, this beautiful structure has a king-sized bed, deep copper bath, plus a fully-kitted out kitchen with outside barbecue on the deck. We also love the location, in the North Devon Biosphere reserve. The Treetops House (from £235 a night, canopyandstars.co.uk) is perfect for scenic walks and connecting with nature. For heightened luxury, check in to one of Chewton Glen’s four tree houses. Look closely and you’ll notice these Hampshire hideaways aren’t supported by trees, they’re
just surrounded by them. Our favourite of the four is the Treehouse Studio Suite, with its outdoor hot tub, kitchenette, living room and marble bathroom (from £850 a night, chewtonglen.com). Looking to improve your cooking? Head to Chewton Glen’s The Kitchen nearby to join one of its cookery classes. If you’re up for adventuring further afield, try one of 11 tree houses at Peru’s Treehouse Lodge, the only all-inclusive tree house lodge in the Amazon rainforest. It ticks all the boxes in the sustainability stakes, with solar power and water purification systems, and construction was supervised by a team of dedicated arborists (from £533 per person, treehouselodge.com).
OSPREY DOCUMENT WALLET How many times have you got to the airport gate only to realise you’ve misplaced your boarding pass or, even worse, your passport? Avoid awkward pre-flight fumbles with this stylish multi-pocket travel wallet from Osprey. £32, ospreyeurope.com M AY 2 019 T3 19
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INDOOR CYCLING TECH
KEEP ON RUNNING Feeling inspired by the London marathon? Becca Caddy finds the gear to help you prepare for your next big race GARMIN FORERUNNER 645 MUSIC Keep motivation levels high through a tough training schedule by listening to (500+) songs on this dedicated running watch. £399, garmin.com
WATTBIKE PRO This award-winning indoor training bike is a huge favourite among top athletes. That’s because it can measure more than 40 different performance parameters and is ideal for all kinds of cycling workouts. £2,250, wattbike.com
JABRA ELITE ACTIVE 65T Listen to music as you work out with these secure-fitting earbuds from Jabra. They have wireless stability built in to stop calls and music dropping out, as well as smart assistant compatibility for hands-free voice commands. £129, jabra.co.uk
HYPERICE VYPER 2.0 FOAM ROLLER Warm up quicker and recover faster with this vibrating foam roller that’ll help you avoid injury. $199 (£152), hyperice.com
UNDER ARMOUR HOVR INFINITE These cushioned running shoes were designed with built-in sensors to track your performance to your phone. £120, underarmour.co.uk GORE R7 GORE-TEX SHAKEDRY HOODED JACKET Train in all weather with this jacket made from GoreTex. It’ll keep you on track come rain, wind or shine. £259, gorewear.com
OAKLEY FLIGHT JACKET SUNGLASSES Advanced lenses react to light and a brow-less design keeps these comfy. £185, oakley.com
TECHNICAL MOUNTAIN BOOTS Which pair of these should you walk the walk in? SCARPA MANTA PRO GTX £335, scarpa.co.uk
GARNEAU MULTI AIR FLEX If you’re serious about cycling, grab yourself a pair of these versatile shoes that are perfect for training or commuting. They have a ventilated outer sole that provides good toe flexion, as well as a ventilated insole. £80, garneau.com 2 0 T3 M AY 2 019
HEAD-TO -HEAD WINNER
These waterproof mountain boots are built for longdistance hiking. Designed for all seasons, they have enhanced ankle support, they’re fully crampon compatible and have built-in shock absorption. Upgraded on a previous design, they’re more comfortable thanks to progressive flex in the midsole.
LA SPORTIVA STREAM GTX £195, lasportiva.com
For better conditions and fast hiking, these lightweight hiking boots offer comfort and breathability. They’re also waterproof with a Gore-Tex inner, but are designed for good conditions rather than downpours. With a sole for gripping and stability control systems built in they’re more than capable of navigating rough terrain.
Living
YOUR COOL SLEEP KIT
OUTLAST ALL SEASONS DUVET
MASTER CHEFFING
This helps you maintain the ideal temperature during sleep. Made using moisturewicking Lycoll and NASAinspired Outlast material, it’ll absorb heat to keep you cool, then dissipate what’s stored when the temperature drops. From £195, rested.com
COOK EVERYTHING AT THE TOUCH OF A BUTTON Cooking skills in need of finessing? Then, says Claire Davies, the incoming Thermomix TM6 kitchen robot could be your saviour We know your type. You rifle through the pages of T3, eyeing up lots of lovely gadgets for your kitchen. You buy them, unbox them, sit them on your kitchen worktop and… you rarely use them. Perhaps they’re too fiddly to clean, or you don’t know what to cook with them, or perhaps you need a gadget that handles pretty much everything for you. If any of those ring true, there’s one new gadget that could replace all others for you: the Thermomix TM6. This fully-featured food processor is more like a whizz-bang kitchen robot, and home to the Cookidoo
recipe portal. The latter is directly integrated into TM6, giving you access to 42,000 recipes, all viewable on the 6.8-inch display, that you can make with the food processor. The TM6 (£1,099, thermomix.co.uk) can chop, fry, mix, puree, knead, saute, steam, roast, fry and slow cook, and it doubles as a fancy sous vide machine. All you have to do is select a recipe, drop in the ingredients, press the relevant button and watch the TM6 take over. This clever machine even has a pre-cleaning and pre-rinsing function to make clean-up easier.
BRIGHT IDEA
PANDA MATTRESS PROTECTOR Your mattress protector is important for maintaining good airflow, with jersey cotton or bamboo-infused fabrics the most breathable. Panda’s version also acts as a natural antibacterial barrier to dust mites and allergens. From £19, mypandalife.com
SHED SOME LIGHT ON IT Boost your productivity with Dyson’s new smart task light, which adapts its brightness to match the natural light outside Dyson’s new Lightcycle combines appcontrolled, time-sensitive, sun-mimicking light with industrial design and a great deal of flexibility in how you can use it. Controlled via the Dyson Link app, the Lightcycle (from £449, dyson.co.uk) tracks local daylight and adapts its own temperature and brightness to match, keeping your body clock more aligned with the real world. The task light offers six preset modes, including Relax (warmer) and Boost (much brighter), plus Sleep and Wake-up modes, and an Away mode to fool burglars.
DUNLOPILLO 3D AIRFLOW MESH Build on the refreshing sleep you’ll get with a thermoregulation duvet by popping your head on the 3D Airflow Mesh. Its central latex core, filled with spiral fibre fillings, enables air to circulate freely and reduces humidity as you sleep. £31, thesleepshop.co.uk M AY 2 019 T3 21
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GADGET GURU
T3’s tech expert solves teething troubles and much else besides
PAUL GARTSIDE, HAMPSHIRE
How can I get smart with brushing my teeth? Ask yourself if you really need to. GaGu went hunting for statistics, but most of them were published by toothpaste companies so he’s not inclined to believe them. Instead, here are some he’s made up: 76% of people scrub their teeth with a manual toothbrush. Less than 0.01% of people use a smart toothbrush, and less than half of those people actually use all of the features as they’re intended. Three of them use it to brush their eyebrows. Those figures are lies, but they do make a very good point about the occasional fallacy of ‘smart’. Do you want to open an app when it’s
ILLUSTRATIONS: STEPHEN KELLY
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time to buff your pearly whites with a Colgate E1 (£90) or the Sonicare DiamondClean Smart (£360)? Have your eyes even focused well enough to look at a Bluetoothaddled map of your mouth first thing? Perhaps it’s only Guru who doesn’t wake up properly until mid afternoon, and only then enough to get settled for a refreshing nap.
ABOVE No, silly, a smart toothbrush isn’t one you plug directly into your phone. It’s appcontrolled, innit?
If you love stats, a smart tooth -brush lets you flick through past mouth ablutions to see how well you’re battering plaque
Alright, alright. If you’re serious about cleaning your gnashers, these oft-pricey bristlewands are an interesting experiment. Whether a toothbrush absolutely needs an app or not is a question for another day – there’s no better way to ensure you’re all clean than having a live-in dentist, and they tend to be rather expensive. And if you love statistics, boy will you be happy with this: a smart toothbrush will generally let you flick through past mouth ablutions to see how well you’re battering plaque. But a two-minute timer on your phone and a decent electric brush will likely do you just as well.
SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: INBOX@T3.COM OR FACEBOOK.COM/T3MAG 2 2 T3 M AY 2 019
Gadget guru
ERIC F, GATESHEAD
Guru, how do I switch to a standing desk? Readers: Swami GaGu will now reach into the deepest recesses of your minds. “Hah!” you all think. “Hah! That is such a silly question. You get a tall desk and you stand in front of it!” But readers, as so often is the case, you are as wrong as you are lovely. Buy a standing desk – IKEA’s button-operated BEKANT Sit/ stand (£400 for the frame), for instance – and raise it to the appropriate height. Stand in front of it for a while. Attempt to get through the day. Retire in agony. You are, most probably, a sitter. And sitting is okay. In fact, it’s far from being ‘the new smoking’, despite being called that in a now stubbed out 2016 study. A good chair could be all you need. GaGu has nothing against the standing desk in principle, but it’s something you have to do right if you’re going to pull it off for any length of time. After all, your Guru doesn’t want you passing out like a
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hungover soldier on his second hour of toe-numbing parade. You’ll also need more than a desk. In fact, IKEA’s example may not be the best you can get, since it’s a flat surface and you’ll likely want your keyboard lower than your monitor. A riser, like the FlexiSpot M2 (£276) or Yo-Yo DESK Mini (£230), converts a standard desk into a stander with a lowered keyboard portion, doing away with the need for a monitor arm. Then you’ll need something to stand on; most desks come with a mat of some kind, but a wobbler like the Steppie (£111) improves the situation further by ensuring you’re pulling off proper pronation. Gradually ramp it up. Start standing for 30 minutes, then sit. And don’t be afraid to pick up a standing stool like the Muvman (£359) so you can take a break every now and then, even when you’ve eased yourself off the old spinny chair for good.
ABOVE The humble USB is now more complicated than Taylor Swift’s love life
GADGET GURU’S MAGIC BOX Continued cat chronicles: so it turns out that magneto-chip-flaps are only effective if one of your cats doesn’t exit the house by frantically pulling the flap open then ever so gingerly letting it flop down onto her tail, thus leaving the flap open for neighbouring felines to come spray your house with wee. And so Guru has set up a Swann wire-free Smart Security Camera (£130) to hopefully catch the culprit in the act. Admittedly it has its issues – the magnetic mount isn’t quite strong enough to stop the whole affair flopping downwards if placed on the underside of the ball joint, for instance – but its motion detection seems hot enough, and it doubles as a way to spy on the postie. This issue’s standing desk question had Guru thinking hard about his terrible spine, to the point that he went out and picked up an ergonomic noblechairs HERO (from £350) for his
home office. Ostensibly for gaming, but really just a supremely heavyweight chair with a steel frame and some pretty lovely lines, it has certainly done a good job of confirming GaGu’s posture issues as well as cushioning his behind. Extended use report coming soon. Here’s a tip: reconditioned second-gen Echo Dots can be had for under £30 on eBay, and Guru has just about covered every corner of his home in them. Multiroom audio is easy, in-home broadcasts are a great way to assemble the brood for their tea, and drop-ins are the teensiest bit creepy. What really gets GaGu’s goat, though, is that none of these functions are available on basically any Alexa-supporting device bar first-party Echoes at this point. Why not, Amazon?
CRISPIN GREEN, TWICKENHAM
What’s going on with USB? Things in the USB world are more confused than Guru’s stupidest cat after he discovered he had a tail, so let’s break it down. First, a new flavour of USB was announced in the form of USB 3.2. Then the trusty old ones got new names for absolutely no reason: USB 3.0 is now (apparently) USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 3.1 becomes USB 3.2 Gen 2, and USB 3.2 is either known as USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (reflecting its pair of data lanes, doubling up the speed from 10Gbps to 20Gbps) or just plain USB 3.2. Presumably USB 2 is now known as USB 3.2 Gen -1. If that weren’t baffling enough, the USB Implementers Forum also suggests that these be marketed under the heading SuperSpeed USB, which Guru’s poor mum will never be able to get her head around. To make matters worse, the USB-IF blighters immediately followed that announcement by also revealing USB4 (no space this time), which is actually Thunderbolt 3, its tech set free by Intel. Makes you yearn for the days of colourcoded PS/2 cables, doesn’t it?
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NEW MEDIA
NOW PLAYING Guru finds the finest media you need on your various screens
BACK TO THE FUTURE TRILOGY GaGu’s second favourite movie triumvirate (after RoboCop) hits Netflix: still funny, selfreferential, and, in the case of II, worryingly prescient.
KAY, VIA EMAIL
Is my house killing me? Heading in to spring, GaGu’s family is usually gasping for oxygen – no mortal either touches Guru’s thermostat or costs him money by opening a window when it’s cold outside. That’s why he’s not yet told them that the gorgeous, minimalist looking LED clock in the living room with the secret air intake is in fact an Awair 2nd Edition (£169). It’s brilliant, app-tracking your home’s CO2 levels, sniffing out dust and chemicals, and watching out for humidity changes. It’s likely that your air is fine, but this device can at least alert you when it’s time to begrudgingly let the outside in, or when someone has been touching something they shouldn’t have.
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IAN HARRIS, WIGAN
What’s the best keyboard switch? TASMANIA Pond, Western Australia’s punkiest, funkiest, swimmiest mix of psychedelic guitars and synth-pop textures, returns with a dreamy and chaotic new album. It’s great.
THE LAST PODCAST ON THE LEFT You’ll need a stomach of steel and a pitch-black sense of humour to get the most of this deep-dive into the most horrific things in the world.
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ABOVE How’s the air in your home? A smart purifier could reveal mini-pockets of indoor pollution
That’s like asking Guru, ‘What’s the best food?’. You see, it depends what you’re into: if you like bite and noise, perhaps you’d like a nice Kettle Chip or a Cherry MX Blue. However, if you like a tactile texture but less cacophony, try a grape or a Cherry MX Brown. Prefer to use your fingers as little as possible? Then an ultra-high actuating Cherry MX Speed Silver is for you. There are many artisanal switch varieties out there to sate refined palates – those beautiful Logitech Romer-G buttons, for instance – but sometimes the own brand is just as good. Tasting Gateron and Outemu’s cheaper clones of the Cherry originals wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
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The Awair tracks your home’s CO2 levels, sniffing out dust and chemicals, and watching out for any humidity changes
AMY CALLAGHAN
What happened to the Light L16 Camera? Well, the Light L16 – a somewhat messy cacophony of 16 different lenses – didn’t land well. Certainly the principle of combining a whole bunch of snaps into one tweakable ultrasnap is a good one, but the L16 just couldn’t keep up with any kind of movement, and its pics weren’t good enough to match its $2,000 (£1,510) price point. The tech, albeit with fewer lenses, is now making its way to the more affordable climes of smartphones, namely as part of the five-eyed Nokia 9 Pureview. The sample photos look nice, but Guru is yet to be convinced he’s seen the Light.
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Don’t miss another instalment of the legendary Gadget Guru!
SUBSCRIBE TODAY! See p48
Opinion
Duncan Bell is now Duncan+
Apple’s Apple TV+ shindig was the Mother of all Tech Launches, despite featuring no tech eople might say Apple is losing it a bit when it comes to technological innovation and perhaps even its legendary ability to sell stuff. But, oh boy, there’s still ain’t no party like an Apple tech party. I expect a lot of you have stopped watching Apple’s events in recent years, but it’s still de rigeur for tech journalists, and this one for Apple TV+ was a doozy. That’s despite the fact that, for the first time ever, there was no stuff. Nothing tangible. Nothing you could hold in your hand and say, ‘Ooh, I don’t like that notch.’ This launch, you see, was all about services. It even commenced with Apple CEO Tim Cook explaining what a ‘service’ is. ‘It’s not some stuff, it’s when you do stuff for people,’ he said in his husky, ASMR-triggering voice. I’m paraphrasing, but that was the gist of what he said. Thanks to the usual omnileaking, we all knew Apple was going to launch a Netflix rival, a Readly rival and an American Express rival but still, straight away, you could tell something was different. I always like to joke that Tim Cook does valuable work disproving the crass stereotype about gay men always being well dressed. Yet what was going on today? Instead of his usual event uniform – a curiously voluminous shirt in a pastel shade of polyester, and ill-fitting dad jeans – Tim was looking pretty sharp in an outfit of well-cut, flattering clothes, layered in a variety of monochrome tones. As the event went on, it became apparent that word had got out to all Apple’s people: Be More Stylish. I am sure it’s because this launch was about creativity, movie-making
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and, you know, human emotion and that. They’d clearly had a meeting to ask, ‘How do creative people dress?’ Not people who create tech; ‘creatives’ who make art. I just feel sorry they didn’t all turn up in berets and big, heavy rimmed glasses. Next time.
High on emotion Apple and Steve Jobs pretty much invented the notion of ‘tech launch as global spectacle’ and they seem to have perfected it now. The beaming, other-worldy enthusiasm of the people detailing Apple’s new services, coupled with the bursts of emotion coming from both stage and audience, made this TV launch feel like QVC crossed with a televangelist station.
When introducing the Apple credit card, it all went a bit American Psycho As ever, it was full of little nuggets of the most exquisite bollocks. When introducing the Apple credit card, it all went a bit American Psycho. In that film, a group of obnoxious high achievers compare business cards in the most fetishistic way, waxing lyrical about the exact font and ‘shade’ of white employed – but to you the viewer, they’re all near identical bits of card. The Apple Card bit of the evening was similar.
The Apple TV stuff was the real killer, though. Well, the bit about bundling services in one place was fine. Really, with multiple channels and content providers, it’s more like an online rival for Amazon Prime Video or even Sky. I wonder how much of it we’ll see in the UK. Apple TV Plus, however, took things to another level. Plus Plus Plus! The Apple guys had been giving their all, but now Apple filled its stage with genuine Hollywood megastars (tier 2), from Reese Witherspoon to Steve Carell. And Jason Momoa, who solemnly declared that ‘blindness is not something you can just turn off,’ which was educational for all of us. By the time Oprah Winfrey turned up, the place was in meltdown. ‘Let’s be nice and do nice things,’ she said. Again, I’m paraphrasing. It’s a laudable goal, and Tim Cook was genuinely misty-eyed as he said goodbye. As the smoke cleared and the glitter was swept away, it was hard to say what I’d just seen, or what I thought about it. It was sure as hell more entertaining than Huawei’s launch the next day, where some earnest guys in suits talked about a phone camera for about nine hours. Clearly what tech launches need above all is to can off the actual tech and just go with the feelings… M AY 2 019 T3 2 5
Live life outdoors
LIVE LIFE OUTDOORS Make the most of great weather this year by spending more time outdoors, whether that’s camping, chilling in the garden, or hitting the road for an epic adventure. Here’s the tech to help you do it… Words: Chris Barnes Photography: Neil Godwin
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Live life outdoors
GARDEN THE EASY WAY
Take the strain out of outdoor chores, lawn maintenance and yard work with the latest high-tech gardening gadgets 1
Netatmo Weather Station
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Bionic Tough Pro Gloves
Unsure whether you need to water your ODZQbDQG SODQWV WRGD\ RU ZKHWKHU QDWXUH LV RQ the case? This smart Weather Station will ping \RX UHDO WLPH ZHDWKHU QRWLĆFDWLRQV VXFK DV WKH onset of rain, and can even track how much has fallen with an add-on. £149, shop.netatmo.com
With the right gloves, there’s little chance of destroying your hands doing garden work. These ones feature reinforced silicone on VHQVLWLYH DUHDV LQFOXGLQJ WKXPEV ĆQJHUWLSV DQGbSDOPV ZLWK DQDWRPLFDO UHOLHI SDGV promoting a more secure grip to prevent DbEDUUDJH RI EOLVWHUV £29, amazon.co.uk
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Spear and Jackson Neverbend Trowel
Yes it’s a humble purchase among the cuttingedge garden tech found elsewhere on this page, but every gardener needs a trowel, and they don’t come more robust than Spear and Jackson’s weatherproof, anti-bend version. Use it for digging and potting. £13, amazon.co.uk
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Gardena Smart Sensor Control Set
A heatwave doesn’t have to mean frazzled plants and yellow grass. Gardena’s Smart Sensor feeds garden moisture and temperature data to its app, instructing the Smart Water Control (connected between your outside tap and hose) to hydrate your garden before it gets parched. £369, gardena.com
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Kärcher K5 Compact Patio Washer
Perhaps your ‘garden’ is a yard with potted plants, or maybe you have a patio backing onto a lawn. Either way, keep slabs and stones, and weatherproof garden furniture, sparkling clean with Kärcher’s compact pressure washer, designed with telescopic handle. ÂŁ279, kaercher.com/uk
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Bosch ALR 900 Lawn Raker
$ ODZQ VFDULĆHU FXWV WKURXJK JDUGHQ VRLO removing dead moss and debris. In turn, this action aerates the soil, making it healthier. Bosch’s Lawn Raker removes moss and thatching, using a Jet-Collect System and 50-litre collection box to catch debris. £179, shop.bosch-do-it.com/gb 3 0 T3 M AY 2 019
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Garden the easy way
Robomow RX 50 Pro S
If your garden is sizeable, you’ll know how much work it takes to maintain turf with a manual lawn mower. Thankfully, salvation is nigh: Robomow’s RX50 Pro S is designed to autonomously tackle sprawling lawns bigger than 400m2, cutting grass and even tidying edges, and all at a neighbour-friendly volume. Program your desired mowing schedule within the Robomow app, or connect the mower to an Alexa device, and use voice commands to put it to work – ideal if the lawn needs a quick spruce up before a garden party, but you need to shower. With the job complete, Robomow returns to its base station to charge, ready for the next job. €949 (£813), robomow.com
Stihl HSA 56 Cordless Hedge Trimmer
An award-winning garden power tool to make short work of pruning bushy shrubs and for scaling back unruly hedges. The HSA 56 is lightweight (at 3.7kg with battery) and easy to grip, so it shouldn’t put any strain on your wrists and forearms. It’s quiet in use, so the neighbours ZRQèW KDWH \RX LI \RX ĆUH LW XS on a Saturday morning, and runs for 40 minutes per charge. A double-sided 45cm blade ensures an even cut, whichever angle you’re trimming at. See those mini teardrop blades? They pull in small branches and twigs to make cutting faster and easier. £199, stihl.co.uk M AY 2 019 T3 31
Live life outdoors
COOK MORE OUTDOORS 6HUYH PRXWK ZDWHULQJ FKDUJULOOHG ĆVK DQG PHDW SHUIHFW pizza and ice cold drinks, using the ultimate al fresco host tech
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Weber Genesis II E-410
Between the four stainless steel burners and wide cast iron cooking grates, you’ll never be short on heat or space to whip up a summer feast using Weber’s new gas-powered barbecue. An inner warming rack ensures your banquet stays hot without drying out. £1,099, weber.com
Ooni Koda Outdoor Pizza Oven
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Meater Block
Cook to perfection using the Meater Block Wireless Smart Thermometer. Tell the app what you’re cooking, then insert the thermometer into the meat. You’ll receive an alert when the meat is cooked. The Block comprises four thermometers for monitoring four cuts at once. £249, meater.com
No outdoor kitchen is complete without a pizza oven, but building your own can be a faff. This gas-powered beauty is pretty much idiot-proof; it sets up in minutes and is capable of pumping out hot pizza in just 60 VHFRQGV %XLOW LQ JDV LJQLWLRQ JHWV WKRVH ćDPHV URFNLQJ LQVWDQWO\ DQG adjustable heat control enables you to dial in the ideal pizza-cooking temperature up to an eyebrow-singeing 500°C. The powder-coated, cold-rolled carbon steel shell looks the business, and the cordierite stone baking board makes an ideal cooking surface for your creations. The culinary fun doesn’t stop at delicious pizza, either, as the Koda can URDVW ĆVK VWHDN IUHVK YHJJLHV DQG ćDWEUHDG £249, uk.ooni.com
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Femor 3-in-1 Fire Pit
The multi-purpose Femor pulls triple-duty as a FRPSDFW JULOO IRU RXWGRRU FRRNLQJ DV D ĆUH SLW WRbNHHS JXHVWV WRDVW\ ZKHQ WKH VXQ WXUQV RXW its light, or as a giant ice bucket to chill drinks and canapes. No respectable summer party should be without one. £99, patiomate.co.uk
Live the slow life
Lay-Z-Spa Helsinki AirJet ,PDJLQH ĆQLVKLQJ ZRUN IRU WKH ZHHN and sinking into a tub of warm, bubbling water, wine in hand, just as the sun sets. Sounds blissful, right? But why wait until summer to enjoy the inviting water of the Helsinki AirJet spa? Lay-Z-Spa’s Freeze Shield technology ensures year-round enjoyment – as long as you can handle a frosty mid-winter run back to the house – and the rapid heating system keeps the water toasty, up to 40°C. Once you and up to six pals are immersed in the spacious tub, 87 air jets create endless bubbles to massage your muscles and joints. £849, lay-z-spa.co.uk
LIVE THE SLOW LIFE
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Elevate your garden’s chill factor – create a cool outdoor space for entertaining 1
Philips Hue Tuar Outdoor Pedestal Light
Already own a Philips Hue %ULGJH"b7KHQ FRQQHFW WKH weatherproof Tuar Outdoor OLJKWbDQG XVH \RXU VPDUWSKRQH tablet or voice control to shed some light on your garden haven, from gradually brightening as daylight fades, to lighting the ZD\bWR \RXU RXWVLGH EDU ÂŁ89, meethue.com
2 Garden Trading Hampstead Nest Chair
Picture the scene: you, on a sunny weekend, curled up in this cosy chair with your favourite book and a steaming mug of coffee. Install the all-weather Hampstead
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Nest Chair and your garden will be instantly transformed into a chilled-out haven, offering respite from the world. ÂŁ350, gardentrading.co.uk
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Lithe Audio Waterproof Outdoor Speaker
This rock-tastic speaker should blend into any garden aesthetic, but the pin-sharp audio will certainly stand out, especially if you buddy it up with a second speaker. Stream from any Bluetooth-enabled device and take your party from quiet gathering to surprise mini festival. ÂŁ199, litheaudio.com
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Live life outdoors
HIT THE OPEN ROAD
Drive away for year-round adventuring, and discover how a trailer can help you pack more yet stay organised 1
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Adria Coral 670 DC Plus
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Kamei 510 Roof Box
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Indian Roadmaster 2019
More space equals greater comfort on the road, and this luxurious motorhome is ideal for big adventures year-round. It boasts a spacious living area, a double bed in the rear cabin, and a built-in garage for storing bikes and bulky gear. From ÂŁ71,720, adria-mobil.com
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Volkswagen California Edition
The sleek California Edition embodies the open-road spirit of the original VW Camper, but adds in modern tech and home comforts. In the living area \RXèOO ĆQG EDJV RI VSDFH SOXV D IULGJH gas stove, sink and generous seating. At night, drop the seats and pop the electric roof to create a luxurious sleeping space for up to four people. The California is a dream to drive, with the optional 2.0TDI 199PS engine upgrade ensuring plenty of milechewing power. With plenty of other ace tech, this camper van is the ultimate vehicle to satiate your wanderlust. From £45,723, volkswagen-vans.co.uk
Mount this 330-litre cargo holder to your roof bars and you’ll be amazed at how much more kit you can take. A DuoLift opening system makes for easy access, and central locking HQVXUHV QR RSSRUWXQLVWV ZLOO EH DEOH WRbRSHQ LWbDW WKH VHUYLFHV £399, roofbox.co.uk
The Roadmaster touring motorcycle is made for long hours in the saddle, with a Ride Command navigation system guiding your epic journeys. Heated seats keep you warm and comfortable, and 37 gallons of on-board weatherproof storage is ample for outdoor kit. From $29,499 (ÂŁ22,317), indianmotorcycle.com
Sleep under canvas
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Robens Voyager 2
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Vango Santo Air 400
Tenstile Connect Tree Tent
The Voyager 2 weighs a mere 2.8kg, making it a brilliant option for bike packers, hikers or wild campers. A high water- and windproof rating means this tent provides shelter and comfort throughout the seasons. It’s spacious enough to sleep two, RUb\RX SOXV \RXU NLW £249, robens.de
Yes, tree camping is a thing, and is actually a great way to get back to nature. To enjoy a night under midDLU FDQYDV Ä&#x2020;QG WKUHH VWXUG\ HYHQO\ spaced trees, attach and tighten the Connect Tree Tentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supplied ratchet straps, insert the poles and top your WHQW ZLWK WKH VXSSOLHG Ä&#x2021;\VKHHW <RXU Ä&#x2021;RDWLQJ KDYHQ LV WKHQ UHVLGHQW UHDG\ Each of its four doors can be rolled up for panoramic views of the area. The outer shell is waterproof and UV resistant, so youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be protected from the elements, too. ÂŁ424, tentsile.co.uk
Erecting a tent can eat into your campsite chill time, particularly on shorter weekend getaways. Instead of unwieldy poles, the four-berth Santo Air 400 features WKUHH EXLOW LQ LQÄ&#x2021;DWDEOH EHDPV VR it can be pitched and ready to live in within minutes of arrival. ÂŁ450, vango.co.uk
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The Alfheim is ideal for family and group camping, comfortably sleeping 8-10 people. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enough room for a stove in the centre, with a chimney opening at the top of the tent. Cabin dividers introduce privacy and help dampen the noise of snorers. ÂŁ599, nordisk.eu
ŠEDWIN VERIN
Nordisk Alfheim 19.6 Teepee
SLEEP UNDER CANVAS
Wherever you go, these tents will make your camping trip something to remember
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M AY 2 019 T3 3 5
Live life outdoors
CAMP WITH CONFIDENCE
Try this arsenal of outdoor essentials to enhance your camping experience from the get-go 1 2
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1 Klarstein Big Picnicker Thermo Cool Box
The 24-litre Picnicker doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just rely on insulation to keep food hot or cold â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it can actively maintain the heat or chill on long journeys. Plug it into your carâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 12-volt VRFNHW Ä&#x2021;LFN D VZLWFK to select a preset mode, and job done. ÂŁ59, klarstein.co.uk 3 6 T3 M AY 2 019
2 Goal Zero Yeti 150
Need power to keep your phone, tablet, camera and other tech juiced-up on a multi-day trip? Charge this giant portable power pack at home, then top it up from a Goal Zero solar panel or your carâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 12V socket. It can power Ä&#x2020;YH GHYLFHV DW RQFH ÂŁ199, amazon.co.uk
3 Biolite CampStove 2
Small fans inside the CampStove2 create D VPRNHOHVV Ä&#x2020;UH upon which you can boil water for hot drinks, or cook your meals. Heat energy is stored in the onboard battery, which can then be used to charge gadgets. ÂŁ129, millets.co.uk
4 Black Diamond Apollo Lantern
You can hang the rechargeable Apollo Lantern to shed 225 lumens of glare-free light, or fold out its legs and pop it on a table. It can even charge your phone if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re low on juice. â&#x201A;Ź60 (ÂŁ51), blackdiamond equipment.com
5 Leatherman Wave+
A multi-tool is ideal for nailing little jobs around your campsite. There are 18 tools in it, from wire cutters and blades to screwdrivers and a bottle opener, so youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll always be ready to whittle a stick or open a beer. ÂŁ139, leatherman.co.uk
6 EuroHike Langdale Deluxe
Boost your camping comfort with this luxe chair, designed with ample all-over padding and a taller back for postural support. Bonus: it has an integrated cup holder for that essential refreshment at the end of a punishing hike. ÂŁ36, eurohike.co.uk
5 best hikes in Europe
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Mt Buet, Aiguille Rouges, France
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GR20, Corsica
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Helvellyn, Lake District, UK
There are many beautiful sights to behold in the Chamonix valley, dominated by Mt Blanc. However, rather than the often busy Tour De Mont Blanc route that follows the valley, we recommend sliding off to complete the Tour De $LJXLOOHV 5RXJHV D IRXU RU Ä&#x2020;YH GD\ KXW WR KXW meander that culminates in the rugged 3096m Mt Buet. The views are wall-to-wall alpine mountains, interspersed with chocolate box villages. Easy access via Geneva airport and a shuttle bus makes this an ideal weekend trek.
A great summer hike, the mighty GR20 crosses Corsica diagonally, running some 180km in total and passing through some of the most dramatic and beautiful scenery in Europe. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a real challenge too, with 19,000 metres of ascent and descent, spread over around 15 days with more than six hours walking each day. The trail is split into two broad sections, north and south, with the northern section being more challenging and mountainous. Access to the Northern starting point, Calenzana, is by bus from Sainte Catherine Aeroport.
Helvellyn holds an almost mystical place in the UK hiking community. Without being the tallest or the hardest, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s well regarded, especially when ascended via Striding Edge, a spectacular affair culminating in a narrow and breezy ridge. A mere seven and a half-odd miles and just under 1,000m of ascent might make this seem like an easy option, but do not be fooled: this is proper mountain hiking. The easiest access is by car, from the car park in Glenridding, but train then bus from Penrith is also possible.
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Barre Des Ecrins from La BĂŠrarde, France
Head south for the summer with this hike into the hanging valley of Vallon du Borne Pierre beneath Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s southernmost over-4,000m peak. Notching up more than 1,000m of vertical ascent, the latter part switchbacking up a steep moraine (Glacier de Borne Pierre), this is a strenuous yet impressive day hike out of the scenic base of La BĂŠrarde, itself on the doorstep of the Ecrins national park. Shuttle buses run from Grenoble Isère airport and Lyon.
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The Central Picos Circuit, Picos De Europa, Spain
5 BEST HIKES IN EUROPE
Want to take on an inspirational hike but unsure ZKHUH WR JR" &KHFN RXW WKHVH IDE Ä&#x2020;YH WUDLOV covering France, Spain and the UK
The jewel in the crown of the Picos De Europa mountain range is the Central Picos Circuit, a Ä&#x2020;YH RU VL[ GD\ UDPEOH FRPELQLQJ WKH &HQWUDO Picos Transverse with the Cares George and the Jermoso Transverse, giving you an astounding week of hut-to-hut walking in meadows and steep limestone crags. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s among the highest-quality alpine walking in Europe. Access is via the town of Cangas de OnĂs, from where a bus runs to the trailhead at Ercina Lake. M AY 2 019 T3 37
Live life outdoors
TAKE A HIKE
Hitting the trail? Load up on the latest and greatest RXWGRRUbJHDU DQG FUHDWH D FRPSOHWH KLNLQJ VHWXS 1
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1 Haglofs Spira 35
The Haglofâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Interact Suspension System provides added support on long romps, while breathable mesh and vented foam sit against your back ensuring all-day comfort. Thirsty? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hydration system compatible. ÂŁ120, haglofs.com 3 8 T3 M AY 2 019
2 Salomon X ALP MID LTR GTX
If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hiking rugged terrain, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need enhanced support, stability and protection to avoid foot fatigue and injury. Don these waterproof boots for almost customÄ&#x2020;W FRPIRUW DQG mountain-goat grip. ÂŁ160, salomon.com
3 XLeki Black Series Micro Vario
A set of walking poles can really boost your stability on steep inclines, no matter how good your boots are. Carbon shafts eliminate jarring, so you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel the impact of rock. Each SROH IROGVbXS QHDWO\ when not needed. ÂŁ195, leki.co.uk
4 LifeSystems Adventurer First Aid Kit
When it comes to walking injuries, a JRRG Ä&#x2020;UVW DLG NLW like the LifeSystems Adventurer can mean the difference between completing the hike and getting airlifted home. A backpack essential. ÂŁ22, lifesystems.co.uk
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Suunto 9 Baro
Find your way to the summit and back again with this burly GPS watch, taking advantage of the long-lasting smart battery and up to 120 hours of continuous activity tracking. Great for multi-day treks which involve arduous activity and extreme pursuits. ÂŁ539, suunto.com
6 Smartwool Hike Light Crew Socks
Comfort is your focus when buying hiking socks, but thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no reason they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look a bit funky too. Smartwoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cushioned socks are ideal for multiWHUUDLQ bDQG PDQDJH moisture well to keep your feet dry. ÂŁ20, smartwool.com
Rack up the miles
RACK UP THE MILES
Find the right hiking boots for you so those mountains EHFRPHbDV FRPIRUWDEOH WR FOLPE DV PROHKLOOV Nothing ruins hiking like blisters, crushed toes and damp feet caused by ill-fitting or badly designed hiking boots. Whether you’re a fairweather walker or avid hiker, the most important item to invest in is your footwear, and brands like Salomon, Scarpa and La Sportiva are our top picks. Look for hiking boots that are waterproof, breathable and comfortable, with plenty of ankle support. Most modern hiking boots include a waterproof membrane, which is useful for when you cross streams and puddles. The soles are much stiffer than street shoes, necessary to shrug off rough surfaces, with aggressive tread providing better grip on wet grass, mud or rocks. A snug (but not tight) fit should minimise blisters at ‘hot spots’ like heels and toes. The accepted wisdom is to try on hiking boots in the afternoon, once your feet have swollen, and to take a range of socks to try them on with. Why? Thin office socks will show up any obvious shape mismatches and pressure points, before you move on to your preferred walking sock. There’s plenty of hiking boot tech to look out for, too, including Vibram Megagrip traction enhancement, Gore-tex waterproofing, and CleanSport NXT odour control. Invest in any of these and your feet will thank you.
3 BEST WALKING SHOES
Keen Venture Waterproof $ .RQQHFWLĆW KHHO FDSWXUH V\VWHP NHHSV \RXU feet locked in place, while the all-terrain rubber outsole means you won’t slip on tricky terrain. If the heavens open, a waterproof membrane should keep your tootsies dry. £119, keenfootwear.com
Mammut Alnasca Low GTX
Designed for fast and light mountain travel, the stylish Alnasca features a three-dimensionally shaped TPU heel envelope that protects against twisted ankles, while a full lacing system means your feet will never slip out. £139, uk.mammut.com
Merrell MQM Flex Gore-Tex
If you’re after a sportier performance, the MQMs are lightweight and breathable, while offering all the grip, shock absorption, ZDWHUSURRĆQJ DQG FRPIRUW \RX QHHG IRU D GD\ spent exploring off the beaten track. £115, merrell.com
M AY 2 019 T3 3 9
Survival tech
SURVIVAL TECH
Into the wild
Does tech make it easier to survive in the great outdoors? T3 WDNHV WR WKH RSHQ VSDFHV RI 'DUWPRRU WR ฤ QG RXWรฐ Words: Mark Mayne Photography: Phil Barker
M AY 2 019 T3 41
Survival tech
urvival is easy. Turn on the tap for clean water, hit the ‘increase’ button on your smart heating app, order dinner from your phone. But strip away the phone, the food delivery, even the home itself, and things are considerably less rosy. We recently went to one of the UK’s real wildernesses, Dartmoor, in singlefigure temperatures to find out how to survive in the outdoors for real. Handily, we had some of the latest and best outdoors tech, and professional help in the form of dynamic duo Will Batho and Tom Powell, two adventure guides for Beyonk, the online adventure marketplace. Would this combination be enough to beat the elements?
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FIND YOUR WAY We begin with some scene-setting advice from Will, putting our remote location into a survival context. Based on his military training as a helicopter pilot, the main elements of survival are PLAN: Protection (including fire and shelter), Location (make yourself seen), Acquisition (acquire food and water), Navigation (safest and most direct route to safety/habitation). “The key is to combine these according to the challenge you find yourself in,” says Will, “so in a desert, for example, water may become your first priority.” Today, navigation is our starting point. It’s a transferable skill, whether you’re trekking back to civilisation from a wrecked plane or traipsing around the lakes, but relying entirely on tech is not ideal. Indeed, our Casio Pro Trek F30 has excellent GPS
RIGHT Even the might of Nikon’s binocs couldn’t scout a pub within sight FAR RIGHT “And this bit of woodland is where people saw those big cats…”
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smarts coupled with a clear mapping layout, but battery life is just over a single day in full ‘smart’ mode, which would leave you potentially lost in a real survival situation. However, while learning how to use a map and compass is an essential outdoor skill, it is one that requires practice. We begin by planning a short route on a 1:25,000 OS map, a journey that follows the River Dart downstream for a few kilometres, paying attention to contour lines (those orange squiggles) and the number of squares we’re navigating across. “Every 1cm on the map is equal to 250m on the ground, and terrain plays a big part in how long it takes to walk that distance, so don’t get too carried
there are usually towns and villages on river banks, it’s harder to get lost when following a river, and, perhaps most importantly, you have a ready water source. “Having a fast-flowing river like the Dart as a water source is helpful, survival-wise,” Will explains, “as the fast-flowing white water aerates the water, introducing oxygen and UV, which helps kill off harmful bacteria.” Fortunately, we also brought along the LifeStraw Go (£33, amazon.co.uk), a filter bottle with built-in micro biological filter that’ll render even the dirtiest puddle drinkable. So we fill up and march on, breaking out our Nikon Monarch 7 (£479, nikon.co.uk) binoculars to check ahead. Using their powerful optics, we quickly confirm
THERE’S A BUILT-IN MICRO FILTER THAT’LL RENDER THE DIRTIEST PUDDLE DRINKABLE away when planning a route,” says Will. “Good map reading and compass work are a skill that takes time and effort to master, so start off practising somewhere very accessible at first, increasing the difficulty of the terrain as you gain proficiency.” It’s tempting to cheat with the Casio Pro Trek, though, as it’ll display your location at the touch of a button, while a quick swipe up gets you straight into navigating using the familiar Google Maps interface… set to ‘Outdoors’ mode, of course. The benefits of following the river in a survival situation are numerous:
we’re on the right track, so descend across moorland and down into the treeline along the river. LIGHT MY FIRE Making fire is easy enough with dry newspaper and a lighter, but it’s much harder when you’re standing in a wet wood, without firelighters or dry fuel. However, foraging expert Tom has plenty of advice as we navigate through heath, moorland and woods. On the moor, dry gorse sprigs provide excellent tinder, as does a Clematis vine we pass (just the loose bark is taken), while deeper in the
Into the wild
OUTDOOR TECH ESSENTIALS
SURVIVAL GEAR THATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;LL HELP YOU SURVIVE, ANYWHERE, FROM PONTINS TO PATAGONIA
BLACK DIAMOND STORM 375 HEADTORCH The latest iteration of the BD Storm 375 is a compact, feature-laced powerhouse of a headtorch. Firing a 375-lumen beam, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a handy tap-operated brightness setting, as well as a dual-button system that allows you to cycle between the main beam, a smaller, localised EHDP IRU LQ FDPS IDIÄ&#x2020;QJ DQG D UHG OLJKW WR minimise the pain of those alpine starts in the GDUN :LWK ,3 ZDWHUSURRÄ&#x2020;QJ HDV\ VDIHW\ ORFN and a battery indicator, this has all the bells and whistles, but in a simple, usable package. £50, eu.blackdiamondequipment.com
CASIO PRO TREK F30 The water-resistant (to 50m) outdoor GPS watch from Casio has added smarts in the form of Google Wear OS (voice control is here), and is less bulky than the traditional navigation watch. With a dual-layer touchscreen and impressive mapping capabilities, including the ability to display full-colour maps on the watch face, the Pro Trek F30 is a weekend warrior that will see you through many an adventure. Cramming all that tech in means the battery life is short, but as a do-it-all navigation device (GPS, GLONASS, Michibiki) thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lots to like. £450, wsd.casio.com
MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR HYPERLAMINA FLAME SLEEPING BAG Designed to be one of the lightest synthetic bags on the market, this packs down to the size of a large water bottle. With a temperature rating down to zero degrees, the HyperLamina Flame is an ideal sleeping bag for sleeping out in the UK, and will still keep you warm even when wet. Clever body-mapped and welded insulation is designed to eliminate cold spots, and a draught collar and generous internal EDIÄ&#x2021;H ZRUN WR NHHS WKH KHDW LQ 7KLV ZLOO EH especially welcome during the wee, cold hours. £209, ellis-brigham.com
BLACK DIAMOND FOCUS CLIMBING SHOES A dual-velcro, slipper-style shoe, the Focus is marketed as an intermediate choice, but with a curved sole and aggressive toe box, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d say this is at the top end of that spectrum. However, the power and precision is right up there, and with impressive build quality and comfort-enhancing engineered knit tech in the tongue, this is a climbing shoe thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get you up there whatever problem you throw at it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from indoor climbing wall to gnarly crag, these shoes will empower you to bring your A game. £140, cotswoldoutdoor.com
GOPRO HERO7 DUSK WHITE The new limited edition of GoProâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jawdroppingly brilliant action camera not only looks the part, but delivers the digital YLVXDOV WRR :LWK WRS Ä&#x2021;LJKW LQ FDPHUD video stabilisation tech, even the choppiest sequences look super-smooth, and with voice activation itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to start recording during key moments. The robust and waterproof Hero7 Dusk White limited edition colourway comes ZLWK D KHOPHW PRXQW Ä&#x2021;DW VXUIDFH PRXQW DQG D KDQG\ WHOHVFRSLF WULSRG VHOÄ&#x2020;H VWLFN LQ D SDGGHG case, all ready for your next journey. £379, shop.gopro.com
COLUMBIA OUTDRY EX REIGN JACKET When itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really throwing it down, the highly breathable Columbia Reign Jacket is the one you want to be wearing. Fully seam sealed, this robust waterproof jacket will keep you dry in anything short of full immersion. The Reign is designed with a large storm hood thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fully DGMXVWDEOH GHSHQGLQJ RQ WKH Ä&#x2020;W \RX ZDQW WR achieve, along with adjustable sleeve cuffs and a drawcord hem, enabling you to keep all rain out. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s underarm venting to keep you cool on the move, plus useful zippered hand pockets, which you could keep small outdoors tech in. £155, columbiasportswear.co.uk
M AY 2 019 T3 4 3
Survival tech
YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE AWAITS Exciting new online adventure marketplace Beyonk is here to help you get outdoors more easily on the weekends. Bikepacking or river paddling? You got it! “Beyonk is the Adventure Marketplace, helping you make the most of your weekends by making it simple to find and book adventurous experiences with activity guides across the UK,” says Beyonk founder Oscar White. “With the planet becoming the ‘indoor generation’, Beyonk is set to drive a social outdoor revolution to get people reconnecting with nature.” The company helps people make the most of their free time by connecting them with qualified guides. With a focus on local adventure, there are nearly 100 experiences on offer, making it easy to disconnect and get active outside with amazing experiences, no matter how busy you are. It’s really easy to search for activities and book, and you can search by location or by activity type. They’re also offering an incentive to get more people involved: for every friend or family member you introduce to the platform, you’ll receive £10 in adventure credit, which can be used against the cost of any experience on the site. beyonk.com 4 4 T3 M AY 2 019
Into the wild
LEFT No need for rubbing sticks – pack a flint and magnesium fire lighter when you hit the trail RIGHT Look, we know we’re out learning survival, but we can’t sleep too rough. We’re old
ONCE DRIED, THE FUNGUS TAKES AND HOLDS A SPARK FROM THE FLINT AND STEEL WE’RE USING
woods he spots a downed Ash tree with bulbous hard fungi attached to the trunk. King Alfred’s Cake fungus turns out to be the core of our lifesaving fire. Once dried, the fungus takes and holds a spark from the flint and steel we’re using (these sets are cheap, and should be in any explorer’s backpack). Blowing on this wrapped in a handful of grass gives smoke, and finally – whoosh! – flame. “Fire requires heat, fuel and oxygen to get established,” Tom says. “Once you have a flame, add sticks in gradually ascending size… twigs, then finger size, wrist sized. I use a ‘Jenga’ style technique, where you hold a small bundle in the flames ’til it catches, then lay it gently in the burning pile. Dropping too much on at once will smother your fire.” With a small but cheerful fire carefully set on a clear spot of ground, we tackle the next challenge: finding a spot for a night in the woods. GIMME SHELTER Although hiding under a tree is sort of shelter, it doesn’t hold up well to ‘weather’. Will explains that a proper shelter is vital for survival, and with dusk falling, the time is nigh. M AY 2 019 T3 45
Survival tech
LEFT The difference a proper pair of climbing shoes makes is huge RIGHT The downside of videoing your climb is that it never looks quite as high on TVâ&#x20AC;Ś
4 6 T3 M AY 2 019
Into the wild
ERECTING THE TARP IN THE DARK IS A MOMENT WHEN A HEAD TORCH IS LITERALLY A LIFESAVER Here we have tech on our side in the form of a Mountain Hardwear synthetic sleeping bag and Vango’s inflatable Thermocore Sleep Mat, and, crucially, tarp. The latter is a lightweight sheet of tarpaulin with built-in hooks and eyelets and can be strung between trees to create a dry shelter. It makes a huge difference in a heavy rain shower and can be improvised from almost any sheet material. Needless to say, erecting the tarp in the dark is a moment when a powerful head torch is literally a lifesaver, enabling us to get the hang of several specialist knots such as the Siberian Hitch and Tarp hitch. This is where the Black Diamond Storm 375 shines, and the Columbia Reign Jacket’s robust waterproofing is particularly welcome as we grapple with twine in the gathering gloom.
Tarp stretched out above us, we unpack the lightweight Arc’teryx Alpha AR 35 (£150, arcteryx.com), a versatile, tear-resistant, all-weather backpack that lends itself well to rock climbing and hiking excursions. Then we inflate our sleeping mats. The Vango Thermocore, unusually, has a dry-bag pump apparatus, which takes some trial and error in the dark. Once inflated, it provides much-needed protection from the cold ground. DOWN AND OUT Next to be unfurled is the Mountain Hardwear HyperLaminar sleeping bag. It’s a revelation: cosy and very light for a traditionally-chunky synthetic bag. Equally welcome is the Thermarest Down Pillow, a down-plumped drawstring bag that you chuck your clothes into, but then pull the string to
transform into a camping pillow that’s actually comfortable. When adventuring outdoors, you’ll likely encounter difficult terrain. Usually it’s best to avoid sheer cliffs and the like, and you can do this by honing your navigation skills. However, when that isn’t possible, it helps to know how to climb over sections, or abseil down short stretches. So, in the morning light we seek out a nearby cliff to run through the basics of climbing up, in this case videoed by a helmet-mounted GoPro Hero7 Dusk White, so we can impress friends later. The image stabilisation proves useful, because climbing videos can often look abrupt and jerky, while the voice activation is a real boon when hands are occupied elsewhere. Safely tied into a top rope and sporting the Black Diamond Focus Climbing Shoes for better friction and seemingly endless edging power, we move up above the treeline to take in the view and plan a route back to civilisation. Thanks to our experts and some brilliant tech, we know we can make it, even if things get tough. M AY 2 019 T3 47
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M AY 2 019 T3 49
Join the e-volution
JOIN THE E-VOLUTION Cut commuting costs, save the planet and join a community of e-mobility converts with the latest and greatest crop of personal e-vehicles that make it a snap to get around Words: Leon Poultney Photography: Phil Barker
5 0 T3 M AY 2 019
Join the e-volution
he spiralling costs of fuel, hikes in insurance premiums and the impracticalities of caring for a hulking box of depreciating metal means car ownership is rapidly becoming a fantasy for many – especially those city dwellers with restricted parking. In years gone by, the only other commuting options would have involved sweating it out on a pedal-powered bicycle, battling the hordes of grumpy morning commuters on public transport or racking up a taxi bill that would have the accountant nervously fretting over piles of receipts come tax return time. Thankfully, improvements in battery technology and the shrinking of powerful electric motors means it is now possible to enjoy electrical assistance across a variety of personal mobility forms. From teeny micro-cars that shun fuel bills, to e-scooters that fold down and fit under a desk, there’s now a form of transport to suit all needs, tastes and budgets. Initial outlay is often a stumbling block preventing those making the
T
jump to an e-powered commute, but the savings resulting from plugging in can be considerable. Consider that a litre of petrol now hovers around the £1.20 mark, an average weekly zones 1-4 TfL travel card is a heady £50.50, and innercity parking can range from £10 to £150 per day. Alternatively, a sub-£1,000 e-bike costs roughly 0.13p per mile to run. Or, you could get really lazy, ditch the pedals entirely and your e-scooter will cost as much as cup of cheap coffee to complete the average 17-mile daily commute for a week. Many of the vehicles listed on these pages require little change to your daily habit, too, with access to a domestic plug socket and enough
Many of the vehicles require little change to your daily habit
time to charge among the only real demands on the user. Electric cars are a slightly different kettle of kippers, as their larger battery packs can take days to fully charge via a domestic plug socket. Instead, their makers will advise owners to install a 7kW wall charger at home, or to research the availability of public charging points in the area. Contrary to popular belief, the public charging network is now expanding at a rapid rate and those living in busy cities will likely find there is point located nearby, while various smartphone apps help take the strain out of plotting longer journeys or working out those points that are free or faulty. Finally, we’ve included a bit of detail about the legalities of these various modes of e-transport, as there can be some confusion over licences, taxation and insurance requirements. Just because you are emitting nothing but a warm glow of planet-saving satisfaction from your tailpipes doesn’t necessarily mean you can ride, park or charge your electric wheels however and whenever you please.
THE STATS
80%
how many vehicles will be powered by plug-in hybrid, electric or fuel cell technology by 2050
COST TO RUN AN E-MOPED PER MILE
£1500 2020
the max government grant to purchase a new electric motorcycle
THE YEAR THE NUMBER OF ELECTRIC CHARGING POINTS IN THE UK WILL OUTWEIGH PETROL STATIONS M A Y 2 0 1 9 T3 51
Join the e-volution
E-BIKES
Ride like Chris Hoy, without the need for thighs of steel GOCYCLE G3 Take some of the brightest minds in automotive engineering and throw in a passion for portable, twowheeled transport and you get a sexy, light and smart folding e-bike. The G3 has many neat features, including an allelectric range of 50 miles on a single charge, built-in daytime running lights, hydraulic disc brakes and a folding mechanism that takes seconds to master. Oh, and it also features a patented Pitstopwheel, which can be removed with eyes closed and one hand tied behind the back. From £3,499, gocycle.com
WHY AN E-BIKE? E-bikes are a far cry from the weighty brutes of yesteryear. Electric motors housed in the wheel hubs or embedded in the crank system ensure riders receive a varying amount of torque assistance on the daily ride, making longer journeys a breeze and turning mountains into molehills. To legally ride on the road, the majority of these machines will only offer e-assistance up to a certain speed (around 15mph), so don’t expect to keep up with W\SLFDO WUDIĆF %XW WKH SRZHUIXO electrical assistance means nippy acceleration and a sweatfree journey to work.
52 T3 M AY 2 019
SPECIALIZED S-WORKS TURBO LEVO Downhill mountain biking is awesome, until you face the messy business of returning to the top of the rad incline you just tore to pieces. But the carbon frame and 150mm of Fox Float suspension travel make this a formidable trail king, with the addition of a new Specialized 2.1 Rx trail-tuned motor that provides 250W of electric assistance. Instant torque, as well as a new 700Wh battery that provides 40% more capacity and range than its predecessor equate to one ass-kicking, mud-loving e-bike package. £9,999, specialized.com
E-bikes
GIANT ROAD-E+1
HAIBIKE XDURO ADVENTR 5.0
Ardent road cyclists might sneer at electric assistance but Giantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SyncDrive Pro 80Nm and EnergyPak500 lithium-ion battery are so neatly packaged into this svelte frame, that many will fail to notice. Until you silently breeze up eye-watering inclines without breaking a sweat, that is. A range of assistance levels means itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simple to adjust the amount of electrical shove on the ďŹ&#x201A;y, while powerful hydraulic disc brakes take care of stopping power.
The chaps at Haibike might like to miss out a few letters when naming their models but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where the oversight stops, as its range of powerful e-bikes is engineered to perfection. This version of its Xduro line features some mad futuristic styling, a 630Wh battery pack and clever GPS tech, which works as both an antitheft device and an automatic emergency notiďŹ cation system. The integrated twin taillights are pure design porn.
ÂŁ3,499, giant-bicycles.com
ÂŁ5,299, haibike.com/en/INT/home
VANMOOF ELECTRIFIED S
EMU CROSSBAR
Ultra-stylish Dutch bike manufacturer Vanmoof has thrown so much tech at its awesome ElectriďŹ ed S model, it may as well front its own annual symposium while wearing a black roll neck sweater. A powerful 250W front-wheel motor pairs with a 418Wh battery thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautifully integrated into the frame for powerful assistance. Built-in lights, an integrated e-lock and its own smartphone app are just a few additional niceties.
Sitting at the cheaper end of the spectrum, the classic town bike from Emu might not boast the beautiful integrated battery pack or ďŹ&#x201A;ashy smartphone connectivity, but it offers 250W of assistance via a front hub motor and up to 65 miles of range with the larger 14.5Ah battery speciďŹ ed. Built-in lights, mudguards and carry racks make it a perfect daily town bike, even if its 23kg mass makes it a little tricky to manoeuvre.
From ÂŁ2,398, vanmoof.com
ÂŁ999, emubikes.com
THE LEGAL BIT %HIRUH WKH ODZ VXUURXQGLQJ H ELNHV ZDV a little muddled, but the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations ensured that the new wave of battery-powered transport met strict guidelines in the UK. To legally ride an e-bike on the road or on a designated cycle path here, electrical assistance can only be provided at a maximum speed of 25 km/h (15.5 mph), while
the motor used must not deliver more than 250W of maximum continuous rated power. On top of this, the rider must be over 14 years of age and the e-bike can only deliver its assistance when the pedals are moving. Those bikes with more powerful electric motors, handlebar-mounted throttles and increased top speeds arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily illegal in the UK,
but obtaining the correct paperwork can be tough. It is highly likely that these machines will be classed as speed-pedelecs or S-pedelecs (depending on their output) and therefore will be treated like a moped, which requires registering with the DVLA, insuring and the correct licence obtained. Not to mention the legal safety equipment to be worn at all times.
M A Y 2 0 1 9 T3 5 3
Join the e-volution
E-MOPEDS & MOTORBIKES Perfect for high-voltage commutes and longer rides
SOFLOW FLOWBIKE This madcap foldable contraption might look like an exercise in quirky design but its 48V, 9Ah battery and small rear hub electric motor sees it offer sweat-free personal mobility at speeds of up to 15mph. Expect to get just 20 miles of range from the diminutive machine, which might be too stingy for some, but this gizmo is all about portability, meaning it’s perfect for all of your last-mile transportation needs. Other neat additions include cruise control, a USB port to charge devices and a remote key that will stops crooks from making off with your lil' Flowbike. From £1,135, Smartech at selfridges.com
WHY AN E-MOPED? The prospect of undergoing &RPSXOVRU\ %DVLF 7UDLQLQJ D &%7 LQ RUGHU WR JHW RQ WKH e-moped bandwagon might put some people off, but it’s more WKDQ ZRUWK LW IRU WKH EHQHĆWV More powerful and faster than a typical e-bike, the e-moped offers electrical assistance that rivals the performance of a 50cc petrol-powered variant, but without the servicing and maintenance involved. There’s also a distinct lack of pedals, while the more powerful electric motorcycles boast the superbike-rivalling performance without the noise, emissions or associated fuelling costs.
CAKE KALK OR Part-mountain bike, partmotocross weapon, the Cake Kalk has been winning fans (and awards) all over the globe thanks to its unique industrial design and trail-shredding capabilities. Designed for off-road use only, the machine appeals to those riders who venture into the wilderness at weekends, but a lack of noise and emissions means it opens up trails that were previously very much off limits. With a top speed of 46mph, a two to three hours riding time and sub-70kg weight, the Kalk is a lighter, quieter and more environmentally friendly way to enjoy the great outdoors and rip like a pro. From £11,120, ridecake.com
5 4 T3 M AY 2 019
E-mopeds & motorbikes
SUPER SOCO TS
ZERO SR/F
This sleek and futuristic machine offers up similar performance to a 50cc scooter but without the need to ever set foot in a petrol station again. It charges from a domestic plug socket in around seven to eight hours and offers around 40 miles of range under mixed conditions. The electric motor is limited to 28mph, so it won't sate a thirst for speed, but with the daily ride costing just 1p per mile, it could be the perfect way to save a few quid.
Often dubbed the Tesla of the two-wheeled world, Zero has long been at the forefront of electric motorcycle innovation, producing high-performance machines that are more than a match for their petrol powered rivals. The SR/F delivers a staggering 110hp and 190Nm of torque, which is good enough for a top speed of 124mph, while the industry-leading battery pack is said to offer a 200-mile range. One for the performance bike diehards.
£2,349 (incl. OLEV plug-in motorcycle grant), supersoco.co.uk
From £16,490 (incl. grant), zeromotorcycles.com
BMW C EVOLUTION
BULTACO ALBERO 4.5
Want to embarrass everyone at the traffic light drag race? Take a look at BMW’s futuristic C evolution scooter. The 48hp electric motor delivers instant acceleration that sees the all-important 0-30mph sprint dispatched in just 2.8 seconds. Almost 100 miles of range from the battery packs, a 75mph top speed and the ability to charge either at home or at one of the higher output makes this much more than just a commuter’s dream bike.
Once a purveyor of some of the world’s most famous two-stroke motorcycles, Bultaco now focuses its efforts on batterypowered transport that plays on its motocross and scrambling heritage. But the Albero 4.5 is its first urban commuter, offering chunky bicycle design with the speedy performance of a 2kW electric motor that allows for a top speed of almost 30mph. It requires certain licence registration, insurance and safety gear.
From £12,875, bmw-motorrad.co.uk
From £4,695, bultaco.co.uk
THE LEGAL BIT %HFDXVH DQ H VFRRWHU RU H PRWRUF\FOH PLPLFV the speeds and output of its petrol-powered siblings, more stringent laws apply. In short, if your electric bike is restricted to 30mph, it is treated like a 50cc scooter. That means you PXVW FRPSOHWH &RPSXOVRU\ %DVLF 7UDLQLQJ
&%7 LI \RX GRQèW KDYH D IXOO 8. FDU OLFHQFH that was obtained before 1 December 2001, register the bike with the DVLA, insure and tax it, make sure it has a number plate, avoid motorways and pillion riders, and ensure the correct safety gear is worn at all times.
Anything that exceeds 30mph is judged on its power output and therefore requires the appropriate motorcycle licence. Electric motorcycles with an output of 35kW (47bhp) or less can be ridden on an A2 licence, while anything punchier requires a full A1 licence.
M A Y 2 0 1 9 T3 55
Join the e-volution
E-SCOOTERS
Compact last-mile transport for beating the city crowds
WHY AN E-SCOOTER? Head to some of the biggest cities in the USA and you’ll ĆQG WKRXVDQGV RI IRON VFRRWLQJ around on electrically assisted kick scooters. Start-ups like /LPH DQG %LUG KDYH FUHDWHG D billion dollar industry around the rental schemes, and it’s proving a hit with users. Cheap DQG VPDOO HQRXJK WR ĆW LQWR the boot of a car or carry on to a train, these puny PLEVs (personal light electric vehicles) are excellent for rapidly dispatching that last mile EHWZHHQ KRPH RIĆFH DQG WKH train, without the need to carry a spare set of clothes or don LOO ĆWWLQJ /\FUD VKRUWV
NINEBOT BY SEGWAY KICKSCOOTER ES2 Finished in stealthy black with subtle red accents, this moody scooter is arguably one of the best looking money can buy, and its front shock absorber, integrated rear brake light and relatively low 12.5kg kerb weight make it easy to live with. It can also hit an impressive 15mph, with the built-in Smart Battery Management System harnessing the power of an energy recovery system to eke the most out of the minuscule on-board batteries. The result is an impressive 15.5-mile range. £499, shop.segway.com
THE LEGAL BIT Arguably the trickiest of all the e-transportation listed here to pigeonhole, the electric kick-scooter is actually classed as a personal light electric vehicle (PLEV) and is illegal to use on public UK roads and pavements. Users risk being VODSSHG ZLWK ĆQHV RI e IRU tearing around pedestrian areas on one of these, but there have been very few cases where this has actually been enforced, and you’ve probably seen people riding around on them care-free. As ever, it’s your decision, but you have been warned. With various scooter hire services starting up in European cities in recent years, we hope the Government will adjust the rules here soon.
5 6 T3 M AY 2 019
MICRO CONDOR X3
RAZOR E300S
The list of technological highlights on this electric kick-scooter would put some family cars to shame. Cruise control, regenerative braking, a 500W max power output and a 12-mile range are just a few. Better still, it plugs into a domestic socket and can be charged in only three hours, while weight is kept to just 10.8kg.
Besides some pretty rad children’s toys, Razor also offers an interesting line of electric scooters. The E300S isn’t as portable as some of the rivals listed here, but its built-in saddle, twist throttle and 15mph top speed make it one of the laziest ways to cruise the streets (though it should really only be used on private land).
£879, micro-scooters.co.uk
£329, global.razor.com/uk
Mini cars
MINI CARS
Nifty wee movers that’ll squeeze into the littlest of places
WHY A MINI CAR? MICROLINO “This is not a car!” screams the marketing material and at first glance, the skinny, front entry machine looks more like something from a Teletubbies episode than a serious mobility proposition. But with a top speed of 55mph, a range of around 100 miles and seating for two (small) people, it is the kind of cheap electric transportation that urban inhabitants might turn to in the future. At around £10,000, it’s more of an investment than a small e-moped, but users are sealed from the elements and can make the most of 300 litres of storage space. From £10,800, micro-mobility.com
Why not? They are cute, tiny and among some of the easiest things to park in the world, yet they offer all of the EHQHĆWV DQG FRQYHQLHQFH RI D conventional car. With cities becoming ever more crowded, manufacturers are looking towards innovative ways to ease congestion without restricting the movement of people. The electric micro car could be the perfect solution. Yes, you’ll require a licence, and there will be tax, MOTs and insurance, but it will be a hell of a lot cheaper to run and you’ll be able to slip into super-tight spots at the supermarket.
RENAULT TWIZY
SMART EQ FORTWO
Head to the irritatingly sunny and wealthy climes of Nice or St Tropez and the concentration of Renault’s excellent quadricycle is something to behold. The open, airy run-around offers many practicalities of a car without the emissions and pain of parking. Twizy is zippy, charges in just three and a half hours and draws attention wherever it goes. Just wrap up warm if you're thinking of using it in Britain.
Despite being the most car-like of all the four-wheeled transportation mentioned here, Smart’s electric city car still looks positively tiny compared to the hulking SUV brutes that litter our streets. An impressive all-electric range of 70 miles, comfortable seating for two and the ability to cross-park on the street has seen this model win admirers across the globe. Be prepared to dig deep, because these aren't cheap.
From £6,990, renault.co.uk
From £20,840, smart.com M A Y 2 0 1 9 T3 5 7
Wireless turntables
Wireless turntables
Two words: game changing. Two more words: quite ĆGGO\ Words: Duncan Bell Photography: Neil Godwin
inyl’s revival may be a blip on a chart compared to the growth of music streaming, but there’s no denying that the medium is making a comeback. Ten years ago it looked like you’d need a medium to communicate with it by now, but instead vinyl pressing plants are re-opening, record sales are booming and turntables are back on a lot of people’s shopping lists. And not just those of
V
really old people, either. Kids are queuing up to buy record players with built-in speakers for 50 quid and then wax lyrical about how much ‘warmer’ the sound is. Idiots. If you buy a turntable that doesn’t have a speaker built in, it’s usually something of a pain to position and setup, but these gamechanging wireless (Bluetooth) decks change all that. Well, they change most of that. They are still a touch fiddly, as you will read over the
next five pages. If you don’t have a dedicated ‘hi-fi area’ in your home, they are an absolute godsend; now, your record player can be positioned anywhere you like, because it doesn’t need a pre-amp or to be in close proximity to an amplifier and/or speakers. The growth of the wireless audio market also means there is a speaker to suit all of these models, from the entry level Audio-Technica to Cambridge Audio’s sumptuous Alva TT… M A Y 2 0 1 9 T3 59
State of the Art
WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON TESTâ&#x20AC;¦
1
Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT :H KDYH VRPHWKLQJ IRU HYHU\ WDVWH DQG EXGJHW LQ WKLV LQVWDOPHQW of State of the Art. This Audio7HFKQLFD WXUQWDEOH LV H[FHOOHQW EXW \RXèG KDYH WR VD\ LWèV IRU those whose taste is for the more SODVWLFN\ HQG RI WKH PDUNHW DQG ZKRVH EXGJHW LV D WDG OLPLWHG £179, eu.audio-technica.com
2
3UR -HFW (VVHQWLDO ,,, %7 3UR -HFW PDNHV D WXUQWDEOH WR VXLW MXVW HYHU\RQH FKHDS RQHV SULFH\ RQHV RQHV ZLWK GLJLWDO RXWSXWV RQHV \RX KDQJ YHUWLFDOO\ RQ \RXU ZDOOð $QG QRZ WKH\ PDNH WKLV WKH EUDQGèV WRS VHOOLQJ PRGHO ,,, (VVHQWLDO VHUYHG ZLWK D KHOSLQJ RI %OXHWRRWK ,W UHDOO\ ORRNV WKH SDUW LQ D FKRLFH RI KLJK JORVV SDLQW Ä&#x2020;QLVKHV £319, henleyaudio.co.uk
SPECS
SPECS
CONNECTIVITY aptX and SBC Bluetooth, 3.5mm analogue out, switchable between phono and line level DRIVE Belt drive SPEED SELECTION Button
CONNECTIVITY SBC Bluetooth, phono level dual RCA out, line level dual RCA out DRIVE Belt drive SPEED SELECTION Manual
3
&DPEULGJH $XGLR $OYD 77
7KLV RQH WDNHV WKLQJV way up WKH VFDOH ZLWK EXLOG OLNH D EULFN VKLS\DUG DQG WKH LQFOXVLRQ RI DSW; HD. Where the Audio-Technica XVHV VWDQGDUG DSW; ZKLFK LV RI DSSUR[LPDWHO\ &' TXDOLW\ WKH $OYD 77 HQFRGHV DQG WUDQVPLWV \RXU YLQ\O DW KLJK UHVROXWLRQ å ELW .+] 7KH ORRN KHUH LV YHU\ QR QRQVHQVH DQG SUHPLXP £1,500, cambridgeaudio.com
SPECS CONNECTIVITY aptX HD, aptX and SBC Bluetooth, line level dual RCA out DRIVE Direct drive SPEED SELECTION Button
1
3
2
6 0 T3 M AY 2 019
Wireless turntables TEST 01:
AUDIO-TECHNICA AT-LP60XBT
,1,7,$/ SETUP -XVW WXUQ LW RQ DQG FRQQHFW WR \RXU %OXHWRRWK VSHDNHU ULJKW" 1RW TXLWHĂ° he promise of Bluetooth record players is to do away with the inconvenience that used to be synonymous with these devices. However, while they undoubtedly make placement easier â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you can put them anywhere you like, with no need to consider the position of your speaker/s â&#x20AC;&#x201C; there are some new setup issues to consider. The main one of these is that connecting via Bluetooth without using a phone, laptop or anything else with a screen is not entirely straightforward. You need to put whatever youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re pairing with into pairing mode, then activate pairing on the turntable, then wait for it to pair. This sounds simple enough, but with no indication that anything at all is happening, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actually rather stressful. If you then want to pair with a second device â&#x20AC;&#x201C; headphones, say â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you will need to turn oďŹ&#x20AC; the device you already paired with in order to repeat the process. More problematic, when you then re-pair with either your speaker or your headphones, the other device will need to be turned oďŹ&#x20AC;, or the turntable may pair with the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;wrongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; device. With no app, you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just switch between devices in the way youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re used to. All that said, Audio-Technicaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s AT-LP60XBT was an absolute doddle to ďŹ re up. You can literally take it out of the box, follow the Bluetooth pairing process/es detailed
T
PRO-JECT ESSENTIAL III BT
CAMBRIDGE AUDIO ALVA TT
The Audio-Technica was a doddle to ďŹ re up. Just pair it and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re away
TEST 01: WINNER
AUDIO-TECHNICA This one isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even close â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the AT-LP60XBT is basically ready to go from the box, and the Bluetooth connection is really simple to get up and running.
above and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re away. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no tone arm setup â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just there â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and attaching the rubber belt to the platter, while ďŹ ddly, is easy enough. Cambridge Audioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Alva TT has slightly ďŹ ddlier Bluetooth setup, and you need to calibrate the tone arm. This is fairly straightforward, but it must be said that most tech these days does not ďŹ nd you balancing an arm on a funny little plastic see-saw thing, to ensure the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;down forceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is correct. Vinyl veterans will love it; anyone whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grown up in the digital age may feel perplexed. Pro-Jectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deck is the biggest pain to set up. You have to manually balance the tone arm, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a counterweight on a piece of ďŹ shing line that needs to be ďŹ tted â&#x20AC;&#x201C; yes, really â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and the belt drive needs to be stretched into place. Oh, and there are two power switches. Bluetooth pairing doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even involve a button, never mind a display, which caused much head-scratching here. However, once setup is complete, you never really need to worry about any of this again.
M A Y 2 0 1 9 T3 61
State of the Art TEST 02:
'(6,*1 FEATURES
AUDIO-TECHNICA AT-LP60XBT
:KRèV JRW WKH EUDLQ ZKRèV JRW WKH ORRNV ZKR QHHGV \RX WR PDNH ORWV RI PRQH\" he parts of the turntable market each of these decks are aimed at is as clear as the diďŹ&#x20AC;erence between Ronnie Corbett, Ronnie Barker and John Cleese in that comedy sketch about the British class system from the 1960s. The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT is the lumpen proletariat. It weighs about the same as a newspaper, feels extremely plasticky and looks like something from the Seventies. However, its ugliness is only skin deep. Unlike the other brands here, Audio-Technica is very clear that this is a Bluetooth record player, not a record player that happens to have had Bluetooth added to it. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big Bluetooth pairing button and a ďŹ&#x201A;ashing light that makes it fairly obvious whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on during the pairing process. The only other output is a 3.5mm socket around the back, which can be switched between line and phono level output. Because why would you buy a wireless turntable and then wire it to something? Again like a deck from the Seventies, with this you just press a button and the arm clicks up and across and plays your record â&#x20AC;&#x201C; just like that! When ďŹ nished, it clicks back to base. A switch lets you choose between seven- and 12-inch disks. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a button to choose the speed: 33 or 45 rpm. No such luck with the middle-class Pro-Ject Essential III BT. Here you have to manually move the belt drive to
T
PRO-JECT ESSENTIAL III BT
CAMBRIDGE AUDIO ALVA TT
Presumably most of ProJectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s punters never listen to seven-inch pop singles change speed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; presumably most of Pro-Jectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fusty punters never listen to seven-inch pop singles or 12-inch dance remixes and just keep it on 33rpm forever. Around the back there are not one but two pairs of RCA outputs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one line level and one phono, to plug into a turntable pre-amp or ampliďŹ er phono stage. Again though, why would you pay extra for a Bluetooth output on your deck and then plug it in with a wire? The Pro-Ject is such a handsome thing compared to the Audio-Technica that this is all very forgiveable, though. The Cambridge Audio Alva TT is deďŹ nitely the wireless turntable for, if not â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the 1%â&#x20AC;&#x2122; then certainly the top 20% or so. Its look is understatedly premium â&#x20AC;&#x201C; rather austere, in fact â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and it weighs about the same as a stately home. It has aptX HD instead of the more dĂŠclassĂŠ vanilla aptX. Again thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a line level output via what is, by all accounts, a very high quality Cambridge Audio phono stage, but again, why would you use it? Speed selection is via a button, but you will need to manually move and lower the needle into position. Or get your butler to do it. 62 T3 M AY 2 019
TEST 02: WINNER
CAMBRIDGE AUDIO An advanced suite of hi-res Bluetooth streaming modes, plus the built-in phono stage and discreet premium ďŹ nish, push the Alva TT out in front.
Wireless turntables TEST 03:
AUDIO-TECHNICA AT-LP60XBT
6281' 48$/,7< <HV \RX FRXOG MXVW ORRN DW \RXU VH[\ QHZ SXUFKDVH EXW LW FDQ GR PXFK PRUH ll three of these turntables are among the best in their price brackets. In general you could pay the same for a turntable without wireless connectivity and expect it to sound a little bit better, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here for. The Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT sounds way better than its look and feel might lead you to expect. AudioTechnica has obviously concentrated its eďŹ&#x20AC;orts on sonics over aesthetics. Everything sounds a bit raucous compared to the very reďŹ ned Pro-Ject and Cambridge Audio devices, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in an enjoyable and lively way. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for nuanced sound, and listen to a lot of classical music or fey and winsome strumming, it might not be for you, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great with rock, electronic and pop. The Pro-Ject may make you tear a little of your hair out while youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re setting it up â&#x20AC;&#x201C; top tip: use the manual as loo roll, and look online for video tutorials on this â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but it will send shivers up your spine once itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up and running. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a beautiful looking thing, too. Something like Kate Bushâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Aerial (re-released late last year on extra-heavy, lavishly hand-tooled vinyl) is a great test for any record player due to its wide dynamic range. The Pro-Ject beautifully presents Kateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more unadorned, piano-accompanied warbling but wields plenty of oomph when things get exciting towards the end of its four sides,
A
PRO-JECT ESSENTIAL III BT
CAMBRIDGE AUDIO ALVA TT
The Alva TT is just as good with classical, Seventies rock, pop... you name it
TEST 03: WINNER
CAMBRIDGE AUDIO The Pro-Ject puts up a damn good ďŹ ght, but you can really hear where your extra money is going in the Alva TT â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it sounds just brilliant.
and she starts rocking out over thumping basslines, in that slightly stiďŹ&#x20AC; and self-conscious way of hers. It says a lot for Pro-Jectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s turntable that, while Cambridge Audioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Alva TT pretty much wipes the ďŹ&#x201A;oor with Audio-Technicaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eďŹ&#x20AC;ort â&#x20AC;&#x201C; good for its price though that is â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Essential III BT is not disgraced by the comparison, by any means. That said, of course Cambridge Audioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deck is the best-sounding, via both wired and wireless connections. With compatible equipment â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we used a Naim Uniti Atom with a pair of Monitor Audio Silver speakers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it does appear that aptX HD gives an appreciable step up. The great thing about the Alva TT is it can do beautiful but it can also do ugly. A record we use a lot when trialling audio equipment is MF Doomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Take Me To Your Leader. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a very messily produced hip-hop album, where the distorted drums, layered, lo-ďŹ samples and slurred vocals can emerge as a mess or as something sublime â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Alva TT nails it. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just as good with classical, Seventies rock, pop, electronicaâ&#x20AC;Ś you name it. You almost canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fault it. M A Y 2 0 1 9 T3 6 3
State of the Art VERDICT:
1st
THE OVERALL WINNER ISâ&#x20AC;¦ CAMBRIDGE AUDIO ALVA TT £1,500, cambridgeaudio.com
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BEST ON TEST
PRO-JECT ESSENTIAL III BT
AUDIO-TECHNICA AT-LP60XBT
£319, henleyaudio.co.uk
£179, eu.audio-technica.com
2nd
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THE EIGHT RECORDS TO BUY FIRST 01 THE BEATLES, ABBEY ROAD
From the genuinely iconic cover to the classic pop songs of side A to the epic musical sweep and emotional heft of the B sideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s closing suite, thisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll show off your new record player a treat.
02 LED ZEPPELIN, PHYSICAL GRAFFITI
More advanced studies: a double album. Led Zep show off their full range of musical tricks, from acoustic jams to crushing, blues-rock testosterone fests. 6 4 T3 M AY 2 019
03 THE WHO, LIVE AT LEEDS
The best live album ever? Quite possibly. The vinyl version scores over digital in two ways: 1) itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more authentic; 2) most of Pete Townshendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interminable between-songs â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;banterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is cut.
04 JAMES BROWN, THE PAYBACK
Soul brother #1, James Brown whips your woofer with his funky jams, and the title track reigns supreme: he donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know karateâ&#x20AC;¦ but he knows kerr-azy!
05 KATE BUSH, VINYL REISSUES
Beautifully packaged, remastered triple and quadruple packs of all her classic albums, SOXV D Ä&#x2020;QDO VHW RI UDULWLHV 7DNH D deep breath and buy the lot.
06 GHOSTFACE KILLAH, TWELVE REASONS TO DIE
Like Goodfellas made into a hip-hop album, Ghostface and his band spin a tale of gangster betrayal and vengeance from beyond the grave, over solid beats and Seventies soul stylings.
07 ROLLING STONES, STICKY FINGERS
The Stonesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; best album, maybe. Certainly their best vinyl album cover, so long as you can track down the version with the real zip incorporated into the cover, over Mick Jaggerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Y-fronts.
08 KRAFTWERK, COMPUTER WORLD
Electronic music, produced by rather cold Germans, can sound warm and beautiful, especially on vinyl. Songs all reference cutting-edge tech circa 1980.
Wireless turntables
5
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:KDW DQ H[FHOOHQW QDPH IRU D VSHDNHU 7KLV PDNHV WKH SHUIHFW FRPSDQLRQ WR WKH DIIRUGDEOH $XGLR 7HFKQLFD $7 /3 ;%7 EXW DOVR GRHV VRPH MXVWLFH WR WKH 3UR -HFW (VVHQWLDO ,,,èV PRUH UHÄ&#x2020;QHG VRXQG ,WèV D YHU\ FXWH ORRNLQJ VSHDNHU WRR D WH[WERRN H[DPSOH RI 6FDQGLQDYLDQ VW\OH £200, audiopro.com/uk
01
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$ QR FRPSURPLVH ZD\ WR OLVWHQ WR DQ\ RI WKHVH WXUQWDEOHV WKRXJK LWèV EHVW ZLWK DSW; VXSSRUW WKLV FRPSDFW SDLU RI VWHUHR ZLUHOHVV VSHDNHUV LV RQH RI WKH DXGLR VHQVDWLRQV RI ,WèV DOVR FRPSDWLEOH ZLWK 6SRWLI\ DQG 7LGDO ZLWK $SSOH $LU3OD\ FRPLQJ IRU ZKHQ \RX WLUH RI WXUQLQJ UHFRUGV £999, uk.kef.com
7KH &DPEULGJH $XGLR $OYD 77 XVHV DSW; +' %OXHWRRWK WR EHDP PXVLF DW JUHDWHU WKDQ &' TXDOLW\ Ã¥ ELW N+] KL UHV WR EH SUHFLVH 7KHUH DUH QRW WKDW PDQ\ FRPSDWLEOH VSHDNHUV RU UHFHLYHUV IRU WKLV DXGLRSKLOH JUDGH ZLUHOHVV FRGHF \HW EXW WKH JRRG QHZV LV WKDW 1DLPèV DVWRQLVKLQJ 8QLWL $WRP DPSOLÄ&#x2020;HU LV £2,249, naimaudio.com
05
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The new movement
THE NEW MOVEMENT From a legendary â&#x20AC;&#x2122;60s prototype come to life at last, to a high-end diving watch saving the ocean with recycled plastic, these are the PRVWbJURXQG EUHDNLQJ GHVLUDEOH ZDWFKHV WR EX\ LQ Words: Matt Bolton, Spencer Hart
6 6 T3 M AY 2 019
Tudor Black Bay P01
TUDOR BLACK BAY P01
In 1967, Tudor developed a dive watch that was intended to become standard issue for the US Navy, based on research into functionality, ergonomics and US Government specs. This project, codenamed ‘Commando’, never came to fruition... until now. The P01 is based on a prototype from this study, building on it with modern tech and featuring a unique bezel-lock inspired by the original’s removable bezel mechanism. Respecting the watch’s utilitarian heritage, the steel case, waterproof to 200m, is entirely satin-brushed for a PDWW ĆQLVK ,W KRXVHV D GRPHG PDWW EODFN GLDO ZLWK SDLQWHG OXPLQHVFHQW KRXU markers, and Tudor’s Manufacture Calibre MT5612. This movement is FHUWLĆHG DV D FKURQRPHWHU E\ &26& DQG KDV D KRXU SRZHU UHVHUYH £2,830, tudorwatch.com
M AY 2 019 T3 67
The new movement
NOMOS GLASHÜTTE DUO This beautiful collection of watches (there are four in the range, and our favourite is the Orion 33, pictured) are simple, elegant, and have been around for a quarter of a century. These new, smaller models are intended for slimmer wrists, measuring 33mm in diameter. Despite their diminutive size, these watches contain the hand-wound Glashütte Alpha.2 calibre, meaning they are highly precise. The cases are crafted from stainless steel, while the dials are silver-plated. The silver is contrasted with elegant golden hands, which turn the watches into pieces of jewellery. We love the look – full of class, goes with anything. From £1,060, nomos-glashuette.com
6 8 T3 M AY 2 019
Oris Clean Ocean Limited Edition
ORIS CLEAN OCEAN LIMITED EDITION Oris is partnering with Pacific Garbage Screening, an organisation that’s developing technology to help keep the world’s water clean by capturing plastic before it enters the ocean. This bright blue version of the highperformance Aquis dive watch highlights the new collaboration. It’s water-resistant to 300m, and comes with a brilliant aqua-blue dial and rotating ceramic bezel. This symbolises “the beauty and importance of water”. Cementing what the watch represents is a medallion inserted in the case back. It’s made of recycled PET plastic, but resembles a precious stone. Each of the 2,000 pieces produced will be utterly unique, and are presented in special boxes made of environmentally friendly algae. £1,800, oris.ch M AY 2 019 T3 69
The new movement
TAG HEUER AUTAVIA The Autavia was first released in 1962, and returns in 2019 with a range of models that boast the versatility, ruggedness and reliability that characterised the original. What fans loved about the Autavia – its functionality, timeless style and numerous combinations – are evident here, as are classic design elements such as the rounded case and bevelled lugs. Built for adventure, the new 42mm model has a bidirectional rotating bezel with a 60-minute scale in coloured ceramic or stainless steel, and a large crown which makes it much easier to use while wearing gloves. There’s also a healthy coating of SuperLuminova to ensure the dial is highly legible in any conditions. £2,900, tagheuer.com
7 0 T3 M AY 2 019
Rolex Oystersteel GMT-Master II Blue & Black
ROLEX OYSTERSTEEL GMT-MASTER II BLUE & BLACK The hero of Rolex’s 2019 line-up is this version of the fantastic GMTMaster II, affectionately known as the ‘Batman’ colourway, thanks to the blue and black finish to its 24-hour bezel. Rolex has redesigned the lugs and sides of the Oyster case, and the watch is fitted on a new five-link Jubilee bracelet. It’s equipped with a new-generation calibre 3285 movement which guarantees a power reserve of 70 hours. The GMT-Master’s biggest trick is that it shows the time in two locations at once: one through the regular hands, and a separate time zone through the 24-hour blue hand, which points to the bezel’s numbers rather than the dial’s – a result of its history as having been designed for pilots. £7,150, rolex.com
M AY 2 019 T3 71
Future Publishing, Quay House, The Ambury, Bath, BA1 1UA EDITORIAL +44 (0)1225 442244 SUBSCRIPTIONS & CUSTOMER SERVICES +44(0)844 848 2852
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T3 ISâ&#x20AC;¦ 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
ISSUE 295 ON SALE FRIDAY 10 MAY
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BEST TECH FOR EVERYTHING Fix the house, make the most of 5G, perfect \RXU FRIIHH PDNLQJ JHW Ä&#x2020;WWHU XSJUDGH \RXU KRPH FLQHPD HQWHUWDLQ WKH NLGVð DQG VR PXFK PRUH
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* ALL CONTENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
All contents © 2019 Future Publishing Limited or published under licence. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any way without the prior written permission of the publisher. Future Publishing Limited (company number 2008885) is registered in England and Wales. Registered RIÄ&#x2020;FH 4XD\ +RXVH 7KH $PEXU\ %DWK %$ 8$ $OO LQIRUPDWLRQ FRQWDLQHG LQ WKLV SXEOLFDWLRQ LV IRU LQIRUPDWLRQ only and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. Future cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information. You are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers directly with regard to the price of products/services referred to in this publication. Apps and websites mentioned in this publication are not under our control. We are not responsible for their contents or any other changes or updates WR WKHP 7KLV PDJD]LQH LV IXOO\ LQGHSHQGHQW DQG QRW DIÄ&#x2020;OLDWHG LQ DQ\ ZD\ ZLWK WKH FRPSDQLHV PHQWLRQHG KHUHLQ
TESTED Expert reviews and recommendations WR KHOS \RX EX\ ZLWK FRQÄ&#x2020;GHQFH Edited by Matt Bolton
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SAMSUNG GALAXY S10+
OVER-EAR BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES
NETGEAR ORBI VOICE
CANON EOS RP
HI-FI STREAMING ADAPTERS
LENOVO SMART TAB P10
HOW WE TEST In T3, we feature only the ďŹ nest gadgets out there, and we believe that you â&#x20AC;&#x201C; our loyal reader â&#x20AC;&#x201C; deserve only the best tech in your life. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want you to waste time, and money, on inferior products, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exactly why our Tested section exists. In here youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd only the latest and hottest tech. Each product has been handpicked and tested by T3â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experts.
We only choose people with specialist knowledge for each test, so you know youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll know youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 ĂĽ WKRVH WKDW VFRUH Ä&#x2020;YH PLATINUM stars â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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 VSHFLÄ&#x2020;F IHDWXUHV
THE DESIGN AWARD
For kit with exceptional industrial design and UHÄ&#x2020;QHPHQW LQ DGGLWLRQ to being a great buy
M AY 2 019 T3 73
Tested
THE DESIGN AWARD
Processor Exynos 9820 Octa-Core Screen 6.4-inch, 1440x3040 AMOLED Memory 8GB/12GB Storage 128GB/512GB/1TB Battery 4,100mAh Cameras 12MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, 12MP telephoto rear; 10MP, 8MP depth front OS Android 9.0, OneUI Dimensions 157.6x74.1x7.8mm Weight 198g
From £899 samsung.com
he Samsung S10+ exists in a weird limbo right now. It’s currently the pinnacle of Samsung’s prowess: this is its most advanced, expensive phone so far. But that’s only until the Galaxy Fold and the S10 5G arrive to take its technological crown. So is the S10+ just a caretaker manager then, waiting for the real boss to arrive? If so, it’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
T
…and beyond
TO INFINITY-O…
Samsung Galaxy S10+ Packed with new tech all over, plus a smart new twist on Android, Samsung retakes its Android crown
74 T3 M AY 2 019
The design isn’t a massive break from the S9+ of last year, but it has been upgraded with features such as the striking Infinity-O display, ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, rear-mounted triple-camera, and wireless powersharing, to name a few. It’s brimming with new features and has a price tag to match: it starts at £899 for the 128GB model, but rises to £1,399 for the maxed-out model with 12GB of RAM and 1TB of built-in storage, plus the option to expand with a 512GB microSD. This is the ‘Ultimate Performance Edition’ which seems like a fitting description.
Samsung Galaxy S10+
S10+ MEET HDR10+ 7KLV LV WKH Ä&#x2020;UVW SKRQH WR VXSSRUW the HDR10+ standard for its display. This dynamic form of HDR looks better than the regular kind, but support isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t widespread yet. ,WèV QLFH IXWXUH SURRÄ&#x2020;QJ WKRXJK
BYE BYE BIXBY Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s voice assistant, Bixby, isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t great. Mercifully, the button dedicated to summoning it can now be changed to do something more useful, such as instantly launch the camera app
However much you pony up, you get the same excellent hardware experience. The curvaceous front and back feels solid in the hand, and while the aluminium band doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have quite the same premium heft as the stainless steel on the similarly-priced iPhone XS, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a tiny nitpick in an outstanding piece of hardware. The expansive 6.4-inch Quad HD+ AMOLED display feels like it ďŹ lls every available corner of the handset, though there is a bit of a bezel around it. The OLED panel itself is absolutely stunning. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bright, with gorgeous colours and cavernous blacks. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a genuine joy to behold. Samsung oďŹ&#x20AC;ers two settings for the display: Vivid and Natural. The latter is the default and is a little more subdued than some of the previous entries in the Galaxy S series, but feels more accurate. We much prefer it. The curved edges mean that the Galaxy S10+ isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as wide as rivals including the iPhone XS Max, so typing one-handed while juggling a coďŹ&#x20AC;ee isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t impossible, but it does take some practise.
The InďŹ nity-O display isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the prettiest design and does take some getting used to. Samsung does a good job of obscuring the hole-punch camera with some aggressive shading in the top right-hand corner of its preinstalled wallpapers. But when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re presented with a bright white screen â&#x20AC;&#x201C; like every time you launch the Messages app â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the pill-shaped cut-out for the dual front-facing is a real cycloptic eyesore. It also means the battery life, Wi-Fi and 4G signal icons are shifted into an asymmetrical position close to the centre of the screen, which looks pretty awful. Hole punch screens can be done well, but Samsung hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite nailed it yet.
Double vision What the dual selďŹ e cameras lack in beauty, they more than make up for when snapping. The S10+, which is the only model in the S10 range with dual front-facing cameras, is the only device capable of shooting Live Focus selďŹ es. These photographs add an adjustable, artiďŹ cial bokeh-style blur
The 6.4-inch screen matches the Note 9 for size. The next Note will have to be a true monsterâ&#x20AC;Ś
to the background behind the subject, as well as other eďŹ&#x20AC;ects including the excellent Colour Point mode, which turns the background greyscale so that only the subject is left in colour. The new Live Focus modes produce usable shots more reliably than Appleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s similar Portrait Lighting eďŹ&#x20AC;ects on the iPhone. Standard selďŹ es look great, too â&#x20AC;&#x201C; while the photos arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite as sharp and detail-packed as those from the Google Pixel 3â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s front camera, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily feel the need to see each individual hair and pore. Flip the phone over and you will ďŹ nd a new triple-camera system. This includes a 12MP wide-angle camera, a 16MP ultra-wide sensor and a 12MP 2x telephoto lens. This setup means you can take 0.5x wide-angle shots, the same as those seen on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, as well as 2x optical zoom. Both are hugely useful â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the ultra-wide, in particular, can produce really striking photos, especially in the middle of cities. With the S10+, Samsung has ďŹ nally ditched the rear-mounted ďŹ ngerprint M AY 2 019 T3 75
Tested
POWER UP The S10+ features Wireless Charging 2.0, which is Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name for its tech that can wirelessly charge your phone at up to 12W, which is around as much as a normal wired charger
scanner. Instead, the sensor is now found underneath the OLED display. The ultrasonic sensor is a ďŹ rst for smartphones (other in-screen sensors so far have been optical). Samsung claims its ultrasonic scanner is more reliable and accurate, recording every single ridge on your ďŹ ngertip. While we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t vouch for exactly how many ridges the scanner picked up, it worked perfectly for us, even when the screen is wet. That said, using it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t totally infallible. Samsung highlights the area of the screen above the sensor with a ďŹ ngerprint icon. However, you have
STEREOSCOPIC The two-lens front system pairs a regular camera with one dedicated to 3D depth sensing, creating the Live Focus data so you can edit it later. The results are impressively effective
Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re partial to the OX[H Ä&#x2020;QLVKHV RI WKH S10 range. Above is Ceramic White
to be fairly precise with the placement of your digit. Absent-mindedly pulling out the phone and trying to unlock it while navigating pavements bustling with weekend shoppers leads to quite a few error messages. Still weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re impressed overall, and prefer it to the older rear scanners.
One love The Galaxy S10+ runs the fantastic Samsung-designed One UI mobile operating system, which is based on Android 9.0 Pie. In the past, the words â&#x20AC;&#x153;fantasticâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Samsung-designed mobile operating systemâ&#x20AC;? would
rarely be in the same sentence, but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re big fans of this. It acknowledges that while we want massive screens on our phones, massive phones are really annoying to use. To solve the headache of using an expansive 6.4-inch display, One UI shifts all the elements of the user interface that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll actually need to tap into the lower-third of the touchscreen where they are within easy reach. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit like the Reachability feature Apple introduced on iPhones, which temporarily drops the top of the screen into the lower-half of the display, but applied across an entire
PLUS ONES FOR YOUR +
MOUS CLARITY
BANG & OLUFSEN E8 2.0
Mousâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cases are tougher than the guy from The Revenant who fought a bear (we might be misremembering that), and this one still lets \RX VHH \RXU SKRQHèV Ä&#x2020;QLVK DQG GRHVQèW EORFN wireless charging. Perfect. ÂŁ39, mous.com
B&Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s true wireless headphones sound fantastic, and the case has wireless charging, so works with the PowerShare feature here. Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Galaxy Buds do also, but theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re pretty middling. These sound much better. ÂŁ299, bang-olufsen.com
76 T3 M AY 2 019
SAMSUNG WIRELESS CHARGER DUO PAD If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going all in with Samsung, this is WKH Ä&#x2020;UVW FKDUJLQJ SDG WKDW GRHV IXOO SRZHU Wireless Charging 2.0, with a second charger for the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active. ÂŁ90, samsung.com
Samsung Galaxy S10+
SEE THE LIGHT The wide-angle lens not only has optical image stabilisation, it also has a dual-size mechanical aperture for better managing the light – still a real rarity on phones
user interface. Even swiping on the notification shade drops the quick action toggles far enough down to tap without a stretch. Samsung fills the top of the display with comically-large menu titles. When you first pick up the S10+, it looks very odd. But as soon as you start using it, it all makes sense. Not everything about One UI is perfect. Some of the default Samsung application icons are a little gaudy, and there are still some duplicates between Samsung and Google apps. There’s also a question mark over whether Samsung will keep One UI updated in good time – until now, Samsung has always dragged its feet, but fingers crossed that changes with its new-look software. Fuelling the S10+ is a 4,100mAh battery cell. For comparison, that’s bigger than the battery in the Galaxy Note 9, despite that having a larger footprint. For us, that mammoth battery was more than enough to keep the device powering through a full day of heavy usage. With some restraint, it’s easy to eke out a day and a half between charges. That extra battery comes in handy for a new feature called Wireless PowerShare, which enables owners to
top-up any device capable of wireless charging from your S10+. The new feature is enabled in the settings, then you simply flip over the phone and place any Qi-compatible gadget on top of it to charge. Huawei introduced this feature with the Mate 20 Pro last year, and we’re happy to see it in more phones. It’s a little finicky to find the exact spot on the rear to activate the charge, but after a few tries we got pretty good at locating it.
Jack it in One thing we’re glad hasn’t changed is that the 3.5mm headphone port is still here, so there’s no need to throw out your wired cans or cough up extra for a converter. Like its predecessor, the Galaxy S10+ is rated IP68 for water and dust resistance, which means it should withstand a swim in 1.5 metres of water for half an hour. The Galaxy S10+ boasts the same premium build quality and stunning fit-and-finish we’ve come to expect from Samsung, but now sports a bigger display, bigger battery and faster internals. There’s also new camera features you won’t find anywhere else in the S10 range and while some are gimmicky, others are definitely not.
7KH ćH[ELOLW\ RI D triple-lens system can’t be faulted – it’s so easy to get the shot you want
After a quiet year for the S range in 2018, this feels like a much bigger step forward. If you’re looking for the ultimate Galaxy S10, look no further. If you weren’t a fan of huge phones before, we’re not sure that One UI will be enough to convince you. That said, if you want a super-premium Android phone, and the biggest, fastest, most feature-packed Galaxy phone you can buy right now, this is it. The S10 5G and Galaxy Fold might be coming, but they’re uncertain first-gen products. The S10+ is excellent now.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Glorious build quality and screen; brilliant camera system; big storage options; nice new One UI; headphone jack! WE’D IMPROVE ,QĆQLW\ 2 D OLWWOH XQVLJKWO\ THE LAST WORD The Samsung S10+ is the best Android phone. Don’t hesitate.
Find the best deals for the S10+ at: bit.ly/s10price
M AY 2 019 T3 7 7
Tested
OVER-EAR BLUETOOTH CANS
Audio-Technica M50XBT £170, DXGLR WHFKQLFD FRP
£153, PDUVKDOOKHDGSKRQHV FRP
FEATURES These offer connectivity over Bluetooth 5.0, with support for aptX hi-res audio. You can also wire in if you want to connect to something more oldschool. There’s Siri/Google Assistant support, too. They charge over micro-USB – we’d prefer USB-C.
FEATURES Bluetooth 4.0 and aptX are here, as well as a wired connection again (which can actually be used to share your streamed sound with a second set of headphones, neatly). You can take calls through them, and they charge over micro-USB, too.
DESIGN AND FIT These are comfortable for long listening sessions, although your ears may get a tad warm. The build quality maybe doesn’t suggest decades of use to come, but it’s not overtly flimsy either. The look is simple, though a tad plasticky.
DESIGN AND FIT These are attractive, and more comfortable than cheaper Marshall headphones, although glasses wearers may still find they become a bit testing after prolonged use. They feel perfectly sturdy, and fold down impressively small for travelling.
PERFORMANCE The M50XBT can be a bit funny to pair and very occasionally lose connection when you’re out and about. They weren’t major issues, though. The battery life of 40 hours is damn strong – long enough for a Pink Floyd box set…
PERFORMANCE 30 hours of play time may not quite match the Audio Technicas, but it’s still good and lasted well during our testing. We’re big fans of the simple and effective ‘joystick’ control for volume and track selection – it makes life really easy.
SOUND QUALITY The technological foibles we’ve mentioned above pale when you hear these things in action. They have a more ‘traditional’ – dare we say, ‘hi-fi’ – sound, but without being too flat – the bass is still hyped a bit, with deeply pleasing results.
SOUND QUALITY The sound is bassy and puts a premium on making music sound exciting and rocky, so they’re perfect for rock, hip-hop and electronica. But delicate stuff sounds really good on them too. It just won’t sound as neutral as the ‘Monitor’ name might suggest.
VERDICT
1st
0DUVKDOO 0RQLWRU %OXHWRRWK
WE’RE IMPRESSED They sound fantastic, ZLWK D SURSHU KL Ć VRXQG H[FHOOHQW EDWWHU\ OLIH FRPIRUWDEOH WR ZHDU IRU ORQJ SHULRGV WE’D IMPROVE 6RPH VPDOO FRQQHFWLYLW\ LVVXHV
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED *RRG FRQWUROV VROLG EDWWHU\ OLIH DWWUDFWLYH ĆQLVK LQYROYLQJ DQG çURFNLQJè VRXQGð WE’D IMPROVE ðEXW QRW DOO PD\ OLNH WKH EDODQFH MXVW D WDG RQ WKH WLJKW VLGH
Find the lowest prices on these headphones at: bit.ly/t3bestbt
7 8 T3 M AY 2 019
2nd
Netgear Orbi Voice
TRIPLE THREAT
Netgear Orbi Voice If you have to have a router prominent in your home, might as well make it pull double duty as a smart speaker too £399 netgear.com etgear’s Orbi mesh Wi-Fi system is one of the best out there for creating big, fast wireless networks. Proving that there’s no product that can’t jump on the smart home bandwagon, its new version adds an Alexa speaker onto the mesh node, which works together with the main router to create one big network that banishes the black spots. (If you already have an Orbi system, you can buy the Voice alone for £279.)
N
Vox pop Wi-Fi plus chunky speaker tech means this is big, tall, and difficult to hide on a shelf. It’s not an eyesore, but it stands out. We like the tasteful grey fabric on the front, and there are controls on top for adjusting the volume, muting the mic, muting the speaker, and triggering Alexa. An LED ring tells you when Alexa’s listening, and if there’s a problem with the internet. On the software side, Netgear’s Orbi app for Android and iOS is easy to use to configure your Orbi setup, as well as to add Alexa to the mix, and set up child controls for internet access.
When it comes to performance, the whole Orbi system continues to be excellent – very fast, extremely reliable, and we’ve had almost no pain with it at all. It’s a top Wi-Fi setup. As a smart speaker, it proves solid, too. The time taken to respond to the initial ‘Alexa’ command and the thinking time the Orbi Voice needs seems to be just a fraction longer than it is with a regular Echo, but it’s not a problem. The full range of Alexa powers are here, so it’s extremely capable. Inside, a 35-watt amplifier, a 3.5-inch woofer, a 1-inch tweeter and a passive bassreflex port, all tuned by Harman Kardon, provide the speaker power. It’s no surprise that the audio quality is much better than a regular Echo, but it doesn’t reach ‘great’ status – it doesn’t beat out a Sonos One. Bass is strong and powerful, but occasionally a little on the muddy side, while mids and trebles were respectably sharp most of the time. It can easily fill a room. There’s no Bluetooth here, so you’ll have to either play something through Alexa or Spotify Connect – that’s a bit limiting for the price. As a speaker, it’s also nothing too special for the price… but then it’s also a top Wi-Fi system, which makes it solid value. It works great for what it is, so it becomes a question of whether you need this particular combination.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Solid Wi-Fi performance; good Alexa integration; fast, easy setup. WE’D IMPROVE Speaker not top quality; no Bluetooth/AirPlay; not a cheap combination. THE LAST WORD The Orbi Voice does everything it tries to do very well, and makes for an excellent, if pricey, home upgrade. It’s just that you might have some of what it does covered already.
Meet more of the best wireless VSHDNHUV ELW O\ ZLĆVSHDNHUV
M AY 2 019 T3 79
Tested
Sensor 26.2MP 35.9x24mm fullframe CMOS Image processor DIGIC 8 Lens mount Canon RF (OHFWURQLF YLHZÄ&#x2020;QGHU 0.39-inch OLED, PLOOLRQ GRWV [ PDJQLÄ&#x2020;FDWLRQ Screen Three-inch LCD touchscreen, 1.04-million dots Dimensions 133x85x70mm Weight 440g
FULL FAT
Canon EOS RP Big sensor, big image quality, big features, medium-sized camera. So whereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the compromise? ÂŁ1,399 (body only) canon.co.uk uilt for people who have got into photography thanks to the wonder of mirrorless cameras, and who are now looking for a step up in quality without resorting to the massive bulk of a DSLR, the Canon
B
8 0 T3 M AY 2 019
EOS RP provides a high-end fullframe sensor for a (relatively) aďŹ&#x20AC;ordable price and in a travelfriendly, portable body.
Full of itself Full frame sensors are so good partly because, quite simply, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re big. That means they take in more light, for sharper and brighter shots, which is always welcome. But thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a second beneďŹ t to them: they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t
crop the shot. Smaller sensors, such as the APS-C size thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most common in similar mirrorless cameras, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t show you the full view of what the lens can actually see. On an APS-C sensor, the crop is usually around 1.5x, meaning that if you attached a 50mm lens, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actually like youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve attached a 75mm. Full frame sensors capture, well, the full frame. A 50mm lens acts like a true 50mm lens. This gives you much more control over composing your shots, especially if you want to work in wide-angle. The full-frame sensor featured on Canonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s EOS RP is 26 megapixels and capable of recording 4K video. There are a few caveats here that we should mention, though: ďŹ rstly, the sensor doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have its own stabilisation system, so make sure you choose lenses that do; and when recording 4K, you actually have a 1.6x crop, so
Canon EOS RP
it’s not so much taking advantage of the full frame anyway. In fact, 4K video generally isn’t the strongest point here – though it’s very well-detailed, it has rolling shutter issues that create a bit too much of a wobble during movement for our liking. Recording at Full HD is better, but we’re all about Ultra HD, really. Happily, still image quality doesn’t come with reservations like that. In short, it’s brilliant. Colours look realistic, with the auto white balance tool handling its job very well. There’s tons of detail being captured, and it goes on to impress in low-light conditions, thanks in part to some solid noise-reduction settings. And it’s easy to take great photos. For a start, weighing just 485g means it’s no problem to cart this camera around. It’s chunkier than an APS-C mirrorless camera, but weighs much less than a DSLR. It still maintains a sizeable grip to aid handling when you’re using a bigger lens, and the magnesium body is built to last. The viewfinder is nice and sharp, and the rear touchscreen is fully articulated, so you can see what you’re shooting, whatever the angle.
You can tap the screen to focus, and the 143-zone autofocus is super fast. There’s also face tracking, which works great (though gets a bit confused in crowds, understandably). The continuous shooting mode hits just five frames per second, which is a tad disappointing, but this isn’t a pro camera, so we can live with it. Balancing it out is the extremely generous frame buffer – you can hold that shutter and keep shooting for a surprisingly long time, which really helps make sure you get the one top shot you need. Speaking of the shutter, it’s a bit frustrating that you can’t make it silent at will. There is a silent mode, but you give up some manual control when you activate it.
There are plenty of physical controls on the body despite it being smaller than a DSLR
There is a mount included in the box for using Canon’s more standard EF mount lenses, which offer tons of options at different prices, but using this adds a level of cropping back into your images. In the long term, these aren’t dealbreakers – both will be fixed. But if you’re looking to buy and use now, they’re important things to know. More of an issue is the battery life. It’s rated at just 250 shots, and though you can get much more out of it than that, it’s still poor compared to other mirrorless options. Yes, you can take a spare battery, but that’s a pretty pro move, and this is supposed to be more enthusiast – something that can last a day on its own is preferable.
Mounting issues The thing is, capturing these great images has some hurdles. The raw files produced by the EOS RP aren’t supported by Lightroom or Photoshop yet, so you’ll need to go via Canon’s software. More of an issue is that there are only two lenses compatible with it natively (with more on the way), and they’re hugely expensive.
THE ALTERNATIVES SONY A7R II
NIKON Z6
The top-tier A7R III costs way more than the EOS RP, but its predecessor the A7R II is still around, is closer to the RP’s price, full frame (with a 42MP sensor!), has builtLQ ĆYH D[LV VWDELOLVDWLRQ DQG . ZLWKRXW D FURS £1,799, sony.co.uk
Showing just how aggressive the RP’s price is, Canon’s longrunning rival offers a 24MP full-frame mirrorless cam for a fair bit more, and it’s a little bulkier. But it’s a genuine stunner for image quality. £1,999, nikon.co.uk
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Excellent image quality; good size and tough build; articulating touchscreen; well-priced; great autofocus. WE’D IMPROVE Low battery life; there’s some quality-of-life issues; 4K video is a bit disappointing. THE LAST WORD A statement of intent from Canon, bringing great features at a stunning price. If you’re not focused on video and don’t mind the lens issues, this is a really strong buy.
See more mirrorless camera reviews at: bit.ly/t3mirrorless
M AY 2 019 T3 81
Tested
+L Ä&#x2020; VWUHDPLQJ DGDSWHUV 7DNH \RXU FODVVLF ZLUHG KL Ä&#x2020; DQG DGG VRPH GLJLWDO convenience by plugging in these easy add-ons :RUGV 'XQFDQ %HOO &KULV +DVODP 3KRWRJUDSK\ 1HLO *RGZLQ
BLUETOOTH SMALL WONDER
BIG FEATURES, GREAT PRICE
iFI NANO iONE
YAMAHA WXAD-10
£279, uk.yamaha.com
£119, uk.yamaha.com
This cig-packet-sized DAC is Bluetooth-only (no Wi-Fi), and weighing just 141g and with a USB input, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also excellent at boosting your laptopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sound. Streaming via Bluetooth (AAC/aptX) and plugged into the spare phono socket on your amp, the iOne makes the most of even poor MP3s, and while youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never discover unheard detail in your favourite tracks, you will enjoy listening to it. In fact, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re betting youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be excited and entertained by the dynamic upgrade provided, which sounds impressively grown-up.
This unassuming box absolutely packs in the features. Not only do you get streaming support for Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz and more, you can also play to it using Yamahaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MusicCast multi-room system, Apple AirPlay or Bluetooth. Connect it to your system via 3.5mm or phono and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re away, with a great-sounding DAC that supports KL UHV Ä&#x2020;OHV XS WR ELW N+] 7KHUHèV QR '6' RU 04$ VXSSRUW though. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to set up over Wi-Fi, or you can use Ethernet instead. The balance of sound quality, features and price is ideal.
8 2 T3 M AY 2 019
Hi-ďŹ streaming adapters
ot a traditional wired hi-ďŹ system that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve honed to perfection over the years? Ok, fancy adding the ease of music streaming to it without having to replace a handful of expensive components?
*
Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what these boxes can help you do â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they plug into your amp using 3.5mm or phono jacks, and with their wireless connections and built-in DACs, suddenly youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re beaming tracks straight from your phone or the internet to your speakers.
Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a mix of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support here, across a big price range, as well as very diďŹ&#x20AC;erent feature sets, so whether you just want to ask Alexa to play internet radio, or you want to stream audiophile audio ďŹ les, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got you covered.
GIVE YOUR HI-FI A VOICE
UNCOMPROMISED MUSIC QUALITY
AMAZON ECHO INPUT
ARCAM rPLAY
ÂŁ34, amazon.co.uk
ÂŁ299, arcam.co.uk
A bit different to the other options here â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stream music to the Input from your devices, but because it has full Alexa voice control it does still add streaming powers to your setup. The unit has $PD]RQèV JUHDW IDU Ä&#x2020;HOG PLFURSKRQHV IRU SLFNLQJ XS \RXU YRLFH DQG you can play music through Amazon Prime Music, Spotify and TuneIn Radio by commanding Alexa (and Apple Music support is imminent). Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s small and easy to hide away, but at this price the DAC quality is pretty run-of-the-mill (and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no hi-res support, of course).
6XSSRUWLQJ Ä&#x2020;OHV XS WR ELW N+] DQG FRPSDWLEOH ZLWK '76è H[FHOOHQW DXGLR EXIÄ&#x2020;QJ 3OD\ )L FRGHF WKLV LV D VWHS XS LQ VRXQG quality and cost from the Yamaha. Even without Play-Fi, just using 6SRWLI\ VWUHDPV RU GHFHQW TXDOLW\ 03 $$& Ä&#x2020;OHV IURP \RXU XVXDO player of choice, this box gives an immediately noticeable boost to sound quality. Connectivity is rock solid via either Wi-Fi or Ethernet. With AirPlay and UPnP support, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s well kitted out as a streamer, too. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been discontinued, but currently still in stock.
M AY 2 019 T3 8 3
Lenovo Smart Tab P10
DOUBLE DUTY
Lenovo Smart Tab P10
An Android tablet that turns into an Alexa smart screen when you dock it to its speaker base £249 lenovo.com his is the sweet, sweet melding of Android tablet and Echo Show into one package. Leave the Lenovo 10-inch display in its speaker dock and it turns into an Alexa smart display, working pretty much identically to Amazon’s screens, with beefy speakers for audio. Pull it out and you can use it like any other Android tablet.
T
Take your tablet Let’s start with tablet mode. The 10.1-inch screen has a resolution of 1920x1200, and there’s a mid-range Snapdragon 450 chip under the hood. Our review unit came with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of on-board storage, but you can up that to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage (there’s also the option of adding a memory card). They’re not market-leading specs, but they don’t have to be to compete with the likes of Amazon’s cheap Kindle tablets. It breezed through simple tasks like emails, web browsing, documents and video streaming, and it coped well with a variety of games. The battery only dropped about 7-8% per hour of video playing 8 4 T3 M AY 2 019
in our tests, and the built-in Dolby speakers are pretty impressive. Android still looks clumsy on tablet devices, with screens occasionally snapping back into portrait mode when they should be using landscape. Most of the key apps – Google Docs, Outlook, Spotify, Netflix and so on – are now perfectly at home on bigger screens, though. Of course, the option to dock is the real selling point here. Full marks to Lenovo for the looks of the dock. It’s both solid and elegant at the same time, with a subtle dark grey fabric on the front and buttons that integrate nicely into the overall design. When docked and connected via Bluetooth, the Lenovo Smart Tab P10 really does turn into an Amazon Echo Show – the interface and the functions are identical, and you get a Show Mode shortcut in the Android quick settings for jumping back to the alternative interface. The dock adds even more speaker oomph, and just about matches a regular current-gen Echo for sound quality. We’d say it’s fine for tunes, if not really audiophile. Mic quality and response match a regular Echo too. The Alexa functions only work when the tablet is docked, and we should note that you can’t use it as an assistant at other times. Regardless, this feels like a great little mash-up.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED A smart dock done right; Alexa is getting better all the time; bright and sharp display; great battery life. WE’D IMPROVE Internal specs are very mid-range; thick bezels around the screen; Android can still be awkward on a tablet. THE LAST WORD Very good value for a tablet, smart display, and digital assistant rolled into one, all of which work well.
See more smart screens options at: bit.ly/t3smart
Competition
WIN! A VANGO TAIGA AIR 600XL FAMILY TENT FOR TRUE LUXURY CAMPING This six-person inďŹ&#x201A;atable tent is so comfy and spacious, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be able to enjoy holidaying in the great outdoors for much longer this year
WORTH
ÂŁ1,060
TOTAL!
Camping with family is fun, unless youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all squashed into a tiny tent that offers little privacy or protection from the elements. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why we love the Vango Taiga Air 600XL, an inflatable tent that offers everything you could want for a comfy family camping holidayâ&#x20AC;Ś and we have one, plus Footprint groundsheet (for enhanced waterproofing), to give away! The Taiga Air 600XL sits in Vangoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prestigious line of AirBeam inflatable tents (double-action pump included). These are fast and fuss-free to pitch, so even the kids can help out. There are three king-sized bedrooms to spread out in, with ample sleeping space per person. Happily, the bedrooms have Lights-out Inners to block bright, blinding sunshine in the mornings. Hanging out with family and friends is a joy when you have a living space this big,
too, and it doubles as a place where you can arrange your camping furniture. Lanterns, wash bags and other kit can be hung from the SkyTrack II flexible hanging system. Want to increase the size of your living space? The multi-function awning can be â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;poled-outâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to create a sun canopy in the day, bringing the outside in. The Mesh Door and Diamond Clear Windows also create the illusion of a bigger space, enabling you to view the outside as you sit snugly inside. This issue, we have one Vango Taiga Air 600XL and matching Footprint groundsheet to give away to one lucky T3 reader. To be in with a chance of winning, enter via the address on the right. To find out more about the Taiga Air 600XL and matching Footprint, plus many other products in Vangoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s award-winning range, visit vango.co.uk.
To enter, simply answer the following question:
WHAT IS VANGOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FLEXIBLE HANGING SYSTEM CALLED? SkyFall II SkyDive II SkyTrack II Enter today at: bit.ly/t3vangocomp
7KH FRPSHWLWLRQ FORVHV RQ 0D\ %\ WDNLQJ SDUW \RXbDJUHH WR EH bound by the competition rules: futureplc.com/competition-rules. Entries must be received by midnight on 10 May 2019 (UK time). Open to UK residents aged 18 years and over. There will be one winner, entitled to one Vango Taiga 600XL Air and Footprint. The prize is nontransferable and non-refundable. There is no cash alternative.
M AY 2 019 T3 8 5
TRY 5 ISSUES FOR
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BEST OF THE BEST The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best tech, all in one place Edited by Matt Bolton
If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for the very best tech available WRGD\ \RXèYH GHÄ&#x2020;QLWHO\ FRPH WR WKH ULJKW SODFH %HVW RI WKH %HVW LV WKH PRVW XVHIXO JDGJHW EX\LQJ JXLGH \RX ZLOO HYHU HQFRXQWHU 7R FUHDWH it, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve extensively tested the best tech the ZRUOG KDV WR RIIHU WR EULQJ \RX URFN VROLG UHFRPPHQGDWLRQV IRU \RXU KRPH OLIH GDLO\ FRPPXWH DQG WKH WHFK \RX XVH DOO WKH WLPH In 54 different categories, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve chosen the WRS IRXU SURGXFWV VR \RX FDQ FKRRVH RQH WKDWèV
MXVW WKH ULJKW PL[ RI IHDWXUHV DQG EXGJHW IRU ZKDW \RX QHHG 7KHVH UDQNLQJV FRPH IURP UHDO WHVWLQJ E\ RXU WHDP RI H[SHUWV Ã¥ WKH\èUH WKH SURGXFWV weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d choose for ourselves, and we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t UHFRPPHQG DQ\ KLJKHU WKDQ WKDW Look for the links above each category that WDNH \RX WR WKH VDPH OLVW SOXV PRUH EH\RQG WKH WRS IRXU DQG PDQ\ PRUH FDWHJRULHV DW T3.com, ZKHUH RXU SULFH FRPSDULVRQ V\VWHP VKRZV \RX WKH FXUUHQW EHVW GHDOV IRU HYHU\ SURGXFW
INSIDE Smartphones
88
Cheap smartphones
88
Smartwatches
88
Hybrid smartwatches
89
Watches
89
Watches under £500
89
TVs
90
TVs under £1,000
90
Projectors
90
Soundbars
91
Streamers
91
Games consoles
91
Turntables
92
Streaming DACs
92
Multi-room speakers
92
Bluetooth speakers
93
Bluetooth headphones
93
True wireless headphones
93
Noise-cancelling headphones
94
Wired in-ear headphones
94
Wired over-ear headphones
94
Laptops
95
2-in-1 laptops
95
Tablets
95
Gaming laptops
96
Gaming headsets
96
4K monitors
96
Drones
97
Action cameras
97
Cheap action cameras
97
DSLR cameras
98
Mirrorless cameras
98
Compact cameras
98
Sat-navs
99
Dash cams
99
Electric bikes
99
Smart speakers
100
Smart bulbs
100
Smart thermostats
100
Smart plugs
101
Security cameras
101
Robot vacuums
101
Cordless vacuums
102
Washing machines
102
Dishwashers
102
Coffee machines
103
Fridges
103
Ovens
103
Electric shavers
104
Electric toothbrushes
104
Beard trimmers
104
Fitness trackers
105
Running watches
105
Running headphones
105
M AY 2 019 T3 87
Best of the best
SMARTPHONES
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestphone APPLE iPHONE XS
From ÂŁ999, apple.com/uk The phenomenal speed, hyperpremium build quality, fantastic camera and gorgeous HDR screen with Dolby Vision support make this the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most desirable phone.
SAMSUNG GALAXY S10+
CHEAP SMARTPHONES
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestcheapphone HONOR PLAY ÂŁ249, hihonor.com
Pitched as a gaming phone, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just an all-round brilliant Android phone thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a stone-cold bargain. It has a high-end processor, 6.3-inch screen, good rear cameras, and a fantastic design.
ONEPLUS 5T
HUAWEI MATE 20 PRO
SONY XPERIA XA1
From ÂŁ899, samsung.com A stunning 6.4-inch screen, fast internals and advanced new S Pen digital stylus elevate this phone. The S Pen and clever split-screen app shortcuts make it a powerhouse for productivity.
8 8 T3 M AY 2 019
From ÂŁ399, apple.com/uk This truly straddles the line between tech and fashion; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just the bestlooking smartwatch, but its plethora of KHDOWK DQG Ä&#x2020;WQHVV features, plus strong app options, make it the most useful.
SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH
ÂŁ327, oneplus.com/uk
SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 9
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestsmartwatch
APPLE WATCH SERIES 4
From ÂŁ899, samsung.com A premium build, LQFUHGLEOH ,QÄ&#x2020;QLW\ 2 screen with HDR10+, brilliant rear triple camera system and blazing performance in Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s slick new One UI make this the Android king.
From ÂŁ899, huawei.com With a lightningfast processor, a beautiful OLED screen, a knock-out Leica camera system, a next-gen in-display Ä&#x2020;QJHUSULQW UHDGHU D 4,200 mAh battery, and Android 9.0 Pie, this is a marvel.
SMARTWATCHES
This is a brilliant buy thanks to the price itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dropped to, SOXV Ä&#x2021;DJVKLS OHYHO specs such as the speedy Snapdragon processor, 6GB of RAM, OLED display and premium DOXPLQLXP Ä&#x2020;QLVK
ÂŁ129, sonymobile.com
From ÂŁ279, samsung.com The best smartwatch for Android users brings a circular screen with great rotating bezel, and slick Tizen software thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to use. It looks good too, and the battery life of up to six days is ace.
TAG HEUER CONNECTED MODULAR 45 ÂŁ1,950, tagheuer.com
A good budget buy with a superb camera sensor (23MP!), and design that looks smarter than the price suggests. You get good performance at all times from it, and an HD screen.
SAMSUNG GALAXY A8 ÂŁ279, samsung.com The A8â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s camera package, both front and back, is stellar, and the roundedcorner OLED screen, coupled with an eight-core processor and 4GB RAM make it feel high-end. A real bargain.
This beauty, mimicking a traditional mechanical watch, ticks the luxury and heritage boxes. The Modular adds some welcome customisation to the smartwatch mix, too.
SKAGEN FALSTER 2 From ÂŁ279, skagen.com This is an excellent choice for thinner wrists, thanks to minimal looks and a modern slim strap style. Wear OS EULQJbQRWLÄ&#x2020;FDWLRQV activity tracking, Google Assistant, and more smarts.
Best of the best
HYBRID SMARTWATCHES
WATCHES
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/besthybrid
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestwatch
WITHINGS STEEL HR SPORT
TUDOR BLACK BAY GMT
£190, withings.com Featuring a heart-rate monitor and the ability WR WUDFN GLIIHUHQW H[HUFLVHV WKLV LV LGHDO IRU Ä&#x2020;WQHVV IDQDWLFV ,WèV ZDWHU resistant to 50 metres, and the battery lasts around 25 days.
MONDAINE HELVETICA 1
£2,790, tudorwatch.com Sporting a bold 41mm VWHHO FDVH DQG GLVWLQFWLYH blue and burgundy bezel, WKH %ODFN %D\ *07 FDQ NHHS WUDFN RI WKUHH WLPH zones, making it ideal IRUbWKRVH ZKR RIWHQ travel internationally.
TAG HEUER AUTAVIA
£195, mondaine.com Mondaine is most IDPRXV IRU SURGXFLQJ ZDWFKHV ZKLFK UHVHPEOH LWV FODVVLF 6ZLVV 5DLOZD\V FORFN EXW WKH +HOYHWLFD range is different. It LQFOXGHV DFWLYLW\ DQG VOHHS WUDFNLQJ
KRONABY SEKEL
£4,250, tagheuer.com 3DUW RI 7$*èV +HULWDJH range, the Autavia was IDYRXUHG E\ UDFLQJ drivers in the 1960s. The vintage silver dial IHDWXUHV D UHWUR +HXHU ORJR DQG LV HQFLUFOHG E\ D EODFN DOXPLQLXP EH]HO
OMEGA SEAMASTER 300
£445, kronaby.com Looking for more than a pedometer? The Sekel vibrates to alert you to QRWLÄ&#x2020;FDWLRQV RQ \RXU phone, and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a EXWWRQ ZKLFK FDQ EH programmed with IFTTT to do loads.
£5,520, omegawatches.com 7KH UHFDOOV LWV LFRQLF namesake, but has been XSGDWHG WR LQFOXGH Omegaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more modern ZDWFK WHFK LQFOXGLQJ WKH DQWL PDJQHWLF 0DVWHU &R $[LDO PHFKDQLFDO movement inside.
GARMIN VIVOMOVE HR PREMIUM
BREITLING NAVITIMER B01 CHRONOGRAPH
£170, garmin.com
£6,460, breitling.com The Navitimer is Breitlingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most LFRQLF FROOHFWLRQ 7KLV model boasts a 43mm VWDLQOHVV VWHHO FDVH ZLWK D WUDQVSDUHQW EDFN showing off the selfwinding movement.
This hybrid has key features like heart-rate monitoring, the ability to estimate your VO2 Max, as well as wellness tools that suggest you take a moment to breathe when showing stress.
WATCHES UNDER £500
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestwatch500 VICTORINOX I.N.O.X V
£459, victorinox.com +DYLQJ XQGHUJRQH durability tests, this ZDWFK ZLOO VWDQG XS WR anything you throw at LW 7KH SDUDFRUG VWUDS hints at its adventurous heritage, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great for all wrist sizes.
HAMILTON KHAKI FIELD £375, hamiltonwatch.com This is a faithful UHFUHDWLRQ RI LWV RULJLQDO 1960s forebearer and LV WUXH WR +DPLOWRQèV military heritage. The 38mm stainless steel FDVH LV SDLUHG ZLWK D durable NATO strap.
TISSOT QUICKSTER CHRONOGRAPH £295, tissotwatches.com 7KLV SDFNV D 6ZLVV TXDUW] movement with 1/10 of a VHFRQG FRXQWHUV FHQWUDO VHFRQGV FKURQRJUDSK hand, and add/split IXQFWLRQDOLW\ 7KH FDVH LVbÄ&#x2020;QLVKHG ZLWK D VOHHN 39' FRDWLQJ
CHRISTOPHER WARD C5 MALVERN MK III £495, christopherward.co.uk 7KLV VOHHN GUHVV ZDWFK UHWDLQV LWV FODVVLF %ULWLVK GHVLJQ FXHV IURP ROGHU models, but features a new 39mm stainless VWHHO FDVH ZLWK )OXLG çOLJKW FDWFKHUè OLQHV DQG 38 hours power reserve.
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Best of the best
TVS
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/besttv SONY AF8
TVS UNDER ÂŁ1,000
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/besttv1000 SAMSUNG Q6F
From ÂŁ1,799, sony.co.uk Marrying a perfect OLED 4K screen with Sonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s picture processing prowess makes for a jawdropping HDR TV at 55 or 65 inches. Motion handling and upscaling of content are both brilliant.
PANASONIC FZ952
From ÂŁ899, samsung.com A great bargain. The QLED LCD screen offers glorious colours and HDR performance, including great upscaling of SDR content. Even the sound system is pretty solid.
SONY XF9005
LG C8
SAMSUNG NU7470
SAMSUNG Q9F From ÂŁ1,799, samsung.com Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s QLED LCD tech is not only able to stand up to the quality of OLED, but even surpasses it in areas such as brightness. It means you get the full effect of HDR even in brighter rooms.
9 0 T3 M AY 2 019
ÂŁ1,999, acer.com Acer really hit the sweet spot here: VPDOO HQRXJK WR Ä&#x2020;W on a coffee table, whisper-quiet in operation, and yet still produces a bright, crisp HDR 4K picture of 70 to 110 inches (at 3.5m).
OPTOMA UHD40
From ÂŁ929, sony.co.uk
LGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s OLED technology produces beautiful 4K HDR images, and makes HD videos look ace too. LGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s webOS smart platform is one of the better systems around, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ideal for gaming.
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestprojector ACER V7850
From ÂŁ1,799, panasonic.com/uk Panasonic worked with Hollywood to make this OLED 4K TVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s display match how movies are mastered, so the colours and depth here are unparalleled for cinematic viewing.
From ÂŁ1,499, lg.com
PROJECTORS
ÂŁ999, optoma.co.uk This delivers sharp, colourful images, thanks to its Triluminos LCD display, which kills it with HDR 4K movies. Motion handling and upscaling are fantastic, too.
From ÂŁ499, samsung.com This ticks almost every spec box. HDR support includes HDR10+ dynamic IXWXUH SURRÄ&#x2020;QJ . images look supersharp, colours are rich and satisfying, and its smarts are a doddle to use.
PANASONIC FX750 From ÂŁ899, panasonic.com The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Art & Interior Glassâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; design of this TV is a looker, as is its 4K screen. It upscales HD to UHD excellently, and HDR looks glorious. Motion handling is especially good for sports action.
4K resolution and HDR in a projector for this price is hard to beat. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite have the pop and HDR richness of more expensive sets, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way beyond HD projectors at the same price.
OPTOMA UHZ65 ÂŁ4,499, optoma.co.uk This is very aimed at the proper AV enthusiast, but laser projection at this price makes it worth it for anyone. 4K HDR video is supremely rich, and it can hit 120 inches from just 4m.
EPSON EH-TW6700W ÂŁ999, epson.co.uk If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re happy with Full HD resolution, this is the best option, partly thanks to a super-easy setup process. The image quality is good, you just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get the IXWXUH SURRÄ&#x2020;QJ RI HDR and 4K.
Best of the best
SOUNDBARS
STREAMERS
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestsoundbar
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/beststreamer
SONOS BEAM
ROKU STREAMING STICK+
£349, sonos.com
£59, roku.com If it were just a soundbar, the Beamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great audio would still make it top â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but with Amazon Alexa, Apple AirPlay 2 and support for a billion streaming services, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s IDQWDVWLFDOO\ Ä&#x2021;H[LEOH
Q ACOUSTICS M3
SONOS PLAYBASE
£69, store.google.com The Chromecast Ultra is a receiver for phones and laptops and depends on them for control and content â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simple, versatile and compatible with iOS, Android, Windows and Mac.
£34, amazon.co.uk Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no HDMI and the setupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a pain, but this Sonos soundbase is sublime. The sound does detail as well as drama, it looks great and it works brilliantly in a Sonos multi-room environment.
4K HDR for under £35 isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t to be sniffed at. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best suited to Prime subscribers and Google apps are absent, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a very capable and affordable streamer IRUb79 DQG PRYLHV
SONY HT-ST5000
APPLE TV 4K
£1,195, sony.co.uk
£179, apple.com/uk iTunes has the biggest source of 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos movies, and lots of other services have apps here too. You can also easily stream to it from Macs and L26bGHYLFHV
Sonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s powerful, precise and punchy soundbar is the best way to add Dolby Atmos to your system, and while it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t deliver true overthe-head audio it does a good simulation of it.
MICROSOFT XBOX ONE X
The Swiss Army Knife of streaming delivers 4K HDR, isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t locked to a particular ecosystem, has tons of available apps and is a joy to use. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the best streamer for many people.
AMAZON FIRE TV STICK 4K
£549, sonos.com
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestconsole
£449, xbox.com
CHROMECAST ULTRA
£229, qacoustics.co.uk Want superb sound without a big price and unnecessary extras? Q Acousticsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; M3 combines great simplicity and great sound. Impressive, affordable, and it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hit with the ugly stick.
GAMES CONSOLES
With 4K, Dolby Atmos, Ultra HD Blu-ray and D IDLUO\ FRPSDFW SURÄ&#x2020;OH this is the best Xbox ever. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even more powerful than the PS4 Pro and also a great home entertainment hub.
SONY PLAYSTATION 4 PRO £349, playstation.com Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still overkill if you GRQèW KDYH D . 79 but with 2160p HDR gaming, the PS4 Pro delivers incredible visuals and is smoother and faster than its nonPro siblings.
NINTENDO SWITCH £279, nintendo.co.uk We love the Switch, which brings Nintendoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great gaming pedigree to genuinely stylish, premium-grade hardware. Forget the specs: itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about the sheer joy of gaming.
MICROSOFT XBOX ONE S £207, xbox.com The S is smaller, whiter and much cheaper than its big brother, and while you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get its siblingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s super-powered specs you still get Ultra HD %OX UD\ $ Ä&#x2020;QH KRPH entertainment hub.
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Best of the best
TURNTABLES
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestturntable
PRO-JECT DEBUT CARBON £430, project-audio.com Pro-Ject makes great turntables with all sorts of features; we like this slightly pricier model in the range. The addition of an acrylic platter helps it punch way above its weight in sonic performance.
REGA PLANAR 1
STREAMING DACS
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestdac YAMAHA WXAD-10 £120, yamaha.co.uk
Rega makes record players that need a little care in setting up, but once done, make a beautiful noise. The quality of this, its cheapest model, is extraordinary for WKHbSULFH
£4,995, jordanacoustics.co.uk This beautifully Ä&#x2020;QLVKHG GHFN LV perfect for vinyl addicts. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll wring an incredible amount of detail out of your records, without needing to be plugged into a crazily pricey system.
AUDIO TECHNICA AT-LP3 £150, audio-technica.com After something more basic? You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go wrong with this turntable. £150 nets you easy setup, PHOOLÄ&#x2021;XRXV VRXQG and something that is recognisably a record player, not DbVXLWFDVH
9 2 T3 M AY 2 019
SONOS ONE
This Yamaha lets you stream everything from Bluetooth to hi-res audio, with support for AirPlay, most of your favourite streaming services and, of course Yamahaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own MusicCast.
£30, google.co.uk
McINTOSH MT2
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestmultiroom
£199, sonos.co.uk
GOOGLE CHROMECAST AUDIO
£250, rega.co.uk
MULTI-ROOM SPEAKERS Sonos One is compatible with every music service ever, multi-room connectivity is fab, and Alexa comes built in as an added bonus. Many pricier Sonos speakers then await youâ&#x20AC;¦
NAIM MU-SO £900, naimaudio.com
A somewhat less audiophile solution perhaps, but so simple and so cheap. Suddenly, all your Android phoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music (plus Googleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s apps on iOS) can be beamed to your audio setup.
ARCAM RDAC
Although often thought of as a standalone speaker, Naimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s app allows for easy multiroom japes, as does AirPlay 2, which it now supports. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautiful to look at and listen to.
ORBITSOUND DOCK E30
£320, arcam.co.uk
£399, orbitsound.com For those who stream via AirPlay and UPNP, this is ever so hard to beat. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s essentially a very high quality DAC, and gives a real boost to any decent TXDOLW\ DXGLR Ä&#x2020;OHV beamed its way.
iFI NANO iONE e LÄ&#x2020; DXGLR FRP
This has a wireless charger on top, and supports AirPlay, Spotify Connect and Bluetooth. Its clever Airsound tech makes music sound stereo anywhere in the room â&#x20AC;&#x201C; no more â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sweet spotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.
SONOS PLAY 5 £499, sonos.com Just want to wring the very most out of Bluetooth? This fagpacket-sized DAC is your new friend. Even the shonkiest MP3 gets a polish, and your higher TXDOLW\ Ä&#x2020;OHV DQG streams will shine.
You get big, accurate and clean sound from Sonosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; top speaker, and it looks JUHDW LQ WKH Ä&#x2021;HVK too. The slick Sonos experience is here, of course, including AirPlay support and Alexa control.
Best of the best
BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS
BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestbluetooth
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestwireless
AUDIO PRO ADDON C3
AKG Y50BT
£220, audiopro.com $ Ä&#x2020;QH EOHQG RI FODVVLF %OXHWRRWK SRUWDELOLW\ KLJK TXDOLW\ DXGLR DQG 6FDQGLH VW\OH 7KDQNV WR :L )L \RX FDQ VWUHDP KLJKHU TXDOLW\ VRXQGV LQGRRUV WKHQ UHYHUW WR %OXHWRRWK LQ WKH JDUGHQ
ULTIMATE EARS MEGABOOM 3
CAMBRIDGE AUDIO YOYO M
£120, uk.akg.com
£130, jabra.co.uk
£89, optoma.co.uk These slick earphones offer incredible sound IRU WKH SULFH WDNLQJ HYHU\WKLQJ IURP SRS WR FODVVLFDO LQ WKHLU VWULGH 7KH\èUH PDGH WR VWD\ comfortable for their HLJKW KRXU EDWWHU\ OLIH
£179, audio-technica.com /RQJ EDWWHU\ OLIH DQG sound thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s closer to the more neutral tones of hiÄ&#x2020; FDQV WKRXJK VWLOO ZLWK D VOLJKW H[WUD NLFN RI EDVV SOXV JUHDW FRPIRUW OHYHOV make these ideal for ORVLQJ \RXUVHOI LQ PXVLF
BOSE SOUNDLINK REVOLVE
SOUNDMAGIC E11BT
£149, bose.co.uk
£69, soundmagicheadphones.com These are as good as buds that cost twice as PXFK $XGLR LV EULOOLDQW FRQQHFWLYLW\ LV URFN VROLG WKH QHFNODFH VW\OH EDQG VWD\V VWDEOH DQG WKH Ä&#x2020;W LV comfortable and secure HQRXJK IRU H[HUFLVH
7KLV H[FHOOHQW YDOXH KLJK TXDOLW\ VSHDNHU ERDVWV LPSUHVVLYHO\ UHDOLVHG WUXO\ GHJUHH VRXQG (DVLO\ SRUWDEOH although not ruggedised RU ZDWHUSURRI LW ZRUNV EULOOLDQWO\ HYHU\ZKHUH
Jabra has solved most of the problems that bedevilled earlier true ZLUHOHVV EXGV 6RXQG LV JUHDW FRQQHFWLYLW\ LV URFN VROLG WKH Ä&#x2020;W LV VHFXUH EXW FRPIRUWDEOH DQG WKH\èUH GLVFUHHW
,I \RX ZDQW DQ RQ ear alternative to the 0DUVKDOOV WKHVH èSKRQHV from AKG remain a great RSWLRQ The sound is SXQFK\ DQG WKH VW\OLQJ LV SUHWW\ FRRO ZLWKRXW WU\LQJbWRR KDUG
AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-M50XBT
£300, cambridgeaudio.com The best Bluetooth solution for audiophilesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; DXGLR Ä&#x2020;OHV WKLV LV DV \RX FDQ VHH D VWHUHR SDLU As such itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more like a FODVVLF KL Ä&#x2020; V\VWHP EXW with the convenience RIbZLUHOHVVQHVV
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/besttruewireless JABRA ELITE 65T
OPTOMA NUFORCE BE LIVE5
£169, ultimateears.com The best waterproof VSHDNHU Ã¥ LW HYHQ Ä&#x2021;RDWV â&#x20AC;&#x201C; offers 20 hours of EDWWHU\ OLIH DQG D KHIW\ VRXQG SHUIHFW IRU RXWGRRU SDUWLHV ,W ZRUNV great for kitchen audio GXWLHV WRR
TRUE WIRELESS HEADPHONES
RHA TRUECONNECT £150, rha-audio.com (YHQ PRUH FRPI\ WKRXJK SHUKDSV VOLJKWO\ OHVV VHFXUH WKDQ WKH -DEUDV WKHVH DOVR RIIHU EHVW LQ FODVV DXGLR $VLGH IURP D VOLJKWO\ RGG FDUU\ FDVH WKHVH DUH WH[WERRN WUXH ZLUHOHVV EXGV
APPLE AIRPODS £130, apple.com Appleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wireless â&#x20AC;&#x2122;phones PD\ QRW VRXQG DV JRRG as some of the newer ULYDOV EXW WKH\ VWLOO EHDW WKHP DOO IRU EDWWHU\ OLIH ease of use and often FRPIRUW 7KH\ ZRUN EHVW ZLWK L26 RI FRXUVH
SENNHEISER MOMENTUM TRUE WIRELESS £249, sennheiser.com 1DUURZO\ WKH EHVW sounding true wireless headphones on the PDUNHW DQG ZLWK D real premium feel and impeccable connection TXDOLW\ WKHVH DUH D JUHDW KLJKHU SULFHG RSWLRQ
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Best of the best
NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestnoisecancelling SONY WH-1000XM3 ÂŁ329, sony.co.uk
WIRED IN-EAR HEADPHONES
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestinear KEF M100
B&W PX
SONY WH-1000XM2 ÂŁ299, sony.co.uk With the XM3 model replacing these, you PLJKW EH DEOH WR Ä&#x2020;QG them cheap â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and if you can, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get impressive noise cancellation and brilliant sound in a comfortable body. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still ace.
BEATS STUDIO3 WIRELESS ÂŁ299, apple.com These Beats deliver exceptional noise cancellation that reacts very well to all kinds of environments, they get three hours of charge in 10 minutes and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the best sounding Beats so far.
94 T3 M AY 2 019
A refreshing alternative to overbassy in-ear phones, the M100s deliver FULVS FOHDU GHÄ&#x2020;QHG and thoroughly involving sound, although you might need to push the volume up a bit.
KLIPSCH R6I II
ÂŁ329, bowers-wilkins.co.uk With useful motionsensing features, the stylish PXes have variable noise cancelling and accurate B&W sound. We think the Sonys are slightly better, but you may well disagree.
ÂŁ699, bowers-wilkins.com The P9s donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just sound wonderful with hi-res audio. They do a stellar job with poor quality music, such as compressed MP3s. You can have any colour you like as long as itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brown.
AUDIO TECHNICA ATH-A1000Z
ÂŁ99, klipsch.com A more comfortable alternative to in-ear monitors, the R6i IIs deliver lots of bass and a lively, HQJDJLQJbVRXQG Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s maybe a little bass-heavy for older music, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great for modern stuff.
FLARE AUDIO FLARES JET 3 e Ä&#x2021;DUHDXGLR FRP
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestoverear
BOWERS & WILKINS P9 SIGNATURE
ÂŁ99, uk.kef.com With 30-hour battery life, very quick charging, Google Assistant, amazing bass response and an incredibly clever noise cancellation processor, these are superb headphones.
WIRED OVER-EAR HEADPHONES
ÂŁ379, audiotechnica.com Forget about MP3s or EDM: these headphones donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Ä&#x2021;DWWHU RU VDFULÄ&#x2020;FH sound quality for bass. But if you give them a good amp and a good sound source they do incredible things.
SENNHEISER MOMENTUM 2.0 AROUND EAR ÂŁ169, sennheiser.com
Maintaining the quality of the Flares Pro (see Bluetooth headphones), removing the DAC element and thereby slashing the price, these audiophile inear headphones are a tremendous option.
SOUNDMAGIC E11C ÂŁ49, soundmagicheadphones.com Can we really be recommending a pair of headphones for under ÂŁ50? Yes we can! The grown-up sound quality and exemplary comfort of the 11c make them the sonic bargain of the year.
The best sub-ÂŁ200 over-ear headphones arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t too picky about sonic sources. They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite have the frequency range of our more expensive picks but theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re well built and good for the price.
BOWERS & WILKINS P5 SERIES 2 ÂŁ99, bowers-wilkins.com The little sisters of the mighty P9s deliver a beautifully warm and spacious sound for a lot less money, and their closed backs mean theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re less likely to annoy other people when you commute.
Best of the best
2-IN-1 LAPTOPS
LAPTOPS
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestlaptop
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/best2in1
MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK 2 £1,149, microsoft.com Available in 13- or 15LQFK VL]HV ZLWK D screen that gives you more height than other laptops, and plenty of power, this is a light and fast machine thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also UHDOO\ Ä&#x2021;H[LEOH 3HUIHFW
HUAWEI MATEBOOK X PRO
MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK 2 £1,149, microsoft.com So good that it tops both our best laptop and best 2-in-1 laptop buying guides, the SB2 delivers an incredibly premium, fantastically portable, and jaw-droppingly versatile system.
HP ENVY X2
£1,299, consumer.huawei.com This marries style and function, delivering incredibly capable internal hardware in a form factor that also matches Appleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MacBook range in terms of looks and feel.
DELL XPS 13
£699, hp.com The big sell here is the monstrous battery life, with up to 22 hours on one charge. This is because it makes use of ARM architecture, with a Snapdragon 835 CPU powering everything.
£999, lenovo.com The Dell XPS 13 is thinner and more powerful than ever. Up to 1TB of SSD storage, 16GB of RAM, and powerful Intel Core i7 processors help make it a high quality all-rounder.
Weighing in at a svelte 1kg, this 12.5-inch laptop is just as usable as a tablet as it is a laptop. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thin, but packs in a clear 2560x1440-pixel display. ,W HYHQ Ä&#x2020;WV LQ IXOO VL]H USB 3.0 ports.
ASUS ZENBOOK FLIP S UX370
SAMSUNG NOTEBOOK 9 PRO
£899, asus.com/uk
£849, samsung.com The specs here are top, the price is competitive, and it even comes bundled with a quality S-Pen stylus. It feels really well-made, too, especially the hinges on the 360-degree screen.
A combination of quality internal hardware featuring an Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD, a super thin and light build, and a super sharp 13.3-inch Full HD touchscreen.
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/besttablet APPLE iPAD PRO 12.9 £969, apple.com/uk The Apple iPad Pro 12.9 is unbelievably powerful and slick, with an excellent screen, thin and compact design, great battery life and support for the new Apple Pencil. Pricey, but worth it.
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S4
LENOVO YOGA 900S
£1,194, dell.com
TABLETS
£495, samsung.com 7KH Ä&#x2020;QHVW $QGURLG tablet, this delivers DbV\VWHP ZLWK D VKDUS OLED screen, S Pen stylus, excellent audio credentials, powerful internals, and a neat laptop-aping DeX mode.
APPLE iPAD 9.7-INCH £319, apple.com/uk The doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the TrueTone screen and stereo speakers of the iPad Pro, but its fast processor, slick support for Apple Pencil and solid rear 8MP camera make it a quality all-rounder.
MICROSOFT SURFACE GO £379, microsoft.com While Windows 10 in tablet mode remains a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;mixedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience, its versatility is impressive and the ergonomics of Microsoftâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new tablet computer are second WRbQRQH
GET SOUNDMAGIC E11C HEADPHONES WORTH £49.99 FOR FREE WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE! SO GOOD, THEYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE IN THE LIST JUST TO THE LEFTâ&#x20AC;¦ myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/ttt/e11c
Best of the best
GAMING LAPTOPS
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestgaming ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS S GX701 £3,199, asus.com/uk
GAMING HEADSETS
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestheadset STEELSERIES ARCTIS PRO WIRELESS £299, steelseries.com
The combination of six-core processor and top-of-the-line Nvidia 2080 8GB graphics make this powerful beyond belief, and yet it isn’t that bulky. It costs, but no-compromise gaming is here.
ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS GX501 £1,899, asus.com/uk
This gaming laptop manages to pack an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 GPU, Intel Core i7 CPU and 16GB of RAM into a very portable package. Its Full HD, wide-view 144Hz panel is top rate, too.
ASUS ROG STRIX GL502 £1,739, asus.com/uk
LUCIDSOUND LS35X
96 T3 M AY 2 019
The money-noobject best 4K monitor in the world delivers a simply stunning package, with not just full sRGB coverage, but 99% of the Adobe RGB spectrum and 98% DCI-P3.
DELL ULTRASHARP UP3216Q £1,175, dell.com
For quality wireless audio on Xbox One, gamers should look here: it delivers excellent audio reproduction and also connects directly to the console without any dongles or cables.
HYPERX CLOUD MIX WIRED GAMING HEADSET + BLUETOOTH £179, hyperxgaming.com Premium design and build quality meet top-rate audio here. These work with any gaming system, and are also great wireless headphones – they have built-in Bluetooth, and the mic can be removed.
TURTLE BEACH ELITE PRO 2 + SUPERAMP £219, turtlebeach.com
A cracking allrounder that delivers big gaming bang at a very attractive midtier price point. You get quality internals, including up to a GeForce GTX 1070, Intel Core i7 and 16GB of RAM.
EIZO COLOREDGE CG318-4K
The SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless is simply awesome. The dual-wireless audio system that allows for both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth simultaneously is especially fantastic.
2018’s equivalent to the laptop above has quad-core power and Nvidia 1080 graphics for massive performance. It’ll still play anything totally smoothly, and is again very portable – it weighs just 2.2kg.
£1,799, msi.com
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/best4kmonitor
£4,875, eizoglobal.com
£148, lucidsound.com
MSI GS65 STEALTH THIN 8RF
4K MONITORS
Dell’s high-end 31.5-inch 4K display packs in a lot of professional-grade features for superb colour accuracy. It hits 99% Adobe RGB coverage and 87% DCI-P3, delivering great picture quality.
ASUS ROG SWIFT PG27AQ £744, asus.com/uk Here you get a 27inch 4K IPS panel with a 60Hz refresh rate, 10-bit colour accuracy and G-Sync as well – great for keeping your GPU and monitor in total synchronicity while you play.
PHILIPS BRILLIANCE BDM4065UC £1,999, philips.co.uk
Turtle Beach’s talent is evident in its Elite Pro 2 headset with SuperAmp. Excellent audio reproduction is paired with a modern, supremely comfortable design and plenty of advanced features.
This gigantic 40-inch 4K PC monitor is nearing the end of its life, so is available at a low price point. Because the screen is based off VA-IPS panel technology, it presents extremely good contrast.
Best of the best
ACTION CAMERAS
DRONES
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestdrone DJI MAVIC AIR £769, store.dji.com The Mavic Air is a superportable 4K camera drone. Video quality from the camera mounted on a three-axis gimbal is excellent, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so simple to control that beginners grasp it fast.
DJI MAVIC 2 PRO
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestactioncam
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestcheapaction
GOPRO HERO7 BLACK
GOPRO HERO7 WHITE
£379, gopro.com
£179, gopro.com The waterproof Hero7 Black makes capturing pro-looking shots easier, thanks to HyperSmooth electronic stabilisation. 4K image quality is excellent, and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s slick 60fps recording.
SONY RX0
£1,349, store.dji.com While this doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t offer the same size to power ratio as the Air, its 4K video and stills capture are sensational, thanks to an on-board Hasselblad camera and fantastic stabilisation.
DJI MAVIC 2 ZOOM
£800, sony.co.uk Packing a one-inch sensor, with a Zeiss lens bolstering the image quality further, in and out of the water. Other ace features include super-slow video and 15MP stills capture.
£249, gopro.com While it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t match the Hero7 for specs, the Hero5 is a solid GoPro for those on a budget. It has a two-inch touchscreen display, and records video up to 4K at 30fps, with 12MP stills.
PARROT ANAFI
TOMTOM BANDIT
£629, parrot.com
£257, amazon.co.uk A rugged action camera that thrives in extreme situations. The low SURÄ&#x2020;OH LV LGHDO IRU KHOPHW mouting (itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compatible with GoPro mounts), with video automatically edited for you.
At just 320g, one of the lightest cameraequipped drones you can buy. Flight time is great, and the drone is nearsilent in the air, which is appreciated. The camera and zoom are amazing.
The wallet-friendly Hero7 White borrows premium features from the Hero7 Black. Ideal for part-time adrenaline junkies needing a simple HD camera that shoots YouTube-ready footage.
YI 4K
GOPRO HERO5 BLACK
£1,099, store.dji.com The alter ego of the Mavic 2 Pro, the cheaper Zoom comes with a different camera, with a 2x optical zoom lens. Along with the folding design and long battery OLIH LWèV UHDOO\ Ä&#x2021;H[LEOH
CHEAP ACTION CAMERAS
£119, yitechnology.com Captures high-quality footage even in low light, thanks to an LCE sevenlayer all-glass lens and Sony Exmor-R IMX377 sensor. It shoots 4K at 30fps; buy a separate FDVH IRU ZDWHUSURRÄ&#x2020;QJ
OLFI ONE.FIVE WHITE e ROÄ&#x2020;FDPHUD FRP This camera might lack 4K, but 1080p/60fps and 720p/120fps video, plus 16MP stills, are plenty for weekend warriors. The One.Five White comes with a PbZDWHUSURRI FDVH
AKASO E7000 PRO £65, amazon.co.uk At its top resolution, the E7000 Pro delivers crisp footage at 4K25. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a 16MP sensor, built-in EIS, adjustable viewing angle, and a neat Diving Mode. A waterproof case protects it to 40m deep.
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Best of the best
DSLR CAMERAS
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestdslr NIKON D850
MIRRORLESS CAMERAS
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestmirrorless NIKON Z 7
ÂŁ3,299, nikon.co.uk
CANON EOS 7D MARK II ÂŁ1,430, canon.co.uk
With a full-frame 45.7 megapixel sensor, a superb 493-point AF system, a 3.2-inch touch-sensitive screen and a VWXQQLQJ YLHZÄ&#x2020;QGHU the Z 7 is simply a fabulous camera.
SONY A9
Trading up from an entry-level camera? The 7D Mark II is the camera of your dreams. A superb all-rounder with a 20.2-megapixel sensor and a host of features to suit DbYDULHW\ RI QHHGV
This solidly built camera is the SHUIHFWbFKRLFH IRU those who like to shoot a little bit of everything, thanks to a brilliant autofocus system and glorious image quality from its 20MP sensor.
The A9 is expensive but earns every penny by packing an incredible 24.3MP full-frame sensor capable of 20fps shooting with tracking autofocus the whole way. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a technical marvel.
CANON EOS 800D ÂŁ559, canon.co.uk
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This might be the ideal travel companion, with a versatile zoom lens up to 15x, and a fantastic one-inch sensor that captures bright, sharp images. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also stylish and pocket-friendly.
FUJIFILM X100F Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plenty of things to like about the X-T3, including great autofocusing, fast frame rates, an impressive array of 4K video features and, this being )XMLÄ&#x2020;OP EHDXWLIXO retro looks.
CANON EOS RP
e IXMLÄ&#x2020;OP HX XN 7KH )XMLÄ&#x2020;OP ; ) is as beautiful as it is capable. If the retro ORRN Ä&#x2021;RDWV \RXU ERDW then the X100F is a thing to behold. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compact, but packs a large APS-C sensor and a lovely 35mm f/2.0 lens.
CANON G7X MARK II
ÂŁ1,399, canon.co.uk The 800D inherits specs from higher up Canons, including a snappy 45-point AF system. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also an excellent articulating screen with fast Live View. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perfect for '6/5bEHJLQQHUV
The ultimate in pocket-sized image quality. A large oneinch sensor is joined by an ace 24-200mm lens, retractable YLHZÄ&#x2020;QGHU WLOWLQJ touchscreen and absolutely glorious picture quality.
PANASONIC TZ200
FUJIFILM X-T3
ÂŁ1,699, nikon.co.uk
9 8 T3 M AY 2 019
ÂŁ1,150, sony.co.uk
ÂŁ3,699, sony.co.uk
NIKON D500
fFind the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestcompact SONY RX100 VI
ÂŁ3,399, nikon.co.uk With a highresolution 45.4 megapixel sensor, 4K video capture, a 153-point AF system, and a sturdy body, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never be disappointed with what the D850 can create for you.
COMPACT CAMERAS
ÂŁ499, canon.co.uk The EOS RP brings full-frame mirrorless shooting to the masses â&#x20AC;&#x201C; its 35mmsize 26MP sensor captures high-end DSLR-class images, yet itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s much smaller and lighter, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aggressively priced.
Canonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compact cameras are a great alternative to your DSLR when travelling light. This is the sweet spot in the range, with a great balance between small size and a range of features.
Best of the best
SAT-NAVS
DASH CAMS
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestsatnav TOMTOM GO 6200
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestdashcam
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestebike
GARMIN DASH CAM 55
BROMPTON ELECTRIC
£133, garmin.com
£299, tomtom.com
The Garmin is essentially a GoPro for the car ZLWK D FRPSDFW FDVH great video quality in all conditions and a useful FRPSDQLRQ DSS 7KH RQO\ UHDO GRZQVLGH LV WKH ODFN RI D WRXFKVFUHHQ
3DFNHG ZLWK IHDWXUHV EXW QHYHU Ä&#x2020;GGO\ DQG ZLWK *RRJOH DQG 6LUL support, this is a really good mobile companion WRR 7KH SULFH LQFOXGHV lifetime updates via :L )L IRU PRVW IHDWXUHV
GARMIN DRIVESMART 61 LMT-S £169, garmin.com This sleek sat-nav has substance to match its VW\OH ZLWK D ELJ GLVSOD\ OLIHWLPH WUDIÄ&#x2020;F DQG maps (for Europe) and useful points of interest information courtesy RIb7ULS$GYLVRU
TOMTOM GO VIA 53
NEXTBASE 612GW £179, nextbase.com If image quality is vital, this is the dash cam for \RX ,WèV ELJ DQG FKXQN\ and the app appears D OLWWOH Ä&#x2021;DN\ EXW LWèV D simple and high-quality . FDPHUD WKDWèVbHDV\ WRbLQVWDOO DQG XVH
THINKWARE F800 PRO
£179, tomtom.com This more affordable TomTom only gives you three months of camera locations, but you can get lifetime map updates via Wi-Fi and LWèVbFRPSDWLEOH ZLWK 6LUL DQG *RRJOH 1RZ
£249, thinkware.com With an almost invisible design, time-lapse recording and a great night mode, this is a good stealthy option if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ZRUULHG PRUH DERXW vandalism or theft than \RXU IHOORZ GULYHUV
MIO MIVUE DRIVE 65 LM
MIO MIVUE J60
£199, mio.com
£117, mio.com Why buy a sat-nav and a VHSDUDWH GDVK FDP ZKHQ you can get them both in one device? With lifetime XSGDWHV %OXHWRRWK DQG good safety features, the 0L9LHZ LV D SUHWW\ JRRG PLG UDQJH EX\
ELECTRIC BIKES
This neat little camera Ä&#x2020;WV KLGGHQ EHKLQG \RXU UHDU YLHZ PLUURU EXW Ä&#x2020;WV LQ *36 :L )L QLJKW mode, lane departure ZDUQLQJ FROOLVLRQ ZDUQLQJ DQG PRUH Ã¥ SOXVbFOHDU S YLGHR
£2,595, brompton.com Ebikes arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just about WHFK 7KH\ VKRXOG EH IXQ WRR 7KH %URPSWRQ is a hoot, and if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a commuter thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no better: it munches miles and then folds to an LQFUHGLEO\ WLQ\ VL]H
GTECH EBIKE CITY £995, gtech.co.uk This is a superb urban ebike thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ideal for beginners or anyone RQ D EXGJHW ,WèV VLPSOH affordable and doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t compromise on anything YLWDO 1RW EDG IRU D KHGJH WULPPHU EUDQG
VANMOOF ELECTRIFIED S2 £2,398, vanmoof.com ,I \RX ZDQW WKH (OHFWULÄ&#x2020;HG 6 PRYH quickly: this price is for HDUO\ RUGHUV ,WèV SDFNHG ZLWK DQWL WKHIW PHDVXUHV handles brilliantly and ORRNV DFH 7XUER ERRVW LV JUHDW IRU WUDIÄ&#x2020;F OLJKWV
VOLT PULSE From £1,599, voltbikes.com With disc brakes, eightspeed gearing, front VXVSHQVLRQ D : PRWRU SRZHUIXO HQRXJK to handle hills, plus a throttle to take you up WR PSK WKLV LV D ORW RI HELNH IRU \RXU PRQH\
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Best of the best
SMART SPEAKERS
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestsmart ECHO PLUS
SMART BULBS
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestbulb PHILIPS HUE
£139, amazon.co.uk Thanks to its integrated Zigbeecompliant smart home hub, the Plus is a great smart home starter. Never pay the RRP, though: Amazon discounts Echos every time LWbKDV D VDOH
SONOS ONE
From £59, philips.co.uk Hue dominates the smart lighting sector for good reason: itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a superb system with the widest range of bulbs and a simple, useful app. Rivals may be cheaper but they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t compete with Hueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s variety.
ECHO SPOT
APPLE HOMEPOD £319, apple.com/uk Expensive? Possibly. Apple-centric? Indubitably. But if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mind the focus on Apple Music, the HomePod sounds spectacular. You can also pair it to create a stunning stereo system.
10 0 T3 M AY 2 019
If you fancy a Hue system but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to spend so much, LIFX has a strong product range and integrates with your favourite personal digital assistant. Philips still wins, but only just.
Nest made smart thermostats sexy and this third-gen model looks great. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simple to use with good Google Home and Amazon Echo integration, but a tad pricey, especially with installation.
HIVE HEATING CONTROL
From £13, ikea.com If you want a smart speaker with a screen, the Spot is the one to go for. The speaker bit isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t spectacular but thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an audio out and Bluetooth. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an excellent smart home device.
Tado is very sociable: it works with 95% of the systems out WKHUH ,WèV Ä&#x2021;H[LEOH clever and supports a wide range of accessories too. Price cuts have made it even PRUHbHQWLFLQJ
£179, nest.com
IKEA TRÃ&#x2026;DFRI
£119, amazon.co.uk
£99, tado.com
NEST LEARNING THERMOSTAT
From £19, lifx.com The Sonos One is a superb standalone speaker with integrated Alexa, EXWbWKH UHDO VHOOLQJ SRLQW LV LWV Ä&#x2021;H[LELOLW\ use it as part of a stereo pair or in a multi-room Sonos audio system.
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestthermostat
TADO SMART THERMOSTAT
LIFX
£199, sonos.com
SMART THERMOSTATS
£179, hivehome.com Ikeaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Zigbeecompatible system doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the range of Hue, but if you prize control over colour options itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stellar value for money and has some great controllers DQGbGLPPHUV
HIVE ACTIVE LIGHT From £19, hivehome.com Hiveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bulbs are very capable and attractively priced, and work great with Hive gear and Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SmartThings. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great range of Ä&#x2020;WWLQJV WKRXJK OHVV than Hue or LIFX.
Imagine: British Gas in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;excitingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; shocker. Hive is great: itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s affordable, works well, and is part of a larger smart home system that includes bulbs and security options. This is an ideal way to jump in.
ECOBEE 4 About £167, ecobee.com With wide compatibility, support for multiple temperature sensors and built-in Alexa the Ecobee is great for smart home heating, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s currently KDUG WR Ä&#x2020;QG ZLWKRXW high import prices.
Best of the best
SECURITY CAMERAS
SMART PLUGS
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestplug
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestsecurity
BELKIN WEMO INSIGHT SWITCH
NETGEAR ARLO PRO 2
£49, belkin.com Belkinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premium smart SOXJ URFNV ,W ZRUNV ZLWK services from Amazon, Apple and Google, and can monitor your energy usage as well as enable \RX WR FRQWURObDSSOLDQFHV via your phone.
HIVE ACTIVE PLUG
From £259, arlo.com/uk Available in multi-packs to extend coverage of your home, the Arlo Pro 2 wows with wireless operation, two-way audio, 1080p HD video, weather resistance and a built-in security siren.
NEST CAM IQ OUTDOOR
£39, hivehome.com Similar to Belkin, Hive can turn sockets on/ off via your phone, and FUHDWH VFKHGXOHV ,W also works with Alexa. You need a Hive Hub (£80) to use the Active 3OXJ bWKRXJK
D-LINK DSP-W115
£329, nest.com/uk
From £169, logitech.com No security cam is as fun DV WKLV )RU H[DPSOH LW preps â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;day briefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; videos showing a sped-up version of the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s DFWLRQ 7KHUHèV DOVR WZR way audio, fast zoom and an adjustable view.
EVE ENERGY
HIVE VIEW
£44, evehome.com
£189, hivehome.com We wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t recommend WKH +LYH 9LHZ DV D â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;properâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; security camera, but if you want a very attractive camera for monitoring pets, and one that can also alert you to burglars, this is ideal.
Although it only works with Apple gear, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s powerful and works with geofencing, triggers and scenes. Use an iPad, +RPH3RG RU $SSOH 79 DV intermediary for control from anywhere.
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestrobotvac NEATO BOTVAC D7 CONNECTED £799, neatorobotics.com 7KH FXUUHQW SLQQDFOH RI robot cleaning tech, with a range of smart cleaning and mapping features. Robust suction, turbo mode and an improved brush system help deliver a powerful clean.
NEATO BOTVAC CONNECTED
£499, neatorobotics.com 7KLV KDV H[FHOOHQW 7KLV LV SUHWW\ ROG QRZ image quality, facial which means you can recognition, a 4K image RIWHQ Ä&#x2020;QG LW PXFK sensor and person cheaper than the RRP, WUDFNLQJ ,W DOVR KDV ,3 but still with great pathZHDWKHUSURRÄ&#x2020;QJ DQG FDQ Ä&#x2020;QGLQJ DQG VXFWLRQ DQG operate in temperatures D ORZ SURÄ&#x2020;OH IRU JHWWLQJ IURP r& WR r& under furniture.
LOGI CIRCLE 2 WIRED
£29, eu.dlink.com/uk A simple and compact smart plug that offers a lot for the price. Operate it from your phone, set a schedule, and operate it through Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant RUb,)777
ROBOT VACUUMS
DYSON 360 EYE £799, dyson.co.uk Powerful cleaning, but sometimes struggles with squeezing under furniture with a low clearance. However, there are plenty of connected functions DQGbWKH DSS LV JUHDW
iROBOT ROOMBA 980 £899, irobot.co.uk ,WèOO Ä&#x2020;W XQGHU PRVW VRIDV with multi-surface EUXVKHV IRU KDUG Ä&#x2021;RRUV and carpets. Cleaning isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as good as with the others, but it does have a decent camera and navigation system.
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Best of the best
CORDLESS VACUUMS
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestcordlessvac VAX BLADE 2 MAX £249, vax.co.uk
WASHING MACHINES
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestwashing AEG 9000 SERIES L9FEC966R £899, aeg.co.uk
This does everything a Dyson does, for less. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s powerful enough to do a good job on carpet and KDUG Ä&#x2021;RRUV DOLNH although its shape DQG EXON PDNH LW less effortless as DbKDQGKHOG
DYSON V8 ABSOLUTE £349, dyson.co.uk ,W PLJKW QRW KDYH WKH VKHHU DZHVRPH SRZHU RI WKH 9 but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty close. 7KH 9 LV VWLOO DKHDG RI PRVW ULYDOV DQG LWèV VWLOO D VPDUW EX\ unless you need to YDFXXP HYHU\ URRP RI D PDQVLRQ
DYSON CYCLONE V10 ABSOLUTE £449, dyson.co.uk
10 2 T3 M AY 2 019
AEG COMFORTLIFT FSS62800P £689, aeg.co.uk
BOSCH SERIE 4 WAN28201GB £450, bosch-home.co.uk More affordable EXW E\ QR PHDQV D poor relation, this Bosch offers great engineering quality DQG HQHUJ\ HIÄ&#x2020;FLHQF\ 1XPHURXV VSOHQGLG FOHDQLQJ SURJUDPPHV are delivered in an unfussy way.
SAMSUNG ECOBUBBLE WW90J5456FC £599, samsung.com/uk
£439, bosch-home.co.uk The Bosch has two batteries, so you can clean for PXFK ORQJHU XS WR PLQXWHV LQ total. Cleaning SHUIRUPDQFH LV great, although the included duster tool is pretty awful.
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestdishwasher
AEG delivers superb Ä&#x2021;H[LEOH FOHDQLQJ effective water softening and a VWHDP FOHDQLQJ feature to reduce your ironing pile. ,WèV TXLHW HIÄ&#x2020;FLHQW DQG HQYLURQPHQWDOO\ friendly, too.
You get what you SD\ IRU WKH 9 is the state of the FRUGOHVV YDFXXP DUW with unprecedented power, better battery life and a bigger bin. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a little heavier than the '\VRQ 9 WKRXJK
BOSCH BCS122GB UNLIMITED
DISHWASHERS 7KH DZDUG ZLQQLQJ &RPIRUW/LIW GUDZHU pulls out and rises up IRU HDV\ HPSW\LQJ ZKLFK PHDQV this is that rare WKLQJ DQ H[FLWLQJ dishwasher. Cleaning SHUIRUPDQFH LV JRRG too, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quiet.
MIELE G6630SC £849, miele.co.uk This Miele is VXSHUEO\ HFRQRPLFDO DQG RIIHUV RSHQ drawer drying, an easily adjustable cutlery tray and a new, versatile EDVNHW V\VWHP :DVK SHUIRUPDQFH LV H[FHSWLRQDO
BEKO DEN59420DX £349, beko.co.uk
:LWK D NJ GUXP thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great for a PLG VL]H IDPLO\ D FODVV OHDGLQJ PLQ TXLFN ZDVK DQG DQ LPSUHVVLYH %XEEOH 6RDN IXQFWLRQ IRU really tough stains, this is a seriously good washer.
AEG 7000 SERIES L7FEE865R £629, aeg.co.uk Quiet, easy to use and incredibly effective, this PRUH DIIRUGDEOH $(* PRGHO LV DOVR UHDOO\ VLPSOH ZLWK a clearly readable touchscreen interface thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s DbMR\bWR XVH
7KLV EULQJV VPDUW wireless functions ZLWKRXW D SULFH KLNH 7KHUHèV $OH[D DQG DSS FRQWURO UHPRWHO\ as well as AutoDose, which detects how dirty your dishes are to add the right DPRXQW RI GHWHUJHQW
BOSCH SERIE 6 SMV68MD02G £649, bosch-home.co.uk This Bosch dishwasher is boring LQ DOO WKH EHVW ZD\V itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s solid and does the job quietly and HIÄ&#x2020;FLHQWO\ ,I \RX have an open plan KRPH \RXèOO ORYH WKH super quiet 40dB 6XSHU6LOHQFH PRGH
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COFFEE MACHINES
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestcoffee SAGE BY HESTON BLUMENTHAL THE ORACLE TOUCH £1,999, sageappliances.com The Oracle Touch looks like a barista-operated machine, it produces coffee like one, yet all WKH FOHYHU VWXII å GRVLQJ WDPSLQJ H[WUDFWLRQ PLON WH[WXULQJ LV GRQH IRU \RX 1RW FKHDS å EXW DPD]LQJ
SAGE BY HESTON BLUMENTHAL BARISTA TOUCH £999, sageappliances.com &KHDSHU IDVWHU DQG ZLWK better frothed milk than WKH 2UDFOH bWKLV PD\ EH the better buy for most unless being unable to make coffee and steam milk at the same time is DbGHDO EUHDNHU
GAGGIA VELASCA
FRIDGES
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestfridge MIELE K 28202 D WS £875, miele.co.uk
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestoven NEFF N 70 B57CR22N0B £789, neff.co.uk The unique Slide and Hide door is brilliant, the touchscreen is handy DQG WKH RYHQèV QR VORXFK it enables you to cook PXOWLSOH GLVKHV ZLWKRXW cross-contamination IURP VWURQJ Ä&#x2021;DYRXUV
,I \RX KDYH WKH FDVK DQG FP RI VSDFH ZLWK QR FXSERDUGV DERYH WKLV cooler should be top RI \RXU OLVW ,WV FOHYHU cooling keeps foodstuffs IUHVK ZLWKRXW KXPLGLW\ DQG LWèV FDYHUQRXV
BOSCH SERIE 2 £599, bosch-home.co.uk Looking for a mid-sized larder fridge that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t FRVW WKH (DUWK SURYLGHV plenty of space, cools quickly and is cheap and reliable to run? Consider WKLV HIÄ&#x2020;FLHQW DQG ZHOO made Bosch.
LIEBHERR TP 1760 PREMIUM
£466, gaggiadirect.com The espresso and lungo that the Velasca make are as good as anything you can buy in most coffee shops. It produces a reassuringly old-fashioned, intense Ä&#x2021;DYRXU IRU \RXU EUHZ
OVENS
£399, liebherr.com
BOSCH HBG634BS1B £599, bosch-home.co.uk The Bosch is equipped ZLWK OLWUHV RI LQWHULRU cooking estate and selfcleaning catalytic linings. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s particularly good IRU EDNHUV ZKR QHHG consistent temperatures for big batches.
AEG DCE731110M £849, aeg.co.uk
This AAA energy rated under-counter model is cheap to run, if pricey to buy. But running costs arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the main reason youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll like it: despite its GLPLQXWLYH H[WHULRU LWèV like a Tardis inside.
JURA S8
SAMSUNG RR39M73407F/EU
£1,395, uk.jura.com The coffee is as good as \RXèG H[SHFW EXW WKH VWDU KHUH LV WKH WH[WXULQJ XQLW ,W SURGXFHV ZRQGHUIXOO\ silky milk, making it the EHVW PDFKLQH IRU ORYHUV of milky drinks such DVbFDSSXFFLQRV
£829, samsung.com 7KLV KDV D PDVVLYH litre capacity. It includes WZR ODUJH YHJHWDEOH FRQWDLQHUV ZLWK KXPLGLW\ FRQWURO D ZLQH UDFN D ZDWHU GLVSHQVHU DQG D shelf that splits to make room for taller items.
The AEG is smart, self-cleaning and big: WKH OLWUH ORZHU RYHQ has room for large stuff OLNH WXUNH\V ZKLOH WKH WRSb OLWUH FDYLW\ LVbELJ HQRXJK WR JULOO VL[ VOLFHV of Warburtons.
MIELE H 6860 BPX £3,949, miele.co.uk For just shy of four grand, you might H[SHFW JROG OLQLQJV DQG diamond-encrusted control dials. Nope. But LWèV SDFNHG ZLWK WHFK WKDW makes cooking perfect dishes totally foolproof.
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ELECTRIC SHAVERS
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestshaver PHILIPS SERIES 9000 PRESTIGE £300, philips.co.uk
ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSHES
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/besttoothbrush
PHILIPS SONICARE 6100 PROTECTIVECLEAN £89, philips.co.uk
The best shaver around has a silly RRP (£430!) but is available for around £300. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good for sensitive skin, mows long stubble and is really close to the shave you get from traditional razors.
PHILIPS SERIES 9000 S9211/26 £149, philips.co.uk
This is the pick of the excellent Sonicare range: not too pricey but not lacking any important features either. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very capable and still ZRUNV Ä&#x2020;QH ZLWKRXW Philipsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; expensive â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;smartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; brush heads.
ORAL-B GENIUS 9000 £85, oralb.co.uk
Much cheaper than the Prestige, but with similar superb shaving performance. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the anti-friction coating, and is less adept at longer stubble, but LVbVWLOO EULOOLDQW
BRAUN SERIES 9 9296CC £327, braun.com
This is an extremely good electric toothbrush with a rather pointless smartphone app, but it does a great job of cleaning and comes ZLWK IRXU Ã¥bIRXU Ã¥ brush heads, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit of a bargain.
PHILIPS SONICARE DIAMONDCLEAN SMART SONIC £360, philips.co.uk
This is Braunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t shave daily. The Braun laughs in the face of threeday growth, and its retractable beard trimmer helps shape what you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t VKDYHbRII
PANASONIC ES LV95 £160, panasonic.com/uk Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pay the £330 RRP: this superb wet and dry winner is widely discounted and often available for half the price. At that price itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bargain alternative to much dearer premium shavers.
10 4 T3 M AY 2 019
Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hilariously expensive and monstrously overspecced but this range topper looks good and, more importantly, it makes your teeth look good. Shop around â&#x20AC;&#x201C; donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pay the RRP.
PHILIPS SONICARE DIAMONDCLEAN SONIC £145, philips.co.uk A smarter buy than the Smart Sonic, this is a great toothbrush with an attractive but cumbersome and easily smashed glass charger. It also comes with a handy travel case with 86%bSRZHU
BEARD TRIMMERS
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/besttrimmer PHILIPS SERIES 9000 BT9297/13 e bSKLOLSV FR XN
The best trimmer for general beard maintenance, this has a largely VXSHUÄ&#x2021;XRXV ODVHU (for ultra-straight edging, supposedly) but also boasts WKHbYHU\ EHVW EODGHV LQ WKH EXVLQHVV b
PANASONIC ER-GD60 e bSDQDVRQLF FR XN
For slightly longer beards, this is the one to go for. Its unusual, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;side-onâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cutting action, where you pull the shaver through your hirsute tresses more like a comb, soon becomes second nature.
PHILIPS ONEBLADE PRO e bSKLOLSV FR XN
The best trimmer for those with sensitive skin, this uses innovative OneBlade technology. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good for both your face and your downstairs, although you may wish to change heads in between.
BRAUN BT3040 e bEUDXQ FRP
This is a bargain all-rounder, offering 39 precision length options with its combs, plus you get a Gillette razor included for edging. The battery life isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t great, but otherwise this is a top deal.
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FITNESS TRACKER
RUNNING WATCH
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestďŹ tness FITBIT CHARGE 3 e Ä&#x2020;WELW FRP
Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no GPS and the capacitive â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;buttonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is a bit pants but this is otherwise a textbook tracker. Sleep, steps, swims, and serious cardio workouts are all handled with aplomb.
GARMIN VIVOSPORT e JDUPLQ FRP
TOMTOM SPARK 3 GPS+ HEARTRATE e WRPWRP FRP
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestrunningwatch
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestrunningphones
GARMIN FORERUNNER 645 MUSIC
JABRA ELITE ACTIVE 65T
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This does everything: GPS for running and cycling, heart rate tracking, VO2 Max, intensity monitoring and even acting as an MP3 player. Expect four days of use between charges.
GARMIN FORERUNNER 630
Garminâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rival to the Charge 2 boasts GPS for a similar price, but it also has a dodgy interface and some pointless extra features. The core functionality is good, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s waterproof.
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The Forerunner 235 is the best value running DQG JHQHUDO Ä&#x2020;WQHVV ZDWFK around, offering more than enough data for most runners without the expense of slightly more powerful models.
GARMIN FORERUNNER 935
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Add Garminâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extra sensors to this and you get incredible detail for how you run, swim, bike and more, as well as your VO2 Max, lactate thresholdâ&#x20AC;Ś itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for the very, very serious.
These are the bestÄ&#x2020;WWLQJ WUXH ZLUHOHVV EXGV weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve tested. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re particularly good for vigorous workouts and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t suffer too badly from wind noise when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re out for a run.
OPTOMA NUFORCE BE SPORT 4
7KH RIÄ&#x2020;FLDO SULFH LV similar but thanks to discounting this is often much cheaper than the 645. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no heartrate or music but you do get GPS, reliable tracking and ace running metrics.
MOOV NOW Cheap, waterproof to 30m and good for six months between charges, the Moov is a budget belter that offers coaching as you exercise. Some are better than others, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good.
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GARMIN FORERUNNER 235
The best tracker for strenuous exercise gives you VO2 Max readings and your Fitness Age, and it does the basics very well. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hideous, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like on the inside that matters.
RUNNING HEADPHONES
Running headphones RIWHQ VDFULÄ&#x2020;FH VRXQG quality. Not here. These VRXQG VWXQQLQJ Ä&#x2020;W OLNH a glove and are great value. The effective sound isolation may be DbELW PXFK IRU VRPH
SOUNDCORE SPIRIT SPORTS BY ANKER e DQNHU FRP
Our favourite budget UXQQLQJ KHDGSKRQHV Ä&#x2020;W brilliantly and are very waterproof and sweatproof. Sound quality is acceptable rather than astonishing, but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll forgive that.
RHA TRUECONNECT e UKD DXGLR FRP :LWK VZHDW SURRÄ&#x2020;QJ DQG comfortable (and secure) Ä&#x2020;WWLQJ WKDQNV WR WKH huge range of ear tips, these bring high-quality sound to your wireless ZRUNRXW 7KH\ ODVW Ä&#x2020;YH hours per charge, too.
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E L E KT R A MIC RO C A SA S EM I AU TOM AT IC SXC Here we have the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most expensive alarm clock. Okay, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actually a coffee machine, but if one thingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to get you out of bed in the morning, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the prospect of making a cuppa with something this PDJQLÄ&#x2020;FHQW 7KH ODWHVW LQ D ORQJ OLQH RI ZRQGHUIXOO\ HFFHQWULF FRIIHH PDFKLQHV EXLOW E\ ,WDOLDQ Ä&#x2020;UP (OHNWUD since the 1940s, the Micro Casa Semiautomatic SXC is a visually arresting creation of silver-tone brass and ZRRG (TXDOO\ VWLPXODWLQJ LV WKH FRIIHH LW VHUYHV XS WKDQNV WR D EXLOW LQ VWHDPLQJ V\VWHP Ä&#x2020;OWHUV DQG FXS heater all contributing to a barista-level taste experience. Catering for the masses? No problem here, as a two-litre boiler capacity means thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PRUHbWKDQ HQRXJK WR JR DURXQG £1,950, mrporter.com
NEXT ISSUE IS ON SALE FRIDAY 1O MAY Upgrade every part of your gadget life with the Best Tech for Everything! 10 6 T3 M AY 2 019