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HOME

UPGRADES

From featherlight ultrabooks to 120Hz TVs – today’s top tech for work and play

THE FLAWLESS 'EVO' OLED Why LG’s latest is the best 4K OLED you can buy

BEST BBQs

FOR SUMMER

REVIEWED

SONOS’ CHEAPEST EVER SPEAKER! The new Roam is perfect for outdoors

WIRELESS EARBUDS

Who needs AirPods? Get sublime sound for under £130

TESTED

ONEPLUS 9 PRO

Hasselblad cam, amazing screen

SERIOUSLY STYLISH WATCHES

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

SHINE A LIGHT Worried your party has plenty of audio but not enough visuals? The SRS-XP700 has programmable ambient lighting, allowing you to add some rhythmic illumination to your get-together

S ON Y S R S-X P700 It’s been so long since most of us have been to a party that it’s almost impossible to imagine now. 'LG ZH UHDOO\ XVHG WR JDWKHU LQGRRUV HDWLQJ ZHOO ĆQJHUHG QLEEOHV DQG GULQNLQJ ERR]H WKDW KDG VDW XQFRYHUHG ZLWKLQ EUHDWKLQJ GLVWDQFH RI RXU ZKHH]LHVW DFTXDLQWDQFHV" %XW EHIRUH WRR ORQJ ZHèOO EH able to party heartily once more and, if you really want to raise the roof, the Sony SRS-XP700 may MXVW EH WKH VSHDNHU IRU \RX 1RW RQO\ GR LWV QRQ FLUFXODU GLDSKUDJPV PD[LPLVH GULYHU VXUIDFH DUHD (and therefore sound), its front and rear tweeters spread your tunes in every direction. It’s easy to FRQQHFW WR RIIHULQJ %OXHWRRWK 6WHUHR 0LQL -DFN DQG 86% RU LI \RX IDQF\ PRUH RI D OLYH YLEH \RX FDQ HYHQ SOXJ LQ D JXLWDU RU PLF $QG WKDQNV WR LWV KRXU EDWWHU\ OLIH DQG ,3; VSODVK UHVLVWDQFH LWèV DV JRRG RXWVLGH DV LQ å DOWKRXJK JLYHQ LW ZHLJKV NJ WKLQN çJDUGHQè UDWKHU WKDQ WKH 3HDN 'LVWULFW £449, sony.co.uk

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Meet the team

MEET OUR ADVERTISING TEAM Get in touch to see what T3 can do for your brand! ADVERTISING DIRECTOR, TECHNOLOGY KATE COLGAN kate.colgan@futurenet.com

JOSH RUSSELL Editor

MICHELLE McLAREN Art Editor

RUSSELL LEWIN Production Editor

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR JOSHUA McGONIGLE joshua.mcgonigle@futurenet.com ACCOUNT MANAGER ISABEL LINCOLN-MOORE isabel.lincoln-moore@futurenet.com

THE GLOBAL MAGAZINE JO GULLIVER Group Art Director

PAUL DOUGLAS Content Director

MATT BOLTON Home Tech Editor

T3 is currently licensed worldwide, from Australia to Mexico

FRANCE

ROBERT JONES Ecommerce Editor

DUNCAN BELL Lifestyle Editor

SPENCER HART Product & Style Editor

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MATT KOLLAT Staff Writer

MATT EVANS Staff Writer

RUTH HAMILTON Outdoor & Wellness Editor

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4 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

VISIT T3.COM We’ve overhauled T3.com – the best site for gadget news and reviews now has a great new look and is fully responsive, enabling you to enjoy it on any device.

Welcome

Editor’s letter ,WèV UHPDUNDEOH KRZ ćH[LEOH KXPDQ EHLQJV DUH , GRQèW PHDQ SK\VLFDOO\ å DQ\RQH ZKRèV ZLWQHVVHG PH DW \RJD NQRZV ,èP DERXW DV EHQGDEOH DV D FRQFUHWH SDSHUFOLS %XW DV ORFNGRZQV KDYH HDVHG LQ WKH ODVW VL[ ZHHNV LWèV PDGH LW FOHDU KRZ DFFOLPDWLVHG ZHèG EHFRPH WR OLYLQJ RXW RI WKH VDPH IHZ URRPV $ VRFLDOO\ GLVWDQFHG GULQN LQ D EHHU JDUGHQ KDV IHOW OLNH VKHHU Great-Gatsby HVTXH H[FHVV And the same is true of the gadget industry as it has sprung back into life. While last year technovores had to graze on the sparse resources available, now we’re immersed in a fecund ecosystem with almost too many delights to keep track of. Not only have we had Apple upending a cornucopia of M1-powered devices, we’ve also had jam-packed launches from OnePlus and Samsung to dig our teeth into. To help you make the most of both this abundance and your increasing freedom, we’ve crammed this issue with awesome upgrades. Own your work-life balance with the greatest tech for work and play, from amazing 4K monitors to staggering gaming gadgets. And make the most of your time outdoors, with excellent earbuds that don’t cost the earth and sizzling BBQs for bubble-based banquets. Make sure you enjoy your time outdoors and, as always, stay safe out there!

Josh Russell, Editor josh.russell@futurenet.com Tweet me @joshlrussell

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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T3, ISSN 1364-2642, is published monthly with an extra issue in September by Future Publishing, Quay House, The Ambury, Bath, BA1 1UA. UK The US annual subscription price is $168.87. Airfreight and mailing in the USA by agent named World Container Inc, 156-15, 146th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11434, USA. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending at Brooklyn NY 11256. 86 32670$67(5 6HQG DGGUHVV FKDQJHV WR 7 :RUOG &RQWDLQHU ,QF WK $YHQXH QG )ORRU -DPDLFD 1< 86$ Subscription records are maintained at Future Publishing, c/o Air Business Subscriptions, Rockwood House, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 3DH. UK

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Contents

Contents 029

INCREDIBLE UPGRADES FOR WORK & PLAY

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Horizon

The best new tech heading your way

iPAD PRO M1 From £749, apple.com/uk How Pro can you go? Turns out the answer is ‘pretty pro’, particularly if you’re Apple on a new product rampage. More on the rest in the next few Horizon entries, because basically everything in Apple’s spring launch event was pretty cool (even the new purple-hued iPhone variety) but it’s the iPad Pro that really shines. Apple has now brought the best version of its lauded M1 chip – the same eight-core CPU, eight-core GPU processor at the heart of the 2020 spin of the MacBook Pro – to something other than a Mac, and completely overhauled our expectations for what a high-end iPad should be in the process. The company claims the M1 in the new iPad Pro bumps its processing performance up 50% from the previous edition, gives graphics a 40% kick, and works in tandem with upgrades to storage speed, capacity (up to 2TB) and RAM, with 8GB on lower models and 16GB on higher ones for a frictionless experience. Pick the 11-inch model and you can pay as little as £749, but the 12.9-inch version bags itself a Liquid Retina XDR display (essentially super-dense HDR-capable mini-LED) with up to 1,600nits peak brightness. That’s huge: this is a screen that’ll easily rival top TVs, and one which absolutely ﬂattens the majority in terms of contrast with its 2,596 dimming zones. A serious iPad, then – and one which takes the ﬁght to Apple’s own MacBook Pro in terms of work viability, as well as being a brilliant companion for home entertainment.

TECH-O-METER

CONNECT & GO Need more screen real estate? The USB-C port from the previous generation has been given a Thunderbolt upgrade, meaning the iPad Pro can now connect to external displays up to 6K in resolution.

“A glimpse at the future of Apple’s portable devices” Josh Russell, Editor

10 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

Top 10

CLEVER CAMERA There have been camera upgrades, with the front camera bagging itself a new ultra-wide lens – while this means it can technically see a wide area of the room at any one time, it’s actually more clever than that. The front cam will now track you, zooming and cropping to keep you perfectly in frame wherever you might be, perfect for those who get ﬁdgety on video calls.

IMAGE SOURCE: APPLE

RAMMING IT HOME A boost to 16GB of RAM on top models is interesting, but completely unnecessary with iPadOS as it is – though we can certainly speculate that something big is on the way for the next software version when it lands. Might the iPad Pro even get access to full-on macOS? We wouldn’t put any money on it, but the two worlds are certainly in the process of some kind of convergence.

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Horizon Top 10

APPLE iMAC M1 From £1,249, apple.com Colour us a little unsurprised (and yet still mouth agape) that Apple has offered the iMac its first significant redesign since 2009, one which swallows up a whole lot of tablet influences. The aluminium unibody is gone, the curved back in the bin, in their place an object of vivid expressive colour, a super-thin 11.5mm flat body, with an M1 processor inside. Since it’s a systemon-a-chip, it needs only a tiny logic board and minimal cooling; thus Apple has been able to squish all of the computery bits into the iMac’s chin. This afforded it room to chop down the bezels, giving what was the 21-inch form factor a far more significant 24-inch 4.5K display, and there’s a new AI-smoothed 1080P camera, too, with a multi-mic array – this could be the perfect heart of a modern home office.

IMAGE SOURCE: APPLE

T3 SAYS: Whatever you think about the chin this is a design win – and a win for the iMac.

TECH-O-METER

LINN KLIMAX DSM £30,000, linn.co.uk

T3 SAYS: True luxury in a media streamer.

TECH-O-METER

1 2 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

IMAGE SOURCE: LINN

Just wow. Wow to the looks of Linn’s Klimax DSM, which absolutely maintains the company’s reputation for high-end uniqueness and irrepressible class with its machined aluminium frame, the mirror-hidden display, and the cut glass dial, ﬂoating on a brass bearing with 100 indicator lights shining through. Wow to the quality of the internals, all designed to be completely isolated from room vibrations and, indeed, between the digital, analogue and digital power stages. And wow to Linn’s DAC innovation, abandoning third-party chips for the ﬁrst time in order to debut its own Organik architecture, based around an FPGA processor, a discrete converter, and Linn’s ultra-precise in-house circuit board layout tech. This is a premium music streamer, ready for 24-bit 384khz and DSD256 transport.

Horizon Top 10

APPLE AIRTAG £29, apple.com Thing-tracking has been around a while, with companies like Tile leading the charge – but leave it to Apple to kick the tech up a notch. The AirTag is a product that takes the idea to the next level, allowing iPhone 11 and 12 users to triangulate the position of their lost device – be it a wallet, keys, luggage or anything else the battery-replaceable AirTag is attached to – by following on-screen directions. If it’s lost further away, AirTags can use their U1 chip to securely become part of the entire Find My network, bouncing info (anonymously) about their location to you through anyone using an iPhone, making this the widest net yet created for this kind of device. Your phone will even be able to detect and alert you to AirTags you don’t own that might be surreptitiously riding around with you.

IMAGE SOURCE: APPLE

T3 SAYS: May you never lose another thing – perhaps even glue one to your remote?

TECH-O-METER

ALIENWARE M15 RYZEN EDITION R5 £TBC, alienware.com

T3 SAYS: Good on Alienware for following the leader in the processor game.

TECH-O-METER

14 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

IMAGE SOURCE: ALIENWARE

AMD is killing it right now, with the Ryzen 5000 series blowing Intel’s chips out of the water. So much so that Alienware’s relationship with Big Blue has hit the rocks, and it is enjoying its first clandestine dalliance with the red team since 2007. The Alienware m15 Ryzen Edition doesn’t stop at the new hardware package, which also includes Nvidia’s ultra-impressive 30-series mobile graphics cards. here’s the first userupgradable memory on a 15-inch Alienware laptop ever, a brand new high-endurance paint on the outside of the case, the option of silky smooth QHD 240Hz or FHD 360Hz panels, and (should you choose a certain spin) an ultra-low profile per-key RGB lit mechanical keyboard developed in conjunction with Cherry MX.

Horizon

APPLE TV 4K (2021) From £169, apple.com The Apple TV didn’t need much of a hardware upgrade, but this new 2021 take gains the A12 Bionic processor from the iPhone 12, offering it a boost in video and audio processing strong enough to play high frame-rate HDR content and fully support native Dolby Vision. Cleverly, you can use the proximity and light sensors of an iPhone to properly calibrate this in order to ensure perfect colour output from your TV. And then there’s the redesigned Apple Remote, which has been built to up the usability: there are now contrasting buttons, a ﬁve-way control that doubles as a touch-enabled swipe pad and jog wheel, and IR controls for your TV’s power and volume. A reﬁnement rather than a full redesign, for sure, but every one of the changes is there for the right reasons.

IMAGE SOURCE: APPLE

T3 SAYS: Perfect picture and a polished remote make this a prominent promotion.

TECH-O-METER

LG SP11RA SOUNDBAR £TBC, lg.com LG’s soundbar and TV departments are drawing closer than ever before – as if there was ever a divide – with its 2021 range, which universally supports the company’s AI Sound Pro feature. This makes for easy switching between sources, and shares the TV’s sound modes and audio processing capabilities with the soundbars for optimal output. There’s a host of new models lined up for 2021, each (even the budget-priced 3.1.2 SPD7Y) carrying hi-res certification, tuning by Meridian Audio, and both Dolby Atmos and DTX:X compatibility – but the premier entry is LG’s new flagship, the SP11RA. It’s a booming 770W 7.1.4 channel setup, including up-firing speakers in its rear satellites for a huge 3D audio experience, and 4K passthrough with Dolby Vision support.

TECH-O-METER

16 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

IMAGE SOURCE: LG

T3 SAYS: An evolution of sound, and one that could have a big impact.

Top 10

MASTER & DYNAMIC MW08 TRUE WIRELESS £279, masterdynamic.eu tweaking smarts including customisable EQ and both two modes of ANC and two modes of transparency. You should get around 12 hours play time before they need to hit the sexy charging case, or ten hours with ANC.

IMAGE SOURCE: MASTER & DYNAMIC

Style is everything, yes, but sound isn’t without its merits. The question is, could Master & Dynamic have pulled off a double win here? We can certainly see the MW08’s ceramiccoated earpieces becoming a new in-ear style icon, particularly in their blue spin. The fact that those angular cases coddle a set of serious 11mm beryllium drivers means they have no business sounding anything but superb, too. And then there’s the tech package, which includes Bluetooth 5.2 with subtle external aluminium antennas, a six-mic array for wind-reduced talk, and sound-

T3 SAYS: Great looks, great tech: true wireless buds with serious promise.

TECH-O-METER COOLNESS INNOVATION FEATURES

LG ULTRAWIDE 34WN780 £520, lg.com 99% of the sRGB colour gamut covered, a 3440 x 1440 resolution and a price which, while not outrageously cheap, is on the more affordable end of extra-wide screens. It’s better suited to work than gaming, and great for creative tasks. T3 SAYS: An ergonomic desk is a smart one.

TECH-O-METER COOLNESS INNOVATION FEATURES

IMAGE SOURCE: LG

The LG Ergo concept ﬁrst showed up on a pair of Ultraﬁne displays last year, and it has obviously gone down well: LG has now brought it to a pair of its UltraGear series of gaming monitors and this, the 21:9 UltraWide 34WN780. The Ergo system replaces the traditional monitor stand with an arm that bolts onto the back of your desk, offering you the chance both to reclaim a bunch of tabletop space and to position that screen at the precise height and distance for perfect ergonomics. The actual monitor part isn’t half bad here either, with HDR10 and FreeSync support,

NOKIA X20 From £299, nokia.com three years’ OS and security updates. HMD also becomes the ﬁrst mobile manufacturer to launch its own virtual network in the UK, in the form of HMD Mobile. Prices start at a reasonable £6.50 per month. T3 SAYS: A phone to hold on to for a long time – and if you drop it, it comes with a case.

IMAGE SOURCE: NOKIA

Brand owner HMD Global knows exactly what Nokia is, and it appears more than happy to lean into that. The X20, the strongest of a host of new releases, is what you might call a premium low-end device, with a middling 5G chipset but a great camera pair, a clean Android One interface, a two-day battery, and a price that puts it within reach of most people. On at the periphery, HMD has pulled the headphones and charger out of the box to lower e-waste, includes a compostable case in their place, and offers a three-year warranty along with a guarantee of

TECH-O-METER COOLNESS INNOVATION FEATURES J U N E 2 0 21 T3 17

Horizon

PUNCHY PASTELS

Candyﬂoss pink, sherbet yellow, powder blue… This season’s pastels are best oﬀset against crisp whites, or layered with similar hues for a playful look

ALTEA BAKER CAMPCOLLAR LINEN SHIRT If you want sunshine in a top, you got it with Altea’s all-but-sold-out retro camp collar shirt. Wear it with wide leg trousers and vintage shades. £127, thread.com

BIRDWELL LOOPBACK COTTON JERSEY SWEATSHIRT Ease yourself gently into pastels with Birdwell’s super-soft, midweight, palest pink sweater. Ideal for throwing on to stay toasty while sipping a sundowner. £70, mrporter.com

IMAGE SOURCE: ALTEA, BIRDWELL, PAUL SMITH, EDWIN, Y-3

PAUL SMITH SLIMFIT UNSTRUCTURED LINEN SUIT JACKET Summer date nights, sorted. You’ll never go wrong with a powder blue Paul Smith jacket, and this linen version will keep you cool while looking sharp. £570, paulsmith.com/uk

EDWIN SPINNED YARN T-SHIRT Jeans maker Edwin also does a mean line in tees, including this Maruwa cotton jersey number. As a heavier weight t-shirt, it hangs in the most ﬂattering way. £80, edwin-europe.com

18 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

Y-3 DRAWSTRING SHORTS Breathable, soft and ultra comfy, Y-3’s summer-ready shorts, with elasticated waist and three zipped pockets, will see you from home ofﬁce to beach and back again. £129, thread.com

WHICH WATCH

MONEY NO OBJECT

THE HOTTEST TIMEPIECES RIGHT NOW

Serapian Canvas and Cachemire Leather Backpack

BELL & ROSS, BR 03-92 DIVER RED BRONZE

BLANCPAIN, FIFTY FATHOMS NO RAD TRIBUTE

Available in a limited edition of 999, the Red Bronze sports a deep-sea diver’s helmet engraved on the caseback. It’s full of character, designed for the gentleman adventurer.

Blancpain is reinterpreting one of its most iconic timepieces with a limited 500-piece series. The watch originally became famous in the mid-’60s for including the ‘no radiations’ logo.

£3,800, bellross.com

£11,800, blancpain.com

RADO, CAPTAIN COOK CERAMIC

HAMILTON, INTRA-MATIC CHRONOGRAPH H

For the ﬁrst time, Rado’s Captain Cook will be available in the material the brand is best known for and is a pioneer of – high-tech ceramic. It’s perfect for the modern-day explorer.

Rekindling a golden age of watches with the return of a hand-wound chronograph. Inspired by 1968 models, it’ll appeal to those who like the purity of a manual movement.

£TBC, rado.com

£1,870, hamiltonwatch.com

We all have a lot of living to make up for this summer, and if you’re planning on packing in the day trips, overnighters and long weekenders, you’ll need something to carry all your essential gear. Serapian’s fully lined, two-way zip fastening backpack is the one we’d choose. It’s casual yet smart, roomy (17 litres) yet compact enough to not feel cumbersome, and offers enough interior compartments and pockets to stash personal items and keep valuables away from prying eyes. If you’re dabbling with some work too, there’s a dedicated sleeve for your laptop, plus there are four card slots, two smartphone pockets (we’d chuck a portable charger in one), a pen holder, and a secret zipped pocket. In terms of materials, Serapian’s luxury backpack is crafted with a natural cotton and linen blended canvas outer, durable Cachemire (Italian tumbled calfskin) Terra di Sienna leather inserts, full-grain leather panels, and smart silver-tone hardware. A soft microﬁbre lining on the inside keeps things fresh and hygienic, while the shoulder straps are fully adjustable and padded for maximum comfort, day and night.

£750, serapian.com

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IMAGE SOURCE: BELL & ROSS, BLANCPAIN, RADO, HAMILTON, SERAPIAN

Style

Horizon Travel FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Our top tip? Oﬀset excess calories by exploring destinations on foot, which becomes a lot more enjoyable when you’re wearing North Face’s hi-tech Vectiv Taraval shoes, which have a rockered mid-sole for unbeatable stability and a high-traction outsole for fantastic grip. £110, thenorthface.co.uk

CHOW BOUND

IMAGE SOURCE: BLACK+BLUM

BLACK+BLUM LUNCH BAG Think of Black+Blum’s insulated Lunch Bag as a cooler, stronger take on a zip-lock sandwich bag. Made from recycled PET, its brilliant roll-top design makes it easy to sling over handlebars and hook onto backpack straps, and it’s big enough to carry a lunch box and water bottle. £19.95, black-blum.com

IMAGE SOURCE: CAMPINGAZ

CAMPINGAZ ATTITUDE 2GO CV BARBECUE Fan of campﬁre cuisine? You’ll love Campingaz’s new portable gas barbecue, which runs oﬀ lightweight CV470 Plus cartridges, relies on piezo ignition for matchless lighting, and has a built-in thermometer so you can check the temperature without lifting the lid. £199.99, campingaz.com 2 0 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

FABULOUS DESTINATIONS FOR FAMISHED FOODIES Tamara Hinson takes a mouth-watering look at the destinations with the tastiest food scenes We’ve spent much of the past year confined to our homes, churning out loaves of banana bread and poring over well-thumbed takeaway menus in the hope there’s a dish we’ve not yet tried. The reopening of restaurants has provided a welcome relief, tantalising our taste buds in a year when we’re keen to make up for lost time by stuffing ourselves silly, and there’s no better way to satisfy both hunger and wanderlust than with a food-themed adventure. Planning on staying close to home? Melton Mowbray, a historic market town in Leicestershire, is a great place to start. This is the birthplace of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie, which has Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status and celebrates its 170th birthday in 2021. Visit the town’s Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe (porkpie.co.uk), opened by John Dickinson in 1851, to sample the real thing. The best way to explore the town is via the Melton Heritage Trail; it takes in landmarks such as the Melton Carnegie Museum, which you’ll find inside the former Carnegie Library, built in 1905 with a grant from ScottishAmerican industrialist Andrew Carnegie.

For something further aﬁeld, consider Singapore, home to Asia’s most exciting food scene. In late 2020, its hawker culture (hawker centres are Singapore’s traditional street food markets) was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage register. We suggest making a beeline for Yum Sing! (yumsing.com.sg) in the heart of Clarke Quay. This laid-back restaurant specialises in traditional Singaporean cuisine: think rojak, laksa, chicken rice and char kway teow. For a modern twist on Singapore’s street food, head to Michelinstarred Labyrinth (restaurantlabyrinth.com), where Chef LG Han serves up dishes inspired by his childhood. Finally, consider raising a toast to post-pandemic adventures in the Texas city of Dallas. Fifty years ago, in 1971, restaurant owner Mariano Martinez created the ﬁrst frozen margarita machine by reworking an old soft-serve ice cream dispenser. Today the city is regarded as the home of the frozen margarita (although the machine now resides in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History), and the best bars can be found on the city’s Margarita Mile (visitdallas.com).

IMAGE SOURCE: SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD

IMAGE SOURCE: NORTH FACE

NORTH FACE VECTIV TARAVAL SHOES

Horizon Fitness COMPLETE FOOD SHAKE BREAKDOWN

SAVING FACE

The Huel Black Edition is one of the leanest nutritionally complete shakes you can buy and although it’s far from being delicious, if you aren’t completely unused to ‘meal replacement’ shakes, you will be able to stomach it with relative ease. The low carb content makes it ideal for those on an LCHF or even keto diet. From £50, huel.com

IMAGE SOURCE: HUEL

QUALITY TIME

IMAGE SOURCE: POLAR

HUEL BLACK EDITION

Polar Vantage M2 ditches touch controls but keeps the best features of the premium Vantage V2 to aid complete physical recovery before the next session’. The M2 is also capable of tracking sleep, thanks to its Sleep Plus Stages and Nightly Recharge features that provide detailed insights for sleep duration and quality. The FitSpark feature offers personalised daily workout guidance based on recovery, readiness and training history. Progress is tracked with the Weekly Summary feature. Finally, the Vantage M2 supports smart notiﬁcations, wrist-based music controls and even weather reports.

BULK 1 COMPLETE FOOD SHAKE The Bulk 1 Complete Food Shake is a tasty meal replacement option, comparatively speaking. It has a range of vitamins, minerals and a balanced nutritional proﬁle as well as being convenient enough to whisk up on the go. Perfect to curb cravings when hunger strikes. £49.99, bulk.com

IMAGE SOURCE: BULK

The new Polar Vantage M2 (£269, polar.com) is the second iteration of the Vantage M, as the name suggests. The Vantage M2 is a mid-range multisport watch that inherited many of the Polar Vantage V2’s features but thankfully lost the confusing control scheme. As expected from a Polar wearable, the Vantage M2 puts a huge emphasis on training load and recovery. The returning and new features include adaptive running training plans and Training Load Pro, the latter of which provides ‘detailed insights

ACE IN THE SOLE

CARBON POWER Inov-8 introduces the world’s first graphene-enhanced midsole in a running shoe Each 400-calorie portion of Jimmy Joy’s Plenny Shake contains 20 grams of protein, a whopping 43 grams of carbs and 15 grams of fat (only 2.3 grams saturated). The Planny Shake comes in some truly unique flavours such as Mango, Chai Latte and Coffee. From £20.60, jimmyjoy.com J U N E 2 0 21 T3 21

IMAGE SOURCE: JIMMY JOY

JIMMY JOY PLENNY SHAKE V3.0

IMAGE SOURCE: INOV-8

The G-FLY midsole found in the Inov-8 Trailfly Ultra G 300 Max (£170, inov-8.com) uses a unique foam: it’s the world’s first graphene-enhanced midsole, making it more resilient as well as providing better energy returns than standard EVA foam, according to Inov-8. The shoes also feature the Boomerang insole made of expanded TPU beads and the Adapter-Fit upper, which delivers a supportive fit with its breathable mesh construction. Could be these shoes will provide the competitive edge to trail runners.

Horizon

MORE GARDEN ESSENTIALS

It’s a hot tub with Wi-Fi! At last! This means you can heat up the water to 40ºC and turn on the Singapore’s multiple air jets from the comfort of your phone. In no time it’ll be bubbling away, ready for you to step into and chill the hell out. £799, lay-z-spa.co.uk

PLATE OUTDOORS

YOU CAN CALL ME AL FRESCO

IMAGE SOURCE: GARDENA

GARDENA CLICKUP! It’s a bird feeder! And an insect hotel! It’s a ﬂower bowl! A rain gauge! A torch ﬁreplace! Whatever that is! The RedDot-Award-winning ClickUp! range is all mounted on the same pole with just ‘a single click’. Beautiful and useful all year round. From £30, gardena.com

IMAGE SOURCE: ROBOMOW

ROBOMOW RC 308U The best robot mower you can buy, unless your garden is absolutely huge (or tiny), the RC 308u is reasonably quiet, has a 28cm cutting deck and runs for up to 70 minutes on a single charge. Once the grass is cut, it’ll maintain it at putting-green-like standards with minimal hassle. £1,199, robomow.com 2 2 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

Dine and lounge in style with Bramblecrest furniture – it’ll be just like being inside… except you’ll be outside As summer arrives, it’s time to get close to loved ones in the garden. And to get about two metres away from slightly less close friends, in a responsible and Covidcompliant manner. You won’t be at all surprised to learn that sales of garden furniture (and everything else you can cram into an outdoor space, in fact) have boomed massively over the last year. Online searches for ‘garden furniture’ came in third behind only Nintendo Switch and Xbox Series X during 2020, apparently. That’s according to a press release we got sent anyway, which revealed that sales of garden furniture spiked by 100% in Stoke-on-Trent. No, really. Whether you live in Stoke-on-Trent or somewhere else, chances are you’ll like Bramblecrest garden furniture, which hails from the heart of the Cotswolds. As well as looking very attractive indeed and being expertly crafted, their products also claim to be sustainable, with properly accredited and regulated timber. The result is weather-resistant furnishings such as the Bramblecrest Monterey, table, chairs and parasol in sandstone. The 175x120cm table is in an elliptical shape, with space to ﬁt six

matching armchairs around it. The parasol and base will keep the sun off you, hopefully. Or, perhaps more realistically, it’ll keep light rain showers off you, since this is Britain. Bramblecrest offers a full range of similarly tasteful loungers, tables, hanging chairs, ‘season-proof’ scatter cushions, ﬁrepit dining tables and cocoons. They all add a touch of luxe to your outdoor space. “From ﬁnding a spot to unwind in the sun to hosting a long lunch with friends, create a beautiful outdoor living space,” Bramblecrest suggests… And who are we to argue? The brand has been around for 20 years and has won multiple awards. If you prefer a more contemporary look, we recommend made.com. They do a wide range of garden furnishings at very reasonable prices. Their family-sized Avarna corner sofa is just £1,299 for instance. Also always worth perusing: Wayfair, B&Q and John Lewis & Partners, but there’s no doubt that Bramblecrest is the most hay-clarse option, bringing a taste of the Cotswolds to your home, even if it’s in Stoke-on-Trent. Bramblecrest products start at £23 for a cushion. The table, chairs, parasol and base shown costs £2,453: bramblecrest.com

IMAGE SOURCE: BRAMBLECREST

IMAGE SOURCE: LAY-Z-SPA

LAY-Z-SPA SINGAPORE AIRJET PLUS

Living

EASY PATIO MAKEOVERS Don’t settle for a drab yard – quickly dress it up with some colourful, weather-resistant cushions, a cosy wood burner, or a funky dining set PORTO DARK CORAL SKYE DINING SET Wave goodbye to cheap plastic garden furniture and make-over your backyard with Danetti’s sleek patio dining set. The Porto is made with a tough aluminium frame (just look at those colourpop coral chairs), coupled with a large, wipe-clean tempered glass top. Throw down an outdoor rug, grab some solar-powered festoon lights, and your al fresco dining spot is ready to go. £725, danetti.com

WATERPROOF OUTDOOR CUSHION Looking for some garden cushions capable of surviving the summer rain? Then snuggle up with these 100% pure new wool beauties, ﬁnished with a full polyester backing and easy-carry handle. They’re plump, comfy, machine washable (wool cycle only), and available in a range of colours from yellow to fresh mint. £44, heating-and-plumbing.com GOLD WATERING CAN Yes you have to water your plants. No you don’t have to use that same old ratty can you’ve been using for years. Rose & Grey’s new Gold Watering Can is a must for any stylish patio space, and is perfect for keeping your potted plants, veggies and fruits hydrated. Honestly, it’s so beautiful it’s almost ornamental. £55, roseandgrey.co.uk

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IMAGE SOURCE: DANETTI, EVA SOLO, HEATING & PLUMBING, ROSE & GREY

FIREBOX WOOD BURNER CORTEN STEEL Last year we had a run on hand sanitiser. Now we have a run on ﬁre pits. If your budget allows, give the cheap, one-season wood burners a large swerve and invest in this super-elegant heatresistant steel ﬁrebox instead. The integrated chimney funnels smoke out the back, so you won’t be left with huge plumes polluting your patio. £799, beaumonde.co.uk

Horizon

T3’s beefy brainbox turns up the heat to cook your tech sausages

JAMES HOLBROOK, LEITH

It’s barbecue season, Guru – but do I go gas or charcoal? Oh boy. You’re basically asking people with tanned necks and meat sweats to send GaGu crayon-scrawled letters here, but he is not afraid. Guru’s own preference is for charcoal, essentially because it gets his testosterone ﬂowing, and there’s nothing quite like being choked by smoke while annihilating burgers over uncontrollable heat. That, by your author’s estimation, is the true essence of the barbecue. Go premium, lest it rust out. Guru has his eye on the Kamado Joe Classic II (£1,400), a ceramic beast which makes few bones of its similarity to the iconic Big Green

ILLUSTRATIONS: STEPHEN KELLY

Egg but looks, if it were possible, even better. He will relent slightly, though, on the power of propane. Gas gives you far more control and ﬂexibility when it comes to cooking, with adjustable heat and nifty extras like side burners and external sear plates. Arrange things cleverly and you may even be able to add things

ABOVE The three best sources for fuelling a BBQ? Coal, propane and ketchup

Gas gives you far more control and flexibility when it comes to cooking, with adjustable heat and nifty extras

like hickory chips to the base to add a little smokey ﬂavour, and if you’re going for a slow roast or just a big ol’ cookout that’s going to last a whole evening, gas is the way to go. Look for Weber in particular if you want a grill that’ll last; try the Q3200 (around £600), which is small but powerful. Consider a griddle for ultimate versatility. The brand to go for is Blackstone, since the company uses non-enamelled cold rolled steel and a burner design that ensures no chilly spots, though it can be a little tricky to ﬁnd in the UK; expect to pay around £750 for a decently sized example from eBay.

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: INBOX@T3.COM OR FACEBOOK.COM/T3MAG 24 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

Gadget guru

PETE, VIA EMAIL

Should I go back to the barber, or am I safe to cut my own hair? The committed mountain man look looks great on you, reader, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Particularly those anthropologists who keep setting up hides in your back garden. Returning to the barbershop is certainly an option should you wish to appear less like an over-hirsute ape fresh from the Regaine secret lab, but you do not have to tread that path. Many of us are now seen less, and have learned the value of DIY haircuts. If you’re committed to performing your own follicular maintenance, the ﬁrst thing to learn is that cheap clippers and scissors are blunt clippers and scissors, or will be very soon after use. Do not make the mistake of skimping, or you’ll end up hacking painfully at your mane rather than gliding through it. There’s also not one kind of clipper that’ll reliably do everything you might need. You’ve probably seen your barber

switching devices when, for example, tidying up the edges, or tackling the ears. Guru is not suggesting that you buy multiple devices, just saying that doing so may give you more options. Try the Oster 97 Heavy Duty Clipper (around £200), which will get things super-tight; add on a set of spring-loaded clipper guards for the other lengths you might need, but bear in mind that the Oster does not use an adjustable blade so there’s no way to get smooth fades with it. Wahl’s Super Taper (£58) will do the job in that department. If you’re not quite as disgustingly unkempt as our reader, who sent a photograph that made it look as if he had spent two years in solitary conﬁnement, perhaps you’re looking for a solution for thinner hair? You might consider trying the Pitbull Silver Pro (£100) from Skull Shaver, an ergonomic and sensiblydesigned device that can get you from Nutkins to Statham in no time.

ABOVE Turns out Tutankhamun was just really sloppy with his manscaping

GADGET GURU’S MAGIC BOX Peace and quiet has descended upon Guru Towers, with the kids back at school and the builders ﬁnally calling it a day – Guru wouldn’t say they’re ﬁnished, as such, but they are at least gone. Guru’s favourite things about the renovations are his Ikea Kallax shelves (from £25) which now house his nerdy board games, and the little Anker SoundCore Mini 3 (£25) which allows him to take loud phone calls, embarrassing those who deign to make his phone ring while he is spending entirely too long in the shower. With that out of the way, GaGu feels it is his duty to offer a little long-term review of the Simba mattress (from £227). Mrs Guru convinced your favourite uncle to pick one up around a year and a half ago. Like Guru’s relationship with his amazing wife, that initial period was fantastic: comfortable, supportive, melt-into-it bliss. Also like the Guru family dynamic,

things quickly turned rather sloppy, dipping around the edges with a big hump in the middle. By the end of Guru’s time with the Simba – and it has ended – it became almost unbearable, particularly given that the slack edges made it feel like lying on a 15-degree incline. Now, Simba’s guarantee does cover such things potentially happening. Guru rotated it as required, and probably could have invited one of the company’s inspectors into his boudoir and let them loose on his mattress, but the darn thing pops up and looks entirely ﬂat when at rest. And hey, perhaps GaGu got a bad one, your mileage may vary, this is an isolated incident etc. But he simply didn’t want another, and doesn’t want another memory foam or hybrid mattress in the foreseeable future. A 1,400 pocket spring traditional mattress from John Lewis has taken its place, and hopefully it lasts longer than 18 months. Grr.

EMMY WOODS, KEYNSHAM

What’s the best vape, Guru? Reader, Guru is pleased you have made the less smelly, (probably) less deadly choice, but the truth is the best vape is no vape at all. Dial back on the nicotine slowly, and you’ll get to the point that going cold turkey won’t be as hard as it might have been otherwise. You can do it, you know you can do it. If you must vape, GaGu recommends avoiding cartridgebased systems because they’re effectively DRM for clouds, and sidestepping juices employing nicotine salts, which apparently get their hooks in much deeper. Building your own atomiser is the way to go, as it tickles the nerdy itch and saves money in the long run. For a mod, the delightfully named ‘squonker’ style is a good pick – you ﬁll a squishy tank with juice, and squeeze it up onto the wick to keep things wet without the possibility of burning dry. Try the Dovpo Topside Dual SE, at around £70, and make sure you get the appropriate 18650 cells and bottom-feeding RDA to go with it.

J U N E 2 0 21 T3 2 5

Horizon

NEW MEDIA

IMAGE SOURCE: MICROQLIMA / CARGO

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

CHRIS TOMLINSON, PETERBOROUGH

Can you power up my washing machine? Aside from getting down and dirty with DIY motor upgrades, there are no real ways to make your existing washing machine any better. Maybe clean it with a cleaning cycle and some sort of de-limescaling agent and make sure you’re using decent detergent. Prefer an upgrade? The smarter end of LG’s output looks a solid buy. Using direct drive motors means they can slosh your clothes around in all kinds of patterns, rather than just hurling them to the sides of the drum and praying for the best, and they’re connectable to LG’s burgeoning ThinQ platform. Try the Turbowash360 at around £1,000.

IMAGE SOURCE: WARNER BROS

TAKO TSUBO L’Imperatrice are probably Guru’s favourite band. As French as an onion baguette, super-dreamy, frosty cool indie, perfect dinnertime background or working music.

J, VIA EMAIL

Can I use my garden for solar power?

IMAGE SOURCE: DISNEY

TOM AND JERRY Anti-recommendation time: Guru, remembering the one VHS tape his grandparents owned, spent £16 renting this trash ﬁre on Google Play. Even the junior Gurus loathed it.

PHINEAS AND FERB A recommendation from Guru’s kids here, who’ve been main-lining the entire P&F canon on Disney+. Every episode is wildly diﬀerent and refreshingly familiar.

26 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

ABOVE And out of the time portal, the Travelling Washing Machine shot forth…

There’s a reason most solar installations opt for the roof rather than the lawn. That said, yes, you can put solar panels wherever you like; most are rail-mount ready, but can also be attached to a Renusol ConSole (£60 each). These work for any flat surface, be it garden or garage. The ConSole keeps the panel tilted at 15 degrees, and holds it firmly in place without screws once you fill it with some kind of heavy ballast. Compared to the price you’ll also have to pay for a decent installation – figure somewhere in the region of £1,500 per kilowatt – that’s a relative bargain, though Guru would still go through the faff of putting them on the roof.

Using direct drive motors means they can slosh your clothes around in patterns, rather than just hurling them to the sides

KENNY OLNEY, MACCLESFIELD

Can you help me freshen up my breath? Guru was all set to recommend the Mint Breathometer, a big hit about ﬁve years ago, but the company’s shop is broken, its associated app appears to have disappeared from all app stores, and a number of reviewers suggest it never actually worked at all. So, er, maybe not. Technology can help – a strong electric toothbrush, even something mental like the all-yourteeth-at-once Y-Brush (from ¤99.99), may reduce the swamp gas – but this is probably a conversation to be having with your dentist or dietician.

Don’t miss another instalment of the legendary Gadget Guru!

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Opinion

Duncan Bell comes in many colours Apple is still rocking and rolling, and its tunes aren’t at all bad uch excitement this month: Apple had one of its (socially distanced and Covid secure) events! These are like the big classic rock concerts of tech, by which I mean they are popular with old guys and the merch is real expensive. Apple is rather like the Rolling Stones of tech, as people still love them even though they look a little less steady on their feet than they used to. They know to play all the big hits to keep the faithful happy and this time out they excelled themselves by having a new range of iMacs in different colours. This was a smart move on several levels: things that are colourful look exciting and nice, so that’s a win straight off. But it was also an obvious call-back to the original iMac, which also came in numerous tasteful – and not so tasteful – hues. I had a ‘Strawberry’ one with a DVD player, which Apple actually marketed at the time as a kind of ‘home cinema’. This was one of the only home cinema systems with a 13.8-inch, 720p screen that I’ve come across. Nice computer though. The original iMac is undoubtedly one of Apple’s Greatest Hits. The iPod is another, and that also had versions that came in a large range of colour choices. Apple even used the Rolling Stones’ ‘She’s A Rainbow’ in the ads, as I recall. So the Rolling Stones of tech were supported by the actual Rolling Stones, of rock music. Is it really the same though? Rather like when your grandad gets up to dance to the disco records of his youth, the answer is ‘no’. The original iMac’s charm was that it

wasn’t like all the bland, cream-and-beige boxes made by other computer manufacturers of the time. It was a groovy VW Beetle in a trafﬁc jam of Ford Mondeos. The new iMacs, technically impressive as they are, do not resemble a VW Beetle. In fact compared to the youthful original iMac, they are again like an ageing rock band. This time, it’s an old rock band where the main players have cleaned themselves up, started going to the gym every day, had some ‘work’ done. They’ve also kicked the ugliest members of the old band out and replaced them with people young enough to be not just their children but their grandchildren.

“The original iMac is undoubtedly one of Apple’s Greatest Hits. The iPod is another” With their svelte, angular frames, the new iMacs are not very charming. They aren’t sexy either, they are just technically impressive and available in multiple colours – plus silver, which I fully predict will be the best-selling model. Apple cranked through the rest of its greatest hits, with new iPads and Apple TV – okay, that one’s more of a fan-favourite B-side. However, there was also that moment we all dread at a classic

rock gig, where they say, ‘’Ere’s a noo one from ah ladest LP’, at which point everyone heads off to the bar for another can of lager. However, in fairness, the AirTags, announced at the same gig – sorry, event – don’t look bad at all. These cunning little devices attach to your precious items – luggage, keys, husband etc – and let you locate them, whether they’re down the back of the sofa or left somewhere miles away. The way they do this is all but identical to how Tile – a product that’s been around for years – works. People writing about the event seem to have mentioned this only in passing, which shows the power Apple still has. Rather like when the Stones cover a song by another band or singer, it’s usually the cover version that gets remembered, not the original. The really impressive thing about Apple today is it’s actually bigger than ever, even though people accuse it of living on past glories. Maybe it is actually more like Joy Division and New Order, where the loss of their original leader actually spurred them on to much greater success, even while long-time fans moaned that they preferred their earlier, more experimental stuff. J U N E 2 0 21 T3 27

Great gadgets for work & play

GREAT

GADGETS FOR WORK & PLAY The great thing about tech is that it can make your life better whether you’re grafting or enjoying leisure time. Here we select our favourite items for doing just about any task Words: Louise Blain Photography: Neil Godwin

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Great gadgets for work and play

WORK 1

DYSON PURIFIER HOT+COOL FORMALDEHYDE

JURA E8 BEAN-TO-CUP COFFEE MACHINE

EPSON ECOTANK ET-2710

PHILIPS HUE AMBIANCE WHITE AND COLOUR SIGNE TABLE LAMP

Trust Dyson to remove a pollutant we didn’t even know to worry about. While this follow-up to the original 3XULĆHU KHDWV DQG FKLOOV ZKHQ necessary, it also snares dust, allergens and bacteria, and has D ĆOWHU VSHFLĆFDOO\ WR GHVWUR\ formaldehyde in the air. There’s also voice control, 350 degrees of oscillation, and a display to keep you in the air quality loop.

If your working day has moved IURP DQ RIĆFH YLD 3UHW WR WKH study via the kitchen, it’s time to invest in a barista-level coffee machine. The Jura E8 serves up coffee-shop-quality beverages at the press of a button. Seventeen drinks are offered via the preprogrammed menu, including a cortado, latte macchiato, and the ability to add an extra shot when it’s that kind of day.

Choosing a printer is all about balance. Something cheap to buy will nearly always come back to bite you with inky teeth when the cartridge needs to be replaced. The Epson Ecotank is a bigger outlay but, rather neatly, is cartridge free. This means all you need to do is ĆOO WKH ODUJH LQN WDQN ZKHQ required, making it D VLJQLĆFDQWO\ EHWWHU long-term investment.

£599.99, dyson.co.uk

From £1,145, jura.com

£179.99, epson.co.uk

3 0 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

Because everyone needs at least one stylish light in the house. Unlike the majority of 3KLOLSV +XH OLJKWLQJ WKH 6LJQH Table Lamp just uses an app and Bluetooth instead of the DGGLWLRQDO 3KLOLSV %ULGJH 7KLV means it’s easier than ever to bring just the right mood to \RXU RIĆFH VSDFH ZLWK D KXJH range of colours. Or you could always just use voice control. £159.99, philips-hue.com

Work 5

SHURE AONIC 50

KEF LS50 WIRELESS II

It’s a crowded market these days but the Shure Aonic 50 make choosing Bluetooth active noise cancelling headphones very easy. They’re ultra comfortable, sturdy, and have LQWXLWLYH ĆQJHUWLS FRQWUROV They also produce simply the EHVW DXGLR ZKLFK ĆQDOO\ PDNHV hi-res streaming content worth the extra cash. Just don’t expect to want to listen to anything less ever again.

KEF’s LS50 follow ups have not-so-quietly just perfected the art of the wireless speaker system with exquisite sound that matches those good looks. Whether you want to enjoy hi-res streams through the KEF Connect app or just make the most of $SSOH $LU3OD\ %OXHWRRWK RU *RRJOHb&KURPHFDVW functionality, the Wireless II deliver in audio spades.

£269, shure.com

£2,250, kef.com

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Great gadgets for work and play

WORK 1

MOSHI SYMBUS MINI 7-IN-1 PORTABLE USB-C HUB

BELKIN BOOST CHARGE PRO 3-IN-1 WIRELESS CHARGER

NETGEAR WIFI 6 ORBI RBK853

RAZER KIYO PRO

The laws of the universe dictate that as laptops get thinner, the hungrier we all are for the perfect USB-C hub. The Moshi Symbus has that DOO LPSRUWDQW +'0, ZLWK . DQG +'5 VXSSRUW DV ZHOO DV Gigabit Ethernet, SD and Micro SD slots, and two USB 3.1 ports. There’s also passthrough to make sure you can charge at the same time.

If your desk has become a spaghetti of tangled wires, you’re not alone. Belkin’s stylish T stand can change all of that with a MagSafe charger IRU \RXU L3KRQH EXLOW LQ Apple Watch charger and a Qi wireless base for your $LU3RGV 3OXV 0DJ6DIH PHDQV you can even turn your phone horizontally to watch YouTube videos while charging.

£99.95, moshi.com

£139.95, apple.com

3 2 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

If you’re sick of your router’s signal dropping just as you get to your favourite armchair, a new next-gen mesh Wi-Fi solution is essential. The T3 3ODWLQXP $ZDUG ZLQQLQJ Netgear Orbi system has Wi-Fi 6 to make sure there are no black spots or slow speeds with multiple devices. Units are available in packs of two, three and four. From £659.99, netgear.co.uk

WDXJKW XV DQ DZIXO ORW RI things. But among the more valuable life lessons was the sheer importance of a good webcam and few get it as ULJKW DV 5D]HUèV .L\R 3UR $Q adaptive light sensor means you’re never going to be left in the dark on Zoom, and uncompressed 1080p visuals at 60fps deliver exceptionally sharp image quality. Just be careful if you’re a naked Canadian politician. £199.99, razer.com

Work 5

PHILIPS 346B1C

Who needs multiple displays clogging up the desk when you can just use one glorious FXUYHG XOWUDZLGH RQH" 3KLOLSVè [ PRQLWRU XVHV D ratio that means you can bin the need for constant stressful cycling through windows and just have everything right in front of you. There’s also a handy USB-C docking station built into the base. £459, amazon.co.uk

MAC MINI ,WèV RIĆFLDO $SSOHèV QHZ 0 FKLS LV GDQJHURXVO\ IDVW DQG WKH Mac Mini is the perfect way WR ĆW DOO WKDW VSHHG DQG SRZHU into your home set-up without having to worry about where on earth you’re going to put it. Wi-Fi 6 is hiding inside that shiny exterior alongside Apple’s latest silicon and the Mac Mini’s competitive price point makes it D WDQWDOLVLQJ 3& UHSODFHPHQW From £699, apple.com

J U N E 2 0 2 1 T3 3 3

Great gadgets for work and play

WORK 1 2

RODE NT-USB MINI

SKY SOLUTIONS GENIUS MAT

HUMANSCALE FLOAT SIT/STAND DESK

HERMAN MILLER AERON

Climbing the microphone ladder usually demands you buy an additional preamp but the Rode NT-USB Mini solves that with excellent recording quality and no need to mess around with XLR cables. Simply plug in via USB WR \RXU 3& 0DF RU HYHQ L3DG and this cardioid mic is ready for podcasting or musical performances. The magnetic desk stand and built-in pop ĆOWHU FRPH LQ KDQG\ WRR

With a massage roller ball and all those different textures, the Genius Mat looks a bit like a playground for your feet. But if you’re using a standing desk, an anti-fatigue mat is essential to keep your legs and spine happy while you go over those work spreadsheets. It’s also completely waterproof for when you eventually spill your tea with one foot on the massage ball.

The ironic thing about standing desks is that you might not always want to stand to use WKHP 7KH +XPDQVFDOH )ORDW Ć[HV DOO RI WKDW ZLWK D UDQJH RI WR LQFKHV ZLWK DQ innovative counterbalance system that means you can alter the height with no need for motors. The minimalist base comes in a choice of two colours and you can even tweak the size of the work surface.

£89, guitarguitar.co.uk

£62.99, amazon.co.uk

From £1,484, humanscale.com

3 4 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

7KH $HURQ LV RIĆFH FKDLU royalty for a reason. Using +HUPDQ 0LOOHUèV 3RVWXUH)LW SL technology, it makes sure that your spine is always in the correct alignment, regardless of your sitting position. Everything is adjustable to make sure you’re in just the right shape for a day at your desk and there’s even a choice of three colours. £1,018, ukstore.hermanmiller.com

Work 5

ROCCAT VULKAN TKL PRO

DELL XPS 13 2-IN-1

For some, chopping off those number keys is considered positively treasonous but if you feel like they’re gathering dust DQG FDQ GHĆQLWHO\ JR WKH 9XONDQ is a perfect choice of keyboard. The minimalist design delivers a small footprint and optical switches mean speedy response times with a satisfyingly noisy clack whether you’re in a Google Doc or mid Destiny 2 raid.

'HOOèV ;36 UDQJH LV DOZD\V HDV\ on the eyes but the new 13-inch LQ PRGHO LV D SDUWLFXODUO\ beautiful sleek wedge design and manages to be ultra-light too. Whether you’re working on it like a standard laptop or making the most of the touch screen and 360 degree hinges in tablet form, this is a powerful 3& ZLWK D VHULRXVO\ LPSUHVVLYH battery life.

£149.99, en.roccat.org

From £1,099, dell.com

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Great gadgets for work and play

PLAY

1 2

SAMSUNG QN95A MINI-LED TV

SENNHEISER MOMENTUM TRUE WIRELESS 2

JBL FLIP 5

LG C1 4K OLED TV

CES 2021’s hottest TV trend LV ĆQDOO\ KHUH 7KH 41 $èV Mini LED technology means that multiple tiny LEDs make up each pixel to deliver a VLJQLĆFDQWO\ EULJKWHU SLFWXUH and more vivid colours. It’s not a cheap innovation but OLED ĆQDOO\ KDV D ZRUWK\ FRPSHWLWRU when it comes to delivering the blackest blacks and richest contrast. Prepare to be wowed by your Blu-ray collection. From £2,199, samsung.com 3 6 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

If you’ve been putting off cutting that earbud cord, Sennheiser’s latest active noise cancelling offerings are the perfect reason to gleefully grab the scissors. Exceptional sound, a 28-hour playtime hiding inside the charging case, and even customisable equalisers via an app all mean that the Momentum True Wireless 2 are everything we could want.

Summer is calling and this means lazy BBQs and sunny adventures, which demand a portable Bluetooth speaker that doesn’t cost the earth. JBL’s Flip 5 comes in a range of bright colours like red, yellow and green – or you could just go black – and is happily waterproof so can endure the untrustworthy British summer. It also just happens to sound absolutely brilliant for all of its 12-hour playtime.

LG’s brand new C1 OLEDs are the follow-up to 2020’s exceptional all-rounder, the LG CX range. The design hasn’t changed and they share a panel but the updated a9 Gen4 AIenhanced processor improves LG’s already ace upscaling. New-gen console owners will also be happy with the new Game Optimiser mode, as well as 120fps gaming at 4K, VRR, and ALLM functionality via HDMI 2.1.

£239, sennheiser.com

£80, jbl.com

From £1,299, lg.com

Play 5

PLAYSTATION 5

B&O BEOSOUND STAGE

Sony’s new-gen behemoth is VWLOO SURYLQJ GLIĆFXOW WR JHW KROG of but is absolutely worth the wait. The internal SSD means you’ll never understand how you coped with wait times before, but it’s the new DualSense controller that truly feels like the future. Haptic responses and adaptive triggers add a whole layer of immersion you just didn’t know you were missing.

8VXDOO\ D ĆUVW WU\ DW VRPHWKLQJ is a bit of a warm up but B&O’s ĆUVW GHGLFDWHG VRXQGEDU MXVW happens to be one of the best single box offerings available. The multi-talented Beosound Stage produces a formidable ZDOO RI VRXQG WKDW ĆOOV WKH room with exceptional Dolby Atmos audio. It also looks approximately 3,000% more stylish than the competition.

£449, game.co.uk

From £1,349, bang-olufsen.com

J U N E 2 0 2 1 T3 37

Great gadgets for work and play

PLAY 2

B&O BEOPLAY PORTAL

GOPRO HERO 9 BLACK

XBOX ELITE WIRELESS CONTROLLER SERIES 2

OCULUS QUEST 2 64GB

Gaming headsets tend to have, well, a certain aesthetic. Which means that when Bang & Olufsen sidle onto the market with a svelte wireless pair of cans optimised for Xbox, it’s too tempting. With adaptive active noise cancelling and Dolby Atmos functionality as well as a virtual boom arm thanks to multiple PLFURSKRQHV ZHèYH ĆQDOO\ JRW a gaming headset we can wear to work too.

*R3URèV QHZ ćDJVKLS LV WKH perfect entry point into the action camera revolution. The Hero 9 comes with a new front display for streamers and VHOĆHV DQG KXJHO\ LPSURYHG stabilisation for those exhilarating active moments you’ll want to freeze forever. You can even shoot in 5K and 4K, as well as grab 20MP stills, and it’s all controlled via an easy-to-use app.

Now that Microsoft’s controllers work on Mac and iPad, there’s never been a better time to invest in Xbox’s premium customisable pad. This way you can spend the evening pillaging hoards of gold in Sea of Thieves before heading to bed for some cosier iOS play. Don’t pretend you don’t want to experiment with trigger tension; we know you can’t wait to.

Put simply, the virtual reality revolution feels within touching distance when you try on Facebook’s latest goggles. The Quest 2 is a UHĆQHG YHUVLRQ RI WKH RULJLQDO PC-free headset sporting impressive visuals and intuitive controllers. Thanks to an update, you can even control the action just with your hands, and there’s a PC link cable available so you don’t miss anything from Steam.

£449, bang-olufsen.com

£329.99, gopro.com

£159.99, microsoft.com

£299, oculus.com

3 8 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

Play 5

PRO-JECT CARBON EVO

How are you meant to post those #nowspinning pics on Instagram without the perfect vinyl player? The iconic Pro-Ject range has evolved over the years with the Carbon EVO now the pinnacle of minimalist design. Pre-installed with an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge on its carbon arm, the EVO is a perfect balance of great audio and surprising affordability. £449, project-audio.com

AUDIO PRO G10

If you’ve outgrown the audio quality of your Google or Amazon device, it’s time to up your smart speaker game and the Audio Pro G10 makes a perfect minimalist Scandi-style upgrade. Google Assistant or Alexa are both on hand for voice control amidst the impressive audio chops, and the G10 also has Bluetooth, Chromecast and AirPlay 2 functionality. £225, audiopro.com

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Great gadgets for work and play

PLAY 1

PHOTOSYNTHESIS

If you’re looking at, well, branching out into board games, Photosynthesis offers up a tree-planting experience for all the family. Unlike many of its contemporaries, this won’t have you endlessly reaching for the manual, and instead just see everyone focusing on being as greenĆQJHUHG DV SRVVLEOH ZLWK WKH pleasingly shaped tree pieces, attempting to grow their seedlings into a large tree.

PHILIPS HUE GRADIENT LIGHTSTRIP

SCOTT ADDICT ERIDE 20

Perfectly happy with your new OLED but can’t stop those green eyes wandering to Philips Ambilight TVs? Here’s your perfect, if expensive, solution. The Hue Gradient Lightstrip comes in 55-inch and LQFK VL]HV DQG ĆWV WR WKH back of your TV to let you bask in glorious reactive lighting effects. You’ll need the Philips HDMI Sync Box (£229.99) to ĆUH DOO \RXU GHYLFHV WKURXJK

If you don’t want it to look obvious that you’ve invested in an ebike then Scott’s solution is for you. The famous F\FOLQJ ĆUP KDV SXW LWV RZQ spin on the formula with an ultra-lightweight frame and no visible mechanical cables. Consider it the choice that will assist you when you need it the most but still let you feel like you’re truly cycling: it’ll get you doing longer, steeper and higher climbs.

ALIENWARE AURORA RYZEN EDITION

Sitting only a few inches taller than the PS5, Alienware’s futuristic Aurora PC case contains a powerful 6 core AMD Ryzen processor and the GPU can be specced up all the way to an Nvidia RTX $b *% 66' FRPHV as standard for speedy Steam loading and there’s even a choice of two colours; Lunar Light and Dark Side of the Moon. The truth is on there.

£33, amazon.co.uk

From £159.99, philips-hue.com

£4,399, scott-sports.com

From £1,249, dell.com

4 0 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

Play 5

DJI FPV

ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS DUO 15 GX550

6XUH GURQH ć\LQJ LV IXQ EXW what about if you are the drone? The DJI FPV comes with a set of JRJJOHV WR WDNH \RXU ćLJKW WUXO\ to the next dimension as you soar through the skies in 4K at 60fps all while feeling safe on WHUUD ĆUPD ,W KDV JRRG EDWWHU\ life, copes with the wind and delivers powerful propulsion. Plus an intuitive control system means it’s not impossible for new pilots.

Because one screen is never enough, even when it comes to a gaming laptop. The Zephyrus Duo includes what Asus is calling an ROG ScreenPad, effectively adding an extra mini display. This allows you to dedicate the lower screen to additional gaming menus, on-hand streaming controls, RUbH[WUD URRP IRU WLPHOLQHV DQGbHGLWLQJ WRROV

£1,249, dji.com

£2,499.99, argos.co.uk

J U N E 2 0 2 1 T3 41

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J U N E 2 0 2 1 T3 4 3

The complete guide to…

4 4 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

Vlogging cameras

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO…

Vlogging cameras

Create, capture and share all of your adventures with these cameras and accessories ideally suited to video content, upping your game from your smartphone for top-quality movies Words: Amy Davies Photography: Neil Godwin

ow really is the ideal time to get into vlogging. You might be forgiven for thinking that the average vlogger is a self-absorbed teenager talking about their lunch, make-up or latest Lego kit, but it can be much more than that – and it can also be pretty lucrative if you ﬁnd a successful niche that attracts a decent audience on your various channels. Perhaps you’re already somebody who has started creating videos and are looking to take the next step. Whatever your level, most vloggers will be looking for something small and light, but powerful enough to deliver the goods. That’s where we come in with our tempting recommendations. Having spent so much time at home over the past year, understandably we are all keen to get back out into the world more than ever before. With an ease in restrictions and a long summer unfolding ahead of us, it’s the perfect time to start exploring outdoor locations again. Not to mention showing oﬀ exactly where

you’ve been and new places you’ve discovered, to anyone and everyone who might be interested. Taking still images is great – but it’s only moving content that will really show oﬀ your adventures to their full potential. Video content is becoming more and more prevalent across all platforms, so it’s worth thinking about how you can approach it yourself. Whether it’s documenting a relatively mild walk around a local beauty spot, a full-on hike up a mountain or just a trip around your nearest town or city, capturing your escapades has never been easier or more accessible.

THE RIGHT KIT When you’re just starting out, you might think that all you need is a simple smartphone – after all, even the most basic mobile can record video, right? While that’s true, the best vloggers (or content creators) use dedicated kit to elevate their videography up from the base level. It’s not just about the quality of the ﬁnished result – cameras that have been speciﬁcally designed with

video in mind are often easier to use, especially for extended periods. For example, many vlogging cameras have fully articulating screens, which help when composing your videos from awkward angles. You’ll also likely have dedicated video modes that oﬀer a variety of frame rates and resolutions available quickly and easily at the touch of a button. Then there’s the ability to use external accessories such as microphones, gimbals and lights too – something which is generally easier with a dedicated device. There’s also something to be said for being able to use your phone as, well, a phone – keeping it free for calls, texting and social media, while your camera is tied up recording content. Almost all cameras these days allow you to ping stills and video over to your phone for quick updates on the go too, so you can enjoy the beneﬁts of both worlds. With vlogging becoming a popular pastime, there is a huge amount of choice on the market now. Some cameras are good

J U N E 2 0 21 T3 45

The complete guide to… The top three…

TOP VLOGGING ACCESSORIES Up your video and vlogging game even further with these ideal accessories for video work 01

ROTOLIGHT NEO 2 A simple yet effective ring-shaped light, the NEO 2 is powered either by mains or batteries. It delivers a bright, even light, ZKLFK LV H[FHOOHQW DV D NH\ RU ĆOO OLJKW DQG LW FDQ DOVR EH PRGLĆHG ZLWK RWKHU DFFHVVRULHV £166.66, rotolight.com

RODE WIRELESS GO A superb miniature mic system that you can take anywhere, this wireless, rechargeable battery-powered microphone will instantly elevate the quality of your vlogging by improving sound. It’s easy to use, too. £149, rode.com

DJI RSC 2 A gimbal is used to help create supersmooth professional-looking footage. This gimbal is for DSLRs/mirrorless cameras, being compatible with devices up to 3kg. The results from it are simply superb. £389, dji.com 4 6 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

all-rounders, which work well as both stills and video cameras, while others have focused their primary attentions on vloggers and YouTubers. There’s also a range of options at diﬀerent price points, so you should be able to ﬁnd something suitable no matter your particular budget.

CHOOSING A CAMERA There’s quite a bit to think about when it comes to picking your way through the various options for vlogging. The first thing you should probably consider is your own personal style of vlogging, and the type of content you want to create. That should help you make a more informed choice than just opting for a camera that has been described by the manufacturer as ideal for vloggers. If you’re somebody who intends to do a lot of ‘walking and talking’ style videos – particularly prevalent with those who are recording trips and days out – then a number of factors will be crucial. You’ll need good image stabilisation to keep your footage as smooth as possible, a front-facing or articulating screen to help you frame yourself as you’re walking along, and preferably the ability to add a microphone for the best sound quality. For those that are particularly adventurous, something which offers waterproofing and tough credentials is a must-have, but if you generally keep on dry land, it’ll be the other factors that are more important. On the other hand, if you’re somebody who intends to vlog from your bedroom, then your list of demands will be slightly different. You will be likely less bothered by the microphone input for example, but will be keen for something with a wide-angle lens (or the ability to add one).

Size is definitely something to think about too. Again, that will depend on the type of vlogger you are – or intend to be. Small, pocketable cameras are the obvious choice for many – especially travelling vloggers – since they’ll be ready to go at a moment’s notice and won’t take up too much room in your kit bag. But there’s a trade off here, as you won’t be granted the same kind of creative control as larger cameras – particularly when it comes to swapping out lenses to suit specific shooting scenarios. You’ll also want to look out for cameras that offer a good range of video-centric accessories, or are compatible with thirdparty tools such as lighting and sound. That’s especially true the more into it – and the more ‘professional’ – you intend to be. Battery life is worth considering, again depending on when and where you intend to do your shooting. If you’re likely to be out all day, it’s no good having something with a poor battery life – but there are ways around that, including external battery power packs and investing in a second (or third) battery. There’s a variety of different video frame rates and resolutions to think about these days too. The default option for most modern devices is 4K at 30p. For smoother footage, look out for those that offer 60p, while some models are even starting to offer 8K shooting as well. Some cameras will apply a ‘crop’

The ﬁrst thing you should consider is your own personal style of vlogging

Vlogging cameras T3 recommends...

BEST CAMS FOR TOP CONTENT CREATION No matter your vlogging style – or budget – we’ve got a camera for your needs

ALL-ROUNDER

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One of the best all-round cameras, this is a great choice if you want to shoot lots of different types of content. It records uncropped 4K/30p video, while there’s also a set of vlogging-friendly features, such as in-body image stabilisation

(IBIS), Full HD at up to 240p (for slow motion), F-Log recording, and more. It’s also relatively small, with an articulating screen and a fantastic set of compatible lenses and accessories.

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Choosing between the various cameras on the market that are ideal for vlogging can be tricky. We’ve selected a diverse range here, to suit different types of content creators, as well as one which should work well as a good ‘all-rounder’. Whether you’re serious about vlogging or just getting started, there’s something for you here. We’ve also selected cameras that slot into different price points. From the cheap, pocket-friendly and adventure proof GoPro HERO 9 Black, to the most expensive, the super flexible Panasonic S5, you can get started with video creation and share your adventures right away with our selection.

ADVENTURE

GOPRO HERO 9 BLACK The go-to name in action vlogging, the HERO 9 Black has some advanced features. For example, there’s 5K/30p video, along with a HyperSmooth Boost stabilisation mode for silky smooth footage at all resolutions and frame rates.

A new useful feature is a frontfacing screen – particularly appealing to vloggers who want to frame themselves while shooting to camera. It’s also waterproof, so you really can take it everywhere.

£329.98, gopro.com

POCKET ROCKET

FULL-FRAMER

621< =9

PANASONIC S5

The perfect pocket-friendly camera for vloggers on the go, WKH =9 KDV VSHFLĆFDOO\ EHHQ designed with this type of content creation in mind. You get a 3x optical zoom lens, a front-facing screen, real-time tracking and Eye

AF, plus video friendly options such as S-Log2 recording and 4K at 30p. Video modes such as ‘background defocus’ and ‘product showcase’ are a quick way to make professional-looking videos, too.

£699, sony.co.uk

The Panasonic S5 brings fullframe shooting in a small and light body. It can capture 10-bit 4K internally, cropped 4K at 60p and uncropped 4K at 30p. Other video-friendly features include V-Log, time-lapses, dual native ISO

and anamorphic 4K. In-body image stabilisation works well and there’s a wide range of accessories and lenses. This is higher-end than the others here, so ideal for anyone starting to get truly serious.

£1,699, panasonic.com J U N E 2 0 21 T3 47

The complete guide to…

you to stream live to your audience for those who want to shoot on the ﬂy.

PAY SCALES Finally, you will also need to think about budget – especially if you are just starting out. You can pick up a good camera that is suitable for vlogging for under £750, but you should also factor in accessories, including any potential extra batteries and lenses when doing your costings. The higher-end you go, the more you’ll be likely to pay. However, with some cameras you can start oﬀ with the basic package, adding more to it as you progress – a good option if you don’t want to part with a lot of cash up front. You

when shooting at 4K and/or at 60p, which will mean you’ll need an ultra-wide angle lens to get as much as the scene in as possible – so again, keep an eye on such specifications when choosing the camera for you, particularly if you’re going to be recording yourself talking to camera. Lens choice is definitely something to think about if you’re going down the interchangeable lens camera route. Check a company’s line-up to see what they offer, and if it matches with the type of content you favour. For example, ultra wide-angles, weatherproof options, or even specialist optics such as macros and fish-eyes.

Connectivity is important if you’re hoping to vlog on the go. Whether that’s via livestreaming or sending clips over to your phone for uploading to your various channels, being able to hook up your content to the eyeballs you want to see it is all important. As a minimum, look for cameras that oﬀer Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity, and look for those with well-featured accompanying smartphone apps. Some will automatically transfer videos to you without you even having to do anything – which is great for hassle-free sharing. Some cameras even have speciﬁc YouTube and Instagram modes, allowing

You can pick up a good camera that is suitable for vlogging for under £750 might also want to think about the secondhard market, which offers some great options as manufacturers bring out newer models. We’ve chosen a selection of different cameras on the previous pages. There you’ll find something suited to a variety of different users, so there should be something that appeals. But remember, this is just a starting point and there’s lots of other potential options on the market.

EASY TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR VLOGGING Use this straightforward advice to take your vlogs from good to great FLAWLESS FRAMING

One of the advantages of a tilting or articulating screen is the ability to frame yourself well when presenting to camera. A simple way to frame yourself is to use the ‘rule of thirds’, whereby you divide the frame vertically and horizontally into thirds, placing the subject (you) at the intersection of the thirds. You could also aim for balance – where both sides of the frame are roughly equal – for example if you have something in the background of your shot. Finally, if you are presenting to camera, remember to look at the lens, rather than the screen for better contact with the viewer.

SUBLIME LIGHTING

If you’re vlogging in an outdoor location, the chances are the light will be good. At home, 4 8 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

or indoors, it might seem like the light is decent to your eyes, but it won’t necessarily be the case for your camera. You could invest LQ VSHFLĆF OLJKWLQJ DFFHVVRULHV VXFK DV D VRIW box or a ring light – but you could also try ĆOPLQJ QHDU D ODUJH ZLQGRZ ZKLFK ZLOO DFW OLNHbD JLDQW VRIW ER[ RQ \RXU IDFH GXULQJ daylight hours, obviously).

AWESOME AUDIO

When you use the inbuilt microphone in a camera, the quality will be tolerable in some situations, and downright awful in others – such as if you’re walking in a busy location, or are on the side of a windy cliff. Again, there are plenty of accessories available to improve the sound quality but you need to make sure your camera has the ability to accept an external microphone. At the basic, value end

of the scale, you’ll be looking at clip-on wired mics, while more-expensive, higher-quality wireless mics will provide even better audio.

EXPERT EDITING

Good video content has been carefully edited to only include the best, most pertinent information. People get easily bored, so being as strict as you can with your editing will reap rewards in terms of getting people to watch to the end. Make every frame count, to ensure your viewers don’t click onto another account. It can also help to edit together different types of shots in succession, rather than one long static shot. Get to grips with even a simple editing software – popular options include iMovie, Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro – to bring a tighter edit that helps you to look professional.

Budget-friendly earbuds

BUDGET-FRIENDLY EARBUDS

Look ma, no wires! We round up the best and most affordable earbuds that you’ll barely notice you have in your lugs Words: Becca Caddy

5 0 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

Budget-friendly earbuds

JABRA ELITE ACTIVE 65T The Jabras have an understated design more stylish than the competition. They’re easy-to-use DQG \RX JHW ĆYH KRXUV IURP RQH FKDUJH DQG KRXUV ZLWK WKH FKDUJLQJ FDVH 'HVLJQHG ZLWK ĆWQHVV LQ PLQG WKH\ RIIHU D FRPI\ ĆW DQG LQWHJUDWHG PRWLRQ VHQVRU £69.99, jabra.co.uk

LYPERTEK PUREPLAY Z3

ENACFIRE E60

AUKEY EP-T21 MOVE COMPACT

Lypertek is an up-and-coming audio brand with a pair of true wireless earbuds that gives some of the high-end devices a run for their money – all for under £100. These buds offer you exceptional sound, as well as 10 hours of battery life in the buds and 70 hours with the case – the mightiest charging case on our list. £99, amazon.co.uk

One of the cheapest pairs of true wireless earbuds you can buy, the sound you get from them is reliable and punchy. Design-wise there isn’t much to write home about, but they do have an IPX8 rating, which means they’re waterproof. A great option if you’re looking for a solid pair of buds to take to the gym. £25.49, amazon.co.uk

You don’t have to spend a small fortune to get reliable sound quality in a good-looking package. Like many true wireless earbuds, these look like AirPods with a minimal design that KDQJV GRZQ IURP \RXU HDU 7KH\ EULQJ \RX ĆYH hours of playback on one charge and 25 hours total if you top them up using their case. £19.99, amazon.co.uk J U N E 2 0 21 T3 51

Budget-friendly earbuds

CAMBRIDGE AUDIO MELOMANIA 1 These earbuds from Cambridge Audio bring you sound quality that’s impressive enough to compete with a pair twice the price. They’re lightweight – 4.6g per bud – stylish, and a custom ĆW NHHSV RXW DPELHQW QRLVH <RXèOO JHW DQ LPSUHVVLYH QLQH KRXUV RI FRQWLQXRXV SOD\ ZKLFK \RX FDQ bump up to 45 hours with the accompanying charging case. £99.95, cambridgeaudio.com

TRIBIT FLYBUDS 3

EARFUN FREE

JLAB AUDIO JBUDS AIR

Proving you can get a reliable pair of earbuds for under £40, the FlyBuds 3 offer solid audio performance and deep bass. You’ve got 100 hours of playback time with the charging case, which also doubles as a power bank for juicing up your phone. With an IPX7 rating they’re also sport, gym and splash-friendly. £39.99, amazon.co.uk

For a good pair of earbuds built for all-day listening, try the EarFun Free. They last six hours on one charge and 30 hours using their case. An excellent option for working out, these earbuds boast an IPX7 waterproof rating and stay put in your ears thanks to their ergonomic design and choice of ear tips. £39.98, amazon.co.uk

The JBuds Air True might not offer the best sound performance or battery life on the list, but they’re a decent pair of true wireless earbuds nonetheless. They bring you six hours of battery life and 18 hours if you put them in their charging case. An IP55 rating makes them dust and water-resistant. £49.99, amazon.co.uk

52 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

Budget-friendly earbuds

ANKER SOUNDCORE LIFE P2 These Anker earbuds have a similar, minimal design to the popular Apple AirPods, but for a fraction of the price. Each bud is light and comfortable – you choose the silicon tip to suit you. 7KHbVRXQG TXDOLW\ LV JRRG DQG \RXèOO JHW VHYHQ KRXUV RI OLVWHQLQJ IURP WKHVH å XS WR LI \RX XVHbWKH FKDUJLQJ FDVH £29.99, amazon.co.uk

MPOW X3

EARFUN AIR PRO

JLAB EPIC AIR

Another pair of earbuds with the Apple AirPods aesthetic, these true wireless buds from Mpow support active noise cancellation and deliver immersive sound. They offer seven hours of playback and an additional 23 with WKH FKDUJLQJ FDVH *HW D FXVWRP ĆW ZLWK VL[ different ear tips to choose from. £59.99, amazon.co.uk

The true wireless earbuds on this list might have similar specs, but not all of them offer solid noise cancellation like the Air Pro buds. They also look different to the rest, with an angular and stylish build. Expect a whole nine hours of listening time, seven hours with ANC on, and up to 32 hours with the charging case. £69.99, amazon.co.uk

Another pair of earbuds that packs active noise cancellation into a tiny, true wireless package. The Epic Air buds from Jlab are a solid choice if you’re looking for a pair of earbuds under £80 with a bunch of features. They bring you 12 hours of playback time, which can be extended to well over 40 hours with the charging case. £79.99, amazon.co.uk J U N E 2 0 21 T3 5 3

Budget-friendly earbuds

PLANTRONICS BACKBEAT FIT 3100 These earbuds have been designed with working out in mind. They’re sweat and water-resistant with a design that’s built for comfort and staying put around your ears. They’re also open to ambient noise, which means you can hear what’s going on around you. This is ideal for running RXWGRRUV EXW VRPH PLJKW ĆQG WKH DXGLR ODFNLQJ £64.68, amazon.co.uk

LYPERTEK SOUNDFREE S20

JLAB GO AIR TRUE

JBL REFLECT MINI

Another pair of true wireless earbuds from Lypertek, this time with an even nicer price tag than the PurePlay Z3. There’s great audio performance, easy Bluetooth pairing, a minimal design and eight hours of battery on one charge, which can be extended to more than 40 hours with the charging case. £69.99, amazon.co.uk

Another budget pair of earbuds, the Go Air True from JLab cost under £25. You get what you pay for in terms of sound quality – these won’t beat the pricier additions to this list – but could make a good pair of back-up buds. With an IPX5 rating they’re sweatproof, so could also be a solid staple for your gym bag. £24.99, amazon.co.uk

One of the more expensive options on our list, WKH 5HćHFW 0LQL IURP -%/ ERDVW VHYHQ KRXUV of battery from a single charge and another 14 hours in the charging case. They deliver strong bass and decent audio. The design makes them VHFXUH DQG FRXSOHG ZLWK ,3; ZDWHUSURRĆQJ they’re a good choice for workouts. £108, jbl.com

5 4 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

Budget-friendly earbuds

SKULLCANDY SESH EVO One of only a few true wireless buds with different colour options, including blue, green, grey, black and red, the Sesh Evo from Skullcandy offer a full 24 hours of listening time with their charging case. They deliver great audio performance, along with a choice of different EQ modes that optimise your listening, whether that’s music, movies or podcasts. £49.99, amazon.co.uk

RHA TRUECONNECT 2

SONY WF-XB700

URBANISTA LONDON

If your budget can goes north of £100, you might want to consider the TrueConnect 2 from RHA. These AirPod lookalikes have a simple design and deliver good sound and call quality. There’s no active noise cancellation, which is a shame, but there is a massive 44 hours of combined battery with the case. £129.99, amazon.co.uk

Sony consistently delivers great sound with its audio devices and the WF-XB700 true wireless buds are no exception. These affordable earbuds have an 18-hour combined battery life with the charging case, IPX4 sweat resistance DQG D FRPIRUWDEOH ĆW SHUIHFW IRU DOO GD\ listening. Sadly, they lack noise cancellation. £69, amazon.co.uk

Great-looking AirPod lookalikes – bonus points that they come in black, dark blue, rose gold and white. These earbuds offer quality sound, 25 hours of battery with the charging case, as well as noise cancellation, which might not compete with the more expensive options but is solid given the sub-£100 price tag. £99, amazon.co.uk J U N E 2 0 21 T3 55

Not just a pretty face

JUST FACE

NOT A PRETTY

Fresh from Watches and Wonders 2021, we’ve collected together the most spellbinding new timepieces of the year for you Words: Spencer Hart

Instead of journalists and watch enthusiasts ﬂocking to a usually sleepy corner of Switzerland for the largest and most impressive watch show in the world, this year we were all glued to our computer screens for Watches and Wonders 2021. Glitzy stands ﬁlling the cavernous exhibition centre in Basel have been replaced 5 6 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

by live streams and digital press centres, but one thing hasn’t changed – we’re seeing the best innovation and invention horology has to oﬀer, with announcements from Rolex, TAG Heuer, Hublot, Tudor and many more… T3 joined the digital fray to bring you the show’s latest releases. Behold the best watches announced at Watches and Wonders 2021.

Watches

TUDOR BLACK BAY FIFTY-EIGHT 925

IWC BIG PILOT’S WATCH 43

ROLEX EXPLORER 36MM

The name of the radiant Black %D\ )LIW\ (LJKW LV RI FRXUVH a reference to the purity of WKH SUHFLRXV PHWDO RI LWV FDVH å VWHUOLQJ VLOYHU 7KH PP GLYH ZDWFK IHDWXUHV D PDWW VDWLQ ĆQLVK and modern taupe dial. Inside is WKH PDQXIDFWXUH FDOLEUH 07 which can be viewed through the RSHQ FDVH EDFN ,WèV FHUWLĆHG E\ COSC with a hairspring in silicon DQG D KRXU SRZHU UHVHUYH $ORQJVLGH WKH 7XGRU DOVR announced the Black Bay FiftyEight 18K, which, yep, is crafted from 18ct yellow gold.

An authentic interpretation of the iconic design with HQKDQFHGbHUJRQRPLFV wearability, and a clear dial without either a date window or a power reserve display. Inside is the IWC-manufactured FDOLEUH ZLWK D ZLQGLQJ system that uses the rotor’s smallest movements to wind the mainspring. It also features components made of virtually wear-free zirconium oxide ceramic. When fully wound, the mainspring stores an impressive KRXUV RI SRZHU

The new-generation Oyster Perpetual Explorer is presented LQ D PP FDVH å WKH VDPH VL]H as the original model launched LQ ZKLFK ZDV RI FRXUVH the year that Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay, wearing a Rolex, conquered Everest. Almost everything has been upgraded, the Chromalight lume is brighter, equipped with the FDOLEUH DQG QRZ DYDLODEOH in either Steel-only or Rolesor bi-metal versions. The Explorer II also got updated with the FDOLEUH DQG EHQHĆWV IURP the new Chromalight display.

£3,230, tudorwatch.com

£8,000, IWC.com

From £5,150, rolex.com

HERMÈS H08

Although it’s not a traditional watch brand, Hermès always manages to wow us. The new Hermès H08 watch features a timeless sporting-inspired design, combining taut and ćRZLQJ OLQHV 7KH PP cushion-shaped case features DbVFUHZ GRZQ FURZQ DQG KRXVHV the mechanical self-winding 0DQXIDFWXUH +HUPªV + movement. You can choose WKH + ZLWK D JUDSKHQH ĆOOHG composite case, topped by a satin-brushed ceramic bezel and black gold-coated dial, or more traditional titanium models. From £4,440, hermes.com

J U N E 2 0 2 1 T3 5 7

Not just a pretty face

TAG HEUER AQUARACER PROFESSIONAL 300

MONTBLANC 1858 GEOSPHERE LIMITED EDITION

PANERAI LUMINOR MARINA ESTEEL

BVLGARI OCTO FINISSIMO PERPETUAL CALENDAR

£TBC, bulgari.com

Behold the new generation of TAG Heuer Aquaracer! 7KH QHZbXSGDWH LV HQWLUHO\ contemporary yet recalls a legacy that TAG Heuer began PRUH WKDQ \HDUV DJR with the striking, instantly recognisable aesthetic that is epitomised by the Aquaracer’s IDFHWHG EH]HO $OPRVW HYHU\ aspect of this beautiful watch has been updated, from the thinner and lighter case to WKHbXSJUDGHG VDSSKLUH JODVV DQGbUH HQJLQHHUHG URWDWLQJ EH]HObPHFKDQLVP

With two distinctive domed turning hemisphere globes and in-house world time complication, the Montblanc *HRVSKHUH EHFDPH DQ instant hit. Montblanc has now unveiled a new limited edition model that pays tribute to Reinhold Messner’s solo trek DFURVV WKH *REL GHVHUW LQ Reproducing the rocky terrain colour scheme, the timepiece harmoniously combines a satinĆQLVKHG EURQ]H FDVH ZLWK D special engraving on the back.

As a step in Panerai’s commitment to reduce the need for virgin material extraction, J RI WKH /XPLQRU 0DULQD eSteel components are made of recycled-based materials, FRUUHVSRQGLQJ WR RI the total weight of the watch. Panerai made sure that eSteel meets the same rigorous standards demanded of the steel cases that preceded it, and exhibits the identical chemical behaviour, physical structure and resistance to corrosion as DbQRQ UHF\FOHG DOOR\

From £2,500, tagheuer.com

£5,400, montblanc.com

£7,600, panerai.com

5 8 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

Octo Finissimo has become a Haute Horlogerie icon in a very short space of time, and, after exploring ultra-miniaturisation LQ WKH ĆHOGV RI WKH DXWRPDWLF movement as well as the minute repeater, chronograph and tourbillon, Bvlgari has now released the Octo Finissimo Perpetual Calendar, the slimmest in the world, no less. 7KH PP FDVH KRXVHV WKH PP FDOLEUH PDGH XS RI components. It’s available in WKHbçVLJQDWXUHè WLWDQLXP DV ZHOO as a platinum version.

Watches

CARTIER TANK MUST

ZENITH DEFY EXTREME

HUBLOT BIG BANG INTEGRAL TOURBILLON FULL SAPPHIRE

Taking the mood back to the ’80s, Cartier has relaunched the Tank Must. The new range is available in three monochromatic colours (red, blue and green) and favours minimalist dials. A separate version of the Tank Must features a true technical IHDW å LQYLVLEOH KROHV SXQFKHG in the Roman numerals. This allows solar energy to reach the photovoltaic cells hidden under the dial. The SolarBeat movement has a battery life of RYHU \HDUV DQG DOVR IHDWXUHV a bracelet composed of around SODQW PDWWHU

Zenith is taking things up to 11 with its new all-terrain 1/100th of a second chronograph. ,W IHDWXUHV D ODUJHU PP case, sharper lines, more pronounced edges, and an overall silhouette that exudes robustness, and resilience. The design is reinforced by the addition of components protecting the pushers, and screw-down crown. The Defy Extreme pushes the boundaries with a water-resistance of PHWUHV å DQ LPSUHVVLYH IHDW IRUbD FKURQRJUDSK ZLWK DbGLVSOD\bFDVHEDFN

Working with the idea that çOHVV LV PRUHè +XEORW KDV taken its Art of Fusion to its ultimate conclusion with a new integrated bracelet and case made entirely from sapphire, which Hublot has yet again proven it has expertise working with. The clear case allows you WR VHH WKH +8% DXWRPDWLF manufacture calibre, designed and manufactured in-house, beating at its heart, while the clear bracelet provides a view of your wrist hair in all its glory.

£TBC, cartier.com

£15,300, zenith-watches.com

£349,000, hublot.com

JAEGER-LECOULTRE REVERSO HYBRIS MECHANICA CALIBRE 185 QUADRIPTYQUE $ ZRUOGèV ĆUVW D GRXEOH IDFHG case continuously driven by WKH LQ KRXVH &DOLEUH DQG with a double-faced cradle with indications synced and updated by the primary movement every day at the stroke of midnight by an ingenious mechanical system. If executed through conventional mechanical means, the 11 complications of this watch would result in DbWLPHSLHFH IDU PRUH VXLWHG IRU DbGHVN WKDQ D ZULVW £POA, jaeger-lecoultre.com

J U N E 2 0 2 1 T3 59

Competition

WIN! AN ESSENTIAL GAMING STORAGE BUNDLE FROM WD_BLACK

Sooner or later every hardcore gamer comes up against the same old enemy: the game library that’s too big for your PC or console’s storage. And with next-gen gaming and the move to 4K making games even bigger, it’s never been more important to make as much room as possible. That’s why this prize bundle from WD_BLACK™ is an absolute must-have for gamers who are tired of deleting their hard-earned progress. One lucky gamer is going to walk away with a package worth £1,000: a supercharged WD_ BLACK SN850 NVMe™ SSD with an astonishing read speed of up to 7000MB/s ; a plug-and-play PCIe add-in card, the WD_BLACK AN1500; and a sleek, easy-to-use docking station, the WD_ BLACK D50 Game Dock. It’s a brilliant bundle of incredibly fast upgrades that enable you to stop worrying and keep gaming. The WD_BLACK SN850 NVMe SSD is irrationally fast, eliminating long load times and delivering up to 1 million IOPs for a smooth,

responsive and powerful gaming experience. With storage options up to 2TB , read speeds of up to 7,000Mb/s and write speeds of up to 5,300Mb/s, it’s truly extraordinary. The WD_BLACK AN1500 is no slouch either. Its two PCIe Gen 3 SSDs reach extreme velocity: up to 6,500Mb/s read and 4,100Mb/s write speeds with up to 4TB of storage. That means more room for games and more responsive gaming. The WD_BLACK D50 Game Dock is a brilliant combination of extreme performance and maximum connectivity that turns your laptop into a fully integrated gaming station. Its one-cable Thunderbolt 3 connection gives you a host of high-speed connections including DisplayPort 1.4, two 10Gb/s USB-Cs, three 10Gb/s USB-As, Gigabit Ethernet and an audio in/out. And if you go for the SSD model, you also get high-performance storage running at up to 3,000Mb/s read and 2,500Mb/s write.

With a single cable and the D50 Game Dock you can connect an additional screen up to 5K resolution as well as your mouse, keyboard, headset and Ethernet for a fully immersive gaming experience. It’s the business! These three devices could be yours. To enter, simply answer the following question:

HOW FAST IS THE WD_ BLACK SN850 NVMe SSD? Incredibly fast Astonishingly fast Irrationally fast Got it? Then enter your answer and contact details online at bit.ly/ t3WDcomp. If you’re the lucky winner, we’ll let you know by 8 July.

1 Based on read speed and internal testing. As used for transfer rate, megabyte per second (MB/s) = one million bytes per second. 3HUIRUPDQFH ZLOO YDU\ GHSHQGLQJ RQ \RXU KDUGZDUH DQG VRIWZDUH FRPSRQHQWV DQG FRQĆJXUDWLRQV 2 ,236 LQSXW RXWSXW RSHUDWLRQV SHU VHFRQG 3HUIRUPDQFH ZLOO YDU\ GHSHQGLQJ RQ \RXU KDUGZDUH DQG VRIWZDUH FRPSRQHQWV DQG FRQĆJXUDWLRQV 3 As used for storage capacity, one gigabyte (GB) = one billion bytes and one terabyte (TB) = one trillion bytes. Total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment. Terms and conditions: %\ WDNLQJ SDUW LQ WKLV FRPSHWLWLRQ \RX DJUHH WR EH ERXQG E\ WKH WHUPV DQG FRQGLWLRQV EHORZ DQG WKH FRPSHWLWLRQ UXOHV ZZZ IXWXUHSOF FRP FRPSHWLWLRQ UXOHV b7KH FRPSHWLWLRQ RSHQV RQ 0D\ DQG FORVHV DW SP %67 PLGQLJKW RQ -XQH /DWH RU LQFRPSOHWH HQWULHV ZLOO EH GLVTXDOLĆHG 2SHQ WR DOO UHVLGHQWV RI *UHDW %ULWDLQ RQO\ DJHG \HDUV DQG RYHU H[FHSW HPSOR\HHV RI )XWXUH Publishing Limited (“Future”) or Western Digital Inc. Entries limited to one per household. There will be one winner entitled to a WD_BLACK SN850 NVMe SSD with an 7,000MB/s read speed; a plug-and-play 3&,H DGG LQ FDUG WKH :'B%/$&. $1 DQG WKH :'B%/$&. ' *DPH 'RFN 7KH ZLQQHU ZLOO EH GUDZQ DW UDQGRP IURP DOO YDOLG HQWULHV UHFHLYHG DQG VKDOO EH QRWLĆHG E\ )XWXUH ZLWKLQ GD\V RI WKH FORVLQJ date and will be required to supply details of a delivery address. If the winner has not responded after 28 days, an alternative winner will be drawn. This competition is sponsored by Western Digital Inc who will deliver the prize. Any personal details collected will only be used to send the prize and not for any marketing purposes unless you have opted in to receive them. Future/Western Digital Inc reserve the right to substitute any product with an alternative product of equivalent value. Use of automated devices or methods of submission are not valid forms of entry. The prize is non-transferable and non-refundable. There is no cash alternative. No purchase required. Void where prohibited.

6 0 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

12 best BBQs for summer

BEST

BBQs FOR

SUMMER Whether your favoured fuel is charcoal, gas or pellets, make your summer sizzle with these glorious grills

J U N E 2 0 21 T3 61

12 best BBQs for summer

CHARCOAL

WEBER MASTERTOUCH GBS E-5750

When your friends start calling you Crispin because you carbonise every meal you barbecue, you know it’s time to embrace convection-based kettle cooking. The Master-Touch GBS E-5750 is a doddle to use. Simply put the crescent-shaped charcoal baskets on either side of the bowl. Leave the lid off, light the charcoal and retreat for about 25 minutes. Now drop your food onto the ample 57cm plated steel grate, put the lid on and go chat to your guests. It’s also designed to accept Weber’s Gourmet BBQ System of optional inserts. Just remove the grate’s centre section and drop in the sear grate, pizza stone, Dutch oven or poultry roaster. £313.95, harrods.com 62 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

LOTUSGRILL XXL

Do your neighbours hate you because of the plumes of smoke your barbecue creates? You need a near-smokeless charcoal offering from LotusGrill, guvnor. It uses two fans to speed up the charcoal ignition process. According to the blurb, it takes only a few minutes for the charcoal to reach cooking temperature. Even during the cooking process this thing creates less smoke than other models, doing so by dint of a rather unique charcoal loading method and an integrated steel shield to stop fats from dripping onto the coals. The downside is that food isn’t UHDOO\ LQIXVHG ZLWK D VPRN\ ćDYRXU – there’s a glass lid available at heavy cost that will contain the small amount of smoke it produces. The upside is rapid heating and almost smokeless cooking. £450, lotusgrill.co.uk

CHAR-BROIL KETTLEMAN

The Char-Broil Kettleman delivers everything you would want from a charcoal grill, and doesn’t break the bank balance in order to do so. It has a hinged lid with built in temperature gauge and locking mechanism. The ash collector also KDV D VQXJ ĆW DQG LV HDVLO\ DFFHVVHG for ash removal, while the topmounted damper makes increasing and decreasing the temperature with the lid closed easy. In terms of cooking, you’ve got more than enough room to cook food for a medium-sized family or gathering, with a 56cm diameter grilling grate on offer. Throw in a bunch of useful (and affordable) accessories such as a Kettleman Grill Cover and Cleaning Brush and you’ve got a strong all-round charcoal-powered barbecue grill that will cater to all but the largest of events. £189.99, amazon.co.uk

TEPRO TORONTO CLICK

This German-designed charcoal BBQ isn’t the most premium but you’d need to look far and wide for a more thoughtfully designed model at this price. What really impresses here is WKH UDIW RI FOHYHU GHVLJQ ćRXULVKHV Wind the handle on the right and the charcoal section moves from 22cm to within 6cm of the cooking grate, making grilling a breeze. And the handle in the middle opens a door to allow for easy shovelling of extra charcoal as required. The main grate, meanwhile, measures 54cm x 42cm – enough meal estate for at least a party of eight. And the grate’s removable centre section can be replaced with a host of cooking accessories, including a cast iron wok, a pizza stone and a cast iron Dutch oven. £92.78, amazon.co.uk

12 best BBQs for summer

GAS

CHAR-BROIL ALL-STAR 120

This compact single-burner gas grill is a right cracker. Its 46cm circular cast iron grate is similar to that of a standard Weber kettle and we love the way that it sits ćXVK ZLWK WKH VXUIDFH RI WKH PDLQ ERG\ ,W DOVR ĆUHV XS LQVWDQWO\ with a single touch of its batterypowered igniter. The All-Star’s circular single burner heats the grate to a maximum temperature of about 350ºC and, because it has one of Char-Broil’s innovative corrugated heat-distributing TRU-Infrared sheets directly beneath it, the entire grate is heated evenly. The top half of this barbecue comes with its own separate set of sturdy legs so it can be lifted off the main stand and placed on a table or easily transported in DbFDUDYDQ RU 59 £379.99, very.com

EVERDURE BY HESTON BLUMENTHAL FORCE 2 BURNER <RX ZRQèW ĆQG D PRUH DHVWKHWLFDOO\ pleasing gas grill than this strikingly simple (if slightly pricey) model, approved by slaphead food sorcerer Heston Blumenthal. The two-burner Force is a joy to use, doesn’t take up too much space and heats up very quickly – just four minutes to reach a searing temperature of 350ºC. Build quality is exemplary. This ĆQH VODE RI DUWLVWLF PLQLPDOLVP comes with four heavy-duty legs, tough wheels, a rust-free aluminium frame and a thick aluminium hood that ensures the food is cooked evenly with very little intervention from the chef. £649, johnlewis.com

CHAR-BROIL NAPOLEON PERFORMANCE ROGUE SE 220B 625 RSIB Turn your patio into a Texan yard with this stainless steelclad, two-burner gas model. The Performance comes with a chunky 47cm porcelain-coated, cast-iron grate and uses ‘infrared’ technology – basically a couple of perforated corrugated steel sheets above the burners – to ensure an even cooking temperature across the entire surface. The Performance is one of the best-built budget-priced gas BBQs KHUH EXW ĆJXUH LQ D FRXSOH RI KRXUV to assemble it. The infrared sheets also require regular cleaning or they won’t perform to their best DELOLW\ ,W ĆUHV RII D NJ 3DWLR *DV ERWWOH UHĆOOV DURXQG e ZKLFK tucks neatly away beneath the grill and provides around 15 touch-ofa-button banquets. £304.35, amazon.co.uk

This is not so much a barbecue as a restaurant kitchen on wheels: WKHUH DUH ĆYH PDLQ EXUQHUV DQG a rotisserie burner. The side and rotisserie burners are infra-red for high-heat searing and slow spit roasting, and the gas burners boast a state-of-the-art ignition V\VWHP ZLWK LQGLYLGXDO ćDPH MHWV for each burner and cross-lighting brackets that can automatically light the adjacent burners if one JRHV RXW RUbIDLOV WR OLJKW There’s a folding prep area to give you more room to work, a weather-resistant storage area, DbFDVW LURQ DOXPLQLXP ĆUH ER[ DQG porcelain-coated, rust-resistant wave grids for those all-important sear marks. Napoleon is so sure its Rogue SE is built to last, it offers a standard 15-year warranty. £2,099.99, napoleon.com J U N E 2 0 21 T3 6 3

12 best BBQs for summer

PELLETS & KAMADOS

WEBER SUMMIT KAMADO

Weber’s iconic kettle barbecues are rightly famous for their classic style and useful One Touch cleaning system, and the Weber Summit Kamado brings the same mix of good looks and great design to those of us who like to grill low and slow. It enables you to do the NLQG RI FRRNLQJ WKDW EHQHĆWV IURP a long time over a low heat. The 61cm cooking area is big enough to feed a crowd, the dual-wall insulation keeps the heat in for all-day cooking and WKH çUDSLGĆUHè OLG GDPSHU KHOSV you get your grill up to the right temperature thanks to chimneyVW\OH DLUćRZ £1,048.95, weber.com 6 4 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

WEBER SMOKEFIRE EX4 0DQ\ EDUEHFXH DĆFLRQDGRV VZHDU by pellet grilling because it infuses food with a truly authentic wood VPRNH ćDYRXU +RZHYHU WKH vast majority of pellet grills can’t properly sear steak at really high temperature – and that’s where the Weber SmokeFire comes in. Weber’s replaced the wide steel KHDW UHćHFWRU FRPPRQ WR RWKHU models with its famous stainless steel ‘Flavorizer’ bars. This means that, at its highest heat setting (315ºC), any steak thrown on the grill receives a good searing. Weber has also developed a short and steeply inclined pellet auger WKDW SUHYHQWV KRSSHU ĆUHV £1,322, bbqworld.co.uk

TRAEGER PRO 575 PELLET GRILL

This is more like an outdoor oven than a barbecue. It uses wood pellets, an electrically powered auger to deliver them, a temperature probe and advanced computing to make cooking much easier. If you pick a temperature of, say, 180ºC, it will actually stay at that temperature for as long as required, or until its meat probe signals cooking is done. It’s not perfect – wood pellet BBQs aren’t cheap to run, and you will also need a cover for it because of its electronics – but the Traeger Pro 575’s excellence at smoking and slow cooking more than make up for this. £899, thebbqshop.co.uk

BIG GREEN EGG MINIMAX

This ceramic, bulbous beauty will cook and/or smoke anything from VDXVDJHV ĆVK DQG NHEDEV WR ULE racks and small legs of lamb. As the ‘MiniMax’ part of its name suggests, this heavyweight 40kg grill is not even the Biggest in the Green Egg range (its grill measures 33cm in diameter), but LWèV VWLOO VXIĆFLHQW WR FRRN IRU XS WR four people at a time. The MiniMax is designed to be used with the lid on so that the food is cooked indirectly; the lid also prevents unexpected ćDUH XSV DQG VFRUFKLQJ 5LJKW QRZ there probably isn’t a better, more forgiving barbecue on the planet. However, its premium price range is a genuine obstacle to many. £780, biggreenegg.co.uk

TESTED Expert reviews and recommendations WR KHOS \RX EX\ ZLWK FRQĆGHQFH Edited by Josh Russell

ONEPLUS 9 PRO

ONEPLUS WATCH

SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FOLD 2

SONOS ROAM

LG G1

SEGWAY NINEBOT MAX G30LE

HOW WE TEST In T3, we feature only the ﬁnest gadgets out there, and we believe that you – our loyal reader – deserve only the best tech in your life. We don’t want you to waste time, and money, on inferior products, and that’s exactly why our Tested section exists. In here you’ll ﬁnd only the latest and hottest tech. Each product has been handpicked and tested by T3’s experts.

We only choose people with specialist knowledge for each test, so you know you’re going to get an outcome based on many years of experience in their respective ﬁeld. As well as our traditional ﬁve-star rating system (right), we also give out awards to particularly exceptional gadgets, using the line-up below - so when you spot one of these, you’ll know you’re onto a good thing.

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

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

Only the best products – those that VFRUH ĆYH VWDUV å UHFHLYH RXU 3ODWLQXP Award

J U N E 2 0 21 T3 67

Tested

From £829 oneplus.com

Display 6.7-inch 3216x1400 120Hz Fluid AMOLED CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 GPU Qualcomm Adreno 660 RAM 8/12GB Storage 128/256GB Cameras 48MP main, 8MP telephoto, 50MP ultrawide, 2MP monochrome rear; 16MP front Dimensions 163.2x73.6x8.7mm Weight 197g

PRO-TOGRAPHY

OnePlus 9 Pro Mobile phone evolution meets camera revolution, and the results are excellent he OnePlus 8 Pro was a phone we loved here at T3. It sat in our Best Phones guide for a whole year, kept there by its excellent screen and performance. The only weak link was the camera: it was fine, but there were better ones out there. Now, with the OnePlus 9 Pro, the Chinese firm has really tried to rectify that weakness this year with a renewed focus on its flagship’s camera system, with a system co-developed and tuned by camera masters Hasselblad. The camera is clearly this year’s star attraction, with quality Sony image sensors as well as the Hasselblad connection. Camera systems have traditionally been the weakest aspect of OnePlus phones, with both users and critics calling them out on it, so it’s good to see something being done to address that deficiency. The cameras on OnePlus phones haven’t been bad, exactly, but they’ve never been best in class. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s camera system still isn’t the best on the market, but it

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OnePlus 9 Pro

HASSELBLAD TO THE BONE Produced in partnership with renowned camera brand Hasselblad, the cam here is a giant leap forward, offering a 48MP main, a 50MP ultrawide, an 8MP telephoto and a dedicated monochrome lens.

IN THE FAST LANE With 12GB of RAM and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 CPU, the 9 Pro moves like a bat outta hell, bested only by the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Factoring in 5G, this is a seriously swift phone.

is a marked step forward and puts the handset on par with the best available today, such as the beast of a setup included on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra or Huawei Mate 40 Pro. The 48MP main rear camera, which uses a Sony IMX789 sensor, in partnership with a 50MP IMX766 ultra-wide secondary lens means that capturing subjects and the environment is easy. Detail is high, there’s a very strong macro mode, and, in a marked improvement over past flagships, colour accuracy and reproduction is now flagship level. Low-light performance remains good, if not Huawei-level best in class. There’s also a dedicated monochrome camera on the OnePlus 9 Pro, too, which works largely as a support snapper to add extra detail and layering to any black and white photos you may take. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s an 8MP telephoto lens that offers up to a 3x optical zoom. While this can’t compete with the impressive but rather gimmicky 100x zoom of the S21 Ultra, it does allow strong levels of

zoom and is totally usable. On the front, you’ll find a 16MP front selfie camera, which makes use of a Sony IMX741 sensor. Selfie quality is high, but again, in our opinion at least, Huawei and Samsung phones offer slightly better results in this department. The bokeh in portrait mode is subtle, though. The phone can record video at up to 8K resolution at 30fps, a feat which puts it right up there with the best on the market. While 8K is nice to have, such a tiny proportion of the population have 8K TVs or monitors, that the ability to shoot in 8K isn’t very practical right now. Still, it’s nice to have the ability in the OnePlus 9 Pro’s armoury. More practical shooting modes include 4K at up to 120fps, 1080p at up to 240fps, and 720p at up to 480fps for slow-motion effects. Throw in optical and electronic image stabilisation, a bunch of cool shooting modes such as nightscape, tilt-shift, panorama and time-lapse, as well three different aspect ratios to capture in, and you’ve got yourself a feature-packed camera

6HOĆH TXDOLW\ LV KLJK ZKLOH \RX FDQ shoot video in 8K resolution at 30fps

system. OnePlus really seems to have nailed the camera package on its 2021 ﬂagship, and for that it should be congratulated. Both casual and professional camera users alike will get on well with it.

Beautiful vision The OnePlus 9 Pro is very much an iterative evolution of the 8 Pro. The display on last year’s phone was the best in the world at the time of its launch, and this year the quality remains very high, with an AMOLED 6.7-inch, QHD (1440 x 3216) screen with a pixel density of 525ppi and a 120Hz maximum refresh rate. The screen is an absolute beauty, and now comes with an advanced adaptive refresh rate which, depending on what the phone is being used for, can drop the refresh rate down to as low as 1Hz to save battery life. The idea is that, when viewing photos for example, you don’t need the screen ﬁring away at 120Hz, so why not save energy. You don’t notice it happening, and the phone’s battery (4,500mAh) returned a good if not J U N E 2 0 21 T3 69

Tested

IN TOP FORM The design here is undeniably premium: the phone’s glass front and back seamlessly meet its metal frame and it eschews the unsightly camera bulge seen on so many of its rivals.

POWER PLAY Even with its screen’s variable refresh rate, battery life here isn’t revolutionary. However, its charging is: its 65W Warp Charge can juice it up in just 29 minutes!

great battery life over our real-world two-day test. When you do need to charge the phone, OnePlus really does have you covered. The OnePlus 9 Pro comes with 65W Warp Charge wired charging, which is phenomenal, and can charge the phone from empty to full charge in just 29 minutes! There’s 50W wireless charging too, which can charge the phone to full in just under 45 minutes.

A Warp Charge can FKDUJH IURP HPSW\ to full in under half DQ KRXU UHPDUNDEO\

Speed demon The OnePlus 9 Pro is powered by the current Android ﬂagship processor, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 and

this, in partnership with 12GB of RAM and UFS3.0 storage, means the ﬂagship performed very well in Geekbench 5 and 3DMark benchmark tests. The OnePlus 9 Pro returned CPU scores in Geekbench 5 of 1,087 in single-core performance, 3,510 in multi-core performance, and 4,654 and 4,340 respectively in terms of compute OpenCL and Vulcan tests. This comes in just under the scores posted by the S21 Ultra, but is still right at the top of the Android charts. Meanwhile, in 3DMark, the phone was so fast that it actually maxed out

both the Sling Shot and Sling Shot Extreme benchmark tests, which is something that not even the S21 Ultra could manage. It also posted a very healthy average frame rate of 34.1fps in 3DMark’s Wild Life test. Lastly, as you would expect from a ﬂagship phone in 2021, the OnePlus 9 Pro comes with a 5G modem, so anyone who lives in an area with 5G network coverage can make the most of next-gen super-fast data speeds and low latency. In terms of software, the OnePlus 9 Pro comes running Android 11 with the OxygenOS skin. OnePlus has

PRO ADD-ONS

ONEPLUS WATCH :K\ SDUWQHU \RXU 2QH3OXV SKRQH ZLWK DQ\WKLQJ HOVH" 1RW RQO\ GRHV WKH QHZ :DWFK RIIHU DQ DEVXUG GD\ EDWWHU\ OLIH *% RI PXVLF VWRUDJH DQG FRPSUHKHQVLYH KHDOWK WUDFNLQJ EXW LW costs half the price of an Apple Watch. £149, oneplus.com 7 0 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

JABRA ELITE 75T While the newer 85T get all the attention these GD\V LI \RXèUH ORRNLQJ IRU VRPH JUHDW YDOXH WUXH ZLUHOHVV EXGV WR SDLU ZLWK \RXU SKRQH WKH 7 DUH VWLOO D IDQWDVWLF FKRLFH 6XUSULVLQJO\ EDVV\ FRPIRUWDEOH DQG ZLWK DQ DZHVRPH EDWWHU\ OLIH £129, jabra.co.uk

ONEPLUS WARP CHARGE 50 WIRELESS CHARGER &KDUJLQJ WHFK KDV DOZD\V EHHQ RQH RI 2QH3OXVèV VHFUHW ZHDSRQV 7DNH DGYDQWDJH RI WKH 3URèV awesome 50W Qi charging with this charger and MXLFH \RXU SKRQH IXOO\ LQ PLQXWHV £69.95, oneplus.com

OnePlus 9 Pro

FLEXIBLE FRIEND This stunning AMOLED display offers a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz: it’s buttery smooth when you need it to be and conserves battery when you don’t.

always had a borderline Apple-level of understanding when it comes to usability and intuitiveness in its handsets, and it has not lost this knack overnight.

Sublime design Cementing the view that the OnePlus 9 Pro should be considered an evolution of the OnePlus 8 Pro is some very familiar design. That’s no bad thing, with the phone looking and feeling premium. Metal framing joins a glass front and back, the curvature of the screen is sharp (to maximise usable real-estate) and blends into the aluminium frame seamlessly. Round the back that multi-camera array sits vertically in an oblong frame and looks classy. It doesn’t meld into the framework like the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s camera, but doesn’t protrude too much and is ﬁnished with neat silver detailing that makes it stand out in a good way. It looks and feels great, so if you are going to put it in a case then be sure to make it a good one. Other than that, in terms of design it is business as usual for OnePlus here. You’ve got a power button and silent mode slider on the right-hand edge of the device, a USB Type-C

charging port and SIM card slot on the bottom (there is no microSD card slot on this phone, so no expandable storage), and a volume rocker on the left-hand edge. Overall, the OnePlus 9 Pro is a visually appealing phone that feels well made. This is a superb allrounder, and is very easy to recommend. While very much an evolution of its predecessor, the OnePlus 8 Pro, rather than a wholesale refresh, the fact that OnePlus has listened to its users and improved in the areas where it is weakest has really paid off. There are a few caveats though. Firstly, it is very similarly specced to the OnePlus 9, so weigh up if the benefits you get from the Pro really are worth it to you. The OnePlus 9 is also a superb phone, and costs markedly less than the Pro. Secondly, for the money you’re spending here, pretty much all other flagship phones are on the cards. OnePlus has had value on its side for years, with its flagship phones often undercutting the major players by a noticeable amount. Now OnePlus is making some of the finest phones on the planet, that undercutting on value is markedly reduced. Our

The OnePlus 9 Pro LV D SKRQH WKDWèV well made and ORRNV JUHDW

review model comes with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and for that you’re going to have to drop £929/$1,069. That is a lot of money, and it is the kind of money that can bag you the latest Samsung Galaxy or Apple iPhone. Rivals and price aside, though, the OnePlus 9 Pro is fantastic phone that delivers across the board like never before. As such, if you’re looking for a superb new Android smartphone, the OnePlus 9 Pro will deﬁnitely not disappoint.

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Best OnePlus camera \HW H[FHOOHQW SHUIRUPDQFH DQG LQWHUIDFH WE’D IMPROVE %DWWHU\ OLIH LV PHUHO\ JRRG better value can be found elsewhere. THE LAST WORD 0XFK OLNH WKH 2QH3OXV Pro, but with a much improved camera.

Find the best deals for the OnePlus 9 Pro at bit.ly/t31pl9pro

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Tested OnePlus Watch

From £149 oneplus.com

DAB HAND

OnePlus Watch

Strapped for cash? Get your hands on an affordable, featured-packed Apple Watch alternative

ant an Apple Watch, but can’t quite stretch your finances? Then this smart-looking alternative from OnePlus should definitely be top of your wishlist. It’s affordable, feature packed and built to last. The watch delivers a large 1.39-inch AMOLED display, which looks great but attracts finger smudges like bees to honey. The accompanying strap feels soft and smooth on your wrist, but very quickly attracts dust and detritus. This requires frequent wipe downs to keep it clean. In terms of functional design, the watch has two buttons on its stainless steel casing – which feels reassuringly solid in the hand. One takes you into a menu for its various fitness modes, and the other into a menu that includes health tracking features, as well as music playback, weather and call making. In terms of aesthetic design the OnePlus is stylish but lacks a little in terms of personality and individuality. To be a true Apple Watch alternative the OnePlus Watch needs to be an attractive option for users of the best smartphone brands. So, for this review we decided to pair it with the highly rated Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. When powering up the watch for the first time you’ll be told you need to download the OnePlus Health app to your phone. Note, the app is an essential part of the OnePlus Watch experience. Setup is two-fold. Firstly you input all your own information for health tracking. Then you set up the app’s permissions to update the

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firmware. Annoyingly this took us over 30 minutes. Once ready to go, you can start to customise the smartwatch through the OnePlus Health app. One downside is the modest selection of watch faces to choose from. But, overall, the OnePlus Health app works well and allows you to control your watch as you see fit. On the hardware front there is plenty on offer. You get the following sensors: acceleration, gyroscope, geomagnetic, optical heart rate and blood oxygen, ambient light, air pressure and a capacitance sensor. You also get GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and Beidou positioning units, which means there’s little the OnePlus can’t track. Looking to fitness you get the usual stepcounting tech and a collection of tracking modes for running, fat-burning running, outdoor cycling, indoor cycling, outdoor walking, swimming, elliptical trainer, rowing machine, badminton, mountaineering, cross-country walking, cricket, yoga and freestyle training. This is a really strong selection that covers the vast majority of usage scenarios of its owners, but how does this affect battery life? The 402 mAh battery is great: you’ll get two weeks of use on one charge (medium usage). And even with heavy usage, you won’t need to recharge it for a week. If you want a Apple Watch alternative without the cost then the OnePlus Watch is the one for you. From a value proposition you will be hard pushed to find anything better. You get so much functionality for so little money in comparison to other smartwatches on the market today.

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Large watch IDFH ORWV RI ĆWQHVV IHDWXUHV good battery life. WE’D IMPROVE Few watch faces to choose from; strap easily collects detritus. THE LAST WORD If the Apple Watch is the smartwatch LQGXVWU\èV ćDJVKLS SURGXFW WKHQ the OnePlus Watch is a great DWWHPSW DW D ćDJVKLS NLOOHU ,W delivers an Apple-Watch-style experience for a lot less money.

Find more great smartwatches at: bit.ly/t3smrtwtch

Tested Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

FOLD STANDARD

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 has cemented itself as the best folding phone you can buy right now ntil now foldable phones have been more of a gimmick than anything really worth considering, but the Samsung Z Fold 2 without a doubt changes that. Is this handset the game-changing phone we’ve been waiting for? The overall design of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 feels like a classic Samsung smartphone, just chunkier. Measuring 159.2 x 68.0 x 13.8mm when folded and weighing 282g, it will definitely add quite a lot of bulk to your pocket. Samsung has fixed the fragility issues with the hinge that were a massive problem in the first generation, making it now feel sturdy and relatively smooth. The new hinge allows the main display to be used in a number of different positions, meaning it can be used in the style of a miniature laptop. The main 7.6 inch screen is a Dynamic AMOLED with a resolution of 2208 x 1768 pixels. Being adaptive, the 120Hz refresh rate automatically gets dialled up or down depending on how demanding the task at hand is, which also helps to conserve battery life. Everything from scrolling and swiping to gaming and typing feels silky and seamless. On the front cover is a 6.2 inch Super AMOLED with a resolution of 816 x 1536 pixels and a 60Hz refresh rate, which is noticeably different in quality from the main screen. The camera system on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 is comprised of three 12MP cameras and two 10MP front-facing cameras – so you can snap a selfie or video call a friend with it folded or unfolded. No matter the lighting conditions, shots come out looking bright and vibrant. But some shots lacked detail at times, especially when using the ultrawide’s 10x digital zoom. Using the top-of-the-line Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus chipset, along with 12GB

From £1,599 samsung.com

RAM and 256GB storage, the Fold 2 is undeniably fast across a variety of different apps and games, no matter how many were running in the background at once. We didn’t notice any problems with lag or stuttering, and while its performance falls a bit behind flagships like the OnePlus 9 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, at that high of a level, you won’t really notice the difference. Samsung claims the 4,500mAh battery will last up to 18 hours of video playback. When we put this to the test by running a video stored on the phone for two hours on full brightness, the battery dropped by 18% suggesting it would last around 11 hours in total. That’s pretty average and definitely below par at this price. If you’re considering splashing out on a folding phone that transforms into a tablet, as things stand, you literally can’t get better than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2. We’re not saying there isn’t room for improvement. However, comparing this phone to what came before it, Samsung has made some giant leaps making this a handset actually worth having.

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Versatile app layouts thanks to Flex Mode; sturdy hinge and bigger screens; decent camera system. WE’D IMPROVE No Micro SD card slot; average battery life; bulky in size and weight. THE LAST WORD A powerful handset and a pleasure to use, it successfully delivers a reliable smartphone that transforms into a tablet. Finally, a folding phone worth having!

Discover more great smartphones at: bit.ly/t3phones

J U N E 2 0 21 T3 73

Tested

Drivers 2 (tweeter, mid-woofer) CPU Quad Core A-53 Memory 1GB SDRAM, 4GB NV Battery life Up to 10 hours Connectivity USB-C, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, AirPlay 2

Voice assistant Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant Weatherproofing IP67 Dimensions 168x62x60mm Weight 0.43kg

£159 sonos.com

ROAM FREE

Sonos Roam

Offering Sonos slickness in a small package, this Bluetooth speaker is convenient and sounds good – but is for those who’ll use its portable side the most he Sonos Roam is the ﬁrst truly portable speaker in Sonos’ line-up. Oh, the Sonos Move could certainly be moved around, but it’s too large and heavy to be very portable outside your own home. This is made for tucking in a pocket or tossing in a backpack for hitting the road. When it comes to what it can do, the Sonos Roam is like a shrunkdown Sonos Move, but it actually has

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even more smarts going on than the larger speaker. Not only is this a Bluetooth speaker, but it’s also a Wi-Fi multi-room speaker, and works with Sonos’ system or in Apple’s AirPlay 2 multi-room system. It’s also a smart speaker, using either Alexa or Google Assistant and far-ﬁeld mics to act as a full-on Echo (4th gen) or Nest Audio alternative. The Sonos Roam is clearly a Sonos product, with pale grey (aka ‘white’)

or black finishes, and a curved grille that’s a close fit with the Sonos One or Sonos Arc. Its triangular design is meant to make it easy to grab and hold securely, and also means the sound is angled up and away from whatever surface you place it on when laid flat, for better audio quality. The two ends are rubberised, and though they don’t look or feel like a chunky impact absorber, they make it much more drop-proof than anything

Sonos Roam

else Sonos makes. The ends are slightly concave, and one of them has the Roam’s controls on, which include volume, play/pause, and a button to activate or deactivate the mic for smart speaker usage. The Roam is IP67 rated for waterprooﬁng, which means it can survive a dunk in water up to 1m for up to half an hour. You can drop it in the pool as long as you retrieve it quickly. It’s also dustproof enough to be a good beach companion.

Tipping the scales The Roam has musical punch. It’s especially happy to introduce you to its bass, which is controlled and full – not overpowering, but its small size is no impediment to good low-end presence. It’s also capable of lovely clear treble: songs that really focus on higher-pitch voices get excellent treatment and resolution for the little intricacies of a voice. Where the speaker really feels most at home is the mid-range, though. Whether it’s an acoustic recording or something more synthy, songs that rely most on mids feel like

they’re hitting the most comfortable groove the Roam has going, and it’s really enjoyable to listen to. Sometimes it has trouble ﬁring on all cylinders though. As the mid swells, highs struggle to stand and sparkle the way they ought to. Bass is better at standing out, but then it feels like the whole EQ is pulled down towards the low end. This is most noticeable when listening at lower volumes – under about 40% – where it all sounds a little repressed. Crank it up and each part better stands out – great outdoors, but quite a full-on listen indoors. The Sonos Roam generally doesn’t feel massively expansive – it’s deﬁnitely sound coming from a particular point, and there’s no sense of 360-degree sound or anything here. This maybe isn’t so important when it’s outside and battling fresh air, but we missed it indoors. Battery life is also a bit meagre compared to some of the similarly priced competition, though its playing time fairly well matched up to the promised 10 hours. However, we didn’t get anything like the kind of standby time of 10 days – more like

THE ALTERNATIVES ULTIMATE EARS MEGABOOM 3

BOSE SOUNDLINK REVOLVE

As the name suggests, the Megaboom 3 offers some serious punch for its portable size. A great choice if you’re looking for an unashamedly bassy Bluetooth speaker. £129, ultimateears.com

Offering true 360-degree, nuanced sound, this tiny yet powerful speaker sits halfway between its UE and Sonos rivals. It’s balanced and yet feature-packed. From £139.95, bose.co.uk

The Roam is a JUHDWbVL]H DQG weight for its portable goals

ﬁve. This is maybe the thing that has the potential to frustrate the most. The Roam is so full of smart Sonos options that it feels like a new cheaper home Sonos speaker – comparable to the excellent, slightly pricier Sonos One SL – that also happens to be superportable. But we don’t recommend buying it with that in mind, because you can get better-quality speakers if in-home listening is your main thing. However, if you want a smartlooking and compact batterypowered portable speaker that acquits itself really well for sound overall, and that has the added bonus of being part of the Sonos system for occasional multi-room use, then the Roam is an excellent option.

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Striking sound overall; strong frame and ZDWHUSURRĆQJ JUHDW VWUHDPLQJ options and features. WE’D IMPROVE Feels constrained at lower volumes; detail and expansiveness are a bit limited; battery life isn’t ideal. THE LAST WORD It’s a great portable addition to a Sonos setup, and is enjoyable to listen to, but buy if portability is your main focus, not sound quality.

Discover more great bluetooth speakers at bit.ly/t3bluspkr

J U N E 2 0 21 T3 75

Tested

Display sizes 55, 65, 77 inches Panel 3840x2160 120Hz OLED Operating system webOS Smart TV HDR Dolby Vision CPU α9 Gen4 AI Processor 4K Connectivity HDMI 2.1 x4 (eARC x1), USB x3, optical, Ethernet, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5 Dimensions 1225x706x23.1mm / 1446x830x19.9mm 1721x991x24.1mm Weight 21.8kg / 29kg / 39.4kg

From £1,999 lg.com

G WHIZ!

LG G1 OLED evo is here, and it’s incredible – LG’s brighter panel is just the upgrade the technology needs

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he LG G1 is a seriously big deal. It’s the first LG OLED in an age that offers a substantial hardware advance on its predecessors, rather than relying on new software and minor panel ‘tweaks’. What’s more, the biggest beneficiary of the new panel design is arguably OLED’s Achilles’ Heel: brightness. Pictures on the G1, regardless of whether you’re watching TV or gaming, are consistently and jawdroppingly spectacular. As promised, for starters, pictures are brighter, enough to deliver a more satisfying and ‘complete’ HDR performance than any LG OLED before. Where an HDR image is mostly

full of bright content, it presents it with much more full-screen brightness, while the very brightest parts of HDR pictures have a slightly more luminous quality to them. This is supported by a further improvement in colour. With video sources this sees relatively pure blue and, especially, red and green tones enjoying both more subtle tonal delineations and a more natural feel. Especially when they’re presented in a bright situation. And yet the LG G1’s new brightness does no damage to the deep, natural black levels that have for so long lain at the heart of OLED technology’s appeal. No low-contrast greyness whatsoever creeps into dark areas,

LG G1

and the occasional black level ‘jumps’ seen with previous LG OLEDs have been all but removed on the G1. But a TV’s panel technology is only one part of its wider picture quality story. LG’s improved version of its AI Picture Pro automatic picture processing can now recognise if an incoming image contains scenery, a cityscape or night footage, and locally ‘massage’ parts of the picture to enhance its impact and realism. It can also look for skin tones and individual objects in the picture and subtly reﬁne and emphasise them without impacting other areas of the picture.

Game, set and match LG OLEDs already have a pretty legendary reputation with high-end gamers, so it’s no surprise to ﬁnd this continuing with the G1. All four of its HDMI sockets support the key cutting-edge gaming features of variable refresh rate, automatic low latency mode switching, and 4K 120Hz playback. LG has also improved its already incredibly brief input lag by getting it down to 12.4 and 9.4ms for its Standard or new Boost input lag reduction options respectively.

When it comes to audio, provided you’re careful about how you set it up the LG G1 sounds impressive. The AI Sound Pro optimises incoming audio – and it mostly works very well. It instantly increases the sound’s dynamic range, gives the sound a stronger ‘forward’ presence rather than it appearing to only exist behind the screen, and takes on those big movie moments with plenty of guts and enthusiasm. One surprising issue with the LG G1’s audio settings is that you shouldn’t depend on the Dolby Atmos mode if you want the best Atmos experience. This is because the Atmos setting sees loud soundtrack moments becoming strangely muted instead of them ‘blowing up’ like they’re supposed to (and like they do well in AI Sound Pro mode). The G1 features a refinement on the Gallery design LG introduced in 2020 with a view to creating the ultimate wall-hanging TV. It sports a slim, flat rear, and provides helpful cable channelling for its built-in connections. The 2021 refinements include making the rear substantially slimmer than last year’s, and adding a

Both scenery and skin tones can be enhanced by LG’s AI Picture Pro

THE ALTERNATIVES SAMSUNG QN95A

SONY A90J

7KH EUDQGèV ĆUVW Mini-LED 4K to hit the market, this set has QLED’s dazzling brightness coupled with the tiny dimming zones needed for truly stunning HDR. From £2,199, samsung.com

Delivering both picture improvements at the focal points of scenes and sound where the action is, this is a seriously smart set. Not only that but it offers truly epic contrast and colour. From £2,699, sony.co.uk

recess to the rear panel into which the wall mount can slot, enabling the TV to sit completely ﬂush to the wall. It’s all very pretty… so long as you actually want to wall hang your TV. If not, you’ll have to pay extra for either a pair of desktop feet, or LG’s new Gallery Floorstand option. That’s right: there’s no stand in the box. All in all, LG’s G1 is a truly dazzling TV. Its new design delivers on the Gallery concept even more successfully than 2020’s models, and though the new evo panel doesn’t push brightness quite as far as we’d hoped it might, it still yields consistently spectacular results. The set’s new gaming features expand even further the appeal of LG OLEDs to gamers too.

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Improved OLED brightness and colour; excellent design; HDMI 2.1 and cutting-edge gaming tech. WE’D IMPROVE A pretty serious price jump over the LG C1; stand not included; doesn’t offer HDR10+. THE LAST WORD The LG G1 is beautiful to look at when it’s switched off, and nigh-on impossible to tear your eyes from when it’s on.

Discover great deals on the LG G1 at bit.ly/t3lgg1

J U N E 2 0 21 T3 7 7

Tested Segway Ninebot MAX G30LE

ELECTRIC DREAM

Segway Ninebot MAX G30LE

£629 segway.com

A good-looking scooter that delivers on distance, speed and comfort

f you’re looking for a green urban commute solution that comes with a good amount of heft, from its build to its power, then you can’t go wrong with the Segway Ninebot MAX G30LE. While we tested the American G30LP, the UK’s G30LE is the same apart from the fact it’s had its max speed limited to 15.5mph to comply with the law. They’re both good-looking scooters that immediately set themselves apart from the mass of solid black e-scooters out there, thanks to their predominately grey colour scheme. Once you get past the scooter’s aesthetic the ﬁrst thing you notice is that it’s bigger and heavier than e-scooters you might have grown accustomed to seeing. It’s larger than most rental scooters, coming in at 110.9 x 47.2 x 114.6cm unfolded, and its larger size means it’s no lightweight at 17.5kg. Not easy to lug around. But the extra weight and size are there for a good reason. This is, after all, a heavier duty e-scooter with longer-lasting battery life, a faster max speed and bigger tyres than most. And the good news is it’s a foldable unit: you can fold it down in just three clicks if you need to stow it. The plastic hook on the rear bumper does a good job of securing and keeping it in place until you’re ready to unfold. The handlebars and the deck are a thing of comfort. They both oﬀer an excellent textured rubber grip that keeps your hands and feet stable, avoiding slippage and minimising appendage fatigue. And, unlike other e-scooters, the deck is spacious, touting a seven-inch wide platform. But be warned the Segway is not for all weathers. It has a water resistance rating of IPX5, which

7 8 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

means it keeps going in light to moderate – but not heavy – rain. There is a neat LED digital dashboard in the middle of the handlebars. It boasts just one button that functions as the power button and the headlight on/off as well. There is a built-in 2.5w headlight on the steering column and a tail light on the rear bumper. The dashboard also allows for quick switching between Eco, Standard and Sports modes to regulate speed. And, with a top speed of 15.5mph, you need some decent stopping power. The Segway uses a regenerative braking system, which recycles some energy from riding and redistributes it to give you a better braking experience and slightly longer range than the standard 40km. The battery takes about six and a half hours to fully charge, which is pretty standard, so the extra boost is welcome. So how did the G30 fare in the field? Pretty well. It goes from 1mph to 15mph in around five seconds, and worked well on uneven terrain. Its two 10-inch pneumatic tyres offer plenty of grip and a pretty smooth ride generally, but could offer better shock absorption. One downside is its hill climbing capabilities. With a 20% hill grade rating, the Segway worked well on gentle slopes but started to struggle on steeper hills, quickly slowing down. But there is no denying that it’s a great purchase at its sub-£650 price point.

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Long range; decent speeds; comfortable ride. WE’D IMPROVE Not exactly lightweight; can slow down on hills. THE LAST WORD $ WHUULĆF XUEDQ HOHFWULF VFRRWHU ZLWK GHFHQW XSKLOO DQG VRPH UXJJHG VXUYLYDO VNLOOV WKH Segway Ninebot MAX G30LE ZLOO WDNH \RX D ORQJ ZD\

Find the best deals for the MAX G30LE at: bit.ly/t3mxg30lp

Best of the best INSIDE

BEST OF THE BEST The world’s best tech, all in one place

If you’re looking for the very best tech available WRGD\ \RXèYH GHĆQLWHO\ FRPH WR WKH ULJKW SODFH %HVW RI WKH %HVW LV WKH PRVW XVHIXO JDGJHW EX\LQJ JXLGH \RX ZLOO HYHU HQFRXQWHU 7R FUHDWH LW we’ve extensively tested the best tech the world KDV WR RIIHU WR EULQJ \RX URFN VROLG UHFRPPHQGDWLRQV IRU \RXU KRPH OLIH GDLO\ FRPPXWH DQG WKH WHFK \RX XVH DOO WKH WLPH ,Q GLIIHUHQW FDWHJRULHV ZHèYH FKRVHQ WKH 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 å WKH\èUH WKH SURGXFWV ZHèG FKRRVH IRU RXUVHOYHV DQG ZH FDQèW UHFRPPHQG DQ\ KLJKHU WKDQ WKDW Look for the links above each category WKDW 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

Smartphones

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Watches under £1,000

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TVs under £1,000

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J U N E 2 0 21 T3 79

Best of the best

SMARTPHONES Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestphone APPLE iPHONE 12 From £799, apple.com Apple has outdone itself. 5G has been added, the CPU has more power than you’re ever going to need, and the dual-lens rear camera system can take spectacular photos in any kind of light.

CHEAP SMARTPHONES

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestcheapphone iPHONE SE (2020)

From £420, apple.com $ QHDU ćDJVKLS iPhone experience for a fraction of the cost. The SE is under half the cost of the iPhone 12, and for that reason it demands attention IURP DQ\bSURVSHFWLYH phone upgrader.

ONEPLUS 9 PRO

ONEPLUS NORD

From £829, oneplus.com Very much an evolution of the OnePlus 8 Pro, with a similar design and iterative specs bump for this year, the OnePlus 9 Pro has doubled down on the camera. And the results are excellent.

From £379, oneplus.com A fantastic midranger, with a Snapdragon 765G processor, at least 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and 5G. That’s not to mention the sharp, bright 6.44-inch AMOLED display.

iPHONE SE (2020)

SAMSUNG GALAXY S20 FE

From £420, apple.com Apple’s iPhone SE (2020) handset has taken this year by storm, the hot new handset winning acclaim worldwide with its balance of features, quality and performance for a very attractive price.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S21 ULTRA From £1,149, samsung.com Not only the best phone Samsung has ever made, but the ĆUVW 6 VHULHV KDQGVHW that comes with digital stylus support. From its massive screen to the quad camera, this is a 5-star beast in every way.

8 0 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

From £699, samsung.com The best core S20 functionality, along with 5G, but at a more affordable price point, this is actually nothing like a budget handset, as it is still loaded with premium hardware and features.

XIAOMI MI 10T LITE From £249, xiaomi.com There’s a lot of handset for your money here. Decent battery life, respectable specs (including 6GB of RAM) and a quadlens rear camera DUHbVWDQGDUG SOXV *bFRQQHFWLYLW\

SMARTWATCHES Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestsmartwatch APPLE WATCH SERIES 6 From £379, apple.com Series 6 adds a SXOVHbR[\JHQ VHQVRU to its health systems, makes its always-on display 2.5 times brighter, steps up to WKH QHZ 6 &38 bDQG throws in all the QHZbIHDWXUHV RI watchOS 7.

SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH ACTIVE2 From £269, samsung.com Sleek and powerful, this is the best smartwatch for Android users. The screen and design are on par with the Apple Watch, while a collection of new watch faces give it DbPRGHUQ HGJH SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH 3 From £399, samsung.com The Galaxy Watch 3 comes in two sizes, and with a very good battery life. It’s the innovative rotating bezel that is the star here, though, as it is, without doubt, the best way to control DbVPDUWZDWFK APPLE WATCH SE From £269, apple.com Despite being the ‘affordable’ smartwatch from Apple, the SE is fast and comfortable ZLWKbD FOHDU VFUHHQ (no always-on GLVSOD\bWKRXJK DQG excellent health and ĆWQHVV IHDWXUHV

Best of the best

HYBRID SMARTWATCHES

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/besthybrid

WITHINGS STEEL HR SPORT £190, withings.com

WATCHES Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestwatch HUBLOT BIG BANG INTEGRAL £17,300, hublot.com

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

7KH ĆUVW %LJ %DQJ WRbIHDWXUH DQ integrated bracelet åbWKLV ZDWFK KDV EHHQ GHVLJQHG WR ćRZ seamlessly from the FDVH WR WKH FODVS $YDLODEOH LQ EODFN ceramic, King Gold RUbWLWDQLXP

FOSSIL HYBRID SMARTWATCH HR

TUDOR BLACK BAY FIFTY-EIGHT

£129, fossil.com

£2,760, tudorwatch.com Named after the year in which Tudor UHOHDVHG LWV ĆUVW GLYHUèV ZDWFK WKLV comes in a new vintage colour combination and smaller 39mm sized FDVH ,WèV SRZHUHG E\ WKH &DOLEUH 07

This timepiece features activity and sleep tracking, plus app and call alerts, time zones, and buttons to control VPDUWSKRQH PXVLF Yet it mostly looks like a regular watch, aside IURP WKH H LQN GLVSOD\ WITHINGS MOVE ECG £129, withings.com 7KLQN D SULFH\ $SSOH Watch is needed to take an ECG reading of your heart? This can do that, plus activity tracking and sleep monitoring, ZLWKbD PRQWK battery life, for a UHDOO\ ORZ SULFH WITHINGS SCANWATCH £269, withings.com :LWKLQJVè ODWHVW hybrid is also its smartest, packing a huge amount of KHDOWKbDQG ĆWQHVV tracking tech into a VOHQGHU ERG\ $QG ĆIWHHQ GLIIHUHQW VWUDS RSWLRQVbHQVXUH LWèOO VXLW DQ\ RXWĆW

OMEGA SEAMASTER DIVER 300M 007 EDITION £7,390, omegawatches.com This stylish 6HDPDVWHUbPDGH from Grade 2 Titanium will be strapped to the wrist of 007 in 1Rb7LPH WR 'LH ,WèVbVWURQJ lightweight, and perfect for an XQGHUFRYHU DJHQW JAEGER-LECOULTRE MASTER CONTROL DATE £6,000, jaeger-lecoultre.com Featuring a calibre with a 70-hour SRZHUbUHVHUYH D new 40mm doublepolished stainless steel case, and a FOHDU bHOLJLEOH GLDO WKLVbLV SXUH DQG VLPSOHbZDWFKPDNLQJ DW LWV ĆQHVW

WATCHES UNDER £1,000

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestwatchunder1k CHRISTOPHER WARD C60 SAPPHIRE

£795, christopherward.com Striking, bold designs UHDOO\ VHW WKLV %ULWLVK brand apart from its more conventional 6ZLVV ULYDOV 7KH EHVW example of this is the C60 Sapphire, which features a seethrough dial made IURP VDSSKLUH FU\VWDO VICTORINOX I.N.O.X £459, victorinox.com +DYLQJ XQGHUJRQH 130 durability WHVWV bWKLV ZDWFK ZLOObVWDQG XS WR anything you throw DW LW 7KH SDUDFRUG strap hints at its adventurous heritage, DQG LWèV JUHDWbIRU DOO ZULVW VL]HV

HAMILTON KHAKI FIELD £375, hamiltonwatch.com This is a faithful recreation of its original 1960s forebear and is WUXHbWR +DPLOWRQèV PLOLWDU\ KHULWDJH 7KHb PP VWDLQOHVV steel case is paired with a durable 1$72bVWUDS TAG HEUER FORMULA 1 QUARTZ MENS WATCH £895, tagheuer.com This F1 timepiece features a steel case with sapphire crystal protecting the legible PRQRFKURPH GLDO 7KH strap is black leather, a quartz movement provides the power DQG LWèV ZDWHU UHVLVWDQW XS WR PHWUHV

J U N E 2 0 21 T3 81

Best of the best

TVs Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/besttv SAMSUNG 65QN95A £2,999, samsung.com 7KH ćDJVKLS . PRGHO IURP 6DPVXQJèV UDQJH LV DOVR WKH ĆUVW WR XVH WKH QHZ 1HR 4/(' 0LQL /(' GLVSOD\ WHFK DQG WKH UHVXOWV DUH XWWHUO\ LQFUHGLEOH EHDWLQJ HYHQ WKH 2/(' 79V ZHèYH VHHQ VR IDU

TVs UNDER £1,000

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/besttv1000 LG OLED55BX £999, lg.com

£1,699, acer.com 7KH EHVW IRU WKH EXGJHW 7KH /* %; JLYHV \RX HYHU\WKLQJ WKDWèV JUHDW DERXW 2/(' 79V DQG /*èV LPDJH SURFHVVLQJ PDNHV . ORRN H[SHUWO\ GHWDLOHG DQG EULQJV +' XS WR D QHDU . VWDQGDUG

SONY KD-55XH9005

£2,999, lg.com

£899, sony.com 7KH ĆUVW 79 ZLWK D EULJKWHU QH[W JHQ YHUVLRQ RI 2/(' WKDW FRQVXPHV OHVV SRZHU 7KDW PHDQV WKH * LV DURXQG EULJKWHU WKDQ SUHYLRXV 2/(' 79V JLYLQJ EURDGHU DQG PRUH VWULNLQJ +'5 WKDQ HYHU

£7,999, samsung.com 6DPVXQJèV ćDJVKLS 79 LV RQH RI WKH EHVW 79V \RX FDQ EX\ WRGD\ HYHQ WKRXJK . FRQWHQW LV UDUH WKDQNV WR WKH ZD\ LW WDNHV . YLGHR DQG ERRVWV LW WR PDNH XVH RI LWV .bUHVROXWLRQ PANASONIC TX-55HZ2000 £2,999, panasonic.com 3DQDVRQLF KDV PDGH WKLV 79 VOLJKWO\ WKLFNHUbIRU ORWV RI H[WUD KHDW GLVSHUVLRQ VR LW FDQ RYHUGULYH WKHbSDQHO WR EH EULJKWHU WKDQ RWKHU 2/(' 79V ZKLOH VWLOObKDYLQJ DOO WKH GHHS EODFNV

8 2 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestprojector ACER V7850

LG OLED65G1

SAMSUNG 75Q950TS

PROJECTORS

$FHU UHDOO\ KLW WKH VZHHW VSRW KHUH VPDOObHQRXJK WR ĆW RQ D FRIIHH WDEOH ZKLVSHU TXLHW LQ RSHUDWLRQ DQG \HW VWLOO SURGXFHV D EULJKW bFULVS +'5 . SLFWXUH RI WR LQFKHV DW P OPTOMA UHD40 £999, optoma.co.uk

6RPH RWKHU 79V PD\bEHDW LW IRU LPDJH TXDOLW\ LQ FHUWDLQ DUHDV EXW QRWKLQJ JLYHV \RX WKLV TXDOLW\ RI SLFWXUH DW WKLV VL]H ZLWK VXFK JUHDW WHFKQLFDO IHDWXUHV WRbPDNH VXUH LWèV IXWXUH SURRI SONY KD-49XH9505 £999, sony.com 6RQ\èV ćDJVKLS /(' . 79 IRU SDFNV LQ DOO NLQGV RI DGYDQFHG WHFKQRORJ\ DQG SURFHVVLQJ IRU VXSUHPH SLFWXUH TXDOLW\ 6RPHKRZ WKH LQFK PRGHO LVbDYDLODEOH IRU OHVV WKDQ D JUDQG SAMSUNG QE55Q70T £999, samsung.com

. UHVROXWLRQ DQG +'5 LQ D SURMHFWRU IRU WKLV SULFH LV KDUG WR EHDW ,W GRHVQèW TXLWH KDYH WKH SRS DQG +'5 ULFKQHVV RI PRUH H[SHQVLYH VHWV EXW LWèV ZD\ EH\RQG +' SURMHFWRUV DW WKH VDPH SULFH OPTOMA UHZ65 £3,499, optoma.co.uk 7KLV LV DLPHG ULJKW DW WKH SURSHU $9 HQWKXVLDVW EXW ODVHU SURMHFWLRQ DW WKLV SULFH PDNHV LW ZRUWK LW IRU DQ\RQH . +'5bYLGHR LV VXSUHPHO\ ULFK DQG LW FDQ KLW LQFKHV IURP MXVW P EPSON EH-TW6700W £999, epson.co.uk

7KH 4 7 VLWV LQ D UHDO VZHHW VSRW LQ 6DPVXQJèV 79 UDQJH 3LFWXUHV IURP . VRXUFHV DUH RXWVWDQGLQJ YLYLG \HW QDWXUDO FRORXUV VWURQJ FRQWUDVWV ODYLVK GHWDLO OHYHOV DQGbVPRRWK PRWLRQ

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

Best of the best

GAMING TVS Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestgamingtv LG G1

GAMES CONSOLES

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/gaming PLAYSTATION 5

£2,999 lg.com A next-gen screen that’s brighter while keeping OLED’s deep black levels. Four HDMI 2.1 ports are ready for 4K 120Hz, and there’s support for Nvidia G-Sync and AMD Freesync Premium too.

LG CX

£449, playstation.com Look beyond the big, bold design. This console offers powerful next-gen hardware, backwards compatibility, an excellent DualSense controller with haptic feedback and truly stunning graphics.

£449.99, xbox.com A gaming dream that’s packed with features ready for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. LG’s best OLED panel to date mixes with low input lag and 120fps 4K, with a variable refresh rate too.

SAMSUNG QN95A £2,200, samsung.com If price is no object, go for the best. This TV’s new Mini-LED tech means bright HDR performance, ZLWK ĆQH FRQWURO RI local dimming. You also get a special menu dedicated to its gaming features.

£800, sony.com

SONY HT-G700

Microsoft has nailed it. This is a console that delivers massive amounts of power and performance. Because of its raw pixelpushing prowess, it’s a superb base for a new generation of jawdropping experiences.

NINTENDO SWITCH £279, nintendo.com

This soundbar and wireless subwoofer include Sony’s fanciest processing, to make the three drivers seem like they’re giving you sound coming IURPbWKH VLGHV DQGbDERYH YAMAHA SR-B20A £249, yamaha.com

We love the Switch, which brings Nintendo’s great gaming pedigree to genuinely stylish, premium-grade hardware. Forget WKHbVSHFV LWèV DOO about the sheer MR\bRIbJDPLQJ

£249.99, xbox.com This is one of two TVs branded as ‘Ready for PS5’ by Sony, which means it has a fast response time, and supports 4K at 120fps over HDMI inputs. It’s also one of the best-looking TVs for its price.

£1,250, bang-olufsen.com % 2èV ĆUVW VRXQGEDU and it’s been worth the wait. There are bGULYHUV KLGGHQ behind its stylish FORWKbĆQLVK SURGXFLQJ a wall of sound. It FDQbJHW LQFUHGLEO\ boomy without a subwoofer, too.

£450, sony.com

MICROSOFT XBOX SERIES S

SONY XH90

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestsoundbar B&O BEOSOUND STAGE

MICROSOFT XBOX SERIES X

£1,500, lg.com

SOUNDBARS

The audio quality here is excellent for the price, adding so much more balance, clarity and depth than budget TV speaker could ever hope to produce, with really impressive width and stereo positioning.

SONOS BEAM £349, sonos.com

Stylish, affordable, easy to set up and taps into the very slick Xbox ecosystem seamlessly. It does have limited storage space out of the box though, and can’t play current or previous gen games on disc.

If it were just a soundbar, the Beam’s great audio would still JHW LW RQ WKLV OLVWbå EXW with Amazon Alexa, Apple AirPlay 2 and support for a billion streaming services, it’s a fantastically ćH[LEOH EDU

J U N E 2 0 21 T3 8 3

Best of the best

TURNTABLES Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestturntable PRO-JECT ESSENTIAL III £250, project-audio.com Really sounds great for the money, with an expansive and enjoyable sound across a range of genres and volume levels. It also looks very pleasing, in a variety of high JORVVbĆQLVKHV

STREAMING DACs Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestdac SONOS PORT £399, sonos.com A great streamer, especially if you already own a Sonos speaker. It has an analogue input and output, as well as streaming to any Sonos speaker, so you can plug in \RXUbWXUQWDEOH YAMAHA WXAD-10

£330, audio-technica.com This direct-drive turntable comes with the AT-VM95E FDUWULGJH ĆWWHG WR D J-shaped tonearm that sounds great. Build is very solid, there are phono and USB outputs, and it can play 78s too.

£120, yamaha.co.uk

ELIPSON CHROMA CARBON RIAA BT

IFI XDSD

Elipson’s top-line turntable pulls GRZQbDbORW RI IHDWXUHV from the truly high end. You get a super-stiff carbon ĆEUH WRQHbDUP DQG new digital belt drive motor, plus AptX Bluetooth and USB.

TECHNICS SL-1210GR £1,000, technics.com The iconic DJ turntable reimagined as a lustworthy slab RI KRPH KL Ć :KLOH we wouldn’t take this out clubbing, it’s the ultimate deck for gently maturing ravers, and sounds excellent too.

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Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestmultiroom NAIM MU-SO 2ND GENERATION

AUDIO-TECHNICA AT-LP5X

£699, elipson.com

MULTI-ROOM SPEAKERS

£1,300, naimaudio.com Mu-So 2 crushes its competition. An awesome, thumping wall of sound and reliable, versatile software platform DQGbVWUHDPLQJ support make for the perfect 21st-century music experience.

SONOS ONE £199, sonos.co.uk

This Yamaha lets you stream everything from Bluetooth to hi-res audio, with support for AirPlay, most of your favourite streaming services and, of course Yamaha’s RZQb0XVLF&DVW

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Sonos One is compatible with every music service ever, multi-room connectivity is fab, and Alexa comes EXLOWbLQ DV DQ DGGHG bonus. Many pricier Sonos speakers then await you…

RUARK R5

This dinky little combined Bluetooth receiver, DAC and headphone amp supports AAC and aptX and sounds really superb. It has a battery, and can be used with earphones as well as speakers.

AUDIOLAB 6000N £449, audiolab.co.uk Probably impractical if you don’t have a KL Ć VWDFN EXW ZLWK support for audio up to 192Khz/24-bit, its sound quality is noticeably better than the Sonos and Yamaha streamers further up the list.

£1,000, ruarkaudio.com Like a mini system for the 21st century, Ruark’s R5 chucks in a CD player, DAB and FM radios and two extra inputs, including one pre-amped for use with a turntable. There’s even Bluetooth too.

BOWERS & WILKINS FORMATION DUO £3,500, bowerswilkins.com These may look like Bender from Futurama but sound like God yodelling in your ear. The only wireless choice for any real audiophiles out there: highly specced, but not exactly affordable.

Best of the best

BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestbluetooth

BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestwireless AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-M50XBT

KANTO TUK £749, kantoaudio.com A stereo pair of attractive, compact bookshelf speakers. The left-hand one contains the connections and DACs and Class 'bDPSOLĆHUV DQG WKHbULJKW RQH LV D wired slave.

£179, audio-technica.com /RQJ EDWWHU\ OLIH DQG sound that’s closer to the more neutral WRQHV RI KL Ć FDQV WKRXJK VWLOO ZLWK D VOLJKW H[WUD NLFN RI EDVV SOXV JUHDW comfort levels, make WKHVH LGHDO IRU ORVLQJ yourself in music.

SONOS MOVE

AKG Y400

£399, sonos.com

£110, uk.akg.com A Sonos speaker that’s been UXJJHGLVHG DQG KDG D battery and Bluetooth added, so you can use it anywhere. Clever software automatically optimises the sound to its location.

ULTIMATE EARS MEGABOOM 3 £169, ultimateears.com The best waterproof speaker – it even ćRDWV å RIIHUV hours of battery life and a hefty sound that’s perfect for outdoor parties. ,W ZRUNV JUHDWbIRU kitchen audio GXWLHV bWRR BLUESOUND PULSE FLEX 2I £299, bluesound.com More than a Bluetooth speaker, with Wi-Fi and Ethernet included WKLVbLV PRUH OLNH D portable Sonos. It’s AirPlay 2 compatible, and works with VWUHDPLQJ VHUYLFHV and internet radio.

TRUE WIRELESS HEADPHONES

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/besttruewireless BEATS BY DR. DRE POWERBEATS PRO

£220, beatsbydre.com Marketed as workout buds, their audio quality is on par with any other true wireless headphones out there, with WKH H[FHSWLRQ RI WKH PXFKbOHVV comfortable Sony WF-1000XM3s.

JABRA ELITE 75T £169, jabra.co.uk These AKGs are PLQLPDOLVW DQG OLJKW but still feel solidly built and comfortable. They offer impressive VFDOH H[FHOOHQW GHWDLO and a very naturalistic attitude towards the whole of the IUHTXHQF\ UDQJH

OPTOMA NUFORCE BE SPORT 4 £100, optoma.co.uk 'HVLJQHG IRU WKH J\P b\RX PLJKW think these wouldn’t VRXQGbYHU\ JRRG But you would be incorrect. They’re very musical with ZHOO ZHLJKWHG EDVV DQG H[FHOOHQW QRLVHbLVRODWLRQ SOUNDMAGIC S20BT £40, soundmagicheadphones.com Truly impressive buds. Connectivity is rock solid, and Bluetooth 5.0 means that they’re futureproofed. 25 hours of battery OLIH LV DOVR JUHDW IRU the price. A wellmade, effective and HQJDJLQJ RSWLRQ

If the Beats are MXVWbWRR EXOERXV IRUb\RXU WDVWHV \RXbFDQèW ĆQG ĆQHU than these Jabra buds. Sound quality could be described DVbD OLWWOH DUWLĆFLDO maybe, but it’s also SOHDVLQJO\ SXPSLQJ CAMBRIDGE AUDIO MELOMANIA 1 £100, cambridgeaudio.com Less comfortable DQGbPRUH SURQH WR IDOOLQJ RXW WKDQ their pricier rivals, these combine the sound quality of the Beats buds with the portability of the -DEUDV ZKLOH FRVWLQJ less than either.

GOOGLE PIXEL BUDS £199, store.google.com Finally available in the UK, these have ERRP\ EXW JRRG sound quality and a very nice secure ĆW 3DLU ZLWK D 3L[HO phone for the best H[SHULHQFH EXW WKH\èOO work with iPhones and others too.

J U N E 2 0 21 T3 8 5

Best of the best

NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestnoisecancelling SONY WH-1000XM4 £349, sony.co.uk

Nailed it. Light, with broad, soft ear cups and a remarkably comfortable headband, these offer best-in-class noise cancellation with great sound, rich bass and a lively approach to music.

WIRED IN-EAR HEADPHONES

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestinear FLARE AUDIO FLARE PRO 2HD

e ćDUHDXGLR FRP These are both wired and wireless – the in-ear bit has a FDEOH WR D '$& ER[ which you can then play music through over Bluetooth or by plugging in. The sound is fantastic – huge and nuanced.

BOWERS & WILKINS PX7

KLIPSCH T5M WIRED

£275, bowers-wilkins.co.uk $ ELW GXOO ORRNLQJ EXWbWKH DXGLR TXDOLW\ and noise cancelling are extremely FORVHbWRbWKDW RI WKH Sonys. B&W’s usual exciting, but well balanced, sound meets excellent QRLVHbFDQFHOOLQJ

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SHURE AONIC 50

FLARE AUDIO FLARES JET 3

£359, shure.co.uk The sound quality RIbWKH $RQLF should have purists purring. There isn’t an excess of bass and it delivers all WKHbVSDUNOLQJ GHWDLO and painstaking accuracy you FRXOGbZDQW BOSE NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES 700 £299, bose.com Close rivals to the Sony and B&W options above, they’re less exciting, but also very easy to listen to for hours on end. If you are easy like Sunday morning, maybe these are \RXUbEDELHV

8 6 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

7KH ĆWWLQJ LV XQXVXDO but nonetheless immediately felt comfortable and VROLG b7KH DXGLR LV boosted, primped and pop-friendly, with plenty of bass and a very lively and engaging sound.

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WIRED OVER-EAR HEADPHONES

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestoverear GRADO SR325E e JUDGRODEV FRP

When you factor just how good these sound, they’re a bargain. In a quiet room, they sound as good as headphones WKDW FRVW ĆYH WLPHV more. They’re among the leakiest we’ve tried, however.

AUDIO TECHNICA ATH-A1000Z e DXGLRWHFKQLFD FRP Forget about MP3s or EDM: these headphones don’t ćDWWHU RU VDFULĆFH sound quality for bass. But if you give them a good amp DQGbD JRRG VRXQG source they do incredible things.

AKG K52

Maintaining the quality of the Flares Pro (see Bluetooth headphones), UHPRYLQJ WKH '$& element and thereby slashing the price, these audiophile inear headphones are a tremendous option.

SOUNDMAGIC E11C e VRXQGPDJLFKHDGSKRQHV FRP Can we really be recommending a pair of headphones for XQGHU e " <HV ZH can! The grown-up sound quality and exemplary comfort RIbWKH F PDNH WKHPbWKH VRQLF bargain of the year.

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These have absolutely no right to sound half as good as they do. For at-home listening they offer a massive soundstage, impressive balance and a frankly ludicrous amount of detail for the dosh.

FOCAL STELLIA e IRFDO FRP

Carefully engineered to give you the kind of big soundscape expected of highend headphones, the audio quality is stunning. Detail and expansiveness at the high end is really impressive too.

Best of the best

LAPTOPS Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestlaptop APPLE MACBOOK AIR (M1, 2020) £999, apple.com

2-IN-1 LAPTOPS

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/best2in1

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/besttablet

ASUS ZENBOOK FLIP 13

APPLE iPAD AIR (2020)

£800, asus.com Apple’s cheapest laptop is a revolution. Think thin and light laptops have to VDFULĆFH SRZHU" 1RW any more. This is the EHVW RI DOO ZRUOGV ZLWK DQ HLJKW FRUH 0 &38 DV SRZHUIXO DV those in gaming PCs.

The Zenbook Flip 13 might be the best laptop Asus has ever released. Tooled up ZLWK DQ HLJKWK JHQ ,QWHO &RUH SURFHVVRU the tablet mode feels JUHDW WR XVH WKDQNV to a responsive touchscreen.

ASUS VIVOBOOK S15

MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK 3

£899, asus.com

£1,439, microsoft.com 3XOO WKH VFUHHQ DZD\ from the keyboard and it’s a tablet. Connect them for more graphics SRZHUbDQG EDWWHU\ OLIH $ SUHPLXP IDQWDVWLFDOO\ SRUWDEOH and supremely versatile system.

This slim and super light laptop hits a ZRQGHUIXO VZHHW spot. With an Intel &RUH L *% RI 5$0 D *% 66' and a touchscreen 6FUHHQ3DG LW UHSUHVHQWV ZRQGHUIXO PLG UDQJH YDOXH DELL XPS 13 (9310) £1,194, dell.com

MICROSOFT SURFACE GO 2 £519, microsoft.com

The Dell XPS 13 LVbWKLQQHU DQG PRUH SRZHUIXO WKDQ HYHU 8S WR 7% RI 66' VWRUDJH *% RI 5$0 D . VFUHHQ DQGbIDVW WK generation Intel chips KHOS PDNH LW D WRS TXDOLW\ DOO URXQGHU HP SPECTRE X360 (2021) £1,499, hp.com

%XLOGV RQ ZKDW PDGH the original Surface *R VR JRRG DGGLQJ D PRUH SUHPLXP feeling design and a small specs bump to make sure you can SRZHU WKURXJK DOO your computing tasks ZLWK QR GLIĆFXOW\ HP SPECTRE X360 (2021) £1,499, hp.com

The 2021 Spectre retains the design and good looks of its SUHGHFHVVRU EXW LQ terms of build quality its closest rival is $SSOHèV 0 0DF%RRN 3UR ,Q D ZKROH RWKHU league from most :LQGRZV ODSWRSV

TABLETS From £479, apple.com Technically the iPad $LU EXW PRUH like the latest iPad 3UR ZLWK VRPH RI the ‘pro’ features removed. Apple Pencil VXSSRUW LV KHUH WKRXJK DQG WKHUHèV D smart connector for DbNH\ERDUG WRR APPLE iPAD PRO 12.9 (2020) From £969, apple.com The biggest iPad Pro is unbelievably SRZHUIXO DQG VOLFN ZLWK DQ H[FHOOHQW VFUHHQ WKLQ DQG FRPSDFW GHVLJQ great battery life DQGbVXSSRUW IRU WKH $SSOH 3HQFLO 3ULFH\ EXW ZRUWK LW APPLE iPAD 10.2 (2020) From £349, apple.com $ ZKROH ORW RI $SSOH tablet for not much PRQH\ LW RIIHUV $SSOH Pencil support and the latest iPadOS VRIWZDUH 3HUIHFW LI \RX ZDQW WRS WDEOHW performance and you don’t have lots to spend on it.

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S7 PLUS £699, samsung.com

7KLV \HDUèV ; KDV WK JHQ ,QWHO SURFHVVRUV DQG WKH DYDLODEOH JUDSKLFV QRZ go up to Intel Iris Xe. ,WèV EHDXWLIXOO\ PDGH battery life is around KRXUV DQG WKHUHèV a good range of FRQĆJXUDWLRQ RSWLRQV

An Android SRZHUKRXVH WKDW QRW RQO\ JRHV WRH WR WRH ZLWK WKH L3DG Pro in terms of SHUIRUPDQFH EXW does so in terms of VW\OH DQG EXLOG TXDOLW\ too – this thing is only 5.7mm thick!

J U N E 2 0 21 T3 87

Best of the best

GAMING LAPTOPS

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestgaming ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS G14 £1,099, asus.com A game-changer that delivers buckets of performance despite being compact and light. It does this thanks to its use of AMD’s hot QHZ 5\]HQb&38V and Nvidia’s RTX b*38 MSI GS66 STEALTH £1,500, msi.com An astonishingly powerful gaming laptop with up to a 10th-generation Intel &RUH L DQG 1YLGLD *H)RUFH 57; *38 7KLV LV QRW D FKHDS ODSWRS EXW LW delivers incredible performance.

ASUS ZEPHYRUS S GX701 £2,500, asus.com &UDPPHG ZLWK SRZHUIXO FRPSRQHQWV this really looks the SDUW DQG ZLOO SOD\ any game out there without breaking a sweat. You’ll pay a ORW bEXW LI \RXèYH JRW WKH FDVK WKHQ LWèV worth it.

ACER NITRO 5

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestheadset STEELSERIES ARCTIS 7P WIRELESS £160, steelseries.com This is an impressive SLHFH RI NLW GHOLYHULQJ an excellent audio H[SHULHQFH IRU 36 DQG 36 $ 86% & dongle makes it quick to set up and means it will also work with a 3& 1LQWHQGR 6ZLWFK or Android phone.

LUCIDSOUND LS50X £249, lucidsound.com A hugely impressive new entry as we enter the era of the QH[W JHQ FRQVROHV with an all-round SDFNDJH å VW\OH VHWXS DXGLR å WKDWèV YHU\ GLIĆFXOW WR EHDW %XLOG TXDOLW\ LV ĆUVW rate too.

TURTLE BEACH ELITE ATLAS AERO £129, turtlebeach.com 3DUWQHUV DQ understated and mature aesthetic with high-end build quality and top-rate audio reproduction. Allows audiophilelevel customisation WKURXJK WKH &RQWURO Studio app.

STEELSERIES ARCTIS 7X WIRELESS

£750, acer.com

£90, logitech.com A lower spec is UHćHFWHG LQ WKH ORZHUbSULFH :LWK D &RUH *% RI 5$0 *% 190( 66' SOXV D 7% KDUG drive and a Nvidia *H)RUFH *7; 7L *% LWèV VWLOO D SRWHQWbSHUIRUPHU

8 8 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

GAMING HEADSETS

4K MONITORS

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/best4kmonitor

PHILIPS BRILLIANCE 328P £420, philips.co.uk A plucky display sporting an impressive HDR 600 UDWLQJ DQG D [ UHVROXWLRQ It’s also shockingly DIIRUGDEOH ZKHQ \RX FRQVLGHU LWèV D LQFK GLVSOD\ ZLWK . and HDR support.

EIZO COLOREDGE CG319X £3,989, ezioglobal.com Equipped with a raft RI KLJK HQG IHDWXUHV this screen is ideal for high-end photo DQG YLGHR ZRUN DV well as general usage and gaming. Serious hardware commands a serious premium SULFH KRZHYHU SAMSUNG U28E590D £279, samsung.com Delivers a super-fast PV UHVSRQVH WLPH 170-degree viewing angles and a 1000:1 contrast ratio. You don’t get quite as much size as other PRGHOV EXW LW FXWV very few corners hitting its low price.

DELL ULTRASHARP U4320Q £676, dell.com

The Xbox version of our favourite headset delivers really strong SHUIRUPDQFH ZLWK nuanced audio reproduction across WKH VRXQGVFDSH a comfortable GHVLJQ DQG D TXDOLW\ &OHDU&DVW PLF

$ LQFK VFUHHQ is perfect for those who manage large spreadsheets or who need it for more creative tasks like video editing. It’s FULVS EULJKW SUHFLVH DQG YHU\ YHU\ ODUJH &OHDU VRPH VSDFH

Best of the best

DRONES Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestdrone

ACTION CAMERAS

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestactioncam GOPRO HERO9 BLACK

DJI AIR 2S £899, dji.com

£429, gopro.com A sensational camera drone. Despite being lightweight and very portable, this foldable drone packs some incredible onboard tech, including a 1-inch CMOS sensor that enables you to capture 5.4K video.

DJI MINI 2

The perfect quality camera-carrying drone for the masses, this titchy bird is so small when folded you can hide it behind an iPhone. The camera is 4K spec, and video transmission distance jumps to 10km.

CROSSTOUR CT9900

There’s not many cameras costing less than £100 that can boast 4K video at 60fps. This also has image stabilisation, a rear touchscreen, is waterproof to 40 metres and can take 20MP stills.

The waterproof Hero7 Black makes capturing pro-looking shots easier, thanks to HyperSmooth electronic stabilisation. 4K image quality is excellent, and there’s slick 60fps recording.

DJI OSMO ACTION

AKASO V50 X £99, akasotech.com

£329, dji.com Everything about this drone shouts BUY ME. The camera is a cracker capable of shooting 4K footage at 60fps, while a completely redesigned controller is another major improvement.

The Brave 7 LE ĆWVbQLFHO\bLQ WKH SDOPbRI \RXUbKDQG While its headline feature is a frontfacing screen, it DOVRbVSRUWV D QXPEHU of features only usually found on fancier models.

£99, crosstour.co

£250, gopro.com

£769, dji.com

AKASKO BRAVE 7 LE

This recent GoPro has goodies everywhere. Four virtual lenses get \RX WKH LGHDO ĆHOG of view for what you’re shooting, and next-gen video VWDELOLVDWLRQ NHHSVbLW stable and crisp.

This pro-spec drone is almost impossible to crash, and has a stunning three-axis gimbal-mounted Hasselblad camera. As rock solid and FRQĆGHQFH LQVSLULQJ as we’ve come to like and expect.

DJI MAVIC AIR 2

The wallet-friendly Hero7 White ERUURZVbSUHPLXP features from the Hero7 Black. Ideal for part-time adrenaline junkies needing a simple HD camera that shoots YouTubeready footage.

£140, akasotech.com

GOPRO HERO7 BLACK

£1,120, dji.com

GOPRO HERO7 WHITE

A bigger sensor (23.6MP), means WKLVbFDP FDQ VKRRW 5K/30 video and 20MP stills, and youget a welcome 30% battery boost over the Hero8. There’s a front VFUHHQbWRR

£279, gopro.com

DJI MAVIC 2 PRO

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestcheapaction

£179, gopro.com

GOPRO HERO8 BLACK

£419, dji.com

CHEAP ACTION CAMERAS

With a cool front display but missing SuperView mode and live streaming, DJI’s cam is ideal for extreme sports types and vloggers. Image stabilisation is excellent, and it’s HDV\bWR XVH

Along with its 60fps 4K footage, the V50 X can take 12MP stills, has in-built image stabilisation software and comes with an adjustable wideangle lens that has a PD[LPXP ĆHOG RI YLHZ of 170 degrees.

J U N E 2 0 21 T3 8 9

Best of the best

DSLR CAMERAS

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestdslr

MIRRORLESS CAMERAS

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestmirrorless NIKON Z50

NIKON D780 £2,199, nikon.com

FUJIFILM X-T3

£3,299, nikon.co.uk

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CANON EOS 90D

An APS-C sensor means you don’t have to lug around heavy lenses and accessories but still leaves you with cracking image quality. The X-T3 has impressive 4K video capabilities too.

NIKON D500

Quite possibly the ideal vlogging camera, with 4K video recording, a vari-angle 3-inch touchscreen and the ability to use an external microphone. It can shoot the occasional still image too.

PANASONIC TZ200

£1,299, canon.co.uk 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.

A beautifully retro design mixed with a host of advanced features, this, like LWVbSUHGHFHVVRUV sports a DSLR-sized (APS-C) sensor, ZKLFKbLV SDLUHG ZLWK Db PP I Ć[HG length lens.

£699, sony.com If you’re looking for \RXU ĆUVW IXOO IUDPH camera, the Z5 PDNHVbD ORW RI VHQVH You get a 24MP full-frame sensor, D QLFHO\bHUJRQRPLF body design and excellent electronic YLHZĆQGHU WRR

CANON EOS RP

£1,699, nikon.co.uk

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SONY ZV1

£1,719, nikon.co.uk A mid-range model that packs a lot of power for its price. You get a 32.5 megapixel sensor, uncropped 4K video recording, and an RSWLFDO YLHZĆQGHU WKDW offers a 100% view of the scene.

For the best image quality in a pocketfriendly body, look here. The RX100 VII continues t o build on Sony’s reputation for high-quality premium compacts, and does so without breaking the bank.

FUJIFILM X100V

NIKON Z5

£1,249, canon.co.uk

9 0 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

£1,099, sony.co.uk All the best bits IURPbWKH = UDQJH shrunk into a more affordable package. A smaller (APS-C) 20.9MP sensor means a smaller overall body, ideal IRUbWUDYHO DQG everyday shots.

NIKON D850

With a highresolution 45.4 megapixel sensor, 4K video capture, a 153-point AF system, and a sturdy body, you’ll never be GLVDSSRLQWHGbZLWK what the D850 can create for you.

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestcompact SONY RX100 VII

£849, nikon.co.uk The D780 is, in many ways, a Nikon Z6 (mirrorless) camera inside a larger DSLR body. Thanks to this, we’ve got room for dual memory card slots and a lot more direct control dials and buttons.

COMPACT CAMERAS

£629, panasonic.com Excellent full-frame image quality, but with a few GUDZEDFNV bVXFK as a low frame rate (5fps). There’s also the annoying problem of there still being scant native RF OHQVHVbDYDLODEOH

This might be the ideal travel companion, with a versatile zoom lens XSbWR [ DQG D fantastic one-inch sensor that captures bright, sharp images. It’s also stylish and pocket-friendly.

Best of the best

SAT-NAVS Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestsatnav TOMTOM GO PREMIUM £290, tomtom.com

DASH CAMS Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestdashcam NEXTBASE 622GW £250, nextbase.com

This state-of-the-art sat nav links with IFTTT, so you can connect to home devices, interact with personal digital assistants, get QRWLĆFDWLRQV DQG share location and arrival data.

The latest dash FDPbIURP 1H[WEDVH boasts muchimproved video quality, improved stabilisation and the inclusion of some rather clever What3Words geolocation services.

GARMIN DRIVESMART 61 LMT-S

GARMIN DASH CAM 66W

£209, garmin.com

£169, garmin.com This sleek sat-nav KDVbVXEVWDQFH WR match its style, ZLWKbDbELJ GLVSOD\ OLIHWLPH WUDIĆF and maps (for Europe) and useful points of interest information courtesy RIb7ULS$GYLVRU

TOMTOM GO 6200 £299, tomtom.com

THINKWARE F800 PRO

With an almost invisible design, time-lapse recording and a great night mode, this is a good stealthy option if you’re worried PRUHbDERXW YDQGDOLVP or theft than your fellow drivers.

NEXTBASE 522GW £149, nextbase.com

A petite 12.9cm screen is good for smaller cars, EXW WKLVbQDY LV still packed with features, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, VSHHG DOHUWV WUDIĆF EDWWHU\ EDFNXSbDQG (XURSHDQbPDSV

VANMOOF S3 £1,789, vanmoof.com This Dutch hipster brand has taken the S2, which was H[FHOOHQW DQG PDGHbLWbEHWWHU 2K and it’s knocked RYHU e RIIbLWV price. How could we not make it our best electric bike?

GTECH EBIKE CITY £995, gtech.co.uk

£249, thinkware.com

£329, garmin.com

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestebike

This fantastic little cam earns its place on this list with good LPDJH TXDOLW\ H[WUD features including GPS and speed camera warnings, and an attractive design. Video is 1440p, in a 180° angle.

Packed with good IHDWXUHVbEXW QHYHU ĆGGO\ DQG ZLWK Google and Siri support, this is a really good mobile companion too. The price includes lifetime updates via Wi-Fi for most features.

GARMIN DRIVELUXE 51 LMT-D

ELECTRIC BIKES

Way cheaper and simpler than most RIbWKH ELNHV KHUH DQGbGHVSLWH EHLQJ years old now, it’s VWLOObWKH EHVW FKHDS HELNH \RXbFDQ buy, and ideal for beginners or those RQbD EXGJHW BROMPTON ELECTRIC £2,595, brompton.com Ebikes aren’t just about tech. They should be fun too. The Brompton is a hoot, and if \RXèUH DbFRPPXWHU there’s no better: LW PXQFKHVbPLOHV and then folds to an incredibly tiny size.

ORBEA GAIN F40 £1,799, orbea.com

A massively impressive dash cam that not only nails the basics (such as recording outstanding image quality), but offers features not seen before in a dash FDP OLNH $OH[D DQG Emergency SOS.

A handsome ebike with a racy DOXPLQLXPbIUDPH carbon forks and powerful disc brakes. There’s no chunky digital display, but an integrated systems interface that’s VLPSOHbWR XVH

J U N E 2 0 21 T3 91

Best of the best

SMART SPEAKERS

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestsmart AMAZON ECHO SHOW 10 £239.99, amazon.co.uk The most comprehensive Alexa smart speaker to date, capable of doing lots, and with a unique trick: its large screen rotates to follow you around the room, so that you can always see it clearly.

SMART BULBS Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestbulb PHILIPS HUE

LIFX

£139, amazon.co.uk

From £19, lifx.com Bigger than the previous model, it has beefed up speakers and features, while the Zigbee smart home functionality that used to be part of the Echo Plus only has been moved into the standard Echo.

GOOGLE NEST HUB MAX £219, store.google.com Winner of our 2020 T3 award as the best smart speaker for doing absolutely everything. You get a crisp 10in screen, a VSHDNHU WKDW FDQ ĆOO a room, a front camera and of course *RRJOHb$VVLVWDQW APPLE HOMEPOD MINI £99, apple.com

9 2 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

£180, nest.com/uk This cheaper 1HVWbPRGHO GRHVQèW ĆWbDV PXFK information on its screen and doesn’t feel as premium, but that’s it. Same algorithm, same Alexa and Google Home compatibility.

TADO SMART THERMOSTAT £99, tado.com If you fancy a Hue system but don’t want to spend so much, LIFX has a strong product range and integrates with your favourite personal digital assistant. Philips still wins, EXWbRQO\ MXVW

NANOLEAF ESSENTIALS From £18, nanoleaf.me A line of bargainpriced bulbs and OLJKWbVWULSV WKDW support Thread, DQbXSFRPLQJ SURWRFRO a bit like Zigbee. We love the faceted look, but they’re only available in E27 or % ĆWWLQJV IKEA TRÅDFRI

Tado is very sociable: it works with 95% RIbWKH V\VWHPV RXW WKHUH ,WèV ćH[LEOH clever and supports a wide range of accessories too. 3ULFHbFXWV KDYH PDGHbLW HYHQ PRUHbHQWLFLQJ NEST LEARNING THERMOSTAT £220, nest.com/uk Nest made smart thermostats sexy and this third-gen model looks great. It’s simple to use with good Google Home and Amazon Echo integration, but a tad pricey, especially ZLWKbLQVWDOODWLRQ HIVE HEATING CONTROL

From £13, ikea.com A quality little speaker with the ability to act as a HomeKit hub to control smart home devices – and even support for QHZ VPDUWbSURWRFRO Thread. The slickest phone-to-speaker experience there is.

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestthermostat NEST THERMOSTAT E

From £59, philips-hue.com Hue dominates the smart lighting sector for good reason: it’s a superb system with the widest range of bulbs and a simple, useful app. Rivals may be cheaper but they can’t compete with Hue’s variety.

AMAZON ECHO 4TH GEN

SMART THERMOSTATS

£179, hivehome.com Ikea’s Zigbeecompatible system doesn’t have the range of Hue, but if you prize control over colour options it’s stellar value for money and has some great controllers DQGbGLPPHUV

Imagine: British Gas in ‘exciting’ shocker. Hive is great: it’s affordable, works well, and is part of a larger smart home system that includes bulbs and security options. This is an LGHDO ZD\ WR MXPS LQ

Best of the best

SMART PLUGS Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestplug TP-LINK KASA MINI KP105 £19, kasasmart.com A reliable smart SOXJbWKDW GRHVQèW LQFOXGH HQHUJ\ PRQLWRULQJ EXW LWèV KDSS\ WR ZRUN ZLWK $OH[D *RRJOH +RPH DQG %L[E\ 7KH 73 /LQN .DVD DSS LV DOVR PXFK LPSURYHG RQ UHFHQW JHQHUDWLRQV

HIVE ACTIVE PLUG £39, hivehome.com

SECURITY CAMERAS

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestsecurity ARLO PRO 3

ROBOT VACUUMS

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestrobotvac ROBOROCK S6 MAXV

£550 (two cameras), arlo.com ,I \RX FDQ OLYH ZLWKRXWbWKH . UHVROXWLRQ RI WKH $UOR 8OWUD WKHQ WKH $UOR 3UR LV MXVW DERXW WKH EHVW KRPH VHFXULW\ FDPHUD \RX FDQ EX\ ULJKW QRZ DQG LWèV DYDLODEOH DW D YHU\ UHDVRQDEOH SULFH RING STICK UP CAM

£599, roborock.com 7KLV URERW YDF KDV VXSHUE QDYLJDWLRQ VNLOOV DQG PDSV D URRP LQ D YHU\ ORJLFDO IDVKLRQ VWDUWLQJ DW WKH HGJHV ĆUVW EHIRUH ĆOOLQJ LQ WKH JDSV ,W ZLOO DOVR PRS \RXU KDUG ćRRUV XVLQJ LWV PO ZDWHU WDQN EUFY BOOSTIQ ROBOVAC 30C

£180, en-uk.ring.com 3UHWW\ PXFK DQ\ IHDWXUH \RX FRXOG DVNbIRU LV LQFOXGHG VXFK DV QLJKW YLVLRQ PRWLRQ GHWHFWLRQ DOHUWV WZR ZD\ DXGLR bDQG S YLGHR \RX FDQ YLHZ RQ $OH[D GHYLFHV ZLWKbVFUHHQV

£270, eufylife.com

TP-LINK KASA SMART WI-FI POWER STRIP KP303

ARLO ESSENTIAL SPOTLIGHT CAMERA

iROBOT ROOMBA I7+

£30, kasasmart.com

£130, arlo.com

£1,199, irobot.co.uk

6LPLODU WR %HONLQ +LYHèV SOXJbFDQ WXUQbVRFNHWV RQ RII YLD \RXU SKRQH DQG FUHDWH VFKHGXOHV ,W DOVR ZRUNV ZLWK $OH[Db<RX QHHG D +LYHb+XE e WR XVH WKH $FWLYH 3OXJ bWKRXJK

:LWK WKUHH VPDUW RXWOHWV HDFK ZLWK LQGHSHQGHQW FRQWURO DV ZHOO DV D SDLU RI 86% SRUWV IRU FKDUJLQJ DQG SRZHU WKH .DVD 6PDUW :L )Lb3RZHU 6WULS .3 bGHOLYHUV SOHQW\ RI ćH[LELOLW\

<RXèOO QHHG WR IHQFH RII REVWDFOHV IURP WKHb & DV LW GRHVQèWbXVH DQ LQWHUQDO PDS EXW IRU WKH SULFH WKLV LV D VROLG LI VOLJKWO\ LQHOHJDQW FOHDQLQJ ERW å HVSHFLDOO\ RQ KDUG ćRRUV

$UORèV FKHDSHU VWDQGDORQH FDPHUD FRQQHFWV GLUHFWO\ WR \RXU :L )L EXW VWLOO PDQDJHV SHUVRQ SDFNDJH DQG DQLPDO GHWHFWLRQ WZR ZD\ FRPPXQLFDWLRQ FRORXU QLJKW YLVLRQ DQGbD VSRWOLJKW

7KH L LV WKH L ZLWK DQ DGGLWLRQDO GLUW ELQ LQ WKH EDVH DQG DQ H[WUD e RQ WKH SULFH ,WèV ZRUWK LW LI \RX KDWH HPSW\LQJ WKH ELQ EXW DQ\ L LV DbJUHDW FOHDQLQJ URERWbWKDW OHDUQV LWV ZD\ DURXQG

PHILIPS HUE SMART PLUG

EUFYCAM 2C PRO

IROBOT ROOMBA S9+

£30, philips-hue.com

£299 (two cameras), eufylife.com 7KLV LV D ZLUHOHVV VHFXULW\ FDPHUD V\VWHP ZLWK D VKDUS . VHQVRU D GHJUHH GLDJRQDO YLHZ VROLG ,5 QLJKW YLVLRQ ZLWK D VSRWOLJKW LI \RX QHHG D EULJKWHU YLHZ DQG D FODLPHG VL[ PRQWK EDWWHU\ OLIH

£1,499, irobot.co.uk

,I \RXèUH DOUHDG\ DOO LQbRQ +XH KRRNLQJ RQH RI WKHVH XS WR D +XH %ULGJH JHWV \RX $OH[D *RRJOH $VVLVWDQW DQG +RPH.LW VXSSRUW PDNLQJ LW MXVW DERXW WKH PRVW FRPSDWLEOH SOXJ JRLQJ

7KH PRVW DGYDQFHG å DQG H[SHQVLYH å URERW YDF DURXQG DW WKH PRPHQW ,W H[FHOV RQ FDUSHWV DQGbDXWRPDWLFDOO\ GHWHFWV WKH ćRRU VXUIDFH DQG UDPSV XSbRU ORZHUV WKH VXFWLRQ DFFRUGLQJO\

J U N E 2 0 21 T3 9 3

Best of the best

CORDLESS VACUUMS

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestcordlessvac DYSON V11 ABSOLUTE £599, dyson.co.uk

WASHING MACHINES

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestwashing AEG 9000 SERIES L9FEC966R £899, aeg.co.uk

The high-torque head, well-sized bin and powerful suction make this the top sucker to get, and worth the ‘Dyson WD[è b7KH $XWR SRZHU mode works well, balancing battery and suction nicely.

SAMSUNG JET 90 PRO £600, samsung.com Matches the Dyson in practically every way, and will almost certainly end up EHLQJbFKHDSHU ,W comes with a proper stand to hold and recharge it, and has attachments for IRXUbWRROV VAX ONEPWR BLADE 4 £220, vax.co.uk

$(* GHOLYHUV VXSHUE ćH[LEOH FOHDQLQJ effective water softening and a steam-cleaning feature to reduce your ironing pile. ,WèV TXLHW HIĆFLHQW and environmentally friendly, too.

BOSCH SERIE 6 i-DOS WAT286H0GB £599, bosch-home.co.uk Smooth, near-silent when running, and designed with appconnected features to make laundry easy. The i-Dos function holds detergent and softener for up to 20 washes – one less thing to worry about!

BEKO WTK104121W £279, beko.co.uk

This new cordless Blade from Vax is a lot cheaper than the Dyson V11, but there’s remarkably little to tell between them in terms of cleaning power. The Vax makes a bigger noise though.

SHARK ANTI HAIR WRAP IZ251UKT £449, sharkvacuum.co.uk Comes with tech that prevents long hair and threads wrapping around the cleaning roller. It has excellent suction and folds in half for easy storage. Make a beeline IRU WKLV SURĆFLHQW contender.

94 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

$ VDIH EHW IRU D WLJKW budget, this boasts a huge 10kg drum capacity replete with large 34cm portal, 1,400rpm spin, an HQHUJ\ HIĆFLHQW motor, quick wash programs and an $ HQHUJ\ UDWLQJ LG F4V910WTS

DISHWASHERS

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestdishwasher BOSCH SMS67MW00G PERFECTDRY

£629, bosch-home.co.uk $ WRS QRWFK dishwasher that XVHVb]HROLWH D PDJLFDO mineral that turns moisture into heat, LQbWKLV FDVH WR GU\ dishes without using extra electricity. $QG E\ GU\ ZH PHDQ ERQHbGU\ BEKO DEN59420DX £400, beko.com There have been ‘smart’ dishwashers before, but Beko KDVbQRZ DGGHG Wi-Fi to the DEN59420DX freestanding dishwasher without charging a big premium for WKHbSULYLOHJH BOSCH SERIE 4 SKS62E22EU £549, bosch-home.co.uk $ WDEOH WRS PRGHO for those who don’t have much room. It can accommodate six average-sized dinner plates, a few side plates, a quartet of mugs, a carving knife or two and a clutch RIbFXWOHU\ MIELE G7150 SCVI

£750, lg.com

£1,249, miele.co.uk This 10kg drum runs like a dream thanks to the direct drive motor, which means it’s quiet too. There’s DQ DSS $OH[D DQG *RRJOH $VVLVWDQW connectivity, and TurboWash tech that cuts water usage.

If you manage to accumulate dirty dishes at an alarming rate then this speedy GLVKZDVKHU ĆWV WKH bill. The design is also perfect if you want a machine that’ll keep D ORZ SURĆOH DQG MXVW get on with it.

Best of the best

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 baristaoperated machine, it produces coffee like one, yet all the clever stuff – dosing, tamping, extraction, milk texturing, is done for you. Not cheap – but amazing.

FRIDGES Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestfridge MIELE K 28202 D WS £875, miele.co.uk

£720, delonghi.com

£489, home.leibherr.com Arguably the only A+++ rated undercounter model on the UK market. Despite its diminutive exterior, inside it’s like the Albert Hall, D FKLOOHG 7DUGLV ZLWK WZR VHSDUDWH VDODG YHJ GUDZHUV

£999, sageappliances.com Cheaper, faster DQG ZLWK EHWWHU frothed milk than WKHb2UDFOH bWKLV PD\ be the better buy for most unless being unable to make FRIIHH bDQG VWHDP PLONbDW WKH VDPH WLPH is a deal breaker.

GAGGIA VELASCA £479.00, gaggiadirect.com The espresso and lungo that the 9HODVFDbPDNHV DUH DVbJRRG DV anything you can buy in most coffee shops. It produces a reassuringly oldfashioned, intense ćDYRXU IRU \RXU EUHZ

NEFF N 70 B57CR22N0B

If you have the spondoolicks and FP RI VSDFH ZLWK no cupboards above, this cooler should be top of your list. Its clever cooling keeps foodstuffs fresh ZLWKRXW KXPLGLW\ DQG it’s cavernous.

LIEBHERR TP 1760 PREMIUM

SAGE BY HESTON BLUMENTHAL BARISTA TOUCH

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestoven

£789, neff.co.uk

DELONGHI LA SPECIALISTA EC9335.M Solidly built using VZDWKHV RI EUXVKHG stainless steel and good quality SODVWLFV bWKLV ORRNV MXVWbOLNH D small version of a professional café espresso machine. Dynamite coffee too.

OVENS

BOSCH SERIE 2 CLASSIXX KSV29NW3PG £643, bosch-home.co.uk /RRNLQJ IRU D PLG sized larder fridge that doesn’t cost the Earth, provides SOHQW\bRI IRRG VWRUDJHbVSDFH FRROV quickly and is cheap to run? Consider this HIĆFLHQW DQG ZHOO made Bosch.

SIEMENS IQ500 KU15RAFF0G

The unique Slide and Hide door is brilliant, the touchscreen is handy and the oven’s no slouch: it enables you to cook multiple GLVKHV ZLWKRXW WKDW unfortunate crosscontamination from VWURQJ ćDYRXUV AEG STEAMBAKE BPS355020M £450, aeg.com Not just for baking, this is a JUHDW RYHQ IRUbMXVW about everything. It has a massive temperature range RI |& WR |& ZLWK WKH RSWLRQ RI using grill and oven simultaneously.

ZANUSSI ZOA35471XK £260, zanussi.com If you’re after an oven that’s easy to use, then this one is a doozy. The oven heats up rapidly (about nine minutes to reach 180ºC, topping out DWb |& DQG LWV JULOO is one of the very EHVWbRXWbWKHUH AEG DCE731110M

£499, siemens.com

£800, aeg.com The hugely impressive Siemens iQ500, ZLWKb / RI VWRUDJH is a great option if you’re looking to KDYHbD EXLOW LQ IULGJH WKDW FDQ ĆW HLWKHU XQGHU D ZRUNWRS or in an eye-level compartment.

The bottom oven KDVb OLWUHV RI URRP for large stuff like turkeys and anything HOVH \RX ZDQW ZKLOH WKH WRS OLWUH RYHQ also doubles as a grill big enough to EURZQ VL[ VOLFHV RI Warburtons.

J U N E 2 0 21 T3 9 5

Best of the best

ELECTRIC SHAVERS

ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSHES

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestshaver

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/besttoothbrush

BRAUN SERIES 9 9390CC

PHILIPS SONICARE DIAMONDCLEAN SONIC

£250, braun.com

£145, philips.co.uk Given that the trend is to shave less nowadays, we recommend the %UDXQb6HULHV IRLO shaver over Philips’ almost equally LPSUHVVLYH HIIRUWV ,W is slightly better on ORQJHU VWXEEOH

£300, philips.co.uk

£35, oralb.co.uk The second best shaver has a silly RRP (£430!) but is DYDLODEOH IRU DURXQG e ,WèV JRRG IRU sensitive skin, mows long stubble and is really close to the VKDYH \RX JHW IURP WUDGLWLRQDO UD]RUV

£170, philips.co.uk

96 T3 J U N E 2 0 21

7KH EHVW WULPPHU IRU those with sensitive skin, this uses innovative OneBlade WHFKQRORJ\ ,WèV JRRG IRU ERWK \RXU IDFH and your downstairs, although you may wish to change heads LQ EHWZHHQ BRAUN BEARD TRIMMER 7 £65, braun.com

$ UHĆQHPHQW even over the DiamondClean 6RQLF bWKH adds an app that ZLOO OHW \RX NQRZ LI \RXèUH QRWbEUXVKLQJ IUHTXHQWO\ HQRXJK and when the head QHHGV FKDQJLQJ ORAL-B GENIUS 9000 £120, oralb.co.uk

A rotary shaver that requires a circular PRWLRQ RQ WKH IDFH 6WXEEOH GLVDSSHDUV like magic, and the whole experience is YHU\ ORZ LUULWDWLRQ You get a clipRQ WULPPHU IRU VLGHEXUQVbWRR

PHILIPS ONEBLADE PRO

This only has two cleaning modes and no ‘smart’ IXQFWLRQDOLW\ WR VSHDNbRI EXW DVN \RXUVHOIð GR \RX UHDOO\ FDUH" ,W KDV a timer, pressure sensor, and excellent URWDU\ FOHDQLQJ

7KLV QHZ RIIHULQJ IURP %UDXQ ZLWK WKUHH IRLO KHDGV LVbDQbDEVROXWH FUDFNHUbLQ HYHU\ UHVSHFW ,W VKDYHV as close as a wet UD]RU RQO\ LQ KDOI WKH WLPH $QG WKDWèV QRbH[DJJHUDWLRQ

£199, philips.co.uk

The classiest looking beard trimmer we’ve ever clapped H\HV RQ LW RIIHUV DQ HTXDOO\ FODVV\ VKDYH Designed primarily IRU QHDWHU EHDUG scaping, it whips away whiskers without any VQDJV RU SXOOV

£50, philips.co.uk

PHILIPS SONICARE DIAMONDCLEAN 9000

PHILIPS SERIES 9000 S9211/31

PHILIPS BT9000 PRESTIGE

This is a great toothbrush with excellent cleaning power, and an attractive but HDVLO\bVPDVKHG JODVVbFKDUJHU ,W DOVR comes with a handy travel case with 86%bSRZHU ORAL-B PRO 2 2500

£165, braun.com

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/besttrimmer

£120, philips.co.uk

PHILIPS SERIES 9000 PRESTIGE

BRAUN SERIES 7 70-N7200CC

BEARD TRIMMERS

This is an extremely good electric toothbrush with a rather pointless smartphone app, but LW GRHV D JUHDW MRE RI cleaning and comes ZLWK IRXU åbIRXU åbEUXVK KHDGV VR LWèV D ELW RI D EDUJDLQ

7KLV WULPPHU IHHOV OLNH JRRG YDOXH IRU PRQH\ earning it a place on WKLV OLVW 6PDOO OLJKW and easy to use, its tough blades shave FOHDQO\ %DWWHU\ OLIH LV solid, and the unit is ZDWHUSURRI HQRXJK IRU HDV\ ULQVLQJ PANASONIC I-SHAPER ER-GD60 e bSDQDVRQLF FR XN

For slightly longer beards, this is the RQH WR JR IRU ,WV unusual, ‘side-on’ cutting action, where you pull the shaver through your hirsute tresses more like a comb, soon becomes VHFRQGbQDWXUH

Best of the best

FITNESS TRACKERS

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestﬁtness

RUNNING WATCHES

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestrunningwatch GARMIN FORERUNNER 245 MUSIC

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Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestrunningphones

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COMINGNEXT,668( )XWXUH 3XEOLVKLQJ 4XD\ +RXVH 7KH $PEXU\ %DWK %$ 8$ EDITORIAL SUBSCRIPTIONS & CUSTOMER SERVICES

PRINT 15,013 DIGITAL 19,464

Jan–Dec 2019 A member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations

T3 IS… EDITOR JOSH RUSSELL josh.russell@futurenet.com ART EDITOR MICHELLE McLAREN michelle.mclaren@futurenet.com GROUP PRODUCTION EDITOR RUSSELL LEWIN russell.lewin@futurenet.com CONTENT DIRECTOR PAUL DOUGLAS paul.douglas@futurenet.com

ISSUE 322 ON SALE WEDNESDAY 9 JUNE

BRAND DIRECTOR PAUL NEWMAN paul.newman@futurenet.com GROUP ART DIRECTOR JO GULLIVER jo.gulliver@futurenet.com EDITORIAL & ART CONTRIBUTORS Derek Adams, John Archer, Duncan Bell, Louise Blain, Matthew Bolton, Becca Caddy, Alex Cox, Yasmine Crossland, Claire Davies, Amy Davies, Erlingur Einarsson, Ian Evenden, Spencer Hart, Tamara Hinson, Steve Jenkins, Robert Jones, Stephen Kelly, Matt Kollat, Carrie Marshall, Michelle Rae Uy ADVERTISING Media packs are available on request UK COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR CLARE DOVE clare.dove@futurenet.com HEAD OF COMMERCIAL TECHNOLOGY DAVE RANDALL dave.randall@futurenet.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR, TECHNOLOGY KATE COLGAN kate.colgan@futurenet.com ACCOUNT DIRECTOR JOSHUA McGONIGLE joshua.mcgonigle@futurenet.com ACCOUNT MANAGER ISABEL LINCOLN-MOORE isabel.lincoln-moore@futurenet.com INTERNATIONAL T3 is available for licensing and syndication. Contact the International GHSDUWPHQW WRbGLVFXVV SDUWQHUVKLS RSSRUWXQLWLHV HEAD OF PRINT LICENSING RACHEL SHAW licensing@futurenet.com PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS & BACK ISSUES Email enquiries t3@myfavouritemagazines.co.uk UK orderline & enquiries 0844 848 2852 Overseas order line and enquiries +44 (0) 344 848 2852 Online orders & enquiries myfavouritemagazines.co.uk CIRCULATION HEAD OF NEWSTRADE TIM MATHERS PRODUCTION HEAD OF PRODUCTION UK & US MARK CONSTANCE PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGER CLARE SCOTT ADVERTISING PRODUCTION MANAGER JOANNE CROSBY DIGITAL EDITIONS CONTROLLER JASON HUDSON PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR NOLA COKELY MANAGEMENT CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER AARON ASADI CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER RACHEL ADDISON HEAD OF ART & DESIGN RODNEY DIVE PRINTED IN THE UK BY William Gibbons on behalf of Future. DISTRIBUTED IN THE UK BY Marketforce (UK), 2nd Floor, 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HU www.marketforce.co.uk Tel: 020 3787 9060

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