S SAMSUNG’S BEST 4K TV EVER! OUR FULL REVIEW
BEST TECH FOR Winter 2022 / $9.95
EVERYTHING
Stunning OLED TVs • Best garden gadgets Handy travel tech • Next-gen gaming gear
PS VR2 COMPLETE GUIDE Gamechanging – just like the PlayStation 5!
TOP
GADGETS
FOR WHEN YOU’RE ON THE MOVE
REVIEWED
iPAD AIR GOES PRO
STEAM DECK
Gaming will never be the same
iPHONE SE Affordable, fast and built to last
SAMSUNG’S 14-INCH TABLET
Why it’s the future of computing
THE HOTTEST HOME UPGRADES G Give your pad a refresh
AUS $9.95 INC GST NZ $10.95 INC GST PRINT POST APPROVED: 100007799 ISSN: 1445-2901
Wireless subwoofer Included
SIGNA S4 – LIFELIKE CINEMATIC AUDIO TRUE DOLBY ATMOS SOUNDBAR WITH WIRELESS SUBWOOFER, eARC, AND BLUETOOTH The Signa S4 Dolby Atmos 31 3.1.2 2 soundbar with wireless subwoofer delivers powerful, crystal clear, cinematic 3D surround sound – at unbeatable value. Features VoiceAdjustTM, Bass Adjust, and Night, Music and Movie modes for customisable sound. Easy set up with virtually any TV simply connecting one cable. Enjoy Bluetooth music streaming and more.
Contact us for your nearest Polk Audio Dealer: sales.au@soundunited.com | 03 8542 1111 |
/PolkAudioAustralia | polkaudio.com
SHOWSTOPPER Gadgets that showcase the very best that design and technology have to offer
FIGURES OF FUN Alongside great Doc Brown and Marty McFly minifigs, the set also comes with Marty’s hoverboard, licence plates and a banana and tin can to power the DeLorean’s Mr Fusion device
L E G O BAC K TO TH E F U T U R E TI M E M AC H I N E Great Scott! Lego has form for producing some absolutely iconic pop-culture tie-in sets but this one surprised even us. The Danish building-block behemoth has just released a Lego Creator set of all three DeLoreans from the Back to the Future films. ‘Wait a minute’, we hear you cry. ‘Are you telling me I can build a time machine... out of Lego?’ Does Biff Tannen hate manure? This 1,872-piece set allows you to build your choice of DeLorean from each of the three movies and includes realistic details like folding tyres for flight mode, a light-up flux capacitor, printed date readouts for the dashboard and opening gull-wing doors and hood. And while rigging it to be struck by 1.2 gigawatts of lightning won’t allow you to travel back to the future, this collectors’ model will definitely stand the test of time. $349, lego.com
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The team
Future Publishing Australia, PO Box Q1179, Queen Victoria Building, NSW 1230 Email: ben.mansill@futurenet.com Web: www.t3.com/au | www.techradar.com Corporate Web: www.futureplc.com Editorial Editor: Ben Mansill ben.mansill@futurenet.com Creative Director: Troy Coleman troy.coleman@futurenet.com Contributors Matt Bolton, Nick Odantzis, Claire Davies, Paul Dimery, Craig Stewart, Chris Barnes, James Jarvis, Warren Brown, Duncan Bell, Joe Branston, Alex Cox, Olly Curtis, Ian Evenden, Neil Godwin, Steve May, Steve Jarratt, Danny Phillips, Sam Taylor, Chris Barnes, Becca Caddy, Spencer Hart, Russell Lewin, Joby Sessions, Jordan Erica Webber, Michelle McLaren Photography All copyrights and trademarks are recognised and respected Advertising Senior Advertising Manager: Lewis Preece lewis.preece@futurenet.com Management Managing Director: Neville Daniels Sales Director: Paul Marttila Printed in Australia by IVE Distributed in Australia and NZ by Are Direct ISSN 1445-2901 About the magazine T3 is published by Future Publishing Australia. All articles in this magazine are copyright of Future Plc group company, UK 2018. All rights reserved. Distributed in Australia and NZ by Gordon and Gotch www.gordongotch.com.au. Printed by IVE www.ivegroup.com.au. All contents copyright Future Publishing (Overseas) Ltd, trading as Future Publishing Australia copyright 2018. We are committed to only using magazine paper which is derived from responsibly managed, certified forestry and chlorine-free manufacture. The paper in this magazine was sourced and produced from sustainable managed forests, conforming to strict environmental and socioeconomic standards. The manufacturing paper mill holds full FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or PEFC certification and accreditation All contents © 2018 Future Publishing Australia or published under licence. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any way without the prior written permission of the publisher. Future Publishing Limited (company number 2008885) is registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All information contained in this publication is for information only and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. Future cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information. You are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers directly with regard to the price of products/services referred to in this publication. Apps and websites mentioned in this publication are not under our control. We are not responsible for their contents or any other changes or updates to them. This magazine is fully independent and not affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein. If you submit material to us, you warrant that you own the material and/or have the necessary rights/permissions to supply the material and you automatically grant Future and its licensees a licence to publish your submission in whole or in part in any/all issues and/ or editions of publications, in any format published worldwide and on associated websites, social media channels and associated products. Any material you submit is sent at your own risk and, although every care is taken, neither Future nor its employees, agents, subcontractors or licensees shall be liable for loss or damage. We assume all unsolicited material is for publication unless otherwise stated, and reserve the right to edit, amend, adapt all submissions. Privacy statement If you provide information about yourself this will be used to provide you with products or services you have requested. We may supply your information to contractors to enable us to do this. Future Publishing Australia will also use your information to inform you of other publications, products, services and events. Future Publishing Australia may also give your information to organisations that are providing special prizes or offers and are clearly associated with the Reader Offer. Unless you tell us not to, Future Publishing Australia may give your information to other organisations that may use it to inform you of other products, services or events. If you would like to gain access to the information Future Publishing Australia holds about you, please contact us.
Future plc is a public company quoted on the London Stock Exchange (symbol: FUTR) www.futureplc.com
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Chief executive Zillah Byng-Thorne Non-executive chairman Richard Huntingford Chief financial officer Penny Ladkin-Brand Tel +44 (0)1225 442 244
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Contents
Contents 026
BEST TECH FOR…
EVERYTHING Streaming movies? Making music? Heading out? Enjoy the best gear for any situation, guaranteed
040
052
046 6 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 2
PLAYSTATION VR2 The future is in front of our very eyes thanks to Sony’s amazing new VR kit
CLEANING & DIY GADGETS Get everything feeling fresh and new again with these 21 gizmos that’ll rejuvenate your living areas
GADGETS ON THE GO Heading to the pub or getting out into the wild? This is the perfect tech to pack your pockets with
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Contents
BEST OF THE BEST
HORIZON
TESTED
010
071
HORIZON TOP 10
PORSCHE TAYCAN 4S
Why the Apple Mac Studio is the creative’s dream workstation
3RUVFKHèV ĆUVW IXOO\ HOHFWULF FDU IHHOV OLNH pure luxury and handles like a dream
018
072
WATCHES
SAMSUNG QN95B
Fancy ncy yourself up around your wrist
This stunningly bright 4K set is a serious contender for TV of the year
076 iPAD AIR The power of a MacBook Pro – in a tablet that won’t break the bank
094 YOUR IN-DEPTH BUYER’S GUIDE Our giant buyer’s guide helps you ĆQG WKH ZRUOGèV EHVW JDGJHWV LQ many categories – all tested by T3’s team of tech experts!
078
019
iPHONE SE
FITNESS & OUTDOORS
Apple’s new budget blockbuster offers major upgrades and a fantastic camera
Want a Peloton sans the subscription? Then hop astride this innovative bike
020
088
LIVING
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S8 ULTRA
'\VRQèV DLU SXULĆHU FXP KHDGSKRQHV is like nothing you’ve ever seen before
This huge tablet is ideal for creatives dreaming of a larger screen
090 021 TRAVEL
SONY WF-C500 :LWKRXW D GRXEW WKH ĆQHVW ZLUHOHVV earbuds you can buy for under $250
Why Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore will dazzle and delight
022 GADGET GURU De-damp your dwelling, send tracking tags packing and stream without stress
060
IN GOOD HANDS You’ll be clamouring to welcome them onto your wrist
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025
091
TALKING TECH
NIKON Z9
Duncan Bell is shocked when he chances on a genuinely new gadget
A full-frame mirrorless cam that crams in an astonishing amount
W I N T E R 2 0 2 2 T3 7
Welcome
Editor’s letter Moving home is a pain. I recently helped a mate move house and once again, I am astounded by how laboriously analogue the whole process is. Moving still requires you to squeeze all your material possessions into cardboard boxes, load them into a fossil-fuel devouring van or truck and then transport them to a new physical location. Like some kind of Neanderthal. This has started me thinking about replacing all my physical things with digital equivalents. Why keep heavy books when Kindles are so tantalisingly portable? Why do I own so many board games when a Steam Deck offers an eye-bleeding quantity of games in a pocket-sized package? What’s the point of kitchenware when I can just tip the contents of an air fryer into my face? I need some high-tech upgrades. Lucky for me – and you, if you share my pain – T3 is jam-packed full of just that this issue. First up, we run down the best tech for everything, whether you’re seeking smart writing gadgets, ace turntables or portable projectors. We also offer essential kit for fixing up your home, from labour-saving tools to cleaning robots. Finally, we present the perfect tech for you to carry to be prepared for any situation.
Ben Mansill, Editor ben.mansill@futurenet.com
T3’S MISSION Our mission is to bring you the clearest recommendations we can – and that means a great deal of hard work happens before a product even reaches our pages! Because we only feature products the T3 team would happily use ourselves, we end up discarding a significant number of options in each category before settling on a final shortlist to review. We select only the best of the best for our Tested section; the gear we know you’ll want to seriously consider purchasing. And that should mean an end to you
having to undertake hours of painstaking research and product comparisons. You won’t see any duff products, but you will come away with clarity on which one is the best in its category or for a specific task: our awards badges (see below) ensure that everything T3 recommends is clearly highlighted on the page. It goes without saying that every product in our review section has been thoroughly tested by our team of experts, enabling you to buy with total confidence.
OUR AWARDS This is given to winners of our group tests, so you can see which is the best at a glance
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Only the best products – those that score five stars – receive our Platinum Award
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TWO NIGHTS FOR HI-FI AND MUSIC FANS are planned for Melbourne on adjacent nights, each featuring a high-end cable brand.
The first will take place on Friday June 3rd at Sound Gallery on 224 McKinnon Rd, McKinnon, VIC. It will feature principals from the Netherlands' Crystal Cable, whose products are described by the company as "Pure, without colour, a time machine for music lovers worldwide that brings an artist's vision to life before your eyes."
The next night, Saturday June 4th, Class A Audio at 8/585 Blackburn Rd Notting Hill, VIC will present an event focused around Siltech, a company which made its name in high-quality cables, notably using silver conductors, but which has also delivered some astounding amplifiers and loudspeakers.
AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIA THROUGH
ABSOLUTE HI END
0488 777 999 . info@absolutehiend.com . www.absolutehiend.com
Horizon
The best new tech heading your way
APPLE MAC STUDIO From $3,099, apple.com/au What’s better than the M1 Max chip? Two of them. But, somehow, only one? It’s less confusing than we’re making it: when pulling back the curtain of the Mac Studio, Apple revealed that it had built an interconnect right into the design of what was once its highestspec processor and cleverly not told anyone about it. Thus the M1 Ultra processor at the heart of the high-end spec of the new Mac Studio, which stitches the silicon of two M1 Max chips together into one cohesive whole, effectively manages to double the performance of what was already one of the most efficient CPUs in the world with no downside. That’s genius internal design, and makes the Mac Studio attractive to basically anyone of an artistic persuasion: time and testing will tell, but we can’t see a way that this won’t be the ultimate maker’s machine, like Macs Pro before it. Apple’s outward design language this time speaks of compactness, with clever airflow from the base to the rear allowing the Mac Studio to resemble a dumpier Mac Mini, taking up minimal desk room. Apple has also sensibly positioned a bunch of Type-C ports up front (at last) – and four of its ports are Thunderbolt 4, giving this about the best IO throughput we’ve ever seen. This may not be the machine for you. It’s a creative powerhouse, and priced as such. But as a template and as a statement of intent, it proves Apple is well and truly at the top of the CPU game.
TECH-O-METER
ULTRA POWER The M1 Ultra being two M1 Max chips isn’t just a gimmick – that’s literally what it is. It gets 20 cores to the Max’s 10, 64 GPU cores, double the memory and double the memory bandwidth, too.
“The ultimate Mac workstation – at least until the next Mac Pro” Josh Russell
1 0 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 2
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Top 10
IMPORTANT NUMBERS A fully loaded Mac Studio can handle nine concurrent streams of 8K ProRes video, which is impressive in itself, but the raw numbers are even more crazy: its 57 billion transistors can perform 11 trillion instructions per second.
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IMAGE SOURCE: APPLE
TOP-SPEC TERROR Want a Mac Studio with the M1 Ultra processor, 128GB of RAM and an 8TB SSD? Don’t we all. Best contact the mortgage company, though, because it’s not upgrade-friendly and that topend spec will set you back $12,099.
W I N T E R 2 0 2 2 T3 1 1
Horizon Top 10
SAMSUNG S95B From $3,295, samsung.com
T3 SAYS: Cool stuff, but don't expect Samsung to drop QLED any time soon.
TECH-O-METER
IMAGE SOURCE: SAMSUNG
While we very much doubt they're off for a walk around the park holding hands, it's nice to see Samsung and LG Display not entirely at odds for once. This is the first Samsung consumer OLED in ten years, and rumour has it its panel comes from LG – given the South Korean manufacturer still appears to run the only major factory producing OLED panels, that's a safe bet. But this 55- and 65-inch TV isn't a straight clone of LG's C2 or G2 screens – it runs the excellent 2022 iteration of Tizen, and Samsung's promotional info suggests it has cooked up its own brightness and colour boosting tech. Does that mean this will mark the debut of QD-OLED, which mixes quantum dot colouration with OLED lighting? We'll see.
APPLE STUDIO DISPLAY From $2,499, apple.com/au
IMAGE SOURCE: APPLE
Leave it to Apple to cook up a monitor with more processing power than many standalone devices. The new Studio Display isn't just a massive 26-inch 600 nits 5K IPS display perfectly suited to sit next to the Mac Studio. It's not handy for its ports or ability to fast charge a MacBook Pro. It's smart in its own right: there's a 12MP camera with Center Stage built in, a six-speaker spatial audio array, a beamformed three-mic setup that helps make video calls clear, and it's all powered by an A13 Bionic chip and appears to run iOS 15.4. That's the same processor that ran the iPhone 11, and still powers the 9th-gen iPad. Maybe not one for PC users, but if you're rocking any kind of Apple desktop hardware this has to be on your shopping list.
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T3 SAYS: Now to convince our IT department that it's essential for producing magazines…
TECH-O-METER
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Klipsch McLaren T5 II
Klipsch McLaren T5 II
TRUE WIRELESS SPORT
ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLING
Klipsch McLaren Fives POWERED SPEAKER
RACE INTO YOUR LOCAL HARVEY NORMAN OR SELECTED HIFI DEALER FOR A TEST DRIVE TODAY
Scan to find your nearest dealer
Horizon Top 10 SUUNTO 5 PEAK $499.99, www.suunto.com
IMAGE SOURCE: SUUNTO
Take all the fantastic, expedition-tier features from the Suunto 9 Peak, make it 30% lighter and 50% more affordable, and you've go the new Suunto 5 Peak. The watch is 43mm across with a profile of 12.9mm, the face is protected with a stainless steel bezel and plastic lens while the backside houses the wrist-based heartrate monitor. The 5 Peak is packed with everything you could ever need to get and stay fit. There're 80+ sport modes built-in to track steps, laps, cadence, altitude ... everything! Real-time adaptive training gives you at-a-glance guidance, plus calorie, recovery and sleep tracking (in conjunction with the Suunto app) help to further optimise your health and training. The in-built GPS navigation is pin-accurate and turn-by-turn navigation and heat-map route-finding means you'll never get lost again. The 5 Peak is available in Black, Cave Green or Ridge Sand and you can spice your look up even more with a variety of bands available online at Suunto. T3 SAYS: Great price, solid construction and jam-packed with high-end features; the 5 Peak hits the sweet-spot in fitness watches.
TECH-O-METER
POLK MAGNIFI MINI AX $399, polkaudio.com
IMAGE SOURCE: POLK
Dolby Atmos has changed a lot. What started as an almost unattainably pricey soundtrack commodity has turned into something affordable; what began with an awkward roomful of speakers is now able to be crammed into a super-compact package. Polk's 37cmwide bar, which also supports DTS:X and comes bundled with a wireless sub, packs five individual speaker channels into its diminutive box. You can add on extra wireless speakers if you want to expand the surround experience, but you don't need to; the 3D Audio Mode can upmix just about anything into virtual surround, and that may well be enough. There's plenty of connectivity, settings to cut unfriendly frequencies at night or boost the centre channel if everyone's mumbling: this is a well-considered package indeed.
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T3 SAYS: We'd still pair this with a big TV, mind.
TECH-O-METER
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Horizon
ENABOT EBO AIR $359, enabot.com
T3 SAYS: Is this basically a robot vacuum that doesn’t suck?
TECH-O-METER
IMAGE SOURCE: ENABOT
Enabot, following up on the EBO S and EBO Pro with a tiny, undeniably cute little floorscooter, seems to be straddling the line between practical robot and toy – at least until you get into the weeds of the EBO Air’s features. This is a smart robot. It’s meant as a toy of sorts; it’s a social companion, and was apparently designed to help get chunky pets moving a little more. And yes, you can ask it to annoy your pets while you’re out, but it can do a whole lot more. It can identify the faces of your family and follow them around instead of your poor cats, it can set itself off on a security patrol, and you can look through its 1080p eye and control it through your phone while you’re out. Neat.
TRONSMART BANG
IMAGE SOURCE: TRONSMART
$225, tronsmart.com
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The modern boombox design – speakers, handle, Bluetooth, maybe some LEDs – is everywhere and everybody’s doing it. That includes Tronsmart, a brand breaking through with a long list of competitively-priced, decentsounding personal audio gear. But neat design and the high likelihood of acceptable fidelity is not the reason we’re so excited for the Bang. It’s the connectivity. Tronsmart obviously thinks stereo pairing is yesterday’s news: you can network up to 100 Bangs together to build a ridiculous wall of sound. That’d be ludicrous, but let’s do the maths. Each Bang has four speakers and outputs 60 watts. Assemble a full-size swarm of these and you’re looking at 400 speakers, 6,000 watts and some serious tinnitus – but the music-synced LED light show will be amazing. T3 SAYS: We’ll settle for ten.
TECH-O-METER
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TopTop 10 10
LEGO VESPA 125 $159, lego.com grown-up builds. And this being Lego, it’s basically up to you what you do with it. If you should choose to find a way to add twenty extra wing mirror pieces and daub a Union Jack on the back, that’s an entirely acceptable... mod. Sorry. T3 SAYS: A true Italian icon rendered in Danish ABS.
TECH-O-METER COOLNESS INNOVATION FEATURES
IMAGE SOURCE: LEGO
Lego just keeps outdoing itself with credible display pieces. Recently we fell in love with the company’s hulking Santiago Bernabéu replica, and now the block-wizards offer us something slightly less massive but imbued with a whole lot more chill. Pastel blue and oh-so cool, Lego’s new 1,106-piece set is inspired by the 1960s Vespa Piaggio and packed with detail, such as the periodaccurate helmet and goggles, the classic number plate and the brickbuilt engine in the back. It’s gorgeous, and just the sort of thing we’re looking for from Lego’s more
SAMSUNG A53 5G
IMAGE SOURCE: SAMSUNG
$697, samsung.com Samsung’s A-series phones are arguably more important than its S-tier models. That’s a bold statement, but we’re going to back it up: according to Counterpoint Research, the S range is seeing diminishing returns on its sales, to the point that the A-series made up 58% of the company’s smartphone sales last year; the A12, in particular, was the top-selling Android phone of the entire year. No other Samsung handset made it into Counterpoint’s top ten. So while this latest rangetopper may not be a true flagship, it may also be destined to live in your
pocket for the next year or two, and it’s more than worthy. 6GB RAM, 128GB storage, a 120Hz display and a 64MP main camera give it serious performance, and it carries a 5,000mAh battery while only weighing 189g. T3 SAYS: If you don’t need full flagship finery, why spend a cent more?
TECH-O-METER COOLNESS INNOVATION FEATURES
SAMSUNG GALAXY BOOK 2 PRO 360 $TBA, samsung.com
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a tablet if you so desire. Only the resolution lets it down for us – FHD just isn’t enough for a laptop at this price point, though if you’re quick enough to pre-order Samsung will chuck in a set of Galaxy Buds Pro and a multiport adapter. T3 SAYS: Flip-top and a fast CPU? That’s a combo.
TECH-O-METER COOLNESS INNOVATION FEATURES
IMAGE SOURCE: SAMSUNG
Samsung’s latest laptop, the highlight of an entirely upgraded Galaxy Book range, has the MacBook Pro in its sights – and not by being a mere clone. Drawing on Intel’s 12thgeneration Evo platform, with its newly efficient processors and crazy-fast LPDDR5 RAM, it’s equal parts cool and powerful, with a host of security and connectivity boosts on top. But this does what Apple doesn’t: there’s an S-Pen compatible 13.3-inch or 15.6-inch AMOLED touch screen on board, and (as its unwieldy 11-syllable name suggests) you can flip the whole thing over and use it as
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Horizon Style
WHICH WATCH
MONEY NO OBJECT
THE HOTTEST TIMEPIECES RIGHT NOW
Tateossian Windsor Baton Bracelet
ZENITH, DEFY SKYLINE
%ULQJLQJ WKH ć\EDFN IXQFWLRQ WR WKH $XWDYLD FROOHFWLRQ IRU WKH ĆUVW WLPH WKH &KURQRPHWHU )O\EDFN LV UXJJHGO\ KDQGVRPH DQG LQVSLUHG E\ KLVWRULF 7$* +HXHU GDVKERDUG WLPHUV $9,100, tagheuer.com
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HUBLOT, BIG BANG UNICO GOLF ORANGE CARBON
BULGARI, OCTO ROMA BLUE CARILLON TOURBILLON
1RZ ZLWK D ]HVW\ OLJKWZHLJKW RUDQJH FDUERQ FDVH WKLV LQQRYDWLYH ZDWFK VKRZV JROIHUV ZKLFK KROH WKH\ DUH RQ KRZ PDQ\ VKRWV WKH\èYH WDNHQ RQ WKDW KROH DQG WKHLU FXPXODWLYH VFRUH IRU WKH URXQG $43,900, hublot.com
&RPELQLQJ WZR WUDGLWLRQDO FRPSOLFDWLRQV RI WKH WRXUELOORQ DQG WKH VWULNLQJ PHFKDQLVP WKLV LV KRXVHG LQ D SODWLQXP FDVH WKDW KDV EHHQ GHVLJQHG WR DPSOLI\ WKH VRXQG UHQGLWLRQ DQG FODULW\ $553,000, bulgari.com
1 8 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 2
IMAGE SOURCES: TAG HEUER, ZENITH, HUBLOT, BULGARI, TATEOSSIAN
TAG HEUER, HEUER AUTAVIA CHRONOMETER FLYBACK
Making the leap from city financier to cufflink designer is something of a unique transition but it’s one that Robert Tateossian made in 1990 when he launched his luxury jewellery brand. Starting with a modest workshop in the heart of the silversmith industry, Birmingham, Robert soon earned himself the moniker ‘king of cufflinks’ as his reputation grew for producing jewellery of high quality and an unusual pairing of materials (meteorite and dinosaur bones have known to feature in his designs). The Tateossian brand has grown to encompass the whole gamut of men’s and women’s accessories, from earrings to necklaces. Inspired by his global travels, Tateossian designs have an international aspect and often feature ethnic influences, including his wide range of stacked, handmade macramé bracelets, most of which start from circa $300. If you have a bit more to spend, however, Tateossian also caters with pieces such as this hand-wrapped macramé bracelet. It earns its $3,400 price tag as it holds 139 micro black pavé diamonds set within a sterling silver frame, with a total carat weight of approximately 1.29ct. $3,400, tateossian.com
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Fitness
ARTERIAL INNOVATION
BEST STABILITY RUNNING SHOES
The Mobvoi GHT Pro ($139, mobvoi.com) is the company’s first heart health monitoring smartwatch created in collaboration with CardieX, which utilises the latter’s sensor technology to “measure central arterial waveforms”. Based on sensor readings, the Mobvoi GTH Pro can provide you with a general score of overall heart and arterial health, a measure of blood flow to and stress on the heart, an estimated “age” of the arteries based on arterial stiffness and more. Not too shabby from a watch that costs less than $150.
IMAGE SOURCE: THE NORTH FACE
IMAGE SOURCE:ADIDAS
Brooks’ GuideRails are a genius invention – they aim to keep excessive movement in the ankle in check, providing added support and contributing to what feels like a made-for-you experience. You’re getting the support you need without realising it. $239, brooksrunning.com
Sub $100 Mobvoi smartwatch uses new heart sensor technology
IMAGE SOURCE: MOBVOI
IMAGE SOURCE: BROOKS
BROOKS ADRENALIN GTS22
HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE
ADIDAS ULTRABOOST 22
ON CLOUDFLYER The Cloudflyer is the best support running shoe On has to offer and features the Onsignature Helion superfoam, a bespoke Speedboard, 3D-moulded heel and a wider outsole for added stability. For long-distance, maxcushioned runs, you should consider the Cloudflyer. $249, on-running.com Discover more at t3.com/au
SNOWED IN IMAGE SOURCE: ONRUNNING
The UltraBoost 22 features a revamped outsole and a newly redesigned upper that wraps around your feet for extra protection and comfort. This, combined with the Linear Energy Push system, enables overpronating runners to enjoy a responsive ride. $270, adidas.com/au
POW’S BACK ON THE MENU BOYS On, off or just getting-piste, The North Face will keep you dry and toasty CLEMENT TRICLIMATE JACKET
FREEDOM PANTS
The only thing that could be better than one jacket is two jackets inside the same jacket. As probably the laziest packer in the world, the Clement Triclimate pack the versatility we’ve been craving. The outer shell features sealed seams with a non-PFC waterproof finish to keep things dry while still being breathable to keep that wet-dog smell down. There’re loads of secure storage options (including a handy goggle wipe), pit vents and “gripper-elastic” powder skirt. But the big-money feature is the removable inner jacket. Held in with zips and clips, the inner is packed with 100g Heatseeker Eco insulation to keep you toasty. Simply zip off the outer and head straight to the bar. $600, thenorthface.com.au
Part of The North Face sustainable range, the Freedom pants are forged with recycled materials, responsible chemical management and solar powered factories so you can feel safe in the knowledge that whether you’re shredding the gnar or packing your dacks, you’re doing it with minimal environmental impact. These DryVent 2L shell pants are fuss-free and boast everything you’d ever need to keep warm, dry and comfortable; adjustable waist tabs to tailor the fit, zippered hand pockets, a cargo pocket, inner-thigh vents and articulated knees. I’m never taking these off. $270, thenorthface.com.au W I N T E R 2 0 2 2 T3 1 9
Horizon Living
From the company that lets you care less, this slide-out bin system maximises the space left when you have a boiling water tap or waste disposal unit installed. Very smart! $TBC, insinkerator.com
IMAGE SOURCE: DYSON
INSINKERATOR INTEGRATED BIN SYSTEM
IMAGE SOURCE: INSINKERATOR
MORE LIFE UPGRADES
HEAD START
ENTER THE DYSON ZONE An air purifier that you wear… that’s also a pair of headphones
Rather than extracting fumes and smells from cooking from above, this glass visor rises up from behind your hob and sucks the foul air downwards. Built for kitchen islands, it’s also equipped with LED lights. $4,199, neff-home.com
IMAGE SOURCE: NEFF
NEFF N90 DOWNDRAFT HOOD
Another part of the increasing trend for built-in ventilation, this hob also boasts two HUGE cooking zones. Via advanced induction magic, they cleverly adjust to the size and shape of your cooking pots. $3,699, bosch-home.com.au 2 0 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 2
IMAGE SOURCE: BOSCH
BOSCH SERIE 8 INDUCTION HOB
Coming right out of leftfield, Dyson’s latest product isn’t a vacuum cleaner or fan or even another haircare product – although you do use it on your head. Instead, the brand has served up this very distinctively Dyson-styled pair of noise cancelling headphones ($TBC , dyson.com.au). Into the headphones are integrated a superhero-like facial mask that purifies the air you breathe as you go about your daily business. It’s strikingly futuristic. World Health Organisation figures suggest that 90% of people globally are routinely breathing air that is too polluted to be considered safe. To address this, Dyson has spent six years developing something called Zone, with no fewer than 500 prototypes being developed before the final design was achieved. The various incarnations of the Zone were tested on a manikin called Frank, ‘fitted with medical-grade mechanical lungs and sensing equipment’, to simulate a living, breathing human. After all that effort, the way Zone works is relatively straightforward. The ‘mask’ part of it does not in fact sit on your face but slightly in front of it – Dyson refers to it as a ‘non-contact visor’. We have had a brief go on Zone and it is way more comfortable than it looks, as a result. As
you breathe, air is pulled in with a tiny impeller motor in each earcup of the headphones, and cleaned via filters. Two streams of purified air are then channelled to your nose and mouth via the mask – sorry, non-contact visor. You also have the option of using a detachable, fabric face mask as well, if you prefer. Of course, Dyson Zone is also a pair of headphones. With a small motor whirring away in each ear, you can imagine that the active noise cancelling (ANC) needs to be excellent, and it is. As well as removing the motor sounds, it also filters out the noises of the city, from speech to transport rumble. Dyson says it tested the audio in a similar way to the air purifier, using technology to ensure low distortion and a neutral frequency response, ‘to faithfully replicate music as the creator intended’. This is the first time Dyson has made an audio device, although it has done a lot of work in managing and reducing the noise of its products. Inevitably, the audio produced by Zone is described as ‘pure’, just like the air you breathe through it. It’s unlikely we’ll see a more innovative product than Dyson Zone in 2022. Whether the brand is able to convince people to buy high-end headphones with a visor attached remains to be seen but the concept is futuristic and fabulous. Discover more at t3.com/au
Horizon Travel
JETTING ABOUT AGAIN
YOTO MINI IMAGE SOURCE: YOTO
IMAGE SOURCE: PARK ROYAL COLLECTION
HAVE TECH, WILL TRAVEL
Yoto – a kid-friendly Bluetooth speaker, which plays a wide range of audio content stored on insertable cards – now comes in a travelfriendly Mini version. $87, yotoplay.com
COOL CRASH PADS FOR AN EASTERN ADVENTURE Gorgeous new hotels and breathtaking refurbishments of existing properties mean there’s lots of choice for Asia-bound travellers
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IMAGE SOURCE: PATAGONIA
own right. We recommend the Langham Jakarta, which became South East Asia’s first Langham when it opened in 2021. The 65-storey hotel has Jakarta’s highest infinity pool and fantastic culinary options, including Tom’s by Tom Aikens. Over in Bangkok, mid-May is the opening date for The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon, a slick 155-room hotel with Bangkok’s highest rooftop bar and Thailand’s first outpost of the acclaimed Mott 32 restaurant. Our advice? Chill out at The Standard before heading south to Banyan Tree Veya, a new wellness resort inside the Banyan Tree Phuket. You’ll find 23 villas and masterclasses covering everything from Pilates to nutrition. Foodies considering an Indian adventure will love the Rajasthani city of Udaipur. At the Raffles Udaipur, which recently opened on an island on the Udai Sagar Lake, restaurants include Harvest, for spice-infused cocktails and farm-totable dining, and there’s a cookery school too. Finally, a shout out to Kuala Lumpur, where the world’s second-tallest building was recently completed. The Merdeka 118, which will open in late 2022, will have South East Asia’s highest observation deck and Malaysia’s first Park Hyatt hotel.
IMAGE SOURCE: TILE
Holidays to some of our favourite Asian destinations are back on the cards, and a flurry of new hotels – and stunning facelifts of old favourites – mean there’s no shortage of accommodation. Take Singapore, where a spectacular makeover of the Four Seasons Hotel Singapore has involved a transformation of its spa and the opening, in May 2022, of a Nobu restaurant. Over at the Raffles Singapore, dining options now include Osteria BBR by Alain Ducasse, while a new herb garden will help Michelin-starred chef Anne-Sophie Pic add Asian twists to dishes at signature restaurant La Dame de Pic. Sustainably minded travellers will love the new Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay (pictured), with its atrium gardens and green tech, while no self-respecting cocktail fan should miss a visit to the Regent Singapore’s Manhattan bar to sample its new cocktail menu. As for the one to watch? The Marina Bay Sands – its mammoth upcoming makeover, which will be completed by the end of 2023, will involve the addition of an arena and a fourth tower, along with new restaurants and bars and refurbishments of bedrooms. Meanwhile, Jakarta has transformed from a stopover city to a destination in its
PATAGONIA ARBOR ROLL TOP PACK 30L Supercharge your sustainability with this bag from B-Corp-certified Patagonia. It’s Fair Trade certified, dyed using a process that uses minimal water and constructed from recycled polyester. $199, patagonia.com
TILE BLUETOOTH TRACKER Bluetooth trackers often look rather plain, but Tile has spiced things up by launching a range of trackers with edgy, colourful designs. From $33, tile.com W I N T E R 2 0 2 2 T3 2 1
Horizon
T3’s home-working tech king unleashes a world of knowledge
VINCE FRAKES
Guru, my house is damp. What now? GaGu would start by cracking a window, particularly when running a shower or blasting the tumble dryer. Presuming your issues are not caused by cowboy-built masonry, mysterious leaks or some kind of guttering issue – personal problems Guru associates more with his trousers than his house – thinking practically rather than gadgetally is the way to go. If you’ve let the outside in and can still feel the fug in the air, a dehumidifier is a good choice. You can get these in desiccant and condenser varieties, the former of which employs gigantic versions of
ILLUSTRATIONS: STEPHEN KELLY
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those delicious silica gel treat bags to suck up the moisture, while the latter is basically a lazy air conditioner more concerned with collecting moisture than cooling the air. Generally speaking, you want a condenser. Or hey, why not double up: the Kara Pure mixes the by-products of dehumidifying with purification,
ABOVE On the bright side, you always wanted your own pool at home
You could get a desiccant dehumidifier, which employs gigantic versions of those delicious silica gel treats bags
essentially turning murky air into a chilled glass of damp. The Pure is outrageously expensive, though, particularly as it would be most useful in less affluent areas, where the water supply tends to be bright green and foul-smelling. Of course, if you’re desperate you could simply pour the leavings of a normal condenser – Pro Breeze’s 20L per day model, perhaps – through a nice ZeroWater filter to pull out any airborne particulate that might have gotten mixed in? Bit weird, and Guru is not sure how he’s meandered towards this point, but we’re here now and he’s not backing down. Discover more at t3.com/au
Gadget Guru
MARY OLIVER
What’s the simplest way to install smart lights? Guru has, in his enviable position as a top influencer and master home illuminator, tried a large number of smart lighting solutions. Nary a day goes by without another bulb landing on his doorstep. His home is measured not in lumens but solar luminosity. He is literally covered in confused moths at all times. And Guru can tell you with certainty that all of the major platforms come with their advantages and drawbacks. Hue, which relies on Zigbee, is probably the most solid, particularly since its maker Signify also added Bluetooth to the majority of the line. But while the Hue Bridge is reliable, it must be wired into one of GaGu’s precious few remaining Ethernet ports and demands the quaint pressing of a physical button to do things, which isn’t the best. Lifx, the more expensive choice, uses Wi-Fi instead. This does simplify things, since there’s no bridge required. But if you’re
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uncomfortable with your bulbs having an IP address of their own – and Guru isn’t particularly happy about his taking up a spot on his routing table – they might not be for you. And they don’t have the signal-repeating advantages of Zigbee, so will only stretch as far as your Wi-Fi can reach. So allow Guru to suggest a third option in the form of Innr. Formed by some ex-Hue folks, it has recently expanded from its Dutch base, and offers the most affordable range of this trio. Innr’s software and Zigbee hardware has also recently had a big boost – GaGu may even be so bold as to suggest it’s the best of the bunch? Maybe. Its bridge is far simpler than Hue’s and the setup process is fairly seamless – and should you want to take advantage of Hue’s far larger selection of lighting later on, the hardware’s compatible. Pick up the Innr StarterKit and you’ll be up and running in minutes.
ABOVE Even Hitchcock would have found tracking tags too creepy a plot device
GADGET GURU’S MAGIC BOX Guru honestly doesn’t know what’s going on at the moment. His brain is growing ever-more soft, he somehow had permission for Mrs Guru to paint the living room pink coerced out of him, and there’s somebody else’s cat sat on his desk. Brandon Sanderson has, as Guru writes, just dropped a video about how he managed to cram in writing four extra enormous novels during the pandemic, yet Guru’s response to All That was mainly based around sobbing and a vast drop in both productivity and income. It’s all going a bit wrong. So Guru would encourage you, his loyal reader, to do better than him at mental health management. Mindfulness and meditation in VR felt like something that would work, but the apps designed around that (at least the ones Guru tried) felt cheesy. Adjacent things like woodworking sim Vrkshop made Guru all-too aware of his real-life handyman
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ineptitude, Google Earth’s constant shifts in size made GaGu feel like he was trapped inside a fever dream, and just using the Meta Quest 2 itself adds a fair level of worry to Guru’s already overflowing vat of the stuff. And so Guru will try something else. Perhaps he will use a TickTime 2 to practice Pomodoro techniques and avoid long periods sat at his desk doing nothing but feeling guilty about his lack of motivation. Maybe he’ll give the Muse 2 headband a go, and really work on aligning his meditative chakras with some serious biofeedback. Perhaps he’ll align himself with the fact that his sedentary summer has done a number on his brain chemicals and actually go for a run. Or maybe he’ll just sack it all in and see if Coles will allow him to return to the cheese counter after 24 years? He still has the plastic hat.
KATE
Are AirTags a security risk? AirTags’ low price and interconnected nature makes them pretty useful – and also makes them so spicy that Guru struggles to find even the glibbest of humour in them. Your own AirTags are reasonably safe in terms of not sharing personal information, but if someone slips a tag of their own in your bag, there’s every chance you wouldn’t know about it being there and they’d know exactly where you were. Apple has at least done its best to mitigate the problem. iPhones will pop up a notification if they detect a new AirTag (or another item from the Find My network, like a set of AirPods) following your location, but it does take some time to pop up in order to avoid false positives. AirTags will also start chirping after a while of being separated from their owner. Thankfully the Find My app (and Apple’s own Tracker Detect app on Android) can help you sniff ’em out manually – the onus for vigilance, as much as automated apps try to help, is on you.
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Horizon Gadget Guru
NEW MEDIA
NOW PLAYING Guru finds the finest media you need on your various devices
MATT DREWITT
My phone alarm doesn’t wake me up. What now? Guru’s Smoke Alarm concept (an alarm which literally burns rubber to send you coughing from the sheets) doesn’t seem to be gaining traction (no idea why) so you’re out of luck there. Sonic Alert’s Sonic Bomb might have you covered, though: not only is it ear-splittingly loud, but it also includes a device that rumbles your mattress to get you moving. GaGu is also fond of the Clocky, which is a cute alarm clock on wheels. Ask it for peace more than once and that little noisy rascal trundles off elsewhere and starts shouting, almost precisely like both of Guru’s dear children.
IMAGE SOURCE: NUCLEAR BLAST
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IMAGE SOURCE: HENRY PAKER
AEROMANTIC II The Night Flight Orchestra’s latest sounds like something his classic-rock-obsessed father-inlaw would play, but the singer sounds like David Hasselhoff so he can’t stop listening.
WES
What’s a cheap way to get a good streaming setup?
IMAGE SOURCE: NETFLIX
THREE BEAN SALAD This is one of those ‘three dudes’ podcasts, admittedly, but Benjamin Partridge, Henry Paker and Mike Wozniak do make a good combo – and the podcast itself is very amusing.
THE CUPHEAD SHOW There’s impeccable attention to detail in this anarchic Netflix animation, spawned from the balls-hard game. It’s basically Steamboat Willie meets Spongebob Squarepants.
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Let’s do some hand-wavy lumping together and just say Streamplify. It’s a relatively new company that sells its kit through PC Case Gear and Mwave and is far cheaper than it has any right to be, given that it is apparently very comparable to that of big boys like Logitech. A starter kit comes with a mic, a 1080p webcam and a ring light; if you want the pro bundle, with an extra light and a solid-looking mic arm. They do a pull-up green screen, too, but you can get away without it if you’re just starting out. Guru will ask them very nicely for samples – look out for a Magic Box full of opinions if any do land.
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ABOVE If all else fails, move your bed next to a main train line
Not only is it ear-splittingly loud, but it also includes a device that rumbles your mattress to get you moving
ALAN WEST
Butter: in the fridge, or out? Why couldn’t you ask Guru about eggs? Why? Because the answer for eggs is resolutely out of the fridge, however much unscrupulous refrigeration purveyors might try to foist egg-suggestive racks on you. Butter is a different matter: practically, it’s better de-fridged; morally that stuff needs chilling. There’s a trick, though, which can make cold butter retain some of its practicality: grating it. Scrape off wiggly tendrils of butter and it becomes spreadable basically straight away. You can get special knives for it, and fancy butterspecific graters, but any old grater will do.
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Opinion
Duncan Bell is on some new, new shit Two outrageous innovations help brighten up an otherwise dull month for our resident observer very technology journalist has probably had this conversation. You meet someone and tell them what you do. They say, “I bet you get sent all the cool new gadgets and stuff?” to which you reply: “Yes. Yes I do.” Then they ask, “What’s the most exciting new thing in technology right now?” and you have to say: “I don’t know… air fryers or the new iPad or something. It’s all a bit samey after a while.” And then they say: “How disappointing; I thought you were a cool guy with an exciting job, but now I just feel a bit sorry for you.” But not this month, people. Not this month. This month I have beheld such wonders! I kicked off the month with a visit to the area Kitchen Bedroom and Bathroom Show, known jauntily as KBB. Now in general, this is exactly the kind of thing that makes people pity you. Thankfully, however, my good friends at Haier were showing off an oven that can see what you’re putting in it and cook it automatically without you having to so much as touch a knob. It also learns how you like certain dishes – having meat medium rare, for instance – and adjusts accordingly. Oh and it’s also got a microphone, because it has Alexa built in, and the entire door is an absolutely huge touchscreen. What was it like to use? I have no idea, as it’s not coming out till late
E
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in 2022 or early 2023, and the power had failed on the unit they had at the show. But the promise of it is fantastic, right? Although it might be yet more bad news for the catering industry if we end up with ovens that can cook everything with barely any human input required. That was pretty hard to top, but my next port of call was Dyson HQ. I don’t think the one photo Dyson provided quite does justice to how peculiar and futuristic its Zone air purifying face mask and noise cancelling headphones really are. This reveal was particularly funny
By 2023, the streets will throng with people dressed like a hi-tech, Dyson-logoed Bane for me because the patent for this audio-cum-air-purifying device had been kicking around for a while. And it just so happened that the most recent thing I’d written about Dyson was: “No way will they be releasing a pair of headphones with an air filter and mask built in.” So that shows what I know. The amount of work and research that has gone into something so bizarre is really rather mind-boggling.
Putting it as simply as I can, Dyson Zone sucks air in from the vicinity of your ears, filters out all the pollution and dust, and sprays it in front of your mouth and nose –there’s no actual contact with your skin. Meanwhile, the headphones play Iron Maiden or Stormzy or whatever, to get you in the mood for battling through whatever pollution-ridden urban Hellscape you are currently traversing. Will anyone willingly buy and wear this wacky product? But then think about when Airpods came out. Early reviews and consumer reaction to Apple’s buds was that they looked preposterous, but now everyone in the world wears them, all of the time. Perhaps by 2023, city streets really will throng with people dressed like a high-tech, Dysonlogoed Bane. Finally, just to cap things off, I was ‘fortunate’ enough to attend the launch of Heineken’s new beer in the Metaverse. This was exactly like a normal tech launch, with dozens of hacks milling about, waiting to be told where to go, but the booze was strictly ‘virtual’. I can’t see it catching on, but it would be good news for my liver.
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Best tech for everything
BEST TECH FOR…
EVERYTHING Whether it’s getting out and about or relaxing in your own home, we have all the gear that’s invaluable Words: Carrie Marshall Photography: Neil Godwin
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Best tech for everything
BEST TECH FOR…
HOME CINEMA 1 2
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SAMSUNG QN90B
AMAZON FIRE TV STICK 4K MAX
FOCAL SIB EVO DOLBY ATMOS 5.1.2
Amazon’s best streaming stick delivers a lot of technology for a very low price. In addition WR . VWUHDPLQJ ZLWK VXSSRUW for Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos, there’s :L )L YRLFH FRQWURO YLD LWV UHPRWH DQG OLYH SLFWXUH LQ picture. With a faster processor and twice the Ram of the VWDQGDUG )LUH 79 6WLFN LWèV D SRZHUIXO SHUIRUPHU
)RFDOèV VSHDNHU V\VWHP ZRQ our T3 Platinum Award for LWV FODVV OHDGLQJ 'ROE\ $WPRV surround and smart design: the front Atmos speakers combine IURQW ĆULQJ DQG XSZDUGV ĆULQJ drivers in the same unit to deliver a bigger soundstage without taking up lots of room. Don’t let the cuteness of the subwoofer fool you: it’s capable RI VHULRXV ORZ HQG WKXPS
The LG C2 doesn’t just improve on the superb OLED LG C1. It also comes in an even smaller VL]H ZLWK WKH ZRUOGèV ĆUVW LQFK 2/(' 79 DV ZHOO DV DQG LQFK YHUVLRQV The new Evo panel is brighter than before, Dolby Atmos ensures immersive sound, the smart platform is wider, there’s HDMI 2.1 connectivity for gamers and the HDR is even more spectacular.
$99, amazon.com.au
$1,700, focal.com
$TBA, lg.com
$YDLODEOH LQ VL]HV IURP WR inches and with resolutions of . RU . 6DPVXQJèV 1HR QLED TVs deliver exceptional ELW +'5 IURP WKHLU 4XDQWXP 'RW PLQL /(' SDQHOV ZKLFK RIIHU 2/(' TXDOLW\ images without screen burn RU DJHLQJ )RU WKH ĆUVW WLPH LQ 6DPVXQJ VHWV WKH\ DOVR EULQJ \RX 'ROE\ $WPRV YLD PXOWL directional internal speakers. From $1,995, samsung.com
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LG C2
'LVFRYHU PRUH DW W FRP DX
Home cinema 5
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SAMSUNG FREESTYLE
B&W PANORAMA 3
APPLE AIRPODS MAX
PANASONIC DP-UB820
Samsung’s portable projector LVbIUHVK DQG IXQ WKHUHèV D EXLOW LQbVSHDNHU GHOLYHULQJ 360-degree audio, the ability to project on screens up to bLQFKHV DQG 6DPVXQJèV 6PDUWb79 LQWHUIDFH ZKLFK ZH DOUHDG\ NQRZ DQG ORYH IURP LWVbVPDUW 79V ,WèV DQ excellent grab-and-go device WKDWèV GHVLJQHG WR ZRUN ZLWK SRUWDEOHbEDWWHU\ SDFNV IRU JR anywhere action.
This Dolby-Atmos-enabled, Alexa compatible soundbar has 13 drivers, including twin subwoofers delivering incredibly immersive sound and very impressive spatial audio. With Bluetooth aptX Adaptive, AirPlay 2, hi-res audio and all the streaming big hitters, it’s an impressive audio player too, and ZLWK : RI DPSOLĆFDWLRQ LW FDQ ĆOO HYHQ WKH ELJJHVW URRPV with B&W’s signature sound.
Apple’s most expensive headphones are an absolute GHOLJKW IRU DOO NLQGV RI PXVLF 6RXQG TXDOLW\ LV ĆUVW FODVV pairing and switching between GHYLFHV LV HIIRUWOHVV WKH ĆW LV lightweight and comfortable, the noise cancelling is uncanny and the only negative is that the FDUU\LQJ FDVH ORRNV YHU\ VLOO\ We’re starting to see decent GLVFRXQWLQJ WRR ZKLFK PDNHV them more affordable.
$ VSHFWDFXODU . +'5 79 QHHGVbDQ HTXDOO\ VSHFWDFXODU 4K HDR Blu-ray player, and Panasonic’s HCX cinematic picture processor delivers stunning visuals with precise FRORXU DQG KLJK GHĆQLWLRQ QRW just for Blu-ray but for 4K video on demand too. There’s 7.1 channel analogue output, HDR DQG 'ROE\ 9LVLRQ DQG WKH VRXQGWUDFN LV DV LPSUHVVLYH DVbWKH SLFWXUH
$1,295, samsung.com
$1,599, bowerswilkins.com
$899, apple.com/au
$619, panasonic.com
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AUDIO 1
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REGA PLANAR 1
SONY WH-1000XM4
APPLE HOMEPOD MINI
B&W PI7
Rega’s turntable has won more awards than many of the artists you’ll play on it. The current version looks identical to its predecessor but everything from the tonearm to the plinth has been improved, including the new, low-noise motor. The sound is exceptional, precise and powerful; this Planar punches way above its price tag and it’s upgradeable too.
Despite very capable competition, these are the best noise cancelling headphones you can buy. The sound is lively, balanced and impressively immersive, they work with all the major voice assistants and the Digital Sound Enhancement Engine delivers spectacular results. Hi-res audio support makes up for the lack of aptX and aptX HD.
With the original, larger HomePods discontinued, these are Apple’s only smart home speakers. While they’re not as powerful as their larger siblings were and Siri isn’t the best assistant, they punch way above their price tag in terms of sound quality. The HomePod minis are best used in pairs, where the stereo separation gives the music room to breathe.
Initial reviews of the PI7 praised the sound quality but didn’t like the price; a price drop has addressed that and makes these T3 award-winning earbuds a superb buy – unless you have small ears. The PI7s are larger than many rivals, and that’s a shame because it means some people won’t be able to enjoy their superlative sound.
$649, rega.co.uk
$389, sony.com.au
$149, apple.com/au
$599, bowerswilkins.com
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Entertainment & gaming
BEST TECH FOR…
ENTERTAINMENT & GAMING 1
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XBOX SERIES X
STEAM DECK
INTELINO SMART TRAIN
OCULUS QUEST 2
While getting one remains harder than many in-game quests, the Xbox Series X is the best console to track down. That’s partly because of its powerful hardware, but it’s mainly because Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass subscription service is a gaming bargain with over 100 titles including brand new AAA games playable for just $10.95 a month.
Valve’s handheld gaming console makes PC gaming truly mobile, its Nintendo-Switch-style design enabling you to take your Steam library anywhere you feel like playing. It can run even the most demanding games, but against that not all Steam games are compatible yet and we’re still ZDLWLQJ IRU DQ RIĆFLDO $XVWUDOLDQ release date and price.
It’s a toy train set. It’s a robot. You’re sold already. Designed for players of all ages, the Intelino Smart Train can be used as a fun toy or as a way to learn coding: kids can use it like a traditional train set, controlling it by placing special tiles, or they can write programs in languages including Scratch and Python. An app offers autopilot and manual drive modes.
It may soon be eclipsed by the imminent PlayStation VR 2 and Apple’s AR/VR headset, but right now the Quest 2 is the best VR headset you can buy thanks to its great display, cable-free connection and impressive library of games and apps. With 1,832 x 1,920 pixels per eye, it’s impressively immersive as well DV HPLQHQWO\ DIIRUGDEOH
$169, intelino.com
$479, oculus.com
$499, xbox.com Discover more at t3.com/au
$TBA, store.steampowered.com
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CREATIVITY & HOBBIES 1 2
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LOGITECH C922 PRO HD STREAM
SSL 2+
ABLETON PUSH 2
Designed for serious streamers, Logitech’s C922 Pro HD is great for work video calls too. It delivers 1080p HD at 30fps or 720p HD at 60fps and its autofocus, drop-free audio DQG GHJUHH ĆHOG RI YLHZ mean it’s ideal for everything from Twitch streams to Teams meetings. Plus, dual mics deliver impressive stereo.
Many of your favourite records were recorded on SSL mixing desks, and the SSL 2+ USB audio interface brings the signature SSL sound to your own recordings thanks to its twin SSL-designed microphone preamps, high quality analogue to digital converters and /HJDF\ 0RGH ZKLFK HPXODWHV the sound of the famous SSL 4000 console.
It’s a sampler. It’s a sequencer. It’s a beat maker. It’s an audio processor. It’s a recording studio. Push 2 is designed VSHFLĆFDOO\ WR ZRUN ZLWK Ableton Live and if you’re an electronic music maker it unlocks many creative possibilities. Ableton calls it a “performance controller”: it’s a clever mix of digital hub and musical instrument.
FENDER 60TH ANNIVERSARY ULTRA LUXE JAGUAR As much as we love Fender’s Acoustasonic electric/acoustic hybrids, there’s something magical about a really beautiful Fender electric. And this is a really beautiful Fender electric, with hard-wearing stainless steel frets, a luxurious ebony ĆQJHUERDUG DQG D JORULRXVO\ rich and versatile sound.
$199, logitech.com
$339, solidstatelogic.com
$999, ableton.com
$3,899, fender.com
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Creativity & hobbies 5
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CANON EOS R5
BLUE YETI X
Canon’s hybrid mirrorless cam is the only camera you’ll ever need, with 45-megapixel photos at up to 20 frames per second, cinematic 12-bit 8K RAW video, 120fps 4K and superb in-body image stabilisation for truly exceptional images and video. With built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, it’s easy to share shots from location and shoot remotely too.
If you’re podcasting, broadcasting or recording the Yeti X offers all the convenience of a USB mic with the sound quality of professional audio kit. Its clever four-capsule condenser enables you to switch between cardioid, stereo, bi-directional and multi-directional for everything from close-mic speech to rooms of people.
iPAD PRO WITH APPLE PENCIL
MOLESKINE SMART WRITING SYSTEM SWS3
Apple’s biggest, most powerful tablet is the perfect partner for pro users such as artists, illustrators and graphic designers. The Apple Pencil remains one of the best and most natural styluses around, the mini-LED ProMotion display is spectacular and the M1 processor means this iPad is as powerful as a MacBook Pro.
It’s nothing less than a joy writing on Moleskine’s deservedly popular and beautifully creamy ivorycoloured notebook paper. The Smart Writing System combines that with a comfortable smart pen to digitise and upload every stroke, enabling instant emailing, automatic transcription, tagging and sharing.
$5,359, canon.com.au
$229, bluemic.com
From $1,199, apple.com/au
$TBC, moleskine.com
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SMART HOME 2 1
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BLINK MINI
NANOLEAF LINES
Amazon’s budget security brand delivers a lot of camera for very little cash. The Mini delivers good quality 1080p HD video and motion detection, it works with Alexa and it’s VPDOO HQRXJK WR VWLFN DOPRVW anywhere you want. It can see in the dark, and you can set up motion detection zones so \RXèUH QRW QRWLĆHG RI SHWV RU family members moving around.
Nanoleaf’s smart lighting is designed to be decorative, and Lines are its newest product. They’re narrow multi-colour LED light strips that connect to hexagonal hubs, enabling you to create futuristic-looking neonstyle smart lighting without the energy drain of real neon lights. It’s easy to automate and the app’s AR feature makes it easy to plan your display.
RISE SINGLE FAMILY GARDEN
RING VIDEO DOORBELL 4
<RX GRQèW QHHG JUHHQ ĆQJHUV for this indoor garden: it’s Wi-Fi-enabled and appcontrolled with a self-watering, self-fertilising system that ensures your herbs, vegetable greens get the right amount of hydration at the right time. It includes custom LED grow lights to provide the correct amount of light for your garden.
The latest Ring features Quick Replies to deal with visitors when you’re busy, and colour pre-roll video of people’s arrival. Dual-band Wi-Fi delivers smoother video quality and the subscription adds cloud VWRUDJH ULFK DOHUW QRWLĆFDWLRQV on your phone and the ability to differentiate between people, animals and objects.
$TBA, amazon.com.au
$112, nanoleaf.me
$TBC, risegardens.com
$329, ring.com
3 4 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 2
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Work
BEST TECH FOR…
WORK 5
6
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8
MACBOOK PRO
BENQ EW3880R
LOGITECH C920S HD PRO
iPAD AIR
The entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro is powered by Apple’s own M1 system, which delivers blistering performance and all-day battery life, and the recently added 14- and 16inch versions have even faster internals and beautiful mini-LED displays with super-fast refresh rates for silky smooth motion. These are the most powerful laptops Apple has ever made.
With its 37.5-inch curved ultra-wide IPS panel delivering a 3,840 x 1,600 resolution at a 21:9 aspect ratio, this is a spectacular monitor for serious gaming and serious creativity alike. 2.1-channel audio via integrated speakers and a subwoofer means it sounds as good as it looks, and there’s a 24fps mode for truly cinematic movie experiences.
'HVLJQHG VSHFLĆFDOO\ IRU streaming, this Logitech webcam delivers full 1080p HD video and has a privacy shutter for when you don’t want to be on camera. Automatic light correction means you don’t need to worry about illumination to look good, and its 78-degree ĆHOG RI YLHZ PHDQV \RX FDQ capture colleagues as well as showing up solo.
The latest iPad Air has the same M1 system-on-a-chip as the 13-inch MacBook Pro, but unlike the laptop you can buy one with a built-in 5G modem to give you super-fast 5G speeds. It also works with the Apple Pencil. It’s ideal for commuting and for air travel, and if you add a keyboard and stand it’s also a very convincing laptop replacement. &KRRVH IURP ĆYH FRORXUV
From $3,749, apple.com/au
$1,799, benq.com
$112, logitech.com
From $929, apple.com/au
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Best tech for everything
BEST TECH FOR…
GARDENS 1 2
3
4
1
2
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4
BEOSOUND A1
POLK AUDIO ATRIUM 6
WEBER SPIRIT EPX-325S
The A1 may be little, but it has a big personality: it punches way above its weight in terms of both volume and sound quality, it’s waterproof so it doesn’t fear Australian downpours, and it includes Alexa Voice Assistant for controlling it and making and receiving calls YLD \RXU VPDUWSKRQH 3DLULQJ is effortless and the sound is absolutely superb.
There are newer, more expensive speakers in the Atrium range, but if you’re looking for sensibly priced but premium outdoor speakers WKH $WULXP LV WKH VSHDNHU pair to look for: it’s widely available for a lot less than WKH 553 DQG \RX JHW WZR solid, weatherproof and very LPSUHVVLYH VSHDNHUV WKDWèOO ĆOO out even large outdoor spaces.
Weber’s smart barbecue is a superb mix of traditional grilling and smart cooking tech: its gas burners and cast-iron grates make it easy to get the perfect taste without the mess and neighbour-annoying of charcoal, and its integrated food monitoring technology will give you countdowns and alerts on your phone so you can socialise while you sear.
DEWALT TOUGHSYSTEM DS404
$375, bang-olufsen.com
$499 (pair), polkaudio.com
$1,299, weber.com
3 6 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 2
DeWalt makes very tough power tools, and its ToughSystem batteries also power this extremely tough cooler. With 25.5 litres of storage, commercial grade insulation and a freezer-style gasket. it’ll keep ice solid for up WR ĆYH GD\V DQG LWèV ,3 UDWHG for dust and water resistance so you can take it anywhere. $313, dewalt.com Discover more at t3.com/au
Gardens 5
6
7
OONI FYRA
PROQ THE FLATDOG
HUE AMARANT
If you’ve ever wished your oven was hot HQRXJK WR GR SL]]D SURSHUO\ \RXèOO ORYH ZKDW FRPHV RXW RI 2RQLèV )\UD SL]]D RYHQ its 500-degree internal temperature å WKDWèV GHJUHHV &HOVLXV QRW )DKUHQKHLW å GHOLYHUV LQFUHGLEOH SL]]D LQ DURXQG D minute. And because it’s fuelled with wood pellets it’s a lot less mess than other outdoor cooking methods.
Fancy a barbecue that delivers a proper FRRNLQJ DUHD EXW IROGV GRZQ WR WKH VL]H of a laptop? The Flatdog was made for you. Unfolded it offers a huge 30 x 38cm FRRNLQJ DUHD EXW IROGHG LWèV VPDOO HQRXJK to take anywhere. It’s an inspired and much more environmentally responsible alternative to disposable barbecues and ideal for small spaces too.
Philips’ impressive smart lighting system is great outdoors as well as in, and the Amarant is designed to paint large spaces such as walls and fences with app-controlled, programmable lighting. It delivers spectacular results, and while you can control it with various smart home systems, the recently updated app LV DPD]LQJ WRR
$589, ooni.com
$TBC, proqsmokers.co.uk
$249, philips-hue.com
5
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W I N T E R 2 0 2 2 T3 3 7
Best tech for everything
BEST TECH FOR…
GETTING AROUND 1
2
3
4
XIAOMI MI 1S
RIBBLE ENDURANCE SL E
GARMIN DRIVESMART 65 Yes, your phone has a maps app. But does your maps app have Alexa voice control, live weather and traffic updates, data on traffic cams and live parking availability, Tripadvisor and Foursquare data on points of interest and Garmin’s superbly clear motoring maps? This sat-nav can even warn you of tricky curves and unexpected speed limit changes.
NEXTBASE 622GW
If you told us this dash cam could see into the future we’d probably believe you, because it sees everything else. It records stabilised 4K video at 30fps making details like number plates much more readable, it can alert the emergency services and tell them your location in the event of an accident, and it can see in the dark too.
$649, mi.com
$TBC, ribblecycles.co.uk
$329, garmin.com
$495, nextbase.com
Xiaomi’s folding scooter is capable of 30km and 25mph, and it weighs just 12.5kg. Clever kinetic energy recovery uses regenerative braking to prolong battery life, and with E-ABS on the front as well as a disc brake on the back it has impressive stopping power too. Pneumatic tyres deliver an excellent ride and it’s foldable for easy storage or transport.
The electric version of Ribble’s best-selling bike is the world’s lightest electric assisted endurance range bike, and it’s easily capable of taking you further out of your comfort zone thanks to its ultra-light carbon frame and its stealthy hub-driven power system. It’s available in multiple configurations to suit every kind of rider.
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Fitness
BEST TECH FOR…
FITNESS 2 1
3 4
1
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APPLE PLE WATCH S7
HYDROW ROWER
PELOTON
FITBIT CHARGE 5
The newest Apple Watch has managed to cram in a bigger display without also making WKH GHYLFH VLJQLĆFDQWO\ ELJJHU and that extra screen means there’s now room for bigger, easier to tap buttons and a very effective on-screen keyboard. The always-on display is bright and clear, and it’s protected by the most crack-resistant crystal Apple has ever used.
Rowing machines deliver a workout that’s very different from a bike, and the +\GURZ PDNHV LW KLJKO\ UHDOLVWLF with electromagnetic drag that makes it feel like you’re on the water and a 22-inch +' WRXFKVFUHHQ WR GHOLYHU video, audio and stats. It’s also Bluetooth-enabled for FRQQHFWLQJ KHDUW UDWH PRQLWRUV and wireless headphones.
The Peloton isn’t so much a bike as a portal: it streams classes GLUHFWO\ IURP WKH ĆUPèV 1HZ York studio to help motivate you to exercise rather than have the world’s most expensive clothes airer. Your subscription gives you everything from ĆYH PLQXWH EXUVWV WR PLQXWH trials, and there’s a good variety of themes, levels and music to keep things fresh.
Monitor every possible health DQG ĆWQHVV PHWULFV ZLWK WKH most advanced Fitbit yet, with on-wrist ECG monitoring, KHDUW UDWH QRWLĆFDWLRQV VOHHS monitoring, skin temperature tracking, GPS recording and even stress management. Changes in your sweat levels can indicate a stress response, and the app offers you help to feel more calm and in control.
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W I N T E R 2 0 2 2 T3 3 9
PlayStation VR2
PLAYSTATION
VR2
What’s inside Sony’s latest foray into virtual reality? Get ready to feel the future through your eyes Words: Louise Blain
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The hardware
Sony has added sensory features to its headset for more ways to persuade your brain that you’re no longer sitting on your sofa
hink about the original PlayStation VR experience released back in 2016 and it’s easy to see that Sony was massively ahead of its time. Boldly releasing a virtual reality headset that worked with an existing console and existing controllers long thought defunct was a bold but largely successful move. Now though, Sony is back with the infinitely more powerful PS5 and a lot more knowledge as to what works when it comes to a VR headset. Even to look at, the PSVR2 is the newer, slicker sibling with those old square edges shaved off to make way for bold ergonomic curves. Gone are the glowing tracking lights and anxiety-inducing seas of wires. In their place reassuring camera lenses and a single effortless USB cable connection. Peer inside the PSVR2 and this is some impressive hardware. Firstly, visual clarity has been improved drastically from the original with two 2000 x 2040 OLED displays delivering 4K visuals up to 120fps. This is more than four times the resolution of the
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original PSVR which, while not crisp, still didn’t feel like a visual slouch. The equally important field of view is sitting at 110 degrees which is 13 degrees wider than the currently impressive Meta Quest 2. Thankfully, unlike the original headset, a lens adjustment dial makes sure that the displays can be positioned in just the right way for ultra sharp clarity. And anyone who suffered from the cursed PSVR lens fog at exactly the wrong moments in Beat Saber can rejoice too. Lead headset designer, Sony Senior Art Director Yujin Morisawa, has designed an air flow solution with ventilation to eradicate steamy lenses. The PSVR2 is a master of tracking. Not only is there no need for an external sensor as it uses four headset cameras to keep on top of you and your hands’ position in the world, but Sony has added an infrared camera inside the headset itself for eye tracking. This means that the PSVR2 can adjust resolutions and focus on the fly depending on what you’re looking at, but also gives the game real time feedback. It might sound like a small thing
but if you think about VR characters suddenly looking you in the eye, the experience instantly becomes all the more intimate and immersive. And probably a little unnerving. Immersion is Sony’s new favourite word when talking about PSVR2. What it’s calling sensory features have been added to the headset for even more ways to convince your brain you’re no longer on your sofa. Imagine the PS5 DualSense haptic feedback but for your face and you’ll be on the right buzzy track. A motor inside the headset means we’ll be able to literally feel the heartbeat of characters at stressful moments, or even have the sensation of things brushing past our faces. Add in support for Sony’s proprietary Tempest 3D Audio tech for an advanced positional soundscape and donning the PSVR2 could be positively transportative in the right gaming hands. Going by games like Astro’s Playroom, Sony’s first party studios are going to be frankly dangerous when it comes to delivering unique feedback. Just don’t think about a Resident Evil sequel… W I N T E R 2 0 2 2 T3 41
PlayStation VR2 The games
THE GAMES
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7KRVH ZKR LQYHVWHG LQ FirmamentèV VXFFHVVIXO PLOOLRQ .LFNVWDUWHU EDFN LQ ZLOO EH ZHOO DZDUH RI MXVW KRZ ORQJ DZDLWHG WKLV VWHDPSXQN 95 DGYHQWXUH LV %XW IRU HYHU\RQH HOVH Firmament is DQRWKHU ULFK QDUUDWLYH SX]]OHU IURP WKH GHYHORSPHQW WHDP EHKLQG WKH OHJHQGDU\ Myst DQG ZH HYHQ KDYH D FORFNZRUN 95 IULHQG WR FDOO RXU RZQ &\DQ :RUOGV KDV GHOD\HG WKH H[SHULHQFH IRU IXUWKHU H[SDQVLRQ EXW D FRQĆUPDWLRQ RI D 3695 UHOHDVH PHDQV WKDW WKLV VXUUHDO ORRNLQJ MRXUQH\ VKRXOG EH RQ WKH ZD\ LQ Cyan Worlds
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The controllers
Haptic feedback and adaptive triggers combine to bring the power off th the D DualSense lS controller t ll iinto t virtual i t l reality lit
he PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers epitomise the very different visions Sony and Microsoft had for their new gen consoles. Where Microsoft stayed with the tried and tested Xbox pad design, Sony pushed forward with haptic feedback and resistant triggers for the PlayStation DualSense. Other than the visuals, it’s what makes the PS5 literally feel like a new gen console. Feeling Aloy’s bow tense as you hunt, or the empty snap of the trigger of a gun with no bullets in Resident Evil Village might sound gimmicky but work so well in practice that it’s hard to imagine going back. Bringing these into virtual reality was the natural next step and Sony’s orb-like VR Sense controllers effectively split the DualSense in two. The Sense Controllers aren’t dissimilar to the Quest 2’s offerings with a loop around your hand for an ergonomic fit. Each one has traditional analogue sticks and the usual action buttons as well as the PS5’s Options and Create button. The adaptive triggers are on the rear of the controller but there’s also a Discover more at t3.com/au
bonus grip button to pick up in game objects. This is a nice touch as a lot of VR games rely on holding a shoulder button for grip when actually it’s something that our hand does very naturally. A dedicated grip button to squeeze intuitively means that the adaptive triggers are free to be just that if necessary. The PSVR2 demands significantly less extra accessories and set up time thanks to the controllers being tracked by cameras on the headset. Built-in six-axis motion sensors are on hand to make sure that we never have to worry about sensitivity either and there’s even finger touch detection built into each controller. Thanks to infrared, the Sense controllers know exactly where our fingers are, meaning our digit movement is tracked in game without even having to press a button. This means even more natural integration with the VR world as our hands feel more like they belong in this universe. And to help with this, the haptic feedback is ready to provide a variety of different subtle vibrations. Whether we’re defending ourselves with weaponry or just reaching out
to touch environments with the finger detection, there’s a specific dedicated rumble to make it feel even more alive. Given the success of the DualSense haptics as we feel different environments in driving games or resistance as we zip Astro into robotic suits, it will be fascinating to see what effect this has on VR combined with the direct feedback inside the headset itself. Top it all off with adaptive triggers and everything about these controllers is dedicated to feel. Given how reactive VR can be without haptics, it’ll be great to go hands on with games specifically designed with granular touch in mind. And finally, another good thing is that we don’t have to worry about constantly fuelling the Sense controllers with endless AA batteries like the Quest 2. Just like the PSVR’s Move wands, we’ll just have to remember to keep them topped up with charge instead. Each one has a rechargeable lithium ion battery that connects via USB-C, which means we’ll be seeing significantly faster charging than the previous generation. Maybe we are in the future after all. W I N T E R 2 0 2 2 T3 4 3
PlayStation VR2 The games
MORE GAMES
SAMURAI SLAUGHTER HOUSE
PAVLOV VR
It’s not the most subtle of titles but Samurai Slaughter House looks like a slick and stylish combination of genres. Not only is this PSVR2 FRQĆUPHG H[SHULHQFH D SK\VLFV EDVHG ĆJKWHU EXW LWèV DOVR DQ RSHQ 0HWURLGYDQLD VW\OH ZRUOG ZKHUH ZHèOO XQORFN QHZ WRROV DQG DXWKHQWLF ZHDSRQU\ LQ RUGHU WR SURJUHVV DFURVV WKH PRQRFKURPH PDS 7KLV LV IDU IURP MXVW D VSODWWHU\ FRPEDW VLP DV ZH H[SORUH WRZQV DQG LQWHUDFW ZLWK GLIIHUHQW FKDUDFWHUV DFURVV D VSUDZOLQJ QDUUDWLYH 7KHUH DUH HYHQ VRPH VWHDOWKLHU ZD\V WR SOD\ LI \RX GRQèW IDQF\ JRLQJ LQ DOO VDPXUDL VZRUGV EOD]LQJ $OWKRXJK WKDW GRHV ORRN IUDQNO\ irresistible, if a little messy. Tab Games
Pavlov VR has actually been out on PC in Early Access since 2017 EXW GHYHORSHU 9DQNUXSW *DPHV KDV FRQĆUPHG D QHZ JHQ UHOHDVH IRU 36 DQG 3695 7KLV LV DOUHDG\ RQH RI WKH PRVW VXFFHVVIXO 95 ĆUVW SHUVRQ VKRRWHUV ZLWK D UHFHQW UHOHDVH RQ WKH 0HWD 4XHVW ,W KDV UHDOLVWLF UHORDGLQJ IHDWXUHV D VWURQJ IRFXV RQ FRPPXQLW\ DQG PXOWLSOD\HU HOHPHQWV LQ YDULRXV WKHDWUHV RI ZDU LQFOXGLQJ PRGHUQ FRQćLFWV DV ZHOO DV :RUOG :DU 7KH JDPH DOUHDG\ KDV KDSWLFV VXSSRUW IRU D QXPEHU RI GLIIHUHQW DFFHVVRU\ SURYLGHUV VR H[SHFW 9DQNUXSW *DPHV WR JR DOO LQ RQ OLWHUDO IHHO ZLWK WKH 3695 èV KHDGVHW IHHGEDFN ,WèV DQ H[FLWLQJ SURVSHFW Vankrupt Games
MOSS: BOOK II
HALF-LIFE: ALYX
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ćDVKLQJ OLJKWV VLUHQ VRXQGV <RX DUH QRZ HQWHULQJ WKH P\VWHULRXV SRUWDO RI UXPRXUV DQG KHDUVD\ EXW WKHUH PLJKW EH D JUDLQ RI WUXWK WR ZKLVSHUV RI 9DOYHèV Half-Life: Alyx coming to PSVR2. Currently this LQFUHGLEOH H[SHULHQFH LV RQO\ DYDLODEOH RQ 3& ZLWK QR QDWLYH VXSSRUW RQ WKH 0HWD 4XHVW $ QRQ 6WHDP UHOHDVH RQ 36 ZRXOG PDNH VHQVH IRU 9DOYH WKRXJK DQG Half-Life KDV SUHYLRXVO\ PDGH LWV ZD\ WR 6RQ\ FRQVROHV 7KLV ZRXOG EH D SHUIHFW ZD\ IRU D ZKROH QHZ DXGLHQFH WR SOD\ RQH RI WKH EHVW 95 JDPHV RI WKH ODVW IHZ \HDUV Valve
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The expert view
THE EXPERT VIEW
Bafta-winning, immersive ed dia eciiali Catherine Allen gives her verdict on t e R2.. oiler: she’s ciited
or me, the key word in PlayStation’s y VR2 news release was ‘visceral’. The PSVR team have announced some pretty mind-blowing specs for their long anticipated PlayStation VR2. These impressive specs are clearly geared towards deep immersion and a very real sense of presence. With a 4K resolution, 110-degree field of view, 3D audio, eye tracking and foveated rendering, the VR industry is about to see a major step forward in terms of the level of immersion that the general public can experience in their own homes. Over the last few months, the VR community have b been acutely it h t l aware that th t PSVR needs to clearly differentiate the headset from its closest rival, the Meta Quest 2. My company Limina Immersive’s consumer VR tracker has seen the existing PSVR1 lose significant ground to the Meta Quest 2 over the past 12 months – we estimate that by January 2022, Meta had as much as Discover more at t3.com/au
75% of the consumer VR market. Eveer since Facebook announced their name change g and primary focus of ‘building the metaverse’, the immersive tech sector has been waiting with bated breath to find out how Sony’s PlayStation would respond. Would Sony try to compete with Meta in dominating the world of social VR? Or would they do something else? Their strategy is now clear: they are offering gamers the opportunity for serious levels of immersion. Strapping on your PSVR2 headset will be like a portal for all sorts of escapism. Whilst as a player you might not get the breadth of social interaction that you’d get what iin Meta’s M t ’ metaverse, t h t you’ll ’ll gett instead i t d is i deep, deep immersion. This opens the door to meaningful and moving experiences that take you to places you’d never have dreamed of being possible. Two standout features that make this possible are the eye tracking combined with foveated rendering. Foveated rendering is a
technique that ocuses c a device’s processing p er on the part of the image that the user iss lo ooking at. Your peripheral vision has a red duced quality of render – but that doesn’t mattter, as that’s not where your eyes are focussing anyhow. The eye tracking will also allow you to look characters in th he eye while you’re interacting witth them. I suspect this might feel a litttle uncanny at first! With so muc ch potential for meaningful and moving e eriences, I can’t help but also wonder about the possibilities for nongaming content. For instance, imagine how calming it could be taking mindful meditative with dit ti journeys j ith this thi device, d i or how h engaging it could be to learn about physics through watching minuscule atoms close up. The grand technological illusion that is virtual reality is not only getting better and better; it’s an illusion that’s also now available to the general consumer. These are exciting times for the fast-growing VR market. W I N T E R 2 0 2 2 T3 4 5
Gadgets on the go
GADGETS
ON THE GO
The tech that will make sure you’re always prepared no matter where you might be going Words: David Nield
4 6 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 2
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Gadgets on the go
THE PUB 1
SAMSUNG GALAXY S22 PLU You absolutely need a smartphone going to the pub – for checking ne posting to social media, placing half-t bets, ignoring your mates, getting a home, and so on – and the Samsung G S22 Plus is already one of the best ph of 2022. Having a phone also gives VRPHWKLQJ WR GR LI \RXèUH WKH ĆUVW WR D or the last to leave. From $1,249, samsung.com
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ALCOSENSE LITE 2 BREATHALYSER While its results probably wouldn’t s up in a court of law, the AlcoSense Li Breathalyser does give you a decent of how much you’ve had to drink and your blood alcohol concentration act is. Whether you want to avoid a hang or just convince your friend not to d home, it’s a handy gadget to have arou $149, alcosense.co.uk
3
MOPHIE POWERSTATION PLUS Under no circumstances do you want your phone running out of juice before the night is over, which is where the Mophie Powerstation Plus comes in. It can charge just about any brand of phone plus several other devices besides, and you get a choice of four different colours – from black to OLJKW SLQN å VR \RX FDQ ĆQG WKH PRGHO WKDW best suits your style. $249, amazon.com.au
4
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PACSAFE V100 RFID BLOCKING WALLET Your credit and debit cards come with 5DGLR )UHTXHQF\ ,GHQWLĆFDWLRQ 5),' chips, which could in theory be tapped into by a hacker in close proximity. Something like the Pacsafe V100 can keep your plastic safe and sound by blocking RFID signals, giving you a secure and compact way of carrying your cards around until it’s time for your round.
3
$39, pacsafe.com Discover more at t3.com/au
W I N T E R 2 0 2 2 T3 47
Gadgets on the go
A WORK TRIP 2 1
1
SKROSS PRO WORLD TRAVEL ADAPTER W this gadget packed in your portfolio With of gear you don’t need to worry about not o eing able to charge up your electronics in foreign countries: the Skross Pro World Trravel Adapter is compact and lightweight, T and will cover you for Switzerland, Italy, Brazil, the USA, Japan, Australia, China, any other European countries and the UK. ma $69, skross.com
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MASTER LOCK BLUETOOTH SMART PADLOCK If y you’re travelling around for work then y you want to make sure that your gear is safe w e, and that’s where the Master Lock Bluetooth mart Padlock comes in. It’s really simple Sm e to e, you can operate it via your phone (there use iss a backup code option too), and it come es witth a battery inside. It’s not much to pay for some extra peace of mind. $139, masterlock.com $
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P PHILIPS DVT1160 DIC CTATION MACHINE A dictation machine is a very handy gadg get ound while you’re away for wo to have aro ork business, not just for recording interview ws, presentations and meetings, but also fo or making voicce memos. The Philips DVT1160 h 8GB of storage on board, adds comes with a timestamps to recordings automatically, and mple to connect to a computer. is really sim $71, philips.com
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SKULL LCANDY PUSH ACTIVE
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W rrk k tri r ps can mean a lot of sitting around – in queuess, on trains, in hotel rooms – but wi h the Skullcandy Push Active wireless earbuds you can have a listening party any where (assuming you’ve linked time, anyw your phone). They’re stylishly them to y designed, affordably priced, and last for bKRXUV EHWZHHQ EDWWHU\ FKDUJHV ZLWK WKHbFDUU\LQJ FDVH $1 179, skullcandy.com.au
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Gadgets on the go
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RAY-BAN STORIES
APPLE AIRTAG
ANALOGUE POCKET
SONY RX100 VII
These smart glasses from Facebook (now Meta) and Ray-Ban are smart because they have tiny cameras for shooting photos and videos – and that means you can capture memorable moments and shoot landmarks without digging your phone out. As an added bonus you can use the built-in mics and speakers to make calls from the specs as well.
Don’t let your favourite gear get away from you while you’re away from home: slip an AirTag into a case or a wallet, for example, or attach it to a keyring, and you’ll always know where your most prized possessions are (and you can FRQĆJXUH D ZDUQLQJ WR DSSHDU LI you leave them behind). For the time being though, AirTags only work with Apple iPhones.
You don’t have to settle for smartphone games during your downtime while you’re on holiday, because the Analogue Pocket gives you a retro gaming console that you can hold in your hand. It works with Game Boy cartridges at launch, and support for other ’90s gaming devices is on the way, VR \RXèYHbJRW KRXUV RI FODVVLF gaming fun guaranteed.
You may not think you need a separate digital camera alongside your phone, but the results you can get from the dinky Sony RX100 VII will convince you otherwise. With superb performance in challenging conditions (low light, fast motion) real-time autofocus and 24-200mm zoom, you’ll be sure to successfully capture all the memories of your trip.
$539, ray-ban.com
From $45, apple.com/au
$438, analogue.co
$1,455, sony.com.au
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Gadgets on the go
INTO THE WILD 2
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GARMIN FENIX 7
XIAOMI MI PORTABLE ELECTRIC AIR PUMP
JBL CLIP 4
VICTORINOX SWISS CARD LITE
The Garmin Fenix 7 packs in just about everything you could ever possibly want to pack into a smartwatch: it has GPS mapping, supports smartphone alerts, and can track a wealth of different statistics (from blood oxygen levels to cycling speed). Oh, and it even tells the time too. It’s the perfect smartwatch for exploring the great outdoors. $1,049, garmin.com 5 0 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 2
If you’re heading out on a bicycle then Xiaomi Mi’s Portable Pump is close to indispensable. It’ll make sure you’re never stuck for a source of compressed air, and it comes with an LED light so you can use it at night too. It’s also able to check tyre pressures, so you can make sure your bike is road or track worthy.
No matter where you’re setting up camp, the JBL Clip 4 has you covered when it comes to portable audio – this Bluetooth speaker is a compact little device that’ll clip on to your bag via its carabiner, but it produces an impressive level of sound. You can connect it up to laptops and phones with ease, and it comes in a range of funky colours.
Don’t be caught short for the tools you need on your outdoor adventures, no matter what they might entail: the Victorinox Swiss Card Lite packs in 13 different tools, including a tiny torch, scissors, a penknife, a screwdriver and a magnifying glass. And it’s still small enough to slide into a wallet or purse.
$65, mi.com
$89, jbl.com
$59, victorinox.com Discover more at t3.com/au
Gadgets on the go
CAPED CRUSADING 2 1
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NITEHAWK GRAPPLING ANCHOR HOOK
ONETIGRIS TACTICAL BATTLE BELT
NIGHTFOX 110R NIGHT VISION BINOCULARS
MOTOROLA XT420 WALKIE TALKIE
We’re legally obliged to tell you that you scale skyscrapers with this contraption at your own risk – it’s more for grabbing objects and pulling them closer towards you. However you use it, you can at least cosplay as Batman, and it’s a heavy duty, well-made piece of gear that can double up DV D XVHIXO ZHDSRQ LI \RX ĆQG yourself surrounded by goons.
1RWKLQJ GHĆQHV WKH &DSHG &UXVDGHU TXLWH OLNH KLV XWLOLW\ belt, and OneTigris’s is a good approximation, ready to hold pretty much anything you might QHHG LQ \RXU TXHVW IRU MXVWLFH It’s strong, adjustable and durable, and affordable enough that you don’t need to have Bruce Wayne levels of wealth to be able to pick one up.
You’ll probably dispense most of your vigilante justice late at night, in which case the Nightfox 110R Night Vision Binoculars are going to prove really useful. These binoculars offer 7x PDJQLĆFDWLRQ IRU H[DPLQLQJ crime scenes, a 150 metre (or 165 yard) range at night, and can make recordings direct to D PHPRU\ FDUG DV ZHOO
Stay one step ahead of the bad guys with the Motorola XT420 Walkie Talkie – though obviously for this to work \RXèUH JRLQJ WR KDYH WR ĆQG D FULPH ĆJKWLQJ SDUWQHU DQG JLYH them the same device as well. The gadget supports 8 different channels and a range of up to 9 kilometres, so it’s a powerful bit of kit.
$TBC, amazon.com
$42, onetigris.com
$207, amazon.com.au
$261, motorolasolutions.com
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THE FUTURE OF MAGAZINES
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Spring cleaning & DIY gadgets
Cleaning & DIY gadgets It’s a time for rejuvenation, so make your deep cleaning goals much simpler with these DIY gadgets to help you tidy and spruce up your home for the year ahead Words: Michelle Rae Uy
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Spring cleaning & DIY gadgets
Best tools
Tough but sophisticated gear that’ll get the job properly done
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KÄRCHER K5 PREMIUM ELECTRIC POWER PRESSURE WASHER
BLACK & DECKER 18V V LITHIUMION HAMMER DRILL
DEWALT 18V HEAT GUN
Cleaning should also include taking care of the exterior of your home. Whether it’s been ages since anyone has cleaned your fence or walls or your driveway has caked over with grime and oil, a pressure washer like the Kärcher K5 Premium Pressure Washer will make your home look new again. $778, kaercher.com
The Black & Decker Hammer Drill is the ideal tool for anyone who needs a little more power from their drill. Most regular drills won’t be able to cut through concrete or metal but this one will. It can also hold most of its charge for 90 days so you won’t have to plug in every time you use it. $149, blackanddecker.com.au
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If you’re planning on sprucing up your place with some DIY projects, you’ll ’ probably have to apply some heat to get results. So, whether you need to remove paint, wallpaper, or adhesive residue, a tool like the DeWalt 18V Heat Gun is a crucial addition to your tool belt. It’s also safe to use with its lock-off switch and cordless functionality. $209, dewalt.com.au Discover more at t3.com/au
Best tools
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CIGMAN CM-701
RYOBI P411 ONE+ 18V CORDLESS RANDOM ORBIT POWER SANDER
BLACK & DECKER 3.6V RAPID DRIVER SCREWDRIVER
VONHAUS CORDLESS NAIL GUN AND STAPLE GUN
From its cordless use to its rubber overgrip, sanding down your wood projects has never been easier. If you’re putting together a bookshelf you built yourself or trying to remove the colour of your dresser before repainting, the Ryobi can do all of the heavy lifting for you. $125, amazon.com.au
A screwdriver is a quintessential tool for any home. But it’s a tiring one to use on big projects. Luckily, this Black & Decker one lets you tighten or loosen any screw with just a press of a button. Make quick work of any project, from Ć[LQJ DQG DVVHPEOLQJ IXUQLWXUH WR putting up installations. $49, amazon.com.au
When working on DIY projects for your home, you should take the saying ‘measure twice, cut once’ And, with the Cigman to heart. h CM-701 leveller, you can do just that with the press of a button. Shooting out lasers in three dimensions, it lets you line up ćRRULQJ ZLQGRZ LQVWDOODWLRQ DQG DQ\ SHUPDQHQW Ć[WXUH WKDW QHHGV to be evenly installed. $179, amazon.com.au Discover more at t3.com/au
If you need to hammer more than a few nails, the VonHaus Cordless Nail Gun and Staple Gun will do the job in a fraction of the time it would with a hammer. That’s more than worth the cost, especially if you have a number of DIY projects planned. And, it will give you enough power to punch through most materials. $TBC, vonhaus.com W I N T E R 2 0 2 2 T3 5 5
Spring cleaning & DIY gadgets
Cleaning gadgets Dispatch the dust and get rid of the grime with these appliances
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DYSON PURIFIER HUMIDIFY+COOL
DYSON OMNI-GLIDE
EUFYROBOVAC X8
$V WKH QDPH VXJJHVWV WKH '\VRQ 3XULĆHU Humidify+Cool is quite the multifaceted GHYLFH ,W RIIHUV GHHS FOHDQLQJ DLU SXULĆFDWLRQ KRXUV RI KXPLGLĆFDWLRQ EHIRUH QHHGLQJ D UHĆOO DQG FRROLQJ WKDW PLPLFV D QLFH EUHH]H It will even monitor and send you reports on your home’s air quality. A home isn’t truly clean until the air you breathe is. $699.99, dyson.com.au
It’s never been easier vacuuming around every obstacle and reaching every nook and cranny of your space than with the Dyson 2PQL *OLGH ,W ZLOO HYHQ OLH ćDW OHWWLQJ \RX ĆQDOO\ FOHDQ XQGHU \RXU FRXFK ZLWKRXW KDYLQJ to move it. It also comes with 20 minutes of ZLUHOHVV UXQWLPH DQG D ĆOWUDWLRQ V\VWHP WKDW will pick up even the smallest dust particles. $699, dyson.com.au
Robot vacuums have come a long way and the EufyRoboVac X8 is a prime example. Not only do its twin turbines clean much better than the average robot vacuum but it will intelligently navigate and map your space to reach every corner of your home as well as avoid obstacles. It will also give you three hours of continuous use. $1,299, myeufy.com.au
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Cleaning gadgets
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SHARK FLOOR & HANDHELD STEAM CLEANER S6005UK
BRAAVA JET M6 ROBOT MOP
DYSON V7 TRIGGER HANDHELD VACUUM
Clean smarter, not harder with the Braava jet m6 Robot Mop. Just like cutting-edge robot vacuums, this robot mop can be automated WR FOHDQ KLJK WUDIĆF DUHDV XVHG for spot cleans when your pup or child tracks in dirt, and is able to map your home for more complete cleaning. It’s even compatible with Alexa and Google voice assistant. $999, shopirobot.com.au
Sometimes, you need something like the Dyson V7 for the smaller messes. This handheld gives you 30 minutes of battery-powered use so you won’t be tethered to an outlet while cleaning. Its various attachments let you get into all sorts of surfaces and crevices, from the back of your pantry to seat cushions and more. $399, dyson.com.au
KÄRCHER KV 4 CORDLESS WIPER AND WV 2 WINDOW VAC
Mopping is hard work but with the Shark Floor & Handheld Steam Cleaner, it doesn’t have to be. You can clean just about any sealed hard surface, even vertical ones. There’s two steam settings, the ability to blast steam at hardto-clean messes and a machinewashable pad. $232, amazon.com.au Discover more at t3.com/au
A deep clean isn’t complete without window care. While you will have to buy these separately, they make quite a team. The KV 4 dispenses water and cleans even the toughest stains without any scrubbing while the WV 2 cleans up the water for a brilliant, streak-free surface. $189, kaercher.com W I N T E R 2 0 2 2 T3 5 7
Spring cleaning & DIY gadgets
Smart home
Turn on the style while keeping the house in order
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RING VIDEO DOORBELL L PRO
SAMSUNG RF9000 FAMILY HUB FRENCH STYLE FRIDGE FREEZER
LG TURBOWASH 360 F6V1009BTSE WASHING MACHINE
Having a screen attached to your fridge may seem like a gimmick but it’s pretty useful. Watching programmes while cooking, keeping track of household chores via its calendar, and leaving notes for family members are just some of its capabilities. You can even use its app to check the fridge’s contents remotely. $TBA, samsung.com
Washing machines have just gotten much smarter. And, though you can start a wash without leaving the couch, it offers more than smart home integration. It will automatically detect the weight of your load as well as the fabric’s softness to determine the best washing pattern. And it cleans in under 40 minutes. $TBC, lg.com
Don’t let unannounced guests cattch you by surprise. With the Ring Video Doorbell orbell Pro, Pro you can easily greet them even if you’re not home. Motion detection will alert you to any suspicious activity, and its interchangeable faceplates and slim design make it a pleasing addition. A monthly subscription offers even more security features. $279, ring.com 5 8 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 2
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Smart home
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AUGUST SMART LOCK CONNECT
ECHO SHOW 15
NANOLEAF ELEMENTS
NEST CAMERA
Skip the whiteboards and get an Echo Show 15 instead. Not only do you have all the normal functionality of an Amazon Echo device such as putting in orders on Amazon and updating your grocery list. But, with its 15.6inch Full HD screen, you can DOVR IROORZbUHFLSHV RU ZDWFK \RXU favourite show while getting on with the cooking. $399, amazon.com.au
With Nanoleaf Elements, you can decorate your walls with sophisticated wood panels that will light up whenever you so choose. Using the Nanoleaf app, you have various options, whether you prefer warmer or cooler lighting or dynamic effects that can respond to music. Since they’re modular, you can also organise them in whichever shape you like. From $322, nanoleaf.me
Keeping your home cosy is also keeping your home safe. And there’s no better way to stay vigilant than with one of Google’s Nest Cams on watch. From indoor and outdoor options, including RQHV ZLWK ćRRG OLJKWV \RX FDQ keep tabs on your surroundings no matter what time of day. All you need is a smart phone. From $329 store.google.com
With the August Smart Lock Connect, security and convenience go hand in hand. You won’t have to worry about forgetting your keys – just unlock via the app. You can also give guests access remotely as well as set it to automatically unlock every time you approach WKH GRRU $QG VLQFH LW ĆWV RQWR D deadbolt, installation is a snap. $329, august.com Discover more at t3.com/au
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In good hands
GOOD HANDS IN
Half a dozen of the most opulent new watches that are so fantastic you’ll be clamouring to welcome them onto your wrist Words: Spencer Hart
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In good hands
TAG HEUER AUTAVIA COSC GMT The completely new three-hand GMT Autavia is a perfect fit for those who love to travel by road or by air – immediately capturing attention with a brilliant blue sunray-brushed dial, a blue and black ceramic bezel and a polished stainless-steel case. The numerals and hands are coated with Super-LumiNova for readability, and inside is the Calibre 7 COSC GMT movement. $6,100, tagheuer.com
ZENITH DEFY EL PRIMERO 21 CHROMA Aiming to express the notion of high-frequency precision through frequencies of light and colour, this watch’s matte-finished white ceramic case gives way to a refracted rainbow spread evenly across the open dial. Visible through the dial is the El Primero 21 automatic high-frequency 1/100th of a second chronograph movement, which is at the peak of performance and precision. $18,700, zenith-watches.com
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W I N T E R 2 0 2 2 T3 6 1
In good hands
ZENITH DEFY EXTREME CARBON Another addition to the Zenith DEFY lineup, the DEFY Extreme is built to withstand the elements and equipped with the world’s fastest and most precise automatic chronograph movement. The case, as well as the pushers and crown, are made of highly durable layered carbon fibre, inspired by the world’s first off-road electric rally racing championship – EXTREME E. $19,500, zenith-watches.com
TAG HEUER AQUARACER PROFESSIONAL 200 The Professional 200 will sit in the Aquaracer Professional Series as a sister watch to the Aquaracer Professional 300, with an extensive list of carefully considered aesthetic adaptations that lend it its sporty, versatile personality. It is intended to be a bold, dynamic watch fit for adventures, with each watch heavily tested at TAG Heuer’s La Chaux-de-Fonds manufacture for accuracy, resistance to water and abrasion. $2,950, tagheuer.com
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In good hands
HUBLOT YELLOW GOLD COLLECTION Aiming to recapture the original essence of the brand, each of these six new models represents a piece of Hublot’s history. Pictured below is the most essential expression – the Classic Fusion Chronograph. This is the first time it has been produced in yellow gold in a diameter of 42mm. It’s clean, understated, and stylish, with the HUB1153 Self-winding Chronograph Movement at its heart. $49,900, hublot.com
BULGARI LVCEA INTARSIO Bulgari’s signature round watch pays homage to the sundials of ancient Rome. The new 2022 models add new colours to the palette, with dials crafted in materials that capture and enhance the light. The blue aventurine dial is cut and then faceted by hand to form the three-dimensional surface. This model in stainless steel with diamonds displays the bond between Bulgari’s jewellery and watchmaking expertise. $7,900, bulgari.com
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Take a break
TAKE A
BREAK
All the travel gadgets you’ll need to make your next trip the best yet Words: Jamie Carter
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Take a break
DRIVE Road trip! Whether home or abroad this is how to make your journey as exciting as your destination
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GAMESIR X2
HYDRO FLASK FOOD JAR
MOTOROLA SOUND MA1
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+HUH FRPHV &KURPHFDVW IRU \RXU FDU *RRJOHèV $QGURLG $XWR EULQJV QDYLJDWLRQ PHGLD DQG PHVVDJLQJ DSSV WR \RXU VPDUWSKRQH EXW LW FDQ DOVR EH SXVKHG WR D FDU GLVSOD\ IURP D VPDUWSKRQH $ ZLUHOHVV DGDSWHU IRU $QGURLG $XWR WKH 0$ GRQJOH FXWV RXW WKH QHHG IRU FDEOHV WR ODXQFK $QGURLG $XWR RQ D YHKLFOHèV LQIRWDLQPHQW V\VWHP
$129, gamesir.hk
$54, amazon.com.au
$TBC, motorolasound.com
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GARMIN CAMPER 780 GPS
NEXAR BEAM
ROIDMI NANO P1 PRO
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Sweet wrappers. Crumbs. Years of dust. <RXU FDU LV ĆOWK\ DQG ZKHQ \RX JR RQ ORQJ WULSV LW JHWV ZRUVH &XH WKH 1DQR 3UR 3 D SRUWDEOH YDFXXP FOHDQHU \RX FDQ OHDYH LQ WKH FDU :HLJKLQJ MXVW J LW UXQV IRU PLQXWHV DQG UHFKDUJHV YLD 86% & ,WèV DOVR UHDOO\ KDQG\ IRU UHPRYLQJ VDQG IURP \RXU FDU DIWHU D GD\ DW WKH EHDFK
$TBC, garmin.com
$255, amazon.com.au
$210, amazon.com.au
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Take a break
OUTSIDE Kick back on beaches and geek out in the great outdoors with these portable gadgets 1
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HUAWEI SOUND JOY The sounds of nature are all well and good, but hoots and howls are not going to get a party started. IP67-rated for dust and water-resistance, the Sound Joy goes for a whopping 26 hours on one charge of its 8,800mAh battery, yet weighs just 680g. $305, huawei.com
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GARMIN FĒNIX 7 SAPPHIRE SOLAR Sculpted from lightweight titanium, this premium multisport GPS watch comes preloaded with maps of roads, hiking trails, piste maps for popular ski resorts and over 42,000 golf ccourses. With a battery life of up to 22 days in smartwatcch mode and up to 173 days in battery saver mode, thiis is the most travel-friendly Fenix so far.
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$1,199, garmin.com
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CHR ROME TENSILE TRAIL HYDRO Being outdoors is thirsty work, which is why this rugged ksack features a separate full-length pocket roll-top ruck for a hydrattion reservoir that’s compatible with most bladders up to two litres. Made from lightweight, laminated ripstop nylon, its 16 litres capacity is enough to ĆW H[WUD OD\HUVV ZLWK H[WHULRU SRFNHWV IRU ZDWHU ERWWOHV DQG interrior zipped areas for keys and coins. $207, chromeindustries.com
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BASEUS ADAMAN If you want something that can recharge a smartphone a few timess over without having to be fuelled up itself omething with 20,000mAh like this one from then go for so 65W output can charge a laptop and its LED Baseus. Its 6 B display lets you know how much energy is left. $42, amazon.com.au
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SKYDIO 2+
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If you’re up for creating awesome aerial footage then you’ll do no better than the new Skydio 2+. Controllable y tto almost two miles at up to 36mph, its camera runs at a detailed 4K resolution and a smooth 60 frames per second. The 360-degree obstacle avoidance AI is helpful, but the T best feature is a hard-to-beat 27 minutes battery life. $TBC, skydio.com
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SHOKZ OPENRUN Liistening to music, podcasts or audiobooks traditionally means cutting yourself off from the world. Not so with m these bone conduction headphones, which put tiny peakers beside your ears and send low frequency sound sp through your cheekbones straight to your cochlea. $199, shokz.com
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Take a break
CITY The best gadgets for exploring, enjoying and staying safe in cities
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CHIPOLO OCEAN EDITION
STM MYTH
JLAB JBUDS FRAMES
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$45, amazon.com.au
$159, amazon.com.au
$99, jlab.com
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$388, amazon.com.au
$269, shiftcam.com
$11,927, leica-camera.com
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HOMEDICS COMFORT TRAVEL
ANTLER CLIFTON CABIN POCKET
HTC VIVE FLOW
,I \RX ĆQG ć\LQJ D SDLQ LQ WKH QHFN WKHQ you’ve probably already got a U-shaped pillow, but is yours made from memory foam? Even if it is, it probably doesn’t vibrate. Taking 2x AA batteries, this memory foam massage pillow has two speeds for an invigorating vibration massage to relax tense neck muscles. The cover is removable and washable.
Hard-shell carry-on luggage on eight spinner wheels are everywhere, but why do they never have a laptop sleeve? This hybrid luggage is as tough as any spinner, EXW LQWHJUDWHV D VSHFLDO çćRDWLQJè IURQW padded pocket that can take a laptop, tablet, smartphone and passport. Measuring 56x35x23cm, it meets the carry-on sizes for BA, but do check other airlines.
Need a happy place? It’s time to start thinking about virtual reality as an option RQ ORQJ ćLJKWV :KHQ SDLUHG ZLWK DQ Android smartphone via Bluetooth, the lightweight, compact and foldable Vive Flow can be used to cast a movie onto your own private (virtual) bigscreen. Or you can be immersed in soothing scenery and sounds if you’d prefer.
$39, homedics.com.au
$299, antler.com.au
$749, vive.com
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KINDLE PAPERWHITE SIGNATURE EDITION
BUFF FILTER MASK
BOSE QUIETCOMFORT 45
Its auto-adjusting front light is ideal for dimmed aircraft cabins and its 10-week battery is similarly attractive for travel, but what’s different about this new 6.8-inch ćDJVKLS HUHDGHU" 7KDW ZRXOG EH 4L ZLUHOHVV FKDUJLQJ D ĆUVW IRU D .LQGOH ZKLFK PHDQV fewer cables in the cabin.
Masks are still required at the airport, at WKH JDWH DQG WKURXJKRXW WKH ćLJKW VR \RX might as well get one that’s comfortable. That means avoiding your ears, which can JHW UHDOO\ VRUH RQ ORQJ ćLJKWV LI \RX ORRS D mask around them. Buff’s mask is one of few that is secured on your head, not your HDUV ,W XVHV WKUHH OD\HU UHSODFHDEOH ĆOWHUV
At 35,000ft you’re blasted with 80 decibels of engine noise that only advanced tech can block. These headphones include tiny microphones hidden in the ear-cups that measure ambient noise then create the opposite sound to cancel it out. This latest version of Bose’s classic jetsetter ’phones includes a battery that goes for 24 hours.
$265, amazon.com.au
$48, buff.com
$495, bose.com.au
Discover more at t3.com/au
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TESTED Expert reviews and recommendations WR KHOS \RX EX\ ZLWK FRQĆGHQFH
Edited by Josh Russell
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PORSCHE TAYCAN 4S
SAMSUNG QN95B
APPLE IPOD AIR
APPLE IPHONE SE
SAMSUNG GALAXY S22 ULTRA
SONY LINKBUDS WF-L900
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GARMIN DASH CAM 67W
MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO 8
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S8
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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
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Only the very best products – those WKDWbVFRUH ĆYH VWDUV å UHFHLYH RXU Platinum Award
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IMAGE SOURCE: PORSCHE
Tested Porsche Taycan 4S
TOUR DE PORSCHE
Porsche Taycan 4S
from $194,700 porsche.com
If ever there was proof that going electric needn’t be a compromise, this is it he Taycan (pronounced tie-can) is Porsche’s first fully electric car. First released in 2019, it now comes in two main body types and 10 variations. We tested the Taycan 4S, the four-wheel-drive sedan model, which offers the longest range of the pack and delivers 390kW or 522HP. The Taycan has some impressive design features. Air curtains above the front wheels help reduce turbulence while the three-stage rear spoiler controls the air at the back. Behind the steering wheel sits a 16.8-inch curved instrument display, a central 10.9-inch display provides infotainment options and the centre console’s 8.4-inch screen provides everything from temperature settings to charging functions. Additionally, the door handles extend out when the car is unlocked and recess back into the body when locked. Getting in the Porsche Taycan still feels like you are getting in a sports car – the low seat positioning, the luxury interior and the multitude of tuning options, from the electric suspension to the sports mode. The car feels wide and planted to the ground, ready to deal with any corner you throw at it. The beauty of an electric motor is instant power, and the Taycan really pins you to the seat when you put your foot down. Even without engaging that launch control, it’s stupidly quick off the mark. Handling is expectedly impressive and the car feels both solid through the bends and domineering on the straights.
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There’s no shortage of technology inside the Taycan 4S, it’s just not as in your face as in other EVs. The entertainment system supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay with wireless connectivity and native Spotify integration through your Porsche ID. Unfortunately, we found the CarPlay integration wasn’t always perfect. We had to stop the radio before Apple Music would play from a phone. However, the model we tested didn’t have the latest PCM update, which includes new coloured icons, so this may no longer be an issue. There are a number of autonomous driving systems on board, including adaptive cruise control and Active Lane Keep, which adjust the steering to keep you in the lane. This certainly helps on long journeys but is by no means a hands-free experience. The Taycan’s one Achilles heel comes in the form if its range. The Taycan 4S with the Performance Battery Plus option provides a maximum of 370km; without the larger battery, you get just 320km at 100% charge. The positive is that it does offer DC charging at up to 270kW, so with the right charger it will take just under 23 minutes to go from 5% to 80%. The Porsche Taycan 4S is the most fun we’ve had in an electric car. That’s perhaps because this is still very much a sports car that just happens to be electrically powered. Many cars go so out of their way to do things differently that you lose the joy of driving to technology. In the Taycan though, that joy of driving is front and centre.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Feels like a sports car; incredible handling; OX[XU\ ĆQLVK LQVLGH DQG RXW WE’D IMPROVE Range is limited; integration of CarPlay isn’t perfect; autonomous controls aren’t groundbreaking. THE LAST WORD The Porsche 7D\FDQ LV D VSRUWV FDU ĆUVW DQG an electric car second, which is the biggest compliment you could give it. It’s a lot of fun to drive and it handles like a dream.
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Tested
Display sizes LQFK Panel [ +] 0LQL/(' HDR +'5 Audio 'ROE\ $WPRV 276 OS 7L]HQ Smart features %L[E\ $OH[D *RRJOH $VVLVWDQW 6PDUW7KLQJV :LUHOHVV 'H[ Connectivity +'0, [ H$5& [ 86% & %OXHWRRWK Dimensions [ [ PP [ [ PP [ [ PP [ [ PP Weight NJ NJ NJ NJ
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Samsung QN95B 6DPVXQJèV EHVW . 79 \HW UHĆQHV WKH SRZHU RI PLQL /(' WR FUHDWH VRPHWKLQJ PLQG EORZLQJ owered by secondgeneration Neo QLED screen tech, a mini-LED backlight, and the most advanced image processing Samsung has to offer, the QN95B delivers HDR like you’ve never seen, perfect detail, and stunning colours. Samsung has pulled off something special here. Last year’s models set a high bar, with unprecedented picture quality. They were so good we wondered
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where Samsung might take them in 2022. There’s always room to grow, however, and the Samsung QN95B has immediately staked a claim to be one of the best TVs this year. Looking for evidence of why Samsung might be feeling bullish about the QN95B, we suspect the answer lies in its brightness. Our measurements found it capable of dazzling your retinas with nearly 2,900 nits at a time when even the
best OLED TVs are nudging beyond 1,000 nits. We don’t know yet how bright Samsung’s QD-OLEDs might get, but early word suggests it won’t be as bright as the QN95B. Last year’s 65-inch Samsung QN95A combined its mini-LED lighting with 720 independently controllable dimming zones, and the 65-inch QN95B does exactly the same. This could be seen as a disappointment, were it not for a cool 'LVFRYHU PRUH DW W FRP DX
Samsung QN95B
LEADING LIGHT Hitting almost 2,900 nits at its brightest, the screen here is searingly bright. And its 720 dimming zones can darken or brighten at their edges to ‘change’ shape.
BRAIN BOX Not only does 4K content look fantastic on the QN95B but, thanks to its 20 discrete neural networks, it’s also a whiz when it comes to upscaling HD and even SD content.
new feature called Shape Adaptive Light Control. This is able to adjust the ‘shape’ of the light created by each separate dimming zone so that, for instance, a zone with a bright object at its centre could darken at the edges to blend into a darker background. HDR pictures look more consistent and reveal more of the immense contrast range HDR is capable of. It also reduces the appearance of obvious areas of backlight clouding and blocking that you usually see with LED TVs. Another key picture improvement includes a leg up for Samsung’s image processor. It now draws on the combined learned ‘wisdom’ of a remarkable 20 separate neural networks when deciding how best to make images (including, most notably, upscaled HD images) appear. The QN95B’s brainpower is now so potent, in fact, that Samsung has been able to update image processing to 14 bits from the previous 12 bits, which should yield smoother colour blends and improved greyscale management and shadow detail. Discover more at t3.com/au
One last great new touch for 2022 is Auto Calibration, which lets you achieve a startlingly effective calibration to industry standards using just your mobile phone and some test signals from the TV.
A step up The QN95B doesn’t deliver quite the same leap forwards as last year’s sets, but it’s clearly still significantly better than its predecessor. Black levels in the Dynamic and Standard presets really do resemble the sort of thing we’d normally expect an OLED TV to be able to achieve. Just as importantly, the QN95B is significantly better than its mini-LED predecessor when it comes to shadow details in dark areas. It’s not absolutely immune to so-called black crush in its Standard or Dynamic presets, but areas in dark scenes that look unnaturally hollow occur much less often. Colour volume is extreme, with no pallidness kicking in even in the very brightest parts of the picture. At the same time, improved processing does
The QN95B’s upscaling of HD and even SD is pretty impressive
away with any trace of unnatural colour banding or blocking. Colour tones are reproduced so finely they prove a perfect match for the screen’s native resolution, joining the precision of Samsung’s processing in producing ultra-sharp pictures. While the screen inevitably looks its best with native 4K content, the QN95B’s upscaling of HD and even SD sources is excellent too, especially when it comes to spotting the difference between unwanted source noise and actual picture information when it’s creating millions of extra pixels. Judder is a little strong without motion processing turned on, but not substantially so. And the Custom Picture Clarity mode with judder and blur reduction set to level three or four can remove any slight judder without making the image look unnaturally smooth or creating distracting processing artefacts. There are a few other small issues. It doesn’t support the popular Dolby Vision HDR format, though you do get HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG. And the W I N T E R 2 0 2 2 T3 7 3
Tested
CUTTING EDGE Just as flat on its rear as its screen, the QN95B is a natural choice for wall mounting. And its Infinity display has such tiny bezels, they’re nigh-on invisible.
otherwise invisible blooming can become much more noticeable if you have to watch the TV from an angle. Black levels are less impressive using the Movie or Filmmaker picture presets (though manually tweaking the local dimming can help the Movie mode setting in this respect). Finally, the Dynamic preset comes on so strong at times that it can become uncomfortable to watch. Our advice would be not to use it.
SPOOKY SOUNDS Not only do the QN95B’s new up-firing drivers give Dolby Atmos soundtracks real height but its Object Tracking Sound is eerily accurate, almost seeming to emerge directly from the screen itself.
The set’s brightness, colours and fast response time make it great for gaming
Play nicely The QN95B is as big on gaming as it is on video. All four of its HDMI ports
can handle 4K at 120Hz and variable refresh rate – including AMD Freesync Premium Pro and (although not officially stated) Nvidia G-Sync. The Game preset, meanwhile, can get input lag down to just 10.4ms – though handily Samsung provides options for trading a little lag for a few more picture enhancement features if a game you’re playing doesn’t depend on lightning-fast reactions. Gaming sources also benefit from the massive backlight control improvements delivered by the new Shape Adaptive Light Control feature. There is now significantly
less blooming when you’re playing HDR titles. As long as you fire the screen up a few minutes before you want to use it, giving its LCD array time to warm up enough to avoid smearing, the QN95B is a brilliant gaming monitor. Its brightness, intense colours, fast response time, and new gaming dashboard make it a constant pleasure to game on. The combination of Samsung’s Object Tracking Sound and Dolby Atmos works well, especially with the new up-firing drivers increasing the sense of verticality in the mix. Feed
PRO ADD-ONS
HUE PLAY TWIN PACK & SYNC BOX Pair the Philips Hue Sync Box with a couple of Hue Play bars and it will allow you to sync coloured smart lighting to the content playing on your TV, adding an unprecedented level of immersion to gaming sessions or movie night. $799, philips-hue.com
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SAMSUNG HW-Q950A Take the QN95B’s already incredible Atmos to new heights. This soundbar system offers 11.1.4 channels and, thanks to its Samsung Q-Symphony support, can harness your set’s own drivers to add even more presence. $1,279, samsung.com
XBOX SERIES X If you’re looking purely for graphical oomph, the Series X is the console to pair with your QHZ 79 ,W SDFNV WHUDćRSV RI SURFHVVLQJ power, offers up to 120Hz variable refresh rates and Automatic Low Latency Mode. ~$1,000, xbox.com Discover more at t3.com/au
Samsung QN95B
GAME, SET, MATCH Crammed full of the latest gaming features, the TV offers VRR and 120Hz on all four of its HDMI ports, while it input lag goes as low as 10.4ms.
the QN95B a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, and you immediately notice an increase in the clarity and scale of the TV’s sound. The OTS system works with non-Atmos sources too, with the positioning of specific effects on screen feeling so accurate at times you start to think there must be speakers somehow built into the panel itself. While it’s clever at positioning effects, though, the QN95B lacks a little room-filling impact compared with the best rival premium TVs. And despite the presence of eight midrange drivers along the back, bass doesn’t dip quite as low we’d like.
Forever and ever… The frame around the so-called ‘Infinity’ screen really is just the thinnest sliver, all but invisible when you’re watching the TV. Ambient Mode, meanwhile, lets you run artworks or relaxing video on the screen when you’re not watching it. The way the rear panel is as flat as the front creates a striking monolithic impression, as well as making it a good option for wall hanging. The QN95B boasts a new smart system and interface. It’s still based on Samsung’s Tizen, but it completely Discover more at t3.com/au
changes the layout from the system we’ve seen over the past few years. For starters, it shifts to a fullscreen home page, rather than just superimposing a row or two of icons over the bottom of the image. And it really goes to town trying to come up with what sound like creative ways of aggregating content into themes from the streaming services it supports. However, a large chunk of the home screen is wasted on an advert, and the way the TV collates content ends up filling it up with obscure stuff most people won’t care about. You can’t change the order of the content shelves Samsung has come up with either, and the relationship between the picture and sound adjustment menus and the smart menus has become inscrutable. If you watch from external sources then this is less of a problem, but it’s a step backwards. Speaking of external sources, Samsung has included its delightful One Connect box, which shifts the processing and connections to an external unit, meaning that the TV itself gets to remain super-thin. It makes it far easier to keep your cables tidy, and is a win all around. The QN95B is a stunning TV that delivers a major picture leap forward
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from its already excellent predecessor, despite not having the same kind of huge technical transformation we’ve seen before. The improved backlight control and ridiculous brightness makes this simply an astounding TV with HDR content, and it really makes the most of both movies and games. With 2022 set to give us a whole host of TV innovations, Samsung needed to set a high bar with the QN95B. And happily that’s exactly what it’s done.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Stunning HDR; great clarity; streaming support; gaming features. WE’D IMPROVE 1HZ LQWHUIDFH ćDZV RGG EODFN FUXVKLQJ DQG DUWHIDFWV QR 'ROE\ 9LVLRQ THE LAST WORD Takes the fantastic quality RI 1HR 4/(' DQG FUDQNV LW XS HYHQ IXUWKHU
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Tested
From $929 apple.com/au
Display 10.9-inch 2360x1640 500-nit LED Chip Apple M1 CPU 8-core GPU 8-core RAM 8GB Storage 64GB / 256GB Camera 12MP wide rear; 12MP ultra-wide front Battery Up to 10 hours OS iPadOS 15 Connectivity USB-C, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5 Dimensions 247.6x178.5x6.1mm Weight 461g / 462g
SOMETHING IN THE AIR
Apple iPad Air The best affordable tablet you can buy, the iPad Air 5 delivers the power of Db0DF%RRN 3UR LQ D VW\OLVK IUDPH DQG ZLWK XVHU IULHQGO\ VRIWZDUH he most recent iPad Air already felt like a modern tablet, just in need of a few tweaks. But Apple didn’t just give the 5th-gen Air these small tweaks. It also strapped a jet engine to it: the Apple M1 chip, meaning this small, affordable tablet has as much power as some high-end laptops… After the huge redesign the iPad Air had last time, Apple has left it physically the same, and that’s okay.
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It’s still gorgeous and sleek in the hand. The front is all black glass, with the screen not quite edge-to-edge – but that’s good in a tablet because it’s useful having a little bezel to hold it without encroaching on the touchscreen. The flat sides and back are all aluminium, in one of five colours, giving it a huge splash of personality compared to some devices. The iPad Air 5 has a 10.9-inch LCD LED screen with a resolution of
2360x1640 – at 264 pixels per inch, it’s just as detailed as the screen in the iPad Pro models, and looks perfectly sharp at normal viewing distances. The iPad Air’s screen is just 60Hz though – unlike the iPad Pro’s 120Hz screen. Refreshing twice as often is especially useful for drawing with the Apple Pencil, as you see the results twice as quickly, making it easier to be accurate. 120Hz screens also just make scrolling and other animations look Discover more at t3.com/au
Apple iPad Air
much smoother and clearer. However, most mid-range tablets are 60Hz and the Apple Pencil still works extremely well and feels responsive.
All the eights The iPad Air’s M1 chip is fairly ridiculous when it comes to overall performance for a tablet. With its eight processor cores, eight graphics cores and 8GB of RAM, we know this chip is screamingly fast. In synthetic benchmarks as well as real tests, it’s just as fast as the M1 in the iPad Pro. In Geekbench 5, it scores 1713 for single-core performance, and 7274 for multi-core – these are right in line with the iPad Pro, and are higher than you got from the last eight-core Intel Core i9 MacBook Pro… in a tablet costing under $1,00. For those with ambitions to use it as a laptop replacement, though, the issue may be more the software than the hardware. Despite improvements to multitasking and file handling, it’s still so much more fiddly to handle files than it is on desktop. However, the flip side is that iPadOS’s user-friendliness in other ways has made it a home for all kinds
of excellent apps tuned for a touchscreen of this size. You can get into video editing, music making, drawing, animation, photo editing and a million other things, partly because apps don’t present you with a wall of inscrutable options. The battery concerned us a little, though not majorly. Apple says that you’ll get its usual 10 hours of light web browsing or watching video offline – and our experience is that you generally will get that, but not much beyond it. With the front camera, you now get a 12MP ultra-wide lens that uses Apple’s clever Centre Stage tech. In compatible video apps, it identifies your face, then crops into the ultra-wide image to just show a good framing of your head and shoulders. Then if you move about, the camera ‘follows’ you – it just smooth shifts its view so you’re always in frame. The rear camera hasn’t significantly changed – it’s still a 12MP sensor with ultra-wide lens. In this model, you get improved image processing from the M1 compared to the A13 chip in the older version, but there’s nothing transformative. In
This is a practical, portable tablet with a great screen and speakers
THE ALTERNATIVES SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S8
APPLE iPAD PRO
For an equivalent Android tablet, you should look to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8. It features a screen of the same size, but includes 120Hz support, and comes with a stylus, plus 128GB of storage. $1,099, samsung.com
The big question is whether to get this instead. Both have the M1 chip, the same-size screen, the same design – but the iPad Pro offers better rear cameras, a brighter 120Hz screen, and more capacity options. $1,199, apple.com/au
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bright light, it’s clear, handles contrast very well, and delivers great detail. In indoor lighting, it softens and gets noisier in block colours pretty easily. The new iPad Air is an F1 car disguised as a nice mid-range saloon. It’s a practical, portable tablet with a great screen and speakers, hiding a processor that’s capable of meeting even pro needs. Few people who buy the iPad Air will ever push the M1 hard, but it’s not like Apple has raised the price here. It’s a bit of a shame that the screen is still 60Hz and it’d be nice to have stronger camera performance indoors. But these aren’t dealbreakers – for the majority of people, this is the best tablet on the market.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Superb M1 chip; great 10.9-inch screen; many optimised apps; gorgeous design. WE’D IMPROVE iPadOS can limit creative work; 60Hz screen; so-so camera; average battery. THE LAST WORD Gives you a great screen, ridiculous amounts of power, and useful extra features. iPadOS is user friendly and packed with apps, though is also what stops the Air reaching its full potential as a work tablet.
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Screen 4.7-inch 1334x750 LCD Chip A15 Bionic RAM Capacity 64GB / 128GB / 256GB Camera 12MP wide rear; 7MP front Battery 50 hours (audio) 15 hours (video) OS iOS 15 Connectivity Lightning, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5 Size 67.3x138.4x7.3mm Weight 144 grams
from $719 apple.com/au
POCKET ROCKET
iPhone SE Get your hands on some smart high-tech upgrades and the full iOS experience at a budget friendly price. But be warned the SE has its limits he new iPhone SE is a phone that excels in all the areas Apple has put the love into, but once you hit its limits, you hit them hard. However, if you can live with its limits you are getting a full-fat iPhone experience, at a lighter price. With the budget-busting SE 2022 – starting at $719 for the 64GB model – you get five key updates over the previous version. There’s the new
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Apple A15 processor, 5G support, haptic touch on the screen, stronger glass, and improved battery life. But you have to keep the price down somehow and visually, there is no difference between the new iPhone SE and the old one – apart from colours. Despite looking the same as the previous model, the glass is new. It’s the same glass you get on the back of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro, and Apple’s says it’s the toughest yet for
protection against breakage when it’s dropped… except it’s not as tough as the Ceramic Shield material used on the front of the iPhone 13 models. The SE 2022 model retains front and rear cameras with 4K video support, Touch ID fingerprint security, wireless charging and the good-quality 4.7-inch screen from the previous version of the iPhone SE. By today’s standards the screen is teeny weeny, and if you are used to a Discover more at t3.com/au
iPhone SE
bigger screen you may struggle to get to grips with it, especially the keyboard. But forgetting the size, it’s still a pretty good screen. The 1334 x 750 resolution makes it sharp and detailed. And one big upgrade is support for Haptic Touch. This means you can hard press on notifications on the Lock Screen to see more useful features. In the sound stakes it’s not so good news. The speakers are okay for music and podcasts, just about. But, you won’t be disappointed with the introduction of the A15 six-core chip that transforms the SE into a pocket rocket. In general use, we couldn’t make the processor even come close to stumbling. Everything works quickly and instantly. But the great peace of mind you get here is the future-proofing. The A15 chip cannot only handle anything you could want it to do now, but also anything Apple will ask it to do with software updates in the next few years. Elsewhere, the 5G-friendly SE pumps out some impressive figures. It managed 670Mbps download speed, and 76Mbps upload speed in our tests. We compared this against the much more expensive iPhone 13 Pro which
managed 898Mbps download and 82Mbps upload. Not bad at all. But there’s always a compromise or two on a budget phone and the SE is a small phone which means it comes with a small battery. According to Apple’s own figures, you get 30-50% more life from the iPhone 13 compared to the iPhone SE. And this was reflected in our own usage.
One vision The other big compromise is there’s only one rear camera – a rare occasion for most modern phones. This means you miss out on the flexibility of different zoom/length options when taking shots, but also it means that Night mode, which requires two lenses, doesn’t work. But the camera quality is overall excellent. It is capable of some gorgeous shots here, especially in ample light. Apple hasn’t changed the camera hardware in this version in any meaningful way, but the A15 chip delivers Apple’s best image processing, so the phone is making even more use of what the sensor can do. When we say the results are good, we don’t just mean they’re good ‘for a
THE ALTERNATIVES iPHONE 11 This is the biggest competitor from Apple’s line-up. If the screen, battery life and camera are most important, get the iPhone 11. If cheapness, small size and IXWXUH SURRĆQJ DUH PRUH important, get the iPhone SE. From $849, apple.com/au Discover more at t3.com/au
SAMSUNG GALAXY A53 5G Prefer Android? You should consider this. It’s got a lot of specs to beat the iPhone SE, including an edge-to-edge OLED screen, 128GB of storage as standard, and a multi-lens camera system. $699, samsung.com
The A15 chip delivers Apple’s latest and greatest image processing
cheap phone’. We mean that in good light, they hold up well against even the iPhone 13 Pro. The iPhone SE’s camera can get into the ring with the iPhone 13 Pro and come out with only a loss on points, all things being equal. But as we mentioned earlier, all things are not equal. There’s no Night mode and no other lenses, so what the iPhone SE struggles with isn’t the quality of the shots it can take, they’re good… it’s that there are certain shots it literally cannot get. But if you’re happy that you won’t exceed the limits of the SE, then it’s a really strong choice, especially with the A15 chip ensuring that you’ll have enough power for any new iOS feature Apple wants to add in the future.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Very fast processor; 5G connectivity; tough, premium glass design; very strong camera. WE’D IMPROVE Single rear camera & no Night mode; older design still clinging on; unimpressive battery life. THE LAST WORD The iPhone SE continues Apple’s run of delivering cutting-edge innards for a cut-price iPhone and the camera is alarmingly good.
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Display 6.8-inch 120Hz HDR10+ 3088x1440 AMOLED CPU 64-bit 2.80GHz Octa-Core Processor RAM 8GB / 12GB Capacity 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB OS Android 12 Camera 108MP wide angle, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP 10x telephoto, 10MP 3x telephoto rear; 40MP front Battery 5,000mAh Connectivity USB-C, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 Dimensions 77.9x163.3x8.9mm Weight 229g
From $1,849 samsung.com
amsung has done it again. Every year it manages to pack the latest in smartphone tech into a range of sleek, sturdy devices. And the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is no different – every part of it is sure to impress you. Whether it’s performance, camera, battery, design or screen, this smartphone is about as good as they get right now. Straight out of the box, the S22 looks very different from its predecessor, the S21. Its rectangular shape strikes you straight away, and not so instantly you’ll notice the now included S Pen neatly tucked away in the body of the phone. It definitely takes inspiration from the Galaxy Note series. We didn’t see a Note 21 hit the shelves last year, and now it’s clear why. Samsung has combined the Ultra and the Note to create the ultimate productivity handset for professionals and enthusiasts. On the back there’s four camera lenses that don’t sit in a module. Each one stands alone and is integrated into the back panel. They
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ULTRA WARRIOR
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra A power-packed, eco-friendly device that has everything \RXèG H[SHFW IURP D ćDJVKLS SKRQH DQG PRUH 8 0 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 2
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Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
COMPARING NOTES With its expansive 6.8-inch screen and enclosed S Pen, it’s clear the S22 Ultra has become the spiritual successor of the now defunct Galaxy Note series.
HOT CHIPS As well as the latest 4nm processor – the Exynos 2200 or the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 depending on your region – Samsung has also squeezed in its new, twice-as-fast NPU to provide AI tasks a boost.
fit neatly with the phone design and look very smart. But they do stick out a little and the phone rocks slightly when you use it on a flat surface, but not so much so that it gets annoying. It’s a small minus in a sea of pluses. Speaking of seas, one of the bonuses here is Samsung’s commitment to being more ecoconscious. The S22 Ultra is made from ocean-bound plastics like discarded fishing nets, and the packaging it comes in is completely recyclable as well. Definitely a step in the right direction. Its size might be a minus for those with small pockets and small hands but it does mean that you get a serious amount of screen to play with. The unit measures 77.9 x 163.3 x 8.9mm and weighs in at 229g, so it’s not a lightweight, but the 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Edge QHD+ screen is beautiful. Sharp and detailed, you can use it for just about anything, whether that’s photo editing, gaming or streaming video. It’s big enough to comfortably watch Discover more at t3.com/au
shows on, more like watching on a miniature tablet than on a phone. You’ll also be able to see every inch of the video with no problems at all; it’s well balanced with clear contrast between light and dark areas. There’s also an Adaptive Refresh Rate that is automatically adjusted from as little as 1Hz right up to a seriously smooth 120Hz, based on the task at hand. This will help conserve the battery and makes it a delight to scroll and swipe while using the screen. Made from Armor Aluminium and Gorilla Glass Victus, it’s durable and tough enough to withstand damage if you were to knock it or drop it. It’s also IP68 rated, so it will survive being submerged in up to 1.5m of water for 30 minutes, and won’t be impacted by dust or dirt. A lot of the S22 Ultra’s hardware is complemented and improved by artificial intelligence, and the screen is no different. There is a Vision Booster that intelligently adjusts the display so you can see every detail even when you’re looking at it in
Dust, dirt, water and being dropped shouldn’t bother the Ultra too much
bright sunlight. It looks to maximise the contrast and make colours look more vivid and bright. And it does a great job. We were able to watch videos under the sun and take photos with a clear view of the screen. There is room for improvement but then there always is.
Cool camera The camera tech on smartphones is critical to its success and the S22 Ultra keeps the same impressive lenses as last year’s model. There’s a 12MP ultra-wide camera, a 108MP wide camera and two 10MP telephoto cameras (one with 3x optical zoom and the other with 10x optical zoom). You also get a 40MP front camera for those all-important selfies. You can expect to take some impressive shots – the camera system is one of the best you’ll find on any smartphone up to this point. Whether you’re snapping selfies, shots of landscapes, cityscapes, one person, two people, plants or pets, photos come out looking bold, sharp and vibrant. But this year, it’s the new W I N T E R 2 0 2 2 T3 8 1
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FOCUS GROUP Unlike the S21, there’s no module for the cameras here: they’re integrated straight into the back panel. But they’re just as stellar as you’d expect, offering an 108MP wide angle, 12MP ultra-wide and two 10MP telephoto lenses.
SMOOTH OPERATOR Not only is the Ultra’s 6.8-inch AMOLED display gorgeous but it offers up to 120Hz variable refresh rate and HDR10+ support.
and improved camera features that are really worth talking about. One of the most useful features is the improved Night mode, which blends multi-exposure frames to create clearer, brighter shots. Then it uses AI to identify objects; Samsung reckons it’s able to capture their true shape and colour tones, as well as enhance the details in the shot and reduce noise. In action, it did a great job at illuminating the scene without losing out on detail or looking unnatural. But for the best results, you need to be stood quite still as it takes a few seconds to capture the image.
Shoot videos in the evening without fear of graininess or losing detail
Another cool feature is the Nightography, which allows you to shoot videos in the evening without graininess or loss of detail; it’s the first time Samsung has applied a Night mode to both photography and video. There’s a shiny new Portrait Mode as well, which uses deep learning to improve its accuracy; Samsung claims it’ll be able to pick up even the finest of details like a single strand of hair. For simpler Portraits where you just want to blur out the background, it worked well, but it was more hit and miss when we went to block it out
completely. It also gives you studio lighting on selfies, an Automatic Night Portrait Mode on the front camera and even a Pet Portrait Mode. Like the S21 Ultra, you get a 100x Super Zoom here. It’s incredible and will be able to capture far more than the human eye can see. Keen on editing your photos post-capture? The new Expert RAW takes multi-frame raw images to allow for more information in one picture and more effective post-capture editing. You’ll also be able to choose your own settings including the ISO, white balance and focus.
PRO ADD-ONS
SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH 4 The Galaxy Watch 4 is slim, comfortable and made from tough armour aluminium so it’ll be able to withstand knocks. Its BioActive Sensor is also able to measure everything from your heart rate to your rough body composition. $399, samsung.com 8 2 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 2
SAMSUNG SILICONE COVER WITH STRAP Not only does this silicone case protect your S22 Ultra but the fetching strap adds a pop of FRORXU ZKLOH DOORZLQJ \RX WR PDLQWDLQ D ĆUP grasp on your phone. And the strap can be swapped out for whenever you fancy a refresh. $59, samsung.com
PHILIPS FIDELIO T1 The T1 aren’t just good, they’re excellent. The sound quality is powerful with extraordinary detail, while the noise cancelling is incredible. They offer 48 hours of battery and pause your tunes when you remove them. $449, amazon.com.au Discover more at t3.com/au
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
ELECTRIC DREAM The Ultra’s 5000mAh battery seems to last an impressive 17 hours. Coupled with 45W wired and 15W wireless fast charging, you’ll rarely struggle for juice here.
Packed with power
Slingshot and Slingshot Extreme tests. If you want all of the perks of a Under the hood, the S22 Ultra packs flagship handset and you’re a gamer, in the latest 4nm processor, which this is one of the best gaming phones could be either the Exynos 2200 or the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 depending on you can buy right now. Browsing the web is just as fast where in the world you are. Alongside thanks to the most up-to-date Wi-Fi that, there’s a choice of 8GB or 12GB 6E and 5G support. But it’s the NPU, RAM paired with 128GB, 256GB, or Neural Processing Unit, that’s 512GB or a huge 1TB of built-in memory. There’s no MicroSD card slot really interesting. It’s supposedly twice as fast as it was in the S21 here so you’ll have to make sure you get the right amount from the get-go. series, which will go a long way to improving the efficiency of the Promising serious amounts of phone’s AI-based features. power, this phone will cope with Keeping things up and running is a anything you can throw at it. After 5,000mAh battery with up to 45W using it for a number of different tasks, it was clear that this lives up to wired charging and 15W wireless charging. It lasted us a whole workday the Note 20 as being a productivitywithout coming close to needing a focused product. You can open up charge. We ran a video over two hours games without long loading times, on full brightness and the battery and there’s no lag when you’re level only dropped by 12%, which flicking through a few different suggests a good 17 hours in total. windows open at once. The brain of the operation is In our Geekbench 5 benchmark Android 12 with Samsung’s One UI tests on it, it matched last year’s S21 Ultra as well as being similar to other 4.0 interface – it looks fantastic, is the most customisable OS yet and it’s flagship smartphones like the super easy to use. The privacy features OnePlus 9 Pro and the Xiaomi Mi 11 have been updated to give you much Ultra. To test out its gaming more control over the system, which capabilities, we ran 3D Mark’s Wild includes a new privacy dashboard Life test, the phone giving an impressive average frame rate of 44.90 where you can find all of your settings while it actually maxed out 3D Mark’s in one easy-to-access place. You’ll be Discover more at t3.com/au
The phone’s AI-based features UXQ PRUH HIĆFLHQWO\ thanks to the NPU
able to switch off all of your camera apps from there and an indicator shows every time a mic or camera is switched on. We can’t think of many downsides to the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Everything about how the phone works feels very considered and suits the device perfectly. It won’t be for everyone – because it’s very expensive and very big – but if you want an all-singing, alldancing smartphone then they don’t get better than this.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Incredible 6.8-inch display; long-lasting battery; top camera. WE’D IMPROVE No MicroSD card slot; charger not included; expensive. THE LAST WORD The S22 has everything \RXèG H[SHFW IURP D ćDJVKLS DQG PRUH
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Tested Sony LinkBuds WF-L900
$249 sony.com
ACE IN THE HOLE
Sony LinkBuds WF-L900 The Sony LinkBuds have a hole in the middle, and it turns out that can be a good thing he world is far from short of wireless in-ears but these… are different. These have a hole over your ear canal. On purpose! By deploying a 12mm ‘ring’ driver in each earbud, Sony has created an in-ear headphone that doesn’t block the wearer’s ear. Which means greater awareness of surroundings for the user and reduced inclination to shout at the user for the rest of us. It’s fair to say it takes a few minutes to get used to the sensation of wearing true wireless in-ear headphones and yet not being utterly unaware of sounds that might be happening all around. But once you get accustomed to the amount of ambient sound you receive, there’s lots to enjoy about the way the LinkBuds make music. Theirs is an open sound. They create a generous soundstage, giving competing elements on it plenty of elbow-room in which to do their individual thing. And they organise it well, too – it’s not at all difficult to understand an individual musician’s position relative to the others, even if you’re talking about a full-on symphony orchestra. With EQ levels left flat, the top of the frequency range has just about enough bite and shine to avoid being described as ‘dull’. There’s a sensation of roll-off, certainly, but it’s acceptably mild. The transition into the midrange is seamless, and once down there the LinkBuds are brimming with detail both broad and fine. Problems, such as they are, concern the way the buds reproduce lower frequencies. At the
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otherwise-ideal flat EQ setting, bass is rather flimsy and insubstantial – there’s a decent level of detail revealed and proper shape to it, but as far as substance and punch go, well… there’s just not all that much of it. The LinkBuds are small and very light (just 4.1g each), and are therefore able to fit into a small, light (34g) charging case. Despite the dimensions, the LinkBuds have a respectable enough battery life of between five and six hours and another couple of full charges in the case – and a 10-minute charge will give you an hour’s playback. None of this is especially impressive though. Light weight and tidy dimensions go a long way to making the LinkBuds comfortable – and to make absolutely certain Sony provides five different sizes of soft ‘fitting supporter’ (which is a sort of fin or wing that helps keep the earbud stable when in position). Almost all the news here is positive. The Sony LinkBuds are innovative, comfortable, sound great (with just one significant caveat), are adaptable and easy to control. For now, they’re number one in a field of one. In some ways, a pair of noise-cancelling headphones is more flexible, since you could turn on the ambient/ transparency mode if you want to let sound through. But it’s not quite the same thing, and they’re all bigger and heavier. When it comes to the mix of features and that barely-notice-they’re-in-your-ears design, the LinkBuds are a solid buy, if that’s what you want.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Light and comfortable; excellent control options; open, well-organised and energetic sound. WE’D IMPROVE Bass not that convincing; average battery life; hit-and-miss call quality. THE LAST WORD If you like VPDOO FRPIRUWDEOH DQG ĆQH sounding in-ear headphones, but you also like to know what’s going on in the outside world, Sony has answered your prayers.
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Tested Garmin Dash Cam 67W
DASH HIT
Garmin Dash Cam 67W $ ćDJVKLS GDVK FDP ZLWK DOO WKH EHOOV DQG ZKLVWOHV EXW LW FRPHV DW D SULFH e can’t blame you for losing track of the Garmin Dash Cam range. There are currently three models that look almost identical, yet span a price range of $140 to $370. But with 180-degree FOV and Vault Storage, Garmin’s new cloud storage solution, the latest flagship 67W is worth taking notice of. If you’re familiar with recent Garmin dash cams then you’ll know the score here. Compact, matchbox-shaped and subtle, the Dash Cam 67W packs a lot of technology into its small frame. The rear is taken up by a 2-inch display, controlled using four buttons on the right side – with the most important one, which manually saves video, protruding slightly to make it easy to press without taking your eyes off the road. As well as working like any other dash cam, sensing impacts and automatically saving the most recent portion of recorded video, the 67W has various extra features. There’s a suite of driver assistance systems, including warnings when you drift out of your lane or the camera thinks you might collide with the vehicle ahead. There’s also an alert for if you don’t notice the traffic ahead has set off, plus alerts for nearby speed and red light cameras. The Dash Cam 67W has a battery but this is only rated for 30 minutes of use. Instead, owners are advised to use the included USB cable, or purchase Garmin’s hardwiring kit for a constant power supply. With this fitted, the camera’s Parking Guard mode can be enabled, where the
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video will be recorded and your smartphone notified when a collision is detected. We’ve been very impressed with the footage produced by the Dash Cam 67W. The resolution is slightly higher than Full HD, at 1440p, and there’s HDR for retaining detail in the brightest and darkest portions of the video. We also liked the 180-degree lens. While its wide view causes some slight fisheye-style distortion, this is worth the benefit of being able to see right to both front corners of your vehicle. That way, you’re more likely to capture footage when a car drives into the side of you, or when a pedestrian or cyclist is alongside. Day and night, the footage captured by the Garmin 67W is very good, with crucial details like road signs and vehicle registration plates visible. Footage can be viewed on the dash cam display itself, transferred to a computer or tablet via the microSD card (not included), or uploaded to Garmin’s Vault cloud storage system using Wi-Fi and the Drive phone app. Not everyone will want to spend $370 on a dash cam. Especially when other options from Garmin itself start at just $140, in the case of the Mini 2. But the 67W still manages to make a compelling argument for itself, thanks to its 1440p resolution, GPS, compact design and 180-degree wide-angle lens. We’re also big fans of the effortlessly simple windscreen mount, and the new cloud storage system is convenient for those who want to connect their dash cam to Wi-Fi and the cloud.
$369 garmin.com
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED ([FHOOHQW YLGHR TXDOLW\ FRPSDFW GHVLJQ QHZ DXWRPDWLF FORXG VWRUDJH WE’D IMPROVE &RVWO\ GULYHU DVVLVWDQFH QRW DOZD\V KHOSIXO VRPH IHDWXUHV QHHG KDUGZLULQJ THE LAST WORD From its S VFUHHQ DQG GHJUHH OHQV WR LWV GULYHU DVVLVWDQFH IHDWXUHV DQG FORXG VWRUDJH WKH : KDV D ORW JRLQJ IRU LW %XW WKH SULFH LV IDLUO\ VWHHS FRPSDUHG WR RWKHU *DUPLQ GDVK FDPV
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Screen 13-inch 2880x1920 120Hz display CPU Quad-core 11th-gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 / i7-1185G7 GPU Intel Iris Xe Graphics RAM 8GB / 16GB / 32GB Storage 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB Operating system Windows 11 Home Connectivity 2x USB-C, Thunderbolt 4, 3.5mm headphone jack, Surface Connect port, Surface Type Cover port, Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.1 Battery life Up to 16 hours Dimensions 287x208x9.3mm Weight 891g (tablet only)
DUAL IN THE CROWN
From $1,799 microsoft.com
Microsoft Surface Pro 8 An impressive piece of kit that shows Microsoft is still leading the way when it comes to 2-in-1 laptops ight from the get-go, we can tell you that this is one of the best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy. Surface PCs are the very definition of a hybrid device so they rule this category. The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 looks almost identical to the previous generation. Despite having a bigger screen it’s all still packed into a similar-sized device, measuring 287 x 208 x 9.3mm. You’ll find slimmer
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bezels and the same matte black aluminium on the back; it looks smart but then it always did. The 13-inch touchscreen is stunning. It has a resolution of 2880 x 1920p, up to 120Hz refresh rate and Dolby Vision. Bright, sharp, smooth and colourful – it’s great for just about any task you could throw at it. The 3:2 aspect ratio means you can fit a lot on the screen as well, displaying almost a whole page of work at once.
To hook the tablet up to a Surface Type Cover, you just need to magnetically snap the keyboard onto the bottom edge of the display – simple. Do bear in mind that this won’t feel completely like a laptop to type on. The Type Cover is so thin, and it leaves a gap between the keyboard and the table, which means it moves a little when you press down on the keys. Writing on the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 using the Surface Pen 2 feels Discover more at t3.com/au
Microsoft Surface Pro 8
natural and very satisfying. Whether you need it for quick note-taking or detailed drawing, the pen is accurate and the touchscreen is responsive. One reason the pen feels this good is because of the haptic feedback feature, which mimics the friction you feel when you write on paper by sending tiny vibrations through the stylus. Both of these add-ons need to be bought separately, though: they aren’t included as standard.
Higher power Promising plenty in the way of performance, the model we tested out uses the 11th-gen Intel Core i7-1185G7 processor, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. It’s certainly powerful enough for most tasks; we never had any problems with long loading times or opening up software. As a tablet, it’s seriously powerful. As a laptop, it’s not quite as impressive but it’ll still do more than enough for most. To compare it to other PCs, we ran the Geekbench 5 benchmarking test where the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 scored 1,142 in single-core and 4,133 in multi-core. That’s lower than other similarly priced PCs like the Samsung
Galaxy Book Pro 360 and the Huawei Matebook 14s, but not far off either. The battery seemed to last us through most of a day’s work, comprising some typing and clicking through the web, but it won’t last much more than that. We ran a video over two hours on full brightness and in that time the battery level dropped by nearly 40% so it would have lasted just over five hours in total – that’s okay but we’ve definitely seen better. If you need a laptop for work, and therefore video calls, it has a highquality 5MP front camera that is detailed with balanced colours. You won’t be plagued with graininess from your webcam. Meanwhile, the 10MP rear camera takes shots that are actually useable and can record footage in resolutions up to 4K. It still won’t match your smartphone camera but, for a tablet, it’s really good. The 2W speakers with Dolby Atmos surround sound produce audio that is much better than on most other tablets and it’s even better than a lot of laptops. The Pro 8 sounds full and rich and is good for watching movies and making calls. Admittedly it does sometimes distort the audio slightly
The display is 2880 x 1920p, up to 120Hz and has Dolby Vision
THE ALTERNATIVES ASUS ZENBOOK FLIP S
HP ELITE DRAGONFLY G2
This is far dearer than the Surface Pro 8 but it’s good for those who need a laptop more than a tablet. The screen swivels back by 360-degrees to transform it, but the quality of the 4K OLED screen is fantastic. $2,599, asus.com
Another premiu um device to consid der, which like the Asus A laptop, has a scrreen that swivels bacck to turn it into a tab blet. This laptop is sm mall and lightweight with incredible performance. $3,499, hp.com
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so won’t beat a dedicated speaker for listening to music. The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 improves on what came before it in a few big ways while maintaining the essence of the Surface Pro series. It switches between laptop and tablet without any fuss, and if you don’t intend to use it much as a laptop, this is one of the most powerful tablets you can buy. It’ll be great for notetaking and drawing too. Okay, so the battery life could use a boost and it’s a shame there’s no MicroSD card slot. But the only real reason we would say not to buy this is if you’re only planning to use it as a laptop because you can get more power for your money elsewhere.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED 13-inch screen with 120Hz refresh rate; HD webcam and 4K rear camera; impressive performance. WE’D IMPROVE Average battery life; no MicroSD slot; extra cost for the keyboard and pen. THE LAST WORD A 2-in-1 laptop that packs in plenty of power as well as a stunning touchscreen display. It won’t be for everyone but it’s a truly fantastic piece of kit.
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from $1,099 samsung.com
TITANIC TABLET Display 14.6-inch 2960x1848 AMOLED CPU 1.7GHz / 2.4GHz / 2.99GHz Octacore RAM 12GB Storage 256GB Camera 13MP + 6MP rear; 12MP + 12MP front Battery 11200mAh OS Android 12 with One UI 4.0 Connectivity USB 3.2, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 Dimensions 208.6 x 326.4 x 5.5mm Weight 726g
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra A huge 14.6-inch display encased in a remarkably thin cool-looking matte graphite coloured case makes this tablet a must for artists and creators
o you want a seriously cool piece of kit that could replace your laptop? Are you a creator who wants some serious screen space to take with you wherever you go? Then you need to take a good look at the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. It is just about the biggest and best tablet there is, but it isn’t cheap. So what do you get for your money? You can’t miss the almost bezel-free
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14.6-inch screen neatly encased in a tough Armor Aluminium body that looks and feels premium. You can only buy this tablet in one colour: matte Graphite. However, this does make the S8 Ultra look irresistibly sleek, modern and hard to miss. Realistically, the huge screen will be overkill for a lot of people but at 5.5mm thick and weighing around 726g, it’s beautifully slim, surprisingly light and a match made in heaven for
artists and creators. Boasting an impressive 2960 x 1848p resolution with about 16 million colours, the screen is truly stunning for any task you want to perform on the tablet. It responds quickly and accurately to touch, and the 120Hz refresh rate means it feels seriously smooth. The only downfall is that the screen is so big accidental taps can happen, especially when you’re using the S Pen. We kept tapping areas of Discover more at t3.com/au
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
the screen with the edge of our hand when we didn’t mean to. Does the camera system match the screen? Yes it does, mostly. Above the screen, there are discreet dual front cameras – one wide, one ultra wide, both 12MP. On the back, you’ll find a 13MP camera and a 6MP lens. The front camera is perfect for video calls, streaming and taking selfies. It’s one of the best you’ll find on a tablet right now: no grainy images here. You can film in resolutions up to 4K and it even includes Samsung’s new Auto Framing feature, which automatically detects up to 10 people and adjusts the frame to fit everyone in, whether you’re filming or video calling. The rear camera is less impressive: it’s a long way off the quality you get from the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, for example. It’ll be fine for taking quick snaps but don’t expect professional-looking shots; they lack sharpness and the colours aren’t quite true to life. Keeping the tablet running is Android 12 with Samsung’s One UI 4.1, meaning that the whole system and interface are bang up to date, and come with some really handy features.
For improved productivity, you can divide up the screen and have up to three windows open at once. And on the app front – as you might expect – the OS plays very nicely with Google apps, in particular Google Duo. You can call your friends or colleagues to easily share content from the device over to them so you can all look at it together, whether that’s your whole screen, an app or a specific video.
The front camera is H[FHOOHQW IRU VHOĆHV video calls and streaming
Powerful-ish performance Packing the latest 4nm Octa-Core processor, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, the S8 Ultra promises plenty in the way of power. You can choose from 8GB, 12GB or 16GB of RAM, with 128GB, 256GB or 512GB of storage. You can use a MicroSD if you want more. It’s speedy and efficient even when you have a couple of windows open on the screen at once. But it doesn’t quite match up to Apple. In our Geekbench 5 tests, it was a long way behind the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2021) and struggled to match the iPad Air (2020). Keeping the tablet running is a 11,200mAh battery, which should last for 14 hours of video playback. To test, we ran a local video on full brightness
THE ALTERNATIVES MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO 8
HUAWEI MATEPAD EPAD PRO 12 12.6 6
If you plan to use it more for work and don’tt QHHG VXFK D ELJ VFUHHQ this may be the better choice. This 2-in-1 laptop runs Windows 11 so is easier to create documents and edit pho otos on. From $1,749, microsoft.com
If you’re y not fussed bout having an ab QGURLG WDEOHW WKLVV $Q as a beautiful big ha VFUHHQ LPSUHVVLYH erformance and a pe ng battery life. Yo lon ou on’t be able to access Google apps on it though. wo $TBC, huawei.com
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for two hours; in that time the battery level dropped 24% so would have lasted around eight hours. For a tablet that’s fine, but we expected a bit more. Boasting four AKG speakers, the Tab S8 Ultra’s audio is loud and clear. It doesn’t compare to a separate speaker but for such a slim tablet it’s powerful with a rich bassy sound. These speakers are fantastic for watching TV shows or movies and they’re great for video calls too. For anyone who needs as much screen space as possible – like for working on or if you’re a creator – this is about the best and biggest tablet there is. It might not match the iPad on power but if you want a larger screen it’s a big fat yes to the S8 Ultra.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Huge 14.6inch Super AMOLED display; S Pen included in box; Android 12 with One UI 4.0. WE’D IMPROVE Not particularly portable; average battery life; expensive for a tablet. THE LAST WORD Not everyone wants or needs a 14.6-inch WDEOHW EXW LI \RX GR WKH Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is a real pleasure to work and draw on.
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Tested Sony WF-C500
$118 sony.com.au
FOR A SONG
Sony WF-C500 Incredible sounding and comfortable, these are the best wireless earbuds you can get for this cheap ony is one of the most trusted audio brands there is; you just need to take a look at our five-star rating of the Sony WF-1000XM4 for evidence why. But not everyone has close to $400 lying around to spend on earbuds. Fortunately the Sony WF-C500 take everything we love about Sony’s top-tier headphones and streamline them to bring the price down. The circular bullet-shaped design of the Sony WF-C500 makes them look a lot like their pricey counterparts, keeping things stripped back and simple but still sophisticated. They look discreet in your ears, helped by the fact that there’s no dangling stem poking down your earlobes. Weighing about 5.4g each, we found them super comfortable, more so than most other wireless earbuds. They should stay securely in your ears even when you work out in them. Powered by 5.8mm drivers, the WF-C500 sound surprisingly good for such inexpensive wireless earbuds – they’re balanced with a wide soundstage, tons of detail and plenty of energy. While the low end isn’t that assertive, it’s still rich enough to cut through, while the treble sounds clear and crisp so you won’t lose out there. In all of that, the mids don’t get lost at all. Granted these won’t pack the same level of punch as a much pricier pair, nor will you be able to hear every inch of the track, but all things considered we were impressed at the quality of the sound. You won’t get noise cancelling here though, which is a shame, but the sound isolation they
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provide is actually quite good because of how securely they fit. On the Sony Headphones app you can adjust the volume level and change your settings. The app will also take you through a process whereby it snaps shots of your ears and uses that info to optimise the 360 Reality Audio feature. Plus, you can choose between a few different preset sound modes like Bright, Excited, Mellow, Treble Boost and Bass Boost. If you’d prefer, you can manually adjust the equaliser settings as well. There’s also a DSEE switch that restores high-frequency sound and fine fade-out sound so you hear the song more like how it was first recorded. When it comes to battery life, you’ll be able to listen to music for 10 hours straight, and the charging case will then provide an extra 10 hours on top of that - so you’ll get a total of 20 hours of music before plugging the case in, which is fine but we’ve seen better. If you do get caught short, a 10-minute charge gives you an extra hour. The Sony WF-C500 might be basic wireless earbuds but they still offer excellent sound quality, a comfortable fit and manual equaliser settings in an easy-to-use smartphone app. Of course, there are areas where they could be improved, like the fact that Sony could boost the case’s battery life and add noise cancelling to the mix. But those downfalls are ultimately what keeps the price so low and they’re not that significant anyway. Up against other similarly priced headphones, these stand out as some of the best, if not the best.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Excellent sound quality; manual equaliser VHWWLQJV FRPIRUWDEOH ĆW WE’D IMPROVE No noise cancelling; average battery life. THE LAST WORD Fantastic value for money. They sound superb, they’re super comfortable and you can adjust the sound to exactly how you like it. They are basic though – there’s no ANC and just 20 hours of battery with the charging case.
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Tested Nikon Z9
$8,999 nikon.com.au
SERIOUSLY FLASH
Nikon Z9 Demanding image-makers get everything but the kitchen sink, thanks to 1LNRQèV QHZ ćDJVKLS IXOO IUDPH PLUURUOHVV FDPHUD ven when sales of DSLRs flat-lined, Nikon didn’t throw its weight behind mirrorless cameras. Its eventual fightback began with the Z6 and Z7 cameras in 2018 and their second generation ‘Mark II’ versions two years later. But this year’s Nikon Z9 outguns them both and is being pitched as a professional model from the off. Like the existing models in Nikon’s mirrorless ‘Z’ series, the Z9 looks like a professional-grade DSLR that has dropped down a dress size. In addition to the familiar vertical camera grip, there’s a battery grip permanently affixed to the base of the camera, making it easier to maintain a tight hold if turning the Z9 on its side to shoot in an upright, portrait ratio. A full-frame mirrorless camera of course also needs to be a certain size to accommodate the larger format 35mm film frame sized sensor. But, even so, the Z9 is one of the chunkier mirrorless examples we’ve played with. There will be those who are reassured by the extra heft, though. Plus, while it is indeed a chunky example of a mirrorless camera, Nikon insists its body is 20% smaller than its own D6, while, incredibly, exceeding the DSLR’s robustness. The full-frame CMOS sensor at the heart of the Nikon Z9 offers a generous 45.7-megapixels. So who needs such a large resolution? Commercial photographers expecting their images to be reproduced up to billboard size aside, that’s who, along with wildlife and landscape photographers looking to sell gallery prints.
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The Z9 also steps up to the plate in being able to record 8K 30P footage for up to 125 minutes at a time, which at the time of writing is the longest duration available via mirrorless cameras. As this is a pro-targeted mirrorless device, it’s no surprise the Nikon Z9 is lightning fast, whether we’re talking about autofocus acquiring its target or the camera actually taking a shot. This ably proves its worth for wildlife and sports photography, where a fraction of a second can make all the difference between capturing your intended shot, or not. Here autofocus proved faster than human users attempting to make adjustments manually, especially for a subject on the move. This is to a large extent down to the Z9’s generous 493-point autofocus system with 3D tracking, which gifts us capture speeds of up to 120fps with full autofocus and exposure metering. If we’re being picky, and this being a Nikon camera, when we don’t have blue skies and bright days images straight out of the camera can look a little dull and flat at times. Given that this camera offers commercial stills photographers a whopping 45.7MP resolution plus 8K-resolution video with it, even what would be considered a high price tag to most of us mere mortals could be considered something of a bargain. Plus, from construction quality alone the Z9 is a workhorse capable of putting many miles on its clock, so can be viewed as a long term investment as much as the latest must-have piece of tech.
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Tested
Running shoes Whether you’re a rookie runner looking to reach 5K or just wanting to replace your faithful training footwear, we put the best practice shoes through their paces Words: Matt Kollat Photography: Phil Barker
IF THE SHOE FITS
THE HEEL McCOY
HOKA KAWANA
ADIDAS ADISTAR
$259, hoka.com
$200, adidas.com.au
Thanks to its responsive foam and snug fit, the hybrid fitness shoe Hoka Kawana can be used for light cardio training but it’s even better suited for running training, whether it’s jogging or something a bit faster. Considering the shape of the shoes and the technology involved, the Kawana is still very much a running shoe that can also be used for other types of exercise. The main differentiator of the Kawana is that it’s easier on the eyes than some other running trainers.
In a world of superfast running shoes, the Adidas Adistar offer something different. They aren’t for chasing PBs and running until your legs feel numb. Instead, this chunky running trainer will help you appreciate slower, longer runs and conserve your energy so you can exercise longer without wearing down your joints. The Adistar feature a rocker-like shape and dual-density foam that rolls you forward no matter what. They are also sustainable: the stylish upper contains at least 50% Parley Ocean Plastic and 50% recycled polyester.
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Running shoes
unning shoes – or best running trainers, as some people like to call them – are an essential piece of running gear. A decent pair of trainers can not only help you run faster but also reduce injury
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risk and, in some cases, improve running form. Besides, getting a new pair of running shoes can be an excellent motivator to start running for those who find it hard to muster up the energy to go and exercise.
Fortunately, whether you’re a beginner looking for your first pair of running kicks or a seasoned pro trying to replace your completely worn training shoes with the best running trainers, you’ll find the best options here.
FULL BLAST
FOAM RUN
ASICS NOVABLAST 2
NEW BALANCE FRESH FOAM 1080V11
$229, asics.com
$189, newbalance.com.au
Built on the foundation laid by the original Novablast, the ASICS Novablast 2 feature even more foam, more bounce, and increased mid-foot width, among other things. The wizards at ASICS found a way to add more substance to the shoes without ruining the running experience. You have more foam but also more control. More bounce but also more stability. The ASICS Novablast 2 is hands down a better version of its predecessor, and it runs smoother, bounces better and offers more control over your stride.
When we first tried the Fresh Foam 1080v11, we couldn’t believe just how soft they are. The updated Hypoknit upper is lighter and more breathable, but thankfully, it hasn’t lost its supportive properties. We would have appreciated a bit more support on the lateral side but this isn’t a deal-breaker. The Fresh Foam midsole lives up to its reputation and provides premium, super-soft cushioning underfoot. There is still a lot of bounce in these shoes, regardless of the modest stack height.
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W I N T E R 2 0 2 2 T3 9 3
Best of the best
SMARTPHONES Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/au/bestphone APPLE iPHONE 13 From $1,199, apple.com/au The iPhone 13 takes smartphone quality DQG UHĆQHPHQW WR D whole new level. For most people it will be the ideal companion, DbSRZHUIXO DOO URXQGHU that delivers a great experience across WKHbERDUG
CHEAP SMARTPHONES
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/au/bestcheapphone iPHONE SE (2020)
From $719, apple.com/au $ QHDU ćDJVKLS iPhone experience IRU D IUDFWLRQ RI the cost. The SE is XQGHU KDOI WKH FRVW RI WKH L3KRQH DQG IRU WKDW UHDVRQ it demands attention IURP DQ\bSURVSHFWLYH phone upgrader.
ONEPLUS 9 PRO
ONEPLUS NORD 2
From $939, oneplus.com Very much an HYROXWLRQ RI WKH OnePlus 8 Pro, with a similar design and iterative specs bump IRU WKLV \HDU WKH OnePlus 9 Pro has doubled down on the camera. And the results are excellent.
From $584, oneplus.com 7KLV IROORZV RQ IURP WKH LPPHQVHO\ SRSXODU ĆUVW generation Nord ZLWK HYHQ IDVWHU speeds, an even bigger battery and HYHQ PRUH IHDWXUHV 3HUIRUPDQFH ZLVH it’s a marvel.
iPHONE SE (2020)
SAMSUNG GALAXY S20 FE
From $719, apple.com/au Apple’s iPhone SE (2020) handset has taken this year by storm, the hot new handset winning acclaim worldwide ZLWK LWV EDODQFH RI IHDWXUHV TXDOLW\ DQG SHUIRUPDQFH IRU D very attractive price.
SAMSUNG GALAXY S22 ULTRA From $1,997, samsung.com Combining everything we loved about the Galaxy Note series ZLWK WKH VSHFV IURP the Galaxy S series, the S22 Ultra has an S 3HQ D LQFK VFUHHQ D WRS WLHU FDPHUD and internal storage options up to 1TB.
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From $799, samsung.com The best core S20 IXQFWLRQDOLW\ DORQJ with 5G, but at a PRUH DIIRUGDEOH price point, this is actually nothing like a budget handset, as it is still loaded with premium hardware DQG IHDWXUHV
HONOR 50 From $690, hihonor.com 7KLV ORRNV DQG IHHOV like a premium handset, covered in glossy glass and IHDWXULQJ D FXUYHG OLED screen on the IURQW 7KHUHèV HYHQ D PD[LPXP UHIUHVK UDWH RI +] VR LW IHHOV VR smooth to use.
SMARTWATCHES Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/au/bestsmartwatch APPLE WATCH SERIES 7 From $599, apple.com/au Apple is king when it comes to smartwatches. The Series 7 includes a bigger, better screen, DQG IDVW FKDUJLQJ ,WèVbVWLOO WKH RQO\ device to straddle WKHbOLQH EHWZHHQ WHFKbDQG IDVKLRQ SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH 4 From $399, samsung.com A modern, stylish take on a smartwatch – it’s VOLP FRPIRUWDEOH DQG able to withstand knocks and bumps. 3OXV LWèV ZDWHUSURRI The only downside KHUH LV EDWWHU\ OLIH DW 40 hours it’s not the ORQJHVW ODVWLQJ
SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH ACTIVE2 From $449, samsung.com 6OHHN DQG SRZHUIXO this is the best VPDUWZDWFK IRU Android users. The screen and design are on par with the Apple Watch, while D FROOHFWLRQ RI QHZ ZDWFK IDFHV JLYH LW DbPRGHUQ HGJH
APPLE WATCH SE From $429, apple.com/au Despite being the çDIIRUGDEOHè VPDUW ZDWFK IURP $SSOH WKH SE is a truly excellent smartwatch. You ZRQèW QRWLFH LI $SSOH has cut corners in JHQHUDO XVH DV LW IHHOV OLNH WKH IXOO $SSOH Watch experience.
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Best of the best
HYBRID SMARTWATCHES
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/au/besthybrid
WITHINGS STEEL HR SPORT $289, withings.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
WATCHES Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/au/bestwatch AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK CHRONOGRAPH $28,500, audemarspiguet.com We love Audemars 3LJXHWèV VLPSOH stainless steel model with a blue Grand Tapisserie pattern GLDO ,W IHDWXUHV D VHOI winding manufacture calibre 2385 movement with a 40KRXU SRZHU UHVHUYH
GARMIN VIVOMOVE HR PREMIUM
BAMFORD LONDON MAYFAIR DATE
$499, garmin.com
$852, bamfordlondon.com The Bamford Mayfair Date is dependable and has the added EHQHĆW RI EHLQJ waterproof to $70 PDNLQJ LW D great accessory for outdoor activities whilst remaining cool DQG VW\OLVK
One of the most comprehensive hybrid watches you can buy, with a wide range of ĆWQHVV DQG KHDOWK tracking features, a subtle touchscreen digital display, and several different FRORXUV WR SLFN IURP
FOSSIL HYBRID SMARTWATCH HR $329, fossil.com 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
BAUME SMALL SECONDS $TBC, baume-et-mercier.com Baume uses sustainable and recycled materials where possible, and its elegant watches are fully customisable, with over 2,000 permutations achievable on an RQOLQH FRQĆJXUDWRU
BELL & ROSS BR03-92 NIGHTLUM $4,900, bellross.com
$299, withings.com Think a pricey Apple Watch is needed to take an ECG reading of your heart? This can do that, plus activity tracking and sleep monitoring, ZLWKbD PRQWK battery life, for a UHDOO\ ORZ SULFH
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No complicated bells and whistles here; the BR03-92 has its roots in aviation, a heritage the folks at B&R have clearly channelled LQWR WKH %5 èV straightforward, seconds-minutesKRXUV GDWH GHVLJQ
WATCHES UNDER $2,000
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/au/bestwatch CHRISTOPHER WARD C60 SAPPHIRE
$1,760, christopherward.com Striking, bold designs really set this British 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 $550, victorinox.com +DYLQJ XQGHUJRQH GXUDELOLW\ 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 $618, hamiltonwatch.com This is a faithful recreation of its RULJLQDO V 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 $1,850, tagheuer.com 7KLV ) WLPHSLHFH 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
W I N T E R 2 0 2 2 T3 9 5
Best of the best
GAMING TVs Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/au/bestgamingtv LG C1
GAMES CONSOLES
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/au/gaming PLAYSTATION 5
From $2,795, lg.com You still get 4K 120Hz, VRR and ALLM on all four HDMI ports, and a great low input lag level, but you can also now customise the gaming mode depending on what you’re playing.
SAMSUNG Q80A
SONY X85J
From $599, 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.
$749, xbox.com
$695, hisense.com
$499, nintendo.com How easily you can switch between playing on your TV to gaming on the go hasn’t changed. What has changed is that bigger, brighter screen; it makes handheld gaming much more enjoyable.
$499, xbox.com The A6G features HDR10+ and Dolby Vision HDR, and supports VRR and ALLM on all three HDMI 2.1 inputs. You get eARC, Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet, CI Card and RF too. Even composite video.
9 6 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 2
SONOS BEAM 2
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.
MICROSOFT XBOX SERIES S
HISENSE 55A6G
$1,499, samsung.com Delivering over 600W of power from 22 different drivers, this really brings the cinema experience home, yet still retains all the size and convenience advantages of owning a soundbar.
$699, sonos.com
NINTENDO SWITCH OLED
From $1,480, sony.com If you’re looking for an HDMI 2.1 gaming TV that won’t break the bank, this is it – and it’s one of the few gaming TVs that’s available in a 43-inch variant, which is handy if you don’t have much room.
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/au/bestsoundbar SAMSUNG HW-Q950A
MICROSOFT XBOX SERIES X
From $1,995, samsung.com QLED at a more affordable price. There’s one HDMI 2.1 port, with support for VRR, 4K 120Hz and ALLM, plus three 2.0 ports. Image quality is really strong, and it really punches above its price range.
SOUNDBARS
A superb soundbar that’s small enough WR ĆW XQGHU HYHQ D 32-inch TV but big HQRXJK WR ĆOO \RXU room with brilliant sound. This version adds Dolby Atmos, and improved onboard processing.
SAMSUNG HW-Q800A $1,250, samsung.com Our top mid-range soundbar right now strikes just the right balance between being a big audio upgrade, being useful with most TVs, and a good price. It’s a hard target to hit, and the Samsung excels.
SONY HT-G700 $499, sony.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.
An excellent package that makes it easy to recommend – it JLYHV \RX VLJQLĆFDQWO\ more spectacular directional audio than budget soundbars, and you need to spend double to really improve on this.
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Best of the best
LAPTOPS Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/au/bestlaptop APPLE MACBOOK AIR (M1, 2020) From $1,499, apple.com/au 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.
2-IN-1 LAPTOPS
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/au/best2in1
Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/au/besttablet
ASUS ZENBOOK FLIP 13
APPLE iPAD AIR (2022) $TBA, apple.com/au
$1,895, asus.com The Zenbook Flip PLJKW EH WKH EHVW 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
$1,512, asus.com
$2,498, 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)
HP ELITE DRAGONFLY G2 $2,999, hp.com
$2,698, dell.com 7KH 'HOO ;36 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
MACBOOK PRO (M1) 2021 From $2,999, apple.com/au $YDLODEOH DV D LQFK RU LQFK ODSWRS ZLWK HLWKHU WKH 0 3UR RU 0 0D[ FKLS 0DFERRN 3URV RIIHU WRS OHYHO SHUIRUPDQFH and yet hugely impressive battery life. The very best Apple has to offer.
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TABLETS
A seriously impressive ODSWRS å LWèV IDVWHU more premium and even nicer to use than WKH ĆUVW JHQHUDWLRQ RI WKH 3& WKH +3 (OLWH 'UDJRQć\ DQG WKDWèV saying something. Versatile and transportable.
MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO 8 From $1,548, microsoft.com $Q\RQH ZKR QHHGV versatility and portability should consider the 0LFURVRIW 6XUIDFH Pro 8. If you buy the optional Surface Type &RYHU LW ZRUNV MXVW DV ZHOO DV D WDEOHW DV LW does a laptop.
$ VHULRXVO\ SRZHUIXO SLHFH RI NLW WKH L3DG $LU IHDWXUHV $SSOHèV 0 FKLSVHW and the upgrade really VKRZV <RX FDQ SUHWW\ much do anything and everything on WKLVbLQFUHGLEOH WDEOHW ,WèV MXVW ULJKW APPLE iPAD 10.2 (2021) From $499, apple.com/au 7KH FKHDSHVW IXOO size Apple tablet has evolved in some UHDOO\ XVHIXO ZD\V The storage options have been increased WR *% RU *% ZKLOH WKH SURFHVVRU has been boosted to WKH ]LSS\ $ %LRQLF
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S5E From $399, samsung.com This is Samsung’s QHZHVW WDEOHW DQG if your needs aren’t that demanding and \RX ZDQW D ZHOO EXLOW $QGURLG WDEOHW ZLWK DQ H[FHOOHQW VFUHHQ LW GHĆQLWHO\ VWDQGV out as one of the best WDEOHWV RI
APPLE iPAD MINI (2021) From $749, apple.com/au $ OLWWOH SRZHUKRXVH of a tablet and a fantastic creativity PDFKLQH SDFNLQJ LQ an incredibly fast $SSOH $ SURFHVVRU that makes it the PRVW SRZHUIXO L3DG RXWVLGH RI WKH 3URV remarkably.
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LUXURIES Exclusive gifts to seriously spoil yourself
R E S S ENC E T Y PE-8 Generally speaking, the more clutter and complications a watch has, the more luxury a timepiece it’s considered to be. Flying in the face of this, Ressence has increasingly been streamlining its high-end watches, finding more elegant ways to communicate the time without unnecessary details. The natural conclusion of this process is the Type-8. Like previous Ressence timepieces, it features rotating dials rather than hands but strips out any other complications, offering a delightfully minimalist face. Its convex sapphire glass front accentuates the Type-8’s domed face, while its grade-5 titanium case offers an incredibly robust body with a featherlight weight of 42 grams. And its simplicity extends even to the way you wind it: rather than a crown, it is set and wound via its case back, helping it to maintain that sleek shape. ~$18,000, ressencewatches.com
NEXT ISSUE IS ON SALE MONDAY 1ST AUGUST 9 8 T3 W I N T E R 2 0 2 2
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GAIA SPEAKER ISOLATORS The GAIA isolators consist of acoustic isolators contained within an elegant machined dark chrome metal housing. Incorporating IsoAcoustics patented design principles, the GAIA’s provides a high degree of isolation while resisting lateral movement and oscillations to maintain alignment with the listening position. ,QWHUQDO UHƮHFWLRQV IURP WKH KDUG VXSSRUWLQJ VXUIDFH DUH attenuated resulting in greater sound clarity and openness. The GAIA’s will reveal clarity and openness from your speakers like you’ve never heard. The art and science of great sound.
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isoacoustics.com.au
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