Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2017 i T3

Emma Boyle, games expert By day, Emma writes for our friends at techradar.com – by… also day, actually, she went to E3 to report on the new Xbox One X for us on p51, and give her verdict on whether it’s worth your time. Chris Barnes, action man Chris believed he could fly, so we strapped him to some water jet boots that propelled him into the air, then got him to write about it for Man vs Tech on p78, along with some other water-friendly tech. Becca Caddy, tech guru Becca’s an expert in the quantified self (and has the data to prove it), so we put her to work finding out how to get fit and track your progress with the right kit. See the results on p85.…

$699 (£543), essential.com Hey, I’ve heard about this. It’s linked to Andy Rubin, right? Indeed! The Essential PH-1 is the debut smartphone from Android co-creator Andy Rubin’s Essential company. The handset is made from a combination of ceramic and titanium, and has a 5.71-inch 2560x1312 QHD edge-toedge display with almost no visible bezel. Essential calls it the Full Display. It’s quite minimalist-looking, isn’t it? Agreed. There’s a slim bezel at the bottom of the phone, with a cut-out at the top for the frontfacing camera. At the back there’s a fingerprint scanner and a rear camera. There’s nothing else. Not even a logo. Intriguing. Tell me more about the camera. According to Essential, the PH-1 has the world’s thinnest dual-camera system built for a smartphone. There’s an 8MP front-facing camera…

£999.99, pioneer-audiovisual.eu Nice cans. What’s the story here? The SE-Monitor5 is Pioneer’s new fully enclosed, dynamic stereo, on-ear headphones. It delivers high-res audio performance and is packaged with three sets of detachable audio cables – both balanced and unbalanced. Pioneer reckons these headphones will “convey music’s emotional intent for a listening experience that moves mind and soul”. Deep stuff. Indeed, but we’re talking nearly a grand for headphones. You get what you pay for, and the SE-Monitor5 is modelled after Pioneer’s flagship SE-Master1 reference-grade headphones. Pioneer also explored new materials for the SE-Monitor5’s 50mm, full-range drive unit, creating a unique driver profile from Cellulose Nano-Fibres (formed from refined organic wood pulp) to minimise unwanted resonance. Reckon they’ll sound good? Yep. The SE-Monitor5 has a patented Double Headphone Chamber arrangement, consisting of…

1 ROOMS To play music on a single room speaker, tap it and select a song. Each time you select a room, the Now Playing tab will change. To group rooms, hold down on one and drop it onto another room. To group all rooms at once, pinch your fingers together. 2 MUSIC When you want to change the song playing on a room or group of rooms, tap that room or group, hit the Music tab and choose the music source you’d like to listen from, whether it’s Spotify or a USB drive. In Favourites, you can access songs you’ve starred. 3 NOW PLAYING Hit this tab and you’ll see which song is playing. In the top-right corner, the Queue button shows you all the songs waiting to play.…

01 ZINC BROOKLYN TABLE This petite creation, with folding black iron legs and a wipe-clean zinc top, is just the ticket for displaying your turntable and some vertically stacked vinyls. From £199, ovohome.com 02 17 PATTERNS BLOTTO NAVY CUSHION Add some contemporary design to a room with this feather-filled, cotton velvet-covered cushion, featuring a digitally reproduced watercolour painting by British artist Paris. Available in rectangular and large square sizes. From £70, luxdeco.com 03 ANTIQUED GREY GLASS HURRICANE Cast a stormy glow around your home with an artificially antiqued glass hurricane lantern. Part of a four-strong collection, this mediumsized hurricane has a pattern that, when lit, resembles a Birch trunk. £14, abodeliving.co.uk 04 LA CAFETIERE ORIGINS LE TEAPOT Featuring a heatresistant glass beaker and stainless steel frame, Le Teapot can be…

There’s a new member of the Xbox family of consoles: the Xbox One X. When it’s released on 7 November this year, it’ll be the most powerful 4K console on the market. But don’t mistake it as the start of a new console generation; Microsoft is calling this a midgenerational upgrade. This means that the One X won’t have any hardware-exclusive games, and 4K-supported games that are created for it will also have to be playable on the current Xbox One S. If it plays all the same games, what’s the point in choosing the Xbox One X over its predecessors? Well, it’s significantly more powerful and that brings benefits. The most lauded feature of the Xbox One X is that it’s capable of rendering top-end games at a native…

CRACKDOWN 3 Crackdown is a series known for destructive chaos, and its third instalment looks like it’ll be no different. Starring Terry Crews as Commander Jaxon, the game will invite players into a sandbox world in which all environments are completely destructible. That’ll look great in 4K. FORZA MOTORSPORT 7 Forza is one of the most popular racing franchises in the world for good reason. For this latest outing around the track, it’ll be boasting stunning 4K HDR visuals running at 60 frames per second, as well as more than 700 cars and 30 locations. You’ll almost think you were in the driving seat yourself. ORI AND THE WILL OF THE WISPS A sequel to the multi-award winning Ori and the Blind Forest, Ori and the Will of the Wisps…

If you want to lose weight, our personal trainers agree that you need to forget most of the things you think you know about shedding the pounds. Instead of crash dieting or intense exercise, a slow and steady approach that impacts all areas of your life is the key to success. Dan Chapman recommends focusing on fat loss, not weight loss. He told us: “The key to a better body is fat loss through sustainable balanced eating, resistance training and some cardio or HIIT two or three times a week.” • TomTom Touch Cardio & Body Composition Tracker It may look like a run-ofthe- mill tracker, but it’s perfect for weight loss because you can set goals, monitor your heart rate and measure your body fat and muscle mass. £99.99,…

Stay up to date with the latest gadget news and reviews online at t3.com IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR THE VERY BEST TECH AVAILABLE TODAY, YOU HAVE DEFINITELY COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE. T3 Elite is the best gadget-buying guide you will ever encounter. To create it, we’ve ruthlessly filtered all the categories that count, to bring you rock-solid recommendations. We’ve selected a Super Six of elite gear for each of the categories listed below. If something’s not included, we don’t rate it – it’s that simple. Each Super Six is ranked in order, and the number-one product makes it into The Elite (p104), which is our pick of the 12 best products you can buy today. To make your next purchase as straightforward as possible, we’ve also included useful buying…

01 SAMSUNG GALAXY S8/S8+ samsung.com PRICE From £689 TESTED T3 269 The S8 is a leap forward for phones. It looks amazing, runs like a dream, and is packed with fantastic features. T3 SAYS A stunning design, powerful, gorgeous screen… Samsung nailed it. 02 SONY XPERIA XZ PREMIUM sonymobile.com PRICE From £649 TESTED T3 271 An amazing 4K HDR screen, brilliant camera with 960FPS slo-mo recording, and speedy processor make this one advanced phone. T3 SAYS Want the coolest and latest tech in your phone? Sony’s got you covered. 03 iPHONE 7/7 PLUS apple.com/uk PRICE From £599 TESTED T3 262 Water resistance, great haptic feedback and an amazing camera set-up are just some of the features on Apple’s stunning new releases. Expensive but brilliant. T3 SAYS If you can get…

01 ROKU 3 roku.com PRICE £63.69 TESTED T3 240 Between the high amount of content available, a responsive interface and a remote with a built-in audio jack for private listening, there’s simply no better player. T3 SAYS The Roku 3 is the best choice for freedom of entertainment. 02 PANASONIC DMP-UB900 panasonic.co.uk PRICE £437.73 TESTED T3 257 This 4K Blu-ray flagship player dazzles with UHD HDR – you get awesome images and audio via 4K Blu-ray discs, with access to 4K Netflix and Amazon Instant Video. T3 SAYS Take movie-viewing to the next level with Panasonic’s 4K Blu-ray player. 03 GOOGLE CHROMECAST google.com PRICE £30 TESTED T3 252 A simple yet brilliant TV-streaming gadget that can do it all – and that includes casting a screen straight from your gadgets.…

01 CANON EOS 77D canon.co.uk PRICE From £919.99 TESTED T3 271 Want to take your photos to the next level? The 77D produces impressive image results, swift auto-focusing and great ergonomics. It also comes with a handy top-level LCD. T3 SAYS T3’s top choice for pro-quality DSLRs under £1000, the 77D does it all. 02 PANASONIC LUMIX GX80 panasonic.co.uk PRICE £549 TESTED T3 260 With top-class image results, brilliant build quality and handling, not to mention an extensive range of features, you get a lot for your money with this Panasonic. T3 SAYS In terms of bang for your buck, the Lumix GX80 is the best retro-styled CSC. 03 GOPRO HERO 5 BLACK gopro.com PRICE £399.99 TESTED T3 268 The caseless GoPro has clear 4K/30fps video (with 2.7k/60fps for best…

01 AKG N40 uk.akg.com PRICE £349.99 TESTED T3 265 With top-notch sound, comfort and quality, and a personalised listening experience thanks to exchangeable filters that let you tune your audio, you won’t find a better pair of in-ear headphones for the price. T3 SAYS Ideal in-ears for audio enthusiasts. 02 STEELSERIES SIBERIA 840 steelseries.com PRICE £299.99 TESTED T3 265 A high-end wireless gaming headset with optical audio for premium sound quality, plus a superb fit and finish. Suitable for all gamers, whether you play PC, Xbox or PS4. T3 SAYS The ultimate gaming headset. 03 SHURE SE846 shure.co.uk PRICE £586 TESTED T3 255 Four balanced-armature drivers and ‘True Subwoofer’ tech offer supreme sound, while the light, ergonomic bodywork and stiff over-ear cables give great comfort. T3 SAYS The Rolls-Royce of…

Matt Bolton EDITOR Matt’s been pretty obsessed with the new iPad Pro since he got his hands on it (p73) – it’s probably a good thing he finished our summer tech feature (p43) before he stopped leaving the house… Jo Gulliver SENIOR ART EDITOR Jo’s main technology focus this month has been her quiet fury at ticket-selling websites. Still, she’s going to see some of her favourite shouty guitar men and beardy drummers. Yay! Andrew Westbrook OPERATIONS EDITOR Andy went to Glasto, so he combined our outdoor gear tips and our funky bright t-shirt picks (p19) to good effect. Maybe you saw him on TV! He was the one in the, uh, middle of the crowd? Nick Odantzis DEPUTY EDITOR Having created an elaborate multi-room system to write a guide…

£649.99, buy.garmin.com I’m guessing this is a camera? You guess correctly – the Garmin Virb 360 is a waterproof, adventureready, 360-degree camera capable of capturing super-high-res video and 15MP stills (extracted from unstitched 5.7K-res video). Whoa! Tell me more. Easy there. The Virb 360 records up to 5.7K/30fps unstitched and 4K/30fps with in-camera stitching of the 360-degree footage. It has four built-in mics to capture surround audio, with three modes of 4K spherical stabilisation ensuring smooth footage no matter how much the camera moves. So does this mean I can take it white-water rafting? The Virb 360 is waterproof to 10 metres. That spherical stabilisation tech we mentioned will smooth quick movements and reduce vibration, with the camera seeing what you see, capturing a complete sphere (horizontally and vertically) of high-res video…

01 HOWLIN’ SPACE ECHO SLUB T-SHIRT New from the Antwerp-based label, this box-fresh tee uses a soft-touch slub cotton and linen-blend jersey material that’s comfortable, lightweight and breathable in warm weather. Wear it with stone-coloured chinos and dark brown penny loafers (but ones that have a sporty rubber sole, natch) for instant, laid-back summer tailoring. £70, mrporter.com 02 POLO RALPH LAUREN CUSTOM FIT POCKET T-SHIRT Available in 15 colours, including the vintage-feel Banana Peel yellow, Ralph Lauren’s new summer tee, crafted from lightweight cotton jersey and factory washed for a weathered look, is perfect for retro-sports tailoring. The Custom Fit Pocket T-Shirt also has a crew neckline, short sleeves and a patch pocket with that signature polo pony motif. £45, johnlewis.com 03 PINK EMBROIDERED MUSCLE FIT ROLLER T-SHIRT Here’s a…

A number of you – the specific number being one – have written to Guru to complain about his prescient promotion of fidget gadgets a number of months ago. Let it be made clear: while GaGu is amused that he was ahead of the curve on the practical benefits of the newest irritating kid-magnet, he takes no responsibility for the recent explosion of tweenage fingerfiddlers. Besides, Guru’s brood has already tossed theirs into the box full of yo-yos and Pogs ready for the next craze to hit. What’ll it be? GaGu’s money is on a resurgence of battling spinning tops – invest in illegal Beyblades today! Following a regrettable incident which combined a loose pocket, Guru’s high-end Bluetooth ear buds and a busy road, GaGu has been forced to seek…

1 PLACE A SPEAKER Each HEOS speaker must be set up individually. Place your first speaker in its room, power it on and get the HEOS app from your mobile device’s respective store. Now you’re ready to connect it to your Wi-Fi network. If you’re planning to use a wired network, plug in the Ethernet cable to add each speaker to your network. 2 START INSTALLING Continuing with the wireless installation, first make sure your mobile device is connected to your Wi-Fi. Then, go into the HEOS app and tap the ‘Setup Now’ button on screen. In the first step you’ll need to connect one end of the audio cable that’s included into the speaker and the other end into your mobile device. 3 FIND YOUR NETWORK Now, press the…

THE EXPERTS There’s nothing these lot don’t know about smart homes MATT BOLTON T3’s editor and wireless home fanatic, Matt is obsessed with all things TV and home streaming, as well as home monitoring, from temperature to weather to energy usage. NICK ODANTZIS Paranoia has taken hold of deputy editor Nick, and therefore he’s become a smart home-security expert. He has no fewer than 11 connected cameras dotted around his house. CLAIRE DAVIES Sleep expert Claire knows all about wellbeing tech and keeping yourself healthy around the house. She also knows more than is healthy about kitchen gadgets! DUNCAN BELL Lifestyle editor Duncan is a connectedhome – and multi-roomaudio – expert, and can advise on everything from setting up your Sonos to getting Amazon Echo to order you a puppy.…

When it comes to consoles, the Xbox One X is far from your only option. Microsoft’s latest is a topof- the-line gaming experience and that’s not something that everyone needs. If you want to stay within the Xbox family, and you’re content with upscaled 4K rather than native 4K, the Xbox One S (£190) is an excellent and highly affordable option that will play all the same games as the new Xbox One X. Another option in the 4K console category is Sony’s PS4 Pro (£349). Though it’s not as impressive as the new Xbox One X in terms of raw power, the PS4 Pro is a console that’s capable of both native and upscaled 4K output. It’s also costs around £100 less. Another thing to consider with the PS4…

If you’ve read this far and are seriously considering buying a digital SLR, image quality is going to be your chief concern: ultimately your desire is to be taking pictures that look closer on screen and in print to what the professionals achieve. Happily, none of the cameras featured are slouches. For general photography we’ve always loved the look of the images straight out of Pentax cameras and the K-70 doesn’t disappoint. If your hobby is nature and landscape photography – or you’re travelling to somewhere with arresting colours like Cuba – it’s well suited to delivering lush greens and deep blues, and that weather resistant body is a bonus for outside shooting. The Nikon delivers a more natural look straight out of the camera, which is perfectly suitable when…

“Hey Siri, who played the drums on this song?” “Hey Siri, set up for a house party” “Hey Siri, dim the lights then play some Van Morrison” Ever since it launched in 2011, Siri has been confined to Apple smartphones and computers, unable to break free in the way Amazon’s digital assistant Alexa or Google’s Assistant have. But now, nearly six years on from its debut, Siri is finally moving into living rooms via the HomePod, a Siri-powered, voice-controlled Wi-Fi speaker with an A8 chip for brains. SIRI MEETS SUPER SPEAKERS Apple’s new toy (shipping this December for £349) is crammed with seven beam-forming tweeters and an upward-firing woofer, designed to project a sound tailored to the size of room it’s placed in. As much as it seems like a…

1 ZAPATA 2017 FLYBOARD PRO For the ultimate aquatic buzz, strap this jetski-powered gizmo to your feet. Simply clip into the ’board’s snowboardstyle bindings and let the twin jets of water rocket you out of the drink, up to 30 feet in the air. The jetski is not included, obviously. From £4,550, aquaticjetpacks.com 2 2017 SEADOO GTI The classic water thrill ride packs more tech than ever. The GTI’s Intelligent Brake and Reverse system enables control, while the smart Learning Key limits speed. In the power department, an 899cc four-stroke engine delivers white knuckle acceleration. From £8,439, sea-doo.com 3 GARMIN FENIX 5X The Fenix 5X is for hikers, bikers, triathletes and more. It’s waterproof to 100m, comes pre-loaded with activity profiles for most sports and full-colour TOPO maps for exploring…

If you don’t have access to a gym, fear not. Julia Buckley tells us there are strength training exercises you can easily do without weights or machines that’ll burn fat and build muscle mass. The key to overall progress is making changes depending on how easy you find the exercises. She explains: “Beginners should do supported modifications, like press-ups with bent knees, but as that becomes easier, you can make things harder. Like a full press-up or a single arm press-up.” SEVEN APP This app shows you bodyweight and cardio exercises to follow with a countdown timer. You don’t have to think about what comes next or staying motivated - no excuses! MOOV NOW A tracker and fitness coach all-in-one, you get real-time audio feedback whether you’re running or swimming,…

We’ll cut to the chase right away: the Sony Xperia XZ Premium is an excellent flagship smartphone. It gets the core components of a top-end handset right, from its stunning display and premium performance, to the fantastic camera and robust battery life. This is the best phone Sony has made in a long time, and one which will please loyal fans of the brand. It’s packed full of features, including the world’s only 4K HDR smartphone screen, as well as a 960FPS slow-motion camera, high-res audio and a heap of power. YOU’VE GOT TO SEE THIS Let’s kick off with the phone’s main attraction – the 5.46-inch 4K, HDR display. You won’t find this screen on any other smartphone – it has a higher resolution than the iPhone, Galaxy S8,…

01 SWIFT PLAYGROUNDS Apple’s own app is a great place to start for aspiring coders of any age who have zero experience. It teaches tech coding concepts with simple and fun lessons. Free, App Store (iPad) 02 UDACITY This covers a plethora of languages, as well as data science and artificial intelligence – ideal for those wanting to learn a broad range of coding skills. Free, App Store, Google Play 03 CODEA If you want to build full-fledged apps right on an iPad, this is for you. There are lots of example projects to dissect and help you learn your way around. £14.99, App Store (iPad) 04 CODA This is a full-featured text editor that supports a variety of coding languages, with syntax highlighting, a rich snippet system and even…

01 APPLE iPAD PRO apple.com/uk PRICE From £619 TESTED T3 271 Both the 10.5- and 12.9-inch models offer a stunning 120Hz HDR screen, with laptopbeating processing power, and the best mobile sketching tool in Apple Pencil. T3 SAYS A near-faultless tablet that can be a true laptop replacement with iOS 11. 02 APPLE iPAD (5TH-GEN) apple.com/uk PRICE From £339 TESTED T3 269 Apple’s 9.7-inch tablet has a striking display, lots of speed, superb battery life, phenomenal app support, and top-notch build quality, all for a seriously good price. T3 SAYS An ideal family tablet for light apps and media – quality at a great price. 03 GOOGLE PIXEL C pixel.google.com PRICE £299.99 TESTED N/A Probably the best Android tablet you can buy today, with a fabulous display, stacks of power…

Samsung QE75Q8C Combining Samsung’s QLED technology with its Precision Black Pro contrast for a super-wide colour reproduction, this curved panel integrates 4K upscaling, a teeny bezel and a super-thin optical cable so you can hide your device connections out of sight. £5,899, samsung.com Sony Bravia 75XE9005 Sony’s push is for range, range, range. This flat screen – which features the company’s X1 picture processor – certainly doesn’t skimp on colour depth or contrast, and its LED backlighting and 4K upscaler means you can enjoy a brighter, sharper picture than most. £4,499, sony.com Loewe Reference 75 One for the more well-off amongst us, perhaps, but you can’t deny the beauty of Loewe’s 4K picture. Even at a couple of years old this is among the finest TVs around, with timeless design,…

Airtame Plug this tiny dongle into an HDMI socket, connect it to your Wi-fi network, and you can beam your computer desktop or phone to it wirelessly. Don’t expect massive fidelity unless you’re rocking an incredible network – but for sheer convenience it can’t be beat. £270, airtame.com Cable Matters USB 3.0 to HDMI Adapter If you’ve run out of monitor outputs, connect that extra screen at 1080p resolution via a USB 3.0 port. Don’t be fooled by cheaper models – grab something DisplayLink certified like this dongle to ensure full compatibility with Windows 10 and macOS. £46.99, cablematters.com Optoma WHD200 Projectors and TVs can be in the most awkward spots. Show them who’s boss with this full HD video and audio transmitter and receiver, which beams an HDMI signal…

Pro-Ject Essential 2 Matte black and innominate, onlookers wouldn’t guess that this disc-spinner cost so little, particularly once they hear the warm sound coming from its one-piece aluminium tonearm and Ortofon OM5e cartridge. There’s a low-vibration brushless motor, too. £179, project-audio.com Miniot Wheel No tone arm. No visible controls. Just a wheel that plays records either horizontally or vertically. With a hidden stylus connected to an AudioTechnica AT95E cartridge, a similarly clandestine tonearm, and wireless audio compatibility, this is next-level stuff. £565 (pre-order), miniot.com U-turn Orbit Plus The gorgeous clear acrylic platter and outer-rim external drive belt will make you want to just admire the hardware here, but there’s quality sound on offer too. That belt drive is consistent and flutter free, and the OM5e cartridge and diamond stylus top…

01 APPLE WATCH SERIES 2 apple.com/uk PRICE From £369 TESTED T3 262 Apple’s wearable now packs GPS, water resistance for swim tracking, and even more styles – not to mention the ace watchOS 3, which keeps everything ticking over. T3 SAYS Apple has nailed it this time – the Series 2 is the best smartwatch around. 02 MONDAINE HELVETICA 1 mondaine.com PRICE £650 Tested T3 259 The Helvetica 1 is stunning on the wrist and packed with smarts, including fitness and sleep tracking contained within a sub-dial at the bottom – though further notifications can be found within the phone app. T3 SAYS A stunning and smart timepiece. 03 APPLE WATCH apple.com/uk PRICE From £269 TESTED T3 242 Recently superseded by the superior second-generation Watch, Apple’s original wearable still has…

01 NETATMO PRESENCE netatmo.com PRICE £249.99 TESTED T3 264 The smartest outdoor security camera around, Netatmo’s Presence offers people/ car/animal detection, to minimise false alarms (ie the light only comes on when it matters). 1080p video is top-notch, too. T3 SAYS The perfect cam for mean streets. 02 HONEYWELL EVO getconnected.honeywell.com PRICE From £249 TESTED T3 264 The Evo might not be quite as en vogue as a modern thermostat, but it’s very smart. Standout features include a huge TFT touchscreen and an app that gives you fine control over every radiator in your home. T3 SAYS The smartest way to heat a home. 03 PLAYSTATION 4 PRO sony.co.uk PRICE £349 TESTED T3 264 The standard PS4 looks snazzier, but the Pro has it beat elsewhere. It delivers life-like 4K…

EE Car Wi-fi Back seat passengers can stream media to their heart’s content – provided you’re in 4G range and within your data plan – with this dongle in your 12V socket. A great way to get Wi-Fi-only devices connected when you’re on the move, no long-term contract required. From £12/month, ee.com Bamett Auto Purifier What you get up to in the privacy of your own car is your business. But make sure you’re polite and clear the air before your passengers climb in: Bamett’s clever box includes an air quality sensor, three kinds of filter and a negative ion generator for ultimate purity. £49.99, amazon.co.uk Silverline Silverstorm We’ve all been there; indulging in our favourite gadgets, blaring the stereo, draining the battery without even realising it. With a charged…

3 FOR £6! Amazing subs offer on p56 First up, we had Apple make up for a quiet 2016 with a huge round of releases. Pretty much the entire Mac line-up got updated, a brand new iMac Pro was revealed, the iPad Pros took a big leap forward, we saw HomePod (its competitor to Amazon Echo and Google Home – but also Sonos)… and it announced iOS 11 and other software updates too. We’ve got what you need to know on p69, including our review of the iPad Pro – and there’ll be more reviews to come of the rest in future issues. Then we had E3, and the announcement of the new Xbox One X, which is a beefed-up version of Microsoft’s games console. It’s a lot more powerful…

£299, nest.com Hey, T3, Nest already has a security camera. You’re thinking of the Nest Cam Indoor and the Cam Outdoor. The app-controlled Cam IQ is Nest’s latest indoor security camera and, according to Nest, is “the security camera that outsmarts other security cameras”. What makes it so smart? The Cam IQ offers 24/7 live streaming, night vision and high-powered video tech that Nest calls Supersight, which combines a 4K sensor with HDR and intelligent imaging, all backed by a hexa-core Qualcomm processor. It also uses facial recognition tech to tell the difference between who’s welcome in your home and who isn’t. How does it know who’s who? You can programme Nest Aware (monthly subscription fee required) with the faces of anyone who needs regular access to your home without setting alarm…

£519, dji.com Aww, it’s a baby drone! So cute. This mini quadcopter has a lot of features for something so teeny, taking some cues from the bigger DJI Mavic Pro. The Spark is now DJI’s smallest drone, sized to fit in the palm of your hand, from where it can also take off. So it’s beginner-friendly, then? Absolutely. The Spark responds to hand gestures and is controlled via the DJI Go smartphone app (using ‘virtual sticks’, as with the Mavic Pro) when flying, following and shooting. It can also be teamed with an optional controller for advanced flight speeds. I’m not sure I’d like a drone taking off from my hand. The Spark utilises onboard sensors, including Dual GPS/GLONASS, to help it fly safely indoors and outside, before intelligently returning home.…

Andy Warhol got it wrong. In the future, everyone will be famous at 15Mbps How much would you want in return for someone setting up a load of live-streaming cameras in your house, then letting everyone in the world monitor you at all times? How about 200 quid and free broadband? Well, you could run up a big bill otherwise, what with all that video constantly uploading of you in your pants, unblocking the sink. You might very well think, “You know what? Actually I’m all right, mate,” but the offer is there, from an enterprising outfit called CamSoda. It will, subject to certain contractual niceties, set you up with three ‘custombuilt’ webcams, live-streaming in HD quality. Although, actually, it’s only 720p, so not real HD. Now, in the cause…

Check out more highend wireless speakers P98 If you’re the kind of person who’s obsessed with music, and loves to fill your whole house with your favourite tunes, then you’ll love what the HEOS by Denon audio system can do. Each speaker in the system – from the smallest, and most portable HEOS 1 HS2, to the hefty, room-filling HEOS 7 HS2, and even the HEOS HomeCinema soundbar – is wireless, and can be connected to one other to create a multi-room audio system, enabling you to listen to the music on your smart devices in any room in your home. Once your speakers are connected to your Wi-Fi network, you can access them within the HEOS app on your tablet or mobile, and here’s the kicker: you can play…

Gardening Taming the garden is a big summer ritual, but the right tools make it much easier. STIHL’s COMPACT Cordless Power System (stihl.co.uk) includes a hedge trimmer, lawnmower and more, all powered by an interchangeable rechargeable battery. Once you can see your paths again, you’ll probably need to get weeding, which is where the Batavia Maxx Heat (£59.99, batavia.eu) comes in. This heat blaster cooks weeds into submission. Don’t forget the hand protection: Bionic’s Tough Pro (£29.99, bionic-glove.co.uk) gardening gloves are ideal. Now it’s in shape, you’ve got to keep things looking great. A lush lawn needs an automated watering system, and the easiest option is Hozelock’s Cloud Controller Kit (£94, hozelock.com), which sits between your outside tap and your hose to any simple sprinkler system. Use the phone app…

1 4K TV To see the real impact of the visual improvements that the Xbox One X’s hardware offers, you’re going to want a nice juicy 4K TV, ideally with HDR. Panasonic DX802 and Samsung’s KS7000 range are reasonably priced options that will let you appreciate the sharp picture and deep HDR colours capabilties offered by the Xbox One X – check out our Elite pages (p107) for more. 2 SOUND SYSTEM The Xbox One X is a console that supports Dolby Atmos sound, so you’ll want some Atmos-enabled hardware to get the most out of the game-changing (and improving) spatial surround sound. The Onkyo HT-S7700 is a neat solution that delivers a full Dolby Atmos experience without the need to install speakers all around your living room. 3 DUKE…

A Compact yet delivering a very traditional DLR design, Canon’s 77D provides a grip large enough to curl three adult fingers around, whilst our forefinger hovers over the shutter release button located at its topper-most edge; thumb resting on a rear leather effect pad. This makes for a strong, steady hold. While it’s possible to shoot with one hand with eye pressed against the optical viewfinder, it feels more natural for the left hand to rest on the lens barrel – here we were using the bundled 18-55mm image stabilised (‘IS’) zoom – to achieve level horizons. With a blockier design that makes it appear large, until you set it side by side with the in fact similarly sized Canon – Pentax’s K-70 has done well to achieve its compact proportions…

1st Canon EOS 77D Price: From £919.99 URL: canon.co.uk T3 RATES: It’s not purely about image quality – although there the Canon acquits itself splendidly – it also comes down to size, weight, functionality, usability and response times, all of which the 77D aces. T3 SLATES: A minor grumble. Our nose still occasionally butted against the left edge of the LCD screen when using the optical viewfinder. T3 SAYS: OK, so we preferred the Pentax’s images, and the Nikon may be fair value and sleeker, but overall the swift Canon was the one we’d comfortably – and so most likely – use every day. 2nd Pentax K-70 Price: From £949 URL: ricoh-imaging.co.uk T3 RATES: If you want a DSLR that will deliver sharp, well saturated images and flattering colours without…

Personal trainer Alan Levi (alanlevipersonaltraining. co.uk) tells us the key to getting off to a good start with running is to slow down. He says: “Gradually and progressively increase your running time and effort. To avoid injury, run on soft terrain and end it with a static stretching workout.” Julia Buckley adds that you should have a clear goal in mind: “One of the most common mistakes I see people making is focusing only on distance. Going further does provide a fantastic sense of achievement, but pushing the body to do the same distance in a faster time can actually be more beneficial to most people’s goals.” • Tom Tom Spark 3 Not only does it have built-in GPS, this running watch can hold 500 music tracks, so you can…

£149.99, kobobooks.com Are you ‘beach book ready’? That’s the question Kobo’s asking with its latest ereader, the Aura H2O Edition 2. Based on the original Aura H2O, but drawing upon tech from the Aura One, this new edition focuses on maximising reading comfort while cultivating a customisable experience. It’s dust-resistant, with 8GB of storage for holding up to 6,000 ebooks, and has an HZO Protection waterproof coating. It has a blue on/off button at the back, with page turns and customisation functions taking place onscreen. The new Aura H2O feels light (210g) and comfortable to hold. It has a 6.8-inch screen, compared to the Aura One’s 7.8-inch screen, displaying print-quality text at 265ppi (300ppi on the Aura One). The Carta E Ink touchscreen display has a paper-esque feel and look,…

£141, foobot.io Gadgets that tell you how clean your air is might seem a bit of a luxury, but how much of a price can you really put on your health? Foobot’s makers say that indoor air is said to be five times more polluted than outdoor, which according to the WHO (World Health Organisation) translates to over 4 million deaths worldwide every year. Convinced? Once Foobot has been placed in an appropriate location in your home, and connected to your Wi-Fi, it’ll get to work, adjusting to its surroundings over several days. Foobot breaks down air readings with VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), PM 2.5 (Particulate Matter), as well as humidity and temperate levels. It then displays, via the app, how each level in your home compares to the WHOrecommended…

Upgrade your home audio with these woofers worth £998! There are cool speakers, and then there’s Jarre Technologies’ AeroBull XS1. These portable wireless beasts pump out 120 watts of kick-ass audio anywhere you want thanks to their 10-hour battery life. And yes, that’s Jarre as in electronic music maestro Jean-Michel Jarre. Like we said: beyond cool. These four-legged friends connect to your music over Bluetooth 4.2 (including highquality aptX streaming), or through a 3.5mm line in. The 2.1 stereo sound from an individual AeroBull XS is glorious, but the best part is that two can wirelessly pair, with one AeroBull driving the left channel and one driving the right, for real separation across your room. Basically, they can become the sweetestlooking set of bookshelf speakers ever – and that’s the…

Honor 8 Pro You’ll need a steady hand – there’s no image stabilisation on board here – but the Honor 8’s combo of f/2.2 lenses fronting one colour sensor and one monochrome sensor (just like Huawei’s P10) offers up some of the most contrast-rich photos we’ve seen from a phone. Its solo black and white snaps aren’t bad, either. £480, huawei.com Xiaomi Mi6 Combining cleverly computed 10x digital zoom with a 12MP wide-angle lens and a 12MP telephoto lens, the Mi 6 opens up some interesting options for mixing the two. You can, for example, pick out a subject and tastefully blur the background for a DSLR-esque look right from your pocket. £382, mi.com Asus Zenfone 3 Zoom Two 12MP sensors with laser autofocus – perhaps not the most thrilling…

0 1 HISENSE M5500 hisense.co.uk PRICE £499 TESTED T3 265 Looking for a next-gen TV but don’t want to stump up more than £500? Then step this way – the M5500 boasts a beautiful 4K HDR picture and comes with essential 4K streaming apps like Netflix and Amazon. T3 SAYS A super screen on the cheap. 0 2 PHILIPS 9000 SERIES 901F philips.co.uk PRICE £2,499 TESTED T3 268 Philips’ 55-inch OLED TV offers stunning OLED 4K HDR performance, top audio from its soundbar, and we love its Ambilight. T3 SAYS Spectacular OLED 4K HDR images, with superb sound, and Ambilight tech. 0 3 PANASONIC TX-65DX902B panasonic.co.uk PRICE £2,499 TESTED T3 258 This big 4K beast certainly has the wow factor, delivering stunning picture clarity, terrific sound and a range of…

01 MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK WITH PERFORMANCE BASE microsoftstore.com PRICE From £2,249 TESTED T3 270 This 13.5-inch notebook is powerful for its size, has killer battery life, and a super screen that’s also a tablet. It’s fantastic. T3 SAYS Awesomely powerful and flexible. 02 DELL XPS 13 dell.com PRICE From £1,149 TESTED N/A The XPS 13 is brilliantly designed and outperforms its rivals under the hood. The infinity display gives you the expanse of a 13.3-inch screen on an 11.9-inch laptop. T3 SAYS With its fantastic performance and build, it’ll serve you well for years to come. 03 APPLE MACBOOK PRO apple.com/uk PRICE From £1,749 TESTED T3 264 Supremely powerful with loads of innovation, including USB-C and that brilliant Touch Bar... But come on Apple, give us back that glowing Apple…

01 EDIFIER LUNA ECLIPSE edifier.com PRICE £149.99 TESTED T3 271 Slim, with a cool curvy design and vibrant piano finishes, these wireless bookshelf speakers are a stone-cold bargain – they sound richer and more precise than much more expensive competition. T3 SAYS Cool design, impeccable audio. 02 DENON HEOS HS2 denon.co.uk PRICE From £376 TESTED T3 267 Last time T3 reviewed multi-room systems, HEOS took the honours, and history has repeated itself – the HS2 is easy to set up, has great build quality and now sounds even better with support for 24-bit high-res audio. T3 SAYS Hi-res multi-room audio at its best. 03 B&O BEOLIT 17 beoplay.com PRICE £449.99 TESTED T3 271 The Danes have done it again with this smart-looking, awesome-sounding portable speaker. Made of aluminium and leather,…

Adidas Kanadia Trail 7 GTX Super lightweight and made for kicking hard on the trail, these Traxion-soled runners use a combination of Gore-Tex and mesh liners to do the double: they’re both breathable and waterproof, so good for any weather. £75, adidas.co.uk Salomon Speedcross Vario GTX If you’re running on hard trail surfaces the extra grip offered by Salomon’s Vario variety could be essential. A Gore-Tex upper means your feet get some air, but only in the special edition. £115, salomon.com Merrell All Out Crush While these shoes do have a synthetic waterproof upper to protect your feet from rain and splashes, they’re also intended for use in Tough Mudder competition, meaning it’s going to be hard to avoid them getting completely filled with some fairly awful fluid. £90, merrell.com…

01 SAMSUNG GEAR FIT2 samsung.com PRICE £179 TESTED T3 265 The Fit2 is a game-changing fitness tracker. It looks ace, with a colour touchscreen, but here’s the best bit: it has activity-tracker and sportswatch abilities, bypassing the need to have a phone on you altogether. T3 SAYS The first true smart fitness tracker. 02 MICROSOFT BAND 2 microsoft.com PRICE £184.99 TESTED T3 256 The Band 2 is packed with great features for activity and sleep tracking, with an optical HR monitor, 11 sensors – including GPS and a barometer – and a brilliant AMOLED screen. T3 SAYS Microsoft has launched the ultimate couch-to-5K-finishing-line fitness band. 03 GARMIN VIVOMOVE garmin.com/en-gb PRICE £139.99 TESTED T3 259 Pairing classic looks with fitness-tracking credentials, the Vivomove is one to take to work and the…

01 PORSCHE 718 BOXSTER S porsche.com/uk PRICE From £50,695 TESTED T3 259 With jaw-dropping looks, perfect handling and a 12-second roof, there’s little wrong with the latest Boxster – though the turbo flat-four might not be to everyone’s taste. T3 SAYS The drop-top to drop your cash on. 02 SNOOPER DVR-4HD snooper.co.uk PRICE £129.99 TESTED T3 263 As well as a sharp 1080p image for recordings, Snooper’s dash-cam offers speed detection, forward-collision alerts and lane-departure warnings, and has a superb 2.7-inch touchscreen. T3 SAYS The king of the dash-cam. 03 THE NORTH FACE ACCESS PACK thenorthface.com PRICE £215 TESTED T3 262 The Access Pack gives you quick, erm, access to your tech thanks to its ingenious one-touch entry system, while a sturdy exoskeleton offers extra protection. T3 SAYS Rapid gadget…

You don’t always have to spend big money to get something you’ll love to bits. That’s why we’ve put together a list of our favourite products for £100 and under. Some of our chosen gadgets also happen to be the best things you can get in their particular category, others are great-value alternatives to bigger ticket purchases, but all are brilliant products we’d be happy to use ourselves. So next time you get paid and there’s spare cash burning a hole in your trouser pocket, make sure you consult T3’s £100 Hotlist! THE SUPER SIX 01 STAR WARS STORMTROOPER BLUETOOTH SPEAKER thefowndry.com PRICE £39.99 You can force your friends to listen to your tunes with this portable Bluetooth speaker disguised as one of the Empire’s finest. T3 SAYS 5W output…