Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2025 i Stuff UK

Gather round, phone fans! Your resident Android aficionado has been steering the Stuff ship this month. In order to work out which new smartphone is worth your hard-earned, we’ve been rolling with a whole stack of fresh flagships – and given we all spend longer glued to our handsets than we’d care to admit, picking the perfect one might be the biggest tech decision you’ll make in 2025. Foldables, camera kings and style supremos all make the grade – plus we check out the mid-range alternatives for those on a more modest budget. Elsewhere it’s an Apple device double bill, with the latest MacBook Air and iPad Air each getting the review treatment. With faster internals than ever, and far more appealing prices, is there any reason left to go…

If you’re wondering where you’ve seen this wearable before, cast your mind back to 2016. Donald Trump was elected as moron-in-chief of the USA for the first time, Leicester City won the Premier League… and Pebble successfully Kickstarted the Time 2, a smartwatch that never saw the light of day after the company was bought by Fitbit. Now it’s finally appeared, albeit under a new brand name and with a few changes to reflect how much tech has changed in that time. The 1.5in e-paper display is now a touchscreen, and the battery life has been boosted from a week to a whole month. There’s a speaker and a heart-rate monitor, plus it’ll track your steps and sleep, but it’s deliberately less sophisticated than something like an Apple Watch, with…

£190/go.stuff.tv/Buds5Pro Xiaomi’s new earbuds are the first to offer Wi-Fi for lossless audio… but how much use will you actually get out of it? Sky blue Fi The first pair of Bluetooth stereo headphones were released over 20 years ago, back when people spent countless hours using LimeWire to download dodgy versions of Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson – so in a way, Xiaomi’s new buds feel overdue. They’re the first in the world to offer Wi-Fi connectivity, with Qualcomm’s XPAN tech enabling 24-bit/96kHz lossless audio at up to 4.2Mbps. They also have better battery life when using Wi-Fi rather than Bluetooth. Sounds great, right? Sadly, there’s a catch. Heavy metal bummer In fact, there are a couple of catches. To begin with, the only phone compatible with…

TRUSTY TYPERS The mini mapper Logitech POP Icon Keys There might be no shortcuts in life, but you’ll find four on this compact keyboard: the Action Keys give you quick access to selected tools and apps. Use the Logi+ Options app to program different modes and functions for Windows or macOS. It comes in a choice of four colourways. £50/logitech.com The brainy basher Microsoft Surface Keyboard (2nd Edition) As well as Windows shortcuts, this wide board has a dedicated Copilot key that summons Microsoft’s AI assistant on demand. Not just a business bot, it can help with everything from writing tips to image generation. £130/microsoft.com The greener glider Trust Vaiya Want to feel guilt-free while ordering more completely unnecessary gadgets from Amazon? This full-size number is made using 55% recycled…

There’s more than one way to make an incredible camera phone. Some brands max out on pixels; others are all-in on processing smarts. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra takes the brute force approach: this no-holds-barred flagship has what is arguably the most capable set of snappers ever squeezed into a single handset. The one-inch lead sensor is as physically large as phone cameras get, to maximise light intake and deliver dreamy amounts of natural bokeh blur. Two telephotos – one 50MP and one 200MP – handle zoom, while a 50MP ultrawide brings up the rear. With a bit of sensor cropping and digital trickery, that’s an enormous total focal length of 14-400mm. Leica-approved picture profiles and some impressively nuanced image processing then deliver truly exceptional shots in all lighting conditions. Want an…

Can book-style foldables get any slimmer than this? I’m not sure they need to. The Oppo Find N5 is a barely-there 4.2mm when open, not counting its slight camera bump, and is as skinny as a non-folding flagship when folded. It makes the Galaxy Z Fold6 look positively portly. While still a teensy bit narrower than a traditional bar phone, the 6.62in outer screen has a more natural-feeling aspect ratio than Samsung’s slender effort, so apps feel far less cramped. The OLED panel is glorious, with 120Hz smooth scrolling and brightness that gets more than a passing grade. It’s the 8.12in inner screen that’s the true star of the show, though. The almost-square ratio gives it more surface area than the latest Apple iPad Mini – comfortably enough for two apps…

Asics Novablast 5 What’s the story? The Asics Novablast 5 is a non-plated, max-cushioned shoe that’s really meant for everyday runs. But with a soft and bouncy midsole cut from an energetic foam, it offers more upper-pace potential than many super-soft cushioned types. At around 250g, you’re taking a little extra chunk for that big wedge of road-taming protection – but it’s built for dependable comfort at a range of paces. Is it any good? This capable marathon cruiser lacks the punch of all-out race shoes, but the ride is still smooth: springy but controlled. When you’re running with good form and pushing the pace, it feeds back your energy; but it’s also cushioned enough for slower paces. No matter how rough you feel at mile 20, it’s got your…

LESS TODAY WANTS MORE: HOW TO CHOOSE ● You’ll already have a budget in mind if you’re looking at mid-rangers, so focus on what you most want it to be good at. Play a lot of games? Look for the most powerful processor. ● Don’t obsess over camera counts. Clever processing means some snappers deliver ace results with just one or two lenses. ● Big batteries usually mean big stamina, but also look at how quickly they charge. Wireless refuelling might not be worth paying extra for if it’s really slow. ● The days when cheaper phones used LCD screens are gone. OLED is the standard now, but check the brightness rating for ease of use outdoors. ● Want to keep your handset for the long haul? Pay attention to…

£230/go.stuff.tv/HD505 ■ With a choice more extensive than a warehouse full of Beatles bootlegs, picking your first pair of audiophile-grade wired headphones can be intimidating. Sennheiser wants its HD 505 open-back over-ears to be a first port of call for people getting into proper hi-fi on a ‘normal’ budget. ■ Distinctive copper trim aside, these cans fit right in with the HD 500 line: functional-looking, with a headband wrapped in synthetic leather and branding that isn’t in-yer-face. They’ll also play nicely with most 500-series accessories, such as replacement ear-cushions – which is handy, as the bundled cushions don’t offer the thickest padding. Still, loosening the headband makes these a comfortable listen, and they’re pretty light on the noggin. ■ Dynamic drivers are a given at this price, but the open-back…

NEW Straight outta testing and into our rankings. BARGAIN BUY A proper steal, worth owning regardless of cashflow. UPDATE Time changes everything, including Stuff Top Ten entries. HOW WE RATE Always fair and accurate, our reviews are scored from 1 to 5 and might get one of these awards too: For selected products that are rated with four stars but stand out from the pack. A step up in approval, this can only be awarded to five-star products. Our highest accolade is given out just a few times a year in each key category. FOR FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THE PRODUCTS IN OUR TOP TEN LISTINGS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10…

1 Google Pixel 8a from £349/go.stuff.tv/Pixel8a In recent years, Google’s cheaper ‘a’ models have dominated the mid-range phone market. They’ve delivered outstanding value by including many of the brand’s flagship features (think amazing cameras and slick software) and cutting corners where you’re less likely to notice. And the good news is, that’s still true of the Pixel 8a, which looks almost identical to the full-on Pixel 8 and performs almost as well. Oh, and see p6 for details of the new Pixel 9a. Stuff says Once again Google proves you don’t need to spend over £500 to get a great phone 2 OnePlus Nord 4 from £399/go.stuff.tv/Nord4 If you don’t want a Pixel 8a with its excellent camera, this is the next best thing. That’s not the whole story, though, because…

NEW 1 OnePlus Watch 3 £269/go.stuff.tv/OPWatch3 This is a simply superb wearable, with the best battery life of any Wear OS watch – thanks to silicon-carbon cell technology borrowed from OnePlus’s smartphones – and subtle yet meaningfully improved styling. Health tracking has taken a big step forward, even if we’d still give the edge to a top-tier Garmin for more serious stattery; but with pricing on its side, the OnePlus Watch 3 should be right at the top of any Android smartwatch shopper’s list. Stuff says A more refined take on an already fantastic watch that lasts longer and is even more fitness-friendly 2 Apple Watch SE from £199/go.stuff.tv/AppleWatchSE The SE is easily the best-value Apple Watch. It tracks sleep and all the exercise metrics you need, supports Apple Pay, works great…

1 Apple iPad Pro (M4) from £999/go.stuff.tv/iPadProM4 The latest iPad Pro gets incredible processing power, while being slimmer than before. The performance gains are quite staggering… and the only question is, why has Apple bothered to upgrade this tablet quite so much? It offers a level of capability that most people won’t ever need – so this is really a powerhouse for the 1% who edit or design with the stylus. And for them, the talented Pencil Pro is also a serious upgrade on the standard Pencil. Stuff says This really takes iPad power to the next level, even if iPadOS still needs more multitasking clout 2 Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra from £1299/go.stuff.tv/TabS10Ultra The Tab S10 Ultra raises the bar for Android tablets yet again… just not by a huge degree…

TIPS & TRICKS You can control your Move 2 with the touch controls on top, the Sonos app or Alexa. Auto Trueplay adapts the sound to different rooms, while the app offers extra EQ tweaks. Re-organise the Sonos app’s home screen for easy access to your preferred sources. 1 Sonos Move 2 £449/go.stuff.tv/SonosMove2 The ‘2’ means our favourite speaker is now even better. Sonos has upgraded the Move in the areas that matter most: sound quality and battery life, the latter of which has more than doubled. Our only criticisms are about the high price and the weight – and the Sonos app, which has been a pain for years now. Line-in is also a little bit of a faff with the extra adapter… but if you’re in the market for…

TIPS & TRICKS The built-in Zigbee hub can hook up hundreds of smart home devices without a bridge. Pair a compatible thermostat and the Echo’s temperature sensor can activate the heating. Flash Briefings deliver bursts of news or trivia; choose from a wide range of sources. 1 Amazon Echo (4th Gen) £109/go.stuff.tv/Echo4Gen Having morphed from a cylinder to a sphere, the latest Echo is an excellent newsreader, weather forecaster, personal assistant and intercom straight out of the box; but it’s now also a capable speaker and a very accessible smart home hub. It doesn’t sound as good as the Sonos Era 100 for listening to music, but it’s significantly smarter and cheaper too. Stuff says An all-round upgrade that makes the Echo a smarter speaker than ever NOW ADD THIS Honeywell…

I remember this. Solitaire! Cards go BOUNCE BOUNCE BOUNCE! Windows 3 was about more than Solitaire, but then it needed to be. Windows 1 didn’t even have overlapping windows, and v2 felt clunky compared to what Apple was shipping at the time. But with its fancy File Manager and Program Manager, swanky sculpted buttons and standardised menus, Windows 3 was, well, at least less clunky. And it did have Solitaire, even if that was mostly included to force people to start using a mouse and to pretend computers were for normal people. So it was very much a case of third time lucky(ish), then? Yes, in the sense that PC users were dragged into the world of graphical desktop computing… and found they liked it. Four million copies flew off…

My book, The Long History of the Future: Why Tomorrow’s Tech Still Isn’t Here, was published last summer. I used to work full-time at PC Pro magazine, a British computing title – I still freelance for them and hopefully will never stop, as they are great fun. I run what we call the ‘futures section’, which is all the stuff that’s supposedly coming up but isn’t. We’ve always been a cynical publication – I often write why things aren’t going to happen, instead of why they are. I did one feature that was like a pessimist’s guide to the future, and the book idea really came out of that. It took me a long time to pull a book proposal together and get the nerve to start pitching it. I…

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£1799/go.stuff.tv/QNED93 ■ The QNED93 incorporates LG’s nanocell and quantum-dot technologies, and uses a Mini LED backlit panel, so it really ought to have the brightness, contrast and colour advantages this combo promises. On the sound front, a 2.2-channel speaker array is driven by 40W of power. ■ LG’s webOS might not be the most attractive interface, but it’s easy to navigate and almost as simple to customise. All the major catchup and streaming services’ apps are available, as are both Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control, with a dedicated page for displaying connected smart home kit. ■ This TV looks best when given the best stuff to show. Whether that’s a Netflix stream or a 4K Blu-ray, it does tremendous work in almost every respect. It’s bright and detailed,…

THE BASICS Get educated Armed with the right app, there’s no excuse for not knowing just what you’re gawping at in the sky. All the options mentioned here allow you to prod an object on the screen and then bring up a bunch of information about it. And if you fancy digging into the history of space travel, also grab the free NASA app (on Android and iOS). Prepare yourself Many apps will outline upcoming celestial events. Star Walk 2 (see panel) has Astronomy Calendar and Visible Tonight options, while SkySafari (see panel again) has a superb Tonight tab. For photographers, PhotoPills (£9.49 on Android, £10.99 on iOS) and Sun Surveyor (£8.49 on Android, £9.99 on iOS) are ideal for planning. Set alerts Unless you’re the most ardent astro-nerd, don’t…

TIPS & TRICKS Flick upwards in Control Centre to see the new layout; tap-hold and you can tweak controls. Lightly press the camera control button twice to change settings for the current mode. Tap-hold any icon then select ‘Require Face ID’ so you can stop open access to particular apps. 1 Apple iPhone 16 from £799/go.stuff.tv/iPhone16 This year’s iPhone Pro lineup is a mighty fine selection to choose from (see the 16 Pro at No6 on this list), but it’s the standard model that does more to impress. The camera control button and the 2x telephoto zoom are great to have in particular, while the battery life is excellent. The 6.1in screen’s refresh rate is fixed at 60Hz, which is a bit disappointing, but Apple clearly believes most people don’t…

TIPS & TRICKS Sony’s eartips are great, as long as you use the right size. Be sure to try all four included in the box. 360 Reality Audio upmixing can add a sense of space to tunes, but not every track sounds better. Give personalised EQ a try in the app. Its A/B choices are far simpler than a multi-band equaliser. 1 Sony WF-1000XM5 £219/go.stuff.tv/WFXM5 The WF-1000XM5 in-ears are significantly smaller than the XM4s, which were already a lot more compact than their predecessors. And yet Sony has still squeezed even larger drivers inside each earbud, along with the firm’s best noise-cancelling yet. The feature list is as extensive as ever, and they’re priced to compete with Bose’s best. Add in decent battery life and a strong app, and you won’t…

1 Wahoo Elemnt Ace £500/go.stuff.tv/WahooAce At first glance the Ace might not seem too far removed from previous Elemnt cycle computers, but Wahoo has changed almost every aspect under the hood – and entirely for the better. Setup and syncing are a breeze, tracking is spot-on, and this is the first to take wind resistance into account when measuring your metrics. If you want to analyse your rides like a pro, no mainstream tracker does it better than this deceptively smart little box. Stuff says Wahoo’s overhauled bike computer is about as comprehensive as they get, but still easy to use NEW 2 Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 £250/go.stuff.tv/PbP2 The main sell here is heart-rate tracking, which you won’t need if you’ve got an Apple Watch, but beyond that they’re brilliant fitness headphones…

1 Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max £2199/go.stuff.tv/AmbeoMax Utterly convincing Dolby Atmos and DTS:X 3D sound, ample power and lots of inputs mean no other soundbar currently available can perform sonic feats with the solidity and confidence of this Sennheiser. The sheer room-filling scale of its sound is remarkable – and the more affordable (but still hugely powerful) Plus version is also worth a look. Stuff says The Ambeo Soundbar Max is a big unit but the sound it makes is bigger still 2 Sonos Arc Ultra £999/go.stuff.tv/ArcUltra It’s scarcely believable that such high-quality sound can come from such a diminutive form. The Ultra is about as big as upgrades get, with much more quality on offer than you get from the standard Arc. Stuff says Incredible for movies, music and more BARGAIN BUY…

NEW 1 GoPro Hero13 Black £273/go.stuff.tv/Hero13 GoPro diehards might be disappointed that the Hero13 doesn’t have the 8K video or bigger sensor that many were hoping for. Instead it has the same core specs as the Hero12… but there are some enticing new bits. A bigger battery with improved efficiency means you’ll get 1.5hrs of continuous recording in 4K, and also new is the addition of magnetic mounting (finally!), while three new lens mods open up your shooting options. And like all GoPros, this one is intuitive to use and rugged as hell. Stuff says The basics are unchanged from the last model, but numerous refinements make for a worthy new Hero 2 DJI Mini 4 Pro from £784/go.stuff.tv/DJIMini4Pro This is definitely the best sub-250g drone we’ve reviewed, and its safety features,…

There aren’t many gaming characters you’d want to take fashion tips from. Dressing like a plumber is fine for a trip to Screwfix, but add a red cap and the white van men will have a field day, especially if you top it off with a nice bushy ’tache. Occasionally, though, we spy something in a game that you’d be able to wear without ridicule on your next mission to buy a bucket of grout. This futuristic watch appears on the wrist of protagonist Sam in Hideo Kojima’s upcoming post-apocalyptic PS5 sequel Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – and you can also buy a real one. The lightweight titanium case houses a Nivachron balance spring, which makes it more resistant to magnetism, shocks and temperature shifts. That should make…

€5800/go.stuff.tv/PP1 Um, that turntable’s missing its tonearm. And you’re a few radishes short of a salad, but how would you feel if people kept pointing it out all the time? In actual fact, the PP-1 isn’t missing anything. Rather than having a tonearm on top like practically every other record player you can buy, it has an elliptical diamond stylus hidden underneath the platter, which means you have to put your records on the ‘wrong’ way up to play the side you want. When it’s not in use, small metal doors cover the cartridge to stop it from picking up dust and other detritus. Very neat. Isn’t it just? No doubt tedious audiophiles will poo-poo it, but we love how it looks, with each one made from a solid block…

from £69,650/volvo.co.uk Ooh, how thrilling, a Volvo. What’s so special about this one? Actually, the ES90 has to be one of the most exciting models to emerge from the Swedish manufacturer in a while – and not only because it looks so sleek. What’s really interesting about the ES90 is its all-electric range: up to 435 miles for the two Twin Motor variants. As well as extra-light components, this is down to a whopping 106kWh battery pack, which has the added benefit of 800v architecture meaning faster and more efficient charging. Up to 350kW, in fact. It can add 185 miles of range in around 10mins. But will that be an enjoyable 185 miles? It should be, thanks to a slinky body shape with a teensy 0.25 drag coefficient. The…

from £999/go.stuff.tv/AirM4 The iPad Pro, iMac and MacBook Pro have already had the M4 treatment, so it’s time for Apple’s everyday laptop to get the firm’s latest top-end hardware. New chip aside, this year’s Air is very similar to the M2 version from 2022, which was the first to introduce the squared-off design to match the MacBook Pro. When the M3 upgrade came around last year, Apple kept the M2 on sale as a cheaper option; now it’s discontinued both the M2 and M3. Outraged? Don’t be: it’s actually dropped the starting price to £999. Unlike the Pro, the Air is only available with the ‘basic’ M4 processor: there’s no M4 Pro or M4 Max option. The only variable in processing terms is that the very cheapest version (13in with…

Nothing takes the shine off a phone that’s called your trouser pocket home for the last year of two like an influx of flashy new models. We’re just a few months into 2025 and it’s already been a bountiful harvest, especially for those phone fans willing to take the path less travelled. While class leaders Apple and Samsung continue to play it safe, rivals have swooped in with longer-lasting battery tech, trend-setting styling, and camera kit that’ll leave your jaw on the floor. Some major on algorithms and artificial intelligence, while others prioritise pixel count and sensor size… but all of them can take a truly stupendous snap. So we’ve put them all to the test over the next 12 pages – and yes, there are some foldables in the…

£949/go.stuff.tv/Glass2 DAY 01 Two hefty men lift the new Sky Glass into my home (full disclosure: I had the old one so they take that away as well as the packaging for the new one). Whereas most 55in TVs can be lifted by one person at a push, this one definitely can’t. Although lighter than the original version, it remains a heavy bit of kit due to its integrated Dolby Atmos sound system – one that’s been made even more beefy with two new opposing bass drivers for the second-generation model. As well as this 55in variant in blue, it’s also available in silver or grey (with colour-matched remote), and in 43in or 65in sizes. Everything is simple to set up: I just need to plug the power lead in…

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1 Honor Magic V3 £1300/go.stuff.tv/MagicV3 The Magic V3 is the first foldable we’ve used that’s like having a normal phone in your pocket – and that feels like a big deal. It’s almost unbelievably thin and seems superbly made. There are still some areas that could be improved, most obviously the limited multitasking powers; but along with its superb main camera and all-day battery life (further enhanced by wireless charging), the V3’s real achievement is that it makes carrying a foldable phone feel normal. Stuff says A major step up from the previous model, the Magic V3 will change how you think about foldable phones 2 OnePlus Open £1199/go.stuff.tv/Open The Open’s camera system is the best of any folding phone, taking impressive photos in all conditions. Neither of the two screens feels…

1 Sky Stream from £15/m/go.stuff.tv/SkyStream It’s hard to find fault with this little puck. The basic package includes the ad version of Netflix as well as Discovery+ with Eurosport – and while Sky Sports and Sky Cinema are a pricey upgrade, Sky’s Entertainment OS makes the Stream a bit of a doozy if you want to have a monthly sub rather than using Now (which is more of a dip-in job for when you just fancy the football or films for a brief period). Sky Q remains excellent, but if you can’t/won’t have a dish, this is the ideal solution. Stuff says Making it more affordable and accessible than ever, this is the best way to watch Sky TV 2 Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K £60/go.stuff.tv/TVStick4K The latest version of Amazon’s…

TIPS & TRICKS Alexa’s voice can work like an intercom with connected Echo devices. Alexa Voice Shopping lets you order from Amazon; add a ‘voice code’ to keep the kids off. Dot at your bedside? Saying “Alexa, turn on whisper mode” will stop it waking up sleepyheads. 1 Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) £55/go.stuff.tv/EchoDot5 The latest Dot offers improved sound quality over the 4th Gen model. Not surprisingly given its size, it still doesn’t have the heft of a full-scale Echo, but this Dot is more than good enough for bedside table or kitchen listening. The only pity is that Amazon has discontinued the better ‘with Clock’ variant in favour of the Echo Spot. Stuff says The 5th Gen brings a nice upgrade to an already excellent little gadget NOW ADD…