Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2020 i T3

3T FOR BMW EXPLORO Aside from having a truly cracking name – to T3’s ears at least – 3T also has the rep of making some of the lightest-weight bikes out there. This means that its collaboration with BMW, a brand synonymous with performance, quality and comfort, was always destined to be something of a humdinger. The 3T for BMW Exploro brings the best of the former’s Exploro gravel bike range and adds the engineering panache one would expect from a Beemer. Not only does it have an aerodynamically optimised unidirectional prepreg carbon frame, it also comes with Fulcrum wheels and Schwalbe G-One Speed tyres to maximise grip no matter what your speed. It also offers excellent control, coming with Shimano GRX shift and brake levers, rear derailleur and flat…

If we’re still on lockdown by the time you read this, well, right now we can only dream of heading off for a glamorous weekend getaway (or, because we’re so damn desperate, even a weekend in a rickety old tent will do). But once quarantine measures finally lift enough for us to be able to get out and about more freely, this is the definitive holdall to stuff your mini break wardrobe – and newfound freedom – into. Brunello Cucinelli is a luxury Italian design brand known for its classic staples, from must-have aviator jackets to sneakers that cost more than the average monthly mortgage payment. True to form, not only is the brand’s leather-trimmed nylon holdall built to last, it also looks like something James Bond would swagger onto…

If you’re planning the ultimate road trip, you, of course, need the ultimate car to go along with it. Look no further than the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge Edition – the pinnacle when it comes to super-luxury SUVs, combining comfort with genuine practicality, on-road refinement and off-road capability. Before you experience all of that, though, you’ll be greeted by the Cullinan’s imposing design. Not only is this one of the largest cars on the road; in Black Badge guise, with blacked-out chrome and a black Spirit of Ecstasy, this is also one with the most intimidating. It helps give this Rolls-Royce a more youthful, dynamic personality. Climb inside, press the button to close the doors, and you’re surrounded by meticulous craftsmanship, the highlight of which is the Starlight Headliner, which…

ADIDAS ADIZERO PRO The latest iteration of the Adizero franchise brings the whole new Lightstrike cushioning system to the table as well as an integrated Carbitex carbon-plate, embedded in the midsole. The DSP outsole, combined with the Continental rubber compound, provides traction, flexibility and durability. £159.95, adidas.co.uk ASICS METARACER Asics’ most advanced long-distance racing shoe yet, the Metaracer uses an updated version of Guidesole, the super-responsive sole system, aided by a carbon plate for improved responsiveness. The Flytefoam midsole is lightweight and makes landings softer and running more responsive. £180, asics.com NEW BALANCE FUELCELL TC The New Balance FuelCell TC follows the tried-and-tested formula of carbon-enhanced road running shoes: increased stack height, a full-length internal carbon fibre plate and a tight-fitting breathable upper. The suede collar around the ankle reduces…

Working from home has never been so popular, or so obligatory, as it has been in recent months. If you’re able to set up a ‘proper’ office space, it can be a lot more beneficial and motivating than using the dining room table, or a deckchair on the balcony – although if that’s all you have space for, that’s also fine. If you’re looking for a desk, we can heartily recommend Viking’s ‘proper’ office-style ones. Prices start from under £100 and, perhaps more importantly, sizing starts from as little as 80cm across. Those in search of something with a bit more style but not hugely increased price should consider Made.com. Again, they have some excellent options for those seeking to cram a desk into a small space. The Jory (£249,…

THE CASE FOR 8K IS IT FINALLY TIME TO UPGRADE? With pixel counts of 7680x4320, 8K TVs carry four times as much resolution as 4K ones. While this level of resolution is arguably not necessary on screens smaller than 65 inches, it removes all sense of image structure on large screens, leaving you with pictures that look unprecedentedly immersive and lifelike. Provided, anyway, that a TV has the colour, light and motion quality to unleash all those pixels’ full potential. There aren’t many native 8K sources yet, alas. Which isn’t surprising given the amount of data 8K video eats up. However, there’s talk of the next generation of games consoles providing at least a little 8K support. BT is promising an 8K sports channel, too, YouTube already carries a few…

SCREEN SAVER CHOOSING A LOW-COST SUPERSTAR On one hand, buying a budget TV – maybe for a second room – is easier than buying a mid-range or high end one. After all, you’ll surely be going into it understanding that any budget TV you end up with will come with some performance and/or feature strings attached. At the same time, though, the variations between different budget sets can be truly extreme. Especially now we have high dynamic range to think about. Really no true budget TV has enough brightness or colour range to handle the demands of HDR properly, so you’re invariably looking at a kind of damage limitation exercise. So much so that short of budget TVs just not bothering to offer HDR support at all, which wouldn’t actually…

1 FLOWKEY Flowkey is an app for computers and iOS/Android devices. It’s fully interactive, gives you live feedback, allows you to slow down/speed up sections for practice and is endorsed by teachers and pianists. Free (with in-app purchases), flowkey.com 2 LUMI Roli will soon be helping budding pianists practise their craft with the release of Lumi, a keyboard with light-up keys and partnered app that teach you technique and new songs. £tbc, playlumi.com 3 SKOOVE Skoove enables you to play along to songs and lessons on your phone, tablet or desktop. Its built-in AI listens to your playing and shapes your learning. From £8 a month, skoove.com…

1 EVERDURE BY HESTON BLUMENTHAL HUB ELECTRIC IGNITION CHARCOAL BBQ & COVER All other barbies will look rather plain once you’ve clapped eyes on this Heston-Blumenthal-designed barbecue, which comes packed with a host of brilliant features, including a Fast Flame Ignition System, 100kg capacity rotisserie with touch-control retractable poles, slide-out storage and warming drawers. £1,699, johnlewis.com 2 OONI FYRA PORTABLE WOODFIRED OUTDOOR PIZZA OVEN Say hello to perfect pizzas, baked in your very own outdoor pizza oven. And a particularly stylish one at that, thanks to its sleek silver and black exterior. But don’t make the mistake of thinking the makers have prioritised style over substance – Ooni’s latest creation uses an ingenious pellet hopper to feed through hardwood pellets automatically, ensuring superfast cooking times – just 60 seconds per…

1 MEGLIO LATEX FREE RESISTANCE BANDS Meglio Latex-free exercise bands can be used for rehabilitation, improving fitness or enhancing strength, flexibility and muscle tone. Choose from six resistance levels – extra light to extra extra heavy – and flex those hamstrings or work your muscles like you mean it. £3.99, mymeglio.com 2 LULULEMON THE REVERSIBLE MAT 5MM This mat, not surprisingly, was designed for yoga and has a polyurethane top layer that absorbs moisture to help you get a grip during sweaty practices. The top layer also contains an antimicrobial additive to help prevent mould and mildew. The natural rubber base gives you cushioning and grip in low-sweat classes. £58, lulemon.co.uk 3 THERAGUN PRIME The Theragun Prime percussion massager uses repetitive strokes to pulverise soreness out of your muscles instantly.…

From £1,250 bang-olufsen.com Perhaps surprisingly, the Stage is the first dedicated soundbar from the Bang & Olufsen stable. You might be forgiven for thinking the Danish brand is coming late to the party, but we reckon it’s been hanging back to get things right. Very right, as it happens. At 110cm wide, the Stage can be considered a good fit for screens 55-inch and up. Intriguingly, it can be used either horizontal or vertical, for wall mounting. We think it performs best upright, although it still sounds pretty good lying flat. Dolby Atmos is standard, but if you want additional post-processing you’re in luck. There’s a choice of listening modes: TV, Music, Movie and Night, with EQ adjustable using ToneTouch, Bang & Olufsen’s equaliser. It features no fewer than 11…

1 APPLE IPHONE SE From £419, apple.com At the precise time OnePlus was blowing us away with the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro (see p58), and right about the time news of the Pixel 4a was emerging, Apple remembered that midrange phones are a thing and reminded us just what it can do with devices that don’t cost the earth. No wheels have been reinvented: the Cupertino wizards have simply taken the 2017 iPhone 8 body and crammed it with modern-day hardware, in the same vein as the previous SE, which squashed itself into an iPhone 5 shell. But oh, what a selection of components. There’s a generous HDR10-capable 4.7” Retina display, complete with Touch ID security on the home button and a glass – not plastic – case rear.…

TUDOR, PELAGOS LHD Waterproof to 500m, the “left-handed” version of the Pelagos is produced as a numbered series and features a modified manufacture movement with a winding stem on the left side. £3,440, tudorwatch.com GLASHÜTTE ORIGINAL, SIXTIES Featuring a new glacier blue dial with a delicate sunray finish, this watch celebrates the style and elegance of the 1960s. Inside is the modern Calibre 39-52, with a 40-hour power reserve. £5,600, glashuette-original.com PORSCHE DESIGN, 1919 CHRONOTIMER FLYBACK BLUE Following the approach of Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, who focused on form and function, this Chrono features a titanium case and houses the movement ‘Werk 01.200’. £5,100, porsche-design.com CHRISTOPHER WARD, C65 GMT WORLDTIMER Allowing you to stay synced with different time zones across the world, this new C65 features a GMT hand and…

Are you planning a staycation? We can’t blame you – even after global travel bans are lifted and local lockdowns have been relaxed, the idea of hopping on an aeroplane full of strangers doesn’t seem that appealing. Instead, we’d suggest loading up the car and heading to Scotland’s North Coast 500, which offers the perfect blend of nature, adventure and luxury. As the name suggests, the North Coast 500 (or NC500, for short) is a 500-mile stretch of jaw-droppingly beautiful road that follows the northern coastline of Scotland. It’s one of the most scenic roads in the world, taking in long sandy beaches, picturesque lochs, historic castles, and of course, the odd mountain or two. Every trip is unique and can be tailored to your individual interests. If you’re travelling…

The market for fitness wearables is getting bigger every year, making it more appealing to traditional watch companies like Casio to enter. Casio is far from a newcomer to digital watches, but we were yet to see a full-blown fitness watch from them, up until recently. The new Casio G-Shock GBD-H1000 (£379, g-shock.co.uk) is one of the most intriguing running watches we’ve seen in a while, taking a different approach to the likes of Garmin and Polar. The new G-Shock is shock-resistant, water-rated to 200 metres, and has a very decent GPS chip that uses multiple satellite systems (GPS/GLONASS/QZSS). The watch also houses a range of sensors, including an optical heart rate sensor, a magnetic sensor (compass), a pressure sensor (altimeter) and an acceleration sensor (pedometer). There is also a…

1 RUTH HOLLY ASPECT COASTAL CUSHION If you already have neutral living decor and want to add just a few ocean-inspired accessories, begin with these Ruth Holly cushions. Our favourite is the Coastal Texture Striped Cushion (pictured), with its abstract print and generous 45x45cm size. You can also buy it in the larger, floor-cushion size of 60x60cm (£60). From £54, ruthholly.co.uk 2 COASTAL DRIFTWOOD WALL MIRROR Now here’s how to add a big coastal-inspired statement piece in one swift move. This driftwood mirror is spellbinding in the flesh, and will brighten up any space with its clean and fresh whitewash finish. Because it has such a soothing colour palette, it’ll go with most other colours in your beach-styled interior, especially deep oceanic blue. £395, decoville.co.uk 3 ARTISANTI TOBA RATTAN ARMCHAIR…

TIGER KING Oh lordy, if you have not seen this you must see it, it is so good. A deserved Netflix docu-drama hit, centred on some totally weird and, er, interesting people. LA COURSE Bon Voyage Organisation’s album of French electronic world-disco is the antidote for absolutely everything wrong ever, and Guru cannot get enough of it. Glorious music. INVASION OF THE BLOOD FARMERS “The budget was $24,000. The cast was paid in beer.” Eight bottles of stage blood later, you’ve got a silly Amazon Prime schlocker on your hands.…

OLEDUCATION WHAT EXACTLY DOES ‘OLED’ MEAN? While OLED TVs can’t get as cheap as LCD TVs can, they have a good excuse. Namely that each and every pixel in an OLED screen produces its own light and colour. LCD TVs, on the other hand, share external lights across many hundreds or thousands of pixels at once. OLED TVs can therefore deliver peerless local contrast – as in, the darkest pixel in a picture can sit right alongside the brightest without either ‘polluting’ the other. This makes OLED technology uniquely capable of handling dark images – and, therefore, a firm favourite with home cinema fans. OLED screens can also be watched from any angle without colour or contrast taking a hit, and in recent years have got much brighter than many…

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As we’ve already mentioned, keyboards and digital pianos can vary wildly, from slight and portable with a focused feature set, to beefy all-in-ones with sizeable speakers and no end of bells and whistles. Picking the perfect piano for your needs shares more in common with selecting a new smartphone than it does choosing an acoustic instrument, as the sound, functionality and play style each offers is as unique as the potential pianist playing them. To help you out, we’ve put together a medley of some of the best pianos and keyboards available for beginner and intermediate players, highlighting each of their respective fortes. THE REAL FEEL ROLAND FP-30 The FP-30 offers a ton of useful functionality at a fair price. First off, its full-size 88-key ‘Ivory Touch’ keyboard adds a…

1 BOWFLEX SELECTTECH 552I DUMBBELLS The SelectTech 552i Dumbbells are a must-have for anyone creating a comprehensive home gym but who lacks the required space to store a big rack of dumbbells. The available weight range is between 5-24kg and selecting the right weight is as simple as turning the dial at the end of the dumbbell. £229, fitness-superstore.co.uk 2 MIRAFIT M2 HEAVY DUTY ADJUSTABLE WEIGHT BENCH This chunky bench offers gym-worthy build quality for less than products from established players like Life Fitness and Technogym. The M2 bench packs a solid frame and boasts premium extras such as castors and a grab handle for easy manoeuvrability. Better still, the backrest is adjustable in six different positions. £149.95, mirafit.co.uk 3 LIFE FITNESS G7 The Life Fitness G7 multi-gym is a…

1 WATERROWER NATURAL ROWING MACHINE The WaterRower is a brilliant concept, delivered almost flawlessly: it’s pleasing to the eyes and the ears and it works pretty much all the muscles in your body. The build quality is sublime and it’s extremely convenient to both work out with and move around the house. Indoor rowing made pleasant. £999, waterrower.co.uk 2 WATTBIKE ATOM Wattbike Atom offers one of the most realistic indoor bike rides around – and looks absolutely fabulous while doing so. This smart trainer can turn boring indoor cycling sessions into rewarding cardio experiences using apps like Zwift or Sufferfest. Comes at a price but the Atom is worth every penny. £1,599, wattbike.com 3 ASSAULT AIRRUNNER The Assault AirRunner is so much more than a standard treadmill. It feeds off…

From £999 apple.com After its resurrection a few years ago, the MacBook Air has reclaimed its throne as Apple’s cheapest laptop, but this new version drives home that price isn’t everything anyway. It’s also simply one of the most useable laptops you can buy, and nails the core stuff that makes a laptop a comfortable, reliable companion. It starts from £999/$999, which is the model we’re testing. That’s a price drop compared to previous versions, but nothing has been cut for that – in fact there have been various upgrades. The base model includes 256GB of storage instead of the 128GB that the last Air came with. Meanwhile, the next model up, which costs £1,299/$1,299, gives you a quad-core processor instead of dual-core, and doubles the storage to 512GB. Both…

NIKON Z6 Perhaps the ultimate travel camera, with a full-frame sensor in an extremely portable body, the Nikon Z6 is well-suited to a wide range of shooting conditions. Image quality is all but guaranteed, with the 24-70mm f/4 making for a great walk-around lens. £1,719, nikon.co.uk GOPRO HERO8 BLACK Planning an action-packed holiday? Capable of recording stabilised 4K video, this GoPro is the perfect companion for watersports, mountain biking, skiing, and all manner of other exhausting activities. It’s waterproof to 10 metres without a case and is compatible with clever new modules. £379.99, gopro.com DJI MAVIC MINI Add some aerial shots to your scrapbook. This is the most desirable little camera-equipped drone ever to snap from the air. It’s smooth, fast, easily controllable and stupefyingly small, shooting exceptional 2.7K video…

Q TONY GUY, WEST LOTHIAN How can I revive my lawn? A Let Guru tell you a secret: he did not open the door to the rear grounds of Guru Towers even once between November and late March. Not to pick up the patio furniture strewn over the lawn by the wind. Not to clear up the toys dumped there by Gurus Jr and II, or to let in a mewling cat too lazy to go around to the front door. And certainly not for any hard work. Now that the sun is shining (and Guru is unable to leave his grounds owing to nature’s cruel whims) he’s begrudgingly restarted garden duties. His custom lawnmower shed (a Keter Artisan 11x7, £1,099) contains one fancy orange ride-on Stihl RT 4082 (£2,319)…

So it’s been a bit of a weird few months. I know that because at the last count, I have had 12,037 emails that begin “Dear [insert name] I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well during this crazy time.” Then, pleasantries having been dispensed with, they add: “We have a new phone charger that would be great for you to write about on techradar.com, [name]!” In some ways, the Great Lockdown of 2020 was a gift, to those of us who remained healthy. I’d also get emails from work contacts I actually do know, asking if I was going to write something about those headphones they sent me three weeks ago. I would say, “Sorry, it’s been a crazy time,” and they would just say, “Yes,…

SET PRIORITIES TO PICK THE RIGHT TV, CONSIDER YOUR NEEDS While the mid-range TV segment typically gives you the best value for your investment, it’s also the most complicated area for TV buyers to negotiate. Mid-range models can’t give you everything like high-end TVs can, so they have to pick and choose their strengths. With this in mind, try and figure out as accurately as possible what you most need from your TV before you even start your search. Think, for instance, about how bright your room typically is when you watch TV. If it’s bright, a good LCD model may suit you best. If it’s dark or you regularly turn off the lights to watch a film, a budget OLED may suit you best. If you have wide seating…

1 BENQ WIRELESS PORTABLE LED PROJECTOR Turn your garden into an open-air cinema with this compact, wireless portable projector designed for use outdoors. Features include wireless casting, HDMI, USB Type-C and USB Type-A ports for multi-connectivity, while its splash- and drop-proof design earns it top marks in the sturdiness stakes. £539, benq.eu 2 KETTLER 3.3M ROUND LED BLUETOOTH FREE ARM PARASOL This sturdy parasol, which features rows of surprisingly powerful LED lights, provides UV50+ sun protection and can be raised, lowered and rotated in seconds. It also comes with its very own Bluetooth speaker, designed to be clipped to the underside of the main umbrella. We love the fact that the umbrella hangs to one side – after all, no matter how pretty your parasol, its support pole is rarely…

1 BODYPOWER SLAM BALL Performing HIIT with a slam ball requires dedication, lots of power and good form, to avoid any unnecessary strains or injuries. It’s worth it, though, as repeatedly mashing a heavy ball into the ground gets the blood pumping and feels awesome. The BodyPower Slam Ball is durable and reasonably priced, too. From £8.99, fitness-superstore.co.uk 2 NORDICTRACK E11.5 The NordicTrack E11.5 elliptical trainer has a solid semi-commercial construction without the premium price tag. Choose from 20 resistance levels, 10%-30% incline modes and 30 individual personal trainer workouts to create a tailored session that best suits your needs. Joint-friendly cardio has never been more appealing. £799, fitness-superstore.co.uk 3 BEMAXX SPEED ROPE II Skipping is often overlooked, but it’s one of the best ways to get a high-intensity sweat…

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,…

If you’re looking for the very best tech available today, you’ve definitely come to the right place. Best of the Best is the most useful gadget-buying guide you will ever encounter. To create it, we’ve extensively tested the best tech the world has to offer, to bring you rock-solid recommendations for your home life, daily commute and the tech you use all the time. In 54 different categories, we’ve chosen the top four products, so you can choose one that’s just the right mix of features and budget for what you need. These rankings come from real testing by our team of experts – they’re the products we’d choose for ourselves, and we can’t recommend any higher than that. Look for the links above each category that take you to…

HASSELBLAD 907X SPECIAL EDITION (ON THE MOON SINCE 1969) One of the biggest benefits of opting for a mirrorless camera is getting all of the quality of an SLR in a much more compact form factor. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of humanity’s first photos from the surface of the Moon and the Hasselblad camera used to take them, the 907X Special Edition takes this to its logical conclusion, becoming the company’s smallest medium-format camera body ever. Not only does it have a magnificent 50MP CMOS medium-format sensor and a vast 14-stop dynamic range, it can also capture 16-bit RAW images and full resolution JPEGs. Additionally, it has a touch and tilt 60fps rear display that offers a silky live view of your subject. Finally, given it weighs in at just…