Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2016 i T3

NEXT ISSUE ELECTRIC BIKES TESTED! TURN TO P83 VANMOOF ELECTRIFIED S Electric bicycles aren’t typically the sexiest things on the road – but that’s all set to change, thanks to Amsterdam-based Vanmoof and its Electrified S. If there’s one thing the Dutch do well, it’s bikes, and they’ve nailed it here – the Electrified S is, in Vanmoof’s words, “sleek, sexy and superpowered”. Looking at the bike, you might be inclined to disagree with us – it’s just a bit of fancy scaffolding with some wheels attached, after all? But there’s more here than meets the eye. Firstly, every bit of tech is neatly integrated within the frame – so that’s the lights, battery, charging connector, LED touchpad and – get this – built-in chain lock; and it’s all controlled…

That looks like a bracelet. Yes, but this isn’t just any (smart) bracelet – it’s a magical bracelet with the power to change the world! OK, not quite, but this life-hacker’s dream wearable began life in a fantasy story created by Mighty Cast, where a group of kids use an enchanted bracelet to change the world. You’re so making that up! We’re so not. Although “magical” is a stretch when describing the Nex Band’s capabilities, this wearable does enable you to manage your favourite devices and apps in exciting new ways. Sweatproof and splash-resistant, it has five customisable ‘mods’ (hackable modules) that act as shortcut buttons for various tasks and devices. So I can program a mod to turn on my Hue lights, or something? Exactly. In conjunction with the…

WHAT IS IT, GAGU? At last, reader: it’s a smart bed! Guru can’t count the number of times he’s lay down at night and wished that his idiot mattress had a Bluetooth connection. HOW DOES THAT WORK, THEN? The Balluga’s primary gimmick – and one that its eponymous company is marketing in a satisfyingly puerile manner – is the bed’s balls. A series of squishy, layered inflatable cells, coupled with an active monitoring system, mean the mattress is able to sense the pressure you’re putting on it and adjust itself accordingly, ensuring that you’re always in the perfect sleeping position. IS THAT IT? Not by a long shot. Sideindependent firmness, air-based climate control and a vibro-massage system can all be fired off from the included app or Balluga’s own touchscreen…

1 ADORE JUNE SLEEVE Wileyfox doesn’t currently offer an official case for the Storm (why?), so you’ll have to make do with a third-party offering. Try the Adore June sleeve – a bargain at under a tenner, and available in a number of colours. €11.90 (£9.20); amazon.co.uk 2 RAM MOUNT X-GRIP Of course, your new (and inexpensive) phablet can also act as a sat nav. Mount it to your car windscreen using this excellent suction mount (and because it’s universal, it’s not limited to your phone). £28.60; ram-mount.co.uk 3 WILEYFOX PREMIUM POWERBANK As we go to press, this 10,000mAh powerbank is still “coming soon”, but when it’s available it’ll match your Storm perfectly and give you all the juice you could possibly need. £TBC; wileyfox.com 4 SONY H.EAR HEADPHONES The…

01 BETTER BUILD QUALITY One of the main things you’ll notice when you step up to a good pair of in-ear headphones is build quality. Metal construction, sturdy detachable cables, robust headphone jacks – these are things the free buds that came with your phone can only dream of. 02 IN-LINE CONTROLS Many in-ear headphones have in-line controls attached to the cable, which enable you to control music playback on your Apple or Android device, plus a microphone that enables you to answer calls without having to take the headphones off. 03 OVER-EAR HOOKS Some in-ear headphones, like the Noble Audio Savants and Shure SE846s, provide over-ear cables or hooks that keep the earpieces in position as you listen to music. They’re a godsend if you’re planning to use the…

01 BASS REPRODUCTION Splash out on some new in-ear headphones and you’ll experience new levels of bass depth – provided you can get the tips to lodge nice and tightly within your ear canals. Find a snug fit, and drums and basslines will take on extra heft and punch, ensuring a rich, warm listening experience. 02 HIGH-FREQUENCY REPRODUCTION The superior drivers inside your new in-ear headphones are equipped to reproduce high frequencies with far greater clarity and precision, but without any harshness at high volumes – and because they sit close to the eardrum, there’s less chance that the clarity will be sullied by leakage. The result? Sweet sound quality. 03 VOCAL CLARITY Vocals are an important part of the music-listening experience, and good-quality in-ear headphones should deliver voices with…

Get involved We’d love to know about any tech you’ve bought. Tell us about it at inbox@t3.com – and please include a pic of yourself Anova Precision Cooker REVIEWED BY LESLEY JAMES FROM HEREFORD £159.99, ANOVACULINARY.COM Why I bought it Despite my best efforts at improving my cooking skills (watching TV shows, buying books, etc), they remained pretty shoddy. I could warm up frozen food in the oven as well as the next person, but every time I tried to cook a nice steak or chicken breast, it ended up tasting as tough as old boots. I saw the Anova Precision Cooker – a smart sous-vide device – in a magazine advert, and the promise of “professional-quality” food at the touch of a button was too good an opportunity to…

CRYSIS 2 The second entry in Crytek’s graphicscard-exhausting Crysis series sees the action relocated to The Big Apple, complete with a Cloverfieldesque decapitated Statue of Liberty. £9.99; PC, PS3, X360 GHOSTBUSTERS Getting to trap ghouls in this authentic rendition of the classic movie is a fun, if buggy, hoot. Just watch out for that Stay Puft Marshmallow Man! £14.99; PC, PS2, PS3, Wii, X360 ENSLAVED: ODYSSEY TO THE WEST Duel heroes Monkey and Trip travel across a post-apocalyptic New York patrolled by ultraviolent robots. £10.99; X360, PS3 THE WOLF AMONG US Set in the secret NYC community of Fabletown, the investigations of Bigby Wolf (aka The Big Bad) practically ooze Big Apple noir sensibilities. £14.99; iOS, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox One, X360…

Artists are at their most potent when making real statements about real issues. Neil Young, U2, Bob Dylan… There’s a fellowship of artists who’ve felt moved to write about injustice and heartache. Richard Ashcroft is no stranger to singing about loss and adversity, but on These People he swims in themes of war and uprising, of grief and the desperate need for hope. “Out of the darkness, you save me,” he sings on Out Of My Body, before promising, “I ain’t playing their games / I’m nobody’s fool” on acoustic track They Don’t Own Me. Ashcroft’s ace card has always been his ability to write a song so emotionally raw, it explodes your heart clean open – and he’s done it again on This Is What It Feels Like and…

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR THE VERY BEST TECH AVAILABLE TODAY, YOU’VE DEFINITELY COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE. T3 Elite is the best gadget-buying guide you’ll 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 (p118), 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 advice, and highlighted the hottest gear you can get for £100 and under. Stay up to…

Smartphones 01 SAMSUNG GALAXY S7/S7 EDGE www.samsung.com PRICE From £569 TESTED T3 255 The S7 duo are superbly designed phones with brilliant cameras, beautiful screens and some innovative additions. T3 SAYS These Galaxies are simply the best phones of the year, whichever you go for. 02 APPLE iPHONE 6s/6s PLUS www.apple.com/uk PRICE From £539 TESTED T3 249 The best iPhone ever, now with 3D Touch technology, a beefed-up 12MP camera with 4K video, and added processor power. T3 SAYS The best iPhone ever made – it’ll make you consider giving up your Android. 03 HUAWEI GOOGLE NEXUS 6P consumer.huawei.com PRICE £449 TESTED T3 251 Huawei’s super-sized phone offers an incredible package – a 5.7-inch AMOLED screen, a brilliant camera and Android 6.0 Marshmallow – all for a bargain price. T3…

Pantone Universe It’s not exactly huge, nor is it packed with pockets. But that Pantone colouring makes a real style statement, so if you want to cosset your laptop in funky Cabaret, Capri Breeze or good old Loganberry, the Universe is for you. £45, selfridges.com Samsonite GT Supreme Bells and whistles aplenty here, with a litany of compartments, an internal pocket for your cables, an RFID-shielded section for cards and passports, and a rear design that slots onto luggage. All this, plus that Samsonite quality. £179, johnlewis.com Timbuk2 Alcatraz Custom Customise every panel of this laptop bag with your choice of lurid, reflective or plain materials for a gaudy/slick place to put your kit. You can’t tweak the natty grey interior, sadly, but it’s capacious enough that you won’t mind.…

Home audio 01 B&W ZEPPELIN WIRELESS www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk PRICE From £499 TESTED T3 253 The first Zeppelin launched nine years ago, and style-wise it’s hardly changed – but why mess with perfection? The latest model streams aplenty and sounds heavenly. T3 SAYS A classic, now with a modern twist. 02 HEOS BY DENON www.denon.co.uk PRICE From £199 TESTED T3 245 With its unique design, great audio performance and affordable price tag, HEOS by Denon is the system of choice for multi-room audio in the home. T3 SAYS Upgrade your home audio experience with great sound in any room. 03 ACOUSTIC RESEARCH M2 www.acoustic-research.com PRICE £900 TESTED T3 246 A portable Hi-Res player that boasts incredible sound, support for all file formats, and stylish looks. The Androidpowered five-inch screen is a bonus.…

Rob Carney EDITOR This month, Rob’s been testing sub-£200 phones, and making himself look like a waxwork in the process. Flick to p64 to see how you can get a top Android without the cost. Nick Odantzis DEPUTY EDITOR Nick’s looking forward to getting hands-on with the HTC Vive headset, though his motion sickness/glasses combination might not bode well for the outcome – buckets at the ready! Claire Davies ASSISTANT EDITOR Claire’s spent the month playing new albums, including Richard Ashcroft’s latest (p115), through B&O’s sweet BeoPlay A1, all while running around Bath testing out fitness bands (p100). Paul Dimery PRODUCTION EDITOR Mr Dimery - or Mr D, as his friends know him – has been watching Jurassic Park on a 3D projector. He tells us, while cowering behind the…

FULL REVIEW! SEE P104 Huawei again? So what’s new? Yes the Chinese firm is back with a new flagship smartphone, looking to topple the likes of the iPhone 6s and the Samsung Galaxy S7. The Huawei P9’s impossibly slender, aerospace-class aluminium unibody is full of tech to lure you away from the big guns. Should Apple and Samsung be worried? With its lower price tag, powerful performance and premium design (it’s available in six different colours, including Haze Gold and Titanium Grey), the P9 will certainly have them looking nervously over their shoulders. And that’s before they clap eyes on those game-changing dual Leica camera lenses round the back. Leica? Dual lenses? I’m listening… Huawei isn’t the first to slap two snappers on the back of a phone, but it…

It’s a drone that follows you, right? Yes, the Follow Me tracks your movement without the need for a controller. The difference here is that the drone tracks its subject via a smartwatch and GPS receiver. Take-off commands and flight patterns – follow, orbit, hover, etc – are controlled from the watch. It’s not very big, though, is it? Size isn’t everything, and the Follow Me is one of the most portable drones out there. Four carbon-fibre propeller arms fold inwards, and the landing gear and gimbal are removable. What goodies does it come with? The kit includes the drone, a 2-axis gimbal, two sets of propellers, a 4K camera with waterproof housing, a battery, GPS watch and tracker, plus a charger and USB cable, all neatly packed into a…

THE READER Mark James With a daunting list of international clients to visit, Mark is traversing the globe one economy seat at a time. He needs tech to help make long-haul flights less of an ordeal. THE EXPERT Chris Barnes As both a music and tech journalist, Chris travels a lot. He learned the hard way that long-haul flying is a total drag unless you arm yourself with the right gear. 01 BLUESMART CARRY-ON SUITCASE This connected suitcase is small enough to carry onto the plane, and the easy-access top hatch means there will be no clothes-spewing scenarios when grabbing or stowing your tech quickly. It also features app-controlled locking, a built-in scale, location tracking and dual USB chargers so you can juice up your phone on the go, then…

01 GET SOME TOP TECH FOR FESTIVAL SEASON 02 COOK PIZZA AL FRESCO 03 COOK PIZZA AL FRESCO 04 BUILD A PERSONALISED SMARTWATCH 05 GIVE YOUR HOME A BRAIN 06 EAT SMARTER WITH A FOOD APP 07 EMBRACE THE FUTURE OF AUDIO 01 GET SOME TOP TECH FOR FESTIVAL SEASON Set yourself up for a comfy, connected stay at whichever music festival you’re hitting this summer, and arm yourself with a powerful smartphone camera to capture the fun Camping at a summer festival is a rite of passage for any dedicated music fan, but such an experience can be made or ruined by the gear you take. To prepare for 2016’s festival season, we’ve rounded up the best tech to help you film your favourite bands playing live, as well…

Every Android handset manufacturer has a different OS skin – some very close to the ‘stock’ Android experience you get on a Nexus; some much more customised. It’s arguably one of the best – and worst – things about the Android OS. The Oppo F1 is the most skinned-out of these phones, running an Android Lollipop iteration the company calls ColorOS. It’s going to divide opinion, mainly because it simplifies Android to the extent of removing the App Drawer. All of your apps appear on your Home screens, rather like with iOS. It’s not great if you’ve got a load of apps, and feels a little constrictive in use. We were reaching for the Google Now Launcher pretty swiftly. That said, the icons are well-designed, as are the widgets, and…

01 QOBUZ MUSIC French company Qobuz was the first to offer Hi-Res music streaming on Android phones through its Qobuz Sublime service, and this app makes it possible. Qobuz offers a wide range of Hi-Res content – over 20,000 Hi-Res albums, one of the most extensive selections in the world – plus you can create a local music library so you can enjoy Hi-Res tracks while away from a Wi-Fi or mobile connection. £9.99 per month, qobuz.com, Android/iOS 02 ONKYO HF PLAYER Onkyo’s app not only enables playback of Hi-Res Audio files on any compatible mobile phone, but also features a 16,000-band equaliser that gives you precise control over how the music sounds – including EQ presets designed by respected musicians specifically for Onkyo. It supports FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF…

B&W ZEPPELIN WIRELESS With its iconic airship design, this streaming speaker wins you over before you’ve even turned it on. DLNA and multi-room are off the menu, but AirPlay and Spotify Connect sound fabulous on it. £499, www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk BOSE SOUNDTOUCH 30 Bose’s speaker is hardly discreet, but one listen to its roomfilling sound and you won’t be complaining. It streams Spotify, Deezer and Web radio from a polished multi-room app. £499.95, www.bose.co.uk SAMSUNG R7 The R7’s striking egg-shaped design and ring-radiator tech deliver sound from every direction, doing away with the sweet spot. It streams music via DLNA, Spotify, Deezer and Bluetooth, and offers flexible multi-room playback. £429, www.samsung.com/uk…

ON TEST THIS MONTH THE GADGETS WE’RE LIVING AND BREATHING PAUL DIMERY MIELE SCOUT RX1 I hate vacuuming my house, so the idea of having a robot to do the work for me fills me with joy. And if you’re going to have a robot living with you, you might as well make it a good-looking one. Enter Miele’s compact Scout RX1. WARREN BROWN MOTOROLA WI-FI PET VIDEO CAMERA Weekend breaks have always been slightly ruined by worrying about our cats at home. I’m hoping all that will change now I’ve got my hands on this pet cam. CLAIRE DAVIES PEBBLE TIME ROUND I’ve been loving this stylish smartwatch, and am sad that this is my final month with it. Join me as I check out the apps available for…

£449.99, EPSON.CO.UK Why I bought it At my local history group, they have a projector for showing archive news clips and the like on YouTube, and it gave me the idea that I could have a ‘home cinema’ in my lounge without having to splash out on a 60-inch TV. My wife wouldn’t let me buy a huge telly for the lounge anyway – but with a projector, I could project movies straight onto the wall and then put it away once the film had finished. What I like about it It’s incredibly easy to set up. You plug it in, connect it via an HDMI lead to your DVD/Blu-ray player or laptop, switch both devices on and your image is projected onto the wall. The output is 3,000 lumens,…

01 THE DUKE SPIRIT: KIN Produced by Simon Raymonde (Cocteau Twins), this bewitching album unfolds with Blue & Yellow Light, weaving sultry vocals (Sonar) with lavishly poetic lyrics (Wounded Wing). Kin has its rockier moments, too, with Side By Side, and carries the hallmarks of intelligent, female-fronted alt acts like Mazzy Star (Angola, Here Comes The Vapour). 02 BARENAKED LADIES: BNL RED ROCKS Recorded in Colorado in 2015, this live offering is ace for bad-rapping your way through road trips. If I Had $1,000,000 and One Week are accounted for, adding dollops of sunkissed nostalgia among songs from the band’s more recent offerings, such as Silverball’s Duct Tape Heart. All together now, “Chickity China...” 03 GREGORY PORTER: TAKE ME TO THE ALLEY The critically acclaimed jazz star returns with the…

Whether you’re a seasoned tech aficionado or this is the first gadget magazine you’ve purchased, The Elite is the best possible place to start your gadget-selection journey. Here we present the best gadgets available right now in 12 key categories, to save you the hard work of doing all the research yourself – in short, if you’re starting from scratch and want the very best there is, The Elite is your new shopping list. The Elite will only be updated when something new emerges that is capable of toppling an existing product from its perch; there may therefore be months when the 12 products featured here don’t change. But this is an exclusive club, and only tech that is capable of achieving a towering standard of excellence gets in. To…

Plex Plex will convert your content on-the-fly to suit the device you’re playing it on. It has a great menu, and there are client apps for most platforms – and a Web interface for the rest. Make sure you host it on a powerful PC, though. Free/£3.99 monthly, plex.tv Kodi Formerly known as XBMC, this is a media front-end with some serious experience and a raft of plug-ins to extend its functionality beyond just playing your own stuff. Install a few Kodi boxes at home, and you can share content between them. Free, kodi.tv Emby The new kid on the block, perhaps, but Emby (formerly Media Browser) is able to do just about everything Plex can do with a moderately better interface. If you’re looking for a media manager with…

Laptops 01 DELL XPS 13 www.dell.com PRICE £1,060 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. 02 HP SPECTRE X360 www.hp.com PRICE £849 TESTED T3 244 The X360 is powerful and has a massive 12.5-hour battery life. Its 360-degree rotating keyboard enables you to use it as a tablet or stood upright for hands-free video. T3 SAYS For a relatively modest price, you get a powerful and versatile machine. 03 ASUS ZENBOOK NX500 www.asus.com PRICE £1,699 TESTED T3 239 The diminutive NX500 boasts a stunning design, impressive power and a bright, vibrant…

Nixon The Mission This is, as you might expect from Nixon, aimed at watersports and snow enthusiasts, and has tie-ins with SnoCountry and Surfline to prove it. 100m waterproofing, builtin GPS and an absolutely delicious interface make this one to watch. $400 (£284), nixon.com, out October Tissot Smart Touch This is more an iteration of Tissot’s previous T-Touch than a new watch, but we’re taken by its key feature: turn-by-turn navigation, using the watch hands to point the way. It’s solarpowered, too, so no charging woes. £850, tissotwatches.com, out TBC de Grisogono Gear S2 This won’t set the world alight, admittedly, as it’s a standard Samsung Gear S2 with a couple of bonus watch faces. But the extra bling – your choice of 56 white diamonds or 72 black ones…

Logitech G602 Gamers – bastions of lag-free performance – have long sneered at wireless mice. But sluggish pointer movement is no more, as the G602 proves: there’s no lag, its optical sensor is great, and the battery won’t die mid-match. £59.99, logitech.com Razer Ouroboros This heavily engineered pointer, with its fancy charging stand, switchable grips for left- or righthanded gaming, and wired option, might seem extravagant. But its 1,000Hz report rate is supremely accurate for twitchy wrists. £140, razer.com Mad Catz R.A.T. 9 Nothing says you mean business more than a mouse that looks like Skynet dreamt it up. We’re particularly taken by the R.A.T.’s quick-change battery – just switch one of its two rechargeable cells to get back in the game. £92, madcatz.com…

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 MASTER LOCK 4401DLH BLUETOOTH PADLOCK www.masterlock.com PRICE $89 (£63) If you’ve got your phone, you’ve got your key – and if you haven’t, you can swipe your own secret cheat code on this lock’s…

FREE GIFT with a new T3 subscription p62 Take a look around you – and even on your person. What gadgets and tech do you have that you positively need to upgrade? All of it, right? That’s how I feel, anyway. Starting on p46, we bring you the ultimate tech upgrades – gadgets and gear to redefine your style; pimp your car and home with the latest smart kit; and make your world more entertaining with the best TVs, speakers and more. Continuing this theme of upgrades, in this month’s Complete Guide we look at the best in-ear headphones – so you can replace those shonky ones that came with your phone. Have you ever dreamed of being a superhero? My writer Damian Hall had. And here at T3, we…

Nice wheels. What’s the deal? This, buddy, is a smart bicycle for road warriors. SpeedX is touting it as the world’s “first ever smart aero road bike”. In a nutshell, it’s a lightweight (7.9kg) two-wheel ride with a built-in GPS bike computer. Hmm, tell me about the computer. The SpeedX Smart Control? Well, it utilises seven built-in sensors, automatically records ride data, and delivers real-time feedback via its 2.4-inch, half-translucent, high-def display (visible in sunlight). Data capture includes speed, GPS trajectory, cadence, distance, altitude, calories and the weather. Is there an app? Aye, SpeedX. Via this, you can save, share and analyse ride data, as well as challenge other SpeedX users via the online leaderboards. You can also plan cycling routes and get turn-by-turn navigation via the Smart Control. The…

ONE OFF THE WRIST 01 LEATHERMAN TREAD No self-respecting rapper should be without some bling – and even better if that bling can be used to change a plug or open a bottle of pop. Enter the Leatherman Tread, a stainless-steel bracelet that contains 25 removable tools, from box wrenches to screwdrivers, glass breakers to cutting hooks. With one of these on his wrist, Kanye will be perfectly equipped to carry out DIY when he’s on tour. Kanye fix it? Yes, he can! £140, multi-tool.store.co.uk BAND AID 02 MUSE Kanye is so vitriolic, he makes Zippy out of Rainbow look like a Zen master. So what he needs is something to calm him down. Muse is a brain-sensing headband that aims to maximise meditation by giving you real-time biofeedback on…

You can get a bit blasé doing this job, and Lord knows I do. Invites to Parliament? Meh. Looking at nextlevel, hush-hush start-ups? Whatevs. Driving the Batmobile? Oh, if I must. So I did do that, this month. I was also chauffeured from the grimy streets of Munich to Switzerland’s Jura Valley, a place so chocolate-box perfect, I half-expected the Von Trapps to hove into view at any moment, singing about being chased by Goebbels (or whatever The Sound Of Music is about). The 360-degree VR miracle that is the HTC Vive arrived at my flat this month, too – nightmare. And Dyson sent me a new vacuum cleaner and, if you please, a hairdryer. So it’s basically like Dyson is openly mocking me at this stage. I did, however,…

There’s nothing that Guru likes more than strapping kit to his phone, marching down the street like a tit and pretending to blast people – which is why multiplayer laser-tag game father.io (and its associated Interceptor phone module) has proven so enticing. Taking the best elements of Google’s crushingly dull Ingress, and adding in copious AR elements and a cool infrared shootybox for real-world battling, father.io seems like a great idea, which may be why its Indiegogo campaign performed so well. Expect carnage on the streets come its August release. Also benefiting from Guru’s special crowdfunding wallet is the OLO smartphone 3D printer, which uses the light from your phone to cure special resins and build (small) tangible objects. At £70, it’s cheap enough that you can buy a spare…

These three smartphones may be inexpensive, but they certainly don’t look or feel cheap. In fact, to the untrained eye – at a glance – they could pass for premium handsets, and they all have some very nice design details. Take the Oppo F1. This five-inch handset is the least expensive of those on test, but has an iPhone-esque quality about it. The white and gold model that we tested feels great in the hand, and the glass meets the premium-feeling metal chassis with precision – although it’s a little bit of trickery, as where the glass curves into the screen it’s plastic. The metal and plastic back of the phone looks great as well; it doesn’t stop the handset from looking much more expensive than its £169 price tag.…

1st Wileyfox Storm PRICE: £199 URL: wileyfox.com T3 RATES: The Wileyfox Storm is a fast phone, running an octa-core Snapdragon CPU. We love Cyanogen OS, which brings a raft of security and customisation options to the handset. And the camera is top-notch. T3 SLATES: This phone is a grease-magnet, on both the front and back. You’ll constantly be cleaning and wiping it with your shirt. T3 SAYS: With a 1080p screen and a 20MP camera, the Wileyfox Storm performs well above its £199 price tag. If you’re looking for a cheap SIM-free option, this could well be it. 2nd BQ Aquaris X5 PRICE: £179 URL: bq.com T3 RATES: The Aquaris X5 looks like a phone worth twice its price. Fantastic design. T3 SLATES: Its quad-core CPU isn’t as snappy as…

We’ve talked about the many benefits of in-ear headphones, but we know that they’re not everyone’s cup of tea. Some people simply don’t like the feeling of pushing them so far into their ear canal, which can seem quite intrusive if you’re not used to it. What’s more, everyone’s ears are different, so certain headphones will feel more comfortable than others. It might take a bit of trial and error to find the right fit for you. One way round this is to try custom-fitted in-ears, which are moulded to the exact shape of your ear canal. You’ll need to get an audiologist to take an impression of your ear using silicone, which is then sent to the manufacturer to create bespoke earpieces. It’s more expensive than buying off-the-peg, but…

RETRO-STYLED CAMERAS Fujifilm X-Pro2 IS FUJI’S UPGRADE OF ITS PRO-TARGETED ‘X’ CAMERA WORTH THE FOUR-YEAR WAIT? £1,300 (BODY ONLY), FUJIFILM.CO.UK DESIGN An ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ approach sees the X-Pro2 closely resembling the X-Pro1 for classic rangefinder-camera-type design and layout. The twin top-plate dials and four-sided magnesiummoulding construction lend it heft and durability. FEATURES The big draws are a 24MP APS-C sensor and a processor four times faster than its forebear, plus an eye-level ‘hybrid’ viewfinder that can switch between an optical finder and a 2.3-million-dot-resolution real-time electronic view. PERFORMANCE The X-Pro2 reacts like a pro-grade tool, quickly becoming an extension of your arm. Images pack plenty of detail within the frame. We enjoyed subtly boosting the natural colour performance by selecting the ‘Velvia’ Film Simulation mode.…

WIN ONE OF SEVEN ISAW EDGE ACTION CAMS! This highly rated device captures 4K video, and can withstand the rough and tumble of an adventurer’s life PRIZES WORTH £1,260 The ISAW Edge has a raft of high-end features, including video recording in 4K (at 10fps), 1080p (at 60fps) and – for fans of slow-motion edits, when you want to really capture those standout moments – 720p (at 120fps). The waterproof case ensures you can use it during any sort of activity, while a handy 1.5-inch screen around the back shows you what you’re shooting, enabling you to set up shots with ease and navigate the intuitive menu system. If that’s not smart enough for you tech lovers, the Edge also has Wi-Fi built in. Via its accompanying app (for Android…

KEEP YOUR MOBILE GOING FOR LONGER THAN YOU THOUGHT POSSIBLE I heard this trick... Mobile batteries inspire a whole lot of pseudo-science and nonsense. So: don’t bother letting your battery run down and charging it from flat – battery memory hasn’t been an issue since the move to lithium-ion cells. Don’t freeze your battery or your phone (just don’t). Don’t force-close applications – your phone’s OS is built to manage memory automatically, and you could actually make your battery life worse by meddling with it. And finally, don’t believe any tech that comes in sticker form and purports to boost your battery life – if it looks like a sticker, it is a sticker, not a magic spell. So what do I do? Your phone’s components all drain battery. The…

TVs 01 PANASONIC TX-50CX680B www.panasonic.co.uk PRICE £649 TESTED T3 255 Proof that you don’t need to spend a mint to get a great 4K TV, with superb picture performance, clean styling, plus Freeview Play and Firefox OS smart platforms. T3 SAYS A belter of a screen bargain – just add a soundbar and it’ll be perfect. 02 PANASONIC TX-50CX802B www.panasonic.co.uk PRICE £1,799 TESTED T3 246 Incredible 4K imagery, matched to 4K services from Netflix and Amazon, plus the combination of Firefox OS and Freeview Play, make this masterpiece a dream to use. T3 SAYS As modern as screens get, this TV will future-proof your lounge. 03 PHILIPS 55PUT6400 www.philips.co.uk PRICE £629 TESTED T3 255 Another 4K bargain – this Philips isn’t quite up there with the Panasonic at number one,…

OPPO HA-2 This leather-wrapped aluminium rectangle could be the best thing that ever happened to your mobile music. It’s both a volume-boosting headphone amp and a high-end DAC capable of enhancing the highest-res digital audio formats. £259, oppo.com Acoustic Research AR-UA1 Unassuming it may be, but this diddy amp is no slouch. With a host of outputs, a Burr-Brown DAC, and isolated analogue and digital stages, it’ll beef up the low notes and smooth out the treble for a serious listening experience. £380, acoustic-research.com Bravo Audio V2 Hardcore audiophiles will always steer you towards the warmth and character of valves. Bravo Audio’s amp might be a bit rough and ready, but with its replaceable valve and sumptuous sound, it’s certainly worth a listen. £45, bravoaudio.com…

Smartwatches 01 PEBBLE TIME STEEL www.getpebble.com PRICE £229.99 TESTED T3 249 De-throning the Apple Watch, the Pebble Time brings with it ease of use, a devastatingly funky colour interface, Android support and great battery life. T3 SAYS All the features of previous Pebble smartwatches, but even more impressive. 02 APPLE WATCH www.apple.com/uk PRICE FROM £299 TESTED T3 242 Apple’s wearable is packed with features and offers a wide range of customisation options to give you some individuality. The only real downside is the limited battery life. T3 SAYS The wearable that properly kickstarted the smartwatch revolution. 03 PEBBLE STEEL www.getpebble.com PRICE £199 TESTED T3 240 The always-on, monochrome e-ink screen might not be for everyone, but it works brilliantly, and you get up to seven days’ battery. There are loads…

Connected home 01 CANARY www.canary.is PRICE £160 TESTED T3 254 Though a little on the hefty side, the Canary looks slick. It offers excellent 1080p video day or night, and motion-triggered events, while the app is feature-packed and intuitive. T3 SAYS The Canary is the best all-round connected security camera you can get. 02 3D ROBOTICS SOLO www.3drobotics.com PRICE £979.95 TESTED T3 250 If you’re planning to use a drone for more than just skimming your neighbours’ gardens, this is the drone for you. The Solo is fast, capable and future-proof. T3 SAYS It’s expensive, but perfect if you’re serious about aerial photography. 03 NEST LEARNING THERMOSTAT www.nest.com PRICE £180 TESTED T3 242 Stylish and easy to use, this smart thermo integrates with other connected-home gadgets, and learns your heating…

TOO MANY (TIM) COOKS? In 2008, the MacBook Air was touted as the world’s thinnest laptop. It was Apple’s ultraportable machine for people on the go. But this new MacBook overshadows it, being thinner and lighter than even the Air’s smallest 11-inch model. And with more performance in this machine, too, the Air’s only saving grace is a price tag of £300 less. Don’t be surprised to see Apple pull the plug on the Air line-up within the next year. COLOUR ME PINK Last year’s MacBook certainly turned heads with its wafer-thin lines and fresh colours. 2016’s MacBook comes in on-trend pink – sorry, Rose Gold – to match your iPhone and Watch IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY While the MacBook is supremely thin and light (0.9kg), it’s got a sizeable 12-inch display.…