Google has just made a handful of announcements regarding the future of Android at its "Android Show I/O Edition 2026" event, and while the redesigned emojis and smarter AI news are fun, there was surprisingly little in the way of AV announcements.

Google TV, in fact, didn't get so much as a shoutout, but another offshoot of Google's software ecosystem did get some unexpected picture and sound upgrades.

Android Auto, Google's smart automotive software experience, will soon support a more immersive audio experience, and for the first time, video too.

Dolby Atmos is the big news here, as Android Auto will finally deliver the immersive audio format in a forthcoming update, though there are some stipulations to be aware of. This comes a couple of years after Apple CarPlay began rolling out Dolby Atmos support in 2024.

Google's current list of automotive manufacturers that will support Dolby Atmos includes BMW, Genesis, Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Škoda, Tata and Volvo, so you'll need a supported vehicle from one of these brands to access the 3D audio format via the Android software system. We expect this list to expand in due course.

You'll also need a streaming app that supports Dolby Atmos playback, which currently rules out the likes of Spotify and YouTube Music. Ironically, Google highlights that these two apps in particular have been freshly redesigned for Android Auto to accommodate better ease of use.

Apple Music, Tidal and Amazon Music Unlimited should all deliver Dolby Atmos playback, but we're clarifying with Google to confirm if all of these services are supported.

And it's not just audio that's getting souped up on Android Auto. For the first time, users will be able to watch videos in full HD up to 60fps on their car's infotainment display through "apps like YouTube".

We presume that this means other video apps will be supported when this feature launches later this year, but we've reached out to Google to confirm which streaming apps will and won't be supported.

Videos on Android Auto will be supported in vehicles from BMW, Ford, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Škoda, Tata and Volvo.

Watching videos while driving is, of course, a no-go, but Google has thankfully thought ahead. Video apps that support background audio will seamlessly transition into a podcast-style audio experience when you begin driving, meaning you can continue listening to what you were watching while you were parked.

These updates are both expected to roll out later this year, alongside a more customisable user interface and improved Google Maps experience.

With more in-car audio systems now supporting Dolby Atmos – Dolby itself made a big push for immersive in-car audio at CES 2026 earlier this year – it's encouraging to see Google make the necessary steps to upgrade Android Auto to support the latest in-car entertainment features.

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Samsung has announced its latest trio of Android smartphones, with the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus and S26 Ultra forming the three-strong lineup for 2026.

These high-end handsets will serve as the flagship models, replacing the Award-winning Galaxy S25 Ultra and the four-star Galaxy S25 Plus from last year.

Samsung is touting updated designs, more powerful chipsets, better cameras and, if you can believe it, even more AI smarts than ever before. All of these do, unfortunately, come at a cost, and we mean that in the literal sense.

Samsung's new flagship, the Galaxy S26 Ultra

Starting with the Galaxy S26 Ultra, this flagship handset boasts a 6.9-inch Super AMOLED 2X display with a variable refresh rate of 1Hz-120Hz, and a resolution of 3120x1440.

It sports the superb ProScaler feature of its predecessor, which upscales lower-resolution content to look its best on the high-resolution display, and Samsung claims it has worked with its TV division once again to improve the tech on the new S26 Ultra.

Furthermore, Samsung is touting an improved mDNIe system for more natural and subtle colours, as well as HDR10+ and HDR10 support for compatible streaming apps.

Dolby Atmos audio is also on board, and can be accessed via wireless or wired headphones, as well as the built-in stereo speaker system, which utilises the handset's bottom-firing speaker and earpiece.

Powering this beast of a smartphone is the latest Snapdragon Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset from Qualcomm, and it's backed by 12GB of RAM if you opt for the 256GB or 512GB model, or 16GB of RAM if you choose the spacious 1TB configuration.

This powerful processor enables a wide range of Galaxy AI smarts, including automatic translation, Circle to Search with Google, writing assists, generative photo editing, and the Now Bar system, which can show you relevant news, calendar entries, and weather information at the relevant time.

Now Nudge is another new feature, which uses AI to dig into your apps to search for relevant information to automatically reply to messages or enter details on websites. There's also a generative photo assistant tool which can totally change a photo you've taken into a new style or scenario with a simple text prompt.

Speaking of photos, the S26 Ultra sports a quad rear camera arrangement with a new 200MP main sensor that's reportedly 47 per cent brighter than its predecessor, and a pair of upgraded telephoto sensors that provide better noise reduction and HDR performance.

Samsung is touting higher charging speeds, with wired charging now reaching 60W, and wireless charging topping out at 25W. If you have a compatible 60W wired fast charger, Samsung says that you can expect the Galaxy S26 Ultra to reach 75 per cent in just 30 minutes.

Disappointingly, Samsung hasn't upgraded the battery itself, meaning we have the same 5000mAh cell that's been featured on the last few Galaxy S Ultra iterations.

All of these features come wrapped up in a redesigned chassis with smoother, more rounded corners, and an Aluminium Armour frame (so long titanium) that features enhanced durability to withstand knocks and dings.

This is also the slimmest Ultra smartphone to date, according to Samsung, as it's shaved the S26 Ultra down to just 7.9mm, down from the S25 Ultra's 8.3mm thickness.

Samsung is launching the S26 Ultra in four widely available finishes (Black, White, Cobalt Violet and Sky Blue) and two exclusive (Pink Gold and Shadow Silver) colours for its online store.

As we mentioned earlier, prices have gone up this year, with the S26 Ultra now starting at £1279 for the 256GB model, £1449 for the 512GB version, and a whopping £1699 for the 1TB edition. Those prices are £50, £100 and £150 more than last year's models, respectively, which is a tough pill to swallow.

International pricing is TBA as of now; however, we do know that the S26 Ultra will launch on 11th March 2026, with Samsung offering customers double the storage capacity at no extra cost if they choose to pre-order the handset before then.

Upgraded step down models launching too

Moving down to the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus, these handsets shave off a few features in a bid to keep costs down.

The S26 sports a 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a resolution of 2340x1080, a variable 1Hz to 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ and HDR10 support. Unfortunately, it doesn't support ProScaler, though this year's model features a 0.1-inch screen size upgrade compared to last year's model.

The S26 Plus moves up to a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 3120x1440 resolution, support for the same variable refresh rate and HDR formats as the other models, and the ProScaler feature is supported here.

Both handsets utilise Samsung's latest Exynos 2600 chipset in the UK. However, that's switched for the same Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip in North America, China and Japan. That's backed up by 12GB of RAM across the board for both models, and the base storage configuration is now 256GB on the standard S26, with a 512GB version also available for both.

The S26 sports a 4300mAh battery with Samsung's Super Fast Charging and Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 standards supported, which translates to 25W wired charging or 15W wireless charging. The S26 Plus, on the other hand, steps up to Super Fast Charging 2.0 and Super Fast Wireless Charging, allowing for 40W wired or 20W wireless charging.

Both devices feature a triple rear camera setup, with a 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto and a 50MP main sensor. Furthermore, the raft of Galaxy AI features listed on the S26 Ultra are also supported here.

The Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus will launch in the same range of colours as the Ultra – that's Black, White, Cobalt Violet and Sky Blue (widely available), and Pink Gold and Shadow Silver (Samsung exclusives) – on the 11th of March.

Prices have also gone up for the entry-level models, thanks to the removal of the 128GB base storage, meaning the Galaxy S26 now starts at £879 instead of £799 (or £1049 for the 512GB version).

The Galaxy S26 Plus starts at £1099 rather than the £999 starting price of the Galaxy S25 Plus, with the 512GB model costing an Ultra-like £1269. Samsung will also double your storage on S26 and S26 Plus if you choose to pre-order before the official launch date.

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Sony's Xperia series has been an oddity in the smartphone world for quite some time, and its dwindling popularity against heavy hitters such as Apple and Samsung is hard to ignore.

Despite the difficulties, Sony has remained steadfast in continuing production of its Xperia phones; that, though, might be about to change. Rumours are circulating that Sony's new Android smartphone will usher in a new era, in which it won't have a hand in its production.

A report from Smartphone Digest (via Android Authority) claims that the Xperia 1 VII, which was announced just a couple of weeks ago, won't be manufactured by Sony internally.

Instead, Sony could be outsourcing assembly of its latest premium smartphone to third-party manufacturers, as evidenced by the removal of any mention of smartphones on its manufacturing-focused website.

Sony already uses other manufacturers to assemble the step-down smartphones in its range, namely the mid-range Xperia 5 and entry-level Xperia 10, so the Xperia 1 appears to be following in the footsteps of its siblings.

Now, this doesn't necessarily mean that the Xperia range is winding down. However, it does seem that Sony has taken an unusually reserved approach to announcing its smartphones for the last couple of years.

The Xperia 5 V is still awaiting a successor, despite launching back in 2023. Though there might not be much use in waiting, as Sony reportedly cancelled the Xperia 5 VI last year.

The Japanese-language publication Impress Watch (also via Android Authority) reported that Sony opted to continue selling the five-star Xperia 5 V instead of launching a sequel, and the company is yet to confirm if the Xperia 5 series will return this year.

The Xperia 10, on the other hand, is often refreshed alongside the flagship model yet there was no mention of an Xperia 10 VII at Sony's last launch event.

Considering the last three generations of Sony's budget smartphones have picked up Awards, we're eagerly anticipating the next version's announcement.

Overall, it seems as though Sony's Xperia phones are in somewhat of a limbo state, though the 1 VII's upgrades to picture and sound performance are certainly appealing to us, so we hope to see the rest of the lineup get the same attention later this year.

As for the shift in manufacturing strategy, it's unclear what impact this will have on the new Xperia 1, though we didn't notice anything too out of the ordinary when we reviewed the latest generation Xperia 10 and Xperia 5 devices.

Generally speaking, it could either be the lifeline that the Xperia series requires, or Sony's way of sidelining its smartphone division without abandoning it entirely; only time will tell.

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Read our full Sony Xperia 1 VI review

As well as our Sony Xperia 10 VI review

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Google's annual developer conference, I/O, took place yesterday, and it revealed the latest version of Android which is set to come to Google-powered TVs in the near future.

It was recently confirmed that Google will roll out major updates to its Google TV operating system using a two year cycle, meaning its jumping from Android 14 to 16, skipping over Android 15 in the process. So what's new for the latest edition of Google's TV operating system?

It confirmed that Eclipsa Audio will roll out to more devices with this update, which could spell trouble for Dolby Atmos.

The Eclipsa immersive audio format was developed in partnership with Samsung, which has already advertised support for Eclipsa Audio on its 2025 TVs and soundbars.

While this open-source alternative for Atmos should be on Dolby's radar, it needn't worry too much yet, as Google has confirmed that it will only work with YouTube at launch. However, there is always scope for it to expand to more streaming services in the future.

Furthermore, Android 16 brings a system called MediaQualityManager to Google TV, which will allow developers to amend picture and sound settings within their apps. This, in theory, should allow streaming apps to optimise vital settings to best suit the content shown.

This isn't technically a new phenomenon, as some apps already offer special calibrated picture modes that can tweak your TV's settings based on data sent over the air when you play content on a supported service.

Amazon Prime Video Calibrated Mode, which is available on Sony TVs now, and we saw in action on the upcoming Panasonic Z90B OLED TV, is a good example.

As this is a new Android update, there is, of course, AI aplenty. Android 16 brings Gemini to Google TV, which should handle voice requests and make smarter content recommendations too; something we've seen in part on the Google TV Streamer.

There is also a very subtle redesign as part of Google's new "Material 3 Expressive" design language, which rounds out some of the sharper edges and features a more contrasty colour scheme.

It's worth noting that this design enhancement only really applies to the main settings menu, and that the home screen will remain unchanged, according to 9To5Google.

Elsewhere, the updates coming to Google TV via Android 16 seem subdued. Google notes in its official Android developer spec sheets that we should see more reliable HDMI-CEC and improved playback stability.

Google also confirms that its TV operating system will work with Android XR, which is its new mixed reality software system that's set to power a swathe of upcoming smart glasses and headsets.

We'll admit, this isn't the most enthralling software update, though new features are always welcome. Android 16 will reportedly begin rolling out later this year, and we expect to see it on Google's latest TV streamer, as well as its older Chromecast with Google TV device.

We also expect to see the current handful of manufacturers that use Google TV for their TVs and projectors, such as Sony, Philips, TCL, Epson and Xgimi, to update their systems down the line; though no dates have been confirmed as of yet.

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Google's I/O, the tech conglomerate's annual developer conference, is scheduled to begin on the 20th of May. We already have a key piece of information regarding Google TV, however, and it sheds light on what we can expect for the future of the smart TV platform.

The software is based on the Android platform, which will be familiar to anyone with a Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus or Sony smartphone. However, unlike these devices, which tend to get annual updates, Google TV, it seems, will run a two-year cycle with its TV-optimised version of the software.

This means that the current version of the software (which is based on 2023's Android 14) will not be upgraded to the currently available Android 15 version, but instead skip straight to Android 16, which is set to launch later this year.

This nugget of information was spotted by Android Authority, and it can be found directly from Google here.

A technical session during the developer conference titled "Engage users on Google TV with excellent TV apps" mentions "preparing for Android 16 for TV", meaning the latest version of the operating system could be approaching quickly.

It's worth noting that, while the major system updates will carry most of the bigger upgrades, we expect Google to continue to offer regular software updates along the way.

Despite skipping Android 15, Google TV updates have been frequently rolled out since the Android 14 upgrade, with a recent update launching in February of this year.

Google TV is the operating system of choice for some of the best OLED TVs, including the Sony Bravia 8 and Philips OLED809, and it also features in TVs and projectors from the likes of TCL, Epson and Xgimi.

It's also the main draw of the Google TV Streamer, which touts the operating system as a headlining feature thanks to the raft of new Gemini AI features.

Google hasn't confirmed any new features or settings for this upcoming update, but we are willing to bet that AI will continue to dominate the advancements.

We eagerly anticipate our first glimpse of the Android 16 version of Google TV, which should, hopefully, be shown off during the Google I/O livestream on the 20th of May.

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As well as the best TV deals

Samsung has revealed the latest additions to its Galaxy Tab family of tablets: affordable alternatives to the flagship S10 series. The Galaxy Tab S10 FE and Tab S10 FE+ feature premium designs and plenty of Galaxy AI smarts – although Samsung has dropped a staple feature of its mobile lineup to reach this lower price point.

The Tab S10 FE and S10 FE+ feature 10.9-inch and 13.1-inch displays, respectively; Samsung boasts that this is the largest display on an FE-series Tab yet. They feature trimmed-down bezels surrounding the screen for a sleeker look, and a claimed peak brightness of up to 800 nits.

Furthermore, Samsung has included its Vision Booster feature, which will reportedly deliver optimal viewing regardless of your environment – so an abundance of ambient light shouldn't impact your on-the-go movie watching.

Unfortunately, to meet the cheaper price point (more on that in a moment), Samsung has opted for LCD panels in these tablets instead of its punchy Dynamic AMOLED displays, which have proven to deliver rich colours and deep blacks on its previous tablets and smartphones.

These panels can reach up to 90Hz, which should deliver smoother scrolling and gameplay, but they probably won't be as responsive as the Tab S10+ and Ultra, which both feature 120Hz panels.

There doesn't appear to be any mention of HDR10+ support either, nor a reference to Dolby Atmos support for the dual speaker setup. Both of these features can be found on the more expensive Tab S10+ and Tab S10 Ultra.

Elsewhere, the Tab S10 FE and its plus variant feature the Exynos 1580​ chipset, with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM, depending on whether you opt for the 128GB or 256GB storage option. They both run Android 15 with Samsung's One UI skin. That includes the Galaxy AI feature suite, with Circle to Search with Google and the Gemini assistant supported.

The Tab S10 FE+ also boasts a large 10,090 mAh battery (8000 mAh on the standard version), and both models are available in grey, silver or blue finishes. Both versions include an S-Pen stylus in the box, and a keyboard cover case is available as an optional extra.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE and Galaxy Tab S10 FE plus start at £499 and £649 respectively, notably cheaper than the Tab S10+, which starts at £999. And those prices undercut Apple's iPad Air, which is currently £599 for the 11-inch version, or £799 for the 13-inch model.

Pricing and availability for the US and Australia are yet to be confirmed.

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Chromecast is dead; long live the Google TV Streamer. When Google revealed that it was putting its Chromecast brand out to pasture late last year, many eyebrows were raised amongst the AV-minded folk of the What Hi-Fi? team. After all, the Chromecast with Google TV was a three-time Award winner, so what could replace it?

Google’s answer? A bigger and more feature-rich streaming box that’s designed to sit proudly on your media unit rather than dangle from an HDMI socket behind your TV. While a more powerful streamer from Google is exactly what we’ve been asking for, it also comes with a higher price tag and, as we’ve come to find out, not a lot in the way of improvements.

Price

The Google TV Streamer is a pretty significant step up in price compared to the outgoing Chromecast with Google TV. It officially costs £99 / $100 / AU$160, which is a tough pill to swallow when we recall that the Chromecast was priced just £60 / $50 / AU$99.

This price increase also puts the Google TV Streamer closer to the Product of the Year-winning Apple TV 4K (£149 / $130 / AU$219) and the not-quite-as-impressive Amazon Fire TV Cube 3rd Generation (£140 / $140 / AU$219).

Ultimately, a price increase this substantial – literally double for the US market, for instance – needs to be justified, so our expectations for the Google TV Streamer are understandably high.

Build

Google’s new streamer sports an all-new look that’s designed to take centre stage on your media unit. This is a streaming box much like the Apple TV 4K and Fire TV Cube, rather than a dongle or stick, and Google has taken design into account to help you accept the Streamer’s new place in your set-up.

It sports a low-profile, pebble-like appearance that’s no bigger in width than an average smartphone in landscape orientation. With its rounded corners and off-white Porcelain finish (the US also gets a grey-toned Hazel colourway), the Streamer looks clean, simplistic and, if we’re being honest, a bit bland. That’s no great shame, however, as it is designed to seamlessly integrate into your TV set-up, not draw your eye away from the screen.

Google keeps things simple on the rear of the body too, with a USB-C socket for power (cable and mains block are both included in the box), an ethernet socket (which is a major perk of this new form factor), an HDMI 2.1 socket, and a button that helps you locate your remote if you misplace it.

Speaking of which, bundled with the Streamer is Google’s Voice Remote, which looks very similar to the one included with the Chromecast. This smooth, rounded handset is slightly longer, making it feel a bit more comfortable in the hand. Some controls have been rearranged too – the volume buttons have migrated from the side of the handset to a more conventional place on the top edge with the rest of the buttons, while the home and Google Assistant buttons have swapped places.

Overall, we have very few complaints about the remote, aside from the fact that it is missing any sort of dedicated media controls. It does score points for having a “find my remote” feature, which is a godsend when the slippery handset slides between the couch cushions.

Features

If it wasn’t clear from the name, this streamer uses the Google TV operating system, which is also featured on a number of TVs from the likes of Sony, Philips and TCL. This Android-based software is fairly easy to navigate, includes a wide selection of streaming apps, and boasts a lot of smart home features (thanks to the inclusion of both Matter and Thread) – a boon for those who have invested in smart plugs, lightbulbs and doorbells.

It encompasses a wide range of international and domestic streaming services, including Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+, alongside the likes of ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and, since a recent update, BBC iPlayer. There is also a wide range of lifestyle and gaming apps, including fitness and yoga, as well as a variety of Android games that can be played with the included remote.

Considering the Google TV boasts 4GB of RAM (the same amount found in the Apple TV) and an unnamed processor that is reportedly more powerful than the one found in the Chromecast, we’re slightly frustrated by how often this operating system freezes.

Clicking through menus too quickly can cause the Streamer to stick, requiring it to take a moment to compose itself and move on; if we were pushing the hardware to the limit with a graphically intensive game, we’d understand – but we’re just browsing the home menu.

Software irks aside, the Google TV Streamer does include a host of new AI-based features courtesy of its Gemini platform. This includes more accurate content suggestions, AI-generated synopsis labels for movies and TV shows, display reviews for content, and even season-by-season breakdowns of TV shows if you need to catch up. On the whole, these mostly work well, however, we did find the three-word content descriptions to hiccup on occasion.

While Blade Runner 2049 is accurately described as “existential, atmospheric and bleak”, we’re not sure we’d describe BBC satirical comedy Amandaland as “gritty”. The best description is for Marvel’s The Incredible Hulk, which the streamer labelled as “incredible” – technically correct, we suppose.

Moving away from AI and back to AV, the Google TV Streamer ticks pretty much all of the boxes here. It can stream 4K HDR video (providing you have the correct subscription tier for your chosen service and a capable TV or projector), with all major HDR formats supported, including HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision and HLG. It also supports the expected set of Dolby audio formats, including Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital. Unfortunately, DTS:X is not catered for.

Finally, the HDMI 2.1 socket doesn’t seem to support the usual gaming features we associate with the connection, but that’s forgivable as it doesn’t support console-quality titles. Interestingly, the LG C5 OLED TV that we’re using for testing recognises that it supports Quick Media Switching (QMS), which minimises the frequency of black screens flashing up when switching to different frame rates or HDR formats.

Picture

Considering the Chromecast with Google TV earned multiple Awards based on its five-star picture performance, our expectations are, naturally, fairly high. So, is the Google TV Streamer better than the Chromecast? We’re pleased to announce that it is. Is it good enough to justify the increased price and fend off the Apple TV 4K? Unfortunately, it is not.

We have both the streamers mentioned above on hand as reference devices to compare the Google TV with, and while there are plenty of positive aspects regarding the Streamer, it’s in an awkward spot as an upgrade that falls short of the competition. We use a range of streaming services, including Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, as well as some content purchased on Apple TV.

Starting with John Wick: Chapter 4 on Netflix in 4K Dolby Vision, we can see a clear improvement over the previous Google streamer in terms of contrast. The picture features enhanced depth and deeper blacks, which help to make the image a bit more impactful. The opulent Parisian palace interior looks crisp and detailed, and the Google TV Streamer does the dramatic lighting justice with bright highlights that ensure details aren’t lost on Caine’s face as he is recruited by the Marquis to hunt down Wick.

We then switch to A Quiet Place: Day One in HDR10 on Amazon Prime Video, to assess how the Streamer approaches colours. It’s good news, as it balances punch and naturalness well; Samira’s yellow coat and orange hat have a nice sense of vibrancy while also looking measured and authentic. Likewise, the vibrant foliage and tennis court found in Challengers appear both rich and eye-catching without looking overdone.

Sticking with the steamy tennis-themed flick, we find that motion isn’t an issue on the Google TV Streamer, as the tennis ball darts from one side of the court to the other without any awkward stuttering or flickering. However, this film features a fairly pronounced film grain effect, which can look a tad fuzzy and distracting on the Google Streamer.

We also refer to some lower resolution content, Peep Show on Netflix to be exact, and find that the Streamer does a solid job of presenting the older show. The natural characteristics are still present, but its tendency to emphasise some visual fuzziness is also apparent.

We conclude testing with the opening of Blade Runner 2049 on the Apple TV app, and while we’re generally positive about the picture, it’s pipped by the Apple TV 4K in practically every sense. Apple’s streamer is punchier, richer, more three-dimensional and crisper, leading us to prefer its picture over that of the Google. Admittedly, it is more expensive, but we deem the additional outlay to be worth the picture upgrade if your budget can stretch.

Sound

While we can be fairly complimentary towards the Google TV Streamer’s picture performance, we can’t really say the same about its sound. It suffices for movies and TV shows in most ways, which we admit is the most important factor, with a clear and detailed sound that emphasises vocal clarity. As bullets and arrows start flying in a battle at the Osaka Continental Hotel in John Wick: Chapter 4, the streamer does a solid job of delivering weighty thuds as bodies drop, and the slashes of katanas sound clean and sharp.

That being said, it doesn’t deliver much in the way of low-level dynamics. Dialogue sounds flat and uninteresting, with a one-note feel to voices, robbing the performances of emotion in the process. That dull characteristic can also be felt at the start of Challengers, as the electronic score that bursts to life in the opening match feels misjudged and doesn’t have the intended impact due to its weak timing.

These deficiencies are felt heavily when listening to music through the Google TV Streamer. There is an absence of warmth, and instruments lack texture, which we find is the case with Tool’s Invincible and Taylor Swift’s Willow. Pair that with a lackadaisical sense of timing and the aforementioned poor low-level dynamics, and we’re left with an uninspiring musical performance that is easily bested by the rich and natural-sounding Apple TV 4K.

Ultimately, the Google’s sound will be serviceable for many, but for those with keen ears who want a streamer that delivers a cinematic and musical sound, you may wish to look elsewhere.

Verdict

The Google TV Streamer is in an awkward position. It’s a good streamer that will likely meet most people’s needs; however, it is a good streamer that replaces a great one. It does so at a premium, too, with a higher price tag attached for a picture and sound performance that isn’t far detached from its predecessor.

Furthermore, this inflated price puts it uncomfortably close to the exceptional Apple TV 4K, which betters the Google TV in the most important areas.

Admittedly, the Apple TV 4K might not be a tempting proposition for staunch Android users who refuse to touch Apple products with a ten-foot barge pole, but if picture and sound are top priorities for you (and we’re not sure why they wouldn’t be), then the Apple TV is a better choice.

SCORES

• Picture 4
• Sound 3
• Features 5

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Read our review of the Apple TV 4K (2022)

Also consider the Amazon Fire TV Cube

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Formula 1 fans in the US can now watch the sporting event in glorious 4K HDR thanks to F1 TV’s new Premium subscription. The F1 app has been available for TV platforms since the end of 2021, and this subscription is its latest addition.

In the UK, F1 fans can already watch in 4K via Sky Q, Sky Glass and Sky Stream, although you have to subscribe to an Ultra HD package.

For all the options in both the UK and US, it goes without saying that you also need to have a 4K TV. You can get an annual subscription to the US app for $130, which adds up to just under $11 a month.

The Premium subscription is not as inclusive as you might expect, though. US consumers can only access the 4K HDR content in the app available for Apple TV 4K (tvOS) and Roku.

F1 TV is also introducing a new Multiview feature, where you can combine multiple feeds from the race. However, this does not work with Android, which is a bit of a bummer.

On top of that, the first generation of Apple TV 4K is limited to 4K HDR at 30fps, which is a bit choppy for F1. You need the second- or third-generation model to stream in 4K HDR and 50fps.

Formula 1 will kick off this year on 14th March in Australia. If you are based in the US and looking for a way to watch the event in 4K, the new subscription tier could be a good option for you.

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Check out our Apple TV 4K review

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After much deliberation, a lot of hard work and some tough decisions, we are pleased to be able to announce the winners of this year's What Hi-Fi? Awards.

A total of 112 winners of Best Buy Awards and our most prestigious Product Of The Year gongs were celebrated on November 14th at a black-tie event in London, and we present them here in full in this issue.

But, as usual, you can count on us to bring you reviews of the very latest hi-fi and AV products in our First Tests section too.

You can subscribe or buy the latest issue here, or buy the digital edition on iPhone, iPad, Android devices or Kindle edition.

Welcome to the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2024

It is time once again for our annual Awards and bumper Awards issue of the magazine – almost in the blink of an eye it seems, another year has gone by. And in that year, of course, we have thoroughly tested all the latest hi-fi and AV kit, as well as revisiting the cream of the crop in each Awards category to see which products are top of the tree and deserving of the top honours.

Our team of dedicated reviewers has spent remarkable time and effort in coming up with this, the 42nd collection of products that have the right to brag that they are What Hi-Fi? Best Buy Award winners. That’s a big thing both for us and the manufacturers, naturally – but it’s also a huge thing for you, our reader. Every Award winner you read about in the pages of this very magazine is a winner in its particular category; so you can be sure that you are getting superb value for money and a top-performing product when you decide to buy.

Our long-time readers will know just why you can trust What Hi-Fi?. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. And this has been the What Hi-Fi? way since 1976...

We take our role in this extremely seriously; and the fact that we are still able to perform this service almost 50 years after the What Hi-Fi? brand began shows that the industry does as well.

So, whether you're looking for a great new TV, an upgrade to your stereo set-up, a home cinema projector or soundbar, or the best wireless speaker or noise cancelling earbuds (and all points in between), this should be your go-to source for hi-fi and AV kit. Every recipient of a What Hi-Fi? Award is a class-leading product, deserving of our praise at different levels of budget and spanning the entire home entertainment technology spectrum. In short, you can be absolutely sure that each one will be worth your time and investment.

So pick up this month's What Hi-Fi? magazine, settle back and read about all of our Award winners in this special, bumper issue.

Record players are getting better, it just isn't obvious

And in between the rigorous Awards testing, our team have been busy as ever looking at all manner of hi-fi and AV kit from every angle. This month, technical editor Ketan Bharadia explains the ways in which record replay continues to improve – even if it is subtly. Read his thoughts on the current crop of excellent record decks in the latest magazine.

First with reviews

While much of the focus this issue is on Award-winning kit, our test benches have, as usual, been groaning under the weight of new products in for review. And, as always, our First Tests section is where you'll find our famously in-depth, impartial and expert reviews of all the latest AV and hi-fi kit.

First out of the gates, and picking up a five-star review and a Best Buy win in the £1500-£2500 standmounter category, is the Epos ES-7N. Okay, so that was a bit of a spoiler. But you can read our full review of the brand new standmounters in our First Tests section this month! 

Rotel's brand new A8 amplifier was similarly showered with a five-star review and Award, this time Product of the Year. Read just why we think this unassuming but fantastic amplifier is deserving of both.

Sony's Bravia Theatre Bar 9 also makes quite the statement, and once again impressed us enough to earn five stars and a Product Of The Year Award. And the five-stars don't stop there. In a month of rare quality, the Cambridge Audio EXN100 music streamer, Hisense PX3-Pro and BenQ W5800 projectors, Samsung's Q80D mid-range TV and Pro-Ject's Debut Evo 2 turntable all picked up top scores from our reviewers. 

Find out more about all these products in this month's special Awards issue of What Hi-Fi?

Finally, don't forget to check out our Buyer’s Guide, featuring a definitive list of all the best home entertainment kit you can buy. If you’re looking to purchase anything from a pair of wireless headphones to a home theatre speaker system, this section will tell you where to spend your money wisely.

Whatever you do, don't miss the Awards 2024 issue of What Hi-Fi? Grab a copy today, or simply download it onto your tablet or smartphone instead. Enjoy!

You can subscribe or buy the latest issue here, or buy the digital edition on iPhone, iPad, Android devices or Kindle edition

Spotify has announced that it will be bringing music videos to a new raft of eligible markets. Spotify has already integrated in-app videos for its Premium subscribers, expanding this facility to 85 additional regions. Twelve areas, including the UK, Germany, Brazil and Poland can already enjoy music videos on Spotify via iOS, Android, desktop and even TV devices; this new rollout sees a massive increase in the number of markets that will be granted access. It is not clear, however, which markets are now gaining access or whether any of them include the US, but we will keep you posted as and when we get any new information.

Spotify clearly thinks the move towards videos is worth the effort. According to the ever-popular streaming giant, users who discover a song and then watch the music video on Spotify are 34 per cent more likely on average to stream the song again the following week compared with users who discovered the song but failed to watch the video. Per Spotify, songs discovered with music videos are 24 per cent more likely on average to be shared or saved in the following week.

If you are a Premium Spotify subscriber, getting access to videos is a pretty simple task. Just find the track you want and press the "Switch to video" button above the track listing. Most listed songs will feature a small play button and a 'video' tab beneath them to signify their compatibility, with users able to switch seamlessly between music tracks and videos with a single tap of a button via mobile and desktop devices. If you want to return to standard listening, a press of the 'Switch to audio' button will have you back enjoying the song alone.

The beta version of Spotify's expanded music video remit is available today with a limited catalogue, but Spotify assures us that it will continue rolling out over the next few weeks and building its collection of videos as it goes. The streaming giant is making a big play to add to the usability and feature set of the ever-popular platform, with music videos arriving hot on the heels of features such as Audiobooks, an AI DJ and the site's AI-assisted playlist curation, the last of which we tried for ourselves earlier this year with mixed results.

These new features are all well and good, but we're still waiting on that hi-res tier. Over to you, Spotify...

MORE:

Read our Spotify review

And our Tidal review

These are the best streaming services for music lovers

LG has begun rolling out the latest system update to its 2023 OLED TVs. Owners of last year's C3 and G3 OLEDs can upgrade to webOS 24, which is currently featured on the five-star C4 and G4 models. It brings a small handful of upgrades, though you shouldn't expect a radical difference in performance.

What you can expect is a new streaming feature in the form of Google Chromecast – which is sometimes known as Google Cast depending on which manufacturer you ask. This allows users to beam content from an Android smartphone to the TV, a feature which has been missing on older LG models.

Elsewhere, we expect to see the refined Quick Cards feature neaten up the home screen, and the Voice ID feature, which will swap user profiles based on voice recognition, should also make its way to the C3 and G3. Furthermore, the Sports Portal which collates scores and match times from your favourite teams will also be available in this update.

LG hinted that it would eventually upgrade its previous year's models when webOS 24 was announced alongside the news that it would promise five years of software support from now on. While the rollout of this update (titled firmware version 23.20.50) appears to be gradual, FlatpanelsHD reports that users in North America and Europe are already seeing it appear on their TVs.

While it has been confirmed that the C3 and G3 have begun receiving this update, we also expect the B3, QNED TVs and 8K LED models to get upgraded to the latest software version.

While the update should install automatically while your TV is idle (provided you have the automatic updates setting applied), you may need to manually install this update via the settings menu. Simply press the settings button on your remote, scroll down to "all settings", then find "support", and click "system update". In this menu you should find the "check for update" button; simply click that and you should be able to install the latest software version.

MORE:

Read our full LG OLED48C3 review

Own a C2 or G2? Here's how to update your TV to webOS 23

Check out our picks for the best TVs

Sony has once again dominated the wireless headphones section of our Awards, picking up five wins out of a possible seven categories. Its wireless supermacy covers both earbuds such as the WF-C700N, WF-1000XM5 and WF-C510, and over-ear headphones such as the WH-CH720N and WH-1000XM5. Buy a pair and you're guaranteed a good time.

But first you need to set them up. They work with all manner of wireless devices including smartphones, tablets and computers, and across all platforms, too, from iPhones to Windows PCs.

Here we'll show you how to pair your shiny new headphones with your device, so you can get listening, pronto.

But first things first...

Put your Sony headphones in pairing mode

The first thing to do is put your Sony headphones in pairing mode. This will involve pressing and holding the power button for a few seconds – on Sony headphones, the button is on one of the earcups, while on earbuds like the WF-C700N (pictured) it's on the charging case. Don't forget to open the case before you hold the button so that the earbuds can 'see' the device they are trying to connect to, or they won't enter pairing mode.

The LED will flash to show you are in pairing mode. With Sony's headphones, a voice will say "Pairing", in case you're in any doubt.

Okay, now your headphones/earbuds are ready, let's connect them to your device.

How to connect Sony headphones to a Mac

Pairing to a Mac is simple. Just enter pairing mode, then follow these instructions.

1. In System Settings on your Mac, select Bluetooth and make sure it is activated.
2. Your Sony headphones should appear in the Nearby Devices section.
3. Click 'Connect'.

How to connect Sony headphones to a Windows PC

Just as with a Mac, pairing your Sony headphones with a PC is very straightforward. Once in pairing mode:

1. Go to Settings on your PC.
2. Click Bluetooth & devices.
3. Turn on Bluetooth.
4. Click 'Add device'.
5. Select Bluetooth on the pop-up screen.
6. Click on your Sony headphones from the list of available Bluetooth devices.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Sony headphones are also compatible with Swift Pair on computers running Windows 10 or 11.

1. On your computer, click Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices and select 'Show notifications to connect using Swift Pair'.
2. Put your headphones or earbuds into pairing mode.
3. Select Connect from the pop-up menu. If you're asked for a passcode, try entering '0000'.

How to connect Sony headphones to an Android device

To pair with an Android smartphone or tablet, enter pairing mode as before, then follow these instructions.

1. Go to Settings > Connections.
2. Tap Bluetooth.
3. Select your Sony headphones from the list of available devices.
4. Listen for a connectivity chime to confirm successful pairing.

That's without using the Sony Sound Connect app (previously known as Headphones Connect). If you would rather pair using the app (in order to unlock extra features such as Bluetooth Multipoint and Ambient Sound mode), the process is slightly more long-winded.

1. Download the Sony Sound Connect app from the Google Play Store.
2. Put your headphones or earbuds in pairing mode.
3. Select your headphones from the 'Add audio device' list. If they don't appear, tap 'Search from Bluetooth settings' and follow the instructions.
4. Tap the name of your headphones on the next screen.
5. Tap OK.

Sony's headphones are also compatible with Google Fast Pair. As long as your device runs at least Android 6.0 (released in 2015), Fast Pair should be available.

1. Put your Sony headphones or earbuds in pairing mode.
2. A notification should appear on your Android device saying that some headphones are nearby and giving you the option to connect. Don't see it? Try moving your headphones closer to your device.
3. Tap the notification, and they should pair.

How to connect your Sony headphones to an iPhone or iPad

As with Android, you don't need Sony's app in order to connect your headphones to an iPhone or iPad. To do so without:

1. Tap Settings > Bluetooth and ensure it's turned on.
2. With your Sony headphones in pairing mode, they should appear under 'Other Devices'.
3. Tap their name to pair.

But for the full experience you'll want the Sony Sound Connect app from the App Store.

1. Download Sony Sound Connect from the App Store.
2. Put your headphones or earbuds in pairing mode.
3. Select your headphones from the 'Add audio device' list. If they don't appear, tap 'Search from Bluetooth settings' and follow the instructions.
4. Tap the name of your headphones on the next screen.
5. Tap OK.

How to connect to multiple devices via Bluetooth Multipoint

Most modern wireless Sony headphones can connect to multiple devices simultaneously using Bluetooth Multipoint. By staying connected to two devices at the same time, the headphones can, for example, switch from music playback on your laptop to taking a call on your phone, and all without you doing a thing.

If you pause playback on one device and start it on another, the headphones will switch device. Or you can manually switch devices within the Sony Sound Connect app.

Sony headphones compatible with Bluetooth Multipoint include the WH-1000XM5 and WH-CH720N over-ear headphones, and the WF-1000XM5, WF-C700N and WF-C510 earbuds.

To connect to multiple devices over Bluetooth Multipoint, open the Sony Sound Connect app and follow these instructions.

1. Tap My Device > Manage Connected Device.
2. Tap Connect to New Device and follow the instructions.
3. You can now manually switch between playback of each by just tapping the relevant device.

Now you're all set to connect your Sony headphones to different devices, and even multiple options at the same time. Enjoy.

MORE:

These are the best wireless headphones we have reviewed

The best Sony headphones going

We rate the best phones for music fans

UPDATE 15/10/2024: Samsung has confirmed to us that Tizen itself is not being phased out, as it will continue to power a wide variety of its smart home devices. Upcoming Samsung TVs will continue to use the Tizen operating system, however, One UI will run over the top as a more consistent user interface between TV and mobile.

Furthermore, it appears as though One UI has already begun rolling out to current Samsung TV models. As reported by TechRadar, current models this update includes new For You, Live and App tabs, a Watch Later section and an updated Game Bar. This software upgrade should be available to the latest range of Samsung TVs including the S95D, QN95D and Q900D.

ORIGINAL STORY 11/10/2024: Samsung has announced that a "new" operating system will power its 2025 TVs. If you have a Samsung smartphone or tablet, chances are you will have heard of it before.

One UI, which powers devices such as the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 6, will replace the current Tizen OS operating system on Samsung TVs next year to unify the manufacturer's mobile, smart home and AV lineups. Samsung has now confirmed that it will not switch to an Android-based platform for its future TVs and that One UI will operate over the existing Linux-based Tizen system.

While we haven't seen the new user interface in action yet, Samsung teased a "brand new UX design" for One UI 7.0 at its yearly developer conference held in the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, California. It also hinted at new AI features (something Samsung has doubled down on with its 2024 TVs) including AI-generated screensaver images, an improved Bixby smart assistant and even the potential to live-transcribe video calls being cast to the TV from a nearby device.

This comes after the brand announced that it will support its current and future TV lineups with seven years of operating system updates, a commitment that it has also made for its smartphones, tablets and smartwatches.

Based on previous generations, we expect to see Samsung's 2025 TVs launch at CES 2025, where we could see the new One UI TV system running on the upcoming models.

MORE:

Read our full Samsung S95D review

And our Samsung QN95D review

Check out our picks for the best TVs

Sony’s smartphones tend to score well on our testing metrics, as they’re practically the only handsets on the market that are designed for content consumption first and foremost. The 21:9 OLED displays, front-firing stereo speakers and old-school headphone jack are features we wish every phone had, but even Sony now appears to be softening in its resolve.

After announcing that the flagship Xperia 1 VI would forgo the cinematic aspect ratio and drop to 1080p, we were immediately sent into a spiral. Thankfully, in the same breath, Sony announced that its entry-level Android smartphone, the Xperia 10 VI, would stick to the established formula, and that’s what we’re here to look at today.

Can Sony hit a hat-trick of affordable five-star handsets? Will this device continue the streak of Award-winning budget brilliance that is the Xperia 10 series?

Price

The Sony Xperia 10 VI retails for £349 on paper, which is already a steal in the realm of smartphones. Better yet, we’re already seeing it available for just £299 at a wide range of retailers, which is a frankly bonkers bargain at a time where thousand-pound handsets are the norm for many. Unfortunately, Sony has once again opted not to launch this device in the US or Australia, where it would hypothetically cost around $465 and AU$670 respectively.

Competition at this price is very slim, aside from perhaps the Nothing Phone (1) (£399 / AU$749) and Google Pixel 7a (which now sells for £349 / $310 / AU$549 after being replaced by the Pixel 8a). Comparing the Xperia 10 VI to the current batch of Apple iPhones and Samsung Galaxy S smartphones is futile, as we’re talking about doubling or tripling the price depending on which model you opt for.

Build

Sony has made strides in the design and build quality of its budget handset this year. The latest Xperia 10 is a step up over last year’s Mark V device, with a more rigid and premium-feeling chassis. It’s still all plastic (aside from the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus display), but this year’s device features a smoother back panel that incorporates the camera lenses more stylishly. It’s also a touch heavier this year, weighing in at 164g compared to 159g for the 10 V. While a heavier handset might sound like a step in the wrong direction, in reality, the new Xperia 10 feels more solid as a result.

While the flagship Xperia 1 VI has lost its taller and thinner aspect ratio, Sony has curiously opted to keep it on the Xperia 10 VI. We’re not complaining, as it is a feature we’ve harped on about in practically all of our previous Xperia phone reviews, but it does seem like an odd choice to split the range in this way. While we appreciate the taller and thinner aspect ratio for watching movies, we have to admit that it comes at the expense of usability at times; for instance, not all apps play nicely with the ratio and people with smaller hands might find reaching the top of the screen tricky when using the device one-handed.

Overall, the Xperia 10 VI looks and feels more premium than its predecessor, and the new trio of available finishes – black, white and blue – all look fairly slick. Our review unit is in the blue hue, and we think the icy pastel finish suits the device perfectly.

That being said, the Xperia 10 VI is plagued with a similar issue to its predecessor. We don’t usually complain about this sort of thing on smartphones, but the haptic feedback on the Xperia 10 VI is so bad that we opt to turn it off in the settings menu. Every tap of the keyboard elicits a vibration that rattles the entire chassis of the device, creating an unpleasant buzzing noise. Cranking up the volume of the built-in speakers also results in a fair bit of chassis vibration, although we feel as though that aspect has been slightly reduced compared to the 10 V.

Features

Compared with the Xperia 1 VI and 5 V, the Xperia 10 (understandably) has a cut-down list of features. However, this entry-level device doesn’t appear too distant from its relatives on paper. It boasts a 6.1-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2520 and a pixel density of 449ppi, that’s an identical specification to the more expensive Xperia 5. That being said, the Xperia 10’s display is 60Hz instead of 120Hz, and while the device technically supports HDR, it’s not the HDR10 standard as seen on the Xperia 5.

The Xperia 10 VI is a step up over its predecessor where internal components are concerned too. While picture and sound performance on the outgoing Xperia 10 V is excellent, we found day-to-day usability took a hit due to the use of the middling Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset, which was also featured on the 2022 model. Sony has implemented a more powerful Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor and 8GB of RAM (up from 6GB) this time around, and while it won’t outpace a Galaxy S24 Ultra or iPhone 15 Pro Max, it’s certainly less stuttery than its predecessor. It also features 128GB of internal storage as standard, though there is a slot for a micro SD card on the SIM tray, meaning you can load media onto the device or expand the storage as needed.

We’re also pleased to see that, despite this being an affordable device, it doesn’t sacrifice the latest software features seen on more premium handsets. It’s running Android 14 and will reportedly receive the next three major Android system updates at a minimum – meaning you’re getting a worthwhile, future-proofed investment even though this isn’t a flagship device. As part of Android 14, you get access to Google’s latest AI features, including the Magic Eraser photo editing tool and the Gemini assistant. The latter works flawlessly on this device. For example, we ask it to “suggest some meals to cook this week that take less than 30 minutes to prepare and are high in protein” and Gemini delivers a coherent meal plan complete with instructions.

You may notice that there are two lenses on the rear of the Xperia 10 VI, whereas the previous iteration featured three. Sony has dropped the 8MP telephoto lens from last year’s model while retaining the 48MP main shooter and 8MP ultrawide lens. Honestly, this is no great loss as the entry-level Sony handsets have never really wowed us when it comes to camera performance. The Mark VI is unfortunately no different, as it produces images that are fairly noisy and lack much in the way of detail. It gets the job done for quick snaps here and there, but if you’re serious about smartphone photography, this phone will not satisfy your needs.

Sony is renowned for offering the most extensive smartphone audio features on the market, and it remains one of the few manufacturers to keep the 3.5mm headphone jack. We’re always happy to see the headphone jack, but if you prefer wireless audio you can take advantage of Bluetooth 5.2 in the A2DP, LE, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive codecs. If you’d rather play audio directly from the phone with no cans or buds attached, the front-firing stereo speakers will appeal.

Picture

Sony’s strategy of cutting down on premium build materials and camera performance, while retaining picture quality in order to reach a more affordable price point, has always resonated with us. This is the third generation that we’ve reviewed with this formula, and we’re pleased to report that picture performance is as strong as ever.

We’ve loaded Netflix and Amazon Prime Video onto the phone to watch a range of our reference movies, such as Top Gun: Maverick and Blade Runner: 2049. Put simply, the Xperia exceeds its diminutive price tag when it comes to picture performance, meaning we echo our sentiment from the Xperia 1 V; this is once again the “most cinematic phone we’ve seen for the money”.

The opening sequence of Blade Runner is delivered with well-defined outlines and plenty of detailed texture in clothing, skin and the environment alike. While the display can appear to lean cooler than we prefer, the colours overall remain balanced and well-judged, leading to a pleasingly natural-looking image.

What’s most striking (but perhaps least surprising if you’re familiar with Sony smartphones) is how much three-dimensional depth there is to the image. The dystopian California stretches far into the distance during the opening shots, and Sapper Morton’s gloved hand looks solid and impactful as it arises from a grimy tank holding squirming maggot-like creatures.

As Officer K enters the farmhouse, we find that there is some loss of dark detail in the very blackest part of the image, but the areas bathed in murky white light from the windows have a natural-looking illumination without appearing over-brightened. While the edges of the piano and some detail within the chairs in the scene get lost, it’s forgivable considering the price of this device, and it doesn’t distract too greatly from the overall picture quality.

Switching to Top Gun: Maverick, the sequence introducing the titular character echoes much of what we saw with Blade Runner 2049. There is a great sense of three-dimensionality and edges are well defined. We also get to see motion in action and are pleased to report that there is no observable judder to be seen as Maverick tears down the road on his Kawasaki motorbike. Furthermore, skin tones look accurate, with a solid balance between looking lively without being overtly orange or red.

Sound

The Xperia 10 VI continues the budget series’ trend of formidable audio performance at a reasonable price. We plug a pair of over-ear headphones directly into the 3.5mm headphone jack and load up Tidal to test performance and, in all honesty, it's very reminiscent of its Award-winning predecessor.

Playing DARE by Gorillaz, we’re met with a snappy and rhythmic performance that captures the playful energy of the track. Switching to something a bit more melancholic and slower-paced, Taylor Swift’s The 1 sounds detailed, with the sort of low-level dynamic subtlety required to deliver Swift’s yearning lyrics with the necessary emotive qualities. The sound remains spacious, well organised and dynamic, making it difficult to pick holes in, especially considering the price.

The Xperia 10 VI’s speakers are also more than acceptable, and while they won’t knock your socks off, they’re perfectly usable for watching the occasional TV show without connecting headphones. The front-firing stereo pair returns, with a clear and decent sense of weight (as much as can be expected from an affordable smartphone). We find that they’re not particularly dynamic or full-bodied – and we implore you not to be that person who plays music on your phone’s loudspeaker – but the speakers are overall more than usable. Just be warned of the previously mentioned chassis vibration if you plan on using them at high volumes.

Verdict

Sony’s ability to deliver a phone this talented in the picture and sound department for this price should be studied by other manufacturers. We’ve seen phones that cost double or even triple the price of the Xperia 10 VI unable to deliver a performance like this; thus proving that you don’t need to spend ludicrous amounts of money if you want a handset that doubles as an impressive portable music and movie player.

Review published: October 2024. Review updated: November 2024.

SCORES

• Picture 5
• Sound 5
• Features 4

MORE:

Read our review of the Google Pixel 7a

Also consider the Nothing Phone (1)

The best smartphones for music and movies

Google has released an update for Google TV devices – including the recently released Google TV Streamer – which brings many of the features seen on the 2024 media streamer to TVs and projectors running the operating system. While few of these features directly relate to enhancing the AV experience specifically, they do add extra functionality.

Google TV is used by a wide range of TV manufacturers, including Sony, Philips, TCL and Hisense (specifically in the US), and it's also becoming a more popular option for projector brands such as Xgimi and Epson. Google is even rolling this device out to the recently deceased Chromecast with Google TV, though as we reported earlier this year, it won't get all of the same features as the Google TV Streamer.

This update mostly focuses on smart home functionality and the Gemini AI system. As for smart home controls, you can now interface with lights, thermostats and cameras straight from your TV. You'll also receive notifications from your smart doorbell without pausing your content too, and if your remote gets lost between the couch cushions then you can simply ask the Google Assistant to control your smart home devices.

Furthermore, Gemini is being implemented into more Google TV devices thanks to this update. It brings generative AI screensavers to the operating system, allowing you to input a prompt which will create an AI-generated image to use in ambient mode. Content will also have enhanced overviews powered by the Gemini AI engine, which will include a synopsis, audience reviews and season-by-season breakdowns, which will ensure you're up to speed on TV shows if there has been a long wait between seasons or if you've taken a break and forgotten where you were in the story.

Finally, Google is making finding and accessing content easier. There is a new sports tab on the "For You" page; this encompasses live and upcoming games, sports commentary, game highlights and personalised recommendations based on the sports and teams you follow. Google is also building upon its Freeplay free online live channels feature, with a new guide to browse the 150 channels that you can filter by topic or genre.

This Google TV update is available now, and if you want to upgrade your TV, media streamer or projector, then simply go to Settings > System > About > System Update. Your device should search for the update; once it has found the latest software version click "Install Update".

MORE:

Google TV Streamer: everything you need to know

Check out our picks for the best TVs

And find the best TV deals here

FiiO has been a nostalgic soul of late, having released a Walkman-inspired portable cassette player and a Discman-esque portable CD player into a world that waved goodbye to those audio devices many moons ago. The digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) is one of the more contemporary audio devices in the Chinese manufacturer’s portfolio today, but it has still managed to give its latest one a retro flair: the all-new KA15 is a portable DAC that resembles a tape recorder – and not only in its compact cuboidal shape but also with its one-inch colour screen’s graphic interface. And we thought British brand iFi was the king of cool DAC designs!

FiiO makes several portable USB DACs, from the USB-C KA13 to the Bluetooth-enabled BTR13 – all with the purpose of being the sound-enhancing middleman between your phone or laptop and headphones. The KA15 shares that ambition, its conversion stage built around two Cirrus Logic CS43198 chips that support 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD256 files. 

A USB-C input makes it compatible with a range of phones, computers and laptops, including the iPhone 15 and new iPhone 16, while both 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm jacks cater for a wide range of wired headphones. The former can also be configured as a coaxial output for connecting it to a higher-end unit if you so wish.

“Competition amongst audio dongles is becoming increasingly intense, and FiiO knows that only “innovation” can make them stand out,” reads the official FiiO KA15 product page. But it isn’t only in its vintage aesthetic where the KA15 separates itself from its competitors. It also boasts a Parametric EQ, a more sophisticated and customisable type of EQ adjustment than those found in most affordable digital audio devices. The ten-band EQ essentially lets the user tweak the frequency response and sound they hear through their headphones, controllable through either a dedicated web interface or FiiO’s Control app (compatible with Android devices only). 

The app is also where Android users can adjust channel balance, set the theme and brightness of the screen, and select between two volume modes: a 60-step quick adjustment or a 120-step fine adjustment. (The latter can also be achieved on the device itself.) Above the pair of on-unit volume keys (which double as track skippers) on the side panel of the metal chassis is a Desktop Mode, too, allowing the KA15 to be powered by an external source to deliver up to 560mW through the balanced headphone output to satisfy the most power-hungry headphones.

Speaking of power, FiiO claims the KA15 is a super-efficient device, with real-time voltage and current monitoring allowing for dynamic power adjustment, and playback status recognition that can adjust the overall power consumption and impact your connected device's battery life less.

A smart and fun little device for just £100/$109, eh?

MORE:

Everything you need to know about DACs

The best DACs you can buy, tested by our in-house experts

Read our new FiiO M23 portable music player review

Chinese projector brand Xgimi is continuing its mission of bringing premium projectors to the masses with its new lineup of projectors. It launched no less than six new models at this year's showcase, with everything from portable units made for camping trips to a brand-new ultra-short-throw model that might just replace your TV.

We've broken the lineup down into two sections to tackle all of the new announcements, and you can find out everything you need to know about the new Google TV-powered portable beamers and premium 4K units below:

Portable projectors: MoGo 3 Pro, Eflin Flip and Halo+

You can find our story all about the new MoGo 3 Pro here, but we'll quickly run through some of the new features. It's got a new compact design that's comparable in size to a Starbucks coffee cup, built-in Google TV functionality, auto picture adjustment and a Bluetooth speaker mode; that's a lot packed into a travel-friendly form factor. Furthermore, Xgimi showed off some of the accessories for the MoGo 3 Pro including a suave carrying case, optical lens filters, and the PowerBase which acts as both a stand and external battery for the projector. It's available now for £419 / $449 / AU$1099. 

Next is the Elfin Flip, part of Xgimi's budget series of small and cheap beamers. It features a built-in stand with 150 degrees of rotation, which can close flat and protect the lens when not in use. It can project a 1080p HDR10 image up to 150 inches, and with 400 ISO lumens, Xgimi says it can deliver a "vibrant and lifelike viewing experience". With portability in mind, it also has Xgimi OS built-in with Netflix support alongside other streaming apps, and Intelligent Screen Adaptation (ISA) built in for automatic focus, keystone, obstacle avoidance and picture alignment. And at just £339 / $399 / AU$TBC, it's as affordable as it is adorable. 

Rounding things out in the portable lineup is the updated Halo+, which is mostly a software upgrade over its predecessor with Xgimi dropping Android TV in favour of Google TV. This brings native Netflix support to the projector which also touts 700 ISO lumens of brightness, a Harman/Kardon sound system, a 1080p resolution with HDR10 support and a picture size of up to 200-inches. It retails for a slightly cheaper price than its predecessor at £679 / $799, with Australian pricing TBC. 

4K home cinema projectors: Aura 2, Horizon S Plus and Horizon S Max

Onto the latter half of Xgimi's upgraded lineup, there are four new 4K laser models in Xgimi's roster which are destined for living rooms rather than campsites. The first and, in our opinion, the most exciting new model is the Aura 2 (pictured above) which is a sequel to the four-star Aura from 2022. This new model is a radical departure from its predecessor's black and grey construction, with a much more premium looking and feeling design complete with a motorised lens cover that retracts when you switch the projector on. 

It features a 4K resolution with Dolby Vision support, as well as Dolby Atmos certification for its built-in Harman/Kardon sound system. It also has an impressive 0.177:1 throw ratio meaning you can achieve a 100-inch image by placing the projector just 17.8cm away from the wall. Strangely Xgimi has opted for Android TV on this model which feels like an odd choice, as the other models in the new range seem to use the newer and slicker Google TV system. 

Elsewhere the Aura 2 features Xgimi's Dual Light 2.0 system capable of reaching an impressive 2300 ISO lumens, alongside its ISA 5.0 automatic calibration system which handles the usual picture adjustments (focus, keystone and alignment) alongside some more involved tasks such as adjusting the picture based on the shape and colour of your wall. And if you don't want to project onto the wall, then you can pick up the bundle that includes the Aura 2 and a 100-inch screen made by Xgimi. The Aura 2 is available to pre-order now for £2439 / $2699 / AU$6399, with pricing for the bundle expected soon.

Finally, Xgimi announced a pair of new projectors that are set to join the Horizon Pro and Horizon Ultra. The Horizon S Plus and Horizon S Max are similar in looks and specs, though the Max has a few expected upgrades over the Plus. They both feature a flexible built-in stand with tilt and rotation functionality, Android TV, Dolby Vision support and the ISA 5.0 system.

As for differences, the Max is brighter at a blinding 3100 ISO lumens compared to 1800 ISO lumens on the Plus, and the Max receives IMAX Enhanced support with DTS:X, while the Plus supports DTS HD. The Horizon S series is yet to receive pricing, though we expect that the Max will be the more expensive of the pair. 

MORE:

The best of IFA 2024: the top 9 products we saw from the 100-year tech showcase

Read our full Xgimi Horizon Ultra review

As well as our picks for the best projectors

Autumn is upon us, which means all kinds of decent TV shows are coming our way. You'll need something to watch them on, which is where this deal comes in.

It's a 65-inch Panasonic OLED TV that has dropped in price by £300 to £799 at John Lewis. That's the best price around, and a great deal on a well-specified TV.

Panasonic OLED TV deal

We haven't reviewed this particular model, but it is quite similar to the smaller MZ980, which scored four stars. It supports the HDR10+ and Dolby Vision formats of HDR (but not HDR10+ Adaptive or Dolby Vision IQ), and packs Panasonic's excellent Filmmaker Mode, which also features on the brand's higher-end TVs. 

It has two HDMI 2.1 ports, along with ALLM and Game Mode for gamers. Chromecast built-in lets you 'cast' content from your phone straight to your TV with no need for an extra device such as the Chromecast with Google TV or Google TV Streamer. And it looks decently specified for sound, with a built-in subwoofer, Dolby Atmos and Dynamic Surround Sound at your fingertips.

Android TV is one of the best TV operating systems around, and brings all the major streaming services in the picture/sound formats they support. It also gives you Google Assistant for voice controls – handy if you misplace the remote.

This deal is only at John Lewis. Grab it now and settle in to autumn.

MORE:

Worth getting excited for? Here's our hands-on with the Panasonic Z95A

These are the best TVs you can buy right now

And here are the best TV deals

We often get asked why we bother to review smartphones when our wheelhouse is hi-fi, TVs and home cinema. The answer is simple; it is the primary music device for many people, and given the use of an HDR-supporting OLED screen, possibly the highest-quality display that they own. 

No other smartphone has devoted itself to AV and musical prowess quite like Sony’s revitalised Xperia series, namely the flagship Xperia 1. We’ve long recommended it as a top choice for those who want the best-looking and sounding smartphone available (and don’t want an Apple iPhone). For years, the Sony’s unique 21:9 aspect ratio screen made it stand apart from the Android crowd. While the Xperia 1 wasn’t necessarily the best for daily use, it was an absolute treat for watching movies. 

Alas, Sony has opted to take the latest generation, the Xperia 1 VI, in a new direction to get its handset in more, well, hands. It’s no secret that Sony hasn’t enjoyed the same success as Apple, Samsung and Google, with average consumers opting for the more well-known and (without sounding too critical) consistent brands. 

So, can Sony snag itself a slice of the mainstream smartphone pie with its latest Xperia? And more importantly, has it sacrificed much of what we like about the previous generation to do so?

Price

Let’s face it, the 4K display on the older Xperia 1 models was a costly addition, so dropping it from the lineup should subsequently drop the price, right? Wrong. The Xperia 1 VI launches at the exact same £1299 price as its predecessor and, much like its precursor, it won’t be launching in the US or Australia (where it would cost roughly $1700 / AU$2500 respectively if you were interested).

While that might not be the end of the world – after all many manufacturers are still upping their prices year on year – it’s also not good news by any means, as last year’s Xperia 1 V was already considered an expensive phone. It also puts the Xperia 1 VI in the direct firing line of established smartphones from the likes of Samsung and Apple. 

Samsung has the four-star Galaxy S24 Ultra which launched at £1249 / $1299 / AU$2199, though that has dropped to around £1149 now that it has been on the market for over six months. Apple’s five-star (and Award-winning) iPhone 15 Pro Max is also a direct competitor, and it can be found for £1199 / $1199 / AU$2199 – though it's expected to be replaced in the next month.

Build

The latest Xperia should be familiar to anyone who’s owned or used any of the previous generation Xperia 1 devices, albeit with a few tweaks. It’s most akin to the Xperia 1 V, sharing its ridged aluminium rails and grippy textured matte glass backing. It even comes in the same black, platinum silver and khaki green finishes and retains the flat, boxy shape and squared-off edges from last year’s Mark V.

While it feels solid in the hand and the additional security of the grippy back and sides is appreciated, we do prefer the smoother and more premium-feeling offerings from Apple and Samsung when it comes to their tactility. The rear panel of the Xperia can even feel slightly sharp, which means it loses some comfort points, but this could also be interpreted as a clean-cut and precise build feature. Sony has added an extra layer of protection in the form of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front of the phone and the first generation Gorilla Glass Victus on the rear. This should make the handset more resistant to drops and scuffs. This Xperia is also IP65/IP68 water and dust-resistant, meaning it can survive a dip in water of up to 1.5 metres for 30 minutes. 

The most radical departure from the previous Xperia 1 devices has to be the new aspect ratio, as Sony has ditched the tall and thin 21:9 profile in favour of a more conventional 19.5:9 aspect ratio  – the same ratio seen on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. It’s a bittersweet farewell to this unique screen size as, while we’ll miss it for watching movies, we found it to be rather inconvenient for day-to-day functionality. So while the AV enthusiast side of us is disappointed, we have to chalk this up as an improvement, as truthfully it makes the Xperia 1 VI a much nicer handset to use overall.

As for the various buttons and ports on the frame of this device, we have a USB-C charging socket on the bottom, as well as a combination power, lock and fingerprint scanner, textured camera shutter button and volume rocker on the right-hand side, and finally (drum roll please) a 3.5mm headphone jack on the top edge – thank you Sony for keeping this alive for yet another year. 

Features

Sony’s latest flagship might not have the AI smarts of the latest Samsung Galaxy, but it’s funnelled its energy into AV features instead; we, of course, approve of this strategy. This Xperia phone is still focused on content consumption and creation, and Sony has enhanced its display and speakers accordingly.

Starting with the display, Sony has equipped the VI with a 6.5-inch LTPO OLED screen, with a variable refresh rate of 1Hz to 120Hz. It supports HDR in the BT.2020 colour space which is a feature commonly found on TVs. Speaking of TVs, Sony seems to have called in some backup from its Bravia TV division, as the default picture mode on this phone carries a “tuned by Bravia” badge. As ever, there is also the Creator Mode picture setting (which is reportedly tuned by its CineAlta professional film camera team), which to us seems to equate to a Filmmaker mode. It dials colours back slightly to a more cinematic standard, with a greater emphasis on authenticity.

There is one downgrade that may sound bad on paper, and that’s the new display resolution. Sony has dropped from 4K down to 1080p HD – now if this was a TV review, we would be calling this an absolute catastrophe, but as this is a handheld screen with an immense pixel density of 396ppi (4K TVs tend to have a pixel density of 140ppi), we don’t find this to be the tragedy we first thought it was when the phone was announced. 

While we feel as though 1440p (otherwise known Quad HD) might have been a better resolution to choose, especially considering most of its rivals use this resolution on cheaper handsets, we don’t consider it to be a noteworthy deficiency on the Sony. Furthermore, the Android versions of a majority of the streaming apps we use to watch content on mobile devices don’t support 4K playback anyway, with YouTube being the biggest platform for playing UHD content on the go, so the loss of 4K is ultimately less of a sacrifice than we anticipated.

Moving onto the sound chops of this smartphone, we’ve established that the Xperia VI continues the legacy of the headphone jack which for us means instant bonus points. It can be used to play hi-res audio to cans plugged directly into the smartphone. If wireless audio is more your style, then Sony has you covered with Bluetooth 5.4 on board and a boatload of supported audio codecs including aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LE and A2DP, alongside its own LDAC wireless audio codec. 

Speaker audio also gets a boost thanks to the full-stage stereo speakers. Unlike other handsets on the market that combine the earpiece and bottom-firing speaker to create a stereo effect, the Xperia 1 VI features dual front-facing speakers that deliver a more balanced sound with enhanced clarity and spatial separation. The positioning is also better than other smartphones, as it's much harder to block the speakers with your hand when holding the phone in landscape orientation. 

Moving onto the camera performance, we find the Sony to be a top-tier choice for smartphone photographers who want to dabble in the more complex areas of professional photography. We won’t equate this to a high-end DSLR by any means, but the combination of the dedicated camera shutter button and the “Pro” mode found in the camera app makes for a dedicated camera-like experience that’s intuitive and fun to use. You can even half-press the camera button to establish focus, and the UI changes that mimic the interface of a Sony Alpha camera are both nice touches. There are also a handful of AI features (a staple of 2024 smartphones) to be found in the camera software, including a human pose estimation feature that can track subjects for smoother video tracking. 

As for the cameras themselves, Sony has equipped the VI with three on the rear – a 48MP main lens, a 12MP ultrawide and a true optical 85mm to 170mm zoom telephoto lens. The camera module is also coated with Zeiss’ T* anti-reflectivity coating for enhanced picture quality. While we don’t profess to be photography aficionados, we manage to get some great-looking shots out of the Xperia with ease. 

The Xperia VI uses the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor from Qualcomm, with 12GB of RAM. The most common variant has 256GB of storage, though a 512GB option is available from select retailers. It's also running Android 14 with a small handful of Sony-specific features. This includes a dashboard for quickly accessing some settings and tools, as well as some Sony-specific apps like the Creators’ App, Music Pro and an app that lets you use the handset as an external monitor for a Sony camera. We’re yet to discover any software glitches or stutters, and day-to-day operation feels smooth and responsive.  

Picture

Sony’s smartphones have always impressed where picture performance is concerned, and the Xperia 1 VI continues this trend for yet another year. While black letterboxing bars have been introduced with this generation, we find that the remainder of the picture remains uncompromised. We watch some of our go-to reference films such as The Batman and Blade Runner 2049 on various streaming platforms, using both available picture modes. 

Starting in the creator mode, in many ways this feels like having a pocketable Sony TV, as many of the characteristics we’ve seen on the Bravia 9 and Bravia 8 (review coming soon) are apparent here. Sony’s tendency to lean towards a slightly cooler colour temperature is apparent, with some skin tones looking a tad pasty and colours lacking some richness. However, the solidity and detail found within the image more than make up for it. 

Switching to the standard picture mode helps to reintroduce some life and richness to the colours, with more lively skin tones and a more engaging presentation overall. While the creator mode setting is certainly the more authentic of the two settings, we find that the Bravia-tuned standard mode is the one we prefer thanks to the enhanced colour saturation.

Edges are sharp and details within clothing and skin textures are well-defined, resulting in a richly detailed image overall. The opening shot of Blade Runner featuring a close-up of an eye is striking thanks to its intricate reproduction of the iris, and spectacularly detailed skin texture. Pair this with the excellent contrast and punchy highlights and we’re treated to an image that oozes three-dimensional depth.

The Sony is also talented in the motion department. Watching sweeping panning shots and scenes in which Officer K’s flying car zooms towards the LAPD headquarters, we find the Xperia to deliver smooth yet natural motion that doesn’t contain any noticeable judder. 

Our main criticism here is that, when placed side by side with an iPhone 15 Plus, the Sony can look as though it's trying slightly too hard. It lacks a touch of subtlety and nuance that the iPhone captures effortlessly, which can be best spotted when it comes to how naturally skin tones are presented. The Apple handset is slightly more reserved and cinematic at times, though the Sony’s added oomph can suit some content more – and truthfully some may prefer the more extroverted Sony in this regard. 

The iPhone also bests the Xperia in retaining dark details, though the Sony trumps the iPhone where brightness is concerned. In scenes with characters’ faces obscured by shadow, we find that the iPhone manages to keep facial features visible, whereas the Sony tends to let them disappear into the shadows. The Sony does impress where black depths are concerned, though, with inky true blacks courtesy of the OLED display.

Sound

Sony once again delivers class-leading sound when it comes to mobile phone audio with the Xperia 1 VI, as evidenced when we plug a pair of wired headphones into the handset. We use both the built-in 3.5mm headphone jack and an external USB-C to 3.5mm adapter for the sake of fairness when comparing it side-by-side with the iPhone 15 Plus, although it must be said that performance seems similar, pretty much regardless of which way we choose to plug the headphones in. 

We play a range of songs from Tidal, including The 1 by Taylor Swift, Dare by Gorillaz, Luna by Bombay Bicycle Club and more, and we conclude that the Xperia delivers a similar experience to its predecessor. It’s a clean, detailed and crisp sound, with superb timing and dynamics, though it can verge on lean-sounding at times. While it may not sound as full-bodied as the iPhone, the Sony injects an enhanced sense of energy, while remaining well organised and composed. 

Bombay Bicycle Club's Luna is a prime example of content that best showcases the Xperia’s prowess, with crisp vocals, textured and sparkling instrumentals (the guitars and woodwind are particularly well served), and steadily building dynamics that deliver a punch when the chorus kicks in. It’s all tied together with solid timing and rhythmic pace, resulting in a truly engaging sonic experience overall. 

The loudspeakers are mostly impressive by mobile phone standards. They’re detailed and feature good stereo separation that makes a solid attempt to position sounds in relation to what is happening on screen. However, they feel somewhat lightweight, and lack some much needed dynamic punch, meaning we’d prefer to plug some cans in for any extended watching or listening sessions.

Verdict

The Xperia 1 VI somehow manages to drop a handful of cherished AV features without sacrificing picture and sound performance. While waving goodbye to the 21:9 screen will be a tough pill to swallow for those who love to take their films on the go, it's a sensible move when it comes to literally everything else this phone does, and the new Bravia-tuned picture mode makes up for this loss in many regards.

It remains an excellent-sounding device that supports wired audio without the need for an adapter (which will always be a win in our books), and even if the speakers lack some impact and weight, we still appreciate the positioning and how spacious they sound. Pair the AV performance with a slick user interface and impressive camera, and the Xperia 1 VI might have the most mass appeal we've seen in a Sony phone for years.

SCORES

• Picture 5
• Sound 4
• Features 5

MORE:

Read our review of the iPhone 15 Pro Max

Also consider the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Read our Sony Xperia 1 V review

The best smartphones for music and movies

Apple's AirPods Pro 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are not only their respective brands' flagship wireless earbuds, they're also the trailblazing flagbearers for the two rival companies. The AirPods Pro 2 pulled the in-ear AirPods line out of mediocrity and into genuine sonic competition with the market's best performers, whereas the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are the closest we've seen to Samsung making a pair of wireless buds that have the sonic capabilities to make the class-leaders sweat. 

Both are strong efforts from their respective creators, even if they're designed for completely different platforms and are intended to be used to their full potential within their own ecosystems: AirPods for Apple/iOS users and Galaxy Buds for Samsung/Android disciples.  

Let's be clear, then, that these are two contenders running in parallel to one another rather than in direct competition. This isn't a case of assessing which set of earbuds is perfect for all users, but rather one of figuring out which pair performs objectively better within its respective ecosystem. 

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2: price

Priced at £219 / $249 / AU$399, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are Samsung's most premium wireless earbuds. The AirPods Pro 2 are also the most costly in-ear headphones Apple makes, and while we tested them at £249 / $249 / AU$399, discounts are pulling that figure down to roughly £199 / $190 / AU$330 at the time of writing.

For wider context, those numbers place our competitors in the same ballpark as the Award-winning Sony WF-1000XM5 (tested at £259 / $299 / AU$419) and, when discounted, the high-priced Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (tested at £299 / $299 / AU$450) which often falls to £219 / $249 / AU$400.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2: design

Here's a surprise: the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and the Apple AirPods Pro 2 look strikingly similar, at least at a glance. Samsung dropped the rounded bean configuration of its outgoing Galaxy Buds 2 Pro buds in favour of a stem and ear tip construction for its third-gen flagship model, leading to a design that, when finished in white, looks unavoidably like something fresh from the Apple production line. 

There are some key differences, of course. Whereas the AirPods Pro 2 offer a shorter, rounded stem, their Galaxy contemporaries opt for a prism-shaped design with more angularity and edge. The Samsung buds also make a big deal of their vertically placed 'Blade Lights' on the spine of each unit which indicate key vitals such as battery life and connectivity status. 

The similarities continue with the charging cases, with both models offering a pebble-like design with a USB-C charging port. The transparent lid of the Samsung is a nice touch to differentiate it from its Apple-made rival, but in truth, we prefer the weight, solidity and general build quality of the AirPods case over the Galaxy one. Samsung's effort isn't bad, it just feels a little cheap in our hands.

Each set of wireless earbuds sports on-ear touch controls customisable via their respective apps. As standard, the AirPods Pro 2 offer a pinch-based system to pause music playback and take calls, while long pressing switches between noise-cancelling modes. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro employ a similar system, allowing you to perform actions such as summoning your voice assistant, controlling the buds' volume and adjusting playback via a series of squeezes and swipes. They'll take some getting used to, but once you become acquainted with the system it works well enough.

Not much to choose between the two, then, though we did find that the AirPods Pro 2 were a little more adept at providing a good seal and then sitting snugly and comfortably in our ears. The Samsungs do boast a higher IP57 water and dustproof rating over the Pro 2's IPX4 certification, but on balance, it's the AirPods Pro 2 that are the better-designed pair overall.

*Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2*

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2: features

Before we get started, do note that many of the features listed below will only be accessible or customisable using each respective set's proprietary app or platform. The AirPods Pro 2's full set of features are available when connected to iPhones and iPads, naturally, while there's no app support at all for the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro for iOS devices. If you want full use of their features, you'll need the Android Wearables app which, sadly, isn't accessible for iPhone users. 

The thing that really distinguished the Pro 2 model from the 'standard' AirPods, besides greatly improved sound, was active noise cancellation. Thanks to the buds' high-performance H2 chip and optimised placement of acoustic vents and microphones, the noise-cancelling experienced here remains close to class-leading. It's not quite as good as the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra, but better than the solid effort deployed by the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.  

The AirPods Pro 2's noise cancelling is impressive at this level, feeling airy, organically adaptive and effective at blocking out surrounding noise and even damping down harsher edges of sudden noise. The "AI-boosted" effort for the rival Samsung earbuds is solid, damping down the clamour of the outside world effectively but allowing harsher noise occasionally to get through. If you want the legwork taken out of your ANC experience, you can opt to use Samsung’s “Adaptive” sound mode, which monitors the environment and then automatically adjusts the amount of noise-cancelling to employ modes when certain noises are detected – similar to Apple's Adaptive Audio ANC mode.

Battery life for the AirPods Pro 2 is solid, with six hours from the buds and 24 from the case, a total of 30 hours with noise cancelling activated. If you’re running low on juice, quickly pop your pods into the charging case for five minutes and you'll get a whole hour of extra life. Battery life figures for the rival Samsungs are equally strong, clocking in at seven hours from the buds and a total of 30 with the charging case, broadly matching the figures put up by the AirPods Pro 2.

Voice calls are more impressively handled by the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and if you’re planning on using them for work, an extra 15kHz of bandwidth from the outgoing model plus advanced voice-tracking AI algorithms help you sound solid, clear, natural and robust. It's a similar story with the Pro 2, in fairness, although Apple's effort is perhaps a little thinner and leaner than that offered by Samsung.

Both earbuds sport expected flagship features like wear detection, conversation modes, spatial audio and seamless pairing and switching between devices.

*Winner: Tie*

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2: sound 

As we've written many times before, the AirPods Pro 2 were the buds that really cracked the code for Apple. As we wrote in our review at the time: "From the gravelly, soulful tones of Tom Waits to the more languid tone of Wet Leg’s vocals, the AirPods Pro are solid, focused and crystal clear with voices". They're impressively comprehensive, nailing the basics before adding those extra layers and elements that make for an invigorating, five-star experience.

The second-gen AirPods offer the sonic confidence that's always felt lacking in previous iterations, as though they have the guts and drive to mix it with the best. They're plenty of space and airiness to their general presentation, but it's blended with the muscle and assertiveness that your music needs to feel as though it's being driven along with purpose and authority. 

It's worth reiterating that the AirPods Pro 2 offer no support for high-res or higher-quality codecs, something that's always felt at odds with the 24-bit high-res audio tracks available in Apple Music’s extensive collection. These AirPods use the basic AAC Bluetooth codec, and while that's not much to shout about on paper, the bods at Apple don't feel that fancier codecs are needed for producing a better sound. From our experience, they may be right, as the second-gen Pro offer an experience that melds detail and insight with robustness and weight, a combination that leads to a dynamic, ever-engaging delivery. 

How do the Samsung buds compare? All told, the outgoing Galaxy Buds 2 Pro were something of an unengaging, even bland pair of earbuds to listen to. The third-gen follow-up, though, are a different beast, nearly blasting our ears off with their powerful, front-footed character that strains and surges like a tethered dog trying to reach a juicy steak. A little on the lean side, we named "space, speed and spark" as the Buds 3 Pro's strengths, stressing that "songs are conveyed with attack and energy, with fast tunes especially benefitting from the buds’ sparky, relentless temperament". 

There's enough texture and nuance, though, to round out an undeniably engaging character. When paired with the right equipment (such as a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6) and fed a decent 24-bit hi-res file to get their teeth into, the Galaxy can really knock you sideways. Rocky guitar tracks sound layered and loaded with detail as the buds draw out the hues and shades of a piece rather than pumping out an unwieldy block of sound. Yes, we'd like more wallop to go with their skittish energy, something that the AirPods Pro 2 provide, but it's hard to be a stick in the mud when you're listening to earbuds that are so focused on having fun. 

Naturally, they're designed to be paired with the latest Galaxy devices, with Samsung's hi-res SSC UHQ codec for unpacking 24-bit/96kHz hi-res files only usable with the S24 and S23 smartphones, the latest generation of the Z Flip/ Fold lines and the Tab S9 tablet. If you use the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro with an iPhone (as we still consider iPhones to be a better-sounding source), you'll discover that they perform admirably during this rather mismatched union. The iPhone robs some of that space and openness from the Galaxy buds, but you'll find that songs now sound more solid and robust, like a car firming up its suspension when hunkering down for a session on the track. The essential character of the Samsungs remains, albeit with a slightly altered flavour.

However you use them, we're still not quite convinced that Samsung's effort betters that of Apple. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are perfect for certain genres and have major appeal for lovers of excitement and energy, but Apple's second-gen buds are built to please as many people as possible, covering all of the bases without exposing any glaring weak spots. 

*Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2*

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2: verdict

For Apple users wanting wireless earbuds (as opposed to over-ear headphones), the AirPods Pro 2 would be our firm recommendation. For their five-star sonic delivery and smooth integration within the iOS setup, they're a pair of AirPods that you won't have to feel ashamed to be seen with – the Pro 2 are built for audio lovers as much as for Apple acolytes, meaning iOS users are getting the best of both worlds when they purchase a pair. 

The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are, of course, built for a completely different market and a totally distinct customer. Assessed in parallel, they don't quite beat the AirPods Pro 2 for sonic performance, but these are the best Samsung buds we've heard thus far. For possibly the first time ever, we can say that we wouldn’t dissuade users from grabbing Samsung's Galaxy Buds, and if you can live with their forward, relentless nature, you’ll find them to be a very likeable set of companions. 

MORE:

Read our Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro review

And our AirPods Pro 2 review

Need something to pair with the Galaxy buds? Read our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review

When news broke earlier this month that Google will be ceasing production of the Chromecast with Google TV in favour of the upcoming Google TV Streamer, concerns about the future of the Award-winning 4K media streamer arose immediately. With a new streamer on the market, would Google drop support for the Chromecast sooner than expected?

Thankfully it looks like our fears have been put to rest, as the outgoing streamer is set to get a major software update soon according to Android Authority. According to the online publication, a Google representative confirmed that the streamer will be updated to Android 14 at the Made by Google event, in which the new Pixel 9 smartphones were unveiled. 

No date was given regarding the rollout of this update, but we do know that the older streamer isn't getting all the features that come with Android 14. Namely, the Thread smart home integration aspect will not be available on the Chromecast with Google TV due to a hardware limitation. The new Google TV Streamer has a Thread radio built in, which allows it to communicate directly with other smart home devices that also have Thread integration; the Chromecast, on the other hand, does not.

It's not all bad news though, as we expect many of the other new Android 14 features to be available on the Chromecast with Google TV streamer. These include a picture-in-picture mode that will allow you to view your video doorbell without interrupting whatever you're watching, and there are new energy modes for the eco-conscious crowd. 

While the Chromecast won't be on store shelves for much longer, updates are expected to continue into next year at the very least. Google has reportedly committed to supporting the 4K model with security updates until 2025, while the HD variant is supposedly covered until 2027. 

MORE:

Read our full Chromecast with Google TV review

Should you wait for the new one or go for the Award-winner?: Google TV Streamer vs Chromecast with Google TV

Here are 3 reasons to buy a Chromecast before it's gone forever

Samsung has already had its fun with the Galaxy S24 and Z 6 series, and Apple is expected to launch its new phones next month, but August is all about Google. Android fans listen up, as a whole new series of Google smartphones are about to break cover.

Google's annual "Made By Google" event is tonight, and we've been promised the ninth generation of Pixel phones. In true Google fashion, the new Pixel 9 series has leaked extensively and it was even officially revealed weeks ago in a series of flashy introduction videos. There is still plenty to reveal though, with specs and features all still a mystery, 

Furthermore, we hope that Google can whip up a couple of surprises tonight, so we've included a short wishlist of what else we'd like to see, alongside when and where to watch the live-streamed event.

Made by Google 2024: when and where to watch

The Made by Google event will be streamed live on the Made by Google YouTube page, which should come as no surprise as Google owns the video-sharing platform. You can visit the account now to take a sneak peek at two new devices; the Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

To catch the live stream from the very start, you'll need to tune in at 6PM in the UK, 10AM PT/1PM ET if you live in the US, or 3AM if you're watching from Australia. Don't worry if you miss the stream though, as Google will (most likely) upload a recording of the show, and we'll be covering the event right here too. 

Made by Google 2024: what to expect

As we've already established, new Google Pixel phones will be revealed today, and we're expecting a new approach from Google. Previously, the company has employed a two-tiered approach with a standard and premium model, the latter sporting a "Pro" suffix. While we're expecting a Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro duo, Google is also adding a third option to its lineup with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

This isn't Google's first foldable phone, as Google launched the first Pixel Fold back in May of 2023 – separately from the Pixel 8 series. Google is now streamlining its lineup by launching all three devices under the Pixel 9 banner, with the foldable version appearing to be a step-up model from the Pixel 9 Pro. 

While we've seen what the 9 Pro and 9 Pro Fold look like, little is known about the specifications of these devices. We presume Google will debut a new version of its in-house developed Tensor processor with these new phones, and we're also willing to bet that they will have some fairly intense AI integration too. 

If the Google Pixel 8 Pro specs are anything to go off, then we anticipate 12GB of RAM backing up the new processor, and the display could be a very similar Quad HD LTPO 120Hz OLED screen with a variable refresh rate of 1Hz to 120Hz. Google has traditionally equipped its non-Pro variants with 1080p displays, and we don't expect that to change this year.  

Moving away from phones for just a moment, Google also recently announced the Google TV Streamer; a successor to its popular Chromecast series of media streamers. While the device has already been announced with pricing, we'd like to see it get some time in the spotlight during this live event. 

Made by Google: what we'd like to see

Everything we'd discussed thus far has all been officially announced, but now we're treading into uncharted territories of speculation and guesswork. First and foremost, we would like to see Google refresh its Pixel Buds series of wireless earbuds, as it's been over two years since the Buds Pro launched, and three years since the entry-level Buds A became available (not counting new colour releases). 

In a perfect world, we'd like to see Google refresh both pairs of buds, however, the Buds A are the older of the pair, so we think they are most deserving of an upgrade. We are huge fans of the Pixel Buds A, awarding them five stars in our 2021 review; however, we'd appreciate an updated pair with newer features and even better sound.

Google also launched the Pixel Tablet last year, so it's possible we could see a revised second-generation model. We're quite fond of the current model, and even though it didn't score the full five stars, we rather like its included magnetic speaker dock (it makes for a great kitchen companion) and sharp picture. A revised version with better shadow detail, an even punchier and more dynamic speaker dock and better headphone audio would be a treat to see at Made by Google, but we're not willing to bet the house on it making an appearance. 

Finally, it's been a while since we've had any news regarding Project Caviar. This new Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos rival was hinted at nearly two years ago, with the company partnering with Samsung to develop its own HDR and immersive audio formats that would be more open-source than their Dolby alternatives. Little has been said about this proposed picture and sound feature since, but we'd certainly welcome an update this evening. 

MORE:

Read our Google Pixel 8 Pro review

And our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review

Check out our picks for the best smartphones

Today marks a turning point in Google's streaming lineage. The beloved (and Award-winning) Google Chromecast with Google TV streamer has officially been discontinued, with the Chromecast series as a whole being laid to rest after 13 years. While saying goodbye to this successful line of streaming devices is hard, it's a bittersweet occasion; as Google has officially announced its successor. 

The imaginatively titled Google TV Streamer picks up right where the Chromecast left off, but this time Google is going for a full-on streaming box solution rather than an HDMI dongle. Looks-wise, the new streamer carries forth the smooth, pebble-inspired aesthetics of the Pixel phones and Pixel tablets, as well as the outgoing Chromecast. Google says it designed this streamer to sit alongside your TV rather than being tucked away in a media unit, hence the slick design; however, it should also improve connectivity with other smart home devices too according to Google. On the subject of connectivity, Google has included an ethernet port for wired internet connectivity, which should lead to smoother streaming and less buffering. 

The remote has reportedly undergone some changes too, with improved ergonomics, a more convenient button layout, a better grip and a customisable shortcut button. There's even a handy Google Assistant-powered "find my remote" command that helps you locate your remote if it slips between the couch cushions. 

Onto the streamer itself, Google is calling this generation a "giant leap in performance". It features an upgraded processor, double the RAM of the previous Chromecast 4K and 32GB of internal memory, which should lead to faster loading times and smoother UI navigation. And if the name hasn't already given it away, this streamer is running the Google TV operating system which is a good thing in our books. App compatibility is solid on Google TV – you'll find the usual Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus and local streaming apps – and it's easy to use too.

This new Google TV streamer will also support HDR; Google name-dropped Dolby Vision HDR and the Chromecast with Google TV supported HDR10+, so we expect to see that here as well. It also supports Dolby Atmos immersive audio on supported streaming services, but you'll need a Dolby Atmos soundbar or AVR to fully take advantage of that feature. 

Finally, it should be no surprise that Google has imbued its latest streamer with the power of its Gemini artificial intelligence. It will be able to generate content summaries, find reviews and even create a season-by-season breakdown to get you up to speed with TV shows. AI also has a hand in generating art for the idle mode, just give a voice command to Gemini to create some artwork to display on your TV when you're not using it. 

The Google TV Streamer will be available in two finishes – Porcelain and Hazel (the latter appears to be a Google US store exclusive) – for $99.99 (around £80 / AU$150) on the 24th of September. Pre-orders are open in the States, however, there is no news on a UK or Australian release quite yet. 

And if you're feeling nostalgic for Chromecast and fancy a trip down memory lane, Google has a charming blog post reminiscing about the seven best moments in Chromecast history. 

MORE:

Read our full Google Chromecast with Google TV review

And the Apple TV 4K (2022)

And check out our picks for the best media streamers

It’s no secret that we found the Sonos Ace headphones a frustrating release from Sonos for a number of reasons, not least because it felt like – even after years in the making – that they’d been rushed out before they were really ready.

Now, a new app update takes them one step closer to the product Sonos had likely intended them to be in the first place, by making its TV Audio Swap feature all the more useful.

In case you aren’t familiar, the TV Audio Swap feature routes the sound from your Sonos soundbar to the Sonos Ace for private listening. At launch, it only worked with the brand’s most expensive soundbar – the Sonos Arc – but this new update adds in support for the Sonos Ray and the Sonos Beam too, reports Digital Trends.

Android users are in luck as well, as the new update brings the TV audio swap feature to Android devices as well as iOS, which was a huge omission at launch.

This all comes as part of a wider focus on improving the redesigned Sonos app, which has been plagued by bugs and complaints from users since it launched earlier this year. CEO Patrick Spence finally apologised for the "disappointing" issues last month and promised updates were coming, so this is probably the first of a few planned to get it back on track.

Other improvements that this update promises include reduced latency for group volume controls, group volume controls on the now-playing screen, improved performance in large queues, the ability to easily clear the queue and mute controls for individual speakers.

Speech enhancement and night mode settings are also now reportedly more reliable.

This chunky update comes a day before Sonos is set to announce its second-quarter 2024 earnings, which should give an idea as to how the Sonos Ace have been received by the public. 

To access the new app features, users will need to update their Sonos app and ensure their Sonos system is on the latest firmware – we will be sure to do this too, to check all the improvements are there and then update our review accordingly.

MORE:

Here are 6 sound settings you shouldn't ignore on the Sonos Ace

Check out our pick of the best Sonos products of all time

Sonos Ace vs Sony WH-1000XM5: which wireless headphones are better?

Google's wireless earbuds haven't set the world alight. That's hardly surprising – with its fingers in so many pies, Google has perhaps spread itself a little thin, so improving sound quality in its relatively minor range of wireless earbuds probably isn't top of its agenda. Samsung has the same problem, picking up a string of three-star reviews for the Galaxy Buds line. Yet Apple has managed it, with the five-star AirPods Pro 2.

Google will be hoping its next pair can improve on the three stars meted out to the original Pixel Buds Pro. So far, leaks have hinted as to the buds' design and price, but we'll use our extensive industry knowledge to fill in the gaps.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: price leaks

According to one leak, we're looking at a substantial price hike. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are said to cost £219 / $229 (around AU$430). So says Dealabs (via 9to5Google), which previously leaked the price of the Google Pixel 9 smartphone and Pixel Watch 3.

That's £20 / $30 pricier than the launch price of the Pixel Buds Pro. Though given the originals can now be picked up significantly cheaper (£129 / $129 / AU$299), the sequels will have their work cut out to justify the higher price.

If that launch price is on the money – no pun intended – the Pixel Buds Pro 2 will be cheaper than the Sony WF-1000XM5, which are the best wireless earbuds around. But given that the Sonys have been out a while and are often discounted, they'll likely be around the same price or cheaper than the Pixel Buds Pro 2. The same is true of the Apple AirPods Pro 2. So Google will face some stiff competition in that section of the market.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: release date hearsay

One leak states that the French release date will be 22nd August. That's nine days after the Made By Google event, where the earbuds are likely to launch alongside the Pixel 9 and the Android 15 mobile operating system.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: design rumours

We also have some leaked photos to go on, although as these aren't officially verified we can't be 100 per cent sure they're genuine. But they certainly look like the real deal.

The leak – courtesy of Android Headlines – shows the Pixel Buds Pro 2 in four colours: grey, pink, black and green. The case looks a bit bulkier than the original, with a cutout that could be either for a lanyard or a speaker for the Find My Device feature. The case is otherwise unchanged, while the buds themselves have some new additions.

Firstly, they have wing tips. While a lot smaller than the Pixel Buds A-Series' wing tips, they are definitely there, and should hopefully help the buds stay in your ears (we noted that the Pixel Buds Pro didn't sit right in any of our reviewers' ears).

Secondly, the grilles are more prominent. These will likely be used for the ANC and transparency modes.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: expected features

At present, there's not much to go on regarding possible features for the Pixel Buds Pro 2. But they will undoubtedly build on their predecessor's feature set.

The Pixel Buds Pro are very much Google's take on Apple's AirPods, in that some of their features are exclusive to users of Google's Pixel smartphones. Pixel phone users get spatial audio with head tracking and all controls built into the operating system, whereas those with other-brand Android phones can access most of the same features (bar spatial audio) via an app. No iOS app makes the Pixel Buds Pro a non-starter for iPhone users, as you can't update the firmware or access the settings. Given the fierce competition in the wireless earbuds market, we can't see this changing for the Pixel Buds Pro 2.

The original Pixel Buds Pro have a feature set broadly comparable with the AirPods Pro 2, but it's the efficacy that's lacking. The noise cancellation suffers next to Apple's range-toppers, and the call quality also needs work, particularly in windy conditions. Fingers crossed Google can fix these and give us a few tasty extra features at the same time.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: early verdict

Google hasn't scored a five-star pair of earbuds since the Pixel Buds A-Series in 2021. Its buds aren't particularly bad, it's just that the competition is so fierce that it needs to do more to stay competitive. A lot more.

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 look promising, but doubts remain if Google can elevate itself to the level of Apple's earbuds, or remain languishing along with Samsung. We'll update this page as more leaks and rumours emerge.

MORE:

Read our review of the Cambridge Audio Melomania M100

Best wireless earbuds: top pairs tested by our experts

And the best cheap wireless earbuds

If you live by the old adage “size matters” you’ll be pleased to hear Amazon has slashed the price of TCL’s entry level 100-inch TV with its latest Prime Day deal.

You can pick up the giant 98-inch TCL 98P745K for £1709 on Amazon right now, which is a very healthy 43 per cent saving on its launch price.

Full disclosure, we’ve not had the TV into our viewing rooms for testing. But we’re still happy recommending it for three reasons.

First, because TCL has a strong track record creating stellar value TVs, based on our latest reviews. The smaller Mini LED TCL C845K was a What Hi-Fi? Award winner and a stellar value set to this day. The step down C745K also impressed us enough to earn a four star rating, offering great picture quality for the money.

Second, because, though we haven’t reviewed it, our staff writer Lewis Empson did get an opening, look at it, during a TCL event at the end of the last year and came away impressed.

For the money it offers a giant screen and surprisingly competitive feature set, despite having a base LCD rather than Mini LED panel. Highlights include excellent HDR support, great app selection thanks to its Google TV software and an atypically high 144Hz refresh rate, which could appeal to gamers.

As Lewis said in his hands-on preview of the TCL 98P745K:

“What’s most impressive about this TV is its feature set, which is far more stocked than its price tag might suggest [...] The 98P745 seems like a valiant effort by TCL to bring super-sized screens down to a fairly affordable price.”

The third reason we’re happy to recommend it, is that this is the cheapest we’ve ever seen it sell for. Prior to Prime Day the cheapest we’ve seen the TCL 98P745K sell for was £1999 – a £290 premium on its current price.

That said, if you don’t insist on your next TV being 100-inches, we’d recommend checking out our main best Prime Day TV deals guide which has a wider selection of offers on display.

MORE:

These are the best Prime Day 2024 soundbar deals we’ve seen

Our picks of the best Prime Day projector deals

These are the best cheap TVs we’ve tried and tested 

Samsung has launched two new devices in its Galaxy Z series of foldable handsets in the form of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6. These devices continue the established form factors, with updated designs, more powerful internal components and Samsung's Galaxy AI which was a standout feature in its S24 Ultra smartphone earlier this year.

Starting with the Galaxy Z Fold 6, the latest iteration of this phone continues the half-phone, half-tablet concept with a book-style folding functionality. It features two screens in total; a cover screen that functions like a regular handset and a larger interior screen that is indicative of a small tablet. Samsung has actually increased the size of the display of this year's Z Fold while also making the phone more compact, which sounds like an oxymoron, but we can assure you it's not. The screen is actually wider and shorter, with more squared-off bezels around the corner, leading to a sleeker look and more screen real estate.

• Hands on: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review

Speaking of the screens, Samsung has outfitted the new Fold with a 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, with a resolution of 2160 x 1856 (an unusual figure given the screen size, but it's practically Quad HD), HDR10+ support, and a 1Hz to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The cover display is a lower resolution 6.3-inch HD+ affair, although it's still a Dynamic AMOLED with a 1Hz to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. It also supports Dolby Atmos audio via headphones and the built-in speaker system.

The Z Fold 6 is also thinner and lighter than last year's model, down to just 5.6mm when unfolded and weighing only 239g (14g later than the Z Fold 5). Samsung claims that this makes the phone more comfortable in the hand and pocket alike. Internally Samsung has bought the Fold up to speed with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy processor (this special Samsung variant apparently has a slightly higher clock speed) and 12GB of RAM. Storage comes in either 256GB, 512GB or 1TB capacities and the battery is rated at 4400mAh – the same as the Fold 5. It's also running Android 14 with Samsung's One UI 6.1.1 skin over the top.

Camera performance is also indicative of last year's model, with a trio of rear shooters. The main lens is a 50MP wide-angle camera, which is backed up with a 12MP ultra-wide and 10MP telephoto lens, as well as a 4MP under-display front-facing camera on the main display, and a 10MP front-facing lens on the cover display.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 comes in three bold finishes: silver shadow, pink and navy. It starts at £1799 with pre-orders starting today.

Following up with the Galaxy Z Flip 6, as the name suggests this is Samsung's modern take on the flip phone. Samsung gave this phone a fairly hefty update last year, so this appears to be a spec bump above all else. It features the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, an upgraded 50MP main camera that it shares with the Galaxy S24 Ultra and a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 1Hz to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. It also gets a boost in battery life with a new 4000mAh cell (up from 3700mAh on its predecessor) and either 256GB or 512GB of storage backed by 12GB of RAM.

Available in four finishes – blue, yellow, silver shadow and mint – the Galaxy Z Flip 6 starts at £1049 with pre-orders starting today.

As expected, both devices are deeply integrated with Samsung's new AI features which launched alongside the Galaxy S24 series earlier this year. This includes the rather handy circle to search with Google feature, the AI generative fill photo editing tools, smart suggestions for message responses and live translation for texts and phone calls. Both devices will launch fully on the 24th of July alongside the new Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro and a pair of new Galaxy Watch devices.

MORE:

Hands on: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review

Check out our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review

And our picks for the best smartphones

Check out our Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro hands-on review

Samsung's AirPods-rivalling wireless earbuds go big on AI – but can they compete sonically?

If you have never thought of giving your new wireless speaker a pet name, other than ‘Kitchen’ or ‘Garden’, the Bose SoundLink Max might just inspire you to change your mind.

Instead of the usual, rather dry serving suggestions, Bose’s product team has gone to town with the Max. During the set-up process for its wireless speaker, you are presented with no fewer than 15 potential serving suggestions for your new pride and joy.

Given the brand’s origins, there’s an American theme to many of them; our highlights include S’more Music, Tailgater, Workout Warrior, Thumper and, our particular favourite, Porta Party.

We only hope as much thought has gone into the all-round performance as it has for these affable names. Let’s find out.

Design & build

The Bose SoundLink Max is a ruggedised, rubberised rectangle of a wireless speaker. It is perhaps more practical than it is pushing the envelope where design is concerned, but there’s something to be said for its simple, understated appearance.

In the flesh, though, things improve and the SoundLink Max is nice and tactile, with large sections of the main body wrapped in smooth-to-the-touch silicone. The material also makes its way onto the cute carry handle which twists and locks into fittings on top of the main unit.

At 2.13kg, the Bose isn’t super-light, but moving it from an indoor to outdoor setting shouldn’t strain the wrist and, thanks to that soft handle, it’s nice to hold and carry around. It also makes the SoundLink Max feel like a premium product, which is handy since it carries a premium price tag of £399 / $399 / AU$599. This places it in the ballpark of rivals such as the Dali Katch G2 (£329) and Sonos Move 2 (£449 / $449 / AU$799).

The top section of the speaker includes all the playback pairing and volume controls which you access by pressing the relevant icon. The silicone surface has just enough give so your finger goes down and prods a button hidden underneath. There’s something quite satisfying about pressing them – each one has a slight recess that helps guide your finger into position.

The silicone wrap goes around the bottom of the wireless speaker too, where you will find four feet (they are more like slightly raised bumps) which will help give the Bose a bit of stability.

The black finish of our review sample is rather subdued, but we think it will probably resist marks and scraps better than most, although a more fetching Blue Dusk finish is also available. We are slightly surprised Bose doesn’t have a couple of more fun colours up its sleeve to broaden the appeal, though.

Features

The Bose SoundLink Max supports Bluetooth 5.3 and has a claimed range of 30ft (9m), which we find accurate in an outdoor setting.

It charges via USB-C. You get a cable in the box if you are in the UK, but it appears you also get a USB-C charging plug in the box if you buy in the US.

Battery life is a claimed 20 hours, but users might find this varies slightly depending on how you use the speaker. Pressing and holding the power button will prompt a voice to tell you how long is left.

Listening at maximum volume will drain the battery quicker, as will using the built-in battery to charge an external device such as a smartphone or laptop. But it’s a handy feature to have if you find your phone low on juice with no power socket nearby.

The SoundLink Max will power down to save said battery after 20 mins, but you can change the auto-off timer in the settings of the Bose companion app. Pressing and holding the play and volume buttons will toggle the feature on and off.

Inputs are kept to a bare minimum with just USB-C and a 3.5mm auxiliary socket on the rear of the speaker.

The buttons on top include a play/pause button which can also be used to control music playback – the usual double press to skip forwards and a triple press to skip back.

Its IP67 rating means the speaker is water and dust-proof, according to the Bose website, which we are slightly surprised by, given the exposed inputs on the back of the speaker. Some rivals put them behind a water-tight cover, but we are offered no such protection here.

If the SoundLink Max detects moisture inside, the battery light will blink amber and white to warn you, and you will have to wait for it to dry. The guide recommends you shake the speaker, allow it to air dry or point a fan (not a hair dryer) at the USB port.

Besides the tactile carry handle you also have the option to go for a longer rope carrying-strap, but at (£45 / $45 / AU$75) it isn’t cheap and we’re not sure it’s really necessary.

The Bose has Bluetooth multipoint so you can have two devices connected simultaneously and switch between them at your leisure. One thing you can’t do, though, is answer calls through the Bose – there is no built-in mic. But, in all honesty, this feels like a feature that has died out in recent years and shouldn’t really be a deal-breaker.

The Bose app doesn’t offer many customisation options, but there is a three-band EQ for bass, mids and treble and you also get an assortment of bass and treble boosting/reducing preset sound modes to choose from.

Sound

And these settings come in handy because, out of the box, the Bose sounds bassy. Very bassy. We can imagine it’s something that will impress on a showroom floor where the speaker might be fighting for attention among other rivals – but for us, it’s too bombastic.

That’s why during testing, we turn the bass setting down to around minus five or six, which still gives us more than enough in terms of quantity but also improves the quality of sound to make it better balanced and less overpowering.

Once we tweak this setting, we leave the rest alone and just let the Bose get on with the job of entertaining us. Which it does extremely well.

The Soundlink Max shouldn’t have any issues getting the party started – thanks, in the main, to its lively, punchy delivery. It’s in its element rocking along to Guns N’ Roses Welcome To The Jungle. The wireless speaker’s expressive midrange enthusiastically sprays out Axl Rose’s wailing lead vocal, while every thwack of the band’s drum kit is dispatched with force and vigour. There's an energy to the band’s performance that is easy to tap into and makes for a hugely enjoyable listen.

We switch to a bit of dance music in the shape of Visions by Lane 8 and there’s a great sense of timing to the track, with the electro beats hitting with substance and tight edges, which give the song enough definition to stop and start in all the right places. Poorer quality wireless speakers can suffer from sludgy and slow bass, but there are no such problems here, thanks to the Bose’s speedy, agile delivery. The fluid, wavey, synthy highs layer the top of the track with crisply defined edges that give the song plenty of sparkle.

There’s a fullness and richness to the sound that is easy to get on with. The character displays more natural warmth than the likes of the Dali Katch, which is more transparent and digs out a bit more detail but in comparison sounds quite lean and malnourished. The Bose puts much more meat on the bones and more weight behind mids and lows but still manages to keep things sounding balanced.

If you listen to a lot of talk radio, there’s plenty to like in the way the Bose delivers voices. The richness and solidity on display means they sound natural and engaging whether you are indoors, outdoors, relaxing with an audiobook or listening intently to live sport.

Verdict

You can’t really ask for much more from the Bose SoundLink Max. Given the source material most people will be using – i.e. music or a podcast beamed over Bluetooth from a smartphone/tablet – the Bose doesn’t need to be ultra-transparent in its delivery.

A rival such as the Dali Katch G2 has the edge in this regard, but what makes the Bose stand out is that it is unfussy and hugely enjoyable to listen to whatever you play through it. It produces a consistent, exciting and involving sound which will keep you entertained for hours. Add to the fact it is great to use and rugged enough to withstand the elements, and the SoundLink Max puts itself forward as an extremely attractive package.

SCORES 

• Sound 5
• Features 4
• Build 5

MORE:

Read our Dali Katch G2 review

Also check out our Sonos Move 2 review

Our pick of the best wireless speakers tried and tested by our expert team

The iPhone 16 range isn't expected to launch until September, but we could see the iPhone 16 Pro's screen unveiled in August. That's because Samsung Display is rumoured to be supplying the same M14 OLED screen technology to Google for its upcoming Pixel 9 phone. Google is holding a surprise event on 13th August, where it's expected to announce the Pixel 9.

According to Korean site Etnews (via Tom's Guide), the only Apple handsets the M14 will feature on are the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. It's said to mean greater brightness and better efficiency thanks to blue phosphorescence technology. This could result in improved battery life.

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are expected to use the same M12 OLED screen as their iPhone 15 equivalents.

As previously reported, the M14 is expected to give the iPhone 16 Pro models a peak brightness that's 20 per cent higher than their iPhone 15 equivalents.

The iPhone 16 Pro models are also expected to have bigger screens than the current models. The iPhone 16 Pro is expected to grow to 6.3 inches, while the Pro Max is thought to have a 6.9-inch screen. That's an increase of 0.2 inches for both handsets.

We're just over two months away from an official announcement. We'll bring you all the rumours before then.

MORE:

All the rumours on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro

The best smartphones they'll have to beat

Best iPhones and best Android phones

Perhaps because it’s never developed a smart system of its own, TCL has been unusually promiscuous when it comes to the operating systems deployed across its TV range. Roku, Android TV and Google TV have all cropped up on TVs in recent times, and the brand’s established some pretty deep links with TiVo, too. So we probably shouldn’t be surprised to find TCL’s 32SF540K now adding yet another name to the brand’s smart partner list in the shape of Amazon’s Fire TV OS.

Of course, Amazon produces its own 32-inch Fire TV, the 2-Series, which we recently reviewed. Can TCL beat Amazon at its own game? It sure can.

Price

TCL TVs these days pretty much always push the value envelope, and the 32SF540K is no exception. At £149 it is comfortably the cheapest of the trio of 32-inch TVs we’ve been looking at recently, undercutting Amazon’s own 32-inch Fire TV 2-Series model by £40 at the time of writing, and costing less than half as much as Sony’s KD-32W800.

Naturally, we’ll have to be on the lookout for feature or performance corner-cutting to explain such a puny price, but it has to be said that incorporating a full – and seemingly slick and stable – version of the Fire TV OS gets it off to a promising start.

Note that if you prefer the Android TV system, TCL also sells a similarly specified 32-inch Android TV model, the 32S5400, for the same £149 price.

While TCL had a 32-inch Fire TV model available in the US last year, it’s currently showing as out of stock. In Australia TCL currently seems to be limiting its presence to its bigger and more premium TV series.

Design

Aside from the distinctive-to-Fire-TVs short white LED strip hanging from the middle of the TV’s bottom edge and a little white Fire TV logo in its bottom right corner, the TCL 32SF540K looks pretty basic. TCL claims the design is ‘bezel-less’, but while it’s true that the actual outer frame is unusually slim, there’s an inner frame of black behind the screen that still makes the picture look like it’s sitting within a pretty substantial structure. 

A vaguely metallic finish, meanwhile, somehow still manages to end up looking and feeling plasticky, while its glossy black feet are as flimsy as these things get. The screen’s build quality is generally very lightweight, in fact – which we guess is handy, at least, if you want to tuck the 32-inch screen under your arm and move it to another room.

Much of the 32SF540K’s rear is a touch slimmer than that of other typical 32-inch TVs these days, but the speakers built into each bottom corner and a central connections section both add an extra inch or two, which means the TV still protrudes a bit awkwardly if you decide to wall hang it.  

The 32SF540K ships with a typical Fire TV remote that only differs from the one supplied with Amazon’s own 32-inch Fire TV 2 Series model by adding a TCL logo alongside the Fire TV one, and replacing the dedicated Amazon Music button with a generic Apps button.

Features

While the 32SF540K’s single biggest attraction for many punters will likely be its price, it actually has quite a bit else going on inside its unassuming form.

The Fire TV operating system has plenty going for it, for starters. Anyone used to using Prime Video TV apps will instantly feel at home with Fire OS’s layout and general approach to content, and the additional menu options required to offer control over the TV hardware are integrated reasonably clearly. The system has previously proved itself capable of remaining slick and stable even on quite basic TVs, too, and that continues to be the case even on this £150 TCL.

Fire TV also has the considerable advantage – unlike Android/Google TV – of carrying all of the major UK-specific catch-up apps. In fact, it provides the Freeview Play umbrella app for bringing the catch-up services of the UK’s major terrestrial broadcasters into one easily browsable place.

Alexa is present and correct too – though as you’d expect with such a cheap TV, this only works via an Alexa button and mic on the remote; there’s no ‘far-field’ mic in the TV to which you might issue commands without needing the remote.

The 32SF540K’s panel, unusually for the 32-inch market, carries a Full HD (1920x1080) pixel count. It uses contrast-rich VA technology rather than the viewing angle-friendly IPS alternative, and it’s lit directly from the back rather than less controllably from its sides. These are all good picture quality signs – unless you or anyone else routinely finds themselves having to watch the screen from a wide angle.

There’s support for the HDR10 and HLG formats from both external sources and integrated apps, as well as playback of DTS Virtual X/DTS-HD and Dolby (though not Atmos) audio.

The 32SF540K’s connections include a couple of what TCL calls HDMI 1.4 ports, but which still support ALLM switching for gamers and HDMI’s eARC system for passing multi-channel sound on to connected and compatible soundbars and AVRs. There’s also an optical digital audio output, a 3.5mm AV input, a headphone jack and a single USB port.

You can enjoy content on the TV wirelessly, too, courtesy of integrated Bluetooth 5.0 and dual-band Wi-Fi 5 support. These wireless options are bolstered by support for both Miracast and AirPlay 2.

Surprisingly for a TCL TV, the 32SF540K isn’t exactly stuffed with picture and sound features. The only thing of note is a (as it turns out, useful) motion processor. 

Apart from the ALLM switching support, the only real gaming feature of note supported by the 60Hz-tops 32SF540K is an impressively low 15.3ms of input lag when the TV is set to its Game preset.

Picture

The TCL 32SF540K’s pictures aren’t as bright and contrasty as those of the recently reviewed Amazon Fire TV 2 Series 32-inch set, or as richly coloured as those of the Sony 32W800. Crucially, though, unlike those rivals, the 32SF540K manages to avoid any serious flaws, making it in the end a more effective all-round performer. 

When it comes to producing convincing black tones and dark scenes, for instance, while it doesn’t deliver quite such neutral blacks as the Fire TV 2 Series, it mercifully avoids the distracting glowing greyness of the Sony 32W800. 

It also avoids the tendencies of the Amazon set to either run too brightly with dark scenes (bringing out too much background detail and attendant noise) or else crush out too much shadow detail if you try to introduce more light control. Instead the TCL’s shadow detailing is well judged and, crucially, consistent, helping dark scenes look as full of depth as bright ones and contributing to a more immersive viewing experience.

The 32SF540K is more susceptible to losing contrast if watched from an angle than the Amazon Fire TV 2 Series set, so do bear that in mind if you’re buying a TV that will be watched by several people at the same time.

The 32SF540K’s colour tones aren’t as naturally warm and, for want of a better word, cinematic as those the Sony 32W800 is capable of delivering (sometimes to excess). But they’re way warmer, richer and just more natural looking than the oddly jaundiced efforts of the Amazon Fire TV 2 Series. This might be partly down to the TCL not being quite as bright as its Amazon rival (though it is brighter than the Sony), but if a little less brightness is the price we pay for much more consistently authentic and ‘lived in’ colours, especially when it comes to skin tones, so be it.

The TCL 32SF540K’s more considered approach to pictures has other advantages, too. Less detail and subtle shading is clipped out of the brightest highlights of HDR pictures, for instance. Also, while the balance between the lightest and darkest parts of an image might be less extreme than from the Fire TV 2 Series, it looks more natural. There’s little sign of the sort of colour noise and coarseness the Fire TV 2 Series sometimes exhibits, either, or the compressed-looking bright tones the Sony 32W800’s innate dullness can cause.

The 32SF540K’s HD pictures look slightly sharper and more subtly detailed than those of both the Sony 32W800 and Amazon Fire TV 2 Series rivals. Partly because of its more balanced handling of the brightest and darkest parts of the picture, but also, we suspect, because it sports a native Full HD resolution rather than the 720p resolutions of its rivals.

The clarity doesn’t disappear, either, into judder or blur during camera pans or over fast-moving objects. Especially if you call into action the surprisingly sensitive (in that it causes neither excessive soap opera effect nor unwanted side effects) Natural Cinema motion option. 

We should add that by far the crispest pictures from the 32SF540K are obtained from its Standard picture preset. Its Film mode looks much softer. To a fault, in fact. Fortunately the Standard preset is well suited to the sort of relatively ‘casual’ viewing conditions a 32-inch TV is likely to find itself being used in.

The 32SF540K’s pictures aren’t quite five-star wonders, in the end. But they’re much more consistent, considered, balanced and, as a result, easy to just settle into than they’ve any right to be for this price.

Sound

The 32SF540K’s budget nature is more apparent in its sound than its pictures. Its lofty DTS and Dolby audio ambitions are immediately undermined by an at-times pretty painful lack of power and dynamics from its speakers. The big bass drops and soaring synths at the start of the Blade Runner 2049 soundtrack, for instance, cause all sorts of issues, from heavy crackling over the lowest frequencies to more distortions and breakup while presenting the high pings that accompany the appearance of each new section of prologue text better than we’ve ever heard before. 

Treble generally sounds thin and harsh under any sort of pressure, while despite the distress it can cause the speakers, bass that might have deflected attention from the shrill treble is always in very short supply.

Voices sometimes sound rather thin and nasal, too, leaving a decently well-spread and defined stereo soundstage, some strong if treble-biased detail and just about enough breathing room to handle day-to-day TV fodder cleanly as the 32SF540K’s only real audio strengths.

Verdict

Despite its flimsy audio and build quality, the 32SF540K is still overall a strong option by today’s admittedly rather impoverished 32-inch TV standards. Its picture quality isn’t perfect but achieves a thoughtful and easy-to-enjoy balance between all the key picture elements, and its Fire TV OS puts vast quantities of content at your command in a straightforward, stable and, despite how cheap the TV is, slick interface. These strengths are more than enough in themselves to make the 32SF540K’s £149 price look like a steal. 

SCORES

• Picture 4
• Sound 2
• Features 4

MORE:

Read our Sony KD-32W800 review

Also consider the Amazon 32-inch Fire TV 2 Series

Read our Toshiba 24WK3C63DB review

Our pick of the best 43-inch, best 42-inch and best 40-inch 'small' TVs

While Sony refreshes most of its TVs every year, the 32-inch KD-32W800 has remarkably stuck around since 2021. Presumably either because it keeps selling well enough to make an upgrade unnecessary, or because Sony just isn’t putting any effort into the 32-inch TV world anymore.

Whatever the reason for its longevity, though, the simple fact is that the W800 is still widely available all around the world at a relatively premium price by today’s 32-inch TV standards. Does it really deserve such an enduring run, though, or is it actually past its sell-by date?

Price

With a UK price of £299, the Sony KD-32W800 is pretty expensive by today’s 32-inch TV standards. This holds true, too, in the US, where the equivalent 32W830K model goes for $298, and especially in Australia, where it costs AU$729.

With Android TV and Sony’s Bravia Engine processor on board, though, it certainly has the on-paper potential to justify its price, despite the fact that it’s been around longer than any of its current 32-inch rivals. 

Design

The W800’s screen is mounted within a fairly chunky frame by modern TV standards, but it makes this work for rather than against it by dressing the frame in an unusual brushed matte grey finish. 

While setting the TV up, it becomes obvious that this frame is made of pretty lightweight plastic, but at least Sony has tried to disguise this fact when you’re looking at the TV from a regular watching distance.

Less easy to disguise is the fact that the 32W800’s rear sticks out a country mile by today’s usually fairly svelte standards. While this may be an issue for anyone thinking of mounting their TV on a wall, though, it’s not really a problem for anyone setting the TV on its provided feet. The chunky rear could even prove to be a strength if it turns out that it’s given Sony room to equip the TV with a decent set of speakers. 

In fact, the uninspiring black plastic finish and clumsy ‘clown’s shoes’ look of the black desktop feet are more of an eyesore than the bulky back.

The 32W800 ships with a single long and button-heavy remote control that looks a bit complicated at first but turns out to be reasonably easy to learn your way around. Happily, its button roster includes dedicated Freeview Play, Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video keys.

Features

The Sony 32W800 fits a native 1366x768 resolution into its 32-inch screen and lights all those pixels with a direct LED lighting system, where the LEDs sit right behind the screen rather than around its edges. It uses an IPS type of LCD panel – a fact that instantly sets alarm bells ringing since, while IPS screens can deliver slightly wider effective viewing angles than the alternative VA types of panel, they struggle to produce the sort of contrast required for a convincing TV picture.

There’s HDR support on board, in the HDR10 and HLG flavours, and in what may arguably be the best explanation for the 32W800’s relatively high price, it also carries Sony’s Bravia Engine image processing system. This is actually a pretty ageing processing system compared with the Cognitive XR systems found on Sony’s other TVs these days, but it still promises richer colours, enhanced realism and reduced picture noise. 

Smart features on the W800 are provided by Android TV. This isn’t an altogether good thing, as it’s a little clunky, buggy and more dictatorial than helpful with the content it recommends. It does, though, carry a huge amount of content (more than 7000 apps) that includes most of the main global video streaming services. It also supports Chromecast right out of the box. Sony has also helpfully added Freeview Play in the UK, to ensure that Android’s blind spots when it comes to a few of the UK’s popular catch-up TV services are covered.

Connections comprise a trio of HDMI 2.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports (one of which can be used for recording live TV to USB storage drives if you’re still into that), a headphone jack, a digital audio output, and an ethernet port. Plus there’s support for both Bluetooth and wi-fi. 

This connectivity together with the fact that, as you’d expect, the panel only supports 60Hz refresh rates means gaming support is limited to 1080p 60Hz HDR. The set does sport a Game preset, though, in which input lag drops to a pretty respectable 33.7ms.

Beyond the claimed presence of the Bravia Engine processor, picture adjustments are fairly limited. There are separate Adaptive Luma Control and Local Contrast Control options, one of which adjusts brightness in response to changes in the image content to try and improve contrast, the other of which breaks the image down into small areas to help the auto brightness adjustment achieve better results. Neither of these features really makes much of a difference, though. 

In fact, the only picture option that does make a significant difference is a Gamma adjustment, which lets you see more shadow detail if you set it to its Bright rather than Middle level. As we’re about to discover, though, that’s nowhere near enough to save the W800’s pictures from relative ignominy by Sony’s usual standards. 

Picture

While the 32W800’s picture has a few things going for it if you can be bothered to look hard enough, the good bits are all depressingly secondary to a single massive Achilles Heel: black levels so bad that they make dark scenes all but unwatchable.

Parts of the picture that should look black don’t just look grey, as they might with a typical low-contrast TV, they actually seem to glow.

As well as looking horribly unnatural in itself, the W800’s inability to deliver anything remotely resembling a black tone means that dark scenes also have no sense of depth or three-dimensionality, and are painfully lacking in subtle detail. As noted at the end of the Features section, switching the Gamma setting up to Bright can bring a little more detail into play in dark scenes. The degree of improvement is far more marginal, though, than it needs to be to turn the TV’s fortunes around.

The 32W800’s innate lack of contrast together with fairly limited brightness by today’s LCD TV standards knocks on into its colour performance during dark scenes. While there’s an agreeable warmth to colour tones that isn’t commonly seen with rival small-screen TVs, the set’s dark scene limitations see this warmth tip over into looking quite unnatural and jaundiced.

It doesn’t help, either, that the W800 suffers with very limited viewing angles despite its use of an IPS type of panel. If you’re as little as 15 degrees off-axis, the already poor contrast performance becomes even worse.

The 32W800’s fundamentally warm tones work much more effectively with bright scenes. Aside from the screen not being bright enough to really get much value from its HDR capabilities, bright scenes can look quite vibrant and engaging. So long as they don’t contain any substantial dark bits, that is.

The 32W800’s pictures look sharp and detailed too, despite the screen only being HD Ready rather than Full HD. And the sharpness remains high even during action scenes or sport thanks to impressively judder- and blur-free motion handling.

The 32W800’s good picture qualities are often evident in its gaming performance, too. But so too, of course, are its problems with dark images, putting you at a huge disadvantage if you find yourself trying to play through a dark area of a game. 

Sound

The Sony 32W800’s audio is much more satisfying than its pictures. The good news starts with a long list of helpful audio settings, including an audio delay option, an equaliser, a pseudo surround mode, and a long list of themed audio presets. 

Concerns about the 32W800 only carrying a pair of 5W bass reflex speakers are quickly allayed, too, by a surprisingly well-rounded and polished tone to its sound that remains intact even when a sound mix piles on the pressure. Voices are always clear and well contextualised, too, while the sound projects well enough to create an authentic sense of space well beyond the confines of the TV’s bodywork.

Audio detail levels are high, contributing to a strong and accurate sense of left and right separation but with dialogue always locked in the middle where it should be. Despite its limited power it additionally manages to expand its output well to meet the rising challenges of potent action scenes.

The most extreme treble and bass moments from the epic Blade Runner 2049 soundtrack can cause a little distortion from the 32W800’s speakers, but the same can be said of many much bigger and more expensive TVs – and audio moments that expose this weakness are few and far between. 

Verdict

Sony’s 32W800 32-inch TV has been around so long that we’d kind of expected it to be some sort of timeless classic performer. Unfortunately, though, while it sounds good and offers a decent bounty of features, its picture quality would have been hard to live with even back in 2021 when the TV first appeared. So by 2024 standards, it just doesn’t cut it at all.

SCORES

• Picture 2
• Sound 4
• Features 4

MORE:

Read our review of the Amazon QL43F601

Also consider the Toshiba 24WK3C63DB

Read our Hisense 43A6KTUK review

Best TVs: flagship OLEDs and affordable flatscreens tried and tested

Wireless headphones are all about convenience, but it's not very convenient having to unpair and re-pair every time you want to use a different device. But help is at hand. Bluetooth Multipoint lets you connect to two devices at once, and switch between them without having to delve into the menus.

Here's how it works, what it can do for you and which devices support it.

What is Bluetooth Multipoint?

Bluetooth Multipoint allows a pair of wireless headphones to establish and maintain a Bluetooth connection to multiple devices at once.

You can't play audio from these devices at the same time – why would you want to? – but it does allow you switch between them seamlessly with no delays. So if you're listening to music on your smartphone and a Zoom call comes in on your laptop, you can take the call as if it was coming from the same device. Handy.

Depending on the headphones and source device, you may be able to hear notifications from one device while listening to another. Some models will automatically hang up one call when one on another device comes in, while others will put the first call on hold. Again, it depends on which headphones and source devices you're using.

What do you need for Bluetooth Multipoint?

Multipoint launched with Bluetooth 4.0 over a decade ago, so it's not a new technology. However, at first it was meant for professionals, which explains why it's still not all that common.

In order to support Bluetooth Multipoint, a device must be equipped for both A2DP and HFP/HSP connections for audio streaming and talking, respectively. But that's not all. Some devices support just a phone and computer connection, while others support two simultaneous phone connections. It depends on which Bluetooth profiles the devices support, so make sure you check before you buy.

Your headphones will also need Multipoint support. We've listed some of the best pairs below.

To use Bluetooth Multipoint, Android devices must run Android 8 or later with Google Play Services. Apple uses its own system instead of Multipoint – we've explained it below.

How to use Bluetooth Multipoint

Exactly how you activate Bluetooth Multipoint will vary from device to device, but it should be pretty straightforward.

On a pair of Sony headphones, for example, you'll need to pair them with a computer and phone, then go to the Systems tab in the Sony Headphones Connect app and enable the option to 'Connect to 2 devices simultaneously'. Then in the Status tab, tap the name of the currently connected device, and from the list of currently available devices, tap the other one you would like to connect to. Both should now appear under 'Device Currently Being Connected'.

Whereas with Bose headphones, you tap the name of your headphones within the Bose Music app, then tap Source. Now previously linked devices should sync automatically (if they don't, toggle them on manually). To add a new device, just tap 'Add new'.

Mostly, Multipoint only works with two devices at a time. If you add a third device, the last device to play music will stay connected over Bluetooth, while the other will disconnect with the third device taking its place. Some devices can connect to three devices simultaneously, but this is quite rare.

Which devices support Bluetooth Multipoint?

For a technology that's been available for over a decade, Bluetooth Multipoint isn't as common as it should be. That said, it does feature in some of the best headphones of recent years from some of the biggest brands (and some surprisingly affordable models). Here are some of the most notable models that support it.

• Sony: WH-1000XM5, WH-1000XM4, WF-1000XM5, WF-1000XM4, WF-C700N, WH-CH520, WH-CH720N, LinkBuds, LinkBuds S. But not the WF-C500
• Bose: QuietComfort 45, QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. But not the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds or Ultra Open Earbuds (though it is apparently coming to the latter at some point via a firmware update)
• Sennheiser: HD 450BT, HD 350BT, Momentum 4 Wireless, Momentum 3 Wireless, Momentum True Wireless 4, Momentum True Wireless 3, PXC 550 II
• Jabra: Elite 7 Pro, Elite 7 Active

Apple AirPods and Google Pixel Buds work a little differently. While they do allow you to switch between multiple devices, they both use their own proprietary ways of doing so, and require you to be signed into the same Apple ID / Google account on each device.

Apple calls this audio switching, while Google calls it automatic audio switching via Fast Pair. It essentially does the same thing as Bluetooth Multipoint, but requires you to only use devices made by Apple or Google.

Samsung falls somewhere between the two camps – its system is not quite as functional as proper Bluetooth Multipoint, but less restrictive than Apple and Google's approach. Certain models of Samsung Galaxy Buds can sync to multiple Samsung devices simultaneously and allow you to switch seamlessly between them. But unlike Apple and Google, they also let you connect to multiple non-own brand devices – you do so through the Samsung Wearable app, though this doesn't allow automatic switching (you have to start and stop music yourself manually on each device).

MORE:

Check out the best wireless headphones

And the best cheap wireless headphones

Going in-ear? Best cheap wireless earbuds

Having headphones that become an extension of your phone has arguably been half of the success of Apple’s AirPods, with proper integration from the operating system up, proving to make all the difference.

Google has tried a few times to do something similar, to varying levels of success, but the Google Pixel Buds Pro are the company’s first take on the noise-cancelling wireless earbuds market – the Android answer to the AirPods Pro, if you will.

They have a particular affinity for the phones that bear the same name, thanks to several features that make them all the more appealing for Pixel phone owners. But do they sound any good? And how is that noise-cancelling performance? Let’s find out.

Price

The Pixel Buds Pro launched at £189 / $199 / AU$299, but have come down in price a fair bit since then. You could pick them up for £149 / $139 / AU$179 at the time of writing, which puts them up against the likes of the Cambridge Audio Melomania M100, and smack bang in the middle of the Sony WF-1000XM5 at £259 / $299 / $AU419 and their budget siblings, the Sony WF-C700N at £100 / $120 / AU$200. 

While it’s unlikely that anyone looking at the AirPods Pro 2 would consider the Google Pixel Buds Pro, and vice versa, it still feels like a fair comparison to note. The AirPods Pro 2 sell for £229 / $249 / AU$399, but we often see AirPods deals to take them to under £200 in the UK. 

Design

While we can understand Google wanting to stay firmly away from the design that the AirPods made famous, the design it has come up with for the Pixel Buds Pro is a little odd. 

A bit like their curved pebble-like case, the buds are a smooth, hard squoval shape with an earbud tapering off to an angle and a coloured circle up top. This is the part that faces out of your ears and doubles as a touch-control pad – it works brilliantly with taps for playback and swipes for volume, and comes in a choice of six colours: Bay (a powder blue colour), Porcelain, Coral, Charcoal, Fog and Lemongrass.

However, the fit is a bit of a struggle to get right. From the get-go, they don’t look particularly comfy, and you will notice them in your ears during longer listening sessions. However, the bigger problem is they don’t sit quite right – we tried them with a few different people and everyone reported the same. They likely won't stay put very well through a workout or run, despite their IPX4 rating making it possible, so they’re probably best for commuting and office environments. 

You do get a choice of three eartips in the box, and an eartip fit test in the Pixel Buds app – but we got the thumbs up on all tips, even those that didn’t feel right at all. So that didn't seem very convincing.

The case charges wirelessly or via USB-C and you’ll get seven hours of ANC-powered listening from a single charge (11 without), and 20 in total including the case (31 hours without ANC). There are two fast-charging options, with five minutes charge adding one hour, and 15 minutes adding three (and that's with ANC switched on).

Features

So we aren’t thrilled with the design, but features-wise, the Google Pixel Buds Pro deliver plenty – particularly for Pixel owners, who get spatial audio with head tracking and all controls built into the operating system.

Android users can get access to most of the same features (except spatial audio) via an app, but – just in case any were considering it – iPhone users shouldn’t buy these. There’s no app for iOS, so you won’t get any firmware updates and you can’t play around with any settings either, including switching things on that default as off – like Conversation Detection. You can’t even get a normal listening mode without ANC, as you can only toggle between ANC on and transparency.

For Android users though, the app is well featured and includes things like a Find My Device function that can send a sound to a lost earbud, an option for Adaptive Sound, a five-band equaliser, low-latency mode for gamers, a hearing wellness functionality and Bluetooth Multipoint controls (also switched off by default).

There’s also access to your Google Assistant preferences, which you can use hands-free when connected to an Android phone. You can even translate a conversation between languages in real-time when used in conjunction with Google Translate.

As mentioned previously, the Pixel Buds Pro feature active noise cancellation and they put in a decent showing considering the fit doesn’t feel all that isolating. We did a direct comparison to the noise cancellation on the AirPods Pro 2 and felt that the Apple buds had the edge when it came to blocking out noises above the low-end rumbles, but the Pixel Buds Pro performance was perfectly acceptable once music was playing. 

However, despite Google’s claims that there is now double the bandwidth for clearer calls, we think that call quality needs work – particularly in windy conditions. While taking calls at home, our friends say that they can hear us well, but when we step outside, things get a bit more patchy. When the wind picks up, our words can be clipped to an extent that callers report it is occasionally difficult to understand us, which is far from ideal.

Sound

We liked Google’s take on the cheaper end of the true wireless market, with the Google Pixel Buds A-Series, but what we hear here doesn’t leave us feeling quite so positive. 

There’s no doubt that they’re upfront and energetic, there’s plenty of pace behind them and there’s passable detail. They won’t shower you with nuance and subtlety but for the price, what’s there is acceptable. 

However, when it comes to balance, there are issues at both ends of the frequency range. Listeners who enjoy their bass boosted will find the first issue, perhaps, not an issue at all, but there is undoubtedly some bass bloat here. 

Listen to Del Fuego by Fat Freddy’s Drop and the pulsing low end really pulls the spotlight onto itself and away from the vocals and brass, making the whole presentation overly warm, certainly for more neutral tastes. 

However, what’s more of a distraction here is the treble, which is unrefined and just catches your ear when listening – from finger snaps to the sibilance on “s” sounds. It doesn’t cross over into what we’d say is harsh, but it sits just on that edge, and certainly doesn’t make for a comfortable listen – we end up skipping Tame Impala’s Let It Happen part way through as it just sounded too much.

Compared to the AirPods Pro 2, they sound far less expansive too, and when there’s a lot going on in the mix, things can sound a little squashed. This isn’t helped by a midrange that struggles to hold its own against the two boosted frequencies either side of it, which means it can come across quite flat and thin. While the low-end is big and showy, the midrange doesn’t adopt the same amount of body and confidence, which is why it loses out when a piece of music throws in a sizeable bassline.

You don’t even get great dynamics here. There’s a sense of light and shade in the Dance Of The Knights by Sergei Prokofiev, but it isn’t as explicit as you’ll hear it portrayed through the AirPods Pro 2, and the build to the big finale rolls in and away with very little fanfare at all.

While it wouldn’t solve these issues completely, it’s a shame the Pixel Buds Pro don’t support advanced Bluetooth codecs like aptX HD, when Android phones do. We can’t help but wonder, too, if a bit of that treble could be tamed with a better-quality Bluetooth connection.

Verdict

The Pixel Buds Pro are a disappointing entrance for Google into what is a very competitive marketplace. While their price is appealing and their features are plenty (for Android users at least), their sound is hard to enjoy – particularly for anyone who prefers a more neutral listen. If you’re happy to forego some of the features, you can find better-sounding headphones for less.  

SCORES

• Sound 3
• Features 5
• Build 3

MORE:

Read our review of the Cambridge Audio Melomania M100

Also consider the Sony WF-C700

Read our Apple AirPods Pro 2 review

Best wireless earbuds: top pairs tested by our experts

And the best cheap wireless earbuds

Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) starts today. The annual event lets Apple shed some light on its upcoming features and generally shows its direction of travel. We might even see a new product or two.

This year promises to be AI-heavy – Google and Microsoft have already gone all in on AI during their conferences, and Apple will want to show it's keeping pace, if not steaming ahead of the pack. But what else could we see?

Here's how you can watch WWDC for yourself, as well as what – and what not – to expect.

How to watch WWDC 2024

You can watch WWDC 2024 live on Apple's website, on YouTube (via the link above), or through the Apple TV app. WWDC 2024 takes place in Apple Park, Cupertino, and starts at 6pm GMT / 10am PT / 1pm ET / 3am (11.06) AEST.

WWDC 2024: what to expect

AI

It's the tech phrase on everyone's lips at the moment, and justifiably so: artificial intelligence has the power to upend almost every aspect of our digital lives, though critics argue not always for the better. Earlier this year, Samsung introduced plenty of AI features to its Galaxy S24 smartphone, while Microsoft's AI-powered Recall feature recently caused controversy by promising to constantly take screenshots of whatever's on your PC screen. Now it's Apple's turn.

Rumour is that Apple has reworked its Siri personal assistant using large language models to make it more responsive. Given that Siri is present in most Apple devices, it's a safe bet to assume AI will spread its tentacles throughout Apple's ecosystem of products and services.

Apple's AI will reportedly be known as 'Apple Intelligence'. Other features mooted include AI summaries of messages and webpages, real-time transcriptions (all from within the relevant apps), a custom emoji generator and easy removing of people and objects from photos (just like Google's Magic Eraser feature on its Pixel smartphones).

A chatbot

It was previously reported that Apple was looking to ink a partnership with a third-party AI provider in order to supercharge its artificial intelligence. Google and Anthropic were mentioned, but Bloomberg recently reported that OpenAI will be Apple's partner, with a ChatGPT-style chatbot coming to Apple's products.

Better messaging and more

Apple is expected to follow Google in adopting a new messaging standard. Rich Communication Services (RCS) should become the default fallback for iMessage as part of iOS 18. That should enable longer messages between Android and iOS devices with bigger attachments, and all end-to-end encrypted.

Customisable homescreens are also expected, meaning you can arrange your apps as you want, with spaces allowed between them. Themes should also allow you to change icons' colours so they match.

WWDC 2024: what not to expect

Sadly, a lot of Apple's most exciting developments will have to wait for another day, as WWDC is usually heavily focussed on the software side. So it's most likely we won't see the below.

iPhone 16 range

The iPhone 16 isn't expected until September, but it sounds like it will be worth the wait. The Pro models are rumoured to have bigger screens and beefier processors, while capacitive touch buttons, better cameras and – of course – plenty of AI features are also rumoured.

iPhone 16: what to expect

iPhone 16 Pro: all the rumours surrounding Apple's higher-end handset

AirPods Max 2

The original AirPods Max launched in 2020, so many think a sequel is long overdue. The originals created a whole new market of premium wireless headphones, one above the likes of the Sony and Bose models that dominated at the time. Rumours abound that the second-gen model will land at the end of this year or beginning of next.

AirPods Max 2: release date rumours, potential price, features and spec leaks

A new Apple TV

The third-gen Apple TV 4K is a two time Award-winner, so Apple is probably in no rush to update it. But while excellent, it could still be improved. We're thinking of a new processor, better wi-fi and more advanced Bluetooth, among other things. 

Apple TV 4K 2024: our wishlist for a fourth-gen video streamer

AirPods Pro 3

It's a similar story with the AirPods Pro 2. Yes, they are excellent, being Apple's first pair of in-ear AirPods to earn five stars from us. But we want more. What about a new design? Better battery life? Higher quality codec support over Bluetooth? There's plenty to be done. Let's hope Apple doesn't wait too long.

AirPods Pro 3: release date rumours, price predictions, and 5 features we want

MORE:

Our expert pick of the best wireless earbuds you can buy

AirPods Pro 2 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: which five-star earbuds are better?

Is wi-fi for headphones the death knell for Bluetooth?

Watch Swiatek vs Gauff live stream 2024

Iga Swiatek vs Coco Gauff is a really enticing matchup at the French Open 2024. It sees the three-time Roland-Garros champion take on one of the most exciting young players in tennis, who also happens to have a major title under her belt. This one is very hard to call. The match begins today at 10am ET / 2pm BST and it's free-to-air in Australia. You can use a VPN to watch French Open live streams from anywhere, if you happen to be traveling away from Oz.

• FREE: Channel 9 / 9Now (Aus)
• US: NBC / Peacock 
• UK: Eurosport / Discovery+
• Unblock any stream: NordVPN – the No.1 tennis VPN 

Coco Gauff has been hugely impressive at Roland-Garros so far. She claimed a notable win against former Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur in the quarter-final, recovering from a set down. That is the only set she has dropped all tournament. 

Things have been similarly straightforward for Swiatek who has also only dropped a single set so far. She didn’t lose a game in her fourth-round victory over Anastasia Potapova and thrashed Marketa Vondrousova 6-0 6-2 in the quarters. She looks in a strong position to retain her crown. However, this is undoubtedly her toughest test yet. This could be a very exciting match indeed.

Free Swiatek vs Gauff live stream

Channel 9 and its 9Now streaming service has the rights to broadcast the 2024 French Open in Australia, live and for free from Sunday 26th May to Sunday 9th June.

The 9Now streaming service is absolutely free to use – all you need to sign up is your email address, and you can watch on your computer, smartphone, tablet or streaming devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku and select Smart TVs.

Once logged in to 9Now, you watch and can keep up to date with all the best action from Roland-Garros. There's also a paid option for those wanting serious in-depth coverage – for completists, scroll down to find out more Australian broadcast options

Stuck outside Oz at the moment? You can use a VPN to access a live stream without being blocked...

Watch Iga Swiatek vs Coco Gauff from anywhere

You won't be able to watch your regular tennis live streams while traveling abroad. The streaming service will spot that you're in a foreign country and block you. You can use a VPN (virtual private network) to get around this, though.

It's a straightforward piece of software that sets your device to appear as if it's in a different country, allowing you to watch any French Open live stream from anywhere in the world.

We rate NordVPN as the best VPN for streaming sport. It offers a 30-day guarantee for all your money back if you're not happy with the service.

How to use a VPN to stream French Open 2024

1. Install the VPN of your choice. NordVPN is the one we recommend.

2. Open up the VPN app and choose the location of the service you wish to access. So for French Open tennis, you may wish to choose 'Australia' for 9Now.

3. Then head over to 9Now on your browser or device and enjoy the free French Open live stream!

Watch Swiatek vs Gauff French live stream 2024 in the US

NBC's Peacock TV streaming service is the only place to watch the French Open 2024 live in the USA.

Peacock starts from only $5.99 a month, or you can pay more to get rid of the ads. In addition to the French Open, you'll also be able to watch the likes of EPL soccer, WWE, Premiership Rugby and lots more.

The Peacock TV app is available on iOS, Apple TV, Android, Android TV, Chromecast, LG smart TV, Vizio TV, PS4, and Xbox One. You can also watch through your web browser.

Outside the US? Peacock TV is only available within the States so be sure to use a tennis-friendly VPN if you're a subscriber stuck abroad.

• Expert TV advice: best OLED TVs for sports fans

Watch Swiatek vs Gauff live stream in the UK

The 2024 French Open is being shown live on TV on Eurosport in the UK, which is available through certain packages from Sky TV, EE TV and Virgin Media.

Alternatively, you can live stream Roland Garros tennis with a Discovery+ subscription. The service's Standard plan costs £6.99 a month and includes Eurosport channels alongside Discovery, TLC, Quest and more. Or upgrade to Premium to include TNT Sports for £29.99 and get access to Premier League and Champions League football, Premiership rugby, MotoGP, UFC, WWE and more.

Discovery+ plans run monthly and can be cancelled any time.

Remember, if you're not in the UK right now but want to continue watching your regular streams, you'll need a tennis-friendly VPN like NordVPN to continue watching from abroad.

Watch Swiatek vs Gauff live stream 2024 in Australia

As explained above, Aussies can watch the second tennis Grand Slam absolutely free thanks to Channel 9 and 9Now.

If you want your pick of every match going on at the Roland Garros in 2024, though, you'll the all-inclusive service provided by the Stan Sport streaming service Down Under. The basic Stan package is $10 per month and comes with a 30-day free trial. When you add the necessary Stan Sport add-on, though, for an $15 extra per month, that gets charged immediately. 

Away from Oz? Use a VPN to access your local live stream from overseas – without being blocked.

• Upgrade the action: best TVs
• Go big this year: best projectors
• Where to find the best Formula E live stream

It's been an odd couple of months for Sonos. Excitement about the brand's first-ever foray into the competitive world of wireless headphones sees the US brand striding into uncharted territory in what could be a major industry shakeup, yet the excitement of the new Sonos Ace has been sullied somewhat given the brand's struggles with its recent app redesign. 

Formerly heralded as one of the best platforms around today, a major overhaul to the Sonos platform a few weeks ago has not exactly received unanimous approval. Sonos has reportedly been inundated with messages from riled customers over the past few weeks, with many complaining that the overhauled mobile app is suffering from bugs, glitches and the glaring omissions of key features such as sleep timers, alarms and queuing songs. A Reddit thread titled "Dear Sonos, what the hell??" encapsulated this fury in impressive detail if you have the time...

Sonos has defended its controversial redesign on numerous occasions over the past month or so, with CEO Patrick Spence addressing concerns directly in an interview with The Verge as part of a chat about Sonos' upcoming Ace over-ears. There, Spence asserted the need for "the app to be easier and more modern to navigate", defending the new platform as "faster, more responsive and... a better overall experience" while admitting that it was a "change for consumers".  

Thankfully, Spence gave reassurances that Sonos would fix the bugs and omissions that had sparked such fury, consoling users that "we’re going to find bugs as we go through this. We’re heads down and making sure we get those addressed... what I wish we would’ve done is probably communicate the roadmap a little more clearly". 

Sonos has already provided a roadmap for improvements and issued a software update on May 21st for Android and iOS users which provided, among other things, improved VoiceOver support, improved local music playback and proper support for the newly unveiled Sonos Roam 2 portable Bluetooth speaker.

These efforts will hopefully remedy the multiple issues found with the recent overhaul which has clearly ruffled so many feathers among Sonos' wide consumer base. Even so, some commentators have pointed out that the trend of forcing out incomplete updates and redesigns upon consumers without warning or even the benefit of choice doesn't do much to repay a person's loyalty to a particular brand. Hopefully, the damage hasn't already been done for Sonos, especially with those Sonos Ace headphones now emerging from their proverbial chrysalis and ready to battle the big boys.

MORE:

Read our Sonos Ace hands-on review  

Sonos Roam 2 wanders into view with better controls, easier set-up

Sonos Ace vs Sony WH-1000XM5: what are the differences?

These are the best wireless headphones  

TiVo has just celebrated its 25th anniversary, and it has chosen to coincide this special occasion with the launch of its new smart TV platform. It's called TiVo OS (not the most imaginative title) and it's set to power a handful of affordable TVs here in the UK, across Europe and, in the near future, the US.

We had a quick demo of the new operating system at a TiVo event this week, in which we got to see the new platform in action. It's not a wild departure from the other smart platforms such as Google TV or Fire OS, with square app icons and rectangular rotating carousels with suggested content; however, there are a few key aspects that set it apart form the rest.

The first is deep integration with Freely, the new free terrestrial television platform that allows you to watch live TV over wi-fi without requiring an aerial. We've already seen Freely in action; however, the TiVo OS features deep integration with the platform, which means you'll see live content from Freely at the very top of this system's home page. On the Bush 4K TV that was running this demo (picture above), there was also a dedicated Freely shortcut button on the remote – therefore, we expect this new service to play a key role in the upcoming "powered by TiVo OS" sets.

Secondly, TiVo OS is touting a personalised, yet unbiased content recommendation system, which will show you content that pertains to your interest without pushing certain services in your face. In fact, you can customise the home screen to only show you specific apps. App compatibility seems to be solid so far; we spotted Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Channel 4, ITV X and more in our demo.

Each content suggestion on the home page features an icon with the streaming service it's on, with a direct link to the app to watch the content (providing you have a subscription), alongside a rich selection of content information, genre details and the ability to thumbs up, thumbs down or flag content. TiVo's parent organisation Xperi boasts the fact that it is one of the largest metadata providers for content information in the world, which has allowed TiVo OS to feature a healthy amount of content information, which should make browsing that bit easier. 

Finally, TiVo showed off its impressive voice search function, which supports "nested queries". The example we were given was the voice command "show me action movies", to which the OS obliged. Then it was asked "only show me movies from the ’90s", to which the system remembered we were after action movies but added the context that we wanted films from the 1990s. Finally, it was asked, "show me movies with Bruce Willis", to which the system once again remembered we were looking for action movies from the 1990s, but it then showed us films that fit that criteria that also starred Bruce Willis. 

Speaking to TiVo OS' Senior Vice President and General Manager of Smart TV Media Platform, Ben Maughan, he provided context as to what TiVo OS is all about. He says that the goal was to design a "simple and intuitive UI" and he went on to explain how constant tweaks and updates were being made to the platform to enhance usability. He also suggested that the platform was very open to suggestions, stating that comments from friends and family about what they want from a smart TV platform have helped to shape TiVo OS thus far. 

TiVo OS is set to launch across various brands of TVs. A partnership with Vestel will spur this on; for reference, Vestel manufactures a large proportion of retailer own-brand televisions, as well as notable affordable models for established TV brands like Panasonic, JVC and Toshiba. The first model to include the TiVo OS with Freely integration will be the Bush 55UT24SB, which is set to go on sale in Argos soon.

MORE:

Check out our picks for the best TVs

As well as the best TV deals available now

If you're in the market for a versatile, affordable pair of desktop speakers, Fiio might have the answer. Building on the success of the brand's affordable SP3 bookshelf units, the new SP3 BT combine a sleek, compact design with Bluetooth streaming and a host of physical connections.  

Let's start with those good old-fashioned physical inputs. The SP3 offer USB Type-C, digital coaxial and optical inputs alongside stereo RCA and 3.5mm line-in options. The optical inputs support audio up to 24-bit/96kHz while the USB and coaxial options can handle files up to 32-bit/96kHz. For Bluetooth streaming, SBC and AAC codecs are all on board, with the SP3 BT also providing higher quality wireless audio thanks to aptX Adaptive, aptX Low Latency, aptX HD and even LDAC from compatible files and sources.

With a total output of 80 watts, the Class D active speakers feature a single 2.5cm silk dome tweeter alongside a 9cm carbon fibre woofer, with Fiio promising a pair of "engaging, dynamic" speakers that offer "impressive weight and height" despite their relatively diminutive dimensions.

The new speakers' silk tweeters have been angled precisely in the pursuit of lossless sound wave transmission, with each unit's horizontal striped pattern conceived to diffuse sound more effectively throughout a room. Additionally, those tweeters are furnished with copper-plated aluminium voice coils which, says Fiio, allow the speakers to deliver "accurate and clean reproduction of high frequencies".

The SP3 BT have been designed to work with the Fiio Control and Fiio Music mobile apps for iOS and Android respectively. When connected via Bluetooth, both platforms let you customise your user experience, including fine-tuning your preferred sound via a 10-band parametric equaliser.

The new SP3 BT Desktop Active Speakers are available now in black or white finishes, priced at £319 / €379 / $349 per pair, and come supplied with two sets of vibration-absorbing silicone stands.

MORE: 

More into headphones? Read our recent Fiio FT3 review

These are the best bookshelf speakers you can buy right now 

12 of the best songs to test your speakers

The long wait for Spotify's HiFi tier could be nearly over. Leaked screenshots on Reddit (via Android Authority) show the option of supporting lossless audio, suggesting the feature is nearly ready to roll out.

It also shows a compatibility checker, so you can see whether your device can support the requisite bit rate, along with your connection and bandwidth. Lossless support is shown up to 1411kbps (although 2117kpbs is also mentioned) and 24-bits on limited tracks in the FLAC format. That's quite a jump from the 320kbps currently available. 

The screenshots include a lot of advisory information for listeners, including about listening in lossless offline and that listening to it over Bluetooth will degrade the sound quality.

There are also screenshots from the mobile app, which make more mention of the Spotify Connect feature (which lets you play direct from a compatible device rather than routing it via your phone).

Spotify officially announced the HiFi tier in 2021, but it first surfaced as long ago as 2017. Since then we've seen numerous leaks and rumours, while the competition launched their equivalent tiers without much fanfare. To make it worth the wait, Spotify is going to have to do something pretty special.

MORE:

Check out the best music streaming services around

The full story: an excruciating timeline of our wait for Spotify HiFi

How to cancel Spotify Premium – and should you?

Major US retail chain Walmart is expanding its Onn range of technology and AV products with a 4K media streamer, and it could be the closest thing to an upgraded Google Chromecast we've seen yet.

The Onn 4K Pro is yet to be officially announced, nor has it been made available to purchase on Walmart's online store, but it has been spotted in the wild by YouTuber SUPERDELL-TV (via AFTV News). With an RRP of $50 (around £40 / AU$75), the 4K media streaming box appears to be targeting the Google Chromecast with Google TV and Fire TV Stick 4K Max, rather than other 4K streaming boxes like the Apple TV 4K or Fire TV Cube which cost more than double.  

However, the Walmart box appears to beat the Google 4K streamer regarding specs on paper. The Onn 4K Pro features 32GB of storage, 3GB of RAM and Wi-Fi 6, whereas the Chromecast has 2GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. Both streamers run Google TV, which is the latest iteration of Google's Android-based operating system; not to be confused with Android TV.

So far, the Onn box seems like a fairly by-the-numbers 4K media streamer, but it does have a trick up its sleeve that no other streamer on the market can lay claim to. The Onn 4K Pro is reportedly the first to include the Google TV "magic button", a feature which leaked in a beta preview of Android 14. This customisable button will allow users to assign either a streaming service shortcut or view and switch TV inputs depending on your preferred setting (as pointed out by FlatpanelsHD). 

That hasn't stopped Walmart from including a quartet of pre-assigned streaming buttons, here occupied by YouTube, Netflix, Disney Plus and Paramount+. The Onn 4K Pro is also confirmed to support Dolby Vision and Atmos, as well as HDR10 – although whether or not that support extends to HDR10+ is unknown. 

It's expected to launch in Walmart stores across America soon, with availability in select locations now. While this likely won't be of interest to readers not situated in the States, it could hint towards a new Google Chromecast 4K streamer, which has been an overdue item on our wishlist for quite some time now. Could we see a new version of the Google Chromecast with Google TV at the next Google I/O event? It's entirely possible. 

MORE:

Read our full Google Chromecast with Google TV review

And check out our picks for the best media streamers

It’s been eight years since Beats released its Solo 3 Wireless headphones, which is a long time in an industry that’s moved so fast.

The AirPods have a lot to do with that. They were released just a few months after the Solo 3, and thrust the industry’s focus into creating true wireless buds to compete. Beats adjusted too, moving its attentions from its celebrity-endorsed over-ears and released eight in-ear designs in the years that followed.

However, Beats is now back to show some love to the older models that started it all. Its flagship Studio Pro line got an update last year, and now it’s time for the more compact, on-ear Solo range to get some attention.

Despite the length of time that it’s been, refinement is still arguably the name of the game here. We’ve spent a little bit of time with them ahead of our full review to give you some first impressions on what you can expect.

Design

The Beats Solo 4 design hasn’t really changed too much from the Solo 3 Wireless. The instantly recognisable, largely plastic-based design is lightweight at 217 grams and feels a little less rigid now too, which helps with comfort. The clamping force on the Beats Solo 3 Wireless was really strong, and that has been addressed to some extent this time round.

Being on ears instead of over ears, you probably won’t be able to forget you’re wearing them, but once you get them sitting right, they are comfortable, with decently squishy earpads to help. The earcups have some play in them too, which helps with positioning. 

They’re still foldable to make them smaller for travel, with a brushed chrome hinge an inch or two up from the earcup to collapse them inwards and a soft fabric carry case in the box to keep them looking their best.

The ‘b’ logo on the left earcup is clickable for playback control and call handling, while a long hold will summon your default voice assistant (though iOS users can also summon Siri hands-free). Volume controls are above and below this button too, and all works just as you’d expect.

For power and pairing, there’s a small button on the bottom of the right ear cup, while a tiny LED sits on very edge of the left earcup to show you when they’re on, when they’re pairing and when they’re paired.

As for playback, the Solo 4 can be used wirelessly via Bluetooth as well as wired, with 3.5mm and USB-C cables included in the box. This offers you the flexibility to use the headphones passively, with no charge, when using the 3.5mm cable, or listen to high-quality lossless music via USB-C.

They’re available in a choice of Matte Black, Slate Blue and Cloud Pink, the latter of which is our test sample, and is almost white. These colours are much more subtle than the shiny and frosted plastic of the previous generation and helps them to look a little more grown up.

Features

Beats offers dual compatibility across the features of both Android and iOS devices, which isn’t something that many other manufacturers ­– if any – do. This means that, no matter what your device, you get things like one-touch pairing (very handy), automatic account set-up for easy multipoint switching, and the ability to locate your lost headphones using Find My and Find My Device.

There are still a few benefits to being on Team Apple though. Android users will need to download the Beats app to keep up to date with any firmware updates, while iOS users will get them over the air. They will also get access to Music Sharing with other Beats or AirPods owners, plus hands-free Siri activation.

The biggie is Spatialised Audio with head tracking. When playing Atmos content in Netflix or Apple Music, for example, you can turn this feature on (with or without head tracking) and enjoy a more expansive sound. For now, Android users will have to make do with stereo. 

Battery life has been boosted in the Solo 4, and is now up to 50 hours on a single charge, from 40 hours previously. As with their predecessors, they manage such impressive longevity because there’s no active noise cancellation here – which is perhaps a brave move in such a competitive marketplace.

For £200/$200, there are other headphones out there that will offer noise cancellation, but if you can go without, the time between charges will increase significantly.

Fast Fuel is on board too, to give you five hours of playback from just 10 minutes on charge, and you can also charge the headphones from your phone via USB-C if you’re caught short.

Performance

The Beats Solo 4 have been re-engineered on the inside to improve sound quality from their predecessors, with custom-built 40mm transducers that aim to minimise electronic artifacts and distortion for a clear sound.

There’s also been work done to ensure latency is undetectable, so you can watch movies and video content with the perfect lip sync.

We haven’t had long enough with the Beats Solo 4 to pass a full opinion as yet, nor directly compared them with anything around their £200 / $200 price tag, but first impressions suggest these are a fun-focused, energetic listen, with a push towards midrange clarity.

Anyone who has spent time with Beats headphones in recent years will know there has been a concerted effort to shake off their long-held reputation for being overly bassy, and the Solo 4 continue in this effort. It’s far from a neutral bass response but there’s enough wallop and warmth here without it feeling like that’s part of its central character. 

Instead, it’s the midrange that is pushed to the fore to create an upfront and exciting sound. However, in an attempt to be more revealing and insightful, the higher registers here do occasionally find themselves sounding a touch too bright when listening over Bluetooth.

Bear in mind that these Solo 4 haven’t had any running-in time other than the listening we have done for these first impressions, so this could be something that softens up in time. However, you will find that if you attach the USB-C cable and listen wired, this overly bright edge all but disappears. There’s also more detail and subtlety to their sound when listening this way, and a tighter grip on timing too. They clearly sound their best when able to make the most of lossless playback offered through Tidal.

Dynamics seem fine for this level too – the Solo 4 are able to sufficiently translate the build in tempo and intensity in a piece of music like Hans Zimmer’s Dream Is Collapsing, though instruments’ leading edges may be better punctuated in the very best headphones. Again, this is something we will have to compare more thoroughly in a full review.

Early verdict

The Beats Solo 4 are a long overdue update to Beats' most compact wireless headphones, delivering an improved sound, better battery life, new up-to-date features and an experience that is much the same no matter if you are iOS or Android.

The design has also been refined, and feels more comfortable to wear over longer periods, which is very welcome indeed. 

We need longer with them to truly evaluate the sound, following a period of run-in time, but from our first impressions, you are likely to get a full-bodied, exciting and upfront sound, albeit one that sounds its very best when wired. 

MORE:

Check out our pick of the best Beats headphones you can buy 

Read our full review of the Beats Solo 3 Wireless

And here’s our review of the Beats Studio Pro

For the most part with stereo loudspeakers, a bigger cabinet will be able to provide more in the way of bass output, that's simple physics after all. 

Big, booming bass, however, isn’t the be-all and end-all when it comes to music reproduction. And we can’t all accommodate a massive pair of boxes in our homes (even if we wanted to). Which is where the stars of this month’s What Hi-Fi? come in. We have a compact speaker round-up that brings you the best bijou boxes out there to make your music as revealing, compelling and downright entertaining as it can be.

Also in this issue, we have a look at what is available as far as 43-inch TVs are concerned. And here the outlook isn’t quite as rosy, compared with the speakers above. There are bargains to be had, it’s true – but there are also sets best avoided…

You can subscribe or buy the latest issue here, or buy the digital edition on iPhone, iPad, Android devices or Kindle edition.

Smaller can be better

Good things come in small packages, we are told, and when it comes to stereo speakers, that’s true. Or, at least, it can be. Yes, there is no substitute for a large cabinet if you want a sound with real scale and the deepest bass, but today’s speaker technology is so good that even the smallest speakers can deliver an authoritative and dynamic sound with convincing bass – especially in smaller rooms. That is good news indeed because many music lovers simply don’t have the space for big speakers.

If you are after a smaller speaker you do, though, need to choose carefully. To help you do so we have compiled this round-up of eight little wonders whose performance belies their dimensions. Four of them are passive, which means they form the last link in a chain that also includes a source and an external amplifier. The other four are powered models. These contain their own amplification, so all you need to do is add your source. In some cases, these powered speakers also include network streaming smarts, making them all-in-one systems – the ultimate space-saving devices.

With prices running from £349 for the Ruark MR1 desktop speakers (18cm high) to £1995 for the Neat Petite Classic (30cm high) there is a little something here for every budget.

Premium soundbars

Last month we turned our spotlight on the top budget ’bars – those sonic boosters that lift your TV’s sound from something that is as flat as the screen that produced it into the realms of three-dimensionality, clarity and substance.

This month, we move up a notch to consider more premium soundbars – more specifically those costing between £500 and £1000. For this kind of money you can expect a significant step up in sound quality; better detail, greater scale and a more finessed approach to dynamics being the most obvious markers. All of which can make the difference between your TV and movies being merely enjoyable and becoming truly immersive.

As well as better sound, you will also find more features in this price bracket. All of the products here, for example, can process Dolby Atmos signals in one form or another (sometimes several forms) and offer wider connectivity than their more affordable cousins. One even comes with a separate subwoofer.

So, whether you are stepping into soundbar territory for the first time or looking to upgrade, we invite you to peruse our pick of the step-up models.

System of the Month

We often base our systems on the source we want to use, and add appropriate equipment from there. This month, though, we are looking at things from the other end of the sonic production line, and using the speakers as our kick-off point.

What if, for example, your listening environment is on the smaller side, and you simply cannot accommodate, or have no desire to have your room dominated by, large speakers? Your best option may be to go for some smaller speakers that outperform the promise of their dimensions.

And so, following the theme of this month's magazine – compact speakers – we've take the Neat Petite Classic as a starting point and added price-appropriate components that will make the best of those smallers speakers' talents. These are all top-notch products, and if you're looking for a compact yet superb set-up, our suggested hi-fi system should be just the thing.

Bargain 43-inch TVs

Back in the day, if you were watching a 43-inch television at home, the resulting sense of total immersion would have made you feel as though you were sitting in the front stalls of a giant West-End cinema. These days, though, a 43-inch screen is considered small, and manufacturers have largely turned their attention – and their resources – to the bigger sets.

That’s good news for anyone looking to buy a smaller screen, as prices have fallen to such an extent that bargains are emerging all over the place, and some brands are virtually giving away their smaller TVs. What’s more, many of these modestly sized tellies are almost as well featured as their bigger brothers, carrying much of the same picture-processing wizardry and streaming smarts.

Just before you do splash your cash, though, we feel duty-bound to add that, at this price level, picture quality cannot compete with that of the larger, more sophisticated screens. Nor can you always expect much in terms of sound – although, as we shall see, some models fare notably better than others on that score. Nevertheless, if you have an eye for a bargain and all you need is a decent small telly with wide content access, there is gold to be struck. And each of the three models featured here glitters in one way or another.

First with reviews

This month, as always, our First Tests section is packed to the gills with in-depth, impartial and expert verdicts on the very latest hi-fi and AV gear. 

We begin with Cambridge Audio's CXN100 music streamer. A new hi-fi product from Cambridge is always an enticing prospect, and when the company's latest offering is intended to supplant an Award-winning piece of kit, our attention is truly grabbed. The CXN100 replaces the excellent CXN (V2), which had the distinction of being the first network audio streamer to enter our illustrious Hall of Fame. Can the CXN100 reach such lofty heights? Find out in this month's mag!

Also in this month's First Tests, our expert team of reviewers take an in-depth look at a brace of OLED TVs, with LG's C4 and Samsung S95D passing through our testing labs. At the risk of spoilers, both sets are superb. Elsewhere we run the rule over Audio Pro's C20 wireless speaker, the WiiM Amp, Hisense C1 home cinema projector, Nakamichi Dragon soundbar and Audio-Technica ATH-TWX7 in-ears.

Find out what our review team thought of all these products in June's What Hi-Fi?

Can you resist the allure?

Our Temptations section of the magazine is all about the best. And, sometimes, the best doesn't come cheap.

This month we have for your delectation the Naim NSS 333 music streamer. Naim, as you will know, makes some mighty fine products, and this new streamer ticks all the right boxes. Our expert reviewers found that the Naim NSS 333 is "expert at delivering rhythmic drive and communicates the changing momentum in Stravinsky's The Rite Of Spring brilliantly".

Also on test this month we have a high-end pair of open-back headphones from Austrian Audio, called The Composer. "They are impressive," our review confirms, "but not in a flash-bang-wallop kind of way. They are more mature than that."

If both of those products aren't making you lick your lips, you're obviously hard to please. Read more about them in this month's What Hi-Fi?

Finally, don't forget to check out our Buyer’s Guide, featuring a definitive list of all the best home entertainment kit you can buy – including winners of 2023's What Hi-Fi? Awards. If you’re looking to purchase anything from a pair of wireless headphones to a home cinema speaker system, this section will tell you where to spend your money wisely.

Whatever you do, don't miss the June 2024 issue of What Hi-Fi?. Grab a copy today, or simply download it onto your tablet or smartphone. Enjoy!

You can subscribe or buy the latest issue here, or buy the digital edition on iPhone, iPad, Android devices or Kindle edition

Sony has a pretty stellar track record when it comes to its smartphone reviews here. While they may not be the perfect all-round handsets, the current Xperia range delivers exactly what we look for in our reviews; a top-notch picture and sound experience that's worthy of becoming your portable companion to watch movies and listen to music on. 

Thanks to a host of AV-centric features such as the 21:9 aspect ratio, 4K display, impressive sound performance and the Creator Mode screen preset, Sony has delivered a consistent stream of phones that have been genuinely enjoyable portable media players, but its dedication to AV excellence might be faltering, according to a recent bombshell rumour. 

If you missed our recent coverage about the potential Xperia 1 VI, then I'll get you up to speed. Sony is reportedly ditching the 21:9 aspect ratio for a more conventional 19.5:1 aspect ratio on its new flagship phone; this aspect ratio has most recently been seen on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. It's also expected to drop the 4K resolution in favour of a more common Quad HD+ resolution, which a majority of manufacturers such as Samsung, Google and OnePlus use for their respective smartphones.

The good news is that the 3.5mm headphone jack appears to live another day, leaving Sony as one of the very few manufacturers to continue offering this feature after Apple set the standard for ditching it on the iPhone 7 back in 2016. Considering the Xperia line's sonic proficiency up to this point, we're relieved by the early reports that Sony won't be cutting back on features here. 

However, back to the screen, the backpedalling of the features that earned the five-star reviews seems counterproductive. Sony's mobile displays are consistently excellent with every model from the entry-level Xperia 10 to the premium Xperia 5 and the flagship Xperia 1, so seeing Sony take a step back at the higher end has me wondering how the rest of the range will be impacted. 

The 21:9 aspect ratio can practically only be found on Sony mobiles, the closest thing we have is the 22:9 aspect ratio of the Samsung Galaxy Flip 5. It's seriously effective at eliminating black letterboxing bars on supported content – Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on Disney Plus fills the screen entirely, for example – while the OLED display ensures any letterboxed or pillarboxed content features pitch black bars that don't distract from the content. Losing this unique feature is a blow for watching films on this phone for sure, but it may have upsides elsewhere. 

I've used the last two generations of Xperia 1, 5 and 10 smartphones extensively, and from personal experience, I can say that the 21:9 is purely inconvenient for everything but watching content. The awkward aspect ratio makes swiping down from the top of the screen a risky game of hand gymnastics, and the unique ratio can cause havoc with the presentation of some apps. While I appreciate how unique it is and how movies look with this ratio, it might be beneficial to switch to the more conventional ratio for most other tasks. I can also see where Sony is coming from with this move, as the thinking is that it might entice more people to buy its phones too.

However, TV and AV editor Tom Parsons quite rightfully points out that Sony will also be losing a unique selling point with its phones here. We've always struggled to compare the Xperia phones to other handsets on the market due to this unique screen feature, but now we're already drawing comparisons with other handsets from Samsung; could Sony be making its smartphones more generic in a sea of abundant options with this move? It's entirely possible. 

On to the other display feature now, its lack of 4K resolution; and I'm going to keep it simple here; I'm not going to miss the 4K resolution. Realistically, 4K playback on video content is extremely limited, with few streaming services offering 4K streaming on mobile. Sony only names YouTube and its own Video Pro recording application when it comes to supported video playback in the highest resolution, with very inconsistent support on the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Truthfully, 4K resolution on a screen of this size makes little sense, as the pixel density with Quad HD+ is plenty good enough for delivering details.

However, it's not as cut and dry as that, as Sony's upscaling engine is truly impressive, and I hope that it continues even if 4K on its mobiles doesn't. The enhanced contrast, clarity and colours given to Full HD content via upscaling are thoroughly effective, so if that can be replicated on a slightly lower resolution display then I'll be satisfied. Moreover, this should hopefully reduce the price of the next Xperia 1 handset, although I can't make any promises. 

To summarise, the next iteration is guaranteed to be an interesting one, and truthfully these rumours might prove to be false, in which case all of us can breathe a sigh of relief. But if these speculations do end up being true, then we can at least take solace in knowing that general useability will be improved.

MORE:

Read our full Sony Xperia 1 V review

And check out our picks for the best smartphones

Apple's EU-pressured move to USB-C from the company's favoured Lightning connector for the iPhone 15 was big news in tech circles, and while USB-C is generally considered to be a more effective and efficient aperture, it caused consternation among those more traditional users who weren't keen on making the switch. 

Perhaps SoundMagic's latest wired earphones will be enough to cause any lingering detractors to accept the rise of USB-C. Built to slot straight into most established Android devices and the most recent iPhone, the new E80D take influence from the brand's flagship model, the E90C, incorporating design elements from established SoundMagic IEMs with a focus on usability and compatibility.

With many phone manufacturers having ditched the traditional 3.5mm headphone port, the SoundMagic E80D allow you simply to connect directly to a given device's USB-C charging port.

The new budget earphones feature a built-in DAC chip capable of supporting 24-bit/96kHz audio files to give access to high-resolution playback. SoundMagic promises a superb wired connection which aims to reduce latency and distortion, meaning you could also use the new E80D for watching videos or even gaming if you want the edge over your virtual rivals.  

While the new in-ear monitors take influence from established models, SoundMagic claims to have redesigned its 10mm neodymium magnetic moving coil drivers for the E80D, offering playback that is "engaging, dynamic, and enjoyable" regardless of the source or device being used.

The differences go beyond those moving coil drivers. The Chinese brand has used the same cable technology as found in the SoundMagic E11C earphones, with a similar silver-plated copper design that hopefully offers the same results as those excellent Award-winners. Like the E11C, the E80D come with a built-in microphone and three-button controls for easier access to music playback, voice-assistance activation and voice calls.

Daubed in a gunmetal finish, the SoundMagic E80D are available now for a price of £40 / $46, roughly £10 less than the original price of the E11C in-ear headphones (tested at £50).

MORE: 

Read our original SoundMagic E11C review 

These are the best in-ear headphones that we've tested 

Want to block out the world? Here's our best noise-cancelling headphones 

Disney Plus is set to become the first streaming service to offer DTS:X soundtracks for its content when it adds the immersive audio format in May of this year. In doing so, it'll also become the first service to incorporate both major immersive audio formats thanks to the fact it already includes Dolby Atmos for a wide range of its content. 

After introducing the IMAX Enhanced aspect ratio (1.90:1) back in 2021 on a selection of Marvel titles including Captain America: Civil War, Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers: Infinity War, Disney claimed that the option to use an accompanying DTS:X audio track will be added at a later date, which turned out to be a longer wait than we anticipated. Thankfully, Disney has confirmed that the end is in sight for those who are patiently waiting, as DTS:X will be added to select titles on the 15th of May.

Up until now, DTS:X has been exclusively reserved for Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray discs, however, the introduction of a new streaming-friendly codec has allowed Disney to implement it within its service. There will likely be some compromise to sound quality, as it won't be lossless DTS audio like on physical disc formats, although this is to be expected and likely won't be an issue to all but the most discerning audiophiles.

It will launch the sound format on the platform as "IMAX Enhanced sound", using the upcoming Queen Rock Montreal concert film as a headlining title to debut the feature. It's set to be the first film within the genre to include DTS-enhanced sound according to Disney. DTS:X will also come to the existing library of IMAX Enhanced superhero films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe catalogue (18 titles in total), with recent entries including The Marvels and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 joining the collection. 

It's still a fairly slim selection of content as of now, with Dolby Atmos being the predominant immersive audio format on the platform. On the subject of Dolby, what if you prefer to use the Atmos track instead? FlatpanelsHD suggests that Disney will likely allow users to swap between audio tracks much like how you can pick between the 21:9 or the IMAX Enhanced aspect ratio for video.

As for compatibility, Disney claims that a wide range of devices will be supported at launch. This will include TVs that run the Android TV and Google TV operating systems from manufacturers such as Sony, Hisense, Sharp, Xiaomi, and others, as well as a selection of AV receivers from the likes of Denon, Marantz, and JBL. 

MORE:

Read our full Disney Plus review

Check out our picks for the best soundbars

And the best OLED TV

Sony's Xperia range has included some of the best smartphones for AV fans in the past, offering content consumption features that few alternatives can rival. Unfortunately, according to recent rumours and leaks surrounding the 2024 successor to the Xperia 1 V, it looks like Sony is dialling back the features that make watching movies and TV on its premium smartphone so enjoyable. 

Thanks to a collaboration between OnLeaks and Android Headlines, we can take an early look at the next version of the Xperia 1's design. The upcoming phone seen in these images – presumably the Xperia 1 VI unless Sony decides to shake up its naming convention – sports a broader build and, as a result, a new aspect ratio. In fact, the Xperia 1 VI is expected to be a touch shorter and wider than the 1 V, all while retaining the same 6.5-inch display; the rumoured measurements are 161.9 x 74.5 x 8.4mm (hwd), whereas the 1 V measured 165 x 71 x 8.3mm (hwd). 

This results in the 1 VI supposedly adopting a more conventional 19.5:9 aspect ratio, which is the same as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Gone is the 21:9 aspect ratio; a feature that we've praised previously for chopping the black letterbox bars off in favour of an 'all-screen' effect when watching supported content. However, this more commonly used aspect ratio might be a good sign for those who weren't fans of the tall and thin display due to the slightly awkward handling and software experience it brings.

That's not the only change that's expected to come to the Xperia 1, as it is also expected to drop the 4K resolution in 2024. Sony has been the only mainstream smartphone manufacturer to feature a 4K display on its smartphone since in 2016 and it has kept that tradition up for the majority of the following eight years. That streak looks to be ending this year, though, as further leaks reported by Fone Arena claim that the Xperia 1 VI could drop down to a more conventional Quad HD+, roughly 3200 x 1440 resolution (otherwise known as 2K+). 

Elsewhere the Xperia 1 V is expected to include a triple camera array with the Exmoor T sensor that featured prominently in last year's model making a return, as well as the dedicated shutter button on the frame of the device. More importantly, the headphone jack remains, which is promising news for those who value high-resolution wired audio (such as ourselves). Design-wise, these early renders appear close to the existing Xperia 1 V, with squared-off corners and flat edges around the device. 

We must remember that these are merely rumours for now, with no release date or even announcement date for this upcoming Android smartphone. Only time will tell if Sony opts for these AV downgrades with its latest smartphones, but we'll tell all in our review when the product does launch. Considering the Xperia 5 and Xperia 10 also sport the ultrawide aspect ratio, we might be in for a major shift with Sony's 2024 smartphone slate.

MORE:

Read our full Sony Xperia 1 V review

And check out our picks for the best Android phones

Cambridge Audio's latest wireless earbuds, the Melomania M100, not only have active noise-cancelling for the first time, but they also have a wonderfully clean, spacious, detailed and likeable sound presentation that impressed the What Hi-Fi? review team during testing.

Even more impressive are the crowd-pleasing and useful settings that you can employ when delving into the accompanying Melomania app for iOS and Android devices, which brings in plenty of sound customisation and nifty features that you might not expect on the surface. I've been using the M100 for a couple of weeks since our official review, and have found half a dozen settings and tips that make these earbuds more fun and useful to listen to as everyday buds. And there's even a celebrity surprise...

Turn on (or turn off) essential touch controls

Let's start with the basics: controls. You can tap on each bud to pause and skip tracks, answer calls, summon Siri, switch between noise-cancelling modes and change volume. That's quite a few functions at your fingertips, with a variety of tapping combinations and long-presses to make it all work.

However, you can turn all these functions on or off through the app. Maybe you only want to play/pause songs and change volume, and never want to accept a call through your earbuds. Or maybe you just want to be able to toggle between full ANC, Transparency and Normal modes, and leave all the music playback controls on your phone screen. Through the Melomania app, you can pick and choose exactly which controls you want to keep on or keep off, so you can use the M100 buds however you like.

Note that you can't reassign the controls to a different earbud, but it seems that Cambridge Audio are aware of this request and "will have it under consideration for a future update" if there is enough demand.

Try the EQ presets and save your custom setting

Cambridge Audio gives you plenty of ways to tailor the M100's sound to your tastes. There are six equaliser presets – Flat, Blues, Electronic, Natural, Rock and Voice – that you can select to suit specific styles of music, if you wish.

Or, you can manually customise the settings further with a seven-band graphic equaliser, that lets you swipe up and down to fine-tune the frequencies to your liking. If you hit upon a combination that you like, you can save your custom EQ with a specific name (or delete it and start over).

We tend to stick with the Flat setting during testing, but I have experimented with selecting Voice for podcasts, and the Rock / Natural presets when going through my playlists, to see how they change the flavour of sound by boosting certain frequencies. I tend to steer away from EQ settings that accentuate the high or low frequencies too much – it upsets the earbuds' fairly even tonal balance – but a slight boost in the mids can be appealing at times when you just want to focus on voices.

Customise ANC level to suit your silencing needs

The Melomania M100 marks the first time Cambridge Audio has used ANC in its wireless earbuds, but there's a handy feature that we didn't realise existed until we started poking around in the app. Not only can you select the level of adaptive ANC you want the M100 to employ – High, Medium, Low – but you can also choose the level of Transparency.

This means you can select how much you want the M100 buds to block out external noises, and how much you want surrounding noise to be let in. In Transparency, there's even a Voice Focus option, which hones in on voices more clearly than in the High mode, which oddly doesn't amplify voices in the same way we've heard in other earbuds' Transparency modes. 

While the M100's Transparency effect is a little hit and miss – I found it hard to hear train announcements unless you selected Voice Focus, which seems a fiddly step too far – the full ANC mode is more effective. It dimmed down engine rumbles and office chatter, and it was nice to be able to choose exactly how I wanted to listen in various environments using the three levels of ANC effect.

One thing worth noting is that the sound quality does suffer a little in these modes, so you'll want the Normal mode for the best audio performance.

Need music to go to sleep? Use Sleep Mode

If you listen to music or podcasts to help you get to sleep (as my colleague Andy Madden does), this setting is tailor-made for you. The M100s have a 'sleep mode' that deactivates any touch controls and disables the audible feedback (i.e. the voice prompts) so that you don't accidentally skip tracks, summon Siri or have a voice suddenly wake you up from your deep sleep – or worse, just as you're nodding off – when the buds are in your ears. These peaceful settings stay in place until the buds are put back in the charging case (or until you turn the mode off).

It's a thoughtful touch from the brand.

• Sleep with buds in? You're not alone: our deputy editor waxes lyrical about being able to use one earbud when sleeping

Listening with a friend? Turn on Mono Mode

I'll admit: most of us at What Hi-Fi? tend to view listening on headphones/earbuds as a private activity, and not just because some of us have questionable taste in music.

But we're reliably told that those much younger and more sociable than the average tech reviewer enjoy sharing a bud with a friend so that they can listen to the same song (or video) together. But this means you're only hearing half of a stereo mix, so the M100 has a setting that automatically converts the music into 'mono mode' so you hear the whole song rather than just one channel.

Much as we find with spatial audio, this is a little hit-and-miss and depends entirely on the song and how it's mixed. Songs like Wet Leg's Chaise Longue or Waxahatchee's Right Back To It where the vocals and instruments are largely in the middle of the mix sound perfectly fine and dandy when in 'mono' mode, but those with specific instruments placed in the left and right channels can be a wildcard. Dirty Projectors' Swing Lo Magellan – where the left/right separation for the instruments is crucial to the song's rhythm and composition – gets too dynamically squashed and messy when the earbuds are pumping in sounds from one extreme channel to another; but Block Party's Banquet fared better and only lost a hint of timing and space.

Still, it's a nice bonus feature to have if you like sharing music or even tend to listen with only one earbud in.

"Yes, I can hear you, Clem Fandango"

We've saved the best setting for last. One of the best hidden surprises in the Melomania M100 app is the 'celebrity' voice setting for the 'audible feedback' or prompts that helpfully announce when you've changed noise modes or are connected to a device. 

Scroll down the various language options and you'll find one named after the London borough, "Southwark", and this activates celebrity voice guest, actor/comedian/musician Matt Berry.

It is a thing of pure joy when the extremely distinctive voice of the Toast Of London himself bellows, "Device 1 connected!", "Normal!", "Transparency!" and so on at you. This may not be as joyous to those unfamiliar with Berry's work (or his character's specific voice and work in the Channel 4 series Toast Of London), but we would still urge you to try out this voice setting as Berry's voiceover talent is good fun. It was a delightful jump scare to hear his booming vocals yelling at me when I first started using the M100, but over the weeks it's become a friendly (but still hilarious) voice in my ear.

Of course, if you're not a fan then you can switch to a more anonymous voice, select music tones or simply turn all prompts off. But we'd urge you to keep Matt Berry on, as it's the M100's best trick.

MORE:

Read our full Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 review

I lived with the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds – here are 3 things I loved (and 3 that need improving)

Check out our best wireless earbuds picks across all budgets

Or peruse the best ANC earbuds guide for the best noise-cancellers

Cambridge Audio has a new pair of wireless earbuds – its first with active noise cancellation (ANC). The British hi-fi stalwart had some success with its previous two Melomania models, mostly thanks their epic battery life, but the Melomania M100 have a new look, new features and ANC. Exciting.

So how do they compare against some of the best noise-cancelling earbuds going? Apple's AirPods Pro 2 were the first in-ear AirPods to earn a five-star review from us. They offer Apple's peerless usability (as long as you're an iOS user, that is), great sound quality and awesome noise-cancelling skills. Cambridge certainly has its work cut out...

Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 vs AirPods Pro 2: price

The AirPods Pro 2 launched in September 2022 for £249 / $249 / AU$399, but when the USB-C model appeared in September 2023, the price dropped in the UK to £229 (it remained the same in the US and Australia). This price has since dropped in recent sales to £199 / $199, though there's no guarantee it'll stay there.

That's still more than the Cambridge Audio Melomania M100, which will set you back £169 / $219 (they're not available in Australia). Because they're new, we wouldn't expect to see them discounted any time soon. But then up against the AirPods Pro 2, they don't need to be.

** Winner: Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 **

Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 vs AirPods Pro 2: design

The AirPods' design is so familiar by now it's tempting to skip them and move right onto the Melomania M100. But while the Pro 2 look almost identical to the original Pro, they are quite different to the standard AirPods due to their interchangeable ear tips (which come in four sizes, XS to L). They also have on-bud volume controls courtesy of a touch-sensitive stem layer, which the standard AirPods lack.

The charging case is different, too. It has a built-in speaker (for playing a chime if you misplace it) and a lanyard loop (to stop you misplacing it). You can charge it wired or wirelessly.

The Melomania M100 look very different – as far as Cambridge is from Cupertino. Their look is closer to the Sony WF-1000XM5. They're light and comfortable, and don't protrude too far from the ears. And they come with five sizes of ear tip. Take that, Apple.

There's no AirPods-style ear tip fit test, however. But every member of our team who tried them managed to get a good fit without it.

The earbuds house custom 10mm drivers tuned by Cambridge Audio’s engineers and powered by Class A/B amplification to match the brand's hi-fi stereo amplifiers. They have the same IPX4 rating as the AirPods Pro 2, making them splash- and sweat-resistant.

We found the AirPods Pro 2's on-bud controls a bit more responsive and intuitive (Cambridge's take a bit more getting used to, though they're soon second nature). 

** Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2 **

Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 vs AirPods Pro 2: features

Two words for you: Matt. Berry. Cambridge Audio has enlisted the baritone thespian – and sometime musician – as one of the voices announcing the earbuds' connection and the different noise modes. The first time you hear him announce "Device connected!" is a real laugh out loud moment.

These are the first Cambridge buds with active noise-cancellation (ANC), and they have a transparency mode to boot. They also have Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio support, as well as aptX Lossless (for CD-quality streams), Auracast and the more efficient LC3 codec, when they become available soon. For now, you'll have to make do with AAC and SBC codecs and the higher-quality aptX Adaptive, which is still more than some pairs at this price level.

Cambridge's previous two Melomania models were notable mainly for their staggering 45-hour battery lives (including the charging cases). But they lacked ANC. Despite adding ANC, Cambridge has kept that number high – the M100 boast 33 hours of runtime (10 hours from the buds, plus 23 from the case) with ANC on. That's more than the AirPods Pro 2's 30-hour total (six hours from the buds, 24 from the case). Impressive.

The Melomania Connect app gives you six EQ presets and a seven-band graphic equaliser to play with, and there are plenty of other features besides. 'Wear sensor' pauses music when you take a bud out and restarts when you pop it back in (like Sony's 'wearing detect') – though this is a little hit and miss. But there's multipoint for switching between two wireless devices, a low-latency gaming mode, mono mode to share a bud with a friend, and sleep mode which deactivates all touch controls and voice prompts. 

The AirPods Pro 2 have all manner of tricks up their various sleeves, one of which is Conversation Awareness. Like Sony's Speak-to-Chat, it lowers the music volume and allows in ambient noise when it detects you speaking, so you can hold a conversation without yanking the buds out. It's very smart, and elegantly implemented too. 

The Pro 2 also automatically pause/resume music when you take them out/put them back in, just like the M100. Like all AirPods, they're a doddle to pair with an iOS device, and they're quick to tweak with the dedicated AirPods section within the iPhone's settings menu. 

They also have Spatial Audio, which the M100 lack. Some tracks sound better than others given the 360-degree full immersion treatment, but the dynamic head tracking (which anchors the sound to a screen) is as impressive as ever. 

There's a chink in the AirPods' armour, and it's Android. By design, a lot of the features aren't available to Android users, which is a ploy to keep users in the Apple ecosystem. (Apple's subsidiary Beats has no such qualms, having its own Android app.) Apple should win this round, but because of that, and Matt Berry, Cambridge takes it.

** Winner: Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 **

Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 vs AirPods Pro 2: noise cancelling

Apple's ANC tech is very effective, and noticeably better than the first-gen AirPods Pro. The H2 chip and repositioned vents really do make all the difference – background noise is neutralised nicely, with a comfortable, airy effect that doesn't leave you feeling like your ear canals have been vacuumed like some pairs.

The ANC has some advanced features too, like Adaptive Transparency. This takes the edge off sudden, harsh noises in your environment while using Transparency to allow in some ambient sound. It keeps you aware of your surroundings, but not bothered by them. And Adaptive Audio (which arrived with iOS 17) adjusts the level of ANC depending on the noise levels of your surroundings. It's a subtle effect, but effective, though it would still be nice to be able to adjust it manually.

The M100 are also very capable noise cancellers, and they too adapt to ambient noise. They smooth out harsh noises and take idle office chatter down a few notches on the volume scale. For straight noise cancellation, they're on a par with the AirPods Pro 2, which is very impressive given that a) this is Cambridge's first attempt at ANC, and b) they're a fair bit cheaper than the AirPods.

You can adjust the ANC level yourself in the app – hurrah! – with High, Medium and Low options. There's a transparency mode too, but unfortunately it's not as good as Apple's. Traffic comes through loud and clear, but station announcements less so. There is the option within the app to focus on voices, which does improve things a little, but even with the Transparency on High, it's still a little hard to hear what someone's saying over the sound of the music playing.

** Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2 **

Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 vs AirPods Pro 2: sound

The AirPods Pro 2 deliver Apple's trademark neutral sonic profile but with more weight, detail and dynamic subtlety than previous AirPods. That's down to the low-distortion, high-excursion audio driver, transducer and high dynamic range amplifier which lurk inside each earbud. Combined with the H2 chip's advanced algorithms, it's a sonic tour de force.

The sound is richer and more powerful, while still remaining clean and well organised. And they're superb with vocals. All of which puts them up there with the best-sounding ANC buds available.

Cambridge Audio is one of the most highly respected British hi-fi brands around, so we would expect the M100 to sound pretty great. And they don't disappoint. They're impressively detailed and clear, with an even balance, which makes them comfortable to listen to over longer sessions. Rivals might be more nimble, but their timing is agile enough, though their dynamics are a tad constrained, which tends to impinge on the music's character a bit – rather than letting tracks show off their individuality, they tend to paint them all with the same brush. 

The AirPods Pro 2 are more subtle, but more dynamically interesting at the same time. They're just more fun.

** Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2 **

Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 vs AirPods Pro 2: verdict

The AirPods Pro 2 are more feature-packed, sound more fun and have the more sublime noise cancellation. But it's undeniably impressive just how much Cambridge Audio has managed to pack into the M100 – they sound very good (just not great), have ANC and Transparency, and are packed to the gills with features. Their controls aren't quite as intuitive as Apple's, but they do grow on you. And how many pairs of earbuds have Matt Berry as a hidden feature?

The M100 are also quite a bit cheaper than the AirPods Pro 2, and all their features work with Android. Which could well be the deciding factors for many.

If you have the funds, and live in the Apple ecosystem, the AirPods Pro 2 are the smarter choice. But those are two big 'ifs' that won't apply to a lot of people. If that's you, the M100 are seriously worth considering.

MORE:

Our pick of the best wireless earbuds you can buy today

Another vs: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds vs Sony WF-1000XM5

Find out how active noise-cancelling headphones work

High-end audio manufacturer McIntosh has announced the launch of two new preamplifiers which, to use its own words, are the company's "latest masterpieces". The C55 solid-state preamp arrives alongside the C2800 vacuum tube preamp, with both units aimed at "the most discerning audiophiles" by combining "cutting-edge technology with timeless design".

Each model comes equipped with a pretty whopping 16 inputs made up of seven at line level (including three balanced XLR), two phono and seven digital connections. The C55 and C2800 can both accommodate almost any source you can think of, including a turntable via their adjustable phono inputs, with both offering HDMI, twin optical and coax, USB, Mcintosh's proprietary MCT connection and an ethernet port, not to mention low pass and subwoofer outputs.

The C55 and C2800 naturally provide serious flexibility for connecting to compatible power amplifiers, offering three sets of stereo balanced and unbalanced outputs. Both have been designed to allow for bi-amping, while a "processor loop" lets you seamlessly integrate an external processor if you so choose. Premium-grade DAC technology, meanwhile, promises "exquisite digital audio conversion" no matter the source played.

In addition to the on-unit front controls and the provided remote, you can connect the C2800 or the C55 to your home network and control your high-end preamp via the onboard McIntosh Connect app, compatible with Android and Apple devices. Using the app, you'll be able to receive firmware updates, access key functionalities and personalise your listening experience from a single platform.

Distinct from the C2800, the new C55 has been designed specifically for the high-end audiophile audience and takes on the mantle of its predecessor, the C53. Boasting McIntosh's precision engineering, the C55 features an 8-band analogue equaliser for greater musical precision for creating a personalised audio experience.

The C2800 vacuum tube model, meanwhile, is described by McIntosh as embodying "a fusion of audio passion and engineering precision" that has been "crafted to delight even the most discerning music lovers".  At the heart of the C2800 is its vacuum tube circuitry, developed to reduce noise and distortion as much as possible. The unit's vacuum tubes offer a listening experience that "exceeds expectations", whereas electronic bass and treble circuits let users adjust the volume of high and low frequencies in 1dB increments. 

The C55 solid state preamplifier and the C2800 vacuum tube preamplifier are available via authorised McIntosh dealers, retailing at £11,995 / €11,990 / $9000.

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From reincarnating the cassette player to shoving a DAC inside a mechanical keyboard, Fiio isn’t unafraid to get creative with its products, but its two latest launches tread more familiar territory: the M23 portable audio player and K19 headphone amp and DAC.

The former slots into Fiio’s range of digital audio players towards the more affordable end, but still offers a suite of features that’ll catch the eye of the on-the-go audiophile. It combines two AKM DACs, the AK4191EQ and AK4499EX, which means it can play hi-res files at up to 24-Bit 384kHz and PCM/DSD256, while MQA support is also on the menu.

For those with suitably equipped wireless headphones, the M23 can transmit hi-res tracks over aptX HD Bluetooth and LDAC, but it also works the other way, so you can receive audio from a Bluetooth device and use the player as a DAC/amp. The option to power it over USB means the M23 can function as a desktop device, which enables a ‘Super-High’ gain mode that delivers a hefty 1000mW per channel at 32 ohms.

Running on batteries it should last around 10.5 hours between charges, with 64GB of onboard storage to fill with files. If you run out of space for all your hi-res tunes you can expand it with SD cards up to 2TB.

A 5.5-inch touchscreen on the front allows you to navigate its Android operating system, with apps from Tidal, Qobuz, Apple Music and Deezer giving you access to those lossless streams.

Those who prefer a more traditional wired arrangement are catered for by 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced headphone outputs, plus both single-ended and balanced line-outs.

And, speaking of headphones, FiiO’s second new launch is a desktop headphone amplifier and DAC, packed with inputs and outputs.

You can feed audio into the K19 via coaxial, optical, USB-C, HDMI, and HDMI ARC, while it can be piped out again through 6.35mm single-ended, 4.4mm balanced, 4-pin balanced XLR, dual RCA line-out, and balanced 3-pin XLR outputs. Audio passes through dual 8-Channel ES9039SPRO DACs and dual 8-Channel THX AAA 788+ amps so you can plug in almost any pair of headphones and it can deliver up to 8000mW of power output.

A 31-band Parametric Equalizer (PEQ) lets you fiddle with the performance to your heart’s content, but whatever you plug into it FiiO reckons you’ll get an “impressively musical, detailed, and expressive sound” out of it.

The FiiO K19, which will be available to buy this month, comes in either black or silver and will set you back £1249 / €1300 / $1300, while the M23 follows in April in either Blue Titanium or Stainless Steel for £649 / €700 / $700.

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