Another month has rolled by, and with it came a raft of new product announcements that caught our attention.

It has been a busy time for the world of AV and hi-fi, with new launches across categories including, but not limited to, soundbars, stereo speakers, USB DACs, Bluetooth speakers and smartphones.

Headlining this edition of On the Radar is the Bluesound Pulse Cinema, a stylish Sonos Arc Ultra alternative that could challenge the five-star ’bar’s title of the best Dolby Atmos soundbar.

Following closely behind is iFi's latest pocket-sized USB DAC, as well as JBL's latest addition to its Award-winning Bluetooth speaker family.

These are joined by Dali's cutest speakers to date, as well as Google's latest flagship Android-powered smartphone.

We told you it had a been a busy time…

Bluesound Pulse Cinema

The premium Dolby Atmos soundbar market is a competitive place, with the likes of Sony, Sennheiser, Sonos, KEF and Samsung all vying for your attention.

That hasn’t stopped Bluesound from taking a stab at the competition, however, with its latest offering: the Bluesound Pulse Cinema.

This 3.2.2 ’bar touts a total of 16 drivers, including dual 4-inch woofers and dedicated upward-firing speakers for Dolby Atmos height effects, with a total claimed power output of 500W; pretty punchy if you ask us.

The Pulse Cinema also wears its hi-fi influence on its sleeve, as it is compatible with Bluesound’s BluOS platform, which can be linked to a wide range of streaming services – including Tidal, Qobuz and Spotify – for hi-res streaming up to 24-bit/192kHz.

Priced at £1149, the Pulse Cinema is going head to head with our current favourite Atmos-equipped soundbar on the market: the Sonos Arc Ultra.

Read the full Bluesound Pulse Cinema news

• Price: £799 / $999 (around AU$1543)
• Release date: November 2025

Dali Kupid

As cute as the cherub it is named after, the Kupid puts a colourful and affordable spin on Dali’s signature and highly regarded hi-fi sound.

Best known for its high-end Epikore speakers, which can cost upwards of 30 times the price of these new budget speakers, Dali hopes to bring its signature sound to more people by pricing the Kupid very aggressively.

Inside each cabinet, you’ll find a proprietary 4.5-inch paper and wood fibre mid/bass driver, which is reinforced with a ferrite magnet system and low-loss rubber surround.

This is backed up by a custom-developed 26mm ultra-light soft-dome tweeter, which promises “detailed, extended highs with smooth dispersion and minimal distortion”.

With a custom crossover for accurate timing and a dual-flare reflex bass port for low distortion and deep bass, these speakers should sound as good as they look.

Read the full Dali Kupid news

• Price: £299 per pair (around $400 / AU$600)
• Release date: 1st October 2025

iFi Go Blu Air

Looking to boost your smartphone’s audio performance with a DAC that won’t bog you down? Enter the iFi Go Blu Air, which is one of the British audio company’s smallest and lightest offerings to date.

Measuring just 5cm and weighing a mere 30g, the Go Blu Air somehow manages to cram in separated DAC and amplification stages in pursuit of reduced noise and low distortion – despite its tiny chassis.

You’ll also find Qualcomm’s QCC5144 chipset for Bluetooth connectivity, a Cirrus Logic MasterHIFI DAC, and a twin-mono amplifier stage as part of the audio signal path to deliver up to 256mW of power.

Wired connectivity comes in the form of 4.4mm and 3.5mm balanced headphone outputs, and Bluetooth 5.2 is backed up by the latest hi-res codecs, including LDAC, aptX Adaptive and aptX HD.

Despite all this tech, iFi claims that this miniature portable DAC can last 10 hours on a single charge – impressive indeed.

Read the full iFi Go Blu Air news

• Price: £129 / $129 / AU$229
• Release date: Available now

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL

Google’s latest smartphone series celebrates a decade of Pixel, and the brand is adding some much-needed AV-focused features which have caught our attention.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL is the biggest and flashiest of the new range when it comes to conventional smartphones (the 10 Pro Fold is the highest-end model with a pliable folding display), and it comes with a big and bright OLED display.

Measuring 6.8 inches, the Super Actua LTPO OLED (now that's a tongue twister) screen will reportedly sport an eye-searing 3300-nit peak brightness, support HDR, and feature a variable refresh rate of 1Hz to 120Hz.

It is also Google's first phone to include Pixel Snap, a nifty magnetic system that clips accessories (such as a wireless charger and grip/stand combo) into place, similar to Apple's MagSafe system.

The real question is, will it compare with the best that Sony, Apple and Samsung have to offer?

Read the full Google Pixel 10 Pro XL news

• Price: £1199 / $1199 / AU$1999
• Release date: Available now

JBL Grip

There's a new member in JBL's impressive Bluetooth speaker roster, and it sits just below a five-star favourite of ours.

The Grip undercuts the Flip 7 in price and stature, with a design that can be clutched in one hand; though, as we have come to expect from JBL, a small speaker doesn't mean small sound.

Within the Grip's cylindrical body, you’ll find a 43 x 80mm full-range transducer, delivering a continuous output of 16W on average, with a claimed frequency response spanning 70Hz to 20kHz.

Pair that with a rugged woven-fabric covering, IP68 water and dust resistance, a claimed 12 hours of playback on a single charge and a customisable ambient-light feature, and you should find that the grip is ready to party in any condition.

The real question is, will it carve out a name for itself among its talented peers?

Read the full JBL Grip news

MORE:

Check out our picks for the best Bluetooth speakers

As well as the best DACs: USB, desktop and portable

And the best smartphones for movies and music

Google's 2025 hardware announcements have, by phone launch standards, been quite eventful for us.

The new Pixel 10 series actually boasts some new AV-focused upgrades that should make them better devices for consuming movies and music, thanks to brighter OLED displays across the range and improved speakers with better bass.

However, there is one thing missing from this new Pixel lineup, and it isn't a phone.

Cast your mind back to 2023, and you'll remember Google launched the Pixel Tablet, a truly unique hybrid device that was half tablet, half smart home speaker.

It included a magnetic speaker dock in the box, which users could snap the tablet onto for charging and, more importantly, improved audio.

It's been over two years since this nifty portable device launched, and Google has been rather quiet on the tablet front ever since. We liked the Pixel Tablet, awarding it four stars on account of its sharp and natural image and impressive audio capabilities.

So, when Google announced its annual Made by Google reveal event, I began wondering if we'd see a sequel to this quirky tablet. Sadly, that did not come to fruition as I watched the event start to finish last night.

It's a shame, as I think it's a bit of an overlooked gem in the tablet space, which in itself is practically dominated by Apple's iPad range.

We rarely see a tablet that's this focused on providing such a comprehensive audio experience, hence why I'm disappointed by the lack of a sequel.

And I'm not just talking about the speaker dock; the Pixel Tablet's built-in speakers were surprisingly potent, with a clear and full-bodied performance that made them more than acceptable for a spot of out-loud movie watching.

It's worth noting that Google still sells the original model, meaning it hasn't necessarily left its only tablet in the dust. However, there are no signs that it's developing a new version.

My wishlist for a new model includes a beefier speaker dock with better dynamics and a bit more oomph.

Notably, we mentioned that the Pixel Tablet dock wasn't directly comparable to any of the best Bluetooth speakers when it came to sound performance, so a revised version with an even better audio experience would be a significant win.

MORE:

Read our full Pixel Tablet review

As well as our iPad Air 13-inch review

And check out our picks for the best tablets

If you’re looking to upgrade your handset with one of the best smartphones, Google has just thrown a new team of contenders into the ring.

The new Pixel 10 series was revealed today at Google’s launch event, with the new line-up consisting of the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL. There’s also the contorting Pixel 10 Pro Fold, for those wanting to push the boat out.

Headline features for the Pixel 10 trio include Google’s brightest displays yet, with HDR performance that should, in theory, bestow movies and media with the punch they deserve.

Elsewhere, reworked stereo speakers promise fuller bass and a more immersive sense of space.

All three models share a refined design that keeps the signature camera bar, but updates the finish with spacecraft-grade aluminium and Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

Each handset is also IP68-rated for dust and water resistance, uses recycled materials, and is backed by seven years of OS, security and Pixel Drop updates.

And let’s not forget Pixelsnap, Google’s answer to Apple’s MagSafe – a new magnetic system that makes attaching wireless chargers and accessories easier, while providing secure 15W or 25W wireless charging (depending on the model) in the process.

There’s a lot to cover, so grab a snack, and let’s meet the new range of Google Pixel 10 smartphones. Oh, and don’t forget to check out our story on the new Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 and Buds 2a.

Google Pixel 10

The Pixel 10 is the most ambitious base-tier Pixel yet, thanks to its 6.3-inch Actua OLED display.

Resolution is 1080 × 2424 (422ppi), while peak brightness climbs to 3000 nits, with HDR brightness at 2000 nits.

Combined with a 60–120Hz adaptive refresh rate, this improved panel should, theoretically, result in an even better viewing experience. Naturally, we’re reserving judgement until a review unit graces our hands for in-depth testing.

Audio has been reworked, too. Google highlights stronger bass response and better balance from the stereo speakers, which also support spatial audio for a wider soundstage.

Again, it all sounds promising on paper, so we’re looking forward to seeing if the upgrades deliver in real-world use.

Under the hood, the Pixel 10 has 12GB of RAM, and either 128GB or 256GB of storage, alongside Google’s new Tensor G5 processor and Titan M2 security coprocessor.

Battery capacity is 4970mAh, with a quoted 30-plus hours of use and support for Extreme Battery Saver.

Wired charging reaches 55 per cent in 30 minutes with a 30W PPS USB-C charger, while Pixelsnap wireless charging is supported at up to 15W. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth and NFC – Wi-Fi 7 is reserved for the Pro models below.

Round the back, the Pixel 10 is sporting a new triple camera array, with a 48MP wide sensor with Macro Focus, a 13MP ultrawide, and a 10.8MP 5x telephoto, allowing up to 20x Super Res Zoom.

Video capture extends to 4K at 60 frames per second with HDR, supported by modes such as cinematic blur, astrophotography timelapse, and slow motion up to 240fps. The front-facing selfie camera is a 10.5MP ultrawide with autofocus.

The Pixel 10 is available in Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass and Obsidian, priced at $799 / £799 / AU$1349 for the 128GB version, and $899 / £899 / AU$1499 for the 256GB model.

Google Pixel 10 Pro

The Pixel 10 Pro builds on the foundations of the base Pixel 10 with a 6.3-inch Super Actua LTPO OLED panel.

This improves on the regular Pixel 10 Pro’s display with a higher 1280 × 2856 (495ppi) resolution. Not only that, but the refresh rates are also variable, spanning from 1Hz to 120Hz for smoother performance and improved efficiency.

The screen’s peak brightness also climbs to 3300 nits with 2200 nits in HDR. In practice, this should result in improved HDR content, with the kind of luminance levels that should make Netflix, Disney+ and YouTube HDR streams sing. Watch this space.

As with the Pixel 10, the 10 Pro’s speakers support spatial audio and three-microphone noise suppression.

This time, the Tensor G5 processor is paired with 16GB of RAM, while storage spans from 128GB up to a whopping 1TB – ideal of those who’ve shunned streaming services for their own files.

The 4870mAh battery maintains the 30-hour-plus life claim, charging to 55 per cent in 30 minutes with a 30W PPS charger. Pixelsnap provides simple alignment for accessories and wireless charging at up to 15W. Connectivity steps up to Wi-Fi 7 as well.

Things are turned up a notch on the photography front too, with a 50MP wide, a 48MP ultrawide with autofocus and Macro Focus, and a 48MP 5x telephoto.

With the Tensor G5’s upgraded image processor, Pro Res Zoom enables magnification up to 100x, rebuilding fine detail at extreme range. We’ve yet to use a phone with 100x zoom to take a photo we’d be proud to share, mind, but let’s see what Google’s software wizardry can accomplish this time round.

Video capture for the Pixel 10 Pro has been bolstered to 8K at 24 or 30fps with Video Boost, as well as Night Sight Video (which uses AI to brighten and clean up low-light footage), and 4K at 60fps. The front camera is upgraded to a 42MP ultrawide with autofocus.

Available in Moonstone, Jade, Porcelain and Obsidian, the Pixel 10 Pro starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1699 for 128GB, moving through $1099 / £1099 / AU$1849 for 256GB, $1219 / £1219 / AU$2049 for 512GB, and $1449 / £1449 / AU$2399 for the 1TB model.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL

The Pixel 10 Pro XL mirrors the specs of the smaller Pro, but scales up the size and charging speed.

The 6.8-inch Super Actua LTPO OLED panel carries a resolution of 1344 × 2992 (486ppi), with the same HDR and peak brightness ratings of 2200 and 3300 nits.

Battery capacity rises to 5200mAh, and charging speeds improve too – 70 per cent in 30 minutes is possible with a 45W PPS charger. This still isn’t as fast as the 67W+ speeds of many rivals from the likes of Oppo, Xiaomi, and more, but it’s a step in the right direction at long last.

Pixelsnap wireless charging is faster too, with Qi2.2 speeds up to 25W, compared to the 15W maximum on the smaller models.

Audio performance and the triple-camera system are identical to the Pixel 10 Pro, including the 100x Pro Res Zoom and 8K video capture.

Like the Pro, it is available in Moonstone, Jade, Porcelain and Obsidian. Pricing starts at $1199 / £1199 / AU$1999 for the 256GB model, rises to $1319 / £1319 / AU$2199 for 512GB, and tops out at $1549 / £1549 / AU$2549 for the 1TB version.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold

For those looking for a flexible big-screen experience, Google has also refreshed its foldable Pixel 10 Pro Fold handset, described as its most durable yet.

A new gearless hinge is twice as durable as last year’s model and, for the first time on a foldable, there’s an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.

The chassis uses aerospace-grade aluminium, while the re-engineered Super Actua Flex inner display adds ultra-thin glass and dual anti-impact layers to improve drop resilience.

Screen sizes and brightness are up, too. There’s a 6.4-inch outer display with slimmer bezels, and an expansive 8-inch inner display that Google calls the largest on any foldable. Both displays reach up to 3000 nits peak brightness for better visibility.

The camera system is upgraded to a triple array led by a 48-megapixel main sensor, joined by an ultrawide with Macro Focus and a 5x telephoto capable of up to 20x Super Res Zoom.

Fold-specific shooting tricks include Instant View to check your shot on the big inner screen as you capture it, Dual Screen Preview so that subjects can see themselves, Rear Camera Selfie for higher-quality self-portraits, and a tabletop mode for hands-free astrophotography and timelapses.

Battery life is quoted at over 30 hours, with faster wired charging that reaches 50% in 30 minutes. It’s also the first foldable with Pixelsnap Qi2 charging built-in.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold comes in Moonstone and Jade hues, is available to pre-order now, and hits shelves on 9 October.

AI and software

Beyond hardware (and absolutely unsurprisingly), there were also plenty of AI announcements at Google’s launch.

The Tensor G5 includes a Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) that is 60 per cent more powerful than before, while the CPUs are on average 34 per cent faster.

This enables Google’s Gemini Nano model to run directly on the device, powering features such as Magic Cue – a context-aware assistant that surfaces the right information at the right time – and real-time Voice Translate during calls.

Gemini Live now includes visual guidance via the camera, and new tools such as Pixel Journal and Writing Tools in Gboard broaden the focus beyond photography.

Whether or not you view all this AI gubbins as extra bloat or genuinely useful is down to personal preference, but there’s certainly no escaping it these days.

Lastly, each handset in the PIxel 10 series runs Android 16 with Google’s new Material 3 Expressive interface, which brings smoother animations, richer personalisation options and a refreshed notification shade.

Google Pixel 10 release date

Pre-orders for the Pixel 10 series are open now, with the phones set to hit shelves on 28 August through the Google Store and retail partners.

Stay tuned for our full review, to see if Google’s latest contestant makes enough of a splash to challenge the likes of the iPhone 16 Pro.

MORE:

Check out our picks for the best Android smartphones

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review

And our iPhone 16 review

Google has teased its latest generation of smartphones, including a full reveal of the Pixel 10's design. The latest iterations of the Android-powered handset are set to launch next month, with a launch event scheduled for 20th August.

The Pixel 10, which is designed in-house at Google and will be powered by the company's Tensor processor, appears to be practically identical to the outgoing Pixel 9 series in the early teaser images.

That being said, we're expecting to see numerous under-the-hood upgrades. Namely, a new version of the Tensor processor and likely a handful of new AI features; Google has been pushing its Gemini AI service on several of its products, including the Google TV Streamer.

Little else is known about what the Pixel 10 series will bring to the table, and we are yet to hear any rumblings about its AV potential.

However, if it's anything like the Pixel 9 series, which featured OLED panels with HDR10+ support and Qualcomm's aptX HD Bluetooth codec for high-quality wireless audio, then we could be in for a treat.

We'll have to wait until 20th August to find out more, with a full livestreamed unveiling expected. No timings have been confirmed as of yet, but we will provide full coverage of the event, so stay tuned.

MORE:

Check out our picks for the best smartphones

As well as our Google Pixel 8 review

And our Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review

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.

MORE:

What is Google TV? Everything you need to know

Check out our picks for the best TVs

As well as the best TV deals

Google has announced its latest mid-range phone, and it looks like a real rival to the iPhone 16e. Not only does the Pixel 9a cost £100 less than Apple's latest, it also has a brighter screen.

It's the latest model in the Pixel A series, which like the 'FE' variants of Samsung's Galaxy S handsets, is a stripped-back version of the brand's flagship phone.

As a mid-range model, it won't challenge the best smartphones around. But it does have a lot going for it.

For starters, its 6.3-inch OLED screen is 0.2 inches bigger than the iPhone 16e's. It also has a 120Hz refresh rate compared the 16e's 60Hz.

That should mean less blur during fast-moving films and games.

It's brighter, too. Google quotes a brightness of 1800 nits in HDR, and 2700 at peak brightness. That's more than double the 16e's equivalent figures of 800 nits and 1200 nits, respectively.

Though it's worth noting that the iPhone 16e has a slightly higher pixel density than the Pixel 9a.

Inside is the same Google-made Tensor G4 chip as the standard Pixel 9, which enables all sorts of artificial intelligence (AI) smarts including Gemini, Google's AI assistant.

And the phone has a new look, with a flat design and rounded edges.

The cameras have been upgraded, with 13-megapixel ultrawide and 48-megapixel snappers at your disposal. It gets the same Add Me feature as the Pixel 9, which lets you combine two group shots into one quickly and easily using AI.

With 30 hours per charge, and over 100 hours using the Extreme Battery Saver feature, the Pixel 9a promises the best battery life of any Pixel smartphone.

Though how long it will last will depend on what you're using it for.

It should be built to last – its IP68 rating means it's fully dust-proof and waterproof in up to 1m of water for up to 30 minutes.

It comes with over seven years of security and software updates too. So it could serve as your main phone well into the next decade.

The Pixel 9a comes in four colours (Iris, Peony, Porcelain and Obsidian) and starts at £499 for the 128GB model. That's £100 less than the iPhone 16e with the same storage. It goes on sale in April.

MORE:

What is an IP rating? And what do they mean?

What does 120Hz mean? Mobile screen refresh rates explained

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16: what's the difference?

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

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Google has just announced its new flagship wireless earbuds, the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2. Boasting a powerful new processing chip, twice as effective noise-cancelling, improved audio and new AI features, the new Pixel earbuds hope to make a mark in a highly competitive field. 

The new buds' flagship status brings them in direct competition with rival Apple's AirPods Pro 2 – five-star wireless earbuds that remain one of our top recommendations if you want an easy-to-use, comfortable and great-sounding experience, especially if you're an iOS user. 

We haven't tested the Pixel Buds Pro 2 yet, but we've dug into the new buds' specifications and Google's claims to see how they might fare against Apple's best. We'll update this page once we have fully reviewed the new Pixel model in due course.

Price

The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 cost £219 / $229 / AU$TBC, and you can pre-order them now. That's an increase over the previous generation's £189 / $199 / AU$299 launch price – the Pixel Buds Pro have since come down in price to roughly £149 / $139 / AU$179 these days. 

The new Buds Pro 2's pricing brings it closer to Apple's prevailing flagship, the AirPods Pro 2. Originally launching at £249 / $249 / AU$399, prices have since fallen to £229 / $190 and you can pick them up for even lower during seasonal sales.

Design

The Buds Pro 2's design has the usual smooth circular top with the 'G' of Google embossed on it. But instead of being attached to a bulky, long oval or "squoval" body that ends in an ear tip, they now have a smaller, circular body that should fit better in your ears. Google claims the new earbuds are 27 per cent smaller and 24 per cent lighter than the first-gen Buds Pro – even so far as to state that they are "the smallest premium earbuds on the market". They weigh 4.7g per earbud, which is certainly titchy. 

We found the fit and comfort of the previous model a bit tricky – they wouldn't stay securely put and felt cumbersome after a while. Let's hope the reduced size and weight of the new buds help, while Google says a "twist-to-adjust" stabilising feature should allow users to get a better fit whether you're going for a workout or after all-day comfort. 

The Buds Pro 2 are available in four appealing hues, both in name and design: Hazel (grey), Porcelain (beige), Wintergreen (green) and Peony (pink). They come in a similar pebble-shaped charging case as before, which emits a ringtone when employing "Find My Device". You can charge the Pixels wirelessly and via USB-C, while the buds' circular top houses the touch controls.

Google has stayed away from Apple's popular stem-and-buds design (even as rivals such as the new Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro have embraced it), but the AirPods Pro 2 remain a lightweight, easy to wear design with long-lasting comfort, measuring in at 5.4g per earbud. You can use the touch capacitative layer on the stems to change volume and pinch the stems to control music playback, switch noise-cancelling modes and take calls.

You only get the white finish with these second-gen AirPods, and the USB-C charging case (which you can charge wirelessly too) emits sounds to indicate charging and location if you employ Find My Device.

Features

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 feature Google's powerful new Tensor A1 chip, which brings with it faster speeds, longer battery life and twice the active noise-cancelling (ANC) performance than before. There are three mics in each earbud, and Google states that the buds adapt to environmental noise up to three million times per second. 

This Tensor A1 chip boasts "super wideband" Bluetooth, ultra-low latency audio processing, along with the latest hands-free Gemini AI features. The Buds Pro 2 feature the latest Bluetooth 5.4 version with LE Audio, multipoint Bluetooth and, like the AirPods Pro 2, support spatial audio with head tracking.

Battery life with ANC on has been extended to eight hours on a single charge, with a total of 30 hours with the charging case. With ANC turned off, that expands to 12 hours and 48 hours respectively. That just about beats the AirPods Pro 2's six hours on a single charge, but equals the total 30 hours with ANC turned on. Both models have an IP54 rating. 

The AirPods Pro 2 have been on the market for two years, so they're running on Bluetooth 5.3, but feature Apple's own H2 chip that brings with it advanced processing power, adaptive ANC and seamless connection and use with iOS devices.

The repositioned mics and vents in the AirPods Pro 2 allow for effective and more comfortable noise-cancelling. As with the Pixels, it features three modes: full noise-cancelling, Transparency mode and entirely off. AirPods Pro 2 feature adaptive ANC that works organically and adapts continually – we find this works well in every day use.

We've not tested the Pixel Buds Pro 2 yet, but we're keen to test if the noise-cancelling really is twice as effective as the previous model, and how it fares against Apple's best.

Both models feature conversation detection modes and in-ear sensors that detect when you've taken a bud off to pause music (and resume playing when earbuds are put back in).

Of course, the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 work best when connected to Android devices in the same way that Apple's AirPods Pro 2 work best when connected to an iOS device. It's worth noting that each earbuds' full set of features and performance potential are available only when connected to their parent company's own ecosystem. You can still connect AirPods to an Android device via basic Bluetooth (and connect Pixels to an iPhone), but bear in mind many features and user controls might be absent.

Performance

As mentioned, we haven't tested the Pixel Buds Pro 2 yet, so what we can do for now is dig into the sound quality specifications and claims, and hope they offer a better performance than the outgoing model's three-star performance. 

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 feature an 11mm dynamic driver in each bud, with a new high-frequency chamber – along with the Tensor A1 chip, they aim to deliver a more "authentic" performance with powerful bass and smooth treble. You also get a five-band EQ to tailor the sound to your personal preferences.

From the launch event, Google claims that the new chip will deliver "accurate, highly detailed and immersive music", even when you're in an area with lots of ambient noise. Google says it has been able to upgrade the audio thanks to 'multipath processing', which essentially gives your streamed music a dedicated highway lane on the processor that is entirely separate from the continuous processing required for the ANC.

We found the outgoing Pixel Buds Pro to have an upfront, energetic presentation. However, the overall detail levels were poor, and we were put off by a bloaty bass and unrefined top end. It all resulted in a flat performance, and didn't come close to competing with the Apple flagship's more dynamic, natural and subtle-sounding performance. 

The AirPods Pro 2 feature custom low-distortion, high-excursion drivers and a high dynamic range amplifier that combines with the powerful H2 chip's audio processing to deliver a richly detailed, rhythmically agile and engaging performance. We said in our original review: "There are more layers and textures to dynamic shifts, keeping you hooked on a song. They dig deeper, soar higher without any hint of brightness, and the midrange is beautifully conveyed." Even with ANC turned on, the AirPods deliver an open, airy performance – making them comfortable to listen to for hours.

There's still no word of any higher-quality codec support for the AirPods Pro 2, which stick with the standard AAC Bluetooth codec. We haven't heard of any hi-res codec support for the Pixel Buds Pro 2 either, but will confirm with Google when we get a full review sample.

The other area where we hope Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 can improve is voice call quality. Call quality was especially patchy when outside in windy conditions with the first-gen model, but Google has promised to improve this thanks to beamforming mics, wind-blocking mesh covers and AI-aided algorithm so voices are heard more clearly. The AirPods Pro 2's call quality is decent if a touch thin, with both our and the caller's voices coming through clearly and easily heard.

Initial verdict

Google's updates look promising: the streamlined design and performance upgrades are appealing, and we can only hope they live up to the hype.

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 might have an uphill battle if they want to shake off their predecessor's three-star rating and come close to the AirPods Pro 2's five-star success, but we won't know for sure until we get a review sample in our hands (and into our ears). We imagine most Apple users might not consider a Google-made pair of earbuds, just as Android users may not consider an Apple-specific model, but we find it's still interesting to compare what each brand is offering, especially at this premium price point. 

Stay tuned for our official Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review in the coming months, where we will put them through their paces and compare them against the AirPods Pro 2 in full.

Read our Google Pixel Buds Pro review

And our Apple AirPods Pro 2 review

Check out the best wireless earbuds for all budgets

Google's Pixel Buds Pro 2 are gunning for the Sony XM5s with their 'authentic sound' and upgraded noise cancelling

Just 10 short months since it launched the Pixel 8 series, Google has just taken the wraps off its successor, the Pixel 9 series.

While the Pixel 8 series consisted of two models, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, the new series consists of four models: the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

The names used might lead you to believe that the Pro XL is the main differentiator, but it's really the Pixel 9 Pro that's the new proposition as it offers Pro specs at a 'standard' size – if you wanted to go Pro last year, you had no choice but to also go big.

If it's the Pixel 9 Pro or Pixel 9 Pro XL you're interested in, here's everything you need to know.

Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL at a glance

• Pixel 9 Pro has a 6.3-inch display (slightly larger than the standard Pixel 9)
• Pixel 9 Pro XL has a 6.8-inch display (slightly larger than that of Pixel 8 Pro)
• Specs are otherwise the same
• Both models powered by the new Tensor G4 processor
• Prices start at £999 / $999 / AU$TBC for the Pixel 9 Pro
• Prices start at £1099 / $1099 / AU$1699 for the Pixel 9 Pro XL

Google Pixel 9 Pro release date

The Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL were announced during today's 'Made by Google' and pre-orders went live immediately. Deliveries will begin on 22nd August for the Pixel 9 Pro XL and in early September for the standard-sized model.

Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL prices

Pricing for the standard-sized Pixel 9 Pro starts at £999 / $999 / AU$TBC, whereas the larger Pixel 9 Pro XL is priced from £1099 / $1099 / AU$1699.

For reference, last year's Pixel 8 Pro, which was only available in a large size, launched at a price of £999 / $999 / AU$1699.

If you're wondering how the new Pixel 9 Pro models compare on price to Apple's iPhone 15 Pro handsets, it's very similarly. The standard iPhone 15 Pro is officially priced at £999 / $999 / AU$1849, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro Max is £1199 / $1199 / AU$2199.

Google Pixel 9 Pro design

The new Pixel 9 phones are aesthetically a bit of a departure from previous models. The relatively soft and rounded design of before has been replaced by a more angular and straight-edged form that to these eyes looks more sophisticated but could have an impact on ergonomics. It also means that the new Pixels look more similar to iPhones than previous models did, which might not please all Android fans.

However, rather than switching to an iPhone-like camera cluster, Google is sticking with its camera bar concept, albeit with a new design. Rather than the bar stretching the whole width of the phone's rear and integrating with its edges, the new camera bar is a protruding oval with crisp edges. It's a more modern look that's still distinctly Google – you won't mistake the Pixel 9 Pro for a phone from any other brand.

The Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL will be available in four colours, which Google calls Porcelain (grey), Obsidian (black), Rose Quartz (pink) and Hazel (green). These colours are very subtle compared to the brighter hues being used for the standard Pixel 9. That seems a shame to us (who says a 'pro' phone can't be colourful?), but it's a pretty standard approach across the smartphone industry.

Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL displays

Inevitably, it's the picture and sound quality that we're most interested in, and while little to nothing is currently known about the latter (Google made no mention of sound quality during the Made by Google event), we do of course know a fair bit about the displays.

The standard Pixel 9 Pro features a 6.3-inch display with a 2856 x 1280 resolution, which means it has a pixel density of 495 ppi (pixels per inch).

The Pixel 9 Pro XL, meanwhile, has a larger 6.8-inch display with a 2992 x 1344 resolution, giving it a very slightly lower pixel density of 486 ppi.

As you would expect at this level, both displays are OLEDs with a 120Hz refresh rate that can dynamically drop to as little as 1Hz to save battery when the image is largely static. They both also have a claimed peak full-screen brightness figure of 2000 nits with HDR content. That's up from 1600 nits on the Pixel 8.

These specs compare very favourably with those of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Each Pixel 9 Pro model has a larger display with a higher pixel density and claimed peak brightness figure than its iPhone equivalent. Of course, picture quality is about much more than just specs, particularly when it comes to watching movies and TV shows on the move, so it certainly wouldn't be sensible to assume that the screens of the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL are 'better' than those of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. As ever, we will thoroughly compare the phones ourselves before delivering any sort of verdict.

Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL processor and battery

The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL both feature the same Google Tensor G4 processor. As you would expect of any new processor in 2024, Google is talking up the Tensor G4's AI smarts, which should be most keenly felt through the Google Assistant and photography, but also in specific apps such as Pixel Screenshots, which can analyse screenshots and translate and save the info for access whenever you need it

Both phones have 16GB of RAM and are available with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of storage.

The larger Pixel Pro 9 XL also comes with a larger battery than the standard 9 Pro (5060mAh versus 4700mAh), but Google is claiming the same 24+ hours of constant use for both.

Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL cameras

The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL feature identical cameras. On the rear is a triple-threat camera system that includes a 50MP main sensor, 48MP ultra-wide sensor and a 48MP telephoto lens. In sensor terms, this camera system is very similar to that of the Pixel 8 Pro, but Google says that a lot of improvements have been made to the rest of the camera software and hardware, resulting in far better photography results, particularly in low light conditions.

A much bigger sensor upgrade has been made to the front camera, though, with the 10.5MP lens of the Pixel 8 Pro having been replaced by a 42MP lens. That should make for much better selfies and video calls.

Google Pixel 9 Pro first thoughts

On paper, the new Pixel 9 Pro models look like a useful upgrade on the Pixel 8 Pro in some areas. There's the availability of a smaller model, of course, which will be a big deal to those who want a 'pro' performance in a more manageable size, but there are also upgrades to the cameras and processing.

Display upgrades are thinner on the ground, at least where the numbers are concerned, but a good movie performance is about more than numbers, so we're hopeful that there are improvements that the spec sheet doesn't show. Last year's Pixel 8 Pro put in a solid movie performance but it was a bit lacking in subtlety and there's no reason that couldn't be improved for this year. We're looking for improvements to sound quality, too, as the Pixel 8 was a little sluggish in terms of musical timing.

Ultimately, we won't know how good the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL are until we've had them in for comprehensive, comparative testing, but we're hopeful that there are movie and music upgrades hiding beneath the surface so that we've got a more affordable 'pro' phone to recommend.

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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. 

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Read our Google Pixel 8 Pro review

And our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review

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Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series of smartphones has been through several generations now, with early fears of fragile hinges and questions surrounding the longevity of bendable displays slowly fading away. While the form factor hasn’t replaced the conventional smartphone quite yet, we can’t help but crack a smile when we pick one up and unfold it for the first time. Even though they’ve been around for over five years now, that sci-fi feeling is still present, and that’s no different when it comes to Samsung’s latest offering; the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

This bendable smartphone sits alongside the more conventional Galaxy S24 Ultra in Samsung’s range as a premium flagship device, and with five generations before it to perfect the folding formula, it seems like Samsung has found a comfortable place within its lineup for the Z Fold. Those who prefer a more conventional smartphone can opt for the S24 series which launched in January of this year, while those who want a flashy handset that’s capable of productivity tasks and big-screen entertainment will find the Fold more appealing. 

The real question (to us at least) is this: does the Galaxy Z Fold provide a quality portable AV experience? We certainly think so, as the Z Fold 6 might just be our new favourite phone for taking our movies on the go.

Price

A phone this complex and fully featured comes with an understandably high price tag. At £1799 / $1900 / AU$2749, this premium handset is considerably more expensive than the Award-winning iPhone 15 Pro Max (£1199 / $1199 / AU$2199) and its Galaxy S24 Ultra counterpart at £1249 / $1299 / AU$2199. Comparing it to last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 5, that phone launched at £1749 / $1800 / AU$2599, making the new version more expensive in the US and Australia, but the same price here in the UK. 

We haven’t reviewed any other foldable phones on the market as of yet, but we’ll include a few options here for context. The Google Pixel Fold launched at a similar £1749 / $1800 (around AU$3400), while the OnePlus Open undercuts both devices at £1599 / $1699 (around AU$3110).

As standard, the Z Fold 6 comes with 256GB of storage, although that can be upgraded to either 512GB or 1TB should you need more storage space (for an additional price). All three storage configurations come with 12GB of RAM, and there are five colours to choose from including navy, pink, crafted black, crafted white and silver shadow – which is the finish featured on our review sample. The two “crafted” finishes are exclusive to Samsung’s official web store. 

Build

The Z Fold 6 has undergone a design refresh this year, with a more angular aesthetic overall. The rounded corners of the Z Fold 5 have been swapped for sharper, more squared-off edges, the shiny aluminium rails are now matte and the camera module is more pronounced on the rear of the device. Overall, it looks much more like the S24 Ultra than the Fold 5. 

While the newer handset looks sharper, it’s unfortunately sharper in the hand too, making it feel slightly less comfortable than the outgoing Z Fold 5. This new model is also slimmer and lighter than last year. It’s 239g, which is 14g lighter than the Z Fold 5, and it's impressively thin at just 5.1mm when unfolded, or 12mm when folded. 

Thankfully, it does feel premium in the hand, thanks to the metal and matte glass construction; however, considering the price we would expect this to be the case. The hinge and rails are made of Samsung’s Aluminium Armour material that’s meant to be resistant to nicks and dents, while the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2-coated exterior display and rear panel should be more resistant to scratches and cracks; but we’ll take Samsung’s word for that as we don’t want to damage our review unit.

As this is a foldable phone, you’ll find two displays here; a 6.3-inch exterior cover screen with a thin 22.1:9 aspect ratio to use when the phone is shut, and a 7.6-inch interior display with a squarer 20.9:18 aspect ratio. While these measurements may sound strange – the inner screen is much larger than the cover display after all – it's the diagonal measurement we rely on for screen sizes, so the aspect ratios are a more telling sign of how these screens differ.

The folding aspect of this phone wouldn’t be possible without the dual rail hinge that allows the phone to stay open at any angle you wish. It feels robust and sturdy enough that we aren’t overly concerned with longevity, although if we were to use this phone for a couple of years we may have a different opinion. It’s worth mentioning that this phone isn’t completely flat when unfolded, with a very slight camber towards the central hinge; although we have to say that it’s by no means a deal breaker in our opinion. 

Mirroring the hinge on the open screen is the dreaded crease, an unavoidable facet of foldable phones that no company has perfected quite yet. Let’s not beat around the bush, you will notice the crease – however, it could be worse. While it is very visible if you’re viewing the device off angle and in direct sunlight, we really struggle to see it in a dark room facing the phone head-on. Swiping across it is still ever so slightly unnerving, but in optimal viewing circumstances, we have to say that Samsung has done an admirable job of making the crease fade away. 

What’s most impressive about this handset is the fact that it’s somehow still water-resistant despite being foldable. There are caps that seal the hinge, making this phone IP48 water and dust-resistant; that means you could hypothetically take the Z Fold 6 for a dip in a 1.5-metre pool for up to 30 minutes if you were so inclined. 

Features

As this phone is all about the screens, we’ll start with those. The cover display is a Dynamic AMOLED 2X with a variable refresh rate of 1Hz to 120Hz and a resolution of 968 x 2376. This display is meant to be used more for quick tasks, replying to messages and quick snaps from the rear camera, hence its unusual tall and thin shape that reminds us of a chocolate bar. Moving onto the main display, it’s another Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz and an 1856 x 2160 resolution that’s practically equivalent to Quad HD. This is where you’ll interact with the phone most, as it's the expansive canvas best suited for watching content or completing productivity tasks. Both displays have a claimed peak brightness of 2600 nits and support HDR in Samsung’s usual HDR10+ format.

Swiping through the Android 14 operating system (with Samsung’s One UI 6.1.1 skin on top) is a joy, with the responsive user interface feeling buttery smooth in operation thanks to the 120Hz variable refresh rate. There are a couple of Galaxy Z Fold-specific software features here, such as an ergonomic split keyboard that makes typing easier on the main display and a PC-style taskbar at the bottom of the screen for showing recent and frequently used apps.

That smooth operation is also thanks to the lightning-fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor – once again this is a “For Galaxy” variation with a slightly higher clock speed according to Samsung – and 12GB of RAM, which is more than many laptops on the market. It’s powered by a non-removable 4400mAh battery that supports up to 25W wired fast charging (reportedly 50 per cent in 30 minutes with a compatible charger), 15W wireless charging and even 4.5W reverse wireless charging that can be used to top up your earbuds in a pinch or even charge a friend’s phone if you don’t mind sacrificing some of your own battery life.

The Z Fold 6 is outfitted with five cameras in total, although at first glance we wouldn’t blame you for thinking that there are only four. The 4MP front-facing camera on the main display is actually hidden behind the display, which gives an uninterrupted seamless look to the screen as long as you don’t look too hard. The downside here is that the camera quality is really quite poor, and very unflattering if you’re hoping to take a selfie with it. Thankfully, the 10MP camera on the cover display is much sharper and cleaner, although using the rear cameras with the cover screen as a viewfinder will be the preferred option for Instagram addicts. 

The trio of rear cameras are practically identical to the Galaxy S24’s arrangement, with a 50MP main shooter backed by 10MP telephoto and 12MP ultrawide cameras. It doesn’t feature the 100x Space Zoom of the S24, but we do get a 30x digital zoom for far-away targets; although we’d like to temper expectations here and say that 30x zoomed shots are not particularly crisp. We found that this camera produced clean and mostly impressive shots that should suffice for most, however low light performance can be hit or miss in situations with difficult lighting. 

Now, this is a 2024 Samsung smartphone, so strap in for some AI features. They’re mostly lifted directly from the Galaxy S24 series, which is good news as most of those AI-driven features were more useful than gimmicky. The best of the bunch is Circle to Search with Google, which allows you to draw a ring around anything on screen to instantly search for it. It’s wonderfully convenient and it even works within the camera app, meaning you can point your phone at anything with the camera open and circle it to search exactly what it is, as well as offering suggestions for online shopping.

Other AI-powered features include real-time translation for text, phone and real-life conversations, automatic formatting for notes and voice recordings, and a plethora of useful photo editing tools – the best being the generative fill option that allows you to remove subjects from a photo and generate a cohesive background to fill their place. These AI features will come down to personal preference; you may find that they become vital everyday tools or you may never touch them.

Picture

With its conventional counterpart, the S24 Ultra, scoring four out of five in the picture department, we’ll lay our cards on the table and admit that we were apprehensive about the Z Fold 6. However, we are very pleased to report that this foldable marvel absolutely delivers on its promise of being a portable big-screen AV companion, as its picture performance is really quite impressive. 

We watch clips from The Batman, Top Gun: Maverick and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story across Prime Video, Netflix and Disney Plus with both the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Plus as reference devices, and find plenty to like on the Samsung smartphone.

What’s immediately most striking about the Z Fold’s picture is how crisp it is. There is a healthy amount of detail to be found in skin, clothing and environmental textures which all look very well defined on this expansive display. Furthermore, the sharp outlines result in a picture that oozes three-dimensional depth – which comparatively makes the iPhones look somewhat flat at times. The Fold doesn’t look overly etched though; instead, it veers closer to a balanced and natural presentation that we approve of. 

Contrast plays a key role here in creating a three-dimensional effect, and it's a highlight of the Fold’s picture performance. Highlights are bold and bright, while shadows are presented with depth and variation to great effect. In this regard, the Fold highlights that the iPhones could go a little further when it comes to shadow detail, although that’s not to say that the iPhone 15 Plus performs poorly. 

Samsung also seems to have learned a lesson where colours are concerned, as they’re not as overly vibrant as we’re used to seeing on its handsets. While the iPhone ever so slightly edges ahead in this area, we’re seriously impressed as to how well Samsung has reined in its usual over-enthusiastic approach for a more balanced presentation instead. Skin tones could look slightly more natural, but they’re not a million miles off in our opinion.

The Fold 6 really does tick all of the boxes we look for in picture performance on a smartphone; it is sharp, motion is handled well, black levels are excellent and most of all, we’d be more than happy to watch a full feature-length film on this device. 

Sound

Onto the sound performance, and once again we see a decent step up from Samsung here. We listen to a variety of artists on Tidal, including Taylor Swift, James Blake, Tool, Billie Eilish and The Weeknd via a USB-C adapter and wired headphones for our testing process and once again find ourselves impressed with the Samsung’s performance. 

The Fold delivers crisp and detailed audio, with vocal clarity being a standout component. In tracks with a heavy focus on vocals such as James Blake’s Limit To Your Love or Billie Eilish’s What Was I Made For? we find that the clarity and low-level dynamics pair up to capture the intricacies and emotive qualities of the singers’ vocal performances well.

Personally, we prefer the sound performance with Dolby Atmos switched on, as it makes the sound feel more spacious and open, even when we play content on Tidal that’s not marked as being a Dolby Atmos mix. However, those who value accuracy and authenticity will want to leave this setting turned off in order to achieve a more traditional listening experience.

That being said, we find that the iPhone 15 Plus manages to dig out a bit more sonic subtlety compared with the Galaxy Z Fold, and the Apple handset also has a touch more warmth and richness that we prefer overall. However, the Fold 6 is still a major improvement over other recent Samsung smartphones that we’ve tested, thanks to its more engaging characteristics, solid timing and enhanced clarity.

Moving on to the speakers, this device is at an advantage as it is physically larger than most other handsets, which means that there is more space between the stereo speakers. This results in an open and spacious sound that’s fairly clear and more than acceptable for a spot of movie or TV watching. The stereo speakers are also Dolby Atmos certified, and we appreciate that an attempt to recreate the object-tracking immersive sound at such a small scale.

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 can best be described as an OLED TV that will fit into your pocket. Its cinematic picture performance has truly won us over, and we’re convinced that this would be an ideal AV companion for a long-haul flight or road trip. It's pricier than the competition, and it may not be a suitable choice for those who prefer a traditional form factor, but if you’re feeling adventurous then the Z Fold 6 could be a perfect first step into the realm of foldable smartphones.

SCORES

• Picture 5
• Sound 5
• Features 5

MORE:

Read our review of the iPhone 15 Plus

Also consider the iPhone 15 Pro Max

Read our Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review

The best smartphones for music and movies

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

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

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

Stop us if you've heard this one before. Google's lineup of upcoming Pixel phones has been leaked, with hands-on images captured of the yet-to-be-announced Pixel 9 series. 

A mere few hours before its big Google I/O 2024 developer keynote event, Google's trio of Pixel 9 smartphones have been spotted with full in-hand images. You will notice we said trio there, as it appears Google is expanding its lineup to include an additional size for its Pro model. Usually, the standard model will be a smaller handset, while the Pro version is scaled up – however, this doesn't look to be the case any more.

These images come courtesy of Rozetked who has all three models in hand – and even powered on – next to one of the latest iPhone 15 models in some shots.

From left to right, it appears as though we have the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL (or potentially Plus). This means that users who want the flagship experience will now have an option as to whether they want a more pocket-friendly compact device, or go all-out with a larger and more immersive display. Speaking of the display, this Pixel looks to feature more dramatically rounded corners than its predecessor, with a thin bezel surrounding the screen. 

The camera bar – a staple feature for Google Pixel smartphones for three generations now, starting with the Pixel 6 Series – is no more. The wrap-around strip that melts into the frame on the Pixel 8 has been swapped for a "camera island" detached from the frame of the frame of the device. It's still roughly the same shape, spanning most of the width of the rear panel, and it houses two lenses on the standard model or three on the Pro devices. 

All devices in this leaked picture are sporting a plain black finish with a glossy-looking glass panel on the standard model, while the Pros seem to sport a matte finish. There is no hint towards any other colours yet, although Google usually throws in at least one vibrant colourway. 

With Google I/O imminent, we could well see a Pixel 9 tease, especially if the device design has been finalised. However, as always with these early reveals and leaks, it's always best to take them with a pinch of salt, so these devices could look different by the time we officially see them. 

MORE:

Read our full Google Pixel 8 Pro review

And our Google Pixel 7a review

As well as our picks for the best Android phones

Google and Apple are two absolute giants of the tech world. Apple’s range of AirPods has taken the world by storm in recent years, with the latest second-generation AirPods Pro earning a five-star review after a string of four-star ratings for previous models.

Google's previous effort, the Pixel Buds A-Series, earned five stars too, but its newer, higher-end Pixel Buds Pro only picked up three stars. So how do they compare to Apple's finest? Which should you buy? And should you wait for the Pixel Buds Pro 2?

Google Pixel Buds Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2: price

Google's buds are the more affordable of the two. They retail for £149 / $139 / AU$179, but can be picked up a little cheaper than that (probably due to the imminent launch of the Pixel Buds Pro 2).

The AirPods Pro 2 cost £229 / $249 / AU$399, though we have seen them discounted to £199 recently. That's still a fair bit pricier than Google's buds.

** Winner: Google Pixel Buds Pro **

Google Pixel Buds Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2: design

We're not sold on the Pixel Buds Pro design. While the touch controls work brilliantly, they don't fit securely in your ear. This was an issue for multiple members of our review team, so it wasn't down to one person having strangely-shaped ears. There is an ear tip fit test within the app, but that claimed we have a good fit, even when we didn't. So it's next to useless. They also become uncomfortable during long listens.

The earbuds come with three sizes of changeable ear tips and come in a range of different colours: bay, porcelain, charcoal, fog, lemongrass, or coral. The touch-sensitive buds can be used to control a number of essential functions – tap to play / pause media, or answer a call. Double or triple taps go to the next or previous track, while swipes forward or backward control volume.

The charging case that comes with the Pixel Buds Pro features a USB-C charging port and also benefits from Qi-certified wireless charging – handy if you already have the means to charge your devices wirelessly.

Moving on to the AirPods Pro 2, each earbud features a stem that benefits from a touch-capacitive layer. This allows users to swipe up or down on either bud to change volume – a welcome addition over the first-generation AirPods Pro, where this useful feature was missing.

You can also pinch the stems to pause / play media and take calls, while longer presses switch between different noise-cancelling modes. There’s also nice haptic feedback when you swipe and we find the controls to be responsive overall.

It’s also worth noting that Apple includes four sizes of changeable tips with this model of AirPod earbuds, rather than the standard one-size-fits-all approach seen with its standard AirPods models.

With the AirPods Pro 2 comes a MagSafe charging case which has a built-in speaker and lanyard loop. This case is also Qi-certified for wireless charging and the speaker is used to emit tones to indicate charging, low battery or to help find it when misplaced. Previous models of the case featured Apple’s proprietary Lightning port for wired charging; newer cases use a USB-C connection.

They might only come in white, but for the greater number of ear tip sizes and better fit overall, the AirPods Pro 2 take this round.

** Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2 **

Google Pixel Buds Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2: features

The Pixel Buds Pro's flagship feature is spatial audio with dynamic head tracking – exactly as found on the AirPods Pro 2. But with both pairs, this feature is exclusive to the respective companies' ecosystems – so Android-using AirPods owners miss out, as do iOS-using Pixel Buds Pro users.

The Pixel Buds Pro's active noise-cancelling uses ‘Silent Seal’ to maximise the ability to block outside noise. This is powered by a custom processor, custom algorithms and custom speakers. There are three settings: noise cancellation, transparency mode (which allows you to hear more of the world around you), and off.

We found the ANC decent, especially given the issues with fit. But it's not on a par with the AirPods Pro 2, which we found incredibly effective. The second-generation AirPods Pro give an immediately noticeable improvement over the original model in this regard, with Apple stating that the new H2 chip and the re-positioned acoustic vents and mics work together to block out twice as much noise.

Google’s Pixel Buds Pro feature multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, which should make switching between connected devices simple, and Google claims the earbuds offer up to seven hours of playback with ANC turned on and a total of 20 hours with charging-case top ups.

The AirPods Pro 2 don't have multipoint, but do have effectively the same feature exclusively for Apple devices like iPhones, iPads and Mac computers. They also have Adaptive Audio. This mode reacts to noise levels in your surroundings and adjusts the level of active noise cancelling dynamically. It’s a happy medium between full ANC and Transparancy Mode. We find this new feature to be reactive yet subtle, blocking out noise from passing traffic but the effect is absent at home or in the office. 

From the buds themselves, the AirPods Pro 2 give you an hour's less juice than the Pixel Buds Pro. But the AirPods have the longer battery life including the carry case – 30 hours, to the Pixel Buds' 20 (these numbers are all with ANC on).

Ultimately, which pair of earbuds has the better features comes down to which mobile platform you use. The Pixel Buds Pro are better for Android users, while the AirPods Pro 2 are the superior ones for iOS users.

** Winner: Draw **

Google Pixel Buds Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2: sound

The AirPods Pro 2 are a marked improvement over the previous model, in part thanks to the new H2 chip and new speaker components. As a result, these earbuds earned that all-important fifth star.

As always, Apple has a wonderful way with voices when it comes to its audio products. The overall sound retains Apple's neutrality but with added weight, detail, and dynamic subtlety. 

We find that the AirPods Pro 2 are “rhythmically agile and nimble, songs flow with an easy fluidity, and they communicate both high-energy tracks and ones that are more contemplative with ease.”

The Pixel Buds Pro can't compete. It's disappointing, because the Pixel Buds A-Series were a five-star pair, but the higher-end model can't replicate the feat. They're upfront and energetic, with a respectable level of detail for the price. But bass bloat is a real issue, while the treble is overly bright for our ears. They're less expansive than the AirPods Pro 2, with busy mixes sounding a little congested, while the midrange is a bit flat and thin.

That might sound harsh, but the world of wireless earbuds is cut-throat, and these just aren't good enough.

** Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2 **

Google Pixel Buds Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2: verdict

Apple’s second generation of AirPods Pro is the company’s current flagship earbud and sets a high bar for what a pair of wireless earbuds at this premium price point should do. They look good, sound even better and are bursting with features.

Google can't compete. The Pixel Buds Pro are less comfortable, block outside noise less effectively, and sound worse. Though Android users will find plenty of features to like. 

A disappointing show for Google. Let's hope the Pixel Buds Pro 2 fare much better...

MORE:

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro 2: battle of the sequels

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds vs Apple AirPods Pro 2: what are the differences?

Best wireless earbuds: budget and premium

Looking for a new smartphone? There are plenty of options out there right now, however, two new contenders are crying out for your attention. 

With the recent announcements of both Apple’s iPhone 15 and the Google Pixel 8 stepping into the ring, it’s time to take a look at how they shape up next to one another.

We have yet to get our hands on either the iPhone 15 or the Pixel 8 so these are early comparisons. As soon as we do, naturally, we will be sure to share our thoughts after some in-depth testing. For now, let’s go through the key specifications and announcements for both new phones. 

iPhone 15 vs Pixel 8: price

The 6.1-inch iPhone 15 is on sale starting at $799 / £799 for the version with 128GB of storage, moving up to $899 / £899 for the 256GB variant, and $1099 / £1099 for the 512GB model. 

The slightly larger 6.2-inch Pixel 8 has launched at £699 / $699 / AU$1199 for the 128GB version, while £759 $759 / AU$1299 will get you the 256GB version.

It’s hard to say which phone is better value for money until we have had a chance to do some hands-on research, of course. Until then the main takeaway is that the Pixel 8 will set you back slightly less while still providing plenty of features. 

iPhone 15 vs Pixel 8: design

The iPhone is available in five colours: Pink, Yellow, Green, Blue, or Black. The Pixel 8 offers just three shades to choose from: Hazel, Obsidian or Rose.

The two are similar in display size; the iPhone’s display comes in at 6.1 inches, while the Pixel 8 is a tiny bit bigger at 6.2.

Overall measurements for the iPhone (hwd) are 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.80 mm, and it weighs 171 grams. The Pixel 8 is slightly taller and thicker, measuring 150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9 mm, and a little heavier at 187g.

iPhone 15 vs Pixel 8: display

Apple’s new iPhone 15 features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display. It has a 2556 x 1179 pixel resolution at 460 PPI and also features Apple’s Dynamic Island at the top of the display, which provides useful notifications and information. The average brightness of the iPhone 15 is rated at 1000 nits, while the peak brightness is quoted as being 2000 nits. 

Display brightness affects HDR performance as the brighter the display will allow for brighter highlights and contrast to darker scenes. Higher brightness is extra-useful with phones in that it improves intelligibility in bright light, most obviously outdoor sunlight. This is something Apple has improved this year – in low light, it probably won't be any brighter than the old model, but take it outside and the sensors will kick in and the brightness will increase to compensate.

The Google Pixel 8 has a 6.2-inch Actua OLED display with a 2400 x 1080 resolution at 428 PPI. An average brightness rating is not stated for the Pixel 8, however, it is rated at up to 1400 nits (HDR) and 2000 nits peak brightness. 

It's also worth noting that the iPhone supports Dolby Vision, whereas the Pixel supports HDR10+.

iPhone 15 vs Pixel 8: features 

The iPhone 15 is made from aluminium with a colour-infused glass back. It features Apple’s A16 Bionic chip, with a 6-core CPU and a 5-core GPU. The chip also boasts a 16-core Neural Engine.

The Pixel 8 is also cased within aluminium housing and features a Google Tensor G3 processor alongside a Tital M2 security coprocessor. 

The processor featured in the Pixel 8 is only the third generation Tensor Chip whereas Apple has produced many more iterations of their chip, so it is likely that the iPhone will be more powerful. We tested out both the Pixel 7 and the iPhone 14 and we thought the iPhone was the smoother performer, although that could also be down to iOS.

On the wireless connectivity front, the iPhone 15 is compatible with Wi-Fi 6 while the Pixel 8 supports Wi-Fi 7. Both phones are compatible with Bluetooth 5.3.

iPhone 15 vs Pixel 8: camera

Pixel and iPhone are the two highest-regarded phones when it comes to camera performance. 

Google looks like it has more editing features with the magic eraser and audio magic eraser for video now, but the iPhone tends to take more natural and detailed shots. 

The iPhone 15 has a two-camera setup consisting of a 48MP main camera with an F1.6 aperture size and 26mm focal length, alongside a 12MP ultrawide lens with an F2.4 aperture size and a 13mm focal length. There’s a 12MP front-facing selfie cam as well. 

The iPhone 15 offers 0.5x, 1x, and 2x optical zooms and can also record in up to 4K 60FPS or 1080p 240FPS.

The Google Pixel 8 also features two rear cameras. There’s a 50MP Octa PD wide lens with an F1.68 aperture alongside a 12MP ultrawide lens with autofocus and an F2.2 aperture. The front camera is a 10.5MP dual PD selfie camera with an F.2.2 aperture. 

iPhone 15 vs Pixel 8: battery

Apple’s quote for the iPhone 15’s battery life is up to 20 hours of video playback, 16 hours if that’s streamed content. They also state 80 hours of audio playback. In terms of charging, you should be able to achieve a 50 per cent charge in just 30 minutes with a 20W or higher adapter (available separately).

With the Pixel there are fewer benchmarks provided. Google claims users will get beyond 24-hour battery life during regular use, with up to 72 hours with Extreme Battery Saver mode. As with the iPhone, the Pixel 8 can achieve a 50 per cent charge in 30 minutes using the Google 30W USB-C charger, also sold separately. 

iPhone 15 vs Pixel 8: sound

The iPhone 15 is capable of Apple Spatial Audio playback as well as Dolby Atmos support. 

We have been fairly impressed with the sound from previous Apple iPhones, so we are not expecting anything too dissimilar from the latest version. 

In comparison, Google’s Pixel 8 features spatial audio capabilities. On the hardware side of things, the phone features stereo speakers and three microphones. 

We also found the sound of the Pixel 7 and 7a models to be satisfactory for watching movies, though lacking somewhat when it came to music playback. It’s worth noting that the 7a was an improvement, so hopefully, the Pixel 8 will continue this trend. 

iPhone 15 vs Pixel 8: initial thoughts

Right now, both phones look very capable. However, with both having very different specifications and neither having passed through our test rooms yet, we can't sensibly state how they'll compare in the real world. Further testing will, of course, help us decide a clear winner.

We will get our hands on both phones as soon as possible, put them through their paces and report back with our comprehensive findings. 

MORE:

Google's Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro arrive with a stylish spec bump

iPhone 15 vs iPhone 15 Pro: what are the differences?

Google has officially unveiled its latest duo of Android phones, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. After heavy speculation and an onslaught of leaks prior to these phones being announced, Google has now officially lifted the lid on its latest smartphones - so let's dive right in.

As is the case with the last two generations of Pixel phones, there will be a standard model and a "Pro" model, with the latter featuring higher specs and a more premium build. On the subject of the last generation, specifically the Pixel 7, the Pixel 8 seems to carry much of the same DNA as last year's models.

Design-wise, there are a few changes here, but otherwise, the Google genetics are strong; consider the Pixel 8 another refinement of Google's new design formula started with the Pixel 6 series. The camera bar and glass back panel both make their return, with rounded corners taking over from the Pixel 7's more squared-off design. 

The camera bar melts seamlessly into the frame once again this year, and the back glass looks like it features a satin matte effect compared to last year's glossy finish. The Pixel 8 gets the sturdy Gorilla Glass Victus, while the Pixel 8 Pro gets Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for even better chances of surviving a drop. Both devices are also rated at IP68 for dust and water resistance, meaning if you accidentally take your phone for a quick dip you should be just fine. 

The Pixel 8 remains a smaller device at 6.2 inches, while the Pixel 8 Pro is 6.7 inches. Both models use OLED displays and here is where we get our first big upgrade for the Pixel 8. While it's still a 1080p Full HD+ display, it now features variable refresh rate technology from 60Hz to 120Hz. For reference, the previous model reached a maximum of 90Hz. It also features a peak brightness of 2000 nits, with HDR rated at 1400 nits. 

The Pixel 8 Pro sticks with last year's formula of 1440p Quad HD+ resolution and a variable refresh rate of 1Hz to 120Hz. It is, however, much brighter this year with a peak brightness of a whopping 2400 nits, as well as a rating of 1600 nits for HDR content. The Pixel 8 Pro will likely be the one to go for if you're a die-hard Android fan who likes watching movies on the go. 

Internally, the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are shaping up to be top-notch performers. Both use Google's new Tensor G3 chip, its latest in-house developed silicon, alongside 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage on the Pixel 8, or 12GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of storage on the Pixel 8 Pro. This extends up to 1TB if you're a customer in the United States.

The battery in both phones is getting a boost, with the Pixel 8 going up to 4575mAh and the 8 Pro reaching 5050mAh. Both units support fast charging and wireless charging, 27W wired and 18W Qi wireless on the 8, and 30W wired and 23W Qi wireless on the 8 Pro.

Obviously, camera performance gets a boost too, although not a huge one like in previous years. The 50MP main shooters remain on both units, as does the 12MP ultrawide camera on the Pixel 8 and the 48MP telephoto lens on the 8 Pro. New for the Pro model, however, is a 64MP ultrawide camera, up from 12MP on the Pixel 7 Pro. As you can see, the camera configuration also looks slightly different this year, as all lenses are now housed in one long pill-shaped lens cover.

Rounding things out with connectivity and software, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will support Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 for the latest in wireless connectivity. Google is also promising seven years of operating system and security updates, rivalling Apple when it comes to longevity.  

From a software perspective, both have been guaranteed to get seven years of software support and will be the first phones to launch with Android 14.

The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are available to preorder now, with each model available in three colours. The Pixel 8 comes in Hazel, Obsidian and Rose, while the Pixel 8 Pro can be found in Bay, Obsidian and Porcelain. 

Pixel 8 pricing will start at  £699 / $699 and go up to £999 /$999 for the Pixel 8 Pro. 

MORE:

Here's everything you need to know about the Pixel 8

Read our full Pixel 7 review

As well as our picks for the best Android phones

Today's the day for Android fans. We're just a few short hours off the 2023 Made by Google live stream in which we'll get officially introduced to the Google Pixel 8, 8 Pro and a few other goodies if the latest rumours are to be believed.

As is the case with practically every Google hardware launch, these devices have been extensively leaked; there's even a full unboxing video for both phones circulating as we speak (via 9 to 5 Google). Google has even provided confirmation and pictures of the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, a new set of Pixel Buds Pro and the Pixel Watch 2 on its online store, although no word on official specs as of yet.

If you're too impatient to wait to see what the Pixel 8 has to offer, you can find everything you need to know about the Pixel 8 on our dedicated page, including speculative release dates, features, specs and many other prominent leaks. 

Now onto the main event, with the live stream starting in just a few short hours, we'll break down when and where to watch it, as well as what to expect.

Made by Google 2023 keynote: when and where to watch

Google will be livestreaming its 2023 hardware event on its Made by Google YouTube channel. You can find the official live stream here as it's already live and ready to go, with a countdown timer to the main event. From experience, these events tend to last about an hour, but we could be in for a longer session due to the Pixel Watch 2 and updated Pixel Buds Pro.

You can also find the timings below as to when to watch the Pixel announcement event live:

• UK: 15:00 BST
• US: 10:00 EST / 07:00 PST
• AUS: 01:00 ACT

What to expect: Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel Buds and Pixel Watch 2

Getting the obvious ones out of the way first, today we will, of course, get our first official introduction to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro phones. These Android smartphones come straight from Google, meaning we can expect the latest software features and plenty of years' worth of updates to come. Google has also stepped up its hardware game as of late, with the Pixel 7 offering a sleek design, taking the camera bar and two-toned styling of its Pixel 6 predecessor and refining it.

Google seems to be embracing this new aesthetic with the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, which both continue this design motif, enhancing it with more rounded corners and flatter edges. A new pinkish gold hue seems to feature in most of the promotional photography (dare we say a rose gold resurgence), although we've also seen a striking blue model in many leaked images.

While official specs won't be unveiled until later today, we can also anticipate a new in-house developed processor from Google, likely the Tensor G3 as well as the yearly camera upgrades that always feature prominently on new Pixel models. 

Not only will we see updates to the Pixel phones, but it also looks like Google has some news regarding the Pixel Buds Pro. These Bluetooth earbuds have only been on the market for a year, so we're not sure if we're going to see a second-generation set or a smaller update. There certainly appears to be a new colourway at the very least, as a new beige hue appears to feature on the announcement but not yet on the Google Store page. It seems to compliment the new gold Pixel 8 quite nicely either way, and we'll be keenly listening out for any new audio features too.

Finally, we'll get a look at Google's second-generation wearable device, the Pixel Watch 2. While this isn't strictly in our wheelhouse, we're not totally opposed to smartwatches as they can be handy audio accessories at times.

Stay tuned for full coverage of the Made by Google event where we'll be keeping you up to date with all the latest announcements and product launches. 

MORE:

Read our full Google Pixel 7 review

And our Google Pixel 7a review

As well as all the latest Pixel 8 rumours, leaks and announcements

A smartwatch is the hi-fi accessory I never knew I needed

It’s too early to be sure, but we just might be entering into an Android tablet renaissance. After quietly dipping out of the tablet race back in 2014, and a few misfires with some Chrome-based slabs in the years between, Google has decided that 2023 is the year to make its grand return to the scene with the Pixel Tablet. Other manufacturers like OnePlus are attempting to bring Android tablets back too, and Samsung never really stopped; however, Google taking the plunge is big news.

Not to be confused with the Pixel Slate, which was technically the first “Pixel tablet” but we can ignore that for now, the Pixel Tablet can best be described as a really big Pixel phone as it uses the same design cues and software; although it does have one major trick up its sleeve to differentiate it from its cellular counterparts. Bundled in the box you’ll find a magnetic dock that not only charges the tablet but also houses a speaker which it will seamlessly switch to once you snap the tablet onto it – very interesting. 

So does that make the Pixel Tablet a smart home display (akin to an Echo Show) or a tablet? Technically it's a hybrid and not a shabby one at that, but a larger question still looms; can it stand toe-to-toe with the iPad?

Price

The Pixel Tablet will run you £599 / $499 / AU$899 for the 128GB model, or £699 / $599 / AU$999 for the 256GB model. Both storage options are paired with the Google Tensor 2 processor (the same one found in the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7a) and 8GB of RAM. It's running the latest Android 13 operating system out of the box and Google has done a good job adapting the software to work well on the larger screen.

It's available in Charcoal and Porcelain (AKA black and white) in all markets, although the US gets an exclusive Rose variant (a mix of pink and orange to our eyes). It's worth noting that only the Charcoal model gets black bezels around the screen, while the other two get white, which we find to be a bit distracting on our Porcelain review unit. 

As we’ve already mentioned, the magnetic charging/speaker dock is bundled in the box at no extra charge; in fact, it's the only way to charge the tablet that's included in the box, though you can use your own USB-C charger if you wish. You can, however, purchase extra docks for £139 / $129 / AU$189, a nice touch if you plan on having one dock in the kitchen and another in the living room or bedroom. 

If we subtract the price of the dock from the overall package, we find the value of the tablet itself to be £460 / $370 / AU$ 710. This puts the Pixel Tablet in an awkward spot; as a package, it’s competing with the iPad Air (5th Generation) at £569 / $599 / AU$929, but on its own it's closer to the budget-oriented iPad (2022) at £499 / $449 / AU$749. 

Build

The Pixel Tablet continues the design language that Google has carried across all of its products from the Pixel 7 to the Chromecast with Google TV. This includes muted, subtle colours and rounded, minimalist styling throughout. The chassis of the tablet is constructed entirely of aluminium and glass, making it feel sturdy yet lightweight. The tablet weighs 483g, which is a hair heavier than the iPad (2022), although it is thinner than the Apple tablet.

There are a few obstructions to the smooth and minimal exterior, which include a USB-C connector socket, fingerprint scanner/power button combo, volume rocker and a set of four magnetic pins for connecting to the docking station. There is also an 8MP camera lodged in the top left-hand corner of the backside and an 8MP front-facing camera in the centre of the top bezel on the front of the device.

Speaking of the front of the device, the Pixel Tablet features an 11-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, but we’ll get more in-depth with this soon. You will also find four speaker grilles around the edges of the tablet that house the quad loudspeakers.

On the subject of speakers, let's talk about the dock. It's fairly compact, comparable in size to a pencil case and it's wrapped in a fabric mesh. There’s a flat surface which is what the Pixel snaps onto with a satisfying clunk and chime, and the tablet feels reassuringly secure when suspended on the dock. The placement takes a little while to get used to as there are no real indicators as to where the tablet goes, but a mix of trial and error, and pretty strong magnets, will help you to adapt to this transforming tablet. When docked, the Pixel Tablet looks nearly identical to the Google Nest Hub and functions like one too.

Features

We’ll start with the dock as it is the biggest feature of the Pixel Tablet. As we’ve established, the tablet snaps onto the dock with magnets and a set of connection pins in order to start charging the device. These pins also allow the sound output of the tablet to seamlessly switch to the speaker dock, with no need to connect via Bluetooth. It’s important to mention that the speaker cannot be used as a Bluetooth speaker separately from the tablet, as it is only compatible with the Pixel Tablet. 

You can however cast to the tablet once it's docked via Google Chromecast, meaning you can transfer music or a movie from a separate device onto the docked Pixel Tablet. Better yet, if you decide to keep watching on the Pixel, and want to remove it from the dock, your content will continue to play on the tablet itself. The dock features a 44mm full-range driver and it charges that tablet at a slightly wimpy rate of 15W, so we’d recommend having a wired charger on hand if you need to juice up the tablet quickly. 

Now’s a good time to mention battery life, as the Pixel features a 7020mAh cell which is ever so slightly lower capacity than the iPad. In use, the Pixel Tablet has an acceptable battery life by tablet standards, although it seems to discharge quickly when on idle standby mode.

Moving away from the dock and onto the tab’s screen, the Pixel Tablet uses an IPS LCD panel with a resolution of 1600 x 2560. It has a pixel density of 276ppi, a typical brightness of 500 nits and a 60Hz refresh rate, as well as HDR10 support. Overall, it's an almost identical spec to the iPad (2022)’s display, with the only real difference being the Pixel’s slightly higher pixel density. 

The tablet features quad loudspeakers, with two positioned on the left and right edges of the tablet when held in landscape orientation. While we appreciate the number of speakers, the positioning is very unfortunate as it's almost impossible to comfortably hold the tablet in the horizontal position without blocking any of the speakers. The tablet doesn’t support Dolby Atmos either, which is somewhat frustrating as it seems like the perfect feature to add to a tablet whose main focus is sound.

Picture

While we’ve drawn comparisons between the Google Pixel Tablet and Apple iPad (2022)’s displays, it's very apparent that while the specs might be similar, performance is quite different. 

Firing up Drive on Netflix, we’re pleasantly surprised by many of the aspects of the Pixel’s picture. As The Driver cruises through the gloomy streets of LA, the street light illuminating his face reveals nicely refined shading and a balanced approach to skin tones that means they look lively without broaching ruddy or overcooked. 

As the film cuts to Bryan Cranston's Shannon standing in the foreground of an interior shot of his garage, we’re met with well-defined edges and a decent sense of contrast, which creates a convincing sense of depth to the image. It’s not perfect, and if we’re being honest the iPad does it better – with a much greater tangible sense of depth, especially when it comes to the convex windscreens of the cars – but we certainly applaud the Pixel’s solid attempt. 

In this brighter scene, we can appreciate how detailed the Pixel’s screen is. Smudges and dents on the bodywork of the cars can be picked out, adding an extra layer of realism to the image, although we do wish some more detail was retained in the brick wall in the background. This tracking shot as the pair walk through the garage and behind various pillars and car lifts is also a good display of the Pixel Tablet's handling of motion; which doesn’t appear to stutter or judder despite the constant obstructions while the camera continues to track the motion. 

Switching to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, we see the Pixel's approach to colours, which undoubtedly errs on the side of restrained. The flora of the planet Lah'mu doesn’t exactly pop with vibrancy, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing as we’ve seen other mobile screens that can overdo it and verge on almost neon green. That being said when compared to the iPad, we have to side with the Apple tablet as it's bolder and richer, while still remaining balanced, resulting in a more engaging and cinematic picture.

Finishing off with the following scene of protagonist Jynn Erso escaping from the Empire into a dark cave, unfortunately the Pixel Tablet seems to fall apart under the pressure of trying to retain dark detail. A blocky light grey-ish texture seems to plague the darkest parts of the picture, and there’s a general lack of detail to be picked out in the darker sections of the scene too. 

While the picture on the Pixel Tablet handles everything well, it doesn’t particularly excel in any way, especially when compared to its iPad competitor. It's detailed, handles motion well and has good contrast, but the picture on the Apple tablet is richer, deeper and ultimately more cinematic. 

Sound

Sound is the name of the game with the Pixel Tablet, and thankfully it's pretty good when it comes to speaker performance. The quad loudspeakers are impressive by tablet standards, as they sound more full-bodied, clear and substantial than the iPad. It's more than adequate for movie watching, with the dialogue of Drive not only being perfectly legible but also adding a hint of subtlety and emotional inflection into the voices. During the car chase, the sound effect of the car’s engine has a convincing rumbling texture to the sound that isn’t always apparent with other phone and tablet speakers.

Switching over to some music, Don’t Take The Money by Bleachers on Tidal is satisfyingly punchy on the built-in speakers, with a hint of bass in lead singer Jack Antonoff’s voice, and there’s even a semblance of dynamics here too. The sound from the Pixel’s speakers feels clearer and more solid when compared to the iPad, making it the better sounding of the two devices in this regard.

Using the same track played through the Pixel Tablet’s speaker dock, there’s certainly a greater presence to the sound and undoubtedly more bass, but it's not a totally transformative experience. It sounds better at louder volumes than the built-in speakers, and there is a bit more detail and spaciousness to the sound, but truthfully we’d compare the performance to that of a Bluetooth speaker that costs a lot less than the asking price of the dock. Personally, we would have liked to see the built-in speakers of the tablet and the dock work together, as we feel like it would result in a “best of both worlds” scenario.

Finally switching over to headphones, it's no surprise here that the Pixel can’t outdo the iPad. That being said, the way the Pixel plays the song is perfectly fine, with no glaring performance issues, the timing is fairly stable and there is a sense of scale and dynamics – it just lacks enthusiasm and rhythmic drive. Comparatively, the iPad offers an almost unmatched sense of warmth, tonal balance, texture and energy to its sound that makes listening to music through headphones truly engaging and enjoyable.

Verdict

Truthfully, the Pixel Tablet is probably more suited as a smart display for your kitchen that you can detach and watch the occasional movie on the go with; but as a smart display/tablet hybrid, it works quite well. It's quickly becoming a desktop companion that we use to play background music and stick the occasional video on, and it's even a solid tablet for productivity tasks.

So has Google succeeded in reviving its Android tablet ambitions? With an overall pleasant image and generally impressive sound (not counting headphones that is), we’d say yes… mostly.

SCORES

• Picture 4
• Sound 4
• Features 4

MORE:

Read our review of the iPad (2022)

Also consider the iPad Air (5th generation)

Read our Amazon Fire 10 HD review

Best tablets: top tablets for movies and music

Clear tech enthusiast and junior smartphone brand Nothing has teased its second phone, launching later this year, aptly named the Nothing Phone (2). It has locked in a July 11th date for the full reveal, where the second generation Android phone will be fully unveiled. As of now we only have an ominous graphic to go off, that teases the LED Glyph system, and what looks to be an octopus tentacle. 

Founded by Carl Pei, who you may also know as co-founder of OnePlus, Nothing sprung up in late 2020 offering the radically designed Ear (1) wireless earbuds. While its premiere outing didn't blow us away, it still managed to capture an audience that it has grown with its newer products.

Nothing has since released its first smartphone in 2022, alongside two more sets of wireless earphones, the Ear (Stick) and Ear (2). The Nothing Phone (1) took us by surprise with its big, fast and surprisingly cinematic 120Hz OLED display which performed well above what its fairly affordable price suggested. We can only hope that Nothing delivers on a sequel device with an even better AV experience this time around, especially as the world of budget smartphones is getting increasingly competitive with the Google Pixel 7a and Sony Xperia 10 V.

You can catch the full reveal of the Nothing Phone (2) on July 11th at 16:00 BST on Nothing's event website.

MORE:

Check out our full OnePlus 11 5G review

And our Google Pixel 7A review

As well as our picks for the best Android phones

If you’re not familiar with Google’s “a” series of Pixel phones and are wondering why we’re reviewing another Pixel 7 that looks almost identical to the model that was released in October of last year, then we’ll get you up to speed. Each year, Google releases a duo of Pixel smartphones in the Autumn time, and roughly seven months later it follows up with a cheaper model with a similar design and spec sheet, with a few corners cut in order to bring the price down. 

Hence, we have the Pixel 7a – a budget Android phone that looks almost identical to the flagship Pixel 7, both in looks and on paper. So should you spend the extra money and get the flagship model? Or will this wallet-friendly Android smartphone suffice, especially when it comes to picture and sound?

Price

The Pixel 7a retails for £449 / $499 / AU$749 and comes in only one configuration. For the money you get 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, and it's powered by the same Google-designed Tensor G2 chip that powers the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.

Speaking of the Pixel 7, the 7a is a fair bit cheaper than the 7’s original retail price of £599 / $599 / AU$999. However, as it's been over half a year since the 7’s release, we’ve seen the price fall significantly – in fact, the Pixel 7 can be found for around £470 / $500 currently, meaning that you can snag the flagship phone for almost the same price. 

It's also worth mentioning that the Pixel 7a is more expensive than last year’s Pixel 6a (at least in the UK and US), which launched at £399 / $449 / AU$749. However, the Pixel 7a gets an additional 2GB of RAM as well as plenty of upgraded features which we’ll get onto soon.

The Pixel is up against some tough competition, with the Award-winning Sony Xperia 10 IV now retailing for £380, although it is a UK and European-exclusive device while the PIxel 7a is globally available. 

Build

While the Pixel 7a features an almost identical design to the Pixel 7, it is ever so slightly smaller and lighter. The 7a features a 6.1-inch display, down from the 7’s 6.3-inch, and it has marginally thicker bezels. It’s also about four grams lighter at 194g, which is likely due to the fact that it uses a plastic back cover instead of glass. However, the aluminium frame remains, giving this budget Pixel a sturdy and premium feel in the hand, and the glossy back panel does a decent job of imitating glass. 

The phone comes in three finishes: Charcoal, Snow, Sea and Coral – the last option being a Google Store exclusive. We have the Pixel 7 and 7a in their Obsidian and Charcoal hues respectively, and they’re strikingly similar, with the only giveaway being the 7a’s less prominent camera bar.

As for the rest of the phone, you’ll find a power/lock button and volume rocker on the right edge of the device and a USB-C port on the bottom for charging – just remember to provide your own USB charger plug as (like practically every smartphone these days) there isn’t one in the box.

Features

As we mentioned before, the Pixel 7a gets a host of upgrades over its budget predecessor. Foremost it gets an upgrade in the screen department, with a 6.1-inch OLED display, running at 1080p/90Hz. The display has a pixel density of 429ppi and supports HDR; Google doesn’t specify which format but we suspect it to be just HDR10. If we were to pick one hole in the screen (that isn’t the centred hole-punch camera) it would be its brightness. Google hasn’t supplied an exact figure, but even cranked up to maximum brightness, the screen seems slightly dim which can impact visibility in bright environments. 

Comparatively, the Pixel 6a had a 1080p/60Hz OLED screen, so the smoother motion for scrolling and gaming is an appreciated upgrade – although you’ll need to switch “Smooth Display” mode on in the settings menu to take advantage of it. 

The 7a also features a stereo speaker set-up with the same bottom-firing and earpiece combo arrangement as the 6a and 7. As expected, there’s no headphone jack here, but there is Bluetooth 5.3 with Bluetooth LE for connecting wireless headphones. The Pixel is slightly nerfed in the audio department as it doesn’t support Dolby Atmos (neither does the Pixel 7) or Google’s Spatial Audio sound format that you can find on the 7 and 7 Pro.

One area in which the Pixel excels is with its camera, as it makes a ludicrous jump from 12MP on the 6a to 64MP on the 7a. It even outclasses the Pixel 7’s 50MP main camera on paper, and it's backed up by a 13MP ultrawide sensor that also appears to be newer than the 12MP one found on the 7 and 6a. In practice, the Pixel 7a keeps up Google's excellent reputation when it comes to smartphone photography, meaning social media snappers and budding photographers will be well taken care of by the 7a.

The Pixel 7a also gets a selection of features that have trickled down from the flagship models, including wireless charging (albeit at 7.5W so not particularly quick) and face unlock. The under-display fingerprint scanner also returns from previous models, and it's pleasantly responsive and accurate. Rounding off the feature set is the 7a’s 4385mAh battery which, although slightly lower capacity than the 6a, still comfortably provides over a day’s worth of use. In fact when fully juiced up the phone claims it can last for three days, which is impressive – although we found that to be optimistic and is likely based on fairly light use.

Picture

Despite being the cheaper device, the Pixel 7a outperforms the Pixel 7 in practically all aspects of its picture. Firing up Thor: Love And Thunder on Disney Plus, we’re presented with a punchy image that suits the film’s bold colour palette, yet skin tones remain natural and overall colours refrain from looking overcooked. The image is also nicely detailed, with everything from subtle skin textures to broader environmental aspects looking crisp.

What really strikes us with the Pixel 7a is that the picture looks much more three-dimensional when compared to its more expensive counterpart. Edges of subjects are sharp and contrast is handled well, which results in an image with impressive depth and three dimensionality. When the action kicks into high gear, we also see that the 7a is adept with motion, as fast-moving subjects don’t appear to stutter. In some instances we see areas where the regular Pixel 7 struggles with motion, while the 7a takes it in its stride. 

Moving onto Drive on Netflix, the Pixel 7a once again impresses with its detailed and perceptibly deep image, which we can safely say by now punches above its weight when it comes to the price-to-performance ratio. Lighting also looks good here, as The Driver’s silver jacket shimmers under the street lights as he prowls down the dark Los Angeles streets. However, this does bring us to the Pixel’s main picture caveat.

Despite using an OLED display, the 7a seems fairly weak when it comes to darker scenes. Shadows are a greyish blocky affair, and not nearly as convincing as the regular Pixel 7, which seems a lot deeper in comparison and holds more detail in the darkest parts of the image. This blockiness obstructs details and makes the darker sections of the picture look distracting, something we didn’t come across with the Pixel 7a’s Sony rival.

Speaking of which, undoubtedly the biggest thorn in the Pixel 7a’s side is the existence of the Sony Xperia 10 IV, which is more cinematic than the 7a in many ways. Its 21:9 OLED display was made for watching films, and it especially outclasses the Pixel when it comes to deeper blacks and enhanced dark details. The Sony is also cheaper than the Pixel, meaning that if getting the best picture at the lowest price is your top priority, then you should probably pick the Xperia 10 IV.

Sound

The Pixel 7a’s stereo speakers aren’t exactly ideal for listening to music with, however they certainly are good enough for some light movie watching. Voices are clear and there is a hint of bass when we watch Thor: Love And Thunder’s first big fight sequence, although we find that the speakers appear to be a fair bit quieter than the Pixel 7’s. That isn’t necessarily the end of the world, however, as the Pixel 7 can sound harsh at the highest volumes, and these speakers are leagues ahead of the Sony Xperia 10 IV’s mono loudspeaker.

Plugging in some headphones via a USB-C to headphone jack adapter provides a much better experience, with a more full-bodied and detailed sound. The 7a sounds much more dynamic than the 7, with the piano intro to James Blake and SZA’s Coming Back conveyed with a decent amount of punch. Moving onto Phoebe Bridger’s Kyoto, we find the Pixel handling the track’s quicker tempo and more upbeat nature well, with snappy timing and a hint of vocal sparkle. While it's mostly positive, the Pixel can’t quite shake off the slightly computer-ish nature of the regular 7, as we feel the sound still lacks a little warmth and it could sound more emotive. However, the Pixel 7a is certainly a step in the right direction when it comes to sound.

Verdict

The Pixel 7a is, by almost all accounts, better than the Pixel 7 when it comes to picture and sound. It carries many of the features over from the 7, all while costing slightly less. Admittedly the main draw of saving money compared to the flagship model is slightly less alluring now that the regular 7 has seen some fairly hefty discounts in the US and UK, but it's hard to argue with the Pixel 7’s excellent value.

If it were to exist in a world without the Sony Xperia 10 IV (and soon the Xperia 10 V) then we would recommend it without a second thought, but unfortunately for Google, the Sony is both cheaper and more cinematic. That’s not to say the Pixel 7a isn’t worth your time, as it is a compelling choice for those who want an excellent jack-of-all-trades Android smartphone that’s easy on the wallet. 

SCORES

• Picture 4
• Features 5
• Sound 4

MORE:

Read our review of the Sony Xperia 1 IV

Also consider the Nothing Phone (1)

Read our Google Pixel 7 review

Best smartphones for music and movies

It's official, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are Google's latest duo of Android smartphones and while it's a fairly light year when it comes to upgrades, there are a few new features that have caught our attention. Overall, we're looking at a spec bump, a few new design touches, an upgraded camera and, unfortunately, an inflated price tag.

Here's everything you need to know about the new handsets.

Pixel 8 at a glance

• Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro 
• Pixel 8 Pro remains at 6.7-inches
• Pixel 8 will have a slightly smaller 6.2-inch display
• Pixel 8 starts at £699 / $699 / AU$1199
• Pixel 8 Pro starts at £999 / $999 / AU$1699
• Powered by third-generation Google Tensor chip, Tensor G3
• Flat display with a slightly updated design
• New temperature sensor

Pixel 8 release date 

The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro have officially launched today, with pre-orders already open. According to the Google Store, it will begin shipping next week, with a 12th October date for delivery.

Pixel 8 price

Initially, rumours suggested that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro would avoid price hikes this year, but alas this is not the case. The Pixel 8 now starts at £699 / $699 / AU$1199, up from £599 / $599 / AU$999 for the Pixel 7, while the Pixel 8 Pro starts at £999 / $999 / AU$1699, an increase over the 7 Pro's £849 / $899 / AU$1299 starting price.  

This is somewhat to be expected considering the current economic climate and yearly rising costs of phone prices, but after Apple lowered the price of the iPhone 15 series this year, we were holding out hope that we'd get away with another year of level Pixel pricing. 

Pixel 8 design 

Unsurprisingly, the Google 8 looks a lot like its predecessor, with only a few notable changes to differentiate it. Namely, Google has switched to a satin finish on the fear glass this year, whereas the Pixel 7 had a glossy glass back panel. 

The camera bar comes back in full force, melting into the matte finish chassis on the 8 and glossy frame on the 8 Pro. This year all the camera lenses are housed under one pill-shaped lens cover accompanied by a flash on the Pixel 8, as well as a temperature sensor on the 8 Pro.

Overall, the sharper edges of the Pixel 7 Series have been smoothed out, with more rounded corners featuring this year. This isn't the case on the 8 Pro, however, which now has a flat display, ditching the subtle curved edges of the previous generation.

The Pixel 8 comes in three shades, two of which are a rather dull black and grey (or Obsidian and Hazel if we're being specific) as well as Rose, a rather pleasing shade of peachy pink with a hint of gold.

The Pixel 8 Pro, on the other hand, comes in Obsidian, Porcelain (an eggshell white and gold combination), as well as the striking Bay finish which happens to be a stunning shade of a blue (and our personal favourite).

Pixel 8 specs

Google began implementing its in-house developed Tensor chips with the Pixel 6, and debuted the Tensor G2 in the Pixel 7, so naturally we have the Tensor G3 powering the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. Google has had a pretty successful run with the Tensor processors so far, after it switched from using Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors as seen in the previous Pixel models. The Pixel 7 is a strong performer so we look forward to seeing what the Tensor G3 is capable of.

We also got our first look at Android 14 at Google's I/O event back in May. The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro's operating system features a few new quality-of-life improvements such as decluttering notifications and a password manager, additional lock screen customisation, some new health tracking features and security updates. The most interesting feature as far as we are concerned is the ability to play lossless audio over USB headphones without missing calls and alarms. You could do this before Android 14, however, the system would give audio control to the headphones which would affect notifications and alarms.

As for screen specs, we've established that the Pixel 8 gets a slightly smaller 6.2-inch display than the Pixel 7, whereas the Pixel 8 Pro has a 6.7-inch screen, the same size as the Pixel 7 Pro. Both the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro get a boost in the brightness department, with the 8 hitting a peak of 2000 nits, while the 8 Pro gets a 2400 nit peak brightness. Another win for the Pixel 8 is a boost to 120Hz refresh rate, up from 90Hz on the 7.

Camera hardware is also upgraded on the Pixel 8 series with staggered HDR technology; a process that involves taking multiple exposures simultaneously with the same pixels. This should result in the same effect that traditional HDR offers without the need for increased capture time. Google has also introduced a new camera feature that allows you to combine multiple of the same or similar shots in order to swap faces out in order to get the desired picture. 

The Pixel's Magic Eraser feature is getting a nifty audio upgrade. You can use the new Audio Magic Eraser feature to cut out background noise, like the rumble of a skateboard's wheels. Which could improve your videos no end.

The main camera on the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro is expected to stay at 50MP, while the 8 Pro gets a new 64MP ultrawide. All other cameras such as the 12MP ultrawide on the Pixel 7 and 48MP telephoto on the Pixel 7 Pro return this year.

Finally, the Pixel 8 Pro will come in a new 512GB model as well as the existing 128/256GB options, while the Pixel 8 sticks to 128GB and 256GB.

Pixel 8 early thoughts

While there don't appear to be any game-changing, next-generation upgrades here, all the phones' key aspects should get a healthy update. A more powerful processor, upgraded camera and refined design all sound like steps in the right direction to us, and the flat display on the Pixel 8 Pro is something we can get behind. 

We're less sold on the temperature sensor. If it works as advertised, great. But how many times have you thought 'I wish I had a thermometer on me'? It sounds a bit gimmicky to us.

Only time will tell if these Pixel phones live up to their predecessors – but stay posted for further leaks and rumours, and a Pixel 8 review ASAP.

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More Pixel news as Google unveils the Pixel 7a

Check out our full Google Pixel 7 review

And our picks for the best Android smartphones

Sony's Xperia 10 IV is a budget hero and one of our favourite phones of the year - taking home a What Hi-Fi? Award just over a month ago thanks to its brilliant price-to-performance ratio. Usually costing just £380, the 10 IV is already a steal, undercutting most Apple iPhones, Samsung Galaxies and Google Pixels, without sacrificing a truly dependable and enjoyable AV experience. So what could possibly make this phone more appealing? How about getting it for £80 cheaper with this Black Friday deal?

This exceptional Xperia features almost everything we love about the other Sony phones on the market right now. With a sharp and punchy 21:9 aspect ratio display front and centre, this phone practically begs you to watch movies on it. Even more impressive is that its an OLED display, with many phones at this price point resorting to LCD screens to cut down on costs. 

The only place where the Sony takes a bit of a wobble is in the audio department, with a fairly weak loudspeaker catching our attention. It suffices for some brief movie watching, however, its thin and compressed sound should probably be avoided. Thankfully, its headphone performance tells a different story, with a much more full-bodied and clearer sound that immediately impressed us. It sounds good by most smartphone standards, and even better at this price. 

Overall the Sony is a plucky and charming smartphone that is an absolute bargain on a normal day, and an unmissable deal on Black Friday. It's a five-star phone without the five-star price tag, and at just under £300, you'd be hard-pressed to find a phone this good at this price. 

More:

The best Android smartphones

Read the full Sony Xperia 10 IV review

The best Black Friday deals

We're often questioned as to why we review smartphones when our wheelhouse is primarily hi-fi and home cinema products. Simply put, a smartphone is the primary device for listening to music for the majority of people out there, and now that nearly every phone is equipped with an OLED screen, it's probably the highest quality display that many people own.

Taking music and movies on the go is more popular than ever before, and for those who value cinematic authenticity and an audiophile experience for their long-haul flights or daily commute. Therefore, we think scoring the latest handsets to see how well they fulfil these duties is pretty important.

We've reviewed the latest handsets from Apple and Samsung, bestowing each company with an Award, respectively. We also have Sony's latest flagship smartphone, the Xperia 1 VII, in our testing room, so keep your eyes peeled for that review coming soon.

There are a couple of omissions on this list that we're hoping to test in the near future. These include the iPhone 17 Pro and Sony Xperia 10 VII; one being a pricey flagship phone, the other a contender for the "best cheap" smartphone title on this very list.

Speaking of the list, each handset has been thoroughly reviewed by our expert team, testing picture and audio quality primarily, as well as crucial other features such as day-to-day performance and camera quality. You can find out more about how we test smartphones here.

Now, without further ado, here are the best smartphones for music and movies...

The quick list

The best smartphone overall

Apple's latest "standard" iPhone happens to be one of its best smartphones in years. It sports the best display of a non-Pro iPhone yet, with a larger and brighter 6.3-inch OLED screen that can reach a peak brightness of 3000 nits. Better yet, it finally has Apple's ProMotion display tech, which can adjust the refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz depending on the content you're viewing.

It supports Dolby Vision too, and when we play movies on this display, we're treated to a rich, vibrant and detailed image with improved contrast compared to its predecessor.

That's backed up by excellent audio, which includes support for Dolby Atmos via headphones and the built-in stereo speaker system. It delivers a crisp, natural and engaging sound, making it an accomplished portable music player too.

This superb AV performance is wrapped in a stylish and tough chassis with more scratch-resistant glass. You'll also find a superb camera system on board, Apple's latest A19 chipset and iOS 26 operating system, and an impressively stoic battery, which can keep the phone powered through many hours of movie watching.

Read the full Apple iPhone 17 review

The best premium smartphone

As well as covering all the expected chops of a smartphone these days, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra stood out to us for its excellent AV features. Its "solid and three-dimensional" image quality is partly down to the phone's new picture-enhancing and ProScaler feature.

During testing, we said: "The S25 Ultra wastes no time in showing us how capable its display is, with the John Wick scene in which Caine is recruited by the villainous Marquis Vincent Bisset de Gramont having an abundance of sharp details."

The handset's sound quality does not quite match up to that of its picture but we still deem it to be a solid effort from Samsung overall, dubbing it "clear and spacious". It supports Dolby Atmos via its stereo speakers (comprising the earpiece and downward-firing loudspeaker) and headphones (wired and wireless).

In terms of other features, the S25 Ultra takes much of what we liked about its predecessor, the S24 Ultra. The latter's Galaxy AI system is carried on to the S25 Ultra, including the incredibly useful Circle to Search with Google, Generative Edit photo editing suite, Live Translation tools and Chat Assist feature. Samsung upgraded this feature for the S25 Ultra, however, by including a new on-device large language model (LLM), which will reportedly make the generative fill tools in the photo editor more reliable and accurate.

Bundle that with lightning-fast performance, a quality camera system and a new titanium frame, and we think Samsung is onto a winner. If the next generation of Galaxy smartphones can nail the sound subtleties, then Sony and Apple could be in trouble.

Read the full Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review

The best mid-range smartphone

Apple's smartphones have a tendency to lean towards the pricier side, so when rumours began of a reinvented take on its "SE" series, we were immediately intrigued.

The iPhone 16e wasn't what we expected, but we were impressed nonetheless. It delivers most of what we loved about the iPhone 16 in a cheaper package with a few stripped-back features. This includes dropping the Dynamic Island, MagSafe and secondary ultrawide lens.

However, the major AV features remained, with an OLED display which supports Dolby Vision and HDR10, as well as Dolby Atmos audio. Furthermore, it sports the Apple A18 chip found in the more premium iPhone 16, and it even works with Apple Intelligence.

Most importantly, it delivers most of what the iPhone 16 has to offer at a lower price. Movies and TV shows look balanced, crisp and punchy on the OLED display, and headphone audio is frankly superb thanks to its rich and detailed all-around performance.

If you're not open to spending flagship money, but only an iPhone will do, then the 16e is a great choice.

Read the full Apple iPhone 16e review

The best cheap smartphone

It's easy to think that you would get the best phone by paying top dollar, but Sony's Xperia 10 VI proves that this is doesn't have to be the case. While its AV features don't match up to more expensive models from the likes of Apple or Sony, it still offers a brilliant on-the-go entertainment experience.

Sony's Xperia series utilises the strategy of cutting down on premium build materials and camera performance, while retaining picture quality in order to reach a more affordable price point. It really pays off, as the Xperia 10 VI delivers a striking and balanced picture. We said in our review: "The opening sequence of Blade Runner 2049 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."

In terms of audio performance, it performs extremely well with headphones. When playing Taylor Swift's The 1, we described it as spacious and dynamic. Its speaker system without headphones is less remarkable but still very much acceptable, and the front-firing stereo pair produces a decent weight.

One thing to bear in mind is the Xperia's camera quality, as it failed to wow us in testing. 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.

If that's not a problem for you and you're drawn in by the Xperia 10 VI's performance with music and movies, this could be the perfect budget phone for you.

Read the full Sony Xperia 10 VI review

Also consider

The best alternative smartphones we've tested:

Sony Xperia 1 VI: It's been succeeded by the Xperia 1 VII now, but the 1 VI remains an excellent option for those who want a smartphone that puts AV performance above all else. It features a headphone jack for wired audio, and all of the major Bluetooth audio codecs, as well as a crisp and detailed OLED display. It may not be a mainstream choice, but it's a great option for enthusiasts.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Foldable phones are firmly in the mainstream now, and it just so happens that Samsung's latest model is a great option. The Flip 7 sports a clamshell design which unfolds into a 21:9 OLED display; which happens to be the perfect aspect ratio for cinematic content. When folded, we especially like how it functions as a nifty portable music player.

How to choose the best smartphone for you

Picking the right smartphone that suits your needs best is harder than it sounds, and may in fact be a trickier task than picking the best TV or headphones. You use your smartphone every day, and for many of us it houses all the integral things we need to keep our day running smoothly. This is where the essentials come into play: good battery life, a design that's comfortable to hold, and a screen that's not too big and not too small.

Many of us also acquire our smartphones through a contract, most commonly these run for 24 months, so you need to plan ahead. Will the phone you choose have a powerful enough processor and enough RAM to last for two years? Which software platform do you want: Apple's iOS that's exclusive to iPhones, or Google's Android platform that's used by the likes of Samsung, Sony and OnePlus? And does the phone have enough features to keep you going for that time, such as a versatile camera or micro SD card support to expand the memory.

However, if you're after the highest quality AV performance (as we are), then that's where things become more black and white. You'll want an OLED screen for inky blacks and vibrant colours, with a 18:9 or 21:9 aspect ratio and minimal bezels, ideal for watching content uninterrupted and as the the filmmaker intended. As standard, many phones come with either a 1080p or 1440p, or in some cases a 4K display on the highest-end models. As smartphone displays are much smaller than TVs and even tablets, they are often very pixel dense, meaning that the highest resolution isn't always paramount, so don't be put off if your handset doesn't feature the highest-spec screen.

Audio is equally important, and the audio landscape on mobile phones has changed greatly in the last few years. Many now feature a stereo speaker setup that combines a loudspeaker and earpiece to create an often impressively loud and spacious sound. However what modern smartphones giveth, they must also taketh away as is the case with the 3.5mm headphone jack, which is an endangered beast on modern devices.

With all of these key factors in mind, many see it a daunting task to pick a new phone, dreading the day their contract is up. But fear not, all of the picks above are fully approved by us, which should be enough to help you make your decision.

Smartphone FAQ

How we test the best smartphones

While it’s true that smartphones aren’t our core focus at What Hi-Fi? (the clue’s in the name), the fact that they’ve become many people’s most-used item of technology, and for some the primary way they consume music and video, we think that it’s important to find out which ones are the best at doing just that.

Every product we test at What Hi-Fi? is subject to the same thorough process, which involves spending some time in our state-of-the-art testing facilities in London, Reading and Bath with our expert reviewers, but perhaps more than any other product type we also spend time with smartphones out in the real world. We use them in our day-to-day lives – while we commute, around the office, out and about at the weekends – testing every feature exhaustively.

Of course, we pay particular attention to the audio and video performance, so while it’s important to try out the camera and see how long the battery lasts, our smartphone reviews are skewed towards listening to music and watching videos. If that’s also important to you, you should read them carefully before taking the plunge on a phone that you might have to keep for the next two years or more.

Every smartphone we test is compared to its rivals, whether that’s the latest iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, or a handset from one of the newer upstarts like OnePlus, and all verdicts are the result of a collaboration that involves the whole editorial team, so you’re never getting the opinion of just one reviewer.

For more on how we test and review products, you can read our in-depth guide.

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Samsung's next flagship phone – rumoured to be the Galaxy S23 – could have some serious spring in its step, according to a new leak.

A tweet by respected data engineer Yogesh Brar suggests that the S23 will boast a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC chip and a slightly larger 3900mAh battery. 

Earlier rumours suggested that only the top-of-the-line S23 Ultra would get the new Qualcomm chip, so Brar's tweet could be welcome news for those with their eye on the base model...

As it stands, the European version of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra uses Samsung’s own Exynos chipset. However, it seems that Samsung isn't convinced that the next-gen version of the chip will be able to keep up with close rivals such as the Apple iPhone 14.

Indeed, respected leaker Ming-Chi Kuo has already let it be known (via 9to5Google) that Samsung's next Exynos chip likely won't "compete" with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. 

Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip is due to be unveiled in November 2022, with the first phones to use it expected in December, so it won't be long before we can get an idea of the S23's potential power.

Elsewhere, Brar tips the entry-level S23 for a 6.1-inch, 120Hz Full HD+ AMOLED display, the Android 13-based One UI 5 OS, and a 50MP main camera. A decent haul on paper, although there's talk of the S23 once again relying on (relatively slow) 25W charging.

We'll bring you all the latest Samsung Galaxy S23 leaks in the run-up to the launch, which is expected to go ahead in February 2023.

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Check out the best Android smartphones

Google Pixel 7 vs iPhone 14: which is better?

And the best unlocked phones

As part of the Pixel 7-centric Made By Google Event, we got our first look at the Google Pixel Tablet. Teased back in May 2022 during the I/O event, Google's illusive tablet has flown under the radar as of late... until now.

Google's latest stab at an Android-based tablet is backed by its new Tensor G2 in-house processor and features a rounded, minimalist design. Google has equipped the tab with stylus and split screen support, with the hopes of catering to all; from those wanting an entertainment device to those after a productivity machine.

It's easy to underestimate the Pixel tablet as on the surface it doesn't look particularly special by tablet standards, however, it has a trick up its sleeve that can change its functionality completely. The Pixel Tablet can be magnetically attached to a wireless speaker dock that transforms the tablet into a smart display device.

It's reminiscent of the Nest Hub 2nd Generation and gives the Pixel Tablet the ability to become a smart photo frame, or can be used to prop the tablet up for comfortable viewing while charging at the same time. 

A versatile gimmick like this may bring enough merit for Google's tablet to thrive, although it might be too early to tell quite yet. Google's tablet debut was more of a tease than a full-on reveal, with no details on the display or audio capabilities of the Pixel Tablet, or even whether the dock will be bundled with the Pixel Tablet or have to be bought separately. But with a vague launch date of 2023, there's still plenty of time for Google to unveil more about its mysterious tablet.

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Here's everything you need to know about the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro

Google Pixel 7 vs iPhone 14: which is better?

Our favourite Google-based phones - the best Android phones for movies and TV

Google has officially unveiled the newest additions to its Pixel line of smartphones, the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro. Although we had an early insight into these devices back in May of this year, Google has now fully lifted the lid on all the details surrounding its two brand-new flagship devices for 2022.

The two new Pixel devices share a lot in common; most notably the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro will both feature Google’s Tensor G2 processor, the follow-up to the company’s first in-house designed processing chip that debuted in last year’s Pixel 6 line and has since featured in the budget Pixel 6A device. Google claims that the Tensor G2 chip is faster, more efficient, and more secure - as well as bringing a host of camera quality and features upgrades, including "Super Rez Zoom" which Google claims will allow you to take sharp, detailed pictures in 8x zoom on the Pixel 7 and 30x zoom on the 7 Pro. As well as this, both of the new Pixel models will be outfitted with stereo speakers, with wired audio requiring a USB to headphone jack adapter and wireless audio available via Bluetooth. There don’t appear to be any obvious audio upgrades here, but we will reserve judgement until we receive hands-on time with the phone.

These new Pixels will also launch with Android 13, Google’s latest iteration of its mobile operating system. Android 13 looks to bring mostly design and personalisation features to the Pixel, with customisable app icon colours to match your wallpaper being a highlighted feature.  

The standard Pixel 7 model has a 6.3-inch OLED display with slimmed-down bezels, which Google says is intended to make the Pixel 7 a more compact device than the Pixel 6. This display is also apparently 25 per cent brighter than the last-generation Pixel, although it retains the Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2400) at 416ppi. This extra brightness means the display will support a peak brightness of 1400 nits, and supports HDR at 1000 nits of brightness. It also supports a refresh rate of 90Hz much like the Pixel 6 before it. 

What's most notable about the Pixel 7 is the price; whereas other smartphones have seen price increases (looking at you Apple), the Pixel 7 will retail for £599 / $599 / AU$999, the same as the Pixel 6 when it launched last year. Not only is the price consistent, but it’s also pretty cheap by 2022 flagship smartphone standards. The Pixel 7 will be available in three colour variants - Obsidian, Snow and Lemongrass (exclusive to the standard Pixel 7) - and it will ship on 13th October. You can pre-order it now and receive a free pair of Pixel Buds Pro as a pre-order bonus. 

Now onto the bigger and more premium device of the duo, the Pixel 7 Pro. The Pro takes the screen size up to 6.7-inches and features a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The resolution and brightness of the display also get increased to Quad HD+ (1440 x 3120) with a 512ppi, as well as a boost to 1500 nits of peak brightness. 

The Pixel 7 Pro will also retail for the same price as last year’s Pixel 6 Pro, starting at £849 / $899 / AU$1299, and will be available in three colour options: Snow, Obsidian and Hazel (a Pixel 7 Pro exclusive hue). It will also launch on the 13th of October, and if you pre-order the phone you will receive a free Pixel Watch - Google’s first attempt at a smartwatch in its Pixel line. 

So while the Pixel 7 is reminiscent of the Pixel 6, it certainly looks to be a subtle yet sophisticated upgrade over last year’s smartphone. Upgrades under the hood mixed with a refined design makes this a safe, yet still exciting next-generation smartphone from Google - will you be upgrading?

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Here's everything you need to know about the Pixel 7

Google Pixel 7 vs iPhone 14: which is better?

Check out the best Android smartphones

We're just days away from a full unveil of Google's Pixel 7 phone, but now the spec list has leaked in full. And it looks like we could be in for a surprise...

The spec list was leaked to the Google News Telegram channel, and comes courtesy of a mobile carrier in Taiwan (via 9to5Google). It shows unlocking via facial recognition (along with fingerprint unlock), a more powerful 5x telephoto lens for the Pixel 7 Pro over the Pixel 6 Pro, plus two new camera features: “Movie Motion Blur” and “Macro Focus” (the latter being exclusive to the Pixel 7 Pro). 

It doesn't spell out what these modes offer, but Movie Motion Blur sounds a lot like Apple's Cinematic Mode on iPhones. Macro Focus, meanwhile, could use the telephoto lens as a macro lens for up-close photography.

Most of the other specs are as we expected. The Pixel 7 is said to have a 6.3-inch FHD 90Hz screen, while the Pixel 7 Pro has a QHD 120Hz 6.7-incher. The Pro is said to have 12GB of RAM and the Pixel 7 8GB of RAM, while both offer 128GB and 256GB models with the Tensor G2 chip, IP68 water resistance, and wireless charging.

Last week, a video leaked showing off both designs in full.

Google's reveal is set for Thursday. We'll bring you all the news live from the event.

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Google Pixel 7: release date rumours, price news, specs and leaks

Check out the best Android smartphones out now

Read our reviews of the latest smartphones

Google has given us further insight into the design of its upcoming 2022 flagship, the Pixel 7. Posted yesterday on Google’s official YouTube channel, we get to see the Pixel 7 from all angles in the new Lemongrass colourway. This striking combination of pastel yellow and gold mixed with the device’s glass and metal construction gives the Pixel a unique finish. We also see the device in Obsidian (a black and grey combination) and Snow (a silver and white mashup) which are certainly more subtle.

The design is reminiscent of the Pixel 6 with its glass backing split two-thirds of the way by a camera strip, housing what appears to be three cameras. This was revealed in Google’s last I/O event earlier in the year, but with this design reveal we get a look at the front of the device. Much like the Pixel 6 before it, this display has a small hole-punch selfie camera cutout. Alongside the official design video from Google, the Pixel 7 also debuted on the developer-sided Google Play Console, which gives us some more insight into the device’s specs. This includes screen specs with the Pixel 7 receiving a 1080 x 2400 display, with existing rumours suggesting that it will measure in at 6.3-inches. 

Elsewhere, the standard Pixel 7 is touted to get 8GB of RAM, while the bigger Pro model will get a bump up to 12GB. Thanks to these Play Console spec reveals we also now know that the 7 and 7 Pro will get face-unlock, as spotted in a Tweet by Mishaal Rahmann. This is in conjunction with Google’s second-generation Tensor processor as well as Android 13, with “android.hardware.biometrics.face” hinting towards this in the Android 13 QPR1 Beta files.

Google will unveil more about the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro in its #MadeByGoogleEvent on the 6th of October, while the tech giant could also introduce new features to its Pixel Buds line of wireless earbuds.

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Here's everything you need to know about the Google Pixel 7

Check out the best Android smartphones out now

Read our reviews of the latest smartphones

Thinking of upgrading from the Google Pixel 6 to the soon-to-be-released Google Pixel 7? You might find yourself playing spot the difference.

A new leak by data engineer Yogesh Brar, flagged up by AndroidPolice, seems to all-but-confirm that very little will change between the Pixel 6 and 7. 

Brar's tweets that the Pixel 7 is due a 50MP primary and 12MP ultrawide camera, which sounds identical to the modules found on the Pixel 6. Only the front camera is due an upgrade – from 8MP to 11MP.

Brar also seems to reveal that the Pixel 7 will get a 6.3-inch Full HD+ OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The 2021 Pixel 6 offers the same type of display, although it is marginally larger (6.3-inches vs 6.4-inches).

Pixel 7 buyers are also set for the same 30W wired and as yet unspecified wireless charging speeds, plus a set of stereo speakers. Storage options are due to expand to 128GB and 256GB (the Pixel 6 is only available with 128GB of storage).

As for the Pixel 7 Pro, it sounds like Google's next flagship could be in line for almost no upgrades at all.

Brar tips it for the same curved 6.7-inch QHD, 120Hz LTPO-capable OLED as the Pixel 6 Pro. The 50MP main camera is said to be almost identical to the previous Pro's, while the 5000 mAh battery seems to be a perfect match.

Brar's predictions jive with other Pixel 7 leaks tipping the device to be a smidgen shorter than the Pixel 6, not to mention the unboxing video, which purports to compare the Pixel 6 to a prototype version of the Pixel 7.

Not every leak backs Brar, however. Earlier this week Amazon appeared to (accidently) list the Google Pixel 7 for pre-order. The sales patter boasted that the handset will be "powered by the next-gen Google Tensor processor, with the best photo and video quality yet on Pixel".

That suggests not just more powerful hardware, but upgrades to the Pixel camera could be incoming.

There's not long to go before we'll know for sure. The Google Pixel 7 smartphone will launch at Google's next hardware event on Thursday 6th October at 10am ET / 3pm BST / 12am AEST.

MORE:

Check out our Google Pixel 7 rumour round-up

And our Google Pixel 5 vs Pixel 6 comparison

As well as our list of the best smartphones

Google's Pixel launch event is just around the corner. On Thursday 6th October, the new Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro phones are expected to be announced. And now we have an idea of when the new Google phones will become available to buy, too.

Amazon has reportedly leaked the Pixel 7's launch date ahead of time, briefly putting the Pixel 7 product listing up as being available for $599 on 13th October, one week after the launch event.

Originally spotted by Twitter user Brandon Lee, Amazon accidentally published a listing for the 128GB model of the Pixel 7 with a retail price of $599, which lines up nicely with an earlier leak that stated the new Pixel 7 and Pixel Pro would keep the same prices as the Pixel 6 series, coming in at $599 and $899 respectively. That's welcome news considering prices in the consumer electronics market have generally risen of late.

Naturally, the listing was quickly taken down, but that didn't stop the internet from seeing it, and for some time after the listing was removed you could still see the Pixel 7 populate Amazon search results, though that is now no longer the case. 

The Pixel 7 listing showed a 13th October release date, which is consistent with Google's traditional release schedule, usually opting to launch new Pixel products just a week or two after the launch event.

Another detail possibly spoiled by the listing is that the Pixel 7 will be "powered by the next-gen Google Tensor processor, with the best photo and video quality yet on Pixel". That suggests not just more powerful hardware but upgrades to the Pixel camera are incoming.

We'll have to wait until Google's 6th October Pixel event to learn more and get official confirmation of what's coming with Pixel 7, but by all accounts, it looks like Amazon has let the cat out of the bag a little early on this one. Competitive price, improved hardware and available in just over a fortnight – the Pixel 7 looks very promising indeed.

MORE:

Check out our Google Pixel 7 rumour round-up

And our Google Pixel 5 vs Pixel 6 comparison

As well as our list of the best smartphones

Google's new video streamer is official. The Chromecast with Google TV (HD) had leaked extensively, but now we have all the details straight from Google itself.

As expected, it's an HD-only (1080p) streamer positioned a very affordable price. At just £35 / $30 / AU$60, it's even cheaper than the Amazon Fire TV Stick, which is Amazon's own HD video streamer.

Other than maxing out at 1080p resolution, it's essentially the same as the original 4K Chromecast with Google TV (which is a little pricier, at £60 / $50 / AU$99), even down to the same design. Like the 4K model, it plugs into your TV's HDMI port and gives you access to all the usual streaming apps, including Disney Plus, Apple TV Plus, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

It's not just about entertainment – the Peloton app can even sign you up to a live workout on your TV, for example.

The Google TV platform (built on Android TV) gives you features like separate profiles for everyone in the home – a separate child's profile could come in especially handy unless you want to be recommended Octonauts whenever you fire up your TV.

It also comes with its own remote, so you don't need to use your mobile device to control it (though you still can). The remote has a dedicated Google Assistant button for hearing voice commands.

HDR support comes as standard, for greater dynamic range, and Google claims to have tweaked the software to optimise performance for any TV. And you don't have to wait to get your hands on one as the Google Chromecast with Google TV (HD) is available to buy now.

The next few weeks are going to be busy for the tech giant – it's going to be officially launching the flagship Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro smartphones on Thursday 6th October and chances are it could also have a few extra announcements up its sleeve.

MORE:

Our verdict on the best media streaming devices

Battle of the streaming devices: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K vs Chromecast with Google TV

Don't get caught out: 6 mistakes to avoid with Netflix

The Google Pixel Buds Pro just got a lot more user-friendly – thanks to new active noise-cancelling controls (via 9to5Google).

Previously, users wanting to adjust the earbuds' ANC in the Pixel Buds app had to navigate over to 'Sound' and then fiddle with the Active Noise Control strip. Hardly ideal when you're running to catch a train.

To save you from an embarrassing fall, Google has moved the ANC control strip to the top of the Pixel Buds app, making it a lot easier to access. Phew. The same strip also appears in the 'Sounds & vibration' section, meaning it can be tweaked via the volume slider.

There's no need to update the Pixel Buds app; the changes are said to be a 'server-side' update, meaning they should appear automatically. Google has yet to confirm any of this, but it looks like the update is rolling out to Android 13 devices now. We'd expect Android 12 to get the update in short order.

Google's Pixel Buds Pro – a cheaper alternative to the likes of the Apple AirPods 2 (2022) and Sony WF-1000XM4 – went on sale back in July. Total battery life is said to be 31 hours, while multipoint connectivity lets users automatically switch between devices, including iOS and Android.

It's not all good news, though... 

Pixel Buds Pro owners are still waiting for the promised spatial audio and volume balance updates. Spatial audio with head tracking, which is not expected to work with iOS devices, is set to arrive in the "coming months". Volume balance, which lets users change the balance between the left and right buds or listen in mono, is "coming soon".

MORE:

These are the best wireless earbuds going

See our pick of the best noise-cancelling earbuds

Read our Google Pixel Buds A-Series review

It's official: the Google Pixel 7 smartphone will launch at Google's next hardware event on 6th October at 10am ET / 3pm BST / 12am AEST. 

A limited number of press will be invited to the in-person "Made by Google" event in New York; everyone else can stream the announcement live at GoogleStore.com/events and on the Made by Google YouTube channel.

The Pixel 7 is likely to be the star of the show but the event will also showcase the latest Pixel Watch and a slew of Nest-branded smart home devices. "All of the devices will be shoppable the same day at GoogleStore.com," adds Google.

The timing of the announcement is significant, coming just hours before Apple is due to launch its long-awaited iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro handsets. Perhaps Google wants to remind tech fans about the Pixel 7 – before they rush out and empty their wallets on the latest iPhone.

We already know plenty about the Pixel 7. A couple of weeks ago, early developer versions of the 6.2-inch Pixel 7 and 6.7-inch Pixel 7 Pro smartphones surfaced on the internet. The new handsets boast a sleek "visor-like" design and are tipped to ship with Android 13 and Google's latest Tensor chip.

Stay tuned and we'll bring you all the latest Pixel 7 leaks in the lead up to Thursday 6th October. 

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Pixel 7: all the news and rumours

The best wireless earbuds for your smartphone

The Google Pixel Buds Pro aren't on sale until Thursday (28th July), but one lucky buyer has received theirs early. Want to know more details and what they think of them? Read on.

The details emerged on Reddit from user u/Linkakox (via 9to5Google). The buyer ordered them from a French website which accidentally shipped them ahead of time.

According to the user – and this is their opinion, not our definitive verdict – the Buds Pro sound better than the Pixel Buds A-Series, but they also feel a little less secure than their predecessors. (Remember, though, fit can vary from person to person.) The ANC (Active Noise-Cancelling) works well, and multipoint audio works as advertised, they also report.

The earbuds are a bit bigger than the Pixel Buds A-Series. From the pictures, the Pixel Buds Pro appear more bulbous, and they lack the ear fins of the A-Series. The Pro's case is wider and thicker too. According to the user, they don't ship with a charger or even a USB-C cable, so you'll have to supply your own.

That's the hardware covered. In terms of software, the Pixel Buds app doesn't yet support ANC (it's new for the Buds Pro) but hopefully, Google will update this and add any new functionality ahead of Thursday's launch.

These are just preliminary findings from one user. But with the Pixel Buds A-Series earning five stars from us, hopes are high that the Pixel Buds Pro will be even better. Say tuned for our full review.

MORE:

These are the best wireless earbuds going

See our pick of the best noise-cancelling earbuds

Read our Google Pixel Buds A-Series review

When they go on sale next week, the Google Pixel Buds Pro will boast the ability to switch audio automatically between two devices with no settings needing to be adjusted. Now Google has shared more info on how that will work.

The tech builds on Google's Fast Pair feature, which lets you quickly and easily pair your headphones with your Android device and then add them to your Google Account. That means they're then synced with your other Android devices.

Audio switching uses Google's smarts to know when to switch between devices.

"Our audio switching technology builds on top of Fast Pair to use contextual information on what you’re listening to in order to switch the audio based on your actions," Google says in a blog post. "We have more categories that are ranked to determine how to prioritise sounds between phone calls, media and all of the sounds your devices may make. So for example, if you’re watching a video on your tablet and you receive a notification on your phone, your headphone audio will not switch to your phone. But if you receive a phone call, your headphone audio will make the switch."

Don't like that the headphones have switched device? A notification appears with every switch – tap it and you'll switch back to your original device.

Google's headphones aren't the only ones with this feature – the AirPods can switch between multiple Apple devices. But Google's tech sounds more advanced. 

The feature won't be limited to the Pixel Buds Pro. Google will also roll out audio switching to "select" Sony and JBL headphones in the coming weeks – that could include the excellent Sony WF-1000XM4, WH-1000XM5 and JBL Reflect Flow Pro (all five-star products). Though we'll have to wait to see which models gain the feature.

And it might not be limited to Android devices. Google ends the post saying it "plans to expand to more of your favourite platforms and devices over time". Exciting.

MORE:

These are the best wireless earbuds going

See our pick of the best noise-cancelling earbuds 2022: budget and premium

And here's our roundup of the best wireless headphones 2022

Need something for the 10k? These are the best running headphones and wireless earbuds 2022

A phone purporting to be the as-yet-unreleased Google Pixel 7 has appeared for sale on eBay, though the listing has since been taken down. The auction – spotted by Android developer Mishaal Rahman – was ended early by the seller "because there was an error in the listing", according to the note on the eBay page. Hmm.

The device looks legit. Just like in the official photo released by Google, it features a camera bar on the back (as on the Pixel 6). It appears to be the deep black version. The listing's photos reveal the model number GVU6C, and that it has 128GB of storage.

Despite releasing a photo, Google hasn't announced many details concerning the device. Unfortunately, this leak doesn't reveal much that we didn't already know, but it does seem to confirm a few things, like the 128GB storage option, for example.

The Pixel 7 will also feature a double camera setup while the Pixel 7 Pro will add a third lens. Both will feature Google’s next-generation Tensor system on a chip, which Google has said will feature even more AI-led performance gains, new features, and photography and video upgrades. They will ship with Google’s newly updated Android 13 software, though it seems the displays could be quite familiar.

Google Pixel devices have a habit of leaking, so we're sure this won't be the last we'll see of the new devices before the official unveiling in October.

MORE:

Get up to speed: Google Pixel 7: release date rumours, price news, specs and leaks

Have you heard a new iPhone is also on the way? iPhone 14 leaks, rumours, news and specs

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Google has launched a pair of wireless earbuds with active noise-cancellation, meaning it can finally rival the AirPods Pro, Sony WF-1000XM4 and Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3.

The Pixel Buds Pro are essentially the Pixel Buds A-Series with added noise cancellation. Considering the A-Series scored five out of five in our review, that bodes very well indeed.

Much like the Tensor processor found in the Google Pixel 6 smartphone, the ANC has been custom built by Google. It uses a custom six-core audio chip, Google-developed algorithms tuned by its in-house audio engineering team, and custom speakers.

Because they poke into your ear canal, some noise-cancelling earbuds can feel too intrusive, but Google claims the Pixel Buds Pro will avoid this. How? With patented Silent Seal technology, which adapts to the shape of your ear to cancel the optimum amount of noise. Built-in sensors monitor the pressure in your ear canal to make sure they stay comfortable. And when you want to hear the outside world, the Transparency mode lets in ambient audio.

Volume EQ tweaks the balance as you adjust the volume, and later this year, spatial audio will arrive via a firmware update. Apple has had some success with its Dolby Atmos-esque spatial audio on the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, so we're intrigued to see how Google's version measures up. Like Apple's, it will anchor the audio to the source, such as your smartphone, so as you turn your head, the direction of the sound adjusts accordingly.

Multipoint lets you connect wirelessly to multiple devices and switch between them seamlessly, and the mics can cancel out wind noise for handsfree calls. Google Assistant is also onboard for voice commands.

The Pixel Buds Pro battery life is a claimed seven hours with ANC activated, while the case promises another 13 hours of run time, making for a total battery life of up to 20 hours. That's a little shy of the 24 offered by the current class-leaders, the Sony WF-1000XM4.

The buds are rated IPX4 splashproof, while the case is IPX2. The buds have a soft matte finish, and their two-tone design comes in four colours: Coral, Lemongrass, Fog and Charcoal.

Pre-orders start 21st July, and they'll set you back £179 ($199, AU$299). That's more than the non-noise-cancelling Pixel Buds A-Series, but less than the AirPods Pro. Look out for a full review soon.

MORE:

See our pick of the best noise-cancelling earbuds 2022: budget and premium

And here's our roundup of the best wireless headphones 2022

Need something for the 10k? These are the best running headphones and wireless earbuds 2022

The Google Pixel 6 range will soon work with more external DACs. That's thanks to the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro supporting Direct USB Access, which will let them play nice with more USB DACs.

The feature will arrive as part of an update in June, 9to5Google reports. You'll need a compatible USB DAC, as well as an app that supports the feature.

Thanks to the feature being in beta, we know roughly how it will work. A Twitter user going by the name of @mile_freak07 was able to listen to hi-res music through an AudioQuest DragonFly Red DAC working with their Pixel 6 phone, along with both the HiBy and Neutron Music Player apps.

However, hi-res music streaming service Tidal isn't yet supported. There's no word on whether Qobuz works as yet.

The feature is only confirmed for the Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro at the moment – Google hasn't said whether it will come to older Pixel phones.

The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro launched at the end of last year, shortly after the iPhone 13 range. With starting prices of £599 / $599 / AU$999 for the Pixel 6 and £849 / $899 AU$1299 for the 6 Pro, they're some of the more affordable ways to get a well-specced handset. And with high refresh rate screens (90Hz for the Pixel 6, 120Hz for the 6 Pro), great cameras and some unique Google software smarts, they're very tempting indeed at this price.

The better external DAC compatibility only makes them more appealing to audiophiles.

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These are the best DACs money can buy

Check out the competition: Best Android phones for all budgets

OS agnostic? These are the best smartphones for music and movies

Google has promised to fix the strange display flickers that are said to have blighted its newly-launched Pixel 6 Pro smartphone.

Users have reported seeing the flagship phone's screen flicker when the power button is touched while the phone is off (via Android Central). Google says the spooky phenomenon is merely a "residual light" issue that occurs when users apply "slight pressure" to the power button without actually turning the phone on.

The good news? This isn't a hardware problem, says Google. In a support document, the company has promised to release a firmware update in December that will solve the Pixel 6 Pro's "transient display artifacts" (Google's rather airy description of problem).

The bad news? Other users have already reported another issue: a green tint on the phone's display. The snafu is said to affect both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro and could be a reoccurrence of the issue that was said to have affected the Pixel 5a and the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra.

In the case of the S20 Ultra, the green tint occurred when the phone's display was set to 120Hz and the brightness dropped below 30%. Samsung released a software patch that solved the problem a couple of months after the device's launch – fingers crossed Google follows suit.

The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro began shipping a week ago. The standard Pixel 6 costs £599 / $599 / AU$999 for the 128GB model, while the Pro variant starts at £849 / $899 / AU$1299 for 128GB of storage. Buyers in the US can get free Pixel buds and a $200 gift card when they buy either model from Verizon-owned carrier Visible.

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Google officially launches the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro

Google Pixel 6: price, release date, leaks, specs and all the news

Our pick of the best Android phones

Google unveiled the next handsets in its Pixel range – the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro – a few weeks ago. Now, the tech giant has officially revealed the full spec. Read on for rundown of what Google is calling 'the most helpful smartphone' ever...

Google Pixel handsets are some of the best smartphones money can buy. And unlike most of their rivals, they don't come with crazy price tags. The most recent in the range, the Pixel 5, costs just £599 ($699, AU$999), which is good value for such a well-specced mobile. 

But how much will the Pixel 6 cost? Does it really have "the most advanced smartphone camera in the world", as Google claims? What's all the fuss about the 'Magic Eraser' feature? Join us as we take a closer look at the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro...

Google Pixel 6: release date

Google officially revealed the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro at its Pixel Fall Launch event on 19th October . Both models are available to pre-order now in the UK, US and Australia. Goole will begin shipping the devices from 28th October.

For reference, here's the dates of each and every Google Pixel announcement so far:

• Google Pixel: 4th October 2016
• Google Pixel 2: 4th October 2017
• Google Pixel 3: 9th October 2018
• Google Pixel 4: 15th October 2019
• Google Pixel 5: 30th September 2020
• Google Pixel 6: 19th October 2021

Google Pixel 6: price

Google positioned the Pixel 5 as a more affordable handset, giving it a price tag of just £599 / $699 / AU$999. The good news is that the company has continued with its aggressive pricing strategy.

The standard Pixel 6 costs £599 / $599 / AU$999 for the 128GB model and $699 / AU$1129 for the 256GB version (UK pricing/availability is yet to be confirmed). In the mood for a deal? Pre-order a Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro in the UK and you can claim a set of Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 worth £349.95 (offer ends 27th October).

The Pixel 6 Pro starts at £849 / $899 AU$1299 for 128GB of storage. The 256GB model is listed for £949 / $999 / AU$1449, while 512GB variant is $1099 / AU$1599 (again, UK pricing/availability yet to be confirmed).

Not cheap, but certainly cheaper that the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra or the iPhone 13 Pro Max, both of which cost over£1500 / $1,100 / AU$1,800. 

Don't want to pay upfront? You can also 'subscribe' to either Pixel handset via Pixel Pass. Google's answer to Apple One includes a Pixel 6 or 6 Pro handset (plus an upgrade in two years), an extended warranty, 200GB of Google One storage, Google Play Pass, YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium for one monthly free.

Pixel Pass starts at $45 per month for the Pixel 6 and $55 for the Pixel 6 Pro. It seems to be US only right now, but we'd expect it to roll out elsewhere soon. 

Google Pixel 6: design

So what's new about the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro? A premium price tag demands a premium design, and from the pictures Google has released, that looks to be the order of the day. It's certainly a radical departure from the Pixel 5.

The most notable design flourish is on the back. The new camera bar was a necessity according to Google – the new camera lenses and sensors being too big to fit into the previous Pixel's camera housing. The a horizontal black bar that spans the width of the phone's back and it gives the phone a distinctive look.

The standard Pixel 6 has a similar design, but with only two camera sensors instead of three. It also has a 6.4-inch 90Hz flat display, whereas the Pixel 6 Pro boasts a curved, 6.7-inch, 10–120Hz screen that "melts" into the phone's frame.

There are new materials, too. According to Google, the Pixel 6 Pro has a "light polished aluminium frame", and the standard Pixel 6 has a "matte aluminium finish". This is a change from the Pixel 5's aluminium body covered by a thin skin of bio-resin plastic.  

For extra toughness, the Pixel 6 is built from Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, said to be "the toughest Gorilla Glass yet, with up to 2x better scratch resistance than previous Pixel phones". It's also rated IP68, meaning it can withstand dust and being submerged in 1.5m of water for up to 30 minutes.

The Pixel 6 Case is "made with translucent material" that lets the phone shine through. Google says it's thoughtfully designed with over 30% recycled plastics, so you can do your bit for sustainability.

As for colourways, the Pixel 6 comes in Sorta Seafoam, Kinda Coral and Stormy Black, while the 6 Pro is available in Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny (a light gold) and Stormy Black. 

An earlier Google teaser trailer shows off the Pixel 6 handset in the flesh...

Now, what about that folding Pixel 6 we've been hearing about?

A leak from industry insider Ross Young, of Display Supply Chain Consultants, suggests that the long-rumoured foldable Pixel will be available this year and will sport a high-quality 7.57-inch, variable refresh rate display supplied by Samsung Display.

So, while we weren't treated to a 'Pixel 6 Fold' at  the Pixel Fall Launch event on Tuesday 19th October, there's every chance Google is biding its time.

Indeed, we've seen recent rumours of a Galaxy Fold-like folding Pixel handset, based on information spotted in an Android build. The device itself is codenamed "Jumbojack", though we're not sure if its related to the Pixel 6 or a future handset.

We'll keep our eyes peeled for all the latest Pixel Fold leaks and rumours.

Google Pixel 6: specs

What about the spec sheet? Google has now revealed all, and on paper, the new handsets are pretty impressive.

Firstly, the screens. The Pixel 6 Pro leads the pair with a 6.7-inch screen with a QHD+ resolution. Its refresh rate is 120Hz, which is the new standard for even midrange phones. That higher rate will mean better rendering during fast-moving content like gaming. It's also double the refresh rate of the iPhone 12 line-up.

The screen is very slightly curved at the edges and bleeds into aluminium rails on the side bezels.

The standard Pixel 6 is a little smaller, as you would expect, and has a slightly lower-specced display. At 6.4 inches – a bit bigger than the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 and 6.2-inch Samsung Galaxy S21 – it has an FHD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. Its screen is flat, without the curved edges of the Pixel 6 Pro.

The Pixel 6 range also debuts Google's new system on a chip (SoC), the Tensor. Google claims the Pixel 6 is "up to 80-percent faster" compared to the Pixel 5. The new chip supposedly "saves power so your battery lasts longer" and "works with the next-gen Titan M2 security chip" to ensure your photos and messages remain private. 

Google's new chunk of silicon also powers a host of AI-enhanced software, including Magic Eraser. Google's long-awaited Photoshop-style software removes "strangers and unwanted objects" (photobombers, basically) from images with a swipe and a tap. It works whether you took the photo a minute ago or a year ago.

The chip also enables "offline translation" in 55 languages, allowing Pixel 6 owners to converse in Japanese, listen to French podcasts or read road signs in Spain without decimating their data allowance. The phone is said to allow you to "Explore the world in other languages".  

Last but not least, Google says the Pixel 6 features an AI-powered feature called 'Glance', which automatically brings up apps and info that you might need. When you arrive at the airport, for example, your boarding pass will pop up on your screen. Hence Google's claim that the Pixel 6 is "the most helpful smartphone" yet.

As predicted back in August, Google has now confirmed that the Pixel 6 features an in-display optical fingerprint reader.

Battery-wise, we were expecting a capacity of at least 4000mAh, matching the Pixel 5. We weren't disappointed. The regular Pixel 6 rocks a 4614mAh battery, while the Pixel 6 Pro boasts a hefty 5003mAh power pack. Google says both devices should last 24 hours.

Want to eek out the battery a bit longer? Just like the Pixel 5, Google's new handsets feature Extreme Battery Saver mode, which enables the battery to last to up to 48 hours. Both devices have Battery Share, too, so you can charge other compatible devices wirelessly.

The Pixel 6 is available with a 30W USB-C charger (£25 / $25 / around AU$35). The Pixel 6 is also expected to offer 23W wireless charging too, courtesy of the charger you see above (thanks again, @evleaks). In theory, the Pixel 6 will charge faster than the 20W-charging iPhone 13, but still nowhere near the 65W+ rivals from OnePlus and Xiaomi.

The new Pixel Stand charging dock (sold separately) is also said to be twice as powerful as the previous version. And while your Pixel 6 is charging, you can use it as a smart display to browse pictures from Google Photos or control your smart home.

Google Pixel 6: cameras

The cameras have always been one of the Pixel range's highlights. Indeed, we called the Pixel 5's snapper a "class-leading camera". So what can we expect from the Pixel 6?

The 6 Pro has three rear cameras: a new wide-angle main sensor, an ultrawide lens, and a 4X optical-zoom telephoto snapper. According Google, the main wide-angle sensor lets in "150% more light" than the Pixel 5's. The Pixel 6 has the same setup but without the telephoto lens.

On both handsets, the camera array is housed in the new camera bar that spans the back of the device. The Google Pixel 6 Pro adds a 48MP telephoto, upping its imaging prowess. The Pro model also boasts an 11.1MP front camera, while the regular Pixel 6 makes do with an 8MP selfie snapper. Both models feature laser autofocus, which should keep things nice and sharp in low light.

Another new feature is Real Tone. Google's new tech uses the Pixel 6's AI tools to accurately represent everyone's skin tones. Let's say a group of people are pictured, all with different skin tones. Real Tone tailors the white balance and other settings to each individual person's skin tone, ensuring an authentic image.

Google has also talked up Face Unblur. So if you take a photo and someone is blurred, the phone will be able to snap a still with its ultrawide lens as well as the composite HDR image captured by the main sensor. The phone can then recognise a face within the photo and combine the still from the ultrawide snapper with the others to pick out a moment when that face wasn't blurred.

Google Pixel 6: verdict

This looks like a bold (and welcome) new direction for Google's Pixel range. The Pixel 5 was a mid-priced affair, which some saw as Google admitting it couldn't compete with Apple and Samsung at the high end. But now Google is back to bother the big boys with and aggressively-priced pairing. 

The bulging 'edge to edge' camera bump may not be everyone's cup of tea, but with a super-powerful 50MP main camera and impressive AI tools, the Pixel 6 Pro could have plenty of takers. Stay tuned for all the latest Google Pixel 6 news. 

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OS agnostic? These are the best smartphones for music and movies

The Google Pixel Buds A-Series are the latest entry in the wireless headphone market by the search-engine behemoth. They are small true wireless earbuds that, while aimed primarily at Google and Android smartphone users, will perform a good job with any device that can handle Bluetooth 4.0+ – so that covers pretty much any smart device from the recent past.

Pricing

As well as performance improvements, the most obvious difference between this, the third iteration to bear the Pixel Buds name, and its two forebears, is with the launch price. 

The Pixel Buds A-Series are yours for a competitive £99 ($99, about AU$140), compared with the £179 ($179, AU$279) figure the Pixel Buds 2 came on the market for last year. That’s an impressive drop in price and brings these Google buds right into a hugely popular section of the market. 

At this price, they even undercut obvious rivals such as Cambridge Audio’s Melomania 1 Plus (£120, $140, AU$185) by a significant amount.

Comfort

Available in two finishes, white and a not-quite-grey ‘Dark Olive’, the Google Pixel Buds A-Series come in a neat little cardboard box that contains the buds themselves, the tactile little ‘smooth pebble’ charging case, a USB-C charging cable and three different sized sets of eartips. 

The little rubber fins to stabilise the in-ear fit remain from the Buds 2, and they, combined with correctly sized tips, provide a secure and comfortable experience. The earbuds are light, coming in at just over 5g each, and sit firmly in the ear. They are IPX4 resistant, so should be fine with water or sweat splashes, but the case is not rated.

The earbuds do not have active noise-cancelling – that’s a rare feature in buds at this price – but they offer reasonable passive noise-cancelling with the correct fit. They do, though, have a spatial vent to prevent that bunged-up feeling some in-ears provide; this means that some external noise inevitably gets through. 

That’s not necessarily a bad thing; it means the wearer is more aware of their environment when commuting or outside (cycling and road crossing, for instance, are made much safer with that extra aural awareness). 

Build and features

The buds hold enough power for up to five hours of listening time (or, heaven forbid, two and a half hours’ talk time), and the case has enough juice for up to four charges, giving around 24 hours of charge all-in.

If your buds run out of power, a 15-minute charge will offer around three hours of listening time, which should be enough to cover the commute. The charging case itself has a light that indicates the state of play with your buds, including the amount of power available.

Connecting your Pixel Buds A-Series to a smart device is either simple or extremely simple, depending on the device. For Android devices with Fast Pair, just open up the lid of the A-Series’ case near to your smartphone and the devices automatically find each other.

For an iOS device it’s a more old-school process, but still easy enough. Once you’ve pushed the button on the charging case, with the lid up, find the earbuds on the device’s Bluetooth settings, and pair them from there.

Google's wireless earbuds are, of course, aimed first and foremost at Google and Android phones, but they work perfectly well with iOS products, tablets, laptops and the like. With non-Android kit though, you won’t be able to use the Google Assistant that brings so much to the Pixel Buds party.

The Google Assistant works nicely, providing easy access to all the benefits that it implies, including Adaptive Sound, a neat trick that adjusts the volume of the buds depending on extraneous noise. This works quite effectively but can be turned off in the app if it’s not for you. There’s also a useful ‘find device’ feature if you’ve mislaid one of your buds down the side of the sofa. 

Of course, you can hear notifications from the assistant for things such as emails, messages or traffic information. And the buds also give access to Google Translate on your phone, which could be useful once the world opens up again. The buds’ microphones come into play here, acting as your own modern-day Babelfish.

The buds themselves handle basic controls competently, with the few basic commands administered by a tap (or taps) of a finger on the bud. Each bud responds in the same way, so learning the taps required is both easy and perfectly intuitive. A single tap will start or pause your music, or answer a call; a double-tap will end a call or skip forward a track (as well as stopping the Assistant); and a triple tap will go back to the previous track.

And that’s your lot as far as manual controls via the buds goes. Volume change is done via talking to Google Assistant, however, so non-Android users will have to adjust the noise input on their device. It’s a shame not to have a volume control on the buds (the Melomania 1 Plus have the ability – and those buds will talk to both Siri and Google Assistant, too), but at this price, it isn't a deal-breaker. 

Sound

We’re rather pleased with the performance we get from the Google Pixel Buds A-Series. It’s a clean, balanced sound that doesn’t favour any part of the sonic spectrum.

Google says its research shows that “most people describe great sound as full, clear and natural. This is what guides our audio tuning process.” We’re perfectly happy to report that this is what we hear from these little buds. There is none of the somewhat harsh and wearing treble for which previous Pixel Buds were criticised, and the bass is decently fast and snappy without being overbearing. 

We cue up Lou Reed’s Walk On The Wild Side and that familiar bassline greets us warmly, followed by brushed snares and then Reed’s voice, intimate and clear. Each sonic strand is easily and comfortably followed right through to the breathy sax at the end of the track, and we find ourselves eager to listen to more. 

We don’t fancy the next song in the playlist, so a double tap on the left earbud moves us on to John Martyn’s Small Hours. It’s a fine test of a speaker’s (or headphones’) dynamic ability, with frequent shifts in volume, but the Series-A cope well, delivering the music faithfully. There is perhaps just a touch more detail in the midrange from those Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus rivals, but the Pixel Buds are overall a well-rounded listen. 

That approachable, entertaining sound is consistent no matter what music we play through the A-Series, and that, combined with the comfort of these lightweight buds, makes them a winner in our book.

Most importantly, the Google Pixel Buds A-Series behave impeccably throughout testing. The connection is rock solid, and they never lose signal or give the hint of a crackle, whether we’re inside sitting at our desk, or in the vegetable aisle at the supermarket. Their performance on calls is decent too, with no issues from either end as far as call quality goes, the mics on each bud picking up our voice clearly.

Verdict

For not a huge outlay, you get everything the pricier Pixel Buds 2 provided as far as Google Assistant abilities go, but with an all-round sound performance that stands up there with the best in the market at this price. Though they’re aimed primarily at Android owners, we can quite happily recommend the Google Pixel Buds A-Series to iOS users too, if they are in the market for some comfortable, reliable, good-sounding in-ears.

SCORES

• Sound 5
• Comfort 5
• Build 4

MORE:

Read our guide to the best earbuds

Read our Cambridge Melomania 1 Plus review

Read our Earfun Air review

In a world of £1,000 smartphones, the fanfare for the mid-range Google Pixel 3a has been refreshing to say the least. On paper, the handset brings more than a dose of what the Pixel 3 can offer but for a fraction of the price. Where the flagship Android Pie mobile costs £739, the Pixel 3a comes in at just £399.

But there’s competition at every level of the smartphone market and just because it’s cheaper, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better value. Has the Pixel 3a taken too much of a hit in performance and should Google’s big sell of affordable unadulterated Android be enough to turn your wallet its way?

Build

The design and build of the Pixel 3a is a pretty simple affair, but if that’s where Google has chosen to save money, we’re fine with that. It’s made of polycarbonate in a choice of white, black and lilac, but there is a nice coloured power button on the side to distract you from the lack of premium materials. We are delighted to find there’s a fingerprint reader on the rear, as well as a 3.5mm jack on the top of the phone.

Sizewise, it’s almost identical to the Pixel 3 with a 5.6in screen. In real terms, it’s thin enough, light enough and just about small enough to use one-handed. 

The 3,000mAh battery and USB-C charger combo delivers about a day and a half’s worth of moderate use and it quick charges to full again in about 90 minutes. There’s no microSD storage available, but the 64GB of internal space goes a long way when all your pictures and videos are uploaded to the Google Photos cloud space.

Inside, you’ll find a slight drop down in chipset to the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 from the Snapdragon 845 of the Pixel 3. While there's less processing power on offer, it’s enough to run graphics-heavy games and hi-res video without a hitch – only with the camera does it occasionally stick when switching between modes. The only other design feature of note is the dual speakers on the bottom edge of the device.

Screen

The Pixel 3a does not get the HDR compatibility of the Pixel 3, and while that’s less of an issue on a 5.6in smartphone screen than on a 55in TV, we’d expect the amount of HDR content to increase over a 24-month contract, so it could be something to consider. And although the specs and performance are similar, the Pixel 3a falls just short of the flagship in terms of picture quality.

That said, in its own right and given the price of the handset, the 2,220 x 1080 OLED display gives a sharp image with a pixel density of 441ppi. In terms of pure detail, the Pixel 3a gives a crisp image at what is just beyond 1080p resolution. Faces are not as hair follicle-accurate as with 4K but there’s still plenty of texture.

Leave the phone on the default Adaptive setting and colours are a bit overcooked, with whites that are a little warm and skin tones that are a touch unnatural. But while the Adaptive setting isn't what you'd call truly authentic, it does make for an enjoyably punchy watch.

Switch it to Natural and you get a more balanced, but still vibrant, image. The bright lights of New York reflected in the wet pavements in Russian Doll feel accurate and help establish a sense of place to the drama. It’s the kind of performance that would give any smartphone a good run for its money.

The stated contrast of 100,000:1 certainly feels as strong as it sounds, with the OLED panel delivering the true and deep blacks we’ve come to expect and bright highlights that punch through the darkness. It is fair to say that the Pixel 3a struggles to dig up the finest details in the very darkest and brightest parts of the picture, but that barely dampens the viewing experience.

We watch Episode 3 of Russian Doll on Netflix and are very impressed. The folds and textures of Nadia’s black suit jacket and grey wool overcoat against an almost pitch background in the Synagogue scene are excellent. It’s only the shadowy set behind her that’s a little hard to make out. And while there's a bit of haloing around bright objects on otherwise black backgrounds and a little haziness to the snow of the alpine attack dream of Inception, there's more than enough control and detail overall to make the scene a pleasure.

The screen also comes in handy in concert with the camera, which is the best feature of the Pixel 3a. The vibrancy of the display means even an enthusiastic amateur can look like a pro photographer when showing snaps. The photo editing software is superb too, with a range of photographic modes offering a different set of sliders to play with and often sub-sliders within them.

The other camera feature of note is Night Sight, an HDR photography solution that removes the need to use the flash for better colour capture in low lighting. The Pixel 3a camera is often good enough, even in dingy pubs, but Night Sight takes that further. We take a snap at near blackout conditions in our windowless AV test room, and the image it produces is as good as if we’d had the lights on.

Sound

Sound quality is the Pixel 3a’s biggest drawback. Audio is less expressive than we’d hoped for in comparison to the rest of the phone’s brilliant features. There’s a lot to like, though; plenty of balance throughout the range and it’s perfectly respectable for detail.

We play Cigarettes And Alcohol by Oasis on Tidal, and the love-it-or-loathe-it edge in Liam Gallaher’s voice is just where you want it, while the bassline rolls well through the track. Compared to the iPhone SE, though, the Pixel 3a struggles to render harmonic information. The skin of the kick drum isn’t quite there and the dirty rattles of the bass guitar strings are just short.

Timing is not quite as consistent on the opening strums of Wonderwall and the bottom line is that the audio is where Google seems to have cut corners to achieve the 3a’s tasty price tag. That said, you do at least get a 3.5mm jack and the stereo speakers are loud.

Verdict

The Google Pixel 3a brings much of the fun and quality of the flagship Pixel 3 – most notably the excellent screen and terrific camera – within the reach of many more people. But for the below-par sound performance, this would be a five-star phone.

Given that for so many people their phone is their primary music player, we can’t fully recommend the Pixel 3a. Otherwise, this is a strong option at the price.

SCORES

• Screen 4
• Sound 3
• Features 5

MORE:

Best smartphones 2019

Read our Google Pixel 3a XL review