Home//T3/January 2018/In This Issue
T3|January 2018LA MBORGHINI URUSABSOLUTELY SUPER, CARThe 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 is good for 650BHP and 627lb ft of torque and thanks to its four-wheel drive system and eight-speed automatic gearbox, it’ll out-accelerate most cars off the line (just 3.6 seconds to 62mph)IT’LL GO OFF ROAD!With three off-road modes, the Urus is perfectly adept on a variety of off-road surfaces tooThe Range Rover Sport SVR. Porsche’s Cayenne Turbo. And Tesla’s Model X. If you want an SUV and you want it to go really fast – these are the machines to do it. But in a sea of SUVs, even these supercharged versions have become a bit prosaic. To stand out among the crowd, and get your kids to private school/nip to Waitrose faster than ever, you need something unique; something a bit exotic. Let…1 min
T3|January 2018Horizon1 TESLA ROADSTER 2.0• From $200,000 (£150,876), tesla.comAdmit it: you thought electric cars were a nice, eco-friendly idea, but that none could ever be sexy enough or fast enough to replace a gasguzzling, high-performance car. Well, prepare to backtrack significantly by saying hello to the new Tesla Roadster, an all-electric supercar that’s spoiling for a fight with petrol-powered ridesWith the Roadster, Tesla is looking to set a new benchmark for the world’s fastest car. It’s a record currently held by the Agera RS, which throws down at 277.9mph; the Roadster’s top speed is said to be above 250mph, but an exact figure has yet to be confirmed.In the meantime there’s plenty else to get excited about here: 0-60 in 1.9 seconds – the first production car to break the two-second…8 min
T3|January 2018ALL BUTTONED UP1 ACNE STUDIOS ROVER BOUCLE COATFuture-proof your winter wardrobe with this doublebreasted, fully lined wool overcoat, featuring strong peaked lapels and deep flap pockets.£1,650, acnestudios.com/uk/en2 REISS FRA NCISCO DOUBLE BREAS TED OVERCOATCamel coats continue their reign this month, and Reiss’s soft cashmere blend overcoat with notched lapels is a favourite.£375, reiss.com3 TOPMAN BLACK AND WHITE TEXTURED OVERCOATThis single-breasted overcoat looks great with tailored joggers and knits, and can be thrown on over jeans for a sharper pub look.£85, topman.com4 WO OY OUNGMI OVERSIZED POCKET COATTry the oversized trend with Wooyoungmi’s quirky wool blend coat. We love the large letterbox pockets and that striking blue hue.£1,015, farfetch.com5 TIGER OF SWEDEN EGAL 4 COATThe slim-fit Egal 4 smartens up all outfits. It’s fully lined, has a stylish stand-up collar and yoke detailing,…1 min
T3|January 2018FOREO LUNA 2 FOR MENThe Foreo Luna 2 for Men (£169, foreo.com) is a palmsized facial brush designed to cleanse, tone and prep skin for shaving. It has textured dual sides: one for cleansing, one for anti-ageing. The brush is small but not slippery when wet, thanks to an easy-grip antibacterial silicone covering. Foreo claims the brush has 450 uses per charge, and while we haven’t been using it that long, ours is still going strong after a month’s use.There are 12 levels of intensity, depending on individual skin needs. We used the brush morning and night, applying a cleanser to our face then moving the brush in small circles over our skin for one minute as instructed. It was clear from the first use that Foreo’s T-Sonic tech (8,000 pulsations per minute) removed…1 min
T3|January 2018ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE 2018Could you see yourself driving a bright green sports car? Does the thought of flooring it at 195mph make you squeal with excitement rather than choke back fear? If so, Aston Martin’s new Vantage could be your dream ride when it rolls out next spring/summerThere’s nothing shy about this beast: the V8 engine-toting new Vantage is menacing and rocks an aerodynamic performance that aims to leave other rides in the dust. Fancy a spin? The keys are yours, if you can pony up the starting price of £120,900 (astonmartin.com).…1 min
T3|January 2018SPEND IT SMARTER WITH THE HONOR 7XNormally, top-end specs come with a top-end price, but Honor’s new handset breaks with this tech tradition. The 7X offers huge features at a £269.99 price tag, which means your next big tech buy could be the Honor 7X and that other sweet gadget on your list. Here’s why you should save big money versus the £999 of an iPhone X or £869 of a Samsung Note8 by grabbing the 7X, and get just as much cutting-edge smartphone for a lot less cash.1 HONOR FULLVIEW DISPLAYThe Honor 7X has one of the highest screen-to-body ratios of any phone – on a par with the much pricier Galaxy S8 – so it fits perfectly in your hand, yet it offers a virtually bezel-less 18:9 5.93- inch screen with a FHD+ resolution…2 min
T3|January 2018THE TRAVEL BLOGGER’S KIT1 GO TRAVEL ULTIMATE MEMORY PILLOWGetting sleep on a plane can be tricky, but this pillow is comfortable and supportive.£24.99, gotravelproducts.com2 MAYFAIR 10.5” KNOMA DORGANISERKeep travel and digital accessories in one place with this compact and water-resistant bag.£59, knomobags.com3 APPLE IPAD 9.7-INCHOverwhelmed by the amount of TV shows you’ve downloaded? Catch up on iPad and while away those long hours in the sky.From £339, apple.com4 SILKSKIN EYE MASKAvoid jet lag with this lavender-infused eye mask, to help block out the world.£42, silkskin.co.uk5 MOLESKINE CAHIER’S COLLECTION JOURNALThese hardcover journals, available with plain or ruled pages, are perfect for your travel notes.From £6.99, gb.moleskin.com…1 min
T3|January 2018BEAT THE WALLIce climbing is a superb way to burn calories, gain functional strength and improve cardio fitness. To do it you’ll need crampons, ice axes… and the spirit of Spider-Man. Ice climbing on real mountains needs experience or a qualified guide, but the UK has several indoor centres where you can give this sport a go.Scotland’s Ice Factor (ice-factor.co.uk) packs 500 tonnes of real snow and ice into a 12 metre-high wall, with routes for beginner climbers and ice climbing experts. Vertical Chill, in London and Manchester, (verticalchill.com) has an eight metre wall that gets steeper the higher you climb, with temperatures inside ‘the fridge’ ranging from -5 to -12 degrees. You could also try Kong Adventure in the Lake District (kongadventure.com) and Snowdonia Adventures (snowdonia-adventures.co.uk).Kit can be hired, but if…1 min
T3|January 2018NOW PLAYINGDARKNetflix’s first foreign-language show is being called the German Stranger Things. In a small town, children have started going missing, and a teenage boy travels back in time…BATTLE CHEF BRIGAGEOut now on Switch and Steam, puzzle platformer Battle Chef Brigade tasks you with ridding the land of wretched monsters, then cooking them for tasty meals. It’s all very thrifty.THE BUTTERFLY EFFECTThis seven-part podcast goes behind the scenes of the p*rn industry, telling the experiences of performers and directors. Jon Ronson’s writing is very funny and also strangely moving.…1 min
T3|January 2018T3 ’s TOP PICKSTHE MOBILE WONDERUE MegablastUE’s Megablast is premium priced, but its flexibility is off the charts. It’s water resistant to one metre for 30 minutes (although it doesn’t float, unlike UE’s Wonderboom, so we’d probably leave it beside the pool) and the battery lasts a good 16 hours. Portable audio doesn’t get much better. But it’s not just a party tool: if you want to drop Alexa in any room, just bring the Megablast along.THE AUDIO CHAMPIONSonos OneCredit to Amazon: the company has pumped up the new Echo range with a truly decent speaker package. Ultimate Ears has also done a tremendous job with the balanced sound of the Megablast. But even against this stiff competition, the Sonos One climbs the mountain and comes out on top. It’s a fantastic sound…1 min
T3|January 2018DESIRE01 LEFF BLOCK CLOCKAdd a bit of tactile modern design to your bedside table with this alarm clock, dreamt up by Dutch designer Erwin Termatt for Leff Amsterdam. The handsome Block Clock features fluorescent hands and an illuminated clock face, and is encased by smooth brushed steel.£55, rume.co.uk02 LAZY LINENWinter mornings will feel a lot less demoralising when you’re dozing among Loaf’s soft-touch Lazy Linen, available in a variety of subdued hues including Light Grey and Dusky Pink. No need to iron – just wash and pop it on your duvet and pillows.From £40, loaf.com03 EXTRA LARGE STORAGE BAGLaundry, bedding, shoes, tech, the kids’ toys… Stash it all out of the way in a snug storage bag, handmade in Nepal from the softest wool felt. If you have a cat,…2 min
T3|January 2018SMART HOME PLUGS 101A smart plug enables you to turn any gadget connected to it into a smart controlled device. They work by connecting to your Wi-Fi network so that you can turn them on and off using your phone from anywhere in the world over the internet. That means you can plug one in the wall, then connect a room lamp. From the app, you’re then able to turn that lamp on and off, or set a timer, since its power is now controlled by the smart plug. Smart plugs don’t have to be expensive, as shown by the likes of the TP-LINK HS100 (£25, currys.co.uk) and EpochAir (£19, amazon.co.uk). Many of them can also be controlled via Alexa and some support Apple HomeKit, so they easily fit into part of a…1 min
T3|January 2018Mirror, mirrorWHAT’S ON TEST…1 FUJIFILMX-E3This rangefinder-inspired mirrorless compact extends and updates Fuji’s popular X series range, with faster response when shooting and touchscreen convenience.From £849.99 (body only) fujifilm.co.uk2 OLYMPUSO-MD E-M10 MK IIIThis retro-styled, third-generation interchangeable-lens travel camera gets a bigger grip and better control with a black or silver body.From £629.99 (body only) olympus.co.uk3 CANON EOS M100The replacement for the old EOS M10 shows Canon’s continued commitment to the compact system camera format, with three body colour choicesFrom £449.99 (body only) canon.co.ukA side from the seductive design based on trophy film cameras of old, it’s easy to see the appeal of mirrorless digital cameras. As their classification suggests, the mirror mechanisms of traditional, bulkier SLR cameras have been removed to enable smaller camera bodies, which has the knock-on effect of more…2 min
T3|January 2018TEST 02: FEATURESFUJIFILM X-E3OLYMPUS O-MD E-M10 MK IIICANON EOS M100Small camera, big sensor is the chief appeal of the Canon EOS M100, which in practical terms ensures it’s a camera compact enough to slip comfortably into a jacket, while being able to achieve DSLR-like image quality. While there are a handful of EF-Mmount lenses that can be attached to this camera directly, buying an optional adapter provides access to 70+ additional lenses, which is a huge advantage. Simplicity and price ensure this is attractive for anyone stepping up from a smartphone, who will love the touchscreen plus Wi-Fi and Bluetooth options for sharing images. We were using this one with a 15-45mm kit lens, a good all-encompassing starter option.Also with a big sensor, yet a slightly bigger and heavier frame, the Fuji…2 min
T3|January 2018EYE-LEVEL VIEWFINDER OR BACKPLATE LCD?In the smartphone and tablet age, we’re adept at holding a portable screen out at arm’s length to snap a picture or capture a video. But, with SLR cameras, originally without any screen, the convention was always to hold the camera up to your eye and peer through its pokey viewfinder to set up the shot. Nowadays, mirrorless digital cameras tend to offer the choice of both – eye-level shooting for the photo enthusiasts, and the by-now more familiar option of a large backplate screen. Which you prefer largely comes down to personal taste, but at least visibility via an eye-level finder won’t suffer in strong sunlight, as an LCD might, so having both is a bonus. Canon is the only camera here without an eye-level finder however.…1 min
T3|January 20185 ESSENTIAL PIECES OF KIT1 MANFROTTO BEFREE ADVANCEDAn Italian-made premium travel tripod for owners of mirrorless cameras and DSLRs with a choice of two set-up options: go for either twist-lock legs or lever lock. A flexible ball head features three independent controls for more precise adjustments.£174.95, manfrotto.co.uk2 TENBA DNA 15 BACKPACKA contemporary graphite-coloured pack for those photographers who don’t want to advertise the fact they’re carrying a camera body and assortment of lenses. It’s fairly lightweight for its type too at 1.7Kg, and can also house a 15-inch laptop.£165, tenba.com3 BILLINGHAM 72Of course you may not want a fully featured pack, and maybe a more retro-styled shoulder sling appeals? Enter this secure but lightweight option for mirrorless cameras, available in canvas or extra rugged ‘FyberNyte’ material. Includes a five-year guarantee.£100, billingham.co.uk4 ROTOLIGHT NEO 2For…1 min
T3|January 2018Unleash your creativity with a winter hobbyMICROSOFT SURFACE LAPTOPCreative writing, digital journaling and blogging are excellent ways to take your mind off how SAD or winter blues makes you feel. Microsoft’s versatile laptop offers 14.5 hours of writing time per charge – perfect for immersing yourself in a novel-writing session.From £979, microsoft.com/en-gbSONY RX10 IVSunshine and fresh air are vital in treating SAD and winter blues, but if you need inspiration to venture outside, try nature photography. Sony’s high-speed compact camera has a 25x zoom for capturing close-up shots of wildlife and wintery landscapes. See p76 for more top-quality camera options!£1,799, sony.co.ukAPPLE IPAD PRODrawing, painting and illustrating are all therapeutic activities, so why not try them in digital form with the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil? Load it with apps such as Artrage, Pigment and Procreate to…1 min
T3|January 2018Tour de forceMAN TECHTHE MISSIONIs an ebike better than a regular mountain bike for a big bikepacking race? Deputy Editor Nick takes the Wilier e806TRB eMTB, while MBUK staffer Matt Orton will be straddling a Sonder Broken Road. Using a combination of roads and bridleways, we’ll be travelling 60 miles across Dartmoor in a day. There’s an element of danger, so we’re both carrying a Spot GEN3 tracker (£130, findmespot. eu) to call in the emergency services, if need be. Luckily, Matt looks like a bear so we don’t need to worry about wolves.Bikepacking is a mash-up of mountain biking, hiking and camping. Outfit yourself with a bicycle capable of hitting the dirt, strap bags to the frame and pack your gear, food and clothing. Then plan a route and go for…8 min
T3|January 2018Google PixelbookSPECIFICATIONSPrice From £999 Processor 7th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 Storage 128GB, 256GB or 512GB SSD RAM 8GB or 16GB Screen 12.3-inch 2400x1600 LCD (235ppi) Audio Dual speakers Connections 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, 2x USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack Camera 720p (60fps) Dimensions 290.4x220.8x10.3mm Weight 1.1kgFrom £999google.comIf you’re in the market for a premium notebook, you’re spoilt for choice these days. Long gone are the days when a MacBook Pro was your only option. Of course, we’d argue that’s still one of the best laptops out there, but there is also a plethora of stunning Windows ultraportables to pore over, with Microsoft having polished and refined its Surface line-up in 2017. And now, here we are at the cusp of a new year, and Google has pulled a rabbit out…8 min
T3|January 2018Razer PhoneSPECIFICATIONSPrice £700 Screen 5.7-inch, 1440x2560 LCD Storage 64GB Operating system Android 7.1 Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 RAM 8GB Camera 12MP, f/1.75 Wide, 12MP f/2.6 Zoom Dimensions 158.5x77.7x8mm Weight 197g Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C, NFC£700 razerzone.comThe Razer Phone classifies itself as a gaming phone, but it’s also the perfect device for entertainment, whether that’s watching movies or listening to music, thanks to an amazing screen with technology not seen in a phone before, brilliant speakers, and a design that makes it easy to hold in landscape mode.Taking inspiration from Razer’s range of gaming laptops, the phone is crafted from matt-black aluminium, giving it the appearance of a stealth jet. The rear casing features a contrasting black Razer logo on the back giving away its identity (a limited-edition launch model will…5 min
T3|January 2018Liberated listeningTruly wireless earphones are in their infancy, and that’s exciting. Every company that’s birthed a set of buds has added their own genetics: connection methods, features, buttons, charging cases - all differ. There’s no standard yet. But there are plenty of ideas and, depending on which way your money goes, the potential for a huge range of functionality.The best entries in this first generation will define the look and sound of the next. Perhaps we’ve been critical in this six-way smackdown, but that’s only because we see what wireless earphones could become – and that every current entry, for all their individual merits, has a kink or two to iron out.01 A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHINGBRAGI DASH PRO 35X£349, bragi.comThere’s little the Dash Pro buds don’t do. They’re fitness trackers,…3 min
T3|January 2018BEST OF THE BESTIf you’re looking for the very best tech available today, you have definitely come to the right place.Best of the Best is the most useful gadget-buying guide you will ever encounter. To create it, we’ve ruthlessly filtered down to the biggest groups, to bring you rock-solid recommendations for your home life, daily commute and the tech you use all the time.Within each of those groups, we’ve got a dozen categories for key tech buys. We’ve picked one product for every category that we think is the best you can get on balance, taking into account price, quality and features, so it’s easy to know what you need in your life.You should also check out T3.com, where you’ll find even more categories, if you’re looking for something that isn’t here. From…1 min
T3|January 2018BEST OF… LIFESTYLEANDROID PHONESAMSUNG GALAXY S8Tremendously fast, with an Infinity Display that almost completely eliminates bezels, cameras that work in any light, and irisscanning security. Samsung’s flagship is as much an experience as it is a phone.From £579, samsung.comMID-RANGE PHONEHONOR 9Coming in at half the price of a flagship phone, this is truly a hidden gem. It looks great, with a diffracted curved glass finish, and its cost completely belies its specs – especially its excellent dual cameras.£379, hihonor.comSMARTWATCHAPPLE WATCH SERIES 3Nothing in the smartwatch market does more than the Apple Watch, and this third generation can do it all without a tethered phone – perfect for keeping your life in order whatever you happen to be doing.From £329, apple.com/ukANALOGUE WATCHVICTO RINOX INOX PARACORDWith a strap woven out of 250kg-tension paracord and…2 min
T3|January 2018BEST OF… COMPUTINGULTRAPORTABLE LAPTOPHP SPECTRE 13Simply the most glamorous and handsome laptop you can buy today, and that doesn’t mean sacrificing power, either: HP has somehow managed to squeeze a Core i7 into its impossibly thin 1cm-thick shell.From £1,149, hp.comGAMING LAPTOPRAZER BLADE STEALTHA sumptuous Core i7 processor, a 4K screen, a Razer Chroma-infused keyboard, all in a beautiful ultrabook shell. Add in desktop GPU power via the Thunderbolt 3 Razer Core and you’re in gaming heaven.From £1,349, razerzone.com/gb-enALL-IN-ONEAPPLE IMAC WITH 5K RETINA DISPLAYThere’s never been a screen like this. Big enough for every task, detailed, bright, colourful, and it happens to have a Mac stuffed in the back of it as well.From £1,749, apple.com/ukGAMING HEADSETSTEELSERIES ARCTIS 7Super-comfortable thanks to SteelSeries’ ski-goggle-inspired headband, with great full-range drivers and a studio-quality mic, all in…2 min
T3|January 2018PORSCHE DESIGN 247 BILLIARDS POOL TABLEPorsche Design turned its creative hand to cue sports for this ultra-modern pool table. Crafted exclusively for 247 Billiards by Steininger, its striking one-piece design is constructed from DuPont’s ultra-tough and ultra-stylish CNC-machined Corian, and is reinforced by a 10mm-thick stainless-steel core. Top side, each corner is outfitted with a hand-made leather pocket, and there’s a matching Corian stand on which to rest one’s trusty cue. No matter your taste in interior decor, both the body and cloth can be colour coordinated to suit. If you like to rack ’em, there’s no cooler way.£23,997 247billiards.comNEXT ISSUE IS ON SALE FRIDAY 26 JANUARYGlobetrotting made smarter than ever with T3’s tech travel guide!…1 min
T3|January 2018Meet the teamMATT BOLTONEditorWith the results of our big smart home speaker test in (p42), Matt’s started to fill his house with smart assistants. He calls them his “army”, which is definitely doesn’t seem terrifying at all.NICK ODANTZISDeputy EditorIf you want, for some reason, to see a floor you could eat off, head to Nick’s house, where he’s tested four robot vacuum cleaners (p70). They helped clean the mud from his ebike race (p96).CLAIRE DAVIESAssociate EditorThere’s a calm corner of the office around Claire after her research into using tech to beat the winter blues (p87). It almost seemed like her desk was glowing, but that turned out to be a SAD light.JO GULLIVERSenior Art EditorJo’s looking at getting a new car. As tempting as the Tesla Roadster (p14) is, she says…2 min
T3|January 2018ROOM-SENSING SOUNDWhen you listen to music in a room, the sound reflects off its walls, shaping how it reaches your ears – fine details will often be lost as sound waves bounce, for example. But more and more speakers are arriving that listen for these imperfections, and then adjust their output to compensate, bringing the magic back to your music.Apple’s HomePod, due for release in early 2018, is built around adapting its sound, listening to its own audio with six microphones and using seven beamforming tweeters to precisely focus its output for your room.Dynaudio’s new line of multi-room speakers, the Music Collection (from ¤499/£446.43), features similar tech; RoomAdapt enables the speakers to automatically optimise performance to complement the room and the position they’re placed in.Home cinema massively benefits from room adaptation…1 min
T3|January 2018THE HOTTEST TIMEPIECES RIGHT NOWMICHEL HERBELIN MONTMARTEThere’s something delightfully vintage about the Montmarte watch, with its soft leather strap and midnight-blue dial. We like the simple, centred complications, too.£495, watchshop.comLOUIS VUITTON TAMBOUR ALL BLACKLouis Vuitton’s new watch is a tribute to drums, and comes with polished anthracite indexes, half-skeleton Superluminova hands and Gaston V signature.£5,620, uk.louisvuitton.com/eng-gbTIMEX + TODD SNYDER THE MOD WATCHTransform your style with this limited-edition watch. The Mod theme comes courtesy of that high-contrast bullseye face, based on a design in the Timex archives.$138 (£104), toddsnyder.com…1 min
T3|January 2018HANDSFREE BLUETOOTH CAR KITSJABRA DRIVEFrom a company that started out in hearing aids, you know the audio on this is going to be good. The Drive looks stunning with a brushed metallic finish, and clips onto any car sun visor.£43, jabra.comPARROT CK3100There’s a reason the Parrot brand has been around since handsfree Bluetooth became a reality – it works well. The CK3100 uses your car’s speakers for playback and automatically mutes music to take and make calls.£150, parrot.comICLEVER WIRELESSBudget-friendly and easy to install, the iClever Wireless plugs into your car’s 12v socket for power and can be attached to your mobile. Audio is transmitted via FM to your car radio so you don’t have to worry about cables at installation.£14, amazon.co.uk…1 min
T3|January 2018WINTER-PROOF BROLLIESBEAU NUAGEThe founders of this French brand set out to “reinvent the concept of the umbrella” by inventing a self-drying cover (included). A triple-layered pocket with microfibre lining absorbs rainwater, drying your brolly when it’s stashed in your bag or pocket.€35 (£30.91), beau-nuage.comBLUNT CLASSICHere, Blunt sets out to create the ultimate street umbrella. The Classic features a stormresistant, aerodynamic (and wind tunnel-tested) canopy, and has rounded safety tips to stop you from accidentally poking your wet-weather companions in the eye.£59.99, bluntumbrellas.com/ukTOTES XTRA ST RONG AUTO OPEN/CLOSE UMBRELLATotes’ range of extra-strong umbrellas has an aluminium and fibreglass frame built to withstand the most blustery weather. It also comes with a silicon coating that offers superior water resistance.£28, totes.co.uk…1 min
T3|January 2018THE BONUS BUYSHISENSE 6800 55-INCH TVA must-have upgrade for your lounge, this slim and striking panel delivers stunning pictures for its £649 price, thanks to its 4K HDR capabilities.IPAD PRO 10.5-INCHWith oodles of power, a gorgeous screen and weighing just 468g, the iPad Pro is the best tablet on the market, and a great companion to your 7X at £619.HTC VIVEThe best VR experience around for its £599 price, the Vive has an immersive field of view, intuitive 3D controls and a plethora of top-tier VR titles to choose from.…1 min
T3|January 2018FOLDING HEADPHONESBOSE QUIETCOMFORT 35 II, £329.95, bose.co.ukNow with added Google Assistant, Bose’s comfy over-ears offer balanced sound and impressive noise cancellation. The plastic design is admittedly bland, but we appreciate the lightweight feel it provides. An instant-mute feature would have made these perfect, but they’re still ace for travellers.AKG N60 NC WIRELESS, £249.99, akg.comThese on-ears deliver quality audio, nearly 30 hours playback and reliable Bluetooth connectivity. They’re smaller and fold up neater than the Bose, making them ideal for cramped bags, and can also be used wired. Noise cancellation isn’t as refined as with the Bose, but still effective at dimming the buzz of public spaces.…1 min
T3|January 2018GADGET GURUQ VINCENT COX, LEIGHTON BUZZARDMy keyboard makes my hands hurt. Help!A We make some of our most unwise decisions at a desk. Guru just caught himself leaning sideways with his wrists all wonky, and now his hands are throbbing. The ergonomics of your workstation could be as much to blame as your keyboard; make sure you’re kitted out with a good desk and a proper office chair – try the £615 Herman Miller Sayl if you’re feeling really flush, or IKEA’s Markus (£130) otherwise.Defeating the menace of RSI and its sinister cousin Carpal Tunnel Syndrome takes more than just sitting right. There’s no standard hand, so if your mitts don’t suit, for example, the shallow leaf springs of the Apple Magic Keyboard (£99), you may be better suited to a…6 min
T3|January 2018Duncan Bell… is living the lifeThis is no exaggeration: the film was 66 minutes of a close-up of a washing machine…I ‘ve been sitting in a swanky Leicester Square cinema for an hour. It feels a fair bit longer than that, not least because my boyfriend is giving me the evils from the seat to my right.A decent proportion of the audience has walked out, and those left are merrily chattering among themselves or engaging in a bit of compulsive phone prodding, even though we’re in a cinema so, of course, there’s no signal.The reason is that a well-known Korean tech brand – let’s call them ‘Samsung’ – has decided to hold what is either the bravest or most ill-conceived launch event ever.Christmas day, every dayPeople often ask me, “What’s it like doing your job?…3 min
T3|January 2018HOME62 THE SET-UPProtect your home’s frontage and check in on your front door from anywhere with Ring’s best video doorbell ever66 HOME UPGRADEGive your kitchen a mini makeover with Bosch’s snazzy interchangeable door cover fridge-freezer68 DESIRETurn the most dour of interiors into a dream habitat with the most luxurious furniture and accessories70 HOME TESTThe ultimate smart home upgrade? If you value your time, check out our roundup of the best robot vacuums72 SMART HOME SURGERYGot a question about your smart home, but don’t know who to turn to? Head here74 LIVING SMARTERUse IFTTT.com to get all your smart home devices working together, and enjoy an even smarter home…1 min
T3|January 2018PUT A RING ON IT01 FOLLOW THE SET-UP INSTRUCTIONSGet the Ring - Always Home app from whichever flavour of app store your device uses. The app has a clear walkthrough process for setting up the doorbell and getting it connected to your Wi-Fi network, including a video tutorial on mounting it properly on the wall.02 DEVICE OPTIONSOne your Ring 2 is added, tap in your list of devices to see all the options for it. You can quickly turn notifications for button presses or motion detection on or off at the top here. The other options take you through to more specialised settings, and useful views such as the event log, for reviewing past videos.03 MOTION SETTINGSThe settings that are worth customising the most are the Motion Settings. Tap this option to get the…2 min
T3|January 2018Smart robot vacuumsGREAT COVERAGENEATO BOTVAC D5 CONNECTED£600, neatorobotics.comSitting in the middle of the Botvac lineup, the D5 offers smart thrills without the frills. Capable of a marathon 120 minutes of cleaning action, it’s perfect for extended work periods. Its shape gives it a unique advantage – able to get into the tightest of corners to pick up fuzz, and there’s even an ‘Extra care mode’, which softens the D5’s rambunctious appetite on delicate skirtings. That said, its big footprint causes some navigation issues in tight spaces. Its cleaning performance is admirable – in whole house or spot mode – and the combo brush is able to suck up all sorts of detritus; the bin is plenty capacious too. The D5 uses a lo-tech magnetic strip for setting boundaries. The app is clean…4 min
T3|January 2018Create the ultimate notificationWant to make sure you can’t miss a vital message? Let’s tie smart devices together to trigger based on notifications. Start by defining precisely what will trigger your notifications. We’ll use an email from a specific address, but you could get more broad – a door sensor being tripped, a Facebook Like, every single text message you get – but be wary of overdoing it in case your living room turns into a rave.We’re going to use IFTTT.com to get everything working together. You’ll need to create a separate ‘applet’ for each element of your notification (see right), but it makes disabling individual aspects of your notification quick and easy.Once you’re all linked up, you’ll need to decide what happens. This is the fun part, and it’s where you can…2 min
T3|January 2018INCREDIBLE POWERWe all want to squeeze as many photos and/or videos out of our camera battery as possible, but, then again, the smaller form factor of a mirrorless camera necessitates a smaller battery pack than those found in competing DSLRs. So it’s no surprise to find a battery life roughly half that of larger, bulkier interchangeable lens cameras you’ll find on the market. Although around 330 shots is the average for mirrorless (or ‘compact system‘) cameras, certain manufacturers, such as Canon with its M100, have got around this by introducing the option of ‘eco’ modes that turn some features off or introduce restrictions to eke just a bit more juice and longevity out of a fully charged cell. So if you need that one final perfect shot, there’s a chance.…1 min
T3|January 2018VERDICT: THE OVERALL WINNER IS…OLYMPUS OM-D E-M10 MARK IIIFrom £629.99 (body only) olympus.co.ukWE’RE IMPRESSED The E-M10 Mark III aces it – mind you, it’s had three iterations to get it right. Though some will moan that it doesn’t have an APS-C or a full-frame sensor to make it 100 per cent perfect in the eyes of photo enthusiasts, its chip is plenty big enough, plus results on a par with Fuji and Canon should silence any such gripes.WE’D IMPROVE The control layout is busy, while backplate buttons are small in comparison to chunky ones on the top plate.THE FINAL WORD It’s rare that any camera aces each test for us in comparison to less expensive or more solidly built rivals, but the Olympus delivers.FUJIFILM X-E3From £849.99 (body only), fujifilm.co.ukIMPRESSED Solidly built with gorgeous retro…1 min
T3|January 2018Tech to beat the winter bluesWinter in the UK brings with it shorter days, less sunshine and a duller sun. If you’re among the estimated 21 per cent of the UK’s population that suffers from the ‘winter blues’, or the eight per cent (and rising) diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), winter can be challenging. But how do you know if you’re suffering from the winter blues or a form of SAD?Helen Hanson, Chair of the Seasonal Affective Disorder Association (SADA) charity, describes winter blues as a milder expression of SAD, the latter now recognised medically as a form of depression. “Lack of light causes SAD,” explains Helen. “This lack of light creates a biochemical imbalance in the hypothalamus, a part of the brain which regulates many bodily functions. This explains why SAD affects people…1 min
T3|January 2018Increase your health and wellbeingMERRELL MOAB 2 MID GORE-TEX BOOTSCabin fever and SAD don’t mix well. Get outdoors as often as you can this winter – and step into a pair of Merrell’s warm and waterproof hiking boots, designed with Vibram TC5+ soles to keep you stable on icy paths. £125, merrell.com/UKX-BIONIC LAMBORGHINI OUTDOOR RACOON JACKETThere are numerous benefits to exercising outdoors in the winter, as long as you’re properly kitted out. Try X-Bionic’s lightweight water-resistant fitness jacket with sweat management and internal climate control.€299 (£263.98), x-bionic.com/en-deGARMIN VIVOACTIVE 3Whether you prefer to hit the trail or the treadmill, Garmin’s latest GPS smartwatch will help you fight back against the fatigue brought on by SAD and winter blues. It comes preloaded with GPS and indoor sports apps including running, swimming and yoga.£279.99, garmin.com/en-GBSAGE BY HESTON…2 min
T3|January 2018THE KEY INGREDIENTSWILIER E803TRBLots of power from the Shimano STEPS motor and relaxed geometry make it ideal for bikepacking. £5,000, wilier.comORTLIEB BAGSUnlike Matt’s Alpkit bags, these rugged units from Ortlieb are fully waterproof.From £95, ortlieb.comSATMAP ACTIVE 20Ideal for route planning, the Active 20 is waterand shockproof and has detailed mapping.£395, satmap.comMSR FREELITE 1Despite this tent’s small size and weight (1kg!), there’s plenty of room, even for tall types.£280, msrgear.com/ieSONDER BROKEN ROADLight, hardy and with lots of mounts for bottle cages, the Broken Road is perfect for broken roads. From £1,949, alpkit.comONEUP EDC TOOL SYSTEMThis clever pump hides a plethora of handy tools, to keep you pedalling. £42,int.oneupcomponents.comISM PM 2.0It looks like a torture device, but this saddle is ergonomically designed for long-distance riding.£117, ismseat.comKLYMIT INERTIA X LITE MATCushy, it ain’t, but this…1 min
T3|January 2018ALL-SCREEN OLED PHONESOnePlus 5T£449, oneplus.netVsHuawei Mate 10 Pro£699, huawei.comDESIGNWith a smoother, more rounded design, the OnePlus 5T is a seriously refined handset, even if it only comes in black. It’s also comfy in hand, with an easy-to-use rear-mounted fingerprint reader. There’s no waterproofing here, sadly.SCREENThe 6-inch 18:9 AMOLED display fills most of the front and OnePlus has made the most of it by employing a hidden nav bar. The Full HD+ resolution (1080x2160) isn’t as impressive on paper as the S8, but in reality it still looks amazing.PERFORMANCEThe 5T is insanely fast, thanks to the Snapdragon 853 chip, ludicrous 8GB RAM and fuss-free interface. 3,300mAh battery lasts a day, while you can charge to 80 per cent in 30 minutes. Face Unlock makes for super-speedy screen unlocking.CAMERAA 16- and 20MP lens, both…2 min
T3|January 2018Focal Sib Evo 5.1.2£1,099 focal.com/ukDolby Atmos, the next-gen audio system, seems to be everywhere. It’s fast becoming ubiquitous on Blu-ray, is gaining support from Sky and BT, and even features on XBox One X games. However, if you want to hear it at home, you’ve been limited to expensive floorstanders and faced adding Dolby Enabled speakers to existing systems, or buying an Atmos soundbar.This Focal system changes all that. A 5.1.2 system, the package comprises three basic Sib Evo satellites (two for rear deployment, one to sit horizontally as a centre), two larger Sib Evo Dolby Atmos speakers for left/right, and the cute Cub Evo Subwoofer. Neatly, the Sib Evo Atmos speakers combine front-firing speaker drivers, with full-range up-firers for audio.All satellites can be wall-mounted, parked on optional matching floor stands, or placed…2 min
T3|January 2018Nikon D850£3,499 (Body only) nikon.comAs you’d expect from a camera that costs the same as a halfdecent second-hand car, the D850 is a beast. With weather sealing and a chunky handgrip, this is a camera which can handle some scrapes.Buttons and dials adorn the D850, giving you instant access to all your most-needed settings. Your thumb naturally falls upon the handy joystick to set the AF point when you’re shooting through the bright viewfinder (the largest magnification ever found on a Nikon DSLR by the way).Alternatively, you’ve got the 3.2-inch screen, which, still relatively unusually for a full-frame DSLR, tilts and is touchsensitive. A new silent mode means you can shoot without making a sound if you need to remain discreet - weddings, for example.The D850 uses the same speedy and…2 min
T3|January 2018BEST OF… ENTERTAINMENTOLED 4K TVSONY A1 SERIESIncredible 4K HDR is only a tiny part of this awesome package. The panel (55- or 65-inch) and bezel are super-slim, it offers lightning response times, and great sound comes from a screen that’s also a speaker.From £2,800, sony.co.ukTOP-END 4K TVLOEWE BILD 9Loewe creates art just as much as it does high-end AV equipment, and its towering, sculptural bild 9 TV is as attractive as it is exquisitely powerful, with a hidden soundbar and top picture quality.£8,990, loewe.tvVALUE 4K BLU-RAY PLAYERXBOX ONESYes, this is primarily a games console, but it’s a damn good UHD Blu-ray player too. Why pay more for something that just plays discs when you could be getting your game on with the money left over?£199, microsoft.com4K STREAMERAMAZON FIRE TV WITH 4K ULTRA…2 min
T3|January 2018Editor’s letterAs we started to approach the end of 2017, we knew we were going to be overloaded with smart home speakers. Everyone had the same idea: ‘if the original Echo wasn’t very good at playing music, let’s do one that is!’So here we are, inundated with audio companies adding Alexa into wireless speakers, and Amazon adding beefier drives into its new Echo line-up. How the hell are we ever going to sort the wheat from chaff? In a giant show-down, obviously – all the best, smartest options in one place. And that place is p42. Whatever your priority, whether it’s smart home control or audio quality, we’ve got the pick for you.We’re big fans of ebikes here on T3, but we tend to focus on them for commuters or other…2 min
T3|January 2018CUTTING-EDGE CROWDFUNDINGJAMMYPractise guitar whenever and wherever you want with this backpack-friendly digital six-string. The Jammy has a sliding neck that extends out, plus a headphone jack. An app is also being developed to help you learn songs.$449 (£336), playjammy.comUNISTELLAR EVSCOPEDeveloped in partnership with the SETI Institute, the potentially groundbreaking eVscope will use Enhanced Vision tech to create amplified pictures, helping you see the cosmos in incredible detail.$1,900 (£1,424), unistellaroptics.com…1 min
T3|January 2018IDRIS ELBATHE COATIdris Elba couldn’t care less about traditional red carpet style. We love his olive trench worn over a black Burberry polo. For a similar look try the Michael Kors Cotton-blend Trench Coat (£350, michaelkors.co.uk).THE TROUSERSIdris allows extra length at the bottom of his chinostyle pants to sit over those knock-out sneakers. Do the same with a pair of longerlength Selected Homme Slim Fit Chinos in Decadent (£55, asos.com).THE SHOESChristian Louboutin’s sneaker-boot hybrids lend Idris’s outfit a tougher edge. Step out in similar style with Louboutin’s Louis Calf shoes (£595, christianlouboutin.com/uk_en).…1 min
T3|January 2018VOLVO XC60 T8Volvo’s mid-sized premium SUV is already a corker – it won Car of the Year at the T3 Awards – but this part-petrol, part-electric version is more supercar than family wagon. Outwardly it doesn’t look special, and on my first drive of this super SUV, I wondered if someone hadn’t stuck a badge on the back of a base model. That said, the flagship Inscription Pro T8 is, on the inside, a glorious place to be; smart and sumptuous without being overt, though it treads a fine line with the Orrefors crystal gear stick. The B&W system also looks and sounds sublime.With 400bhp on tap – 314 of those go through the front wheels from the combined super- and turbocharged petrol 2.0-litre engine; the rest via the rear wheels courtesy…1 min
T3|January 2018THE ULTIMATE HOME OFFICEThe number of people working from home is rising. Although this option has clear perks, it can be tricky to tune back into home life if your office space is staring at you from the corner of your living room. Enter office pods. These slick mini offices perch at the end of your garden, providing enough space to work comfortably while keeping home separate.Pod (pod-space.co.uk) has picked up several Red Dot design awards for its range of innovative offices. Our favourite is the Lite Pod 2 (from £21,980), an open-plan studio clad in larch. One side of the pod is entirely glass, and digitally controlled underfloor heating ensures your toes stay toasty.A similar but cheaper option is the Solo Ultra from Smart Garden Offices (from £9,995, smartgardenoffices.co.uk). A neat rectangular…1 min
T3|January 2018SPRING SUN GETAWAYSSICILYFabulous food, evocative Greek and Roman ruins and a vibrant atmosphere, Sicily is a terrific and rewarding place to visit for Easter sun. Bustling, chaotic and noisy Palermo is a must for city life, while Cefalù has a wonderful sandy beach for you to wander in warmth.MOROCCOWhether it’s meandering around the souks of Marrakech or windsurfing in laid-back Essaouira, Morocco has near-on eight hours of sunshine at that time of year and highs of around 27 degrees. It’ll be less crowded at that time, but the mountains are cooler.CRETEBeaches, hiking, ancient palaces and towns… Megalonisos (The Great Island) has a lot going for it and, crucially, has one of the earliest springs in the Mediterranean. It’s worth noting that the south is warmer than the north at that time of…1 min
T3|January 2018RAINPRO OF RUNNING SHOESINOV-8 PARKCLAW 275 GTXDesigned for trails, park runs and for those transitioning from road to trail running. Aggressive grip is mated to the remarkable GORE Invisible Fit tech – fully waterproof but with a normal running shoe feel.£140, inov-8.comTHE NORTH FACE ULTRA ENDURANCE GTXDesigned for long distances off-road, these are heavy but well-cushioned underfoot, and the sole’s Ultra Protect CRADLE tech means they’re snug on the inside. Vibram Megagrip provides traction in all wet weather conditions.£120, thenorthface.co.ukSALOMON SPEED CROSS 4 GTXThis lightweight, aggressive shoe is a weather-proof allrounder. A combination of Premium Wet Traction and Vibram Megagrip will grip most surfaces hard, while the Salomon Flex Engineered with Gore-Tex keeps the nasty weather out.£130, salomon.com/uk…1 min
T3|January 2018GADGET GURU’S MAGIC BOXGaGu’s office, in the dank basem*nt of Guru towers, tends to get a little frigid in the winter, particularly because your author is far too stingy to have the heating on. The same concern does not extend to his electricity bill, though, which is handy: he can’t do without his Betterlife Heated Foot Warmer (GaGu got it for £20, and so might you). Chompsky loves curling up on it, and it ensures that, in combination with Guru’s awesome new Berghaus Extrem Ramche jacket (£350), at least one person in the house is toasty-warm.The hoarding edifice of gadget mountain remains a concern, but there’s a new item tossed on top: the Blisso Ultrasonic Pest Repeller (£40, or possibly less, for a pair). GaGu won’t say that it doesn’t work, because it’s…1 min
T3|January 2018SMART HOME SPEAKERSThe hidden talentThree big names in smart assistants, but only two on test...AMAZONAmazon’s aggressive licensing of Alexa means it’s made its way into a number of new devices recently, though not all of them offer the same full control or range of skills that Amazon’s own Echo range has. Bear that in mind when buying.GOOGLEAt press time, Google’s own devices are the only way to use the advanced smarts of Google Assistant at home, but there are more coming – the company opened the Assistant up to other companies in mid- 2017, so we’ll see more in 2018.SIRIApple’s been taking its time bringing a Siri-based smart home speaker to market; Homepod was originally slated for a winter 2017 release, but has been delayed until early 2018 for more refinement. It…9 min
T3|January 2018THE SETUPTHEFT PREVENTIONThe Ring 2 can be mounted directly, but it also comes with two different wall mounts, one angled to the side and one angled down, so you can get the best view of your house. When you mount the ring, you use tamperproof screws, which should prevent any opportunist thieves from grabbing it. However, if someone does half-inch your bell, Ring has a policy to provide a free replacement – see bit.ly/ringstolen for details.BATTERY OR WIREDThe Ring 2 comes with a rechargeable battery that should last six months, so you can install it anywhere, but you can wire it into an existing doorbell system, which will give it power and trigger your chime. (If you want a wireless chime inside the house to trigger when someone presses the Ring…3 min
T3|January 2018Too cool for schoolWith Bosch’s fridge-freezer as the centrepiece, you can get a new kitchen look whenever you wantBuying a fridge-freezer used to be one of the most boring purchases you could make for your home – a huge slab of silver or white to occupy a corner of the kitchen. Thrilling. Now, with the release of its Vario Style Fridge-Freezer, Bosch has joined the growing throng of manufacturers who are suddenly lavishing attention on the humble beer and milk chiller.Bosch’s Vario Style Fridge-Freezer features removable front door panels that come in 19 different colours, including vibrant Raspberry and Lime. These panels can be snapped on and off via invisible hooks and magnets – perfect if you fancy freshening up your kitchen without breaking out the paint.Things will stay fresh on the inside…1 min
T3|January 2018SMART HOME SURGERYQ AIMEE EDWARDS, COVENTRYI’m replacing my shower at the moment. Can you suggest any suitable high-tech ones?A NICK ODANTZIS REPLIES:You’re right to think smart, as getting clean doesn’t have to be a digital-free experience any more. Take the Triton Host (£TBA, tritonshowers.com), for example. This sleek digital shower offers you multiple presets for the best shower experience. When you hop in, all you need to do is press a button and the water temperature, power and comfort will be pre-tuned for your perfect shower.Thanks to multiple settings, other people in your house can also have their shower presets easily accessible. All that information should be clear to read on the Triton Host’s crisp colour display, designed in such a way that even the most blearyeyed early starter can see what’s…3 min
T3|January 2018HOW TO MAKE AN EMAIL-WATCHING IFTTT APPLETBEGIN BUILDINGLog in to IFTTT and begin creating an applet by selecting your Gmail account as its ‘If’. Not on Gmail? You can use IFTTT’s email trigger: set up an auto-forward from your email to the trigger address given.CHOOSE A TRIGGERSelect the ‘New email in inbox from’ trigger, enter the address you want to watch for and hit ‘Create Trigger’. Bear in mind the message will have to land in your inbox – if you filter it elsewhere, the action won’t fire.WHAT HAPPENS?It’s time to choose the ‘that’ portion of your applet. There’s a massive list of actions to choose from, but you can narrow it down with the search box. A good start might be to change your lights’ colour.…1 min
T3|January 2018TALKIN’ ’BOUT A RESOLUTIONJust going by specification, the 24- megapixel resolutions offered by the Canon and Fuji cameras on test here would seem to out-gun the Olympus’ relatively humble 16.1 megapixels. But, of course, that’s only if we’re playing the numbers game. Pixels aren’t everything, because the ability of the lens in use to resolve all that information, and the physical dimensions of the sensor onto which light is directed, also play their part. The Canon and Fuji offer larger APS-C-sized sensors, as typically found in DSLRs, while the Olympus uses the smaller Four Thirds type. But if using a smaller chip, cramming less pixels onto it makes sense, because overcrowding can lead to visible image grain or ‘noise’ the darker the shooting conditions get.…1 min
T3|January 2018TEST 03: PERFORMANCEFUJIFILM X-E3OLYMPUS O-MD E-M10 MK IIICANON EOS M100The diminutive Canon is more fiddly than conventionally styled, larger rivals; we had to raise its screen to get a fingernail under the catch for media card access, which the screen bezel otherwise obscures. The lack of a proper handgrip was also more noticeable. However, it was quick to power up, find focus and capture a shot, and presenting its three core shooting modes on a dial next to the shutter-release button keeps things simple. Image quality is good, if not quite knockout, with warm colours straight out of the camera, and particularly lush autumnal greens, browns and blues. We were able to achieve some pleasing shallow-depth-of-field effects with the kit lens.The Olympus E-M10 Mark III is the most comfortable and natural in…2 min
T3|January 2018SIX WAYS TO GET MORE FROM YOUR MIRRORLESS CAMERA01 GET UP EARLY…to catch the light. Landscape photographers are always up at an unpleasant hour to catch the dawn mist rising as the golden rays of the sun break through the dim. It’s not just that they are better photographers than the rest of us, just that they made the special effort.02 TAKE A LOT OF PICTURESIt’s a rule-of-thumb that professional photographers swear by. The more shots you take, the more likely you are to capture that decisive ‘wow’ moment. As you’re shooting digitally, there is no added cost to taking more pictures!03 MAKE USE OF OFF-CAMERA FLASH…or off-camera lighting of any description, including continuous LEDs. This allows you to control the light better than any built-in bulb. Thus harsh, unflattering shadows when taking portraits and the curse of…1 min
T3|January 2018Break a sweat outdoorsThose living with SAD and winter blues often learn to adapt their lifestyle where possible during the winter, moving high-energy projects to other times of the year. “Rather than resisting the condition, it is better to acknowledge it, learn how it works and make appropriate changes,” advises Helen Hanson. Exercise, however, should be a constantHelen continues: “Try to get plenty of sleep and relaxation, eat a healthy diet and spend as much time as possible outside in natural daylight or near windows. You should also try to include exercise in your new lifestyle. It is one of the most effective ways of alleviating depression.”The UK Outdoor Fitness Group (ukoutdoorfitness.com) run bootcamp classes that can have positive effects on SAD and winter blues. According to Paul Smith, manager and master trainer,…2 min
T3|January 2018HOW WE TEST106 GOOGLE PIXELBOOK110 SMACKDOWN: ALL-SCREEN OLED PHONES111 SKY SOUNDBOX112 RAZER PHONE114 FOCAL SIB EVO 5.1.2 ATMOS SPEAKERS115 OPTOMA UHZ65 LASER PROJECTOR116 SIX TRUE-WIRELESS EARBUDS118 NIKON D850In T3, we feature only the finest gadgets out there, and we believe that you – our loyal reader – deserve only the best tech in your life. We don’t want you to waste time, and money, on inferior products, and that’s exactly why our Tested section exists.In here you’ll find only the latest and hottest tech. Each product has been handpicked and tested by T3’s experts. We only choose people with specialist knowledge for each test, so you know you’re going to get an outcome based on many years of experience in their respective field.As well as our traditional five-star rating system (right), we…1 min
T3|January 2018Sky SoundboxFrom £249 sky.comFirst let’s get the bad news out of the way: if you’re not an existing Sky Q customer, the Sky Soundbox – a TV soundbar co-created by Sky and French audio specialist Devialet – will cost a not-inconsequential £799. The good news? If you are a Sky Q customer you get it for a much more palatable £299, and multiroom customers can even take an additional £50 off that already-reasonable price tag.If you sit in the Sky camp, the Soundbox is a worthy investment. It’s a chunky, understatedlooking thing, with solid build quality; small enough to sit next to your TV on a surface, though it is quite tall. On the outside it features HDMI passthrough and an optical input. On the inside, you get Dolby Digital support…2 min
T3|January 2018Optoma UHZ65£5,000 optoma.co.ukHot on the heels of the first 4K UHD DLP home cinema projectors comes Optoma’s debut Laser phosphor model. Replacing the traditional projector lamp with a laser introduces a string of benefits including near-instant on, 20,000- hour longevity and wide colour support.Set-up is a doddle. Manual zoom and lens shift controls are hidden under a hinged lid. While we recommend a dedicated (ideally light reflecting) screen, like a Draper ReAct, you can get away with a white wall. It’s possible to cast a 120-inch image from just 3.7m.Picture clarity is outstanding. The projector employs an XPR (eXpanded Pixel Resolution) 0.67-inch DMD device, which uses hyper-fast switching to create a 4K (8 million pixel) image from 4.15 million mirrors. It’s not exactly native 4K, but it’s as near as dammit.…2 min
T3|January 20181 OF 4 PIONEER XDP-3OR HI-RES PORTABLE MUSIC PLAYERSWe all love to have our favourite songs with us wherever we are, and listen to them in the best possible quality. But to do both, you need a portable music player with better audio-playing components than your average phone is built with. That’s where the brilliant Pioneer XDP-30R comes in.This portable music player can play tunes stored on microSD cards (it has two slots, enabling up to 400GB of storage) in audiophile-level files, including DSD, FLAC, ALAC and WAV in addition to the usual MP4 and AA C formats. It even supports the new MQA format for master-quality audio that sounds like you’re in the studio.Your music will sound so much better than a non-dedicated player thanks to the advanced circuitry built in, which draws on Pioneer’s heritage. Two…2 min
T3|January 2018BEST OF… AUDIOMULTI-ROOM SPEAKERSSONOS ONEPound for pound, this is a hell of a lot of speaker for your money, easily filling a room, and expandable through the versatile Sonos speaker range. Built-in Alexa support clinches it for Sonos.£199, sonos.comPORTABLE BLUETOOTH SPEAKERCAMBRIDGE AU DIO YOYO MThese portable speakers are made for wireless stereo sound and come as a pair (though you can use one on its own). They offer punchy audio in an impressively wide sound field, and look great, too.£299, cambridgeaudio.comWIRELESS IN-EAR HEADPHONESFLARES PROThese headphones plug into a mini-DAC you need to clip about your person, but the result is truly amazing sound for the size. It’s audiophile stuff, with beautiful stereo channel separation.£349, flareaudio.comWIRED IN-EAR HEADPHONESSENNHEISER MOMENTUM M2IEThe M2IE boast fantastically detailed sound, plenty of bass and dedicated versions for both…2 min
T3|January 2018BEST OF… AUTOFAMILY CARVOLVO XC60Well-appointed and exquisitely designed, this mid-size hybrid SUV has all the entertainment options you need, the poise to make those long journeys smooth and enjoyable, and is safe as houses.From £35,655, volvocars.com/ukCITY ELECTRIC CARBMW I3BMW’s i3 is a responsive, highly practical electric runabout packed with connectivity options and enough power in its 170bhp motor to hit 62mph in just 7.3 seconds. Perfect for a daily commute.From £30,250, bmw.co.ukCAR DISPLAYNAVDYAn innovation that takes the concept of the car heads-up display to the next level, with translucent mapping in your eyeline and gesture control so you can answer calls or dismiss alerts with a wave.£399, navdy.comDASH CAMGARMIN DASH CAM 55Constantly watching the road, the Dash Cam 55 does more than record footage and save it in case of an incident.…2 min
T3|January 2018BEST OF… LIVINGCOFFEE MAKERGAGGIA NAVIGLIOEverything you need to create a delicious bean-to-cup brew at an entry-level price. Gaggia’s pedigree is all poured into this quality espresso maker, and proves you don’t need to spend a penny more.£439, gaggia.uk.comCOOKERRANGEMASTER ELISE 110Want the versatility of gas hobs and the reliability of an electric oven? This dual-fuel range is the ultimate in kitchen convenience, with six solid burners, two ovens and a grill with glide-out action.£2,379, rangemaster.co.ukDEHUMIDIFIERMeaco 25L Ultra Low Energy DehumidifierThis small unit can drag 25 litres of water out of the air in a day, perfect for drying clothes indoors without the risk of mould or condensation ruining your windows.£299, meaco.comWASHING MACHINEMIELE WKG 120Pre-load enough detergent for 30 washes, fill the 8kg drum, and watch it spin. But you’ll struggle to hear it:…2 min
